Akron's nickname

[zip81]

While at the BG game Friday night, a woman, who obviously noticed my AK-OLDIES gear, flagged me down and asked me what our nickname was before Zips.It was clear she thought we were, like an Indian name or something, in the vein of E. Mich. or Miami.I told her, no, we've always been the Zips. But it has got me thinking...we couldn't have been the Zips going back to day one.The official history out of the media guide states:"One of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to the University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletics director Kenneth“Red” Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams."Does that mean before the campus-wide contest in 1925 that Akron did not have a name for its sports teams?Does anyone have some 4-1-1 on this?Did Buchtel College have a nickname?Inquiring minds want to know!

[Captain Kangaroo]

While at the BG game Friday night, a woman, who obviously noticed my AK-OLDIES gear, flagged me down and asked me what our nickname was before Zips.It was clear she thought we were, like an Indian name or something, in the vein of E. Mich. or Miami.I told her, no, we've always been the Zips. But it has got me thinking...we couldn't have been the Zips going back to day one.The official history out of the media guide states:"One of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to the University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletics director Kenneth“Red” Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams."Does that mean before the campus-wide contest in 1925 that Akron did not have a name for its sports teams?Does anyone have some 4-1-1 on this?Did Buchtel College have a nickname?Inquiring minds want to know!

Z-P is probably the only person I know who was around Akron during the pre-Zippers era. We should ask him! :blink:

[ZippyRulz]

From "Summit's Glory" by George Knepper (p.95):"As enrollment grew and the Municipal University fielded better athletic teams, students demanded a mascot, or a nickname, or both. They got the nickname, but not the mascot. Student Margaret Hamlin won a 1927 contest with her suggestion of "Zippers," a popular new brand of overshoes..."

[zip81]

From "Summit's Glory" by George Knepper (p.95):"As enrollment grew and the Municipal University fielded better athletic teams, students demanded a mascot, or a nickname, or both. They got the nickname, but not the mascot. Student Margaret Hamlin won a 1927 contest with her suggestion of "Zippers," a popular new brand of overshoes..."

Can't get a better source than Dr. Knepper.I guess that's it.So instead of "25 years earlier" as the media guide states, it was really 23 years earlier.And we were the Akron.....football team...I guess.

[Zips DM]

I can't recall where.... but I remember reading the name "Hilltoppers"

[zip81]

I can't recall where.... but I remember reading the name "Hilltoppers"

I think that was one of the choices for the student contest in '25.So was Hillbillies....ewww!