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I'm can admit that I do not know the number game and I do not pretend to understand how the system works. But if Google is correct, and I know the internet is NEVER wrong, I just inquired if Akron university university opt into the 20 million dollar revenue sharing like other division one colleges? And this was the reply: Yes, the University of Akron (UA) opted into the NCAA settlement to participate in revenue sharing with athletes. As of July 2025, the Zips announced their commitment to this structure, which enables them to directly compensate student-athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) through a new Competitive Excellence Fund. Akron Beacon Journal +1 So if Google is correct, why is there NO money for football? I understand the Basketball team getting the large portion because of their success. But there should be SOME money for the football team... The players get 91$ a month, they didn't get their winter coats until the end of January and that was the only gear the returning players got. Obviously, I know the scholarship players get their education so you don't have to make that argument... I'm just pointing out that the players that come here from JUCO colleges say Akron is just like going to another JUCO college. I would love to see Akron build a winning program and for players to WANT to stay here but to use Kreed's Pirate's analogy, Akron is nothing more than a minor league farm club team. A player comes here with only the hopes of getting on the field and getting some film to move on. Where is the 20 million at? It is in the football team or the coaching staff...

I would imagine that's hard to project. It really just takes 1 team offering an absurd sum. I'm sure Eric could get some attention given his size and well rounded game, but at the same time I just can't see him getting the money Nate received. I'll choose to enjoy this run and will worry about the portal when that time comes.

You could have at least lied and said you were attending a heavy metal concert.

How deep-pocketed might Bud or the collective need to be to keep these two? Hopefully the culture alone can do it, but it is hard to pass up Nate-level money if that is what Eric will attract. With Sharron, I would expect him to return: it should be his team to run, no? I wonder also sometimes about the draw of WVU or Marshall. Wasn't he Mr. Basketball in WV? In this highly mobile NIL and TP era, we are lucky to have Groce, the maestro of culture and team-concept buy-in.

I'm of the opinion Groce is a coach that will adapt his offense to the players he has on his roster. Some coaches try to fit square pegs into round holes. That doesn't seem to be Groce's style. We were a much slower paced team with Freeman and its not like Aziz, who backed up Freeman, was a blazer either. The game against UCLA we only scored 53. We nearly score that in a half now.

I agree. The strength of this team is not the height but athleticism and quickness. Currently, I like Marvin more than Chabi becaus Chabi just seems slow to me. He just has not done well after his injury. We need to clone Evan Mahaffey. I have really been impressed with him this season. The last dozen games he has been amazing. I have questions about Oggie, Briscoe and Chabi but I never thought Amani would be as good as he has been this year. You just never know who is going to develop their game in the off season.

Our second Sunbelt opponent, Troy, wins their league tournament.

We went last year to watch Enrique play. Really nice arena. Great attendance and support for a g League game.

My wife and I went to a quilt show in Grand Rapids a couple of years ago. I knew nothing about it but was very pleasantly surprised. Really nice city. It feels like what Akron could aspire to (of course it helps to have wealthy families devoted to the area). Akron and Grand Rapids are roughly the same size although I was surprised to find out Grand Rapids is Michigan second biggest city.

Love GR & Van Andel Arena. I let myself in & self-toured it just as they were close to finishing construction. Long time ago now.

How much do you think LBJ really has and why would he spend it? His prime earnings days will be coming to a close in the near future.

When I still lived in the Midwest, Grand Rapids was one of my favorite places to go. I was there recently was there again and it's even better. A big part of the start of the revitalization of downtown was Van Andel Arena. Akron doesn't need something this big, but an arena would help. The Van Andels are the family that started Amway. There isn't a business around Akron that would pony up the money for an arena. In 2025 dollars, Van Andel Arena would cost approximately $160 million.per Wikipedia. Goodyear or Firestone could pony up some but they won't. LBJ is rich, but he isn't Van Andels level rich. Gary Taylor wasn't Van Andel level rich. Akron is really stuck with the JAR. https://www.vanandelarena.com/

True dat. To also be clear, I'm not holding my breath for a big facility windfall contribution but I also haven't ruled it out in perpetuity.

Pirates fans chant, "Sell the team!". It's the wrong cheer. Small market teams should be chanting, "Lock them out!". The only way for small market teams to compete is to institute a salary cap. That can only be accomplished by locking out the players and force a renegotiation of the labor contract. What does this have to do with college athletics? Easy, lock the players out and refuse to pay their nils and scholarships. Make the bet that the players will cave. This would force the players to the bargaining table and provide some order to college athletics. Lock them out!

Eric Mahaffey will be highly sought after. Sharron as well to a lesser extent due to size.

Groce now wants big guys who can get up and down the court. Briscoe does not meet that description. That's also what made it not as disappointing for them when Okonkwo left and made Chabi appealing.

Unfortunately I'm not even considering him when contemplating next season. I was excited to see him play this season to see what he brings to the court but he barely gets in even during garbage time... which we've had plenty of this year. Once a Zip always a Zip & we all have nothing but love for our players, but I think we're all expecting him to hit the TP when the season's over. Transfer down & enjoy your college playing days.

Where was this posted? I don’t see it on any social media?

I think they need a veteran scorer. Assuming they return, I think Sharron and Eric will both improve in that department, but expecting either to become "the guy" next year may be a big ask. As @LZIpnoted, they may be able to go after an immediate contributor or two with some of the senior NIL agreements coming off the books.

I hate to be the realist, but if $8 million NIL (on top of whatever we're spending on everything else) is the cost to compete at the G5 level what's the point of continuing? People (myself included) gripe about MLB with no salary cap, but at least there are rules in place so a Francisco Lindor or Skenes can stay in Cleveland or Pittsburgh for the first half dozen years of their careers. If MLB operated like college athletics they would be on a Yankees or Dodgers roster day 1. Any late bloomers would join those rosters immediately following a breakout season. There is no way for us to compete.

Pluto didn't write that - Captain Obvious did.

“Right behind”, or just “behind”?

I bet Akron is right behind them !!!

twofold imo - Miami is getting all the love, there's no room for 2 MAC teams to be ranked with mediocre resumes. And 2nd, the mediocre resume, we don't have any good wins.