Huge Home Game to Open 06'

[Ryno aka Menace]

Someone metioned V. Tech, we already hosted them at the Rubber Bowl once and almost won!! I know because I played on that team. They may be willing to make another trip up.

[Beanie 4 Heisman]

we are actually lookin for a D 1AA school. Waddell put an add on www.footballscoop.com to try and find a D 1AA that wanted to come to the rubber bowl. O and since last year if any of you didnt know D 1AA wins now count toward bowl eligability.

[Steuby_UAkron]

How did we drop from looking for a top 25 team to a 1-AA team? C'mon, just play teams in 1-A.

[Beanie 4 Heisman]

because we are playing a Penn State who will be a top 15 team when the season starts. And we also play NC State who is in a BCS conference within three weeks of each other. What would make more sense adding a D1AA or trying to find another BCS school and get beat up going into the MAC part of the schedule.

[ZipAnalyst]

It may help their bowl eligibilty but not their average home attendance. I, for one, will not be going to see the Zips play a D-IAA team. I will go when they have a worthy opponent.Go ahead Mr. Waddell, schedule a !-AA team; invite me to stay at home.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

I totally agree-- hosting a BCS school and losing in a good game is much better for fan interest than beating a 1AA. A 1AA team puts us on the wrong side of the expectation curve...there is always a chance we beat the BCS school just like there is a chance we lose to the 1AA school. Hosting Minnesota or BC makes a statement, win or lose, about where the program is going but UA's momentum is put at total risk by hosting a 1AA school and doing anything but completely destroying them. Did this situation happen because of the AD change?

[Steuby_UAkron]

For a program trying to get more butts into the seats, a 1-AA team is a very bad idea. Just as bad as playing Ke-nt State on Thanksgiving morning. Yes, I know the weather was awful but people usually spend those days with their families out of town and many students are back at home. Hopefully, we never do that again.

[fear the brown roo]

hey steuby, the thanksgiving game is a great idea. you're not from akron and you don't know the traditon of the turkey day game. many, many people were very excited about the game but the blizzard put a stop to a huge turn out. it's amazing as many people showed up for the game, considering the conditons. on the surface it may have sounded like a bad idea but it's an akron tradition that people were buzzing about. 40 degrees and dry, record turn out. :macc:

[Beanie 4 Heisman]

ok then if we add a "big team" which wont be at home cuz no one wants to play at the shit hole known as the rubber bowl. everyone on zips nation will complain because we could possibly start 0-3, although i believe we can beat NC State. There is nothing wrong with playing a 1AA team. Ohio State does it every year there are big teams that play 1AA's every year.

[ZipAnalyst]

Akron should try to bring a big time opponent to the Browns stadium as its season opening game.They need to get the NCAA to allow them to treat it as a home game (may not be necessary; could be defined that way already) for attendance purposes and promote it to the hilt with a campaign throughout northeast Ohio. It should make a major effort to get a throng of students (a la the MAC Championship game and the Motor City Bowl).This is the sort of project Waddell should be working on. It will help in recruiting and it will be a signal that maybe, in a few years, Akron could be moving on to the Big East.Northeast Ohio can and will support one high-quality 1-A team but only one. Who is going to get there first? Akron or Can't? Akron has the edge now but scheduling 1-AA teams sends the wrong message. The Akron administration must set its goal high and go all out to make it a reality. Over the next five years we shall see what this administration can do!

[fear the brown roo]

i don't remember ohio state playing a 1-AA team anytime in recent memory. maybe you have them confused with kansas state or florida.

[Valpo Zip]

Northeast Ohio can and will support one high-quality 1-A team but only one. Who is going to get there first? Akron or Can't?

Are you kidding me ?? Does Can't even play football ???!!!

[Steuby_UAkron]

That's nice that it's tradition, but playing a 1-10 team at 10 AM was doomed to start. Imagine if Akron wasn't playing for the East title how many would have been there.No 1-AA's. Move the program forward, not backward.

[zipsbandman]

Scheduling a I-AA team is not the way I want Mr. Rhoades start out his tenure. That is sooooo small time. Can't does it every year just to get a win on their schedule. They are the poster boys for small timers. Get us a 1-A team in the rubber bowl, any team. Just don't send the wrong message and kill our momentum.

