Official ZipsNation Engagement 2015-2016 season Discussion

[Balsy]

I wanted to open up a topic on an idea that was brought up in another thread by awhile ago. I think we should make an effort to show up at one place to show the local community that Zips fans are out there. I'm tired of sitting on the sidelines and complaining about our lack of "community" when it comes to UA, so I want to be proactive.

I'm willing to head this up and contact places if we have a good idea of what we want and if there is enough interest. It'd be nice to plan it in advance so that all members can mark their calendars

Please offer commentary. I'm willing to be a point on this if there is enough interest.

[skip-zip]

Thanks for keeping this going, Balsy. When I started that "What can WE do" thread, it didn't seem like we got enough people interested to make it worth our while.

I like the idea of getting fans out there in the community at gatherings, and showing that we exist. I think it will make more people recognize that it's cool to be a Zips fan!!

[pdt1420]

Anyone else in Columbus want to get together for some of these twc games at a bar?

[Balsy]

Thanks for keeping this going, Balsy. When I started that "What can WE do" thread, it didn't seem like we got enough people interested to make it worth our while.

I like the idea of getting fans out there in the community at gatherings, and showing that we exist. I think it will make more people recognize that it's cool to be a Zips fan!!

I agree. I thought it'd be nice to go ahead and get a general idea before I invest the time looking into it. There's a lot of potential, and if ZNO members are afraid of losing anonymity...we don't have to lose our anonymity as members just show up and enjoy the company of other Zips fans.

If there's enough interest I'm going to see what I can do to contact student groups on campus. The answer is always no unless you ask, and I'm tired of sitting back wishing things could be better with fan interest/being in the community.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Anyone else in Columbus want to get together for some of these twc games at a bar?

#TeamOhio

[Dr Z]

Anyone else in Columbus want to get together for some of these twc games at a bar?

TWC

For DirecTV subscribers, I saw this before Xmas. Not much since. Maybe that puts an end to some folks issues.

[zippyfan34]

TWC

For DirecTV subscribers, I saw this before Xmas. Not much since. Maybe that puts an end to some folks issues.

Thanks, Dr. Z. I had not seen this!

[zippy5]

Awesome!!

Did some further digging

[Balsy]

Awesome!!

Did some further digging

Looks like I'll be getting directTV!

[pdt1420]

Nice!

[pdt1420]

Which also will make it easier to find a bar that can put it on? Not too many have twc.

And yes, I have to wash the buckeye stench off me every day.

[Balsy]

Which also will make it easier to find a bar that can put it on? Not too many have twc.

And yes, I have to wash the buckeye stench off me every day.

I know you're down in CBUS, but I'm going to ask them to either put it on TV or radio. But that is dependent on how many people we can get.

[skip-zip]

And yes, I have to wash the buckeye stench off me every day.

I feel for you. And I like your attitude, being a loyal Zips fan while living down there. Kudos to you.

On the other hand, half of my family has moved to that area over the last couple of decades, after living in NE Ohio. And ALL of them are AKRON GRADS.......but today, they are all Buckeye Honks, who vehemently defend all of the corruption, cheating, legal troubles, etc.

It's sad.

[Balsy]

This is sort of depressing the lack interest by Zipsnation faithful here. I'm going to go ahead and put feelers out when it comes to student groups and see what kind of response I get before I make a decision on whether or not to attempt making something or not.

[K92]

I realize you are trying to build community, but you must strike while the iron is hot, Balsy.

The iron is not hot and I don't know if it will ever be hot enough for you to attain your goal.

Perhaps if the football team could achieve some modicum of success, you might get a little more interest in watch parties for away games but the simple fact is a certain percentage of the small number of Zips fans that would consider participating in a bar actually travel to the away games.

I think you might have an easier time congregating with Zips fans in the tailgating lots of Muncie, Ypsilanti, Athens, Oxford, etc.

As far as basketball, come to bdubs or the Score before home games. There are usually a number of ZN.o'ers tablegating there for every home game.

If you really crave Zips camaraderie you simply must get Lot 9 passes for the fall. It's what your fandom is crying out for. Meeting that group of characters is a game changer and many of them are not on the board, I mean many of them deny being on the board. That damn anonymity thing again.

[skip-zip]

Keener,

Actually, some of the gatherings at Johnny J's in the last few years have been fun and spirited. We've packed the back of that place for some road basketball games, in particular. That overtime win over OU on the road a couple of years ago was one of the best times I've ever had in a bar with Zips fans.

