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Yaz, you think your radio talk head experience is frustrating? get this.

I was traveling today for work. I am wearing a Blue zips shirt, under a Blue zips jacket with a zips hat and my phone cover is a blue zips cover.

I get out of the connection plane in Atlanta, GA and the guy in the terminal is directing me (and every one else who was deplaning) to the nearest TV because: "THE GAME HAS STARTED".

Me in surprise: which game?

The guy: "OSU vs MSU

Me: who cares?

The guy: I'm sorry, I tought you were from Ohio!!!!! :gun:

Fast forward to the final destination. I am getting a rental at enterprise and the guy looks at my Ohio License and goes

Guy: that was a tough loss today

Me: I am not a buckeye fan!!!!! can you not see what I'm wearing?

Guy: Oh I'm sorry! you're a penn state fan.

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  Ada Zip said:
Yaz, you think your radio talk head experience is frustrating? get this.

I was traveling today for work. I am wearing a Blue zips shirt, under a Blue zips jacket with a zips hat and my phone cover is a blue zips cover.

I get out of the connection plane in Atlanta, GA and the guy in the terminal is directing me (and every one else who was deplaning) to the nearest TV because: "THE GAME HAS STARTED".

Me in surprise: which game?

The guy: "OSU vs MSU

Me: who cares?

The guy: I'm sorry, I tought you were from Ohio!!!!! :gun:

Fast forward to the final destination. I am getting a rental at enterprise and the guy looks at my Ohio License and goes

Guy: that was a tough loss today

Me: I am not a buckeye fan!!!!! can you not see what I'm wearing?

Guy: Oh I'm sorry! you're a penn state fan.

Wow, Penn State? That's awful

  ZachTheZip said:

Haha well what do I know? It even mentions the OSU-Michigan rivalry. Well, I still don't feel as though their rivalry expands to all other universities in the state, even if there was a war between our states. Definitely interesting though. If I had to guess, I'd say the people on the radio station I was listening to were also unaware of that war and were not basing their statements on it.

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Very insightful post. In general, I think Akron and Cleveland State students do not have the same level of connection with K ent and OU. As Zips and Vikings shed that dreaded commuter image I honestly believe things will get much better.

  Magnus said:
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.

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  Yaznasty said:
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."

A great example of the pompous nature of OSWho supporters. They all HOPE and ASSUME that we all want Michigan to lose. Sorry.

On top of that, basketball is a whole different situation. There are about a dozen D-1 basektball schools in Ohio, and many of them are really good, and have their own significant fan bases who don't even pay attention to whether OSWho is playing Michigan.

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Good that Magnus came on here.

I am a fan of both schools/bball teams and I do think there are similarities. Obviously CSU has a great venue (though sterile) that was built too big...a story that was just in the PD the other day but probably a story for another topic line.

I do think the commuter school thing plays a big part. UA has the advantage of football (over CSU), but football has stunk. If you can build up the football, mix it with the passion of the soccer fans and get all that to basketball...better "chants", more unity, etc.. Nice size arena makes sense for both schools! Better marquee opponents, NCAA success (UA definitely needs that!!!), etc. helps. I think CSU is hurt at times with having no real good bars/restaurants across the street from the Wolstein Ctr...another reason I hope UA gets it right no matter where it goes (XU struggles with this as well...but obviously have built up a great program with great attendance.).

UA and CSU are trying (and succeeding) in becoming less of commuter schools. It will take time, winning and creativity to build something that all can be proud of. I still see it when I am out and about and with friends and family that went to UA or CSU= lots of pride from those that went to OU, Miami, BG, etc....those that went to CSU or UA are almost "ashamed" of it or just don't exude the same pride. Again...I think more on-campus living options will build more unity. I am so product of what UA and CSU have done and continue to do with their campuses. Awesome stuff!!

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  GP1 said:
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.

Well that is part of the reason they changed the tournament format. You get the best playing the best, and if you get an upset it is a heck of an upset.

I mean the MAC Final Four were both quality games that had good levels of excitement, I wish they both would have been on ESPN 2 instead of STO.

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  skip-zip said:
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.

As mentioned, no there are no easy answers.

