Can We See Some Of this Saturday?

[Buckzip]

BuckZip, if rooting for a team once or twice a year because it's playing against a team that steals local media coverage away from my Zips qualifies me as a frontrunner, then so be it.

So be it. Again, you are blaming the wrong group for the piss poor media coverage.Nobody from Columbus comes up and tells the Leaking Urinal to cover them.They aren't "stealing" anything. It is the papers fault that they ignore Akron. It is also Akron's fault that they are ignored. If they started winning consistently they would be covered more consistently. People here are completely apathetic to Akron sports. It's quite sad. I hate it too. However, to blame someone or something that has nothing to do with that is unfair.You are the accountant. You understand supply and demand.If OSU didn't exist, they would probably cover Michigan or Notre Shame, or some other major "sports" school.Hating OSU because you feel they "steal" the coverage is a little over the edge. IMHO

[ZachTheZip]

I've been waging a war on the Ohio.com comment's section for a little while, as have some others here. Lets see if they notice. So far, not a single author has responded to either praise or getting blasted.

[Zipgrad1990]

It is the papers fault that they ignore Akron. It is also Akron's fault that they are ignored. If they started winning consistently they would be covered more consistently. People here are completely apathetic to Akron sports. It's quite sad. I hate it too. However, to blame someone or something that has nothing to do with that is unfair.You are the accountant. You understand supply and demand.

I agree but it also helps when OSU loses. If OSU was really bad even the ABJ would cover them less (although it wouldn't increase the Zips coverage, that would take wins as you mention). As an example consider OSU basketball, for many years they were down and out and got little or no coverage.

[skip-zip]

Nice job guys. Obviously, someone wasn't aware that we've won some titles lately too. As for the Florida being a "front runner" comments, how many people in Ohio do you think become Suckeyes fans because they compete in a conference where they have a chance for national championships?Better yet, let me ask this question. If Ohio State played in the MAC, and Akron played in the Big Ten, who would have the lion's share of fans in Ohio?It's a no brainer.

[Buckzip]

Nice job guys. Obviously, someone wasn't aware that we've won some titles lately too. As for the Florida being a "front runner" comments, how many people in Ohio do you think become Suckeyes fans because they compete in a conference where they have a chance for national championships?Better yet, let me ask this question. If Ohio State played in the MAC, and Akron played in the Big Ten, who would have the lion's share of fans in Ohio?It's a no brainer.

Great question.If Akron was in the B10 and Ohio State was in the MAC.Well, I bet that many Akron fans would have no idea why the fans in Columbus hate the Akron fans. Also good point about bball. That also shows that if a team is winning, the BJ would cover it.When OSU was not very good at bball, the BJ covered them very little. However, now that they have emerged as a powerhouse, the BJ covers them.I bet that if Akron ever emerged as a powerhouse the BJ would cover them too.Many Akron fans are "front runners". They only show up when the team is doing well.Look at the MCB. We had more people there than we do for regular home games.Come on now, people won't drive 30 minutes or less to see a loser, but they will drive 4-5 hours to see a winner. What happened to all those people that drove to Detroit? I think they all forgot Akron again because Akron isn't winning.Honestly, I get why some of you dislike OSU. I am only saying that if Akron was winning, there wouldn't be a problem. A lot of us are blaming the sympton instead of the problem.By the way guys great discussion. I love talking with you guys without anyone attacking and all of us just expressing our opinions.

[bobbyake]

I honestly think that last years basketball team should be considered a powerhouse. They would have at least made the sweet 16 in the NCAA if we didn't get screwed.

[Buckzip]

I 1000000% agree, However, we were screwed. So we will never know.Do you really not think the BJ would have covered akron if they were in the tournament?I think they would have. They covered Can't when they were in the tournament.Hopefully we will find out the answers next March.

[bobbyake]

Can you deny the fact that OSU steals fan support away from Akron in Northeast Ohio? I know everyone wants to root for a winner, but for some reason the Browns are still capable of getting fan support.This is how I see it: If OSU starts to lose more often and becomes the next Indiana in the Big Ten, those buckeye fans in the Northeast Ohio area will no longer root for them. I think the only reason people around here root for OSU is because they have a winning tradition. They can't say they root for OSU because of the Ohio in the name because I don't see anyone around here rooting for OU. If OSU's winning tradition ends, probably 80% of those fans will stop rooting for OSU. I'd like to see Akron steal some of that 80%

[skip-zip]

bobby..you're right on the money.Although, it's not about "winning" necessarily. It's about having a chance to win a national title. If that was Akron in that position, everyone in this area that "says" they are a Suckeyes fan would turn Benedict Arnold in a hurry.

