The Damned, The Zips, Fire Of London, etc. He began to train with the Akron Zips college track team. Newman also made a few sculptures which are essentially three-dimensional zips. Athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to "Zips" in 1950. The first Detour of the "Race" was Zips or Chips. The name was shortened to "Zips" in 1950. Taylor also started for the Akron Zips men's basketball team. Many Italian-American mobsters distrusted the Zips. Blair resigned as head coach of the Zips after the 1935 season. Following the game against Notre Dame, Michigan hosted the Akron Zips. In his freshman year, Yedlin started in 20 of his 23 games for the Zips.