Balsy Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 He's not.No one visited his site, and that's why it is defunct.Several years ago the creator came on our site trying to siphon our members to it. It pissed a few of us off.If someone can do a better job with a Zips message board than those at ZN.o, that's great. People will gravitate towards it organically. But to come on our site, and tell people "Hey, come see my message board!" was pretty weak.Thanks! I was curious about it and wanted to know the history...I knew someone would know it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 When all else fails just resort to outright bribery to get the students to the games, SMH......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 A professor wearing another University's clothing takes blatant douchebaggery to the nth degree.Remember the notorious story last Fall about the Cincinnati professor who wouldn't let his student wear OSWho crap in his classroom? We don't think that way here, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpsjugglerdude Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Let's see how literally paying the students to attend works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 When all else fails just resort to outright bribery to get the students to the games, SMH.........Considering that students pay $800 a year for athletics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZippers Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Sadly, giveaways are about the only way that students have shown up for games this year. Direct payment is just removing the middle man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Let's see how literally paying the students to attend works.I can already tell you. 1) Some unexpected students will be at some of these games for the money. 2) The rest of the students who already go will get a free $20 in their pockets, compliments of the U of A.I just hope it helps the team, IF the new people get into the game instead of treating it like a social gathering, a place to do homework, or play on their phones. However, with the Below Zero forecast for Wednesday night, the overwhelming majority will be those in #2, which means that my alma mater will just be handing out free money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 2) The rest of the students who already go will get a free $20 in their pockets, compliments of the U of A.More like compliments of themselves. They pay $800 a year towards athletics. The least UA could do is give them $20 that pretty much has to be used on campus services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 To clear up the SMH remark...I'm not adverse at all to the Athletic dept doing this,I'm appalled that this is what it takes though.Somebody mentioned disbanding the Rowdies, I'm all for it, they're a joke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdt1420 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 As a founding member of the ak rowdies, it's sad to see what they've become. Back then, it was less about running a club and more about showing up, ripping the opposition, being loud and having a great time. Shortly after I graduated it started to sound like they were more interested in creating rules and running the club like a little kingdom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sportsjunkie330 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Let's see how literally paying the students to attend works."Largest student crowd".. Seems simple to me, honor students at every game and invite them to the court. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 More like compliments of themselves. They pay $800 a year towards athletics. The least UA could do is give them $20 that pretty much has to be used on campus services.That's a great idea to make them have to spend the money at the U. I understand someone seeing this as basically a payback of student fees that were already paid. My comment about "compliments of UA" is in reference to the fact that so many students who will be receiving these payments are already going to the game anyway. In those cases, it's like the U is just throwing money out the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Let's see how literally paying the students to attend works.Seems like a start. Hope there is a follow up. Now, if they could fill three sections behind the visitors bench...oh yeah, I know...(insert standard old excuses here).My comment about "compliments of UA" is in reference to the fact that so many students who will be receiving these payments are already going to the game anyway. In those cases, it's like the U is just throwing money out the window. Unless those fans start telling other students about it, and convince their student friends to come using financial gain as a selling point. Then you are paying a salesman five (sort of) dollars to do a job. That would be a pretty good value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staton14 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 That's a great idea to make them have to spend the money at the U. I understand someone seeing this as basically a payback of student fees that were already paid. My comment about "compliments of UA" is in reference to the fact that so many students who will be receiving these payments are already going to the game anyway. In those cases, it's like the U is just throwing money out the window. Is the U really throwing money out the window if the money has to be spent at the University? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Unless those fans start telling other students about it, and convince their student friends to come using financial gain as a selling point. Then you are paying a salesman five (sort of) dollars to do a job. That would be a pretty good value.Sure, in theory that is effective, IF those other people that come along are also not coming just this time, only for the money. You'd have to ask yourself how many people will become repeat attendees, and possibly future ticket buyers, to at least cover the cost of the promotion.Don't get me wrong. As a longtime fan, I want to see more people in the building. But for the purpose of this discussion, I am looking at this as a business person and I don't see an ultimate financial benefit to the party that's paying for the promotion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 I have a solution: Win. Win a lot. Students will come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Sure, in theory that is effective, IF those other people that come along are also not coming just this time, only for the money. You'd have to ask yourself how many people will become repeat attendees, and possibly future ticket buyers, to at least cover the cost of the promotion.Don't get me wrong. As a longtime fan, I want to see more people in the building. But for the purpose of this discussion, I am looking at this as a business person and I don't see an ultimate financial benefit to the party that's paying for the promotion. They could have funded a big chunk of the promotion with hot dog sales from the K.e.n.t. game. Seriously.I buy $50 worth of clothes at Kohl's, I get $10 in Kohl's Cash to be used at the store. It works...I go