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Prefer not to bump this discussion, but I think it's worth mentioning.

In both of the home game I've attended this year, I've noticed a pathetic excuse of student section even for Akron's standards.Chants? No. I follow the AK Rowdies on twitter and something has caught my eye the past few days. A ton of promoting for the soccer team (not that there is anything wrong with that) and even a solid amount for the basketball team for as early in the season as it is. However on the other hand, there is hardly anything at all for the Football team. Absolutely no promoting to try and get Rowdies to the games. No soccer ticket giveouts for showing up(like they did for student who came to the Hiram game), no free pizza, no free hot chocolate/donuts, no free shirts, nothing. I will give them credit for having their tailgate, but it doesn't really promote getting students to the game.

Students have a lack of interest in the football program, and unfortunately part of the problem is a lack of interest from student leadership. The Zips are playing their biggest game in quite some time and support will be pathetic im sure come Saturday.

https://twitter.com/TheAKROWDIES

Perfect example: WIN and students attend games!!

When the Leatherheads post a winning seasons, the students will show up to games!!

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Perfect example: WIN and students attend games!!

When the Leatherheads post a winning seasons, the students will show up to games!!

The Zips basketball team, and soccer teams are very successful and students still don't show up to games; I was at the soccer game sunday for the MAC Championship, and (on a beautiful day) there were very few students...). The student-attendance problem is a cultural one, and it has many variables that have been discussed at length on this thread and on this board.

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The Zips basketball team, and soccer teams are very successful and students still don't show up to games; I was at the soccer game sunday for the MAC Championship, and (on a beautiful day) there were very few students...). The student-attendance problem is a cultural one, and it has many variables that have been discussed at length on this thread and on this board.

It's not just students who don't show up.

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Perfect example: WIN and students attend games!!

When the Leatherheads post a winning seasons, the students will show up to games!!

Maybe we just need to install a wall of mats on the scoreboard end of the field and see if students show up in droves to perform an annoying slap the whole game.

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Maybe we just need to install a wall of mats on the scoreboard end of the field and see if students show up in droves to perform an annoying slap the whole game.

124740629_display_image.jpg?1316377722

We used to be able to do that at the football stadium...Now they have fences to prevent students from walking up to the actual guardrail in the south endzone student section. Nothing speaks: "we don't trust our students, and must treat them like babies who need to stand behind a fence behind another fence" than that move. It's not like we had a major problem of students rushing the field or something...why they made that move is just stupid to me; it looks tacky as hell.

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We used to be able to do that at the football stadium...Now they have fences to prevent students from walking up to the actual guardrail in the south endzone student section. Nothing speaks: "we don't trust our students, and must treat them like babies who need to stand behind a fence behind another fence" than that move. It's not like we had a major problem of students rushing the field or something...why they made that move is just stupid to me; it looks tacky as hell.

It will be nice when they have something to make them want to rush the field.

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We used to be able to do that at the football stadium...Now they have fences to prevent students from walking up to the actual guardrail in the south endzone student section. Nothing speaks: "we don't trust our students, and must treat them like babies who need to stand behind a fence behind another fence" than that move. It's not like we had a major problem of students rushing the field or something...why they made that move is just stupid to me; it looks tacky as hell.

Speaking of tacky, how about the barricades they installed around the concourse after the Pitt game?

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Kenner, that actually started many years ago when the "guards" continually told everyone that there was an imaginary line that they could not cross, which kept you far enough away that you could barely see down onto the field. All you had to do was walk in that direction, and someone would tell you "you must stay behind this area right here".

Now, they've simply put up rails so you cannot see onto the field at all without going to your seats. Expect this to be enforced, even if there is a few hundred people in the stadium. And expect to continue to hear them say "It's for everyone's safety!!".

There's times where a rule or policy is just senseless for the situation it is applied to. This would be one of those times. It's just a complete turn off, and just gives people another reason to strengthen their beliefs that Akron sporting events are just not an enjoyable experience.

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Speaking of tacky, how about the barricades they installed around the concourse after the Pitt game?

I'm sure those were added because lower-seat fans didn't like wading through the sea of humanity that was huddled under the overhang trying to escape the downpour.

Seems like a big overreaction to a one-time occurrence (not rain, which happens every home game, but the combination of rain + a good crowd).

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I'm sure those were added because lower-seat fans didn't like wading through the sea of humanity that was huddled under the overhang trying to escape the downpour.

Seems like a big overreaction to a one-time occurrence (not rain, which happens every home game, but the combination of rain + a good crowd).

