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So, just to clarify the rules here, it's okay to predict future misery and gloom and doom for a program but not a game?

Maybe I want to do be optimistic and fawn over players. What difference does it make to the players, the university or anyone else and why does it matter to you so effing much? When did you join the thought police? Get a life or create your own site where you and your 3 buddies can bitch and moan all the time. Your posts are obnoxious, but of course that is probably your goal. I've been to every home basketball game and tournament game for the last 20 years and almost every football game. One thing I don't need from an anonymous blogger such as yourself is a reality check.

Duquesne's message board is talking about the players they're bringing in taking them to the NIT. Oh wait, this isn't the place to post about KD? I thought we were throwing all the crap drama into one thread... I do think it's acceptable to expect this team to go undefeated at home this season for the OOC portion of the schedule. Year 3 of Groce, with his guys here, and what looks to be some solid depth - get er done. Happy October! ?

I'm tellin' ya NW, kreed's right....Serenity Now....Serenity Now...

I'm sensing a lot of irritation on your part. A few mouse clicks might make your visits to this site a more enjoyable experience.

They are also a team that defeated the Zips and sent Akron into the offseason in the past, so its nice to get a shot at them at home even though none of the players are probably even aware of the last meeting.

I am personally glad that you are here. It's good to know there are those out there who give-a-damn and don't buy the bullshit. I love those on this forum and their passion even though a number of them don't care for me much; but it's because we refuse to sugarcoat the turd. We as an alumni base fought so hard over two-decades to shake the "Hill-top High" persona that UA had for decades. It feels like we're going backwards. When you have all the things you mentioned above going on, it's very difficult to find something to be happy about, and in my opinion leaves two options: Apathy, or a will to fight back. Apathy is what Akron Alumni have had for far too long.

Timmy is a class act, for sure....

No, I am not someone who was fired or related to anyone who has ever worked at U of A. I'm a Class of '89 alum and a parent of two Zip alums. I am a fan, and perhaps, if you actually were "thinking" about the facts I have presented, you would reach the same conclusions. Maybe some of you are fine with Zips Athletics mediocrity in Football and Men's Basketball... Is the current track of non-achievement mediocre? True/False. On Williams' watch two new sports have been added that will not be funded by the U of A at competitive levels against MAC opponents, in fact, they are presented as non-scholarship sports. This has been pushed forward despite the U of A suffering decreased enrollment and amidst claims by the U of A Upper Administration that future cuts to athletics are likely in the near future. What part of this is not factual? https://www.athleticbusiness.com/college/akron-likely-to-see-sports-cuts-with-new-budget-plan.html Men's Soccer is a non-revenue sport, despite making the College Cup, as there are no revenue shares from the NCAA or ticket sales that total even the benefits costs of Jared Embick's salary. At the end of the day, men's soccer brings in no more NET revenue than women's swimming and actually costs the U of A budget more. Williams gave a huge raise to the men's soccer coach despite Embrick having no other offers of employment, and now Embrick makes $300,000 per year, which is almost 3 times the average salary of a U of A Full Professor. https://www.insidehighered.com/aaup-compensation-survey/school-detail/university-akron-main-campus Is the men's soccer success pushing additional revenues to cover this salary bump? We would know if the Athletic Department published an annual report, but that has not happened the last two years. UA offered a buyout to 47 percent of its faculty in March, though some departments, including Athletics, were not eligible for the package. The university is also trying to address its dropping enrollment, now at a 10-year low, and has a history of financial problems as we all know. Officials originally predicted a deficit of $16 million for next year, though that was updated to $3.6 million earlier this Spring. Officials cited selectively filling vacancies and being “cost-conscious” with non-personnel costs as the reasons for the drop. The University of Akron spent $923,517 during the 2018-19 school year to pay three former presidents: Matthew Wilson, Scott Scarborough, and Luis Proenza, so the money that is being donated to U of A is truly going right out the door for no good of the students, academics, or athletics. Add in paying off Bowden and Arth's UTC exit fee... stop the insanity for a football program that sells less than 3,000 season tickets a year. That's right - the season ticket gross revenue for 2019 would not even cover the Bowden Buy-Out. The school owes Bowden, who was fired with two years left on his contract, $630,000. And it's giving Arth, a five-year deal that the Beacon Journal said is worth about $500,000 per year. Thus, in the next two years, Arth will be paid at least $1 million, Bowden will make $630,000 and Akron will be paying Arth's former school about $370,000. That's $2 million for a university that in August said it was projecting a $3.6 million budget deficit for this fiscal year, 2019-2020. Criticize me all you like, but if William's said football was his #1 priority when he was named AD then why are ticket sales, attendance and wins all going backwards in year 4 of his tenure. This is not sour grapes, is someone standing up for Zip fans and saying we deserve better.

I've somehow convinced two out of towners with no connection to the University at all to come. We will have a fun time tailgating at least. Regarding the game...we will be coming off of a much needed bye with either a healthy Kato or a freshman QB who has had two weeks to prepare and Kent will be coming off getting crushed by Wisconsin, so there is a glimmer of hope...

Yes Van Horne is a baseball alum. Of course he wasn't thrilled about the dropping of baseball. That had more to do with a pissing match between head coach at the time and the university president at the time than anything else. Matt Wilson and several of the trustees were the driving force behind the return of baseball not Van Horne. The large donation was solicited by another member of the athletics development department, not Van Horne. That employee is a former KSU baseball player to boot! That donation came in well after the restart of baseball. No argument that the university is in the midst of a budget crunch. You are way overestimating Van Hornes power. All the actions above where at the behest of other powers at UA.

100-0 Zips

We'll be sizable home dogs, but I can ALWAYS talk myself into beating Kent State. Coming off a bye, let's hope everyone plays loose and with fire. Maybe they do some fun stuff with Gibson, maybe a healthy Kato comes back and torches the secondary, maybe the turnover pencil gets used enough times to need sharpened, I don't know. Just BEAT KENT!!!!! A win here for this staff would be worth a few.

I believe that the university doesn't benefit from the exposure as much as it could because no one who is in a position to take advantage of it does. Regardless of what non-soccer folks think, the sport is growing. Ohio has a new, outstanding MLS team in Cincinnati. Hopefully, when the new stadium opens in Columbus, we will see fans who rival those of LAFC, DC United, the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and FC Cincy (all places I've personally attended matches.) When I wear Akron gear to these games, someone always recognizes our program. As your signature says "think small be small". The UA Board of Trustees keeps hiring unenergetic, uncharasmatic small thinkers. I only use the lack of marketing around our soccer program as an example. I think I can say the same of the UA Engineering College. UA design teams, such as the racing teams or the Akronauts compete well, but I don't see that much exposure.

He's right you know

Difference between Arth and Bowden? How about a eff'n competent staff?? What an embarrassment. Larry Williams can go screw himself. We had one of the best staffs in place in the history of this University and he goes and fires them all, hires this numbskull and his band of D3 misfits. John Carroll called, they want their 15k stipend coaches back. Freaking amateur hour. They should call up Terry and beg him to come back.

0-12 is coming.