[Buckzip]

Can you deny the fact that OSU steals fan support away from Akron in Northeast Ohio? I know everyone wants to root for a winner, but for some reason the Browns are still capable of getting fan support.This is how I see it: If OSU starts to lose more often and becomes the next Indiana in the Big Ten, those buckeye fans in the Northeast Ohio area will no longer root for them. I think the only reason people around here root for OSU is because they have a winning tradition. They can't say they root for OSU because of the Ohio in the name because I don't see anyone around here rooting for OU. If OSU's winning tradition ends, probably 80% of those fans will stop rooting for OSU. I'd like to see Akron steal some of that 80%

No, I don't think OSU "steals" fan support from Akron. I feel it is more a case of Akron has never done anything to garner fan support. To steal it from Akron, Akron would to have one time had it. Akron never has had fan support.The Browns are a different entity all together. That is pro sports and the Browns have a great tradition. Sure if OSU went down the toilet for years on end they would lose "some" fans. Absolutely. I am not delusional enought to believe that there are no front runners.Like I said before, there are front runner Zip fans too. Notice how many people went to Detroit for the MCB? Where have they all gone?SKIP ZIP-SOOOO, noone supports Akron because they aren't winners. So if OSU started losing, Akron started winning, and those people became "Benedict Arnolds" Zips fans, how is that any different than the fans that are only following OSU because they are the winners? Are you saying it's ok for the fans to follow Akron only because Akron is a winner, but it's wrong to follow OSU only because they are the winners? Isn't that a little hippocritical?If those fans only follow Akron because they are winning are they truly fans?However, like the OSU bball team was used as an example. Even when the bball team wasn't doing well for a long time, they still drew over 10,000 per game. They even sold out quite a bit. A huge part of that is the students. The students at OSU care about the sports teams. The Akron students don't. Another huge part is the alumni. Alumni is huge at OSU. Here at Akron you never hear anything about alumni.Other states have multiple "big time sports schools". You are never a fan of both.Look at California. You are a fan of UCLA or USC. Noone is a fan of both.However, some of them might be fans of one of them and Fresno State. Im Michigan, you are a fan of Michigan or Michigan State. You aren't a fan of both.However, you might be a fan of Central Michigan or Western Michigan, etc.People in Florida are fans of Miami, Florida or Florida State. Not more than one of them.However, they may be fans of UCF.This really isn't an issue that is only in Ohio. I truly believe that if Akron started winning, moved into a BCS conference and started going to bowl games the entire dynamic would change. Now answer me this. We are all Akron fans. If not, we wouldn't be here. What if Akron all of a sudden burst on the national scene and went to a bigger conference and into bowl games. Then we started selling out and everyone forgot OSU and was all Akron.Why is that ok? Aren't these people really just front runners? After all, they didn't care when Akron wasn't on top. Everyone likes a winner. To me it is ok. However, the way you are sounding is that it isn't.Look at Boise State and Rutgers. Before last year those teams bever had sellouts. Then they had great seasons, and everyone is suddenly a fan. Those people are front runners. They only liked the team when they were good.If you read any national recruiting publications, you will see that when they talk about recruting competition, they talk about Florida having 3 schools that have to fight it out and how California has 3-4 schools and Michigan has 2. However, Ohio has only 1 big time school. Even players in Akron don't come to Akron. Sure, some of them do, but the big time athletes go elsewhere. If it isn't OSU, it's Michigan or Michigan State or Northwestern or Illinois or Purdue, etc. Johnny Adams wanted to go to OSU. However, he was never offered. So he ended up comitting to Michigan State. He never even gave Akron the time of day.Imagine if just the top players in NE Ohio went to Akron. We would be top 20 every year.My point is that it isn't just Ohio and it isn't just Akron that has this problem. I bet that Miami, and Ohio and Toledo all feel the same way we do. I can't explain it, and neither can you. However, most people don't look at Akron and OSU on the same playing field. "IF" OSU wipes the floor with Akron tomorrow, all those people that feel this way will say "see, they aren't the same"Like I said earlier, the only ones that can chenge the perception of Akron sports, are the teams themselves. Even if the BJ covered Akron sports like they should, I don't feel that would matter to the fan base. The people in the area are extremely apathetic towards Akron sports. I am sorry to say it, but it's the truth.Sorry for the long rant, but I am very passionate about my schools and want things to be on a more even playing field. (pun intended)

[skip-zip]

I'm saying that people will gravitate to the team that is in position to win national championship, period. Which explains your typical Ohio college football fan. If that's not the case, why aren't Ohio college football fans predominantly following Toledo? or BG? or Cincinnati? In my case, and the case of many of the other alums and fans I hang out with, we're Akron fans. We don't "become" the fans of other schools based on what is happening in the national polls.