Yeah I dont mind it really. Sit in your seat that you paid for. Plus it makes crowds look better when people are actually in their seats and not all huddled together in the entrance ways. I doubt most other Universities let people stand and clog up aisle ways.

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I'm going to say something crazy here...but how about...the Zips allow umbrellas for Saturday's game?

Oh, believe me I know the dangers that umbrellas inherently add to sporting events...people's eyes getting gouged out and whatnot...and I know that umbrellas can obstruct the game view.

But what if you moved your butt left or right into the seat next to you if an umbrella was in your way? There will be 25,000 empty seats around you...pick one.

Or set up "The University of Akron Ohio's Polytechnic University Umbrella Zone" in one of the completely empty sections, where fans can sit if they want to risk the danger of getting stabbed by a little girl with a pink Hello Kitty umbrella?

Some outside the box m-f'er came up with "Bring Your Dog to the Ball Park" days. And people seem to love them. Umbrella pokings can be deadly. But I think the risk of getting bit by someone's yippy dog...or stepping in a pile of crap, is much worse.

C'mon, Larry Williams..."Are You Out There™?" Make umbrellas happen @ InfoCision!! You have the power!

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Perfect example: WIN and students attend games!!

When the Leatherheads post a winning seasons, the students will show up to games!!

My post wasn't so much about actual attendance as it was student leadership not showing the same support for football as they do our other prominent programs.

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Umbrellas should never be allowed in any venue...ever. Spend the $5 on a poncho, and everyone is happy. Plus, it's a lot less problematic to carry around. Most high school stadiums I've been to this year don't even allow them anymore. Not all have this policy, but most. I get where people are coming from, but there are not enough good reasons to allow umbrellas into venues. If it's a venue policy, then enforce it all the time. That being said, I did overhear a police officer at the Pitt game tell someone they could bring in their umbrella. Consistency is an issue.

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I sit down in 110 and the Pitt game wasn't the first time that area got really crowded. I like the solution that they came up with.

I am not going to argue with the policy, I think the policy is fine. I'm taking issue with the Big Lots barricades.

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Because it looks tacky and sends an inconsistent message. And fans who attend the games are entitled enough as it is. There is no way that somebody who pays to sit in the lower level would willingly sit in the upper level just to use an umbrella. A better emphasis could be made to actively sell Akron ponchos though. I'll say that much in terms of accommodation.

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Because it looks tacky and sends an inconsistent message. And fans who attend the games are entitled enough as it is. There is no way that somebody who pays to sit in the lower level would willingly sit in the upper level just to use an umbrella. A better emphasis could be made to actively sell Akron ponchos though. I'll say that much in terms of accommodation.

Maybe we can get some ponchos with the "Moving A" on the back. You know, like the ones the football team still use.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The attendance for the Can't Statecks game was 16,391. I have no idea how many people were actually there, but it appeared to me to be the second largest crowd (Pitt) of the season. Apart from the sections near each of the endzones, it was fairly full on the lower level and it sounded like a better than average turnout on the top level. The student section, was regrettably, yet understandably, fairly empty. I went to a Thanksgiving weekend game at WVU once and it was similar for the student section.

We should pursue Progressive Insurance (Based out of CLE) to sponsor a poncho giveaway. They can put a, "We' ve got the Zips covered." message on them. Will someone from the athletics department please make this happen. We should also have Zips ponchos for sale in the bookstore.

Along the lines of building relationships with the community, Akron had a few holiday inspired events this weekend and there was no noticeable UA/Zips presence at any of the events. The MC for the parade started a few OH- chants and there was no mention lf the Zips until some guy shouted, "Go Zips!" Even if we have to pay a few kids from the University, let's at least do a better job getting into these community events. I realize both the football team and marching band were trying to enjoy some of the holiday, but maybe get the kids from Akron either on a float or walking the route, handing out Zips swag. Maybe with, "Bowl-Bound 2015" on the shirts. True story, one woman told another at the parade that they had missed the Wagon Wheel game and that the team was going to a bowl and the second woman insisted that there was no way the team was going to a bowl. Winning fans over doesn't happen overnight a d the marketing department has a lot of work to do.

Has anyone worked at getting Lebron to do the coin toss or get him to a game at all?

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Maybe half of those people were really in attendance. But, I can tell you that the crowd was really into the game. I think that's the first time I could really say that this year. Maybe it was because the conditions allowed enough people to actually stay in their seats for a change. Or, maybe it was because they did what they are there to do.....urge our team to accomplish something we haven't done in 10 years. I think it was a pretty engaged crowd that appeared to really care about what was on the line.

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  • 3 weeks later...

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