[Z.I.P.]

Gentlemen,Here's the bottom line: Seven wins! Without that magic number we're sitting home in December. You have to sacrifice early on if you want to achieve your goals overall. And, since they're having trouble finding a decent 1-AA team, it could be a Howard or Liberty type opponent. Sorry -- but this is the new reality in college football. Personally I think the 12-game schedule sucks and only helps the rich get richer, but I don't make the rules.

[fear the brown roo]

steuby, you really don't know much about akron or the tradition around here. you're making yourself sound foolish.

[UADavid]

That's nice that it's tradition, but playing a 1-10 team at 10 AM was doomed to start. Imagine if Akron wasn't playing for the East title how many would have been there.No 1-AA's. Move the program forward, not backward.

steuby, you really don't know much about akron or the tradition around here. you're making yourself sound foolish.

Steuby, with all due respect for you to voice your opinion, you are a bit out of your element here. I agree with you that 1AA is not the way to go, but the rest of your post concerning Akron tradition deserves ---->>> FTBR is right about the turkey day game. The tradition is a big part of Akron, and that 1-10 team was Can't st. The crowd that attended the game was truly amazing considering the weather conditions. The crowd size had more to do with the team we played and the day than the fact we were a potential bowl team, although that didn't hurt. Lest you forget, that game was scheduled on a workday at noon!!! That's right, it was supposed to be played on a wednesday at noon. How many fans do you think would have gone to that game? We had 20 people at our tailgate which started 2 hours before the game. The weather hurt the attendance, pure and simple. I hope they give it another try. :macc:

[Beanie 4 Heisman]

Here the actual article from the web page and the page is http://www.footballscoop.com/scoop.htmit was posted on feb 9th so just scroll down the page a little bit. The University of Akron is seeking a 1-AA opponent for Saturday, September 16, 2006. If your program has this date open please contact Mike Waddell, Associate Director of Athletics, at 330-972-7279 or via e-mail at waddell@uakron.edu

[Dr Z]

Here the actual article from the web page and the page is http://www.footballscoop.com/scoop.htmit was posted on feb 9th so just scroll down the page a little bit.  The University of Akron is seeking a 1-AA opponent for Saturday, September 16, 2006.  If your program has this date open please contact Mike Waddell, Associate Director of Athletics, at 330-972-7279 or via e-mail at waddell@uakron.edu

Isn't this the site that somebody emailed ZFF's name as the new OC and they posted it?Consider the source here.

[fear the brown roo]

the truth is the zips are just looking for anyone to play on that date that won't try and rape us financially. i understand we have a few big east schools that will come to us but they want too much guarenteed money. i think we'd take anyone from YSU to syracuse if the finances were worked out. maybe we can go back and get salem college again

[liljc]

The fact of the matter is that the Zips need AN OPPONENT for that game. Anyone will do, but we need to fill that date. 1a, 1aa, it really doesn't matter at this point , but they need to schedule a team. The 1a teams are more than likely already committed, hence, they are looking at 1aa teams. It's a simple equation and you fellas are making it much more dificult than it really needs to be. It isn't about Mr. Rhoades and his legacy or any other nonsense. They just need to fill that date. Also, the Thanksgiving Day game was a HUGE success and the ONLY negative was the weather. As far as the weather goes, the last time I checked, the Rubber Bowl is still located in Northeast Ohio, so, we take what we get at that time of year. :macc:

[Beanie 4 Heisman]

Finally someone made a great point about why we would play a 1aa team. great post

[Steuby_UAkron]

Huge success? Attendance was 8,942. If another 1,000 people show up, they're still 58 people from getting a sell-out at the stadium where I went to high school! After all the talk of a possible sell-out, getting under 10,000 is HUGE flop.

[liljc]

Steuby, my friend, you just don't get it. There was a huge buzz about that game, locally. Unfortunately, that morning we had the worst weather conditions that we have had this entire winter. The 8900 people who showed up should have had their heads examined for even being there. Have it your way. Call it a failure, but I was there and I know what I saw and it was quite a sight. Everyone braving the cold and the wind and the snow to watch the Zips. I realize that there's no way to tell what might have been if the weather was better, but I do know that morning was no failure. It was great!

[msopher]

Unfortunately, attendance plays more of a role on a national stage than you care to ommit.