Hey Tom

[GoZips]

I know you don't like me and a whole lot of other people.

That is no excuse to not be cordial and glad hand at Zips functions such as the soccer

selection party.

You are the Athletic Director ... act like one.

[RootforRoo44]

please explain

[GoZips]

please explain

Root, I thought that I had. I apologize. Tom was stiff, frozen faced and showed the famous

enthusiasm of a cumquat. Not unlike his pal iCoach. Which, btw, I have a glimmer of hope gets

his first victory Wednesday night.

As I posted this dirge .. a thought came to mind ... dour.

[zips4ever2008]

I 100% agree with GoZips. At the soccer party last night, he only went to certain people and interacted with them. Those people were the big wigs like the sponsors and those with lots of money. He never interacts with those of us who support the Zips but don't have the loads of money. When Mack Rhoads and Mike Thomas were here they always interacted with everyone including myself. Even JD would interact with everyone. Have not had one word with the new football coach. It's just classless to not acknowledge us diehard Zips fans who support the teams but don't have the big bucks. I guess thats the Big 11 and Notre Dame ego. At least Zippy goes around to everyone.

[RootforRoo44]

I 100% agree with GoZips. At the soccer party last night, he only went to certain people and interacted with them. Those people were the big wigs like the sponsors and those with lots of money. He never interacts with those of us who support the Zips but don't have the loads of money. When Mack Rhoads and Mike Thomas were here they always interacted with everyone including myself. Even JD would interact with everyone. Have not had one word with the new football coach. It's just classless to not acknowledge us diehard Zips fans who support the teams but don't have the big bucks. I guess thats the Big 11 and Notre Dame ego. At least Zippy goes around to everyone.

OK that was more what i was looking for.

That's too bad though. I haven't noticed it really but then again I dont have a lot of respect for the guy to begin with so i'm not actively seeking him out or noticing him at events.

I really hope this Ianello/Wistrcil expiriment doesn't go on too long.

[Zip Watcher]

and Mike Thomas were here they always interacted with everyone

Really? I remember that Waddell was friendly with Joe fan. Thomas, not so much. Great AD .. but not a great interacter w/ Joe Fan in my experience.

[Captain Kangaroo]

and Mike Thomas were here they always interacted with everyone

Really? I remember that Waddell was friendly with Joe fan. Thomas, not so much. Great AD .. but not a great interacter w/ Joe Fan in my experience.

I agree. Hardly said "boo" to Thomas in his 3-or-so years here. Waddell spearheaded "fan relations." And he did a good job of it.

Maybe TW needs a "Waddell?"

[RowdyZip]

Mike Waddell was fantastic for the University from a PR prespective. Got to know him fairly well through the old Zips Live at Spaghetti Warehouse. Never had the chance to meet Mike Thomas. I was also a big fan of Mack from the PR side. He came up and introduced himself to myself and some friends (a bunch of 20-somethings) at the 2007 MACC pregame basketball party. Even took the time to talk a little and clink beer bottles and thank us for coming. One would think social skills are necessary for a D1 AD, not just donor a$$ kissing. I've seen Youboob several times downtown as I hike the 4 blocks from my parking lot to work. He's always out for a run, and despite a smile and "hi" from me, I don't even get so much as a smirk or head nod.

[Zip_ME87]

I spoke with Tom several times in the Spring during basketball season and again in the Team Shop at Infocision when it first opened, and he immediately responded to my greeting and was very cordial. EDIT Perhaps he has soured given all of the (deserved) criticism concerning iCoach and the direction of Zips football. Of course, if he can place my face with my name, he probably doesn't appreciate my concerns about toning down the LeBron connection (which they seem to have done in the JAR) either.

[And, before anyone goes ballistic in favor of or against LeBron, my comments have just been along the line of "the Zips should be celebrated in the JAR, not LeBron". For me, it's all about the Zips...even when LeBron played for the CAVs, I didn't like the overkill on the logos, banners, etc. This is The University of Akron, not LeBron State. If he wants to donate money to build LeBron James Arena at The University of Akron, that would be awesome and he could plaster his image all over it because he paid for it.]

[Zip Watcher]

I have to say that I haven't noticed a change in Tom from when I met him his first week on the job. He's still as cordial as ever, and even more passionate about moving UA Athletics forward to success. I suspect perhaps there's a mob mentality building about "he doesn't care" .. "wants the fb team to suck" .. etc. Have a conversation with him about the state of things and I believe you'll be hard pressed to find even a hit of complacency with regards to anything Zips related. This means have a conversation .. not just fire away at the guy for what you perceive his inadequacies to be.

Yes, he's different from Thomas & Rhodes. I find that he's every bit as committed to our Zips as they were.

My $0.02

B)

Go Zips!

[ZachTheZip]

Unless you actively sought him out for a conversation and tried to corner him and then he ignored you, I don't see what the big deal is.

Maybe he should hire someone who's job it is to go around and talk to the fans. Or maybe of of the assistant ADs can step up and do that.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I have to say that I haven't noticed a change in Tom from when I met him his first week on the job. He's still as cordial as ever, and even more passionate about moving UA Athletics forward to success. I suspect perhaps there's a mob mentality building about "he doesn't care" .. "wants the fb team to suck" .. etc. Have a conversation with him about the state of things and I believe you'll be hard pressed to find even a hit of complacency with regards to anything Zips related. This means have a conversation .. not just fire away at the guy for what you perceive his inadequacies to be.

Yes, he's different from Thomas & Rhodes. I find that he's every bit as committed to our Zips as they were.

My $0.02

B)

Go Zips!

Dennis Helsel was one of the nicer people I've ever met.

[Zipmeister]

I have to say that I haven't noticed a change in Tom from when I met him his first week on the job. He's still as cordial as ever, and even more passionate about moving UA Athletics forward to success. I suspect perhaps there's a mob mentality building about "he doesn't care" .. "wants the fb team to suck" .. etc. Have a conversation with him about the state of things and I believe you'll be hard pressed to find even a hit of complacency with regards to anything Zips related. This means have a conversation .. not just fire away at the guy for what you perceive his inadequacies to be.

Yes, he's different from Thomas & Rhodes. I find that he's every bit as committed to our Zips as they were.

My $0.02

B)

Go Zips!

Dennis Helsel was one of the nicer people I've ever met.

And Dennis has written some great books:

http://www.practicalstats.com/nada/nada/nadatext.html

One of the nicer guys from Akron I ever met was Fred Milo.

[Z.I.P.]

and Mike Thomas were here they always interacted with everyone

Really? I remember that Waddell was friendly with Joe fan. Thomas, not so much. Great AD .. but not a great interacter w/ Joe Fan in my experience.

I agree. Hardly said "boo" to Thomas in his 3-or-so years here. Waddell spearheaded "fan relations." And he did a good job of it.

Maybe TW needs a "Waddell?"

From 5000 miles away, I can offer a comeback. Mike Thomas answered every question about Zips athletics I asked him over (what was it, five?) years, and took five minutes to chat with me at the MAC bb tournament. And he even took it on his shoulders to apologize for the football coach who cancelled a trip to Hawaii so he could play a beatable schedule (and still couldn't). He and Waddell will always be the top team I remember in UA history.