ClevelandZip

Scheduling News: Akron and Milwaukee will square off in a neutral court contest at Fiserv Forum as part of their 2024-25 non-conference schedules. The game will be played on Sunday December 15th as part of a previously reported doubleheader including Georgia Tech/Northwestern.

https://www.crainscleveland.com/sports-recreation/akron-kent-state-plan-different-paths-guarantee-games I don’t have a subscription to Crain’s, but a byline here is suggesting that “the Zips are looking to lighten their non-conference schedule in future years in hopes of boosting their football program.” Evidently KSUcks is happy to keep getting pounded for money.

If by correct you mean dead or seriously ill for no reason, then OK. I do agree they should continue accepting cash, but come on.

#20 to the Cavs. Partially because I don’t want that bobblehead and partially because I’m doing my part to hype him up and would love to see him stay home.

The McDonald’s Big MAC

Looking at all the mock drafts coming out, I’m feeling more and more confident that Enrique will be selected in the draft, which would be a big deal for our university. By the way, I know this is an Enrique thread, but I’m not seeing one for Ali Ali. Obviously, Ali does not have a shot at being drafted and will probably end up playing overseas if he wants to play professionally. However, I have inside information that Ali worked out for the Cavaliers today. I heard he looked good, and came off as well-spoken and a good kid (not surprising to any of us). One thing I did not know about him is that he and his significant other had a child last season.

https://signalakron.org/exit-of-former-university-of-akron-president-raises-questions/ Lots of speculation in this article about Miller being pushed out by the Board of Trustees. Seems like that isn’t known for sure, but the whole process was highly unusual.

That’s totally fair. I am fond of old venues, though. I recently went to Fenway Park, and it was honestly an awful place to watch a modern baseball game, but it was cool to go to once when you appreciate its history.

If you’re not a fan of whoever’s logos are on the field, just look up and observe all the fine logos covering up some of the best places to sit as a GA ticket holder. Gotta favor the Tuesday ESPN watchers over the actual fans in attendance.

What’s infuriating is that just from these maneuvers, Akron will make 3-4 times the amount of money as they do from ESPN for the broadcast rights to ALL of their sports teams ALL year, if I am understanding the contract right. Meanwhile they’re paying schools like Vanderbilt over $50MM per year. What kind of bozos are negotiating these contracts for the MAC? Seems like they’d be able to get more money by just broadcasting their own content on their own website or app and keeping all the advertisement revenue for the conference. I can’t exactly blame the AD for taking all this money since it is way more than we usually get for athletics. It sucks, but it also seems his hands are tied because of poor conference leadership.

Sad but true. Anyone going to this bloodbath? I’d hate to see the Zips get embarrassed but I’ve also never been to the Shoe before.

Well everyone, I talked to the ticket rep at UA and renewed my season tickets. However, I told him that even though he had nothing to do with it, it was my duty as a fan to inform him that I was super disappointed to lose the Kentucky home game and replace it with an OSUcks away game. Surely that will show them. (It won’t).

https://oklahoma.rivals.com/news/former-akron-qb-and-oklahoma-native-steele-wasel-joining-sooners-as-a-pwo Steele Wasel transferring to Oklahoma U as a walk-on after not getting any playing time with us. Anyone else have that on their bingo card?

Well, we are in the area for a wedding, so we decided to check out the UMASS campus. It is a really beautiful campus, so should make for some nice road trips to see the Zips! It kind of gives me Miami U vibes from the architecture and Ohio U vibes from the area’s geography. The surrounding area feels a lot like Hocking Hills, so based off of that I’d say it feels like a MAC school. Haven’t interacted with too many people yet, so I can’t speak to the cultural fit.

Gotcha, thank you! Seems like he has some pretty extensive marketing experience, which is something UA could probably use.

Wait is he just the Acting President while they find a new one or was the search already done and he is the permanent President?

I literally bruised my hand from clapping so much at that game, then had to play through the pain the next night vs KSUcks. First time that has ever happened!

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/education/2024/05/14/university-of-akron-board-trustees-discussing-future-plans-with-president-gary-miller/73669531007/ University of Akron trustees in discussions with President Gary Miller over his future Jennifer Pignolet Akron Beacon Journal The University of Akron Board of Trustees has "begun to discuss future plans" with its president, Gary L. Miller, a university spokesperson confirmed to the Beacon Journal. The confirmation of the discussion comes amid swirling rumors of Miller's departure, and amid two special trustees meetings scheduled this week. "As President Miller completes his fifth academic year in that role, the University of Akron Board of Trustees has begun to discuss future plans with him," a statement said. "Those discussions have not been completed and there is nothing to announce at this time." But the trustees met behind closed doors on Monday, and will do so again on Wednesday, with a limited open meeting with expected action to follow yet another executive session. Miller, 70, has been the president of UA since 2019, and has a contract through June 2027. He makes a base salary of $475,000 and came to Akron by way of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Miller and his wife Georgia Nix Miller said in a Beacon Journal profile in early 2020 they'd had no intention of leaving Wisconsin, but the Akron job and community enticed them away. Miller has sought to bring consistency to the university's top job after years of tumultuous leadership, although just months after his tenure began, COVID-19 struck, destabilizing higher education. Over the last five years, Miller has overseen the university through a period of great change, including a massive reorganization of colleges and staff layoffs in 2020, prompted by the pandemic but also years of declining enrollment. Miller and the university managed to stabilize the falling numbers this year after 11 years of declines. He has also taken significant steps to offset the university's debt by outsourcing parking. A plan to also outsource university housing is in the works. Wednesday's meeting will begin with the closed-door session at 11 a.m. A public session is expected to begin at 1 p.m. but could start earlier. The meeting will be held in the Board Room, room 339, of the Jean Hower Taber Student Union. It will also be livestreamed on the trustees' website, uakron.edu/bot. Contact education reporter Jennifer Pignolet at jpignolet@thebeaconjournal.com, at 330-996-3216 or on Twitter @JenPignolet.

Missouri State is moving up to FBS to be in C-USA. I don’t believe they were really on anybody’s MAC wishlist, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Funny enough, I looked that up to, because I had never heard of it. I was able to find anything about a Glenville Hall on Google.

I am willing to contribute a whole $100 to this project. Who’s with me!?

Agreed. I just wish in this scenario that we could do something about that darn track.

https://signalakron.org/university-of-akron-to-tighten-belt-in-response-to-budget-challenges/ This is not surprising at all but budget cuts are incoming.