Fan support lost

[bobbyake]

Not winning the MAC championship and missing out on the NCAA really hurts fan support. You have to admit it was growing. Locals were actually considering rooting for this team. But they flopped. And we all know who's going to capitalize, OSU. Some people think it's comparing apples to oranges, but that's not true. OSU's fan support in this area hurts Akron. Why would people go watch an Akron game when there's an OSU game on TV. That's the attitude this school has to change but losing games we should win is going to make Akron "akron who?" and OSU "Go Buckeyes"I grew up a OSU fan and always rooted for them. I've started hating the Buckeyes ever since Akron started winning. I even rooted for Michigan. I usually get upset when I see people wearing OSU stuff when I know they've never enrolled in the school or even set foot on their campus. Akron should never settle for less. If OSU can do it, so can Akron. You have to start somewhere and grow. This loss stunts our growth for the time being, hopefully next year we'll start growing again.

[MRasor0200]

Amen.

[UADavid]

Fan support will be better next year but could have been better with an NCAA bid. It would also have forced the akron beacon journal to have reported on the team. Maybe they would have made the front page. Nah!

[Zips fan]

I agree that the loss does lose some momentum, but not all of it. The Zips are on the rise and we still need our die hard fans reminding those who have mixed allegiances. The Zips are playing in the post season and the ride is not over yet. The NCAA tournament means I root for any MAC school including Can't. I hope the flushes do well and represent the conference well. The better MAC does the more likely we will receive an at-large bid at some point.GO ZIPS!!!GO MAC!!!

[a-zip]

Lets win tonight and make a run in the NIT. Hopefully our guys are PISSED!! If J. Wood comes back next year, WATCH OUT! We should start next year with the highest ranking we have ever started with, and a chance at cracking the Top 25. The momentum began with Fball, soccer and should be sustained with a win over Temple and.....................more?

[zen]

What is worse, if OSU proceeds on far in the NCAA tourney, they will continue to monopolize interests. AND, if Can't gets a few wins, they will suck in what little vacuum that may not have been locally mopped up from Buckeye bandwagonerz.

[sgm405]

Here we go again with this silly Akron-OSU stuff. I'm not from Akron and was raised a Buckeye fan, like many others. I watch both teams, I support both teams, and on the rare occasion the two teams actually play, I cheer for the school I graduated from, Akron. Why should I stop cheering for the Buckeyes? They are in a different conference, we rarely play, and let's face it, we're on two different levels. Our football nor or basketball team will ever compete for a National Title...sad, but realistic. I know the argument is that we go after the same recruits...really? Was Chris Wells really considering Akron's football team or OSU's? Was Greg Oden really going back and forth between OSU's and Akron's basketball programs? OSU goes after the top talent in the country and in Ohio, and they will continue to get it. If you were a star Ohio high school running back and want a shot at the pros one day, where are you really going to go? OSU...bottom line, they get the premier talent. As for Akron, they have to scout a little harder. They're not going to get a McDonald's All-American. They're not going to get the top running back in the nation. They have to find the players that the major schools overlook, or at guys who may not have reached their potential and fly under the radar. That's just how it is...You can root for Michigan, you can cheer against OSU, you can try to knock those who support both OSU and Akron...whatever. But you need to accept that no matter what Akron does, OSU will always have dibs. So unless we move into the same conference or are playing each other, I'm going to accept that and hope Akron can have half of the amount of success OSU has had in athletics...GO ZIPS AND GO BUCKEYES!

[TXZipFan]

Conference doesn't matter... September 7, 2007 Columbus Ohio. Akron goes into probably the biggest opportunity to show to the nation they can play with the big boys. They direction that they are headed is one that as much as you might not believe COULD someday lead to a BCS bowl. Look at Utah... sorry if they can do it so can Akron. I have faith in JD that he can do something great at Akron and remember that date September 7th 2007 the state of Ohio and the rest of the country will know that the Ohio State isn't the only team in Ohio. If anyone can do it it's JD. GO ZIPS

[Dr Z]

I grew up a OSU fan and always rooted for them. I've started hating the Buckeyes ever since Akron started winning.

