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I completely agree. I do see him as someone who is completely bought in and enjoying this opportunity. Not sure what his ceiling is, but I would bet he made the most of this offseason.

I don't think anyone is advocating to leave the MAC, but stay FBS. Leaving the MAC only happens if Akron decides to drop down to FCS due to soaring costs of FBS making it no longer worth their while. Talking about joining another conference is more an argument against those who say we can't drop FBS because the MAC won't allow us to stay. Akron's non-football sports are much more appealing than NIU. If NIU could find a home for their sports then Akron won't have trouble doing the same.

Big difference. Mountain West claims NIU gives them the "Chicago market." Of course, it doesn't, but whatever. My guess is that NIU's move will be, at best, a wash if not actually a financial disaster. Their president is/was considered to be one of the most anti-sports presidents in the MAC, BTW.

Akron at #16 in the College Soccer News poll, down from #12 last week despite the 2-0 week. Also, right behind Saint Louis who we beat 3-0. 🤦‍♂️ https://collegesoccernews.com/college-soccer-news-mens-soccer-week-6-top-25-coaches-poll-high-point-and-west-virginia-burst-into-the-top-10/

The question I think will be interesting to answer (and part of this is difficult because the MWC probably won't want Akron)...how much will NIU's financial position change with this move? Is there a similar move for Akron to consider, if they're going to insist on staying FBS? That part seems difficult because NIU was somewhat attractive due to not being a terrible program every year.

https://www.ohio.edu/news/2025/08/ohio-university-will-suspend-future-entry-11-academic-programs-comply-advance-ohio

Unless Bowman expanded his offense to include an ability beyond being a long range shooter and improved his defense, I could see him having less of a role on this year's team given its current composition.

https://signalcleveland.org/university-of-toledo-axing-nine-majors-response-ohio-sb1/?__hstc=188539639.60f3e04337924880fdbad63ab6b4315b.1758814377314.1758814377314.1759156488599.2&__hssc=188539639.6.1759156488599&__hsfp=4031924862

35 days until Zips basketball!

And that says a bunch. Woodson was average at best. Phol was below average. Williams looked like an above average qb but was on an all time bad roster.

https://signalakron.org/kent-state-24-undergraduate-majors-potentially-cut-senate-bill-1/

Oh, to have a Williams/Pohl/Woodson right now...

Akron at #20 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll, up from #23 last week. I expected to be higher considering the win over Saint Louis. https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-national-rankings/men

Here's what baffles me about the program overall. How have we not lucked into an above average QB? Not just talking about Moorehead either. Here's a list of our qbs since 2010. It's as depressing as the Browns list. 2010 Nicely 11 Clayton Moore 12 Dalton Williams 13-14 Kyle Pohl 15-17 Woodson 18-19 Kato 20 Zach Gibson 21 Gibson/Irons 22 Irons 23 Undercuffler 24-25 Finley

Is it possible to make the first post on this thread a running tracker of where all the Zips are at the pro level? Or at least keep a running tracker somewhere in the soccer section?

Yeah, let's focus on finding a good starting QB first

They only play in 20% of the games though. If you look at the starting rotation collectively I would agree. It might not be a single position, but 1 player in basketball probably makes the biggest impact. A QB is much more dependent on his receivers catching their passes, his offensive line giving him enough time, and his defense actually playing defense. Guys like LeBron, Jordan, Kobe, who were elite both offensively and defensively, could put a team on their back. If you take LeBron off that 2007 Cavs team they probably only win 25 games.

I'm always here to help. The MAC does not serve us. The conference is a member organization. As such, the members make the decisions. The problems at Akron are almost entirely of our own making. The MAC commissioner and other schools have not hired a series of mid level, at best, ADs since Mack. Nor did they force us to hire Ianello, Arth and keep on to Bowden too long. Further, the MAC is not forcing Akron to fund the program like it's Grandma's checkbook. Ya, the weeknight games are a laughable joke at this point, but other schools seem to be able to win regardless. If the weeknight games go away, what evidence is there that Akron will be able to maximize that opportunity?

And back to my original point, I don't understand the logic of maintaining a persistently bad football program for the sake of the basketball program. Okay, back to football. ZipsNation is re-entering the Groundhog Day zone.

Exactly, if the MAC demands FBS football, but we determine it's no longer economically viable why would we stay? Not to say that's presently the case, but that time might come. The MAC offers us nothing of value for basketball and doesn't even support soccer any longer. It would be more about finding a conference that more aligns with our strategic direction.

My issue is not entirely about the one bid conference issue. It's more about the demands of a conference that does not serve us well.

What would make Akron attractive to a better basketball conference? Meh game attendance (6th in MAC?); zero NCAA tournament wins; smallish media market, particularly since there's largely zero coverage of the Zips by the Cleveland media; and a basketball budget that would be middling if not in the lower half of many other leagues. Bud Wentz's money can only do so much - and what if his financial business faces a serious downturn? I get the frustration with the one-bid issue, but the Zips have had that bid more often then not in recent years and done nothing with it.

Baseball starting pitchers.

In no other sport is a single position as important as QB is to football. How can the staff be in its fourth year and not have a viable backup when they know one will be needed? That's a failure of leadership plain and simple.

Why would it have to be a consistent multi-bid conference that Akron would have to go to? I would think everyone would agree that the MVC is better than the MAC for hoops. The MVC teams are typically seeded better in the tournament, win more games in the tournament, and on occasion get a 2nd bid. That would probably be more Akron's level for hoops. MAC hoops have drastically declined since covid and there are no signs of it improving anytime soon. The other schools are too busy checking the couch cushions searching for every last nickel and dime to throw at FBS football.