For a school in the Midwest, a kangaroo is a unique mascot. What's the story behind Akron being the Zips, and the history of its female mascot Zippy?

Zippy has been knocked off her throne. In a Sports Illustrated ranking, Zippy came in as the second-best mascot in this year's NCAA Tournament. The University of Akron's ...

(AP Photo/Ronda Churchill) Akron mascot Zippy performs in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Miami (Ohio) in the championship of the Mid-American Conference tournament ...

You get the hint. Why then is the University of Akron known as the Zips, and why would the school have the kangaroo Zippy as a mascot? The story hops around more than a pouched marsupial in Australia.

In a Sports Illustrated ranking, Zippy came in as the second-best mascot in this year's NCAA Tournament. The University of Akron's bouncing kangaroo was No. 1 in the rankings last year.

Akron’s nickname originally was the Zippers ... A few years later, a contest was held to create a mascot. The winner was a kangaroo called Mr. Zip with boxing gloves and a zipper.