Soccer, Track and Field/Cross Country and Swimming are all seriously in play to be eliminated at Akron. Add in Lacrosse for the Zips, and Wrestling in the MAC overall. All have big budgets and the MAC will no longer be sponsoring championships in these sports. If you choose to believe otherwise, that's your right. Wait, Watch and Learn.
The University is consolidating colleges into 5 tight groups - eliminating administrative positions, and
The reality is that substantial cuts are about to be made here at Akron in Athletics and on other MAC campuses. You do not reach over $8,000,000 in cuts by disbanding the golf teams and laying off two trainers and an SID, or by scheduling more big $$$ games. Again, the big $$$ games only get paid if there are people in the stands at the big money schools.
It's amusing to read the comments on this page every few days as some truly believe that Football brings in substantial dollars at Akron. Akron Football is an abyss. Basketball brings in more ticket sales than Football at Akron, and that's a fact. Akron Football has no big $$$ payday from TV contracts, sponsorships, or again, ticket sales. The only reason MAC Football exists on the planet earth is to provide ESPN mid-week programming during the MACtion portion of the season. Word is that ESPN is pressuring the MAC to consider an ALL MID WEEK SCHEDULE for Football 2020 to provide more programming across the various ESPN platforms. With FANS AT GAMES being in serious jeopardy, the MAC and Sun Belt are being pushed on this front. It won't happen, but that pitch has been made.
This is Akron Football in Pictures Explain the positives that this imagery provides The University, it's Academic Mission, it's Athletic Brand, and adds to the value of our diplomas?
From Gordon Larsen to Chris Angeloff, the Acme-Zip Game to Jason Taylor and Dwight Smith, and all points forward, I love Akron Football. I just don't think it brings a 10+ million dollar value to the University. Even if we go 12-0 in the regular season, win both big $$$ games that folks want us to play, and win the MAC Championship, we will never, ever, by the way the system works, play for a national championship. We are an organ farm waiting for others to use us for sustenance.
Basketball, Soccer, etc. can be competitive outlets for excellence if the focus is made. The football stadium and associated debt is a challenge but keeping the program that is a whole disaster for the institutional brand is bad management.