If you followed some of the earlier conversations, I think we might just need to find more convenient venues to try out. We've already gotten some feedback that The Valley is just not that easily accessible for everyone, especially during the winter months.

Also, a few years back, I remember when the students used to pack that upper section of the old Ohio Brewing Company for both football and basketball, and there was a huge contingency of people in the lower sections for events such as a road Syracuse football game (the one we won in the Carrier Dome during JDs era), and the place was packed throughout for the tourney game against Gonzaga.

Those are just a few examples. Zips fans are out there, and we don't need to be doing anything incredible to get a decent party together. With the people on this board leading the charge, I think we can start to the show OUR community that this is AKRON....not Cowlumbus North, and demonstrate that it's fun to follow the Zips.

[K92]

Skip,

I'm not pooh-poohing the idea at all, but I know it's difficult to get a groundswell of support for a lot of community-growing ideas. It is certainly more difficult that just posting a poll or sending out an invite. We have been trying to promote www.facebook.com/AkronZipsTailgaters (not as an alternative to ZN.o in any way but mostly just as a place for anyone to post pictures) for 3 years and we have 79 likes to show for it. I know it's tough.

I also realize I am guilty of looking at Zips athletics through a football lens. I certainly enjoy watching Zips basketball on TV and in person but I would probably not travel from Ashland to Akron to watch a game on TV broadcast from BG. I would be more apt to jump in the car meet a buddy in Avery and travel to BG. Unfortunately, a lot of Zips fans do not live in Summit county which makes it a little more difficult.

I do think that the key for community-building is knowing people in real life, by given name and actually make flesh & blood friends. Meeting people from ZN.o is a great place to start, but I would say half of the people I call Zips buddies could care less about this board, which is unfortunate because I think they could add a lot with their commentary. Regardless, my point here is that if I was going to arrange a Zips get together, I would probably not use the board as my medium, I might contact some ZN.o members through the board's personal message function, but I would contact most of the people through the information stored in my phone and by networking with other Zips fans for the contacts I don't have.

I think the best way to get to know a lot of Zips fans is through tailgating and also by bar-hopping at the MAC tournament.

Also, Zips fans need to be friendly toward other Zips fans. There are so many times that an Akron fan calls out to another at a chance meeting on a roady or maybe just tries to make a little conversation to the guy at the supermarket checkout wearing a Zips hat, only to be looked at with astonished bewilderment or blown off altogether. If I bust off an Eat 'Em Up!, Go Zips! or a "Z-I", I expect a positive response, dammit. This type of weird, non-social kookiness from Zips fans hasn't done the community any favors. It makes some Zips backers gun-shy to say anything to others wearing the brand.

Lastly, it bothers me that the University does not acknowledge the fact that the social aspect of sports is huge. If they only realized that, they would not separate tailgaters and make it much easier for me to get to socialize with some of the fine folks who are over in Lot 10 BY ACTUALLY PUTTING ALL TAILGATERS IN THE SAME LOT. I walk over to the Roo Walk and talk to a handful of people in Lot 10 for a hot second before I have to hi-tail it back to Lot 9 to get my grub grillin'. It is extremely frustrating for me.

There goes my rambling, disjointed football first mentality again. . .

[GJGood]

Anyone else in Columbus want to get together for some of these twc games at a bar?

I grew up in Columbus and live in Licking County now after graduating from the U of A seventeen years ago. I am happy to see another Central Ohioan that puts the Zips above the local behemoth as I do. I, however, am not much for the bar scene as I am a non-drinker and I tend to watch the games as an event with my wife and three daughters.

Still its good to know that I am not the only one on this board that is likely to be found wearing their Zips gear in this part of the state.

[skip-zip]

I grew up in Columbus and live in Licking County now after graduating from the U of A seventeen years ago. I am happy to see another Central Ohioan that puts the Zips above the local behemoth as I do. I, however, am not much for the bar scene as I am a non-drinker and I tend to watch the games as an event with my wife and three daughters.

Still its good to know that I am not the only one on this board that is likely to be found wearing their Zips gear in this part of the state.

Amen. We can't even get our alums to act like alums in OUR part of the state.

[Balsy]

Amen. We can't even get our alums to act like alums in OUR part of the state.

We can't even get our STUDENTS to act like they even attend our university.