The University of Akron’s athletics program—otherwise known as the Akron Zips—has a storied history dating back over 130 years. Intercollegiate sports are competitive and exciting across the US, and the Zips are a juggernaut with more than 300 athletes performing across 17 sports.
Moving through their third decade of Mid-American Conference membership going from strength to strength, the Zips are set for growth, both competitively and via academia. In short, it’s an exciting time to be at the University of Akron.
But the question on everyone’s lips is – where did that name come from? In this guide, we’ll trace the history of the Akron Zips, discover the nickname’s origin, learn more about the iconic logo, and take a closer look at their performances this season.
The Zips 2024/25 Season
And that’s where we’ll start – because it’s all about results. The Zips have a rich history of success and an alumni list featuring several successful names across many sports, from basketball to soccer. An elite selection of NFL, NBA, MLB, and MLS stars have a history with The University of Akron. But what about this season?
However, the Zips men's basketball team is taking all the headlines with their incredible run in the Mid-American Conference. With a 14-game winning streak this season, Zips basketball heroes are 14-0 for their home games. So, they’re hot favorites to take the conference according to all of the most popular mobile sportsbooks, although it will be interesting to see how they handle the pressure as we approach the business end.
The Zips top the division with a handful of games remaining before the MAC Tournament. They’ll be looking to clinch the three tournament games needed to reach the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio automatically. Although ESPN predicts the Zips have just a 400-1 chance of taking the title at nationals, they’ll be hoping their signature fast-paced style will help them reach the NCAA Tournament.
The Zips have a history of winning streaks – with their longest recorded (regardless of which division they were in) a whopping 21 games as part of an incredibly successful 1958-59 season. Those kinds of records are a lot for the 2024/45 Zips to live up to, but there’s still time left of the season to write their names in the college ball history books.
Zippers to Zips
Undoubtedly one of the most famous nicknames in intercollegiate sport, the University of Akron has been known as the Zippers and later the Zips since the 1920s.
It all started with a cross-campus competition in 1927 to find a nickname, which Margaret Hamlin won. The student submitted Zippers as her chosen nickname in homage to the Zipper rubber overshoe sold by the B.F. Goodrich Company, a rubber manufacturer founded in Akron. These shoes were incredibly popular and inspired Margaret’s competition entry.
However, 23 years later, in 1950, Athletic Director Kenneth Red Cochrane abbreviated the name to the Zips. The nickname remains to this day, but has the logo also stood the test of time?
The Many Iterations of the Zips Logo
Several iterations of the Akron Zips logo have existed from 1965 to the present day, and each has its own story.
To understand where the original logo comes from, we should learn about the University of Akron’s mascot, Zippy. The kangaroo character was unveiled in May 1953 after the student council and its president, Dave Frye, decided the university was in need of a mascot.
But who came up with the idea of a kangaroo? That accolade goes to student council adviser Dick Hansford, who recommended the springy (and somewhat athletic) animal as the perfect fit.
But what about the logo and its many versions? Let’s take a look:
- 1965-1986
- 1986-2002
The Zips’ original Zippy the Kangaroo logo passed the baton to a navy brush-like type of the word ‘Zips’ – simple, yet practical and very 80s!
- 1995-2002
The brush-like type logo had a bit of crossover with a simplified, bold logo. The Akron Zips logo was a capital A in signature yellow with a blue border/shade. It was felt that while this logo stood out and was bold and eye-catching, it didn’t speak to the university’s identity.
- 2002-2008
The solution to the logo's lack of identity was to bring Zippy the kangaroo back into the logo. This time, though, Zippy the kangaroo was female, she was hopping, and her color scheme was navy and gold, overlaid with the university’s name.
- 2008-2015
After six years of a bouncing Zippy, she was simplified – leaving just her head and the letter A in the navy, gold, and white color scheme.
- 2015-2021
In a bid to move to a minimalistic logo, the Akron Zips were represented by a sharp, single-letter Z in blue, gold, and white.
- 2021-2022
For one year only, the Akron Zips took a complete gear change, opting for smooth, italicized lettering outlined in navy blue, spelling Akron.
- 2022-now
The Akron Zips have a rich history in collegiate sports, a collection of amazing logos, and the most memorable nickname in the US. But is more history set to be made by their hoop stars this year? All eyes are on the men’s Akron Zips basketball team for 2024/25 conference success – dare we even say nationals? Watch this space.
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