Welcome to the club!One of my favorite things about UAM was when he got furious at seeing an OSU hat or jacket at an Akron event.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I disagree that the Men's basketball team not winning a MAC championship this season will hurt attendance next year. I think losing in the semi finals is what hurt. And, how we lost.If we beat Toledo, there would have been one monster freaking party in C-town for the Saturday night game at The Q. If the Toledo game drew 12k, it isn't too far fetched to believe the Akron/Can't matchup could have drawn 18k+. Even if we lost to Can't it wouldn't have mattered too much. Kinda like when we lost the Motor City Bowl. Everyone would have been feeling pretty good.But...we lost to Toledo in gut-wrenching fashion. That will have some carryover for the bandwagoners.Will an NIT run make a difference? Sure it would. Beating Temple would be HUGE. But it won't top what we fell short of last week.

[sgm405]

Conference doesn't matter... September 7, 2007 Columbus Ohio. Akron goes into probably the biggest opportunity to show to the nation they can play with the big boys. They direction that they are headed is one that as much as you might not believe COULD someday lead to a BCS bowl. Look at Utah... sorry if they can do it so can Akron. I have faith in JD that he can do something great at Akron and remember that date September 7th 2007 the state of Ohio and the rest of the country will know that the Ohio State isn't the only team in Ohio. If anyone can do it it's JD. GO ZIPS

And I'll be cheering for Akron...so who the hell cares if I root for OSU in every game before and after that? It makes no sense...it's either jealousy or just OSU haters venting and using being an Akron fan as a disguise...

[zipper]

Akron basketball is on the upswing. I think the 22 wins will help - and if we get another marketing genius in here. Come on, Mack - get another winner!

[MRasor0200]

It's not about competing on the field, or in recruiting.Ohio State is a rival for fans. If you know a lot of Buckeyes fans like I do, you will know that they think OSU is the only college that matters in this state.

[TXZipFan]

Preach Rasor

[sgm405]

It's not about competing on the field, or in recruiting.Ohio State is a rival for fans. If you know a lot of Buckeyes fans like I do, you will know that they think OSU is the only college that matters in this state.

From reading your columns, I would expect more from you. How can you just stereotype a Buckeye fan? Am I a Buckeyes fan as well as a Zips fan? Yes. Do I think OSU has a better athletic program than any other college in Ohio? Yes, overall, I do. Do I think they are the only college in Ohio? Hell no. I think the state is full of great basketball programs, like Cincy, Can't, and now Akron. Football has produced some very good squads recently, such as Akron, BG, Miami, and Toledo. I've sat next to a few AK-Rowdies that are straight up embarassing in how they act and speak to others. Does that mean that all AK-Rowdies are idiots? Hell no...I know that the large majority of our group are great, knowledgable, respectable fans...I don't stereotype the group because of a few bad apples. Please quit doing the same to Buckeyes fans based on what a few friends are like, or (I'm guessing) because of a personal distaste for OSU.

[fear the brown roo]

And I'll be cheering for Akron...so who the hell cares if I root for OSU in every game before and after that? It makes no sense...it's either jealousy or just OSU haters venting and using being an Akron fan as a disguise...

and i say amen to that. don't tell me i can't root for both teams. idiotic argument

[msopher]

Here we go again with this silly Akron-OSU stuff. I'm not from Akron and was raised a Buckeye fan, like many others. I watch both teams, I support both teams, and on the rare occasion the two teams actually play, I cheer for the school I graduated from, Akron. Why should I stop cheering for the Buckeyes? They are in a different conference, we rarely play, and let's face it, we're on two different levels. Our football nor or basketball team will ever compete for a National Title...sad, but realistic. I know the argument is that we go after the same recruits...really? Was Chris Wells really considering Akron's football team or OSU's? Was Greg Oden really going back and forth between OSU's and Akron's basketball programs? OSU goes after the top talent in the country and in Ohio, and they will continue to get it. If you were a star Ohio high school running back and want a shot at the pros one day, where are you really going to go? OSU...bottom line, they get the premier talent. As for Akron, they have to scout a little harder. They're not going to get a McDonald's All-American. They're not going to get the top running back in the nation. They have to find the players that the major schools overlook, or at guys who may not have reached their potential and fly under the radar. That's just how it is...You can root for Michigan, you can cheer against OSU, you can try to knock those who support both OSU and Akron...whatever. But you need to accept that no matter what Akron does, OSU will always have dibs. So unless we move into the same conference or are playing each other, I'm going to accept that and hope Akron can have half of the amount of success OSU has had in athletics...GO ZIPS AND GO BUCKEYES!