back.Give a student $20 on his/her Zip card. It works. They come back.Skip seems to pine for the old days of the JAR. I remember in '84 they held a "free pizza and t-shirt night." The shirt said "Zips Lightning - Watch it Strike." Our entire dorm floor went to the game and got the pizza and t-shirts. Most of them never returned, but I did.Kids are the same today as they were years ago. They can be bought with free pizza and t-shirts. And hopefully a few of them have a good time and return.And the t-shirt no longer fits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes102 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 As a founding member of the ak rowdies, it's sad to see what they've become. Back then, it was less about running a club and more about showing up, ripping the opposition, being loud and having a great time. Shortly after I graduated it started to sound like they were more interested in creating rules and running the club like a little kingdom.Some are going to look at my comments and agree with some of it. Majority will probably call me an idiot for saying them. I understand whichever way you feel about this post. None of it is clear cut, or we wouldn't be having this discussion. Having experience of being an AK-Rowdie, I wanted to share what I felt the problem has become. Majority of it is the leadership(or lack of) of the organization. But that's not the only reason for it:I was a member from Fall 2009-Spring 2012. Earlier on it was what I was hoping for. I was at a high school that had good to great athletics(depending on the sport), and our student section lacked enthusiasm and creativity. That was there my first couple years at UA. Before the athletic department stepped in, and wouldn't allow certain things to be done anymore that made it to an extent, " really fun". Now it's almost coming across as a job or a chore to be part of it because there's so many things you cannot do that could get the organization in trouble with the athletic department. I may be wrong, but I believe that trips taken by organization have to be approved by higher authority than just the organization. So when the athletic department has a beef with the organization already(College Cup in 2009), they'll make it almost impossible for anyone to have any fun with it. Which is why it's terrible now. No one wants to lead it with the burden of the athletic department always breathing down your neck on every little detail.Plus, the Roo Wards was a thing that the AK-Rowdies started, and was presented to the athletic department as how to get more students in attendance at games for the organization. Department stole the idea and put it out there for the entire student body. Which I didn't think was a bad idea, I just see that AK-Rowdies funds from membership fees(which includes the cost of the t-shirt by the way), gives you perks that go beyond the price you pay for it. But with the athletic department under the necks of it, that value of those perks have started to vanish and make the group that much more sad.My last point: Porter always stood up for the Rowdies, and the department couldn't do much about it because that was the top college coach in the sport(multiple college and MLS offers every offseason). Then he took the Portland job, and the Rowdies are no longer "protected". Nothing against Embick, but Porter just had the star power that Embick doesn't have right now.That is why I think you're seeing this dramatic fall of the AK-Rowdies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 I have a solution: Win. Win a lot. Students will come.Balsy, we've used that for years to explain the lack of student participation at Football games. But, how can we possibly apply that to Basketball? We do win, and win a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Balsy, we've used that for years to explain the lack of student participation at Football games. But, how can we possibly apply that to Basketball? We do win, and win a lot. Look at the 2012-2013 season. That was a lot, and the attendance was way up and breaking records. 8-4 in the MAC isn't turning any heads.. Either dominate the MAC or beat some teams out of conference. Our friend Joe Akron doesn't care how many times we beat Arkansas Pine Bluff and the directional Michigans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 They could have funded a big chunk of the promotion with hot dog sales from the K.e.n.t. game. Seriously.I buy $50 worth of clothes at Kohl's, I get $10 in Kohl's Cash to be used at the store. It works...I go back.Give a student $20 on his/her Zip card. It works. They come back.Skip seems to pine for the old days of the JAR. I remember in '84 they held a "free pizza and t-shirt night." The shirt said "Zips Lightning - Watch it Strike." Our entire dorm floor went to the game and got the pizza and t-shirts. Most of them never returned, but I did.Kids are the same today as they were years ago. They can be bought with free pizza and t-shirts. And hopefully a few of them have a good time and return.And the t-shirt no longer fits.My shirts no longer fit either. Along with the 50 old concert t-shirts I still have, which my wife begs me to throw away. And she continues to be unsuccessful Honestly, I went to games in the early 80s because I wanted to go. I was a student at Akron, and a sports fan, and I really wanted to be a Zips fan. All of the giveaways were icing on the cake for me. Anyway....That's the entire question, Kangaroo. Are large enough numbers coming back? Kohl's and Fridays and places like that make it work because of the tremendous amount of repeat sales volume that follows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Look at the 2012-2013 season. That was a lot, and the attendance was way up and breaking records. 8-4 in the MAC isn't turning any heads.. Either dominate the MAC or beat some teams out of conference. Our friend Joe Akron doesn't care how many times we beat Arkansas Pine Bluff and the directional Michigans.I agree with you about winning something significant to bring in the "Joe Akron's". But Balsy was talking about the students. and I will always correct someone who tries to contend that students will come if we just win. We already DO win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 I agree with you about winning something significant to bring in the "Joe Akron's". But Balsy was talking about the students. and I will always correct someone who tries to contend that students will come if we just win. We already DO win. The same applies for student attendance in that stretch too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 The same applies for student attendance in that stretch too.If you're right, and it takes 18 game winning streaks and 27 win seasons to get a decent amount of our own students legitimately interested in attending a FREE basketball game, then we're in trouble. Again, I'm in agreement with you that it takes significant things to pull Joe Akron off of the couch, but our own students on our own campus is another issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Hey I didn't say it was easy But just showing winning will get them to games. It's just that it takes more winning than is normally possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.