I don't know if anyone's hip to Akron's new marketing campaign:

 

 

Perfect slogan, perfect timing

'Fear the Roo' merchandise with glaring kangaroo is winning campaign for UA

By Dan Kadar

Beacon Journal staff writer

 

Mix together a newly successful athletic program, the holiday gift season and a fresh slogan and you have a marketing winner.

 

That's been the case at the University of Akron, where "Fear the Roo'' merchandise has been selling out since the women's cross-country team, the men's soccer team and the football team all won Mid-American Conference titles, the soccer team earned a national ranking and the football team went to the Motor City Bowl.

 

The logo features a glaring kangaroo with the words "Fear the Roo'' over the top.

 

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13514504.htm

Definantly not Zippy; I like.  I think it's a good, catchy slogan for an athletic dept. that's trying to make more of a name for itself and if it get's the student body buying up T-shirts and what not, I'm all for it.  During my years at UA, the school seemed to seriously lack any kind of spirit.

So Zippy is out, Hoppy is in.

 

Hmm...pain or death...

When I was in downtown Akron 2 weeks ago I saw all of the signs.

I think it's a remarkably cute and clever campaign...very nicely done...

From WKYC's site.  The roo is making some noise!$!$!

 

Posted 1/10/2005

"Fear the Roo" is all the rage in Akron.

 

With three Zips teams winning MAC titles this fall, school merchandise is hotter than ever. And the university unveiled this new slogan to go with it.

 

The problem is that it's almost too successful. In December, sales jumped 400-percent from the year before. They sold out of "Fear the Roo" merchandise more times than students could count.

 

But, fear not! The University of Akron just got a new shipment of merchandise Tuesday morning and now you can even buy on-line.

 

http://wkyc.com/akron/akron_article.aspx?storyid=45955

I FEAR THE ROO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

^ You'de better, his eyes are watching you!

Seriously, I'm still laughing.  STILL laughing.

 

A ROO!  ROO ROO ROO!!!

 

*dies*

From the 1/10/06 PD:

 

 

UA mascot something to scream about

Fear the Roo' a marketing winner

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Karen Farkas

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Akron --The University of Akron had an identity crisis: Its sports teams, the Zips, were named for rubber overshoes. Its logo was a letter A. And a marsupial was its mascot.

 

The school desperately needed an image makeover

   

It got one, and officials are basking in the unanticipated success of "Fear the Roo."

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 800-628-6689

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/1136885469308260.xml&coll=2

Go Bobcats!!!! Just wanted to say that we scored the same amount against NIU that OSU did    :laugh:

Nice win!

Is this what has become of the Sports Talk section??  Should we have an brand new thread for each win of a Ohio sports team?

 

How 'bout an Ohio University Athletics thread...then post all their stuff their!

You start it :).

^I would be more than happy to start it.....I just don't have the abilities to take the posts from one thread and put it into another.  Nor can I delete/close threads....so starting a new one without these abilities would be useless......I need you ColDayMan to do the dirty work that I cannot. :-D

This is a thread for all information, news, and highlights relating to the Ohio University athletic programs!

Too bad OU sucks  :lol:

Well, this thread is going well.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :sleep:

:-D

^I would be more than happy to start it.....I just don't have the abilities to take the posts from one thread and put it into another.  Nor can I delete/close threads....so starting a new one without these abilities would be useless......I need you ColDayMan to do the dirty work that I cannot. :-D

 

But you do have the power to actually start threads, no? ;)

^Uhhhh....I created one much earlier today for this topic....why haven't you lived up to your end of the bargain smarty pants :roll:

Because I'm lazy and I don't have to :D.

I hope monte gets his hands on this thread soon.

This actually was a big win for OU on the road.  NIU is not an easy opponent...even tougher to beat in DeKalb.  And OU is kind of in a state of flux.

 

I apologize for my enthusiasm.  ;)

Never apologize for being excited about OU!!!