Unfortunately, money/donations will always dictate who gets the best seats.

Personally, I want the best seats going to the folks who actually go to the most games. Then maybe we would get the few hardcore fans that we have sitting together. Would it have an impact and get folks to make noise/stand up? Who knows! Sit them behind the standing Rowdies and make them stand-up, now we might have something...

My guess is that 50% or more of the Zips fans in attendance at the Q on Saturday was their first time to a game all year. They don't give a damn about the Zips. It was just something to do on a Saturday night..

And the atmosphere is almost as bad when we do make the NCAAA's. How many of the fans who got the best seats in Chicago last year went to 5 or fewer games? Or had GA tickets? Tons. They knew a donor who could get them the best tickets and so they went. It's all about the dough you donate...not who really gives a damn.

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I only read the first post but had an immediate thought to the question on 'why everyone just sits on their hands?' I was at the Buffalo game sitting mid court opposite of the team benches. I was cheering, standing clapping and having a good time with my son. An usher came over to me and asked me to sit down because the people in Upper Reserve couldn't see. I wasn't standing all game. I was standing at a pivotal point and while the Zips were making a run to try and come back.

This is unacceptable. We are told not to enjoy ourselves. Hence the culture, it happened to me...how many others?

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  Jalapeño Zippy said:
I only read the first post but had an immediate thought to the question on 'why everyone just sits on their hands?' I was at the Buffalo game sitting mid court opposite of the team benches. I was cheering, standing clapping and having a good time with my son. An usher came over to me and asked me to sit down because the people in Upper Reserve couldn't see. I wasn't standing all game. I was standing at a pivotal point and while the Zips were making a run to try and come back.

This is unacceptable. We are told not to enjoy ourselves. Hence the culture, it happened to me...how many others?

I’ve never had an usher tell me to sit down during a key moment in the game. That’s just ridiculous.

I’ve also never had an usher tell me to lower my volume. BUT I have sat next to numerous people over the years that have made it clear by their body language that they don’t appreciate my rather loud rooting for the Zips. I used to unconsciously allow them to affect my cheers, but lately I’ve just ignored them.

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The simple answer to the "Why are Akron fans so quiet and unorganized?" is - lack of tradition.

Until about 2004, UA never even tried to organize its students to attend games. Other MAC programs had been doing it for decades.

Until about 2005, we'd hardly won a MAC Tourney basketball game. Other teams had been winning them for decades.

We get a new AD with a completely new agenda roughly every 5 years. Some AD's have cared about building tradition and fan base while others haven't. Regardless, the fans constantly get an ever-changing message.

Football is a driving force in college athletics. The trickle-over to the other sports can be HUGE. When your football program blows, your fans aren't all that zealous. Our football has blown.

Since the Mike Thomas era, strides have been made. Our showing at The Q on Saturday was pretty good. When OU fans did their drumbeat O-H-I-O cheer, you saw about 1/3rd of the arena participating. Being generous, maybe the fans were split 50% Zips, 10% unaffiliated and 40% OU. Easily 5,000+ Zips fans in Cleveland that night. Probably 1,000 in K.e.n.t. the week before too. Not too shabby.

If Bowden can turn around the football program, UA pride will appreciably swell. Until then, unless KD can pull off a magical NCAA run, we're probably maxed out.

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  Captain Kangaroo said:
The simple answer to the "Why are Akron fans so quiet and unorganized?" is - lack of tradition.

Until about 2004, UA never even tried to organize its students to attend games. Other MAC programs had been doing it for decades.

Until about 2005, we'd hardly won a MAC Tourney basketball game. Other teams had been winning them for decades.

We get a new AD with a completely new agenda roughly every 5 years. Some AD's have cared about building tradition and fan base while others haven't. Regardless, the fans constantly get an ever-changing message.

Football is a driving force in college athletics. The trickle-over to the other sports can be HUGE. When your football program blows, your fans aren't all that zealous. Our football has blown.

