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| Akron Zips | |
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| University | University of Akron |
|---|---|
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| NCAA | Division I (Bowl Subdivision) |
| Athletics director | Tom Wistrcill |
| Location | Akron, Ohio |
| Varsity teams | 15 |
| Football stadium | Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium |
| Basketball arena | James A. Rhodes Arena |
| Mascot | Zippy the kangaroo |
| Nickname | Zips |
| Fight song | Akron Blue & Gold |
| Colors | Blue and Gold
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| Homepage | www.gozips.com |
The University of Akron's athletic teams are known as the "Zips," originally short for "Zippers," rubber overshoes made by the BF Goodrich Company that were nationally popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The university's mascot is "Zippy", a kangaroo. Zippy is one of only a few female college mascots in the United States. The other mascots include Lulu the female bull dog for Gardner-Webb University, Victoria S. Bull for SUNY At Buffalo, Ralphie the Buffalo for University of Colorado, Udee the hen for the University of Delaware, Freida Falcon from Bowling Green State University, Penny the Penguin for Youngstown State University, and Lucy Lobo, costumed female wolf companion to Louie Lobo for University of New Mexico.
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Football
Akron's major football rivalry is with Kent State University, whom they play for the Wagon Wheel. They also formerly played Youngstown State University for the Steel Tire until that series was discontinued in 1995.
Men's basketball
The men's basketball team is currently coached by Keith Dambrot. They have enjoyed success of late including four consecutive 20-win seasons and three consecutive appearances in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game. In 2009 they won their first-ever MAC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament for the first time since 1986.[1]
2005-06 success
Mack Rhoades was hired as athletic director in 2005. That year, the men's basketball team, under head coach Keith Dambrot, won their first ever Division I post-season game by defeating Temple in the NIT, led by first team All-MAC performer Romeo Travis (former teammate of LeBron James in high school) and also won the most games in a season, 23. The football team won their very first MAC championship giving them a chance to play in the Motor City Bowl, Akron's first Division I bowl game appearance where they lost to the University of Memphis. That same year the women's cross country team and the men's soccer team also won the MAC championship in their respective sports. The men's soccer team was also the first team in the history of Akron sports to have a #1 rating in the nation.
Rhoades left Akron in 2009, taking the Athletic Director position at the University of Houston.
References
- ^ Gaffney, Tom (15 March 2009). "UA does it, reaches NCAA Tournament". Ohio.com (Akron Beacon-Journal). http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/41270572.html#. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
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