egregiousbob

Likely not a good development.

15-20%?

I don't think that's true based on $30MM budget shortfall UA is facing. Miller said faculty layoffs not an option this time, so expect major cuts to colleges and athletics. Likely a very big cut to athletics.

Shocking that the university's debt is higher than its endowment. Had no idea the endowment was less than $300MM. This is not a good situation. Very surprised, also, that Miller allowed the university to operate at a $30MM deficit this fiscal year. I thought he was making more progress than that.

Heard something very interesting from a well-placed source. Next year's team should be named the Wentz Financial Group Zips - Mr. Wentz wrote the necessary checks for each and every newcomer.

Mr. Wentz's skills at hypebole might qualify him as a certain presidential candidate's running mate.

There are two sides to NIL funds. Coaches not only have to find new players but retain existing players. If a team has a solid returning core (not implying Kent falls into this category), they might not be able to throw around much money to add new pieces. The whole thing sucks, basically.

I assume you haven't seen the plans for their new arena. WMU received a $100M gift to athletics ($1B overall) that is putting them on another level. They'll still be stuck with the "directional Michigan" label, but nonetheless.

Yeah, okay, I hate to keep calling BS on Wentz, but he doesn't even have a website operational and he claims we're on pace or ahead of other G5s? I would not be surprised if we're behind even a few other MAC schools - though not many. WMU, Toledo and OU come to mind.

This is an EXTREME exaggeration. Take another look at JMU's facilities, for example. Their volleyball facility is better than the JAR, much less the bball arena.

Quaker was an investment without a plan. Complete waste of money. Example of the mania of Proenza's later years. Another was overspending on InfoCision. The Big 10 caliber tower could have been built for $20M less and still more than served its function.

Gary Trent was both FOTY and POTY. Has that been replicated? I'd guess so.

I live in Akron and want the university to survive and thrive. But I find it interesting that UA and Toledo are roughly equivalent in many key rankings...and both have experienced severe (40% +) enrollment declines over the past decade. They also show similar financial strength profiles, as seen in an interesting ABJ article today. I hope this doesn't happen, but if state university consolidation does occur in the next 10 years, both UT and Akron are in jeopardy. I suspect the state will revert to its original "4 in the corners, one in the middle" higher education structure, which would consolidate a bunch of schools in the NE, NW and SW quadrants.

That's such a simplistic argument. Compare test scores and GPA of incoming students. Compare rankings of national research universities. Hell, even compare rankings of engineering schools, where Ohio recently passed UA in overall program quality. Is Athens fun? Yes, but OU offers a very good education and a superior total student experience. The latter explains the higher engagement of Ohio students and alums with the school's athletic programs, which tends to pee off other MAC alumni. As to long-term enrollment trends, the university's post-Covid enrollment is 28k+ versus about 31k pre-pandemic, but trends are up given two consecutive record-setting freshman classes.

I wouldn't include Ohio, Miami or BG in your list of schools facing enrollment problems. BG is near an all-time high. Ohio has had record size freshman classes each of the past two years. Toledo and Wright State, like Akron, are struggling. All three are urban schools...gotta be something there. With regard to budget figures, schools are not consistent in how they account for athletic expenditures. Buffalo, for example, pays for facilities out of the general fund, unlike Ohio schools.

I guess our culture does not prioritize spelling/grammar?😇

Also mentioned is Toledo's Jason Candle.

Ohio's program is broken.

He's looking for NIL money.

Playing at the 'Shoe is a thrill for players. That's a positive.

Joe Dunn in a good dude and very professional. He just doesn't have much to work with in terms of on-field competence.

No Morehead press conference this week? No postgame comments either.

For me, Undercuffler will always be the guy caught yelling F-bombs at officials on live television. Wonder if his verbal skills are on par with last season.

Yeah, gotta hate those games with three TDs in the final 4 minutes. Boooorrring.

No doubt Joe Dunn will begin with a question like, 'Well, coach, for the eighth straight week you came into the first quarter with a chance to win the game but just couldn't quite close it out."