Since the Mike Thomas era, strides have been made. Our showing at The Q on Saturday was pretty good. When OU fans did their drumbeat O-H-I-O cheer, you saw about 1/3rd of the arena participating. Being generous, maybe the fans were split 50% Zips, 10% unaffiliated and 40% OU. Easily 5,000+ Zips fans in Cleveland that night. Probably 1,000 in K.e.n.t. the week before too. Not too shabby.

If Bowden can turn around the football program, UA pride will appreciably swell. Until then, unless KD can pull off a magical NCAA run, we're probably maxed out.

I respectfully disagree. We are maxed out right now because we haven't won an NCAA Tournament game, and don't have many major regular season wins either. Die-hard fans appreciate what the Zips have done during Dambrot's tenure, and know that elevating a program doesn't happen overnight. However, most people in and outside of Ohio see Akron as a team that's good enough to compete in the MAC but not good enough to compete with the "big boys". A decent mid-major, but not

After Akron defeated Mississippi State to start the season, the Akron community was absolutely buzzing about the win and how this might be the year the Zips not only get back to the tournament, but also make some noise once there. In their first game, 3,292 showed up at the JAR for a matchup against Hiram, a Division III cupcake opponent. The Zips lost their next two games against Valpo and Duquesne before coming home to face Detroit. 2,585 fans showed up for the matchup against the Titans, an NCAA Tournament team.

Simply put, Akron needs to defeat a few top teams to earn the same respect that Ohio and Can't State get in Ohio and nationwide. Bobcat fans weren't just excited Saturday because they had a shot at the MAC Title. They also knew and believed that if they did win, they'd have a chance to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament, because they've done so before.

We haven't...and until we do, we are indeed maxed out. It has nothing to do with our football program, and everything to do with our reputation not only nationally, but locally as well.

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I see the tears streaming down my son's face after the OU game. Then he collapses in the living room last night when Abreu's shot falls short.

And people wonder why kids cheer for Ohio State instead of the Zips? People wonder "Why are our fans are so terrible?"

Being a Zips fan ain't easy.

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  Captain Kangaroo said:
I see the tears streaming down my son's face after the OU game. Then he collapses in the living room last night when Abreu's shot falls short.

And people wonder why kids cheer for Ohio State instead of the Zips? People wonder "Why are our fans are so terrible?"

Being a Zips fan ain't easy.

I agree with you there. Your son will be better for it in the long run though. I forget who wrote this, but I saved it after LeBron left the Cavaliers...I think it applies here in some ways.

"Plain and simple, being a fan of a loser means more than being a fan of a winner. It takes a bigger person. It takes a better sports fan. Even though every loss, every bad break, every pang of heartache feels like a step backward, it's really just another plank in the path toward something no Yankees fan, no Cowboys fan, no Lakers fan will ever feel: a championship that erases eons-long suffering. A championship paid for with blind, oft-thankless loyalty. A championship that its fan base truly earned through unwavering devotion to a seemingly hapless cause. No, it hasn't materialized yet -- but it's coming. Oh, man, is it coming. And it's financed in moments like Thursday night's. Trust me."

I've been to the World Series (1995, Indians won), ALCS, and the Eastern Conference Finals. My favorite and most memorable sports moments - our MAC Championship win last year and Getsy-to-Hixon. Being a Zips fan sucks sometimes...but when things work out like they did in those two games, there's nothing better (sports-related) in the world.

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  Captain Kangaroo said:
I see the tears streaming down my son's face after the OU game. Then he collapses in the living room last night when Abreu's shot falls short.

And people wonder why kids cheer for Ohio State instead of the Zips? People wonder "Why are our fans are so terrible?"

Being a Zips fan ain't easy.

God bless your son, Capn'. It's gratifying to know that the next generation isn't entirely made up of bandwagon pansies.

When your boys' beloved Zips finally do put the look of overwhelming joy on his face, I'm predicting the tears will be rolling down your face instead of his.

How freeking sweet is THAT gonna be?! :wave:

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  johnnyzip84 said:
I’ve never had an usher tell me to sit down during a key moment in the game. That’s just ridiculous.
They used to pass out balloons to the students behind the hoops. I was "squeaking" the balloon during a key opponents foul shot. Ref stopped the game and come over to me and asked me to "stop it, or I'll have you removed"
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  Captain Kangaroo said:
I see the tears streaming down my son's face after the OU game. Then he collapses in the living room last night when Abreu's shot falls short.

