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

20 mil is the cap, it doesn't mean we just have 20 more million dollars now

Right. I don't see how he's to blame for kids' math test results. Also, no one is taking into account how ridiculous standardized tests are. These kids are from disadvantaged backgrounds, so they likely are behind already before starting at the iPromise school. Just because they don't pass the standardized test doesn't mean the school isn't helping to improve their education. Not all "failure" on tests is the same.

Some talk about donating in other threads and it probably deserves its own spot - it's very easy to setup a recurring donation. I encourage everyone to support however they are able. It all adds up and our program deserves the support. https://www.feartheroocollective.com/contribute-zipsmensbasketball

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

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.

I guess I was not chosen for the zips fan council. I just received this email. I honestly didn’t think there would be a formal process to join, I thought it was just going to be a bunch of fans getting together to voice their opinion. Maybe this group will actually have some swing to decisions then. Thank you for your support of the Zips and interest in joining the Zips Fan Council! While it’s been a hectic time of year with basketball season in full-swing, I wanted to send out a quick update regarding where our department is currently at with creating the Zips Fan Council. We had overwhelming interest in being a part of this council, with just under 100 applicants from across the state of Ohio and beyond. Our goal for this council is to build a group that spans across as many different demographics as possible, and as such we’ve selected limited numbers of individuals across a wide variety of graduation years and backgrounds to accomplish this goal. We are in the final stages of scheduling interviews with applicants and hope to have our council members finalized in the coming weeks, with our first meeting late in the spring. If you were not chosen to move forward in the process, please know that it was based on limited availability and Akron Athletics appreciates and values your support. As this will be a group that ebbs and flows based on availability, we would love to consider you for the group in the future even if you are not ultimately selected in this first iteration.

Mods, is it possible to sticky a post? I'm sure all the regulars are well aware of FTR, but we might draw some additional foot traffic from the casual visitors come tournament time. It's useful to make them aware.

All 3 of their fans will be upset.

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.

https://www.torontofc.ca/news/richie-laryea-named-to-team-of-the-matchday-3-bench

I can agree with that. Just wanted to share perspective from someone who has a ton of experience working with the same type of kids the I Promise school has.

Can this conversation get moved elsewhere? While it's an educated and civil conservation, it's completely unrelated to Akron athletics.

Spot on. I work in education. 10 years working in schools with at-risk students. Pass/fail on standardized tests, especially with a 100% at-risk population, never tells the story - growth does. When you help an at-risk student graduate, you're literally changing the outcome of their life, but also the lives of future generations in that family. The work they're doing - investing in the kids, in the families, the wraparound services - is incredible.

You can tell some of you just don't like LeBron. 😂

and it's BAD!! I think only two of 75 seventh grade students passed the state math test and zero in the 8th grade passed.

Considering taxpayers largely fund his iPromise school, no.

Absolutely. I will also say I believe in Coach Groce and what he is doing more than just about any other coach I've encountered at Akron. He spoke to my son and I at the preseason event and was so kind, personable, and seemed genuinely thankful for our support of the team. You can see why he is so good at recruiting and building a positive culture. But to your point, I feel like my financial support makes at least a small difference because of the smaller roster. I don't feel that way about football at all.

https://akronzippedup.substack.com/p/previewing-the-2026-mac-mens-basketball ZippedUP tournament preview. good read!

I hope I'm wrong for the people's sake, but I think history will show LeBron's "influence" on Akron (city/University) as a net negative unless something drastically changes. Unless he's willing to truly commit to growing Akron as a whole, the University would do well in distancing themselves from him as much as possible. Figuring out how to repair/build relationships with the larger Akron-area companies is what UA officials should be focused on in terms of financial support. As a brand, UA would do well in figuring out how to market themselves better to greater-Akron-area families.

I have donated too. I even have a monthly reoccurring donation setup. I wasn't talking just helping financially. I wouldn't be donating if there was no FTR collective to donate to. Yes, I can agree with this point. It's also why I contribute to men's basketball and not football. Not just because of the success, but because I also feel my dollars stretch further. Akron spent some say $1 million on this years basketball which wasn't far behind UMass for the largest dollar amount. An article was released yesterday that Miami (OH) is spending ~$8 million NIL on football this coming year. That's ~6x the amount UMass is spending on basketball. The hard truth is we can't compete in both so it makes more sense to focus on the one we stand a chance with.

I would love to "barely" be a billionaire. I don't think LeBron is going to pay for an arena. His financial investments in Akron are almost exclusively in at-risk youth and their families, which I think is pretty cool. But if he wanted to, he absolutely has the money/connections to get something done. I just don't think it is on his future agenda, and that is OK.

His prime earning is just now beginning. You think Jordan made all his money during his prime? Lebron will be owning a team one day with whatever ownership group he forms. I'm sure he's had the post-retirement plan since he got to LA.

Exactly this. @ZippyDoo Akron started a competitive excellence fund to help fund NIL. I have the link shared below. You're more than welcome to contribute. I know there is a $20 million cap, but schools are also restricted to only being allowed to spend ~22% of ahtletic department revenue. I'm pretty sure that 22% excludes student fees and other direct institutional support that athletic departments often Hollywood math into their revenue figures. This would mean to spend the full $20M you would have to generate ~$90 million in athletic revenue. Akron is nowhere near that figure. Let's say our athletic revenue is more like $10 million for simple math (when you exclude student fees). That would mean we're restricted to spend only $2.2 million of University money on NIL. At most schools football gets about 70% so that would mean $1.5 million. The reason basketball is so well funded isn't because of the success. It's largely because of Bud Wentz and the ground work he laid. If Kaulig was investing millions into the football program it would be in a similar spot. I say millions because the cost to compete in FBS is probably 5x the cost of men's hoops. https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/CompExFundNIL?fbclid=IwdGRzaAQdAMBjbGNrBB0Al2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHo_R-wvonj103QBpdzCLEd2uGZVJ7jVjoOuOtzDWQpG8is6x9IopCq5-yL-g_aem_npqoWX87I8F61GafRenGPA

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 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.

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.

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/

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!

Pluto didn't write that - Captain Obvious did.

Pluto - MAC Tournament Pressure

To be clear, Summit Co. voters haven't expressed opposition to a downtown arena, they just don't want to be taxed for it. And I don't think LBJ has been approached to contribute to any Akron basketball facilities or has said he never would. A lot may depend on his next endeavors after retirement, his business interests, and how/where is is splitting his time and residency. It would probably be a good sign for the area if he decides to play a final season with the Cavs.

There is definitely a market for a mid size music venue in Akron imo. There's a level of musician that doesn't come to Akron but hits up places like Kemba Live in Columbus and Stage AE in Pittsburgh and drives right through Akron. Too small for Blossom, too big for EJ or Akron Civic Below is the tour schedule for Akron's own Black Keys https://theblackkeys.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq5FvIBX6ltfsV_nnzvRIsqUaOdTHK6iukNKNvPeC9MiYxtWbmV

His RayJ Dennis-led squad was the most March-ready team he ever had and they lost to inSincere Carry's Kent clowns.

I know a long shot but do you think we could ever get a 10k arena downtown Akron. Next to the rubber ducks a lock 3. LeBron could pay and the city could help. Then move the Cleveland charge into that arena and have the zips play there. it would be a UA, charge and concert venue. Creating a stadium district downtown.

If Syracuse were stupid enough to hire-away a Zips AD who’s accomplished nothing, good for them. Then again, Fordham hired-away our Graphic Designer, so anything is possible.