Akron Basketball "Fans"

[skip-zip]

Let me preface this by saying that I am almost 50 years old, I'm a donor with major involvement in Zips athletics, and I am speaking for myself and on behalf of several of the people sitting around me this weekend.

As someone mentioned earlier, we outnumbered OU fans easily by a 3 to 1 margin last night. And certainly moreso over Ken+ on Friday. But, you often didn't notice. As is often the case, it took until we made a couple of defensive stops and buckets around the 4 minute mark late in the game yesterday just to get everyone to rise to their feet and make some noise as OU was bringing the ball up the floor. The arena exploded. So, where was everyone during the other 35 minutes?

OU may have had a much smaller group, but they were consolidated, and made some noise. They had organized chants, even during timeouts. It looked like everyone was involved, young and old. And I noticed it 2 years ago as well.

So,I thought this was a good time to open this discussion again.

Why does everyone sit on thier hands until the final minutes of a close game? We do it at our home games too.

Is having all of the older/money people in the best seats a bad idea? Although, that would be a really hard philosophy to reverse.

We've successfully put the "A-K-RON" chant into the fight song, but nobody wants to do it except the cheeleaders and dance team. Why? That could make a big difference.

Some people think we need a great basketball venue. Well, we were at a GREAT venue last night, and nothing changed.

The Rowdies were right next to us, and we could have all joined in with them, and we choose not to do so.

We had the numbers last night to ROCK that place. I'm just very disappointed. For the most part, our fans sit around waiting for something to cheer about, instead of cheering and yelling to influence the game.

[GP1]

Good post. No easy answers.

I know I was calm at home and even expected a Zips comeback with less than a minute to play. Maybe I would have been one of the quiet people last night.

OU who live in NE Ohio don't get to see their team play in person much so I can see them reacting that way. Those that travel are dedicated fans and will be loud.

I'll say this and I don't mean it in a mean way. NE Ohio fans don't know how to react to success with their teams. Even when things are going well, they can find a thousand reasons why their team will lose because they normally do in most sports. Their beatdown is complete.

[RowdyZip]

I agree with most of your sentiments, however I think it was more 60-40 ou fans last night.

[UAZip0510]

Unfortunately, a good number of my friends (Zips alumni) follow the Zips closely for two games in March, and a third if that 2nd game is successful. I'm not sure what the reason is. A few possible thoughts:

1) Winning an NCAA Tournament game would "legitimize" the Zips in a lot of casual fans' eyes. Can't has done it. Miami has done it. OU has done it. Cleveland State has done it. We haven't yet, and I think that matters quite a bit to the casual fan.

2) We have never been a flashy team. Over the past few years, we have been a winning program, but quite often the wins have come with slow-paced, half-court, defensive battles. Fans like winning, but the love fast-paced, high-flying basketball. Who knows, that's something we may add with guys like Treadwell and Harney.

3) The northeast Ohio sports fan mentality. No matter what is currently happened, in the back of your head you're wondering what will go wrong. Our fans hoped to win last night. Ohio's expected to win.

4) The student section has leveled off. The AK-Rowdies made a mistake years back when they tried to make a group with low membership exclusive. For awhile it was very "clique-like", which drove many students away. Once new leadership realized this, it was too late...the damage was already done. According to a quick look at our Wikipedia page, around 24,000 undergraduates attend the University of Akron. However, most nights, we can't even fill the two sections behind the basket. I'm not sure what the fix is here, but it's time to get creative. Offering pizza and "Roo-Rewards" isn't cutting it. Something needs to be done to increase student involvement.

Just a few thoughts off the top of my head. I agree there is definitely an issue though.

[burrdie]

I don't know where you were sitting, but the fans around us were great. People express themselves in different ways. Just because there is not a lot of yelling does not mean the fans were not with the team every minute of that game.

I am a yeller but my son is quiet at times and yells at other times. I yell all the time.

I would like to see more students at the home games. Large university like Akron should try to get the students more involved. But keep in mind how many sports there are to support.

Being a golfer it was nice to see Amanda was 1 under par at the golf tournament.

I am older much older than 50, a contributor and myself and children are all alumuni, we had nice seats. It was sad but fun at the same time. NOW it is time to support the team at the NIT.

They gave us a great season and so much more to come in the following year.

CONGRATUATIONS TEAM so get them at MSG.

[skip-zip]

Just because there is not a lot of yelling does not mean the fans were not with the team every minute of that game.

