The University of Akron Athletics
athletics emails tom 2012 13 february 14 2013
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HOW WE’RE GOING TO GET BETTER – AND HOW WE’D LIKE YOU TO HELP
I am pleased to announce that we are launching a 90-day strategic planning process, effective immediately, to further identify and define the vision, priorities, goals and initiatives for Zips Athletics.
While we’ve achieved many significant milestones, I think you would agree that our potential is even greater. This inclusive process will shape the future of our athletics department and determine how we can continue our development as an elite athletics program.
In the coming weeks, we will be seeking feedback from everyone – student-athletes, former letterwinners, coaches and administrators, donors, season ticketholders, sponsors, the student body (including the AK-Rowdies), etc. – associated with Zips Athletics. So, if you receive this e-mail regularly, we’ll be asking for your thoughts on how we can get better.
While everyone will have the chance to provide feedback, if you have an interest in being more actively involved in this process, please e-mail Senior Associate Athletics Director Dan Satter (dsatter@uakron.edu) by Sunday, Feb. 17. Also, if you feel there are any people passionate about Zips Athletics who should be considered for an extended role in our process, please e-mail Dan that recommendation by Sunday as well.
I look forward to working with you as we discuss who we ultimately want to become, and how we will get there!
A DYNAMIC DOUBLEHEADER
Two games … two Mid American Conference East Division-leading programs … our second bobblehead giveaway of the season, this time featuring Men’s Basketball head coach Keith Dambrot. What could be a better way to spend your Saturday night?!?
Please join us Saturday at James A. Rhodes Arena for a doubleheader, as our Women’s Basketball team, winners of four straight, hosts Ball State at 5 p.m. followed by our Men, with a nation’s best 16-game win streak, facing Bowling Green at 7:30 p.m. Since this is a doubleheader, anyone with a Men’s ticket will be admitted to the Women’s game, so please come early! And, you’ll be glad you did, because …
As mentioned, we have 1,500 Dambrot bobbleheads to give out, so here’s how we’ll manage that process: the JAR will open to fans at 4 p.m., at which point we will start distributing vouchers to anyone who enters with a Men’s ticket. This will last until the vouchers are gone (which would be no different than the line of people who waited for the arena to open for the LeBron James bobblehead giveaway on Jan. 26). Getting a voucher ensures that you will receive a bobblehead, and it can be redeemed for the bobblehead in the lobby only after the Women’s game ends. We do not want lines forming in the lobby while the Women’s game is being played, and there’s no need to line up then because the voucher guarantees you a bobblehead.
Saturday’s doubleheader also is the inaugural Akron General Health & Wellness Day, as Akron General will set up Wellness stations throughout the arena to encourage healthy living with free health screenings, Wellness Bingo, t-shirt tosses and a health walk on the JAR track between games.
A few other notes for Saturday: It’s Youth Team Day for the Women’s game, so any child (14 and under) wearing a youth jersey will receive the discounted $4 group ticket rate. We’ll also welcome back our Women’s and Men’s Basketball letterwinners for their Alumni Weekends. Because of the doubleheader, Tommy Evans Lounge will not open until the end of the women’s game.
The JAR ticket windows will begin selling at 3 p.m. Please note that you can purchase tickets online at any time at GoZips.com/tickets. With four Men’s regular season home games remaining (BracketBusters vs. North Dakota State on Feb. 22, Miami (OH) on March 5 and Kent State on March 8 or 9 are the others), we still have available 3-game mini plans for lower reserved, upper reserved and general admission (including a free Zips winter hat while supplies last). Women’s tickets for their remaining home games are available here as well.
MAC TOURNAMENT PRICING
The MAC Basketball Tournament is just a month away, so contact our Ticket Office if you would like to purchase tickets to support our Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena. Buying tickets for this event from the Zips is so important to us because we are required to purchase a block of tickets from the MAC, so we’re on the hook for that expense. Plus, it’s more fun to sit among all of the Zips fans behind our bench, and this is the only way to ensure that!
Our Men have clinched a bye into at least the quarterfinals and with one more MAC win we will secure a bye until the semifinals. Our Women are in the hunt for a bye as well.
Please call 888-99-AKRON (25766) to place your order.
VARSITY “A” HALL OF FAME BANQUET VENUE CHANGE
Due to record-setting ticket sales and interest, we have moved the 38th Annual Varsity “A” Hall of Fame induction banquet to the University’s Quaker Square Inn. The event still begins at 6 p.m. tomorrow, with dinner and the induction program to follow. Please call Alexa Doutt to reserve your seat at 330-972-2695!
GET YOUR GEAR HERE!
Because of popular demand, the Zips Team Shop through Barnes & Noble’s website is now selling more black “@ZipsMBB” jersey t-shirts. Enjoy!
REMINDER ABOUT GAME TIMES AND TV ANNOUNCEMENTS
A few reminders about television clearances and game times that were announced recently:
-Saturday, Feb. 16: Doubleheader with Women’s Basketball at 5 p.m. and Men’s Basketball at 7:30 pm
-Friday, Feb. 22: Men’s Basketball will host North Dakota State at 7 p.m. as part of BracketBusters on ESPN2
-Wednesday, Feb. 27: Men’s Basketball at Ohio on STO at 7 p.m.
