Name-a-Day Calendar, November 9: Akron Zips
Page 3 of 365
Chosen in: 1950
Chosen by: Athletic director Kenneth “Red” Cochrane
The Akron Zips were originally the Akron Zippers. That was the name of a popular new overshoe with state-of-the-art zipper technology produced by Akron’s own B.F. Goodrich Company, submitted by freshman Margaret Hamlin as the winning entry in a 1925 name-the-team contest.1 The University of Akron student body voted for it over several other suggestions including Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Tip Toppers, Chevaliers, and Golden Blue Devils.
By 1950, the novelty of the Zipper had worn off and zippers were used in a lot of other clothing, so athletic director Kenneth “Red” Cochrane unceremoniously shortened the name to Zips. That’s what it’s been for the past 72 years.
Two years later, the student council wanted a mascot, but nobody knew what a Zip was (because it was not a thing). They formed a committee to figure it out, wherein advisor Dick Hansford proposed they pick something unique to set themselves apart. He’d remembered being intrigued by a cartoon kangaroo and threw it out there as a suggestion; it ended up sticking.2
Check out this piece from the Akron Beacon Journal for more on the history of the Zips and the kangaroo mascot.
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She was awarded $10 ($167.69 in 2022 dollars) for the honor.
Dick Hansford would later become the vice president of the university.
One of the best headlines I’ve ever seen was in 1986 in the Duke Chronicle, after Duke men’s soccer beats Akron in 1-0 in the NCAA final. “Duke Won, Akron Zip”