kreed5120

And only 1 of them is a senior, meanwhile, we have 2 NC State transfers ready for next season.

That is what I was getting at. We need to eventually get the P5 talent straight out of high school instead of relying 100% on "free agency". I understand it is a process and if I came off sounding like I'm demanding they get these guys tomorrow, I'm not. We kind of just now are getting to the point where we are getting the pick of the litter in NEO for MAC caliber talent. Overall I've been very pleased as I've seen continuous improvement from this program under Bowden. Unfortunately Bowden had to inherit a program at step 1, as you put it, instead of step 3. Otherwise there is no doubt in my mind he would have this program at least at step 4.

It looks like he was just a little before my time (I started Akron in '07). It certainly won't be an easy task, but Akron athletics has never been better so he has that going for him. Overall I've been very pleased with the work Larry Williams has done up to this point. I'm not sure how much ticket sales are up for the fall sports, but they've certainly been pushing them. I also like the concept behind the Music Fest.

Not to take away from what you are saying, but wasn't Akron Jartavis only option if he wanted to play FBS ball? Him signing with Akron and becoming the player he became is more of a testament of Bowden seeing something in him that nobody else did. It's great finding players like that, but it's impossible to hit on enough of those guys to fill an entire roster. Bowden has already admitted that he uses "Free Agency" to supplement the talent that his recruiting classes lack. Before Bowden we were getting FCS talent recruits. Now we are getting G5 talent recruits. To take that next step we need to get the 3* and occasional 4* recruit that currently decides to leave NEO to go play for Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, etc.

Containing the run is going to be key. If the Zips can't do that, this game can get ugly pretty fast. If they can make Wisconsin RBs work for their yards, they should be in a position to pull off a potential upset.

Hasn't Bowden came out saying this year the O-line is more athletic? If they have gotten larger and quicker those are both signs.

Definitely not a deal breaker. More so just an inconvenience in being able to guarantee teams in the MAC an equal amount of home and away games year over year.

I feel the conferences that geographically and competitively make the most sense would be MVC and CAA. CAA might be the more obtainable showdown as I'm not sure Wichita State would want to commit to playing in a a MAC arena every other year. Either conference still poses the problem that 2 MAC teams would be left out.

UC Irvine, who had the 2nd highest RPI last year of the teams we face, a respectable 75th, lost 2 of their top 3 players (1 to graduation the other declared for the draft and is playing in the D-league). Marshall who had the 4th best RPI of any opponent at 128 lost James Kelly, who was easily their best player averaging a 20 10. I wouldn't be surprised if these teams combine for a 200+ RPI at seasons end. Ending up anything short of going 11-2 in OOC should be viewed as a disappointment.

My only gripe is I feel we should be rated higher than Buffalo, especially after they lost Bearden. I'm not going to fret too much over preseason rankings though.

Between the 2 guarantee games vs PSU and Bama this season, the MAC TV deal, and CFB playoff money alone no way Kent is losing money of football operations if those cost figures are accurate. Between Akron's guarantee game vs. Wisconsin, MAC TV deal, and CFB playoff money Akron is bringing in something a little over 3 million. That doesn't include any ticket sales or sponsorship. If Akron is losing money on the day to day operations of football, it can't be much. The football stadium on the other hand is a sunk cost. They will have to continue paying on that if they cut the program or not.

Here is a video of the race.

It's being reported that the Big 12 will only be taking 2 teams if it decides to expand. Having 17 schools interview for 2 spots seems a tad excessive.

Clayton Murphy finished 4th in his heat just missing qualifying to the next round. Edit: Disregard my comment. Apparently I don't know enough about Track and Field.

OSU agreed to a home and home series with Toledo a few years back with Toledo's "home game" being at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Something like that might be attainable in the future.

MSU offered WMU, CMU, and EMU a 3 for 1 series. Each as those schools have to play at MSU 3X and in return MSU will go to their stadium to play 1 game. This isn't the same as a home and home series.

There are so few programs of Miami's caliber that are willing to play on the road. Expecting to get an opponent like that at home every year is just setting yourself up for disappointment. Even Pitt, who recently had a home and home with Akron, is on record saying they will no longer schedule anymore home and home series with G5 programs. Sure when they opportunity presents itself they need to jump on it. Those opportunities just don't come around frequently.

Perhaps I should have posted this in the basketball forum, but since this thread exists I'll leave it here. CBS Sports will be carrying 12 football and 12 basketball regular season games and they will air the MAC basketball Men's semi-final and Woman's finals. This will be the 1st time either is broadcasted nationally. http://www.mac-sports.com/news/2016/7/29/BB_0729164926.aspx

If he was I must have missed hearing about it.

Hopefully JB doesn't forget his roots. I must say that I've been a bit jealous that players like Edelman, Cribbs, and Harrison are still connected with that university down the road, meanwhile, when is the last time Jason Taylor stepped foot on Akron's campus?

We couldn't even get 4k fans to an OOC game against a team that made the final 4 the season prior. A team that was a Cinderella sweetheart. A game that was likely only scheduled because of Shaka Smart's connection to Akron. Good luck finding another Final 4 team that is willing to play in Akron. Lets say VCU name freshly off a Final 4 run attracted 1k more fans to 1 OOC game, a fair estimate. A team that you would have had to live under a rock the 12 months prior to not recognize. How many fans do you think a Valpo, Northern Iowa, or insert realistic mid-major opponent would attract? I'm going to guess not many.

They had 3,700 this year over Christmas break against a Lipscomb team that entered the game with a 4-12 record.

If you're referring to 2011, we had 3,993.

I agree with everything that you are saying. My argument was the casual fan isn't going to show up regardless of who we schedule.

Honestly, the casual fan doesn't know the difference between a Valpo and American University. Any team that is a big enough name to draw in a meaningful number of additional ticket sales wouldn't agree to play at the JAR.