This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009)

Akron Zips
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
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.

[edit] Football

The Akron Zips as they play during their 2009 home opener in Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium, a 41-0 victory over Morgan State.

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.

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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.

[edit] References