-Saturday, March 2: Men’s Basketball at Buffalo on STO at 6 p.m.
-Sunday, March 3: Women’s Basketball vs. Miami on STO at 7 p.m.
-Tuesday, March 5: Men’s Basketball vs. Miami on STO at 7 p.m.
-Friday, March 8 or Saturday, March 9: Men’s Basketball vs. Kent State (still to be announced)
Please note that to avoid confusion, whenever possible we do not list in advance a game time when it is being considered for a television timeslot different from when we would normally play – we’ll make an announcement about the game time when that clearance decision is made, regardless if we’re going to be televised. Please bookmark our teams’ schedule pages on GoZips.com, which always has the most up-to-date information.
THE NEXT ZIPSTRIP: BUS TO OU
It’s time to book your spot on the next ZipsTrip! Travel with us on Wednesday, Feb. 27 for our 7 p.m. Men’s Basketball game at Ohio University. For just $59, we’ll bus you to and from Athens, provide dinner and a ticket to the game in our fan section. To sign up, e-mail Matt Sharp (mbs35@zips.uakron.edu) by 5 p.m. Monday.
If you can’t make the trip, we’re also hosting a Watch Party at Johnny J’s Pub and Grille in the Valley (1282 Weathervane Lane), which is offering Zips fans half-priced appetizers that night until 9 p.m.
WELCOME TO THE NEWEST ZIPS …
Here’s a list of who committed to join our team by signing a National Letter of Intent last week:
Football: Mykel Traylor-Bennett, Cedric Brittnum, Stephen Ericksen, Lavonne Gauthney, Zach Guiser, Mikee Hayes, Keontae Hollis, Michael Kish, Ryan Kortokrax, Jerome Lane, Anthony Lauro, C.J. MIzell, Deon’Tae Moore, Emmanual “Manny” Morgan, Jon Shelby, Donte Williams, Austin Wolf, Thomas Woodson
Women’s Soccer: Abby Gindlesberger, Karin Norman, Sarah Sivic
Track & Field: Clayton Murphy, Daniel Zupan
“Welcome”, too, to long-time UA officer and Assistant Police Chief Jim Weber and his wife, Kristine , who joined the Z-Fund as part of our “Drive for 5” campaign. You can join the Webers and help us by signing up here as we seek to elevate Zips Athletics by having 5,000 donors and fundraising $5 million annually by 2015.
PLAY BALL!
Well wishes to Baseball, which starts its season tomorrow night with a 3-game series at Georgia Tech.
Softball earned a couple of wins in its opening weekend, topping Tennessee Tech in the season opener and defeating St. John’s (N.Y.) in the last inning. They travel to South Carolina this weekend for the College of Charleston Cougar Classic.
As these spring sports get into full swing, a couple of winter sports are winding down. Rifle travels to Columbus on Friday for the NCAA Qualifier, and Track & Field hosts its final home competition tomorrow night with the Zips Invitational at the Stile Athletics Field House.
Good luck and safe travels to all of our Zips!
ZIPS CLIPS, CONGRATS AND VIDEO OF THE WEEK
… former Women’s Soccer student-athletes Jordan Clark and Kara Cooper are beginning their first year of playing professional soccer in Germany …
… new head coach Jared Embick released Men’s Soccer’s spring exhibition schedule, which includes home contests against Kentucky and Xavier …
… Women’s Tennis teammates Prang Pantusart and Angelina Jogasuria are ranked No. 43 nationally in the ITA’s National Doubles Pairings …
… senior Brittany Cheese was named MAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after becoming the second female athlete in school history to long-jump more than 20 feet …
… freshman Erin Seiler was named MAC East Division Pitcher of the Week after leading Softball to two complete game victories last weekend …
… senior Rachel Tecca was named MAC East Division Player of the Week after averaging over 24 points per game in two victories last week …
… listen to radio interviews with Keith Dambrot on ESPN Radio 850 AM and 92.3 The Fan …
… watch Rifle senior Adam Auclair, who is profiled in our Student-Athlete Video Interview of the Week …
… George Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal looked at head coach Rick Rembielak and how he has instilled a winning attitude in our Baseball program …
… Both the Dayton Daily News and the Cincinnati Enquirer covered our Women’s Basketball team’s 84-77 victory at Miami (OH) on Saturday …
.. the Sports XChange covers Terry Bowden’s latest group of Football Signing Day commitments …
… Tim Withers of the Associated Press checks in on how our Men’s Basketball team is zipping along with the nation's best win streak …
… The Beacon
Journal and Plain
Dealer provided Signing Day coverage
ASK THE AD
As always, if you have a question or want to comment about Zips Athletics, click here now or at any time on the “Ask the AD” button on the home page of GoZips.com.
Go Zips!
Tom Wistrcill
Director of Athletics