 

We have Rutgers up next. The Scarlet Knights are a very good team, so we will see what happens. We moved up about 30 spots on SI's Power Rankings.

 

Also, let's not spoil this thread with Athens police news, let's just keep it to sports.

27-20.... we win over WMU!!!!!!!

We are now 3-3 (2-1 MAC) with a road game at Illinois next. Might be winnable!?!

Two of our losses are against top 25 teams (Mizzu and Rutgers)

I was gonna ask if being drunk and stupid is a sport over there but I guess I already know the answer.

 

fair. You can probably call Slap the Bag a sport. :wink:

 

Those bags of wine are really gaining popularity

Ohio 20 Illinois 17. We are now 4-3!!!!

Illinois sucks, but a win over a Big Ten team always looks good.

 

Ohio beats Kent State 17-7! Ohio is now in a 1st place tie in the MAC East with Kent, but if it comes down to it, we will have the tiebreaker!!!!

 

Ohio is now 6-3 (4-1), bowl eligible, and has a "weaker" schedule up ahead!!!!!

That was awesome.  Congrats to the 'Cats.

 

It looks like we'll be taking on the Chippewas for the title.  We're at least looking at a bowl game.  The last time the Bobcats were this good was when I was in college, 1997 I think.  And there was basically only one bowl game for MAC teams.  Now I think they're tied in to three.

 

GMAC here we come!!!!  Not official, but that is the prediction. Way to go BOBCATS.

The original state flagship school representing big time!!!

OHIO has TWO #1's , let's hope the media recognizes that!

Its awesome that Solich has had such an effect so quickly.

Maybe Toledo with be Michigan's new in-state rival  :-D

This is cool, but I doubt it will continue long-term.  Michigan is just doing this as a 'civic duty'...kind of like how OSU treats UC.

It's too bad my grandfather died before he got to see this legendary and long-awaited match.

I'll have tickets assuming I buy another season for 2008!

 

Another state rival?  nahhh

 

I assume you'll be making the short trip up to Annarbour for that game C-dawg?

maybe the rockets can give michigan some competition like bg does for osu....for three quarters.

Toledo War II.

I'd actually argue that solely in the state of Michigan, Michigan vs. MSU is a bigger deal than Michigan vs. OSU.

 

Sure.  While Ohio doesn't have another comparable school in the state except for Cincinnati, which is in the Big East.

 

Ohio State only has one heated rival (Michigan), so they have no clue what it's like to be Michigan.

 

Thank God.

 

They spend their whole season worrying about that one game...although Florida really has been humiliating them lately, so it'd be nice to see that turn into a regular thing.

 

Don't you go to Shawnee State or something?

 

I actually am more interested in seeing THE Ohio University upset Ohio State in Columbus!

 

Toledo has a better chance of upsetting the Youngstown State Penguins.

They're not comparable, but you already knew that.

 

I'm just being nice :).

 

It's Shawnee Community College. Don't get it twisted. But no, I go to Ohio's first and finest.

 

Marietta College?  I mean, OU isn't even a school so you had to go to the beautiful Washington County campus!

 

Makes sense considering they never play and Youngstown is 1-A...hmmm.  What does that have to do with the national humilation the Buckeyes will receive if OU beats them? OU will be stronger than ever, and OSU will be weaker than ever.

 

Now you're sounding like the Claw thing from Inspector Gadget.  Let's just say, you better pray you put Youngstown State on your schedule to win some games.

I will resurrect this thread to let everyone know that

 

OHIO BEAT THE MARYLAND TERPS ON THERE HOME FLOOR LAST NIGHT!!!!!!

 

Coach Tim O'shey is 3-0 vs ACC teams with Ohio (North Carolina, Virginia, Mayland)

 

Now we have the simple task of playing #3 Kansas Saturday at 5 on ESPN2

And then we got soundly thumped by the Jayhawks.  :(

 

I watched maybe 5 minutes of that game.  It was just brutal.