I think that's why you rarely notice when there is a large contingent of Akron fans at the Q. Most of the time, they are just "with the team". That doesn't help influence the atmosphere or the game.

Many people estimated that there were probably 7,000 Akron "supporters" in that crowd, which seems accurate. But, you didn't know that except for a few times during the entire game.

[yazan07]

Rip the seats out of the JAR so there is no way to sit down.

[skip-zip]

Rip the seats out of the JAR so there is no way to sit down.

They do it at other places (West Virginia, for example). So, it's not as radical of an idea as you might think.

[RowdyZip]

I think that's why you rarely notice when there is a large contingent of Akron fans at the Q. Most of the time, they are just "with the team". That doesn't help influence the atmosphere or the game.

Many people estimated that there were probably 7,000 Akron "supporters" in that crowd, which seems accurate. But, you didn't know that except for a few times during the entire game.

With all due respect, there is no way that 7k of the announced 10k were Zips fans. Did you not look around when they were doing that stupid o h I o chant every 30 seconds? I will say we outnumbered Can't about 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 for the semifinal though. Sadly, I think the word "Ohio" pulls in more casual fans as well. Way more green in the building last night, and way more enthusiasm.

[Spin]

Good post. No easy answers.

I know I was calm at home and even expected a Zips comeback with less than a minute to play. Maybe I would have been one of the quiet people last night.

OU who live in NE Ohio don't get to see their team play in person much so I can see them reacting that way. Those that travel are dedicated fans and will be loud.

I'll say this and I don't mean it in a mean way. NE Ohio fans don't know how to react to success with their teams. Even when things are going well, they can find a thousand reasons why their team will lose because they normally do in most sports. Their beatdown is complete.

I have to agree with that. I was born 2 years after the last Cleveland title.

When the Zips soccer team won the national championship, everyone in my house looked at me to see how I would react.

It was more relief than excitement.

[OZoner]

I tabbed the crowd as 60/40 Akron.

I think you're being a little too hard on your own people; Akron's fans were often louder than OU's, and I was across from the OU bench. Ohio fans might have been more organized, though. Either way, it was a great crowd in total. Really loud in there in the second half.

[UAZip0510]

At worst I think it was 50/50, at best 60/40 Akron. I don't think we were outnumbered though. They were just much vocal.

[tpsjugglerdude]

I think the crowd last night was pretty great. I think some of you may have different perspectives from where your seats were at. I know that if you were in the upper section you were not going to hear the section below you and vice-versa. I started the game in the top row and it wasn't that impressive of fan noise. Then I was lucky enough to get upgraded to court seats and it was a major difference in sound. On the court it was pretty loud the whole time. It is just the way that the Q is made that it doesn't sound loud where you are at.

[GP1]

I think the crowd last night was pretty great.

It sounded and looked great on TV. Last night was a good night for the MAC. Two quality teams playing an exciting basketball game. Anyone watch the Big East Championship?....Horrible for college basketball. The MAC game was much better for college basketball than the Big East game.

I'd go as far as to say that if someone didn't have a dog in the fight and bought tickets to the MAC Tournament because they like basketball, that person got their money back ten times in excitement. This weekend was everything that CAN be right with the MAC. They just don't do it enough.

[Magnus]

As a Cleveland State supporter, the question of fan support is one I can sympathize with. I get it, CSU is largely a commuter school so that my contribute to our ills, but a lot has been done to our campus that has drastically changed the complexion of CSU. Akron U is a wonderful campus that is extremely impressive.

I just don't understand it. Both Akron and CSU have enjoyed success recently. EVERY year you guys are in the mix for a MAC title and CSU has been a 20 plus win team with Waters at the helm. We have a recent NCAA Tournament win over Wake in 09 and we still struggle with attendance. CSU has also tried giveaways, free pizza, etc, but by and large we get very little student support unless we are playing Butler. I just have to believe that Northeast Ohio is not a college basketball hotbed. Even though I have no affiliation with your school, I still enjoy going down to the JAR to take in some hoops. This year I saw you guys beat Detroit, lose to my Vikes, lose to VCU (you got robbed), and I was rooting for you guys yesterday at the Q.

