sgm405 Posted September 25, 2006 Report Posted September 25, 2006 In a recent thread, bobbyake said the following:"that's because we all know you like looking at OSU on the front page. You seem to show little pride or passion for the Zips."I wanted to make sure that everyone caught this - one Zips fan questioning another - and also caught my response. This is probably the least accurate statement ever made about me and frankly Bobby, I thought you were better than that. We've had our disagreements about wheteher or not someone can and should cheer for OSU, and I think at this point we can basically agree to disagree. However, don't you ever, ever, EVER question my pride and/or passion for the Zips. You don't know me...how can you even make a comment like that?FYI...I came to the University of Akron in the fall of 2000. I earned my Bachelor's degree last December and started on my Masters degree at UA this fall. So I've been here about 6 years...and in those six years, I've probably missed 4 or 5 football/basketball home games due to work. In those six years, I've traveled to Can't for all but one football/basketball game between the two rivals, to Ohio State to see them a few years back, to Central Michigan...I've been to every MAC Tournament in Cleveland...I went to Detroit (MAC Title game/Motor City Bowl). In fact I left straight from work to go to the MAC Title Game, got home around 3 AM that night and had to wake up at 6:30 AM to teach six classes the next day...but I did it. I've been to soccer and volleball games even though I don't even really like the sports. Last year I made a deal with my students saying that if they wore blue, gold, and/or an Akron shirt the day of the MAC Title game I'd buy them full-sized candy bars. It cost me a bit of money, but it was worth it to see that high school looking very "Akron-like" for a day. Ever since I've entered the teaching profession, I've pushed junior and senior students that I've had in class to look into the University of Akron, telling them all about the school, campus, etc, offering to set up tours for them, even bringing in application information for them. And more than a few of them have either picked or strongly considered Akron when they might not have before. I'm proud to be a student at the University of Akron and love the Zips and, as you can see, show this in many different ways. Disagree with me about cheering for OSU on the side, disagree with me about the ABJ, but don't you dare question my pride and passion for this school.
bobbyake Posted September 25, 2006 Report Posted September 25, 2006 then get off OSU's ball sack. From seeing you defend OSU so much, it's only fair to assume that OSU is your Jesus.
sgm405 Posted September 25, 2006 Author Report Posted September 25, 2006 then get off OSU's ball sack. From seeing you defend OSU so much, it's only fair to assume that OSU is your Jesus.Good, thoughtful response bobby...I figured that instead of saying "Hey, you're right...we can just agree to disagree on OSU but in the end, we're both Zips fans" you gave us that...keep writing those letters to the OSU Beat Writer telling them to stop covering OSU
Buckzip Posted September 25, 2006 Report Posted September 25, 2006 Great post SGM. I have decided to ignore Bobby. He is merely here to piss us off with his very insightful posts, and so called facts.Gotta love a Zips fan trying to piss off other Zips fans.I still give money to the UA alumni association, and attend as many games as possible. Yet, I have some immature moron on here basically saying I am a traitor because I root for OSU, which I am also an Alum of. By saying rooting for OSU is like rooting for Can't, that is implying I am a traitor.Personally I am done with him. This thread will be gone soon anyway.
sgm405 Posted September 25, 2006 Author Report Posted September 25, 2006 Great post SGM. I have decided to ignore Bobby. He is merely here to piss us off with his very insightful posts, and so called facts.Gotta love a Zips fan trying to piss off other Zips fans.I still give money to the UA alumni association, and attend as many games as possible. Yet, I have some immature moron on here basically saying I am a traitor because I root for OSU, which I am also an Alum of. By saying rooting for OSU is like rooting for Can't, that is implying I am a traitor.Personally I am done with him. This thread will be gone soon anyway. Thanks for the post BuckZip...glad to see I'm not alone here. Also glad to see another Zips fan doing everything they can to give back to the University...kudos to you my friend!
bobbyake Posted September 26, 2006 Report Posted September 26, 2006 you guys can take turns bending each other over for all I care. I don't like OSU and don't like seeing my community supporting an outside team like the one from Columbus when there's a great one already here that needs the support. I wouldn't bash OSU if this community actually gave a damn about the University of Akron. But when 16,011 show up for the first home game, I'm going to take it out on the Suckeyes.So I'll bash OSU, and bash, and bash them.
sgm405 Posted September 26, 2006 Author Report Posted September 26, 2006 you guys can take turns bending each other over for all I care. I don't like OSU and don't like seeing my community supporting an outside team like the one from Columbus when there's a great one already here that needs the support. I wouldn't bash OSU if this community actually gave a damn about the University of Akron. But when 16,011 show up for the first home game, I'm going to take it out on the Suckeyes.So I'll bash OSU, and bash, and bash them. You go ahead and do that. Do you really think bashing people who cheer for OSU is going to make them become Zips fans, or bigger Zips fans? I suggest taking a look at this thread: http://zipsnation.org/index.php?showtopic=3669A North Texas fan came over and was respectful anhd kind to a group of fans of the team that just beat down his team. And you know what? Because he was respectful and kind and had nice words to say, I'm going to cheer for North Texas for the rest of the year. It's okay if you hate Ohio State. But by treating fans that are fans of both teams like garbage, you're only helping to drive them further away from wanting to be a part of Akron's fan base. I've talked about it before and I'll say it again...how you carry yourself as a fan is the most important thing in creating a fan base. When I see Can't's crowd, they yell/scream obscenities, they are disrespectful towards other fans, and every other chant is something about someone "sucking". And that makes me so glad to not be a part of that. Central Michigan football fans...Ohio State football fans...Ohio U. basketball fans...the North Texas football fans there last week...all of these groups that I have come in contact with have treated me - a Zips fan - with the utmost respect and haven't talked down to me one bit. Now, this isn't to say they don't do a bit of ribbing or teasing, or cheer wholeheartedly for their team...but they don't talk down to you. Do you want to be like that, or like Can't? I'll tell you which one will help our fan base grow...
bobbyake Posted September 26, 2006 Report Posted September 26, 2006 whether you like it or not, if OSU went 4-8 in football, I'm willing to bet Akron wouldn't have attendance issues.
sgm405 Posted September 26, 2006 Author Report Posted September 26, 2006 whether you like it or not, if OSU went 4-8 in football, I'm willing to bet Akron wouldn't have attendance issues. Yes they would. The lack of support - in my opinion - is that there are still a lot of non-believers. That Central Michigan game KILLED attendance. Do you know how many times throughout the week I heard some variation of "They looked good until they lost to friggin' Central Michigan"...because the average fan doesn't even realize that Central Michigan has a pretty damn good team this year. Like it or not, the average fan enjoyed last year but still looks at it as an anomaly. They see a team that was 6-5 and got to the MAC Title game on a three-way tiebreak. They see a team that won the Title game on a desperation (but maybe lucky) pass. They enjoyed every second of it...but the average fan didn't believe it was more than our team getting hot at the end of the year. The year started with a good showing against Penn State...the huge win over N.C. State followed, and campus was buzzing. The average fan was finally thinking...are they for real??? And then they lost a game to Central Michigan, a team the average fan sees as a lower-tier team. Now the average fan sees us only as a 3 point favorite against lowly Can't State. So what do you have to do to get the fans back? Win, win, and win some more. For the fans to come and stay, Akron needs to prove that they truly are the real deal. I believe they are...you believe they are...a decent amount of people actually does the same...but the average fan doesn't. THAT is why the attendance is a problem, not Ohio State.
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