The University of Akron Athletics
athletics emails tom 2012 13 july 3 2012
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THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX
You may have heard that the landmark legislation that led to women’s intercollegiate athletics as we now know it was passed 40 years ago.
We’re proud to announce that Zips Athletics will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX with a number of special activities during the 2012-13 season. On Saturday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m., during Homecoming Weekend, we will host a free reception on campus for all former and current female Zips student-athletes. This will be a unique chance for those members of our 11 teams with female student-athletes to meet – and thank – their predecessors for paving the way for the opportunities that exist today.
Later that day, we will recognize all of our past female student-athletes during our Homecoming football game vs. Bowling Green at 2 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. If you are a former Zips female student-athlete or know anyone who was, please make sure to save the date of this special occasion.
Leading up to the event, we will use GoZips.com for a countdown of the top 40 female athletes in our history, and on our Facebook page we will allow you to vote on your all-time favorite moments by our women’s programs. Stay tuned for more details about our plans for our Title IX 40th Anniversary Celebration.
We’re not the only ones commemorating this anniversary. In fact, the Akron Racers recently honored Softball Head Coach Julie Jones and 13 former players for their contributions to Northeast Ohio softball.
THANKS "FORE” TEEING IT UP WITH ZIPS FOOTBALL!
It was terrific to see so many of you on June 11 for the return of our Football Summer Jamboree Golf Outing, which was a sold-out event. As Coach Bowden mentioned during his post-golf speech, our goal next year is to sell out both a morning and afternoon flight!
A special thanks goes to Leaf Filter, led by former Zips quarterback Matt Kaulig, for serving as the presenting sponsor of the event.
If you enjoyed yourself and would like the chance to participate in our next event, please join us on Monday, Aug. 20 at Medina Country Club for our Men’s Basketball Summer Classic Golf Outing. For more information or to sign up, click here.
A RING FOR THE KING
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Keith Dambrot and I had the pleasure of visiting with LeBron James during the NBA Playoffs, and it was touching to watch how genuinely excited each of them was to see the other. Coach Dambrot is so proud of LeBron and what he has accomplished, and took great pride when he won the NBA Championship and was named the Finals MVP (as well as the regular season MVP yet again).
LeBron has been a terrific supporter of our Men’s Basketball program, and I greatly appreciated the opportunity to thank him personally for what he has done for Zips Athletics and our student-athletes.
COACHES VS. CANCER
Speaking of Coach Dambrot, he has teamed up with his fellow Division I men’s basketball coaches in the area to launch the Northeast Ohio chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer.
If you can, please attend the Tip-Off Breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls. Rob Senderoff of Kent State, Jerry Slocum of Youngstown State and Gary Waters of Cleveland State will join Coach Dambrot to auction items, preview their season and share why they are so eager to support this incredible cause.
For more information or to purchase a ticket for the breakfast, please click here.
ARE YOU A FAN OF THE PROPOSED COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SYSTEM?
Most people I have talked to would say, Absolutely! By and large, college football fans have welcomed the idea of a four-team playoff system being added to the Football Bowl Subdivision to determine the national champion.
I am in favor of a playoff, and I hope that in the future the field can be expanded – perhaps as large as 16 teams – to allow for an automatic qualifier from every league, including the Mid-American Conference. If our program is the best in the MAC, then I want us to have the opportunity to compete … and many of my peer ADs have said they feel the same way.
MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher was involved in the conversations leading to this decision, and he has continued to advocate that the best team from our conference should have the opportunity, like we do in every sport in college athletics, to play for a national title.
A MASTER FACILITIES PLAN FOR CAMPUS
At its most recent meeting, The University of Akron Board of Trustees approved an enhanced master guide plan developed by Susaki Associates of Boston that proposes developing what will be known as Academic Way through campus. While no athletic facility projects were outlined specifically in this presentation, certainly the principles outlined in this plan will continue to transform our campus and positively impact the growth of Zips Athletics.
I HEAR THAT SAN JUAN IS LOVELY IN NOVEMBER …
… but you should find out for yourself!
Join our Men’s Basketball team as they compete in the 2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off in November. We have worked with our close friends at Chima Travel to develop an extensive travel package that includes roundtrip airfare to San Juan, five nights of lodging, transportation to and from the airport and the arena, a ticket to each of our three games and one meal with Coach Dambrot and the team. The trip departs Cleveland on Wednesday, Nov. 14 and will return on Monday, Nov. 19.
This will be one of the top in-season tournaments in the country, as the field includes N.C. State (ACC), Oklahoma State (Big XII), Penn State (Big Ten), Providence (Big East), Tennessee (SEC), UMass (Atlantic 10) and UNC-Asheville (Big South).