To get the common fan to attend and to pay attention, you have to have a few deep runs in the NCAAs. However, it is family friendly affordable entertainment for families. I much rather go see the Zips or the Vikes play over the Cavs for the money. I know people in Akron hate the JAR and I do too, but a new facility will only give you a short term attendance spike. To have sustained fan support the winning must be sustained. It really is that simple. Do you guys want the Wolstein Center. CSU is looking at selling it.

[skip-zip]

As a Cleveland State supporter, the question of fan support is one I can sympathize with. I get it, CSU is largely a commuter school so that my contribute to our ills, but a lot has been done to our campus that has drastically changed the complexion of CSU. Akron U is a wonderful campus that is extremely impressive.

I just don't understand it. Both Akron and CSU have enjoyed success recently. EVERY year you guys are in the mix for a MAC title and CSU has been a 20 plus win team with Waters at the helm. We have a recent NCAA Tournament win over Wake in 09 and we still struggle with attendance. CSU has also tried giveaways, free pizza, etc, but by and large we get very little student support unless we are playing Butler. I just have to believe that Northeast Ohio is not a college basketball hotbed. Even though I have no affiliation with your school, I still enjoy going down to the JAR to take in some hoops. This year I saw you guys beat Detroit, lose to my Vikes, lose to VCU (you got robbed), and I was rooting for you guys yesterday at the Q.

To get the common fan to attend and to pay attention, you have to have a few deep runs in the NCAAs. However, it is family friendly affordable entertainment for families. I much rather go see the Zips or the Vikes play over the Cavs for the money. I know people in Akron hate the JAR and I do too, but a new facility will only give you a short term attendance spike. To have sustained fan support the winning must be sustained. It really is that simple. Do you guys want the Wolstein Center. CSU is looking at selling it.

Thanks for the perspective from a fan of a school with similar challenges.

I especially concur with you that you have to do something BIG to change things siginificantly. We both are winning, often. We both are competing for conference titles yearly. Do some of your fans also have that "just win and the people will show up" explaination? That obviously isn't the problem for either of us.

[bUAkronG]

I think that's why you rarely notice when there is a large contingent of Akron fans at the Q. Most of the time, they are just "with the team". That doesn't help influence the atmosphere or the game.

Many people estimated that there were probably 7,000 Akron "supporters" in that crowd, which seems accurate. But, you didn't know that except for a few times during the entire game.

I speak only for myself, but I don't go to our basketball games to set an atmosphere. I spend most of the game sitting down paying attention to every aspect of the game to see what adjustments are being made and what need to be made.

That said, that is one of the reasons I don't sit with the Rowdies. It's just not my style. I don't go to sports games to scream and shout.

However I think last night a lot of Akron fans weren't as loud as the OU fans because the OU fans had more to be excited about. Whenever they needed a big basket they got one. With around 4 minutes left our guys started tightening up and playing harder and the Zips fans got into it. I stood up the final two minutes but I wasn't screaming.

[UAZip0510]

I speak only for myself, but I don't go to our basketball games to set an atmosphere. I spend most of the game sitting down paying attention to every aspect of the game to see what adjustments are being made and what need to be made.

That said, that is one of the reasons I don't sit with the Rowdies. It's just not my style. I don't go to sports games to scream and shout.

However I think last night a lot of Akron fans weren't as loud as the OU fans because the OU fans had more to be excited about. Whenever they needed a big basket they got one. With around 4 minutes left our guys started tightening up and playing harder and the Zips fans got into it. I stood up the final two minutes but I wasn't screaming.

The game was pretty much back and forth until 5-6 minutes left. Both teams were making plays and hitting shots. Why were OU fans noisy the whole time, but Akron fans only the last couple of minutes? Is it possible that our players started tightening up because it still feeling like they were in Athens? Just thinking out loud.

[ksu sucks]

To add some perspective, the Ohio U fan sitting behind me mentioned "the entire city of Akron is here tonight". For those of us sitting above, it was pretty obvious that Akron fans outnumbered Ohio fans.

And of course the Ohio fans were louder. They had a bit more to cheer for...

[zippy5]

Akron was very well represented at the Q. I bet the MAC officials love when OU, Can't or we make the championship. The first step is getting these people to the games. After that we'll worry about getting them to cheer. Joe akron comes out for the big ones (Can't, OU, VCU, MAC tourney), we just need to do a better job of playing when the attendance is up.

[yazan07]

I think part of the problem is we are still not Ohio State. I do not want to be Ohio State, but I think that is the only way some Akron students/area residents will ever care about this team.