Here is the problem with your post:Most of the people who grow up in this state north of Columbus was at one point or another a Buckeye fan. In fact, we will probably have some curiosity on how the Buckeyes are doing regardless of what MAC team we root for.However, the problem with Buckeye fan is this understanding that we are on 2 separate levels of competition. Yes, the Big 10 and the MAC are different conferences and the Big 10 fields better teams with more national exposure. But the last time I checked, it's still Division 1 athletics. I can't stand Buckeye fan referring to MAC schools as second tier. True, they have dominated the MAC in football, but basketball is different because they don't play the MAC for reasons I can't fathom. (Well, I can, Toledo beat them in 1998 ) For so long this state has worshipped Ohio State and will continue to do so until a MAC team beats them consistently. As a Buckeye fan, you need to understand that there are those of us who really don't care about OSU anymore. Most MAC fans now hate OSU and other big name schools because of a lack of respect. I'm glad you like both Akron and OSU and their is no problem rooting for both schools. But, remember that MAC fans don't consider themselves second tier to OSU. As I heard a guy on radio said, "one day a MAC team will beat OSU in football and this state will finally respect the MAC." Until this happens, you have a right to be somewhat cocky to a certain degree. You just need to remember that not everyone in Ohio cares about OSU. Leave the gear at home during MAC contests, and keep the Buckeye talk to their own message boards. Otherwise, we'll be fine with you.

[sgm405]

I do think a MAC team upsetting OSU in football would be big...but do you really think people in Ohio (in general) would all the sudden think the MAC was on the same level? I don't think they would...it'd be looked at as a fluke both locally and nationally. Now, that wouldn't be true IMO...just saying...it wouldn't change that much. For the MAC to get that respect locally and nationally they'd need to beat OSU and other Big Ten schools at at least a decent rate before people put them on the same level. Let's face it...and I say this as a die-hard Zips fan and a secondary Buckeyes fan...we simply aren't on the same level as them. I'm sorry...I wish it was different...trust me, I do...but we're not. The Buckeyes were a national title contender in football last year and will be again next year...they are currently a contender for it in basketball, and will only get better next year. Greg Oden, their star recruit coming in next year, could be the #1 pick in the draft if he went pro. We'll never sniff a national title, nor will we ever get recruits good enough to be the #1 pick in the NBA Draft out of high school. It sucks...and while I do believe the Zips can turn themselvbes into a much bigger and better program, I'm sorry...I don't ever see them being on the same level as OSU. Rip into mea ll you want...I wish it wasnt true..but it's reality. The Zips football team could go undefeated next year and they'd be lucky to get a BCS game, let alone sniff the National Title. As for wearing Buckeyes stuff, gimme a break...hey, some people aren't OSU fans too...that's fine. But that doesn't give anyone the right to tell me what team's gear I can or can't wear. Funny, nobody complains about seeing people wear gear from Notre Dame, Michigan, and other schools that aren't Akron...

[UADavid]

As for wearing Buckeyes stuff, gimme a break...hey, some people aren't OSU fans too...that's fine. But that doesn't give anyone the right to tell me what team's gear I can or can't wear. Funny, nobody complains about seeing people wear gear from Notre Dame, Michigan, and other schools that aren't Akron...

Now the shoe is on the other foot. You don't think people should tell you what to wear? I agree. You shouldn't be telling zip fans how to cheer their team on. GET IT?