Please visit this page for all the information, including how you can sign up. We’ve had a tremendous response so far, so don’t delay if you’re interested in joining us for this special trip.
FOOTBALL GAME TIMES, PROMOTIONS, TV AND PARKING INFORMATION ANNOUNCED
We released the kickoff times for all six home football games, including the Thursday, Aug. 30 season opener. “Bowden Ball” officially kicks off at 7 p.m. that night vs. Central Florida. For the complete listing of game times and promotions, click here.
We also have updated our football parking policies, which includes complete information for securing your season parking pass in the best lots. You must submit your requests by July 31 to ensure you are considered in the initial allotment, so please call the Chima Athletics Ticket Office at 888-99-AKRON (25766) if you have not already done so.
ZIPS FARE WELL IN APR REPORT
One of the most important initiatives within the NCAA is the Academic Progress Rate, which measures academic performance.
In the most recent data released last month, eight of our programs had a perfect score and 15 of our 19 exceed the NCAA national multi-year average. All of our programs posted averages above the NCAA’s target score.
A special shout-out goes to women’s tennis and softball, both of whom finished in the top 10 percent nationally within their sport thanks to four consecutive years of perfect scores.
COACHING STAFF NEWS AND NOTES …
… Congratulations to Vernon Croft on being named interim head coach of Women’s Soccer. Vernon joined our staff in February and succeeds Chris Pfau, who we wish well as he heads to Houston. Vernon most recently was an assistant in the ACC – the top women’s soccer conference in the country – with Miami (Florida), and before that served as the head coach of Indiana State for nine years. He’s already gearing up for our first match, an exhibition contest on Aug. 5 vs. Duquesne at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
…Congratulations, too, to Melissa Jackson, who was promoted to Associate Head Coach of Women’s Basketball. Melissa has done a terrific job in her four years on Coach Kest’s staff, especially as our recruiting coordinator.
… Welcome to Glenn Box, who was named an assistant coach with Women’s Basketball. Glenn most recently coached at St. Louis University in the Atlantic 10, and has worked in the MAC as an assistant at Western Michigan. Glenn replaces Sam Dixon, who became an assistant at Northwestern.
… Men’s Soccer Head Coach Caleb Porter was selected as a 2012 Greater Akron Chamber “30 for the Future” recipient ...
CONGRATS TO …
… incoming freshman Kenzie Conrad for being named the MaxPreps National Softball Player of the Year and the 2011-12 Gatorade Ohio Softball Player of the Year!
… all five incoming members of our softball class received All-Ohio honors from the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (OHSFSCA). Conrad and Keystone High School teammate Erin Pond earned First-Team honors (DII), along with Central Catholic’s Erin Seiler (DI). Kenzi Rhodes (Highland High School) was named Second-Team All-Ohio in Division II while Massillon Washington’s Jessica Reiman was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio (DII).
… senior softball outfielder Alex Helfrich was named to the Capital One Academic All-America third team by the College Sports Information Directors of America ...
… pitcher Andrew Brown, who was drafted in the 23rd round by the Colorado Rockies …
… sophomore men’s golfer Charlie Bull, who was named to PING All-Region Team …
… Three athletes with University of Akron ties competed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Ore., in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Junior Willie Brown, who is the school-record holder in the 800-meters, raced in that event and finished 32nd. Former Zips' All-American Valerie Fraizer (Wert), who exhausted her eligibility last winter, placed 20th in the women's hammer throw. Current Akron volunteer coach and former two-time All-American Colin Moleton also attempted to qualify in the men's javelin.
… Speaking of Fraizer (Wert), she was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Division I Team thanks to her 3.86 GPA as an art education major.
… former Zips standout Reggie Corner, who continues his NFL career by signing with the Jaguars after four years with the Buffalo Bills …
ZIPS CLIPS
More on the start of the Northeast Ohio chapter for Coaches vs. Cancer, as Joe Maxse wrote in The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Former Zips diver Katie Carter competed at Olympic Trials, writes Doug Lesmerises of The Cleveland Plain Dealer …
Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal profiled UA alumnus and former major leaguer Mike Birkbeck, the long-time pitching coach for our nearby rival that made a run to the College World Series …
George Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal covers the recovery of Rachel Tecca of our Women’s Basketball team …
Finally, as you know, we host many terrific events in Rhodes Arena every year. But this may be the best one of all … please remember that our Ticket Donation program provides complimentary tickets to active military personnel. For more information (including a video) or to learn how to contribute to this terrific cause, please visit this page.
On that patriotic note, please have a Happy Fourth of July! We’ll hit your in-box again toward the end of July.
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