[Class of 82]

In my case, and the case of many of the other alums and fans I hang out with, we're Akron fans.  We don't "become" the fans of other schools based on what is happening in the national polls.

I just heard the sound of a hammer head hitting a nail.That is precisely the point, Skip. It really isn't that I "hate" Ohio State, or any other team. It is that I "love" Akron.What burns me most is not lack of coverage in the ABJ, it is that so many people who actually LIVE in Akron, and even worse, who WENT to the University of Akron have so much disdain for their own city and school. The inferiority complex in this city is absolutely infuriating.Maybe if people actually took AND EXPRESSED a little pride in their community, this town would not have to struggle so hard to keep from going down the toilet.Here's hoping for the day when every Akron kid, from football jock to scholar, can't wait for the college expereince, in all its wonderful facets, at their hometown university.

[Buckzip]

I'm saying that people will gravitate to the team that is in position to win national championship, period.  Which explains your typical Ohio college football fan.  If that's not the case, why aren't Ohio college football fans predominantly following Toledo? or BG? or Cincinnati?  In my case, and the case of many of the other alums and fans I hang out with, we're Akron fans.  We don't "become" the fans of other schools based on what is happening in the national polls.

I think that describes many college football fans. Not just Ohio.Did every Michigan fan go to UM? Did every Florida fan go to UF?Did every USC fan go to USC? I bet they didn'tSo, like I asked earlier. How is it different if people like Akron just because they are winners?You hate front running OSU fans, but front running Akron fans are ok. Do I have that right?When I was growing up I had a friend that was a USC fan. They were good back then.He had no ties whatsoever. I asked him why USC. His answer they are good and fun to follow. He was obviously a front runner. I could care less. I did like to tease him when they would lose, but it didn't matter that he was a front runner.Why do so many Akron fans care if people are front runners? I don't care. It doesn't affect me as a fan at all.Hell, the area atheletes won't even go to Akron. We get the 2nd or 3rd tier guys. We rarely get the high rated guys. And when we do it is because they won't qualify anyway. (Anton Hight)Like I said earlier, if the teams are winning the fans will come. Nobody wants to constantly cheer for a loser. With the Browns each season brings new hope. There are new draft picks, new free agent signings, etc. They play on an even playing field with the rest of the NFL.With Akron, there is a litlle new hope, but we all know we didn't get one of the top recruiting classes in the country. We know we are still behind the big dogs.Geez, we are lucky if 1/2 of our recruiting class even plays for the team.This year is good for UA. I think there are only 3-4 non qualifiers.I understand what you are saying. I really do. However, you also need to understand that unless this team gives a reason for people to want to see them, nobody will wnat to see them. If it wasn't for the few of us Zip lovers, there would be no fans.

Here's hoping for the day when every Akron kid, from football jock to scholar, can't wait for the college expereince, in all its wonderful facets, at their hometown university

. I agree 100%. I look forward to that day as well.

[ZipAlumn]

What burns me most is not lack of coverage in the ABJ, it is that so many people who actually LIVE in Akron, and even worse, who WENT to the University of Akron have so much disdain for their own city and school. The inferiority complex in this city is absolutely infuriating.

I completely agree ... and you can add to those two groups the students at the University of Akron. Even when I went there (before the advent of the wheel) most of the students were apathetic and rarely attended anything on campus, let alone athletic events.

[Cicero]

OSU fans would know a lot about envy. 2 National Championships in one year for the Gators.

Yes but what exactly does that have to do with Akron?

[ZachTheZip]

OSU fans would know a lot about envy. 2 National Championships in one year for the Gators.

Yes but what exactly does that have to do with Akron?

Quite a lot. It seems like almost half of our team played high football school in Florida

[Cicero]

OSU fans would know a lot about envy. 2 National Championships in one year for the Gators.

Yes but what exactly does that have to do with Akron?

Quite a lot. It seems like almost half of our team played high football school in Florida

Again though, how does that make Akron football compare to Ohio State football any differently? Personally I would much rather reach a NC and lose than toil in relative obscurity with an occasional near upset to keep things interesting. Ohio State's post season fortunes have little to do with the status of any MAC school football program.