Yea,

 

That wasn't good. Hopefully Kansas is just that good!

Overall though, I still think this will be a good season for us.

We have St. Johns next in the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii.

The University of Akron Department of Athletics announced on Wednesday that its men’s basketball program will begin in September a three-year partnership with Nike under which the Zips' shoes, game uniforms, warm-ups and accessories will all be licensed under the Nike and LeBron James “LJ23” Trademarks.

 

Currently, the UA basketball program and entire athletics department calls adidas its official apparel provider and, with the exception of the men’s basketball program, that agreement will extend through the 2013 season. The Nike deal with the men’s team will run through August 2011.

 

"I'm from Akron and The University of Akron is my hometown school,” LeBron James said. “Because of my ties to the Akron community, the University and Coach Keith Dambrot it is important to me that UA is designated as a Nike/LeBron James LJ23 School. I want to be sure that Coach Dambrot's guys look great head to toe."

 

"This is just another example of LeBron’s commitment to the city of Akron, its University and our basketball program,” Dambrot said. “This announcement is important to us in many ways. It furthers our connection to one of the greatest players in the world, helps improve our image as we strive to become one of the top mid-major programs in the nation and also gives us a competitive edge in terms of recruiting."

 

"LeBron James is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game," Akron director of athletics Mack Rhoades said. "Of equal importance, he is recognized as a quality person who loves his hometown and is willing to give back to it. This partnership is significant to the growth of our men’s basketball program as it provides a great distinction for our student-athletes and coaches."

 

The Nike/Akron partnership is a product of Dambrot’s long-standing relationship with James. As head coach of Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (1998-99 through 2000-01 season), Dambrot won a pair of state championships (2000 and 2001) with James being a key component of the squad. James is no stranger to UA’s Rhodes Arena on game days and is a regular at off-season workouts in the Zips' facility.

 

The Akron campus also serves as the site of the LeBron James Skills Academy and the LeBron James King's Academy each summer. This year's King's Academy (youth camp) begins this Saturday and runs until June 25, while the Skills Academy (showcase for the nation's best high school players) is scheduled for July 5-8. The King James Shooting Stars Classic (AAU tournament) is also headquartered on the UA campus each April.

 

Courtesy: Akron Media Relations

              Release: 06/18/2008

 

 

 

I went to OU, and as far as I can remember it has always been about this.  OU has the biggest appeal for fans because they have a great student section.  The Mac needs to turn it up.  Nobody can win on the road in the MAC, if you cant win on the road, you arent an elite team.  I dont know why the MAC cant be like the CAA, Horizon or MVC, with these teams usually putting an elite team or two out there.  The last time the mAC had an elite team was 2002 with Kent, they lost 2 conference games i believe.

^Kent only lost 3 conference games last year...

 

The MAC has done well in the tournament, at least I think.  They've won some first round games which is pretty good considering they get a double digit seed.  They seem to get snubbed come tournament time.  I recall the year OU went (and was so, so close to upsetting Florida) Miami was the regular season champ and got stiffed.  The last MAC game I attended was a tournamnet game last year in Cleveland and I thought it was well attended.

 

Plus I am not sure how many arenas in the MAC hold more than 5,000 people.  I don't think Kent does.

I think the tournament does great.  Its a great central place for the MAC tourney and with so many schools here it gets a good draw.  However, the home games for these teams are bad because A.) nobody can get any non conference quality wins, and B.) its hard to jump on board with your school when they go to eastern michigan and lose after being the conference leader.

The Q and Cleveland look nice on TV.  Did anyone go to any games??

 

ETA: 

I spoke to soon.  ESPN showed that lame stock photo Key tower.  Their producer should be fired!

The Akron Zips made the NCAA tournament as a #13 seed.  They got the MAC automatic bid by beating Buffalo over the weekend.  The Zips fly to Portland, Oregon to face #4 seed Gonzaga at 7:30PM Thursday.