AKRON TRADITIONS THE EVOLUTION OF ZIPPY
WHERE DOES “ZIPS” COME FROM?
The evolution of Zippy, The University’s mascot, began more than 60 years ago when the student council, under president Dave Frye and committee for a mascot chairman Bob Savoy (an All-American diver for UA), decided the University needed a mascot. “Zippy” the kangaroo was officially declared UA’s mascot on May 1, 1953. The selection of the kangaroo for a mascot brought forth the wrath of The Buchtelite and the Akron Beacon Journal as the name was chosen without the benefit of a campus-wide vote. There was support for the new mascot with defenders saying, “the kangaroo is fast, agile and powerful with undying determination – all the necessary qualities of an athlete.”
One of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to the University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletics director Kenneth “Red” Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University’s athletics teams. Suggestions submitted by students, faculty and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos and Cheveliers. After a three-way vote – one by the student body, one by the University lettermen and one by the local sports writers and faculty representatives – the winner was decided on January 15, 1926. The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, suggested “Zippers” the name of a very popular rubber overshoe (over 500,000 sold the first year) invented by Akron’s B.F. Goodrich Company. She received a prize of $10 for the winning suggestion, which was inspired by the $6 pair of rubber shoes, the “Zipper Boot.” Permission to use the name was granted by the Goodrich Company. Goodrich introduced its rubber galoshes in 1923 and it made a lasting impression on the world. The footwear featured an ingenious invention, a slide fastener with interlocking metal teeth. With a quick pull of a tab, the overshoes opened wide or sealed shut. The product’s original suggested name was the “Mystik Boot,” but the name just did not work for Goodrich President Bertram G. Work. ‘’What we need is an action word,’’ he told a group of sales representatives. ‘’Something that will dramatize the way the thing zips.’’ From that he said, “Why not call it the Zipper?’’
It is difficult to imagine there was dissent back then seeing as how Zippy is one of, if not the, most beloved symbols of the University. In fact, during an 11 week long national contest, Zippy defeated all challengers. Zippy, after a first-round bye in the playoffs, cruised to victories over Syracuse’s Otto in the semifinals and Minnesota’s Goldy Golpher in the final to become the 2007 Capital One Mascot of the Year.
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GoZips.com/ZipsFB
ZIPS FOOTBALL
Dick Hansford, UA student council advisor, liked the kangaroo – one of the finalist names when Akron chose “Zippers” as its nickname. He recalled the suggestion was also inspired by a popular comic strip at the time named “Kicky, the fighting kangaroo.” No one recalls who made the arrangements for the first costume, but a paper-mache head was produced along with a brown furry uniform that zipped up the back. Pete Demming debuted that first mascot uniform in 1954, at the inaugural Acme-Zip Game - not as “Zippy” but as “Mr. Zip.” The first known printed reference to the mascot as “Zippy” was a 1965 Zips football press brochure. The Buchtelite’s first use of the name “Zippy” came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing “Mascot - ‘Zippy’ - Charles Huettner.”
Alma Mater
Close beside Cuyahoga’s waters, Stream of amber hue. O’er old Buchtel, Summit’s glory, Wave the gold and blue.
Hail, we Akron! Sound her praises, Speed them on the gale; Ever stand our Alma Mater, Akron, Hail, All Hail!