And people wonder why kids cheer for Ohio State instead of the Zips? People wonder "Why are our fans are so terrible?"

Being a Zips fan ain't easy.

I appreciate the way you've raised your kid :bow:

I have friends with children who are diehard Zips fans. They all had the "A" on thier faces last weekend and everything. Unfortunately, I probably know more people who dress their kids in OSWho gear. And sadly, some of them are AKRON GRADUATES.

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  skip-zip said:
I probably know more people who dress their kids in OSWho gear. And sadly, some of them are AKRON GRADUATES.

I was on campus when Joe Jakubick was lighting up Memorial Hall. The team was not very good, but seeing Joe play was pretty amazing, win or lose. Sadly, student interest was minimal, at best. Indeed, more than a few students were downright dismissive of Akron athletics in general as "a joke." They rooted for "real" teams, like tOSU. :wall:

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  Captain Kangaroo said:
Football is a driving force in college athletics. The trickle-over to the other sports can be HUGE. When your football program blows, your fans aren't all that zealous. Our football has blown.

Bingo!

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ua zip. name a mac school in the last ten years that has won a ncaa tourney game.one team ou won once.you act like the mac wins ncaa tourney games all the time,and akron is the only team that has not.as for respect for ou ,and Can't.we beat Can't three times this year.beat them last year in the champ game.what has Can't done in the last few years.cit tourney this year is a big deal? Can't went to the final eight about 50 years ago.akron is no different than any other mac b-ball school.

ohio state is the only team that an average fan knows about,or cares about.

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  RACER said:
ua zip. name a mac school in the last ten years that has won a ncaa tourney game.one team ou won once.you act like the mac wins ncaa tourney games all the time,and akron is the only team that has not.as for respect for ou ,and Can't.we beat Can't three times this year.beat them last year in the champ game.what has Can't done in the last few years.cit tourney this year is a big deal? Can't went to the final eight about 50 years ago.akron is no different than any other mac b-ball school.

ohio state is the only team that an average fan knows about,or cares about.

When did I say anything to this effect? The question presented was what would get the average fan more excited about Zips basketball. I said winning an NCAA Tournament game. That's all...

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  RACER said:
ua zip. name a mac school in the last ten years that has won a ncaa tourney game.one team ou won once.you act like the mac wins ncaa tourney games all the time,and akron is the only team that has not.as for respect for ou ,and Can't.we beat Can't three times this year.beat them last year in the champ game.what has Can't done in the last few years.cit tourney this year is a big deal? Can't went to the final eight about 50 years ago.akron is no different than any other mac b-ball school.

ohio state is the only team that an average fan knows about,or cares about.

This is the problem with the Akron fan base. Their expectations and their PAR are too low. The mentality is: "We should be happy as long as we're better than the rest of the mac, or most of the mac teams". Who cares about Can't or Ohio?

KD has been talking about being the Gonzaga of the east since he came here 8-9 years ago. We talk about being a top midmajor a Butler, a VCU...that's our par not Can't and Ohio.

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  RACER said:
ua zip. name a mac school in the last ten years that has won a ncaa tourney game.one team ou won once.you act like the mac wins ncaa tourney games all the time,and akron is the only team that has not.as for respect for ou ,and Can't.we beat Can't three times this year.beat them last year in the champ game.what has Can't done in the last few years.cit tourney this year is a big deal? Can't went to the final eight about 50 years ago.akron is no different than any other mac b-ball school.

ohio state is the only team that an average fan knows about,or cares about.

Ken+ went to the Final 8 in 2002.

And several MAC teams have won NCAA tournament games.

And remember, basketball is much different than football. There are several very good D-1 schools in Ohio, and they all have their own significant following.

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i just don't understand why some posters have to complain all the time about the coaches,and players.

kd can't draw up plays,does not act like he wants to win,zeke needs to put in more effort,the team cant win big games.

it's a basketball game that's all.it's supposed to be for entertainment,but alott of fans make it a complain fest.i was happy with our team this year ;since it was fun to watch the team play.

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