Zippy ( mascot ) - Wikipedia Zippy ( mascot ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( November 2014 ) Zippy Marsupial University University of Akron Conference MAC Description Kangaroos First seen May 1, 1953 Website http://www.uakron.edu/zippy/ Zippy is the female mascot of the University of Akron athletics team. Zippy is a kangaroo, and was chosen by a committee in 1953. The school 's nickname, `` Zips '', is a shortening of `` Zippers '', a pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company of Akron. It was originally adopted by the school in 1925 after a contest to give the school a nickname. `` Kangaroos '' was one of the choices at the time. In 1950, the current nickname was adopted because of the rising popularity of zippers in use on pants. Two years later, a committee suggested the kangaroo as a mascot, and it was accepted by the student council on May 1, 1953. Originally, it was met with derision, as it was not put to a campuswide vote. However, over time, Zippy has become a fan favorite at the school. `` Zippy '' has always been a costumed mascot, and currently wears a blue letter - sweater and a gold - and - blue rat cap. In a 2010 interview, she stated The Things They Carried was her favorite band. In 2007 Zippy was chosen as one of twelve collegiate mascots to compete for Capital One Bowl mascot of the year. With an unprecedented 13 -- 0 record, Zippy was named the winner on January 1, 2008. References Jump up ^ Byard, Katie ( 2014 - 12 - 31 ). `` Dick Hansford, 95, originator of UA 's Zippy mascot ''. Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 01. Jump up ^ Capital one bowl.com Archived September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. University of Akron Established : 1870 Academics Colleges Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences College of Applied Science and Technology College of Business Administration College of Creative and Professional Arts LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education College of Health and Human Services College of Nursing College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering School of Law School of Music Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College University of Akron University College Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics Campuses Main campus ( Akron, Ohio ) Northeast Ohio Medical University ( Rootstown, Ohio ) Medina County University Center ( Medina, Ohio ) Wayne College ( Orrville, Ohio ) People President : Scott L. Scarborough Notable Alumni Notable Faculty and Staff Athletics Facilities FirstEnergy Stadium -- Cub Cadet Field InfoCision Stadium -- Summa Field James A. Rhodes Arena Lee R. Jackson Field Louis and Freda Stile Athletic Field House Ocasek Natatorium Traditions Steel Tire Wagon Wheel Zippy ( mascot ) Football Team Seasons Head coaches In the NFL draft All - Americans Starting quarterbacks Basketball Men Team Seasons In the NBA draft Women Team Seasons In the WNBA draft Soccer Men Team Seasons In the MLS draft Student life Residence halls Bulger Hall Exchange Street Galluci Hall Garson Hall Grant Hall Honors Complex Orr Hall Quaker Square Ritchie Hall Sisler - McFawn Spanton Hall Townhouses Student organizations The Buchtelite Tel - Buch WZIP ZTV Residence Hall Program Board Zips Programming Network University of Akron Press Other Expansion Spicertown University Park Alliance Akron Zips football Venues Buchtel Field ( 1923 -- 1939 ) Rubber Bowl ( 1940 -- 2008 ) InfoCision Stadium -- Summa Field ( 2009 -- present ) Bowls & rivalries Bowl games Kent State ( Wagon Wheel ) Youngstown State ( Steel Tire, 1940 -- 1995 ) Culture & lore Zippy `` Akron Blue and Gold '' Zips Marching Band People Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders Seasons 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 -- 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 -- 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 -- 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 2017 2018 Akron Zips men 's basketball Venues Crouse Gymnasium ( 1902 -- 1920s ) Akron Armory ( 1920s -- 1954 ) Memorial Hall ( 1954 -- 1983 ) James A. Rhodes Arena ( 1983 -- present ) Culture & lore History Zippy People Head coaches NBA draftees Seasons 1901 -- 02 1902 -- 03 1903 -- 04 1904 -- 05 1905 -- 06 1906 -- 07 1907 -- 08 1908 -- 09 1909 -- 10 1910 -- 11 1911 -- 12 1912 -- 13 1913 -- 14 1914 -- 15 1915 -- 16 1916 -- 17 1917 -- 18 1918 -- 19 1919 -- 20 1920 -- 21 1921 -- 22 1922 -- 23 1923 -- 24 1924 -- 25 1925 -- 26 1926 -- 27 1927 -- 28 1928 -- 29 1929 -- 30 1930 -- 31 1931 -- 32 1932 -- 33 1933 -- 34 1934 -- 35 1935 -- 36 1936 -- 37 1937 -- 38 1938 -- 39 1939 -- 40 1940 -- 41 1941 -- 42 1942 -- 43 1943 -- 44 1942 -- 45 1945 -- 46 1946 -- 47 1947 -- 48 1948 -- 49 1949 -- 50 1950 -- 51 1951 -- 52 1952 -- 53 1953 -- 54 1954 -- 55 1955 -- 56 1956 -- 57 1957 -- 58 1958 -- 59 1959 -- 60 1960 -- 61 1961 -- 62 1962 -- 63 1963 -- 64 1964 -- 65 1965 -- 66 1966 -- 67 1967 -- 68 1968 -- 69 1969 -- 70 1970 -- 71 1971 -- 72 1972 -- 73 1973 -- 74 1974 -- 75 1975 -- 76 1976 -- 77 1977 -- 78 1978 -- 79 1979 -- 80 1980 -- 81 1981 -- 82 1982 -- 83 1983 -- 84 1984 -- 85 1985 -- 86 1986 -- 87 1987 -- 88 1989 -- 90 1990 -- 91 1991 -- 92 1992 -- 93 1993 -- 94 1994 -- 95 1995 -- 96 1996 -- 97 1997 -- 98 1998 -- 99 1999 -- 00 2000 -- 01 2001 -- 02 2002 -- 03 2003 -- 04 2004 -- 05 2005 -- 06 2006 -- 07 2007 -- 08 2008 -- 09 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 11 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 Mascots of the Mid-American Conference East Division Zippy ( Akron ) Freddie and Frieda ( Bowling Green ) Victor E. Bull ( Buffalo ) Flash the Golden Eagle ( Kent State ) Swoop ( Miami ) Rufus ( Ohio ) West Division Charlie Cardinal ( Ball State ) No mascot ( Central Michigan ) Swoop ( Eastern Michigan ) Victor E. Huskie ( Northern Illinois ) Rocky the Rocket ( Toledo ) Buster Bronco ( Western Michigan ) This article about a sports, promotional, or other mascot is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. This article related to sports in Ohio is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zippy_(mascot)&oldid=750150259 '' Categories : Mid-American Conference mascots Akron Zips Fictional kangaroos and wallabies Mascot stubs Ohio sport stubs Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Articles needing additional references from November 2014 All articles needing additional references All stub articles Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 18 November 2016, at 02 : 28. About Wikipedia

Question: where did the akron zips get their name
Answer: a shortening of "Zippers", a pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company of Akron