On my way to my parent's house today (in central Ohio) I was listening to the radio and they were talking about the selections for the tournament. When they got to OU they talked about how they drew Michigan, and they said "If Ohio could pull off the win against Michigan, that would be a victory for the whole state of Ohio."

Guess what? For me, it would not be a victory for the whole state of Ohio. I don't care about any imaginary rivalry between the states of Ohio and Michigan. To my knowledge, there has ever been any war or anything between our two states, so there isn't any state rivalry. I don't say to myself "well we gotta root against Michigan because they are the rival of OSU, which is the rival of the REAL university in our state." Likewise, any real OU fans are not looking at this as a way of "beating their big brother's rival," it's probably just a game for them. When we play Michigan in soccer I don't think of it as "we hate Michigan because we're in the same state as Ohio State." I am sick of being thought of as one of OSU's reject cousins.

[UAZip0510]

I think part of the problem is we are still not Ohio State. I do not want to be Ohio State, but I think that is the only way some Akron students/area residents will ever care about this team.

On my way to my parent's house today (in central Ohio) I was listening to the radio and they were talking about the selections for the tournament. When they got to OU they talked about how they drew Michigan, and they said "If Ohio could pull off the win against Michigan, that would be a victory for the whole state of Ohio."

Guess what? For me, it would not be a victory for the whole state of Ohio. I don't care about any imaginary rivalry between the states of Ohio and Michigan. To my knowledge, there has ever been any war or anything between our two states, so there isn't any state rivalry. I don't say to myself "well we gotta root against Michigan because they are the rival of OSU, which is the rival of the REAL university in our state." Likewise, any real OU fans are not looking at this as a way of "beating their big brother's rival," it's probably just a game for them. When we play Michigan in soccer I don't think of it as "we hate Michigan because we're in the same state as Ohio State." I am sick of being thought of as one of OSU's reject cousins.

You probably just started the 5435943th OSU-related debate on this forum, but I think you're right. I know a lot of people who follow OSU all year long, but only follow Akron when they play Can't and when they're in the MAC Tournament. I don't know what the answer to that is...I really don't. But it's certainly the reality.

On a side note I don't like Michigan, but it's because of Cavaliers-Pistons and Indians-Tigers, not Ohio State-Michigan. I'll still cheer for the Wolverines though. Screw OU.

[OUstudent]

I think part of the problem is we are still not Ohio State. I do not want to be Ohio State, but I think that is the only way some Akron students/area residents will ever care about this team.

On my way to my parent's house today (in central Ohio) I was listening to the radio and they were talking about the selections for the tournament. When they got to OU they talked about how they drew Michigan, and they said "If Ohio could pull off the win against Michigan, that would be a victory for the whole state of Ohio."

Guess what? For me, it would not be a victory for the whole state of Ohio. I don't care about any imaginary rivalry between the states of Ohio and Michigan. To my knowledge, there has ever been any war or anything between our two states, so there isn't any state rivalry. I don't say to myself "well we gotta root against Michigan because they are the rival of OSU, which is the rival of the REAL university in our state." Likewise, any real OU fans are not looking at this as a way of "beating their big brother's rival," it's probably just a game for them. When we play Michigan in soccer I don't think of it as "we hate Michigan because we're in the same state as Ohio State." I am sick of being thought of as one of OSU's reject cousins.

Came close once:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War

(Did this for a public speaking project freshman year.)

I agree with you: this would not be a victory for the entire state of Ohio. It would benefit Ohio because of obvious reasons, but I think the MAC has some legetimacy to gain if one of its teams pulls the upset. After all, you did beat us once and almost did in the championship game.

[RootforRoo44]

You probably just started the 5435943th OSU-related debate on this forum, but I think you're right. I know a lot of people who follow OSU all year long, but only follow Akron when they play Can't and when they're in the MAC Tournament. I don't know what the answer to that is...I really don't. But it's certainly the reality.

On a side note I don't like Michigan, but it's because of Cavaliers-Pistons and Indians-Tigers, not Ohio State-Michigan. I'll still cheer for the Wolverines though. Screw OU.

Same, I hope OU gets beaten like a drum.

[akronzips71]

Same, I hope OU gets beaten like a drum.

You complain about players from Can't and other schools not being good "sports" and now you go and do the same thing.

OU won fair and square. More power to them.

And people on TV still mention that they beat Georgetown.

Which is only good for us as long as we stay in the MAC.