[sgm405]

Gimme a break UADavid...and please, stop talking down to me like I'm a 5 year old. Me wearing an OHIO STATE hat has no effect on any game, anyone on this board, or the Zips in general. How people act and cheer at AKRON games are open for discussion because it is related to Zips sports and has a direct effect on games. Nice try though

[a-zip]

We just won our first postseason Basketball game. Cheers all! If attendance is not improved next year based on what our major teams have accomplished THAT would be a slap in the face as bad as the NCAA or any committee has given us. (If I was JD, I would be discouraged)I would expect nothing more than a sellout for Football's, Basketball's and Soccer's 1st home games. The community has gotten as many combined wins and titles as any university this year I can think of - also postseason wins.

[UADavid]

Gimme a break UADavid...and please, stop talking down to me like I'm a 5 year old. Me wearing an OHIO STATE hat has no effect on any game, anyone on this board, or the Zips in general. How people act and cheer at AKRON games are open for discussion because it is related to Zips sports and has a direct effect on games

I'm not telling you what to wear. I'm also not trying to talk down to you. Your telling people how to cheer is foolhardy. In the first place, all you will accomplish with this dialogue is to piss off long time Zip fans and the ones that don't leave will tell you to piss off. So, you're left with a whole lot of piss on you at the end of the day. Are you part of some cheer police? Of course not. Did you act the way your parents wanted you to? I doudt it, I didn't. Can't you step back and see that you're at the wrong end of this argument. People can't be coerced into doing something they don't want to do much less be insulted into doing it.

[mrelegazna]

Gimme a break UADavid...and please, stop talking down to me like I'm a 5 year old. Me wearing an OHIO STATE hat has no effect on any game, anyone on this board, or the Zips in general. How people act and cheer at AKRON games are open for discussion because it is related to Zips sports and has a direct effect on games

I'm not telling you what to wear. I'm also not trying to talk down to you. Your telling people how to cheer is foolhardy. In the first place, all you will accomplish with this dialogue is to piss off long time Zip fans and the ones that don't leave will tell you to piss off. So, you're left with a whole lot of piss on you at the end of the day. Are you part of some cheer police? Of course not. Did you act the way your parents wanted you to? I doudt it, I didn't. Can't you step back and see that you're at the wrong end of this argument. People can't be coerced into doing something they don't want to do much less be insulted into doing it.

Can you point me to where SGM said, "You must cheer for Ohio State?" Because that's what you seem to be accusing him of.On the contrary, I'm getting the message that those of us who cheer on Ohio State in addition to Akron have "piss attitudes" and are just a hair shy of being traitors. Seems to me you're the one telling people who to root for.Like all of us, I hope Akron can reach the top levels of the NCAA someday. If Indiana can support 3 BCS schools, Ohio can damn well support TWO. (Can we really count Cincitucky other than as a technicality?) I won't say jealousy is involved, but I think a lot of people not only want to see Akron rise, but they are looking for someone to blame that they aren't at the top yet.

[sgm405]

I wrote out a response, then read mrelegazna's, so...what he said

[UADavid]

Can you point me to where SGM said, "You must cheer for Ohio State?" Because that's what you seem to be accusing him of.On the contrary, I'm getting the message that those of us who cheer on Ohio State in addition to Akron have "piss attitudes" and are just a hair shy of being traitors. Seems to me you're the one telling people who to root for.Like all of us, I hope Akron can reach the top levels of the NCAA someday. If Indiana can support 3 BCS schools, Ohio can damn well support TWO. (Can we really count Cincitucky other than as a technicality?) I won't say jealousy is involved, but I think a lot of people not only want to see Akron rise, but they are looking for someone to blame that they aren't at the top yet

You have the wrong man. I have never even mentioned Ohio St. Go back and read all the posts. I'm telling him not to tell the AK-Oldies that they need to cheer more. I'm not the guy cracking on Zip fans for liking Ohio St. The first thing to do when posting is to know what the hell you're talking about. Jumping in in the middle of a thread without reading all the posts before it leaves you at a distinct disadvantage. You didn't even need to go that far to see your post is absurd.