xu9697

The one on the site is definitely outdated, as it shows IU as a home game this year.It would be nice if they cleaned up that update.Now, as for MAC schools playing big teams, here are just a few in recent history:BC went to Central Michigan and Ball StateMinnesota went to you know where last year.Syracuse is going to Miami, and Iowa went there previously. They have other big names going there in the future.Pitt went to OU.

Looking at all kinds of sites, including gozips.com (could be looking in wrong spot), and it just is not clear when/where/if we play Indiana, Kentucky, Cincinnati and Syracuse at home.Anyone have a clear description of the future schedule.

xu9697 - it has been done before and I have witnessed it (in more than one city). It is a logistical nightmare as I stated. The only missed opportunity is that I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! I will state that it can be done, and has been done successfully. I guess we will agree to disagree, but we can still all enjoy the new stadium in 2009 (hopefully with a Holiday Inn Express to stay at)!

FMR...I don't disagree with you about the soccer thing. That is why I put PERHAPS and did not key into what I was stating. IT is not impossible to do, but it would involve a much more involved agreement.Cleveland State is entering into a similar partnership for "University housing"= developer builds it and most likely reaps the monetary benefits. But the university reaps the benefit of more kids on campus, more of a campus-feel, etc. You act like it has never been done...it has been done and COULD HAVE been done again. At this point, it really doesn't matter b/c we know what we are getting= a definite improvement, but another missed opportunity in NE Ohio.

Wow, that is a totally negative perspective...but typically the perspective this area condones. Sure, there would be different interests..there always are. But if you properly divide who controls what, it can be done. How in the world would any part of a society work if there was not some agreement amongst differing parties?!?!

I am very excited about the new stadium, hopefully ready in 2009. But I am disappointed that this is just another "singular thinking" plan in the scheme of NE Ohio (I am a Cleveland suburb guy, but I am a big-time believer in regionalism). What a shame that Wolstein cannot jump on this plan, and abandon his dome plan for soccer. He could add so much if he became a partner with the university. What I would love to see is a 30-35,000 seat retractable dome which can be used for football, soccer & basketball. Design it in a way that you can reduce basketball seating to 10-16,000 for regular Zips games, but also be able to have 30-35,000 for certain basketball events= NCAA regionals, maybe even a Cavaliers game or a "special" big-time game. This area & this state keep missing on what a dome could bring. A dome of that size would be unique and would have definite positives for the entire area. Bring an NCAA regional to Akron, and hotels in Akron AND Cleveland would benefit. With MAC headquarters in Cleveland, forget about Ford Field for the MAC football championship...the Wolstein Dome would be the perfect spot.Why would Wolstein do it? Perhaps he could work his soccer team into it, but he would be there for the development of the retail & living areas (and some big $$$ to go with it). I am excited that there will be a new stadium, and it is definitely an upgrade. But here is a another missed opportunity for a challenged area (NE Ohio).

It's amazing how big a 32,000 seat stadium can look when done right. I would agree that SMU has an excellent example of the type of facility we should build. Here's hoping someone reads our posts!

I have no connection to the university, and I live in a western suburb of Cleveland. With that being said, I would seriously consider purchasing season tickets. Yes, I am an OSU fan and Boston College fan, but I have always rooted for Akron as the most "local" team. I would love to be able to drive 50 minutes to a college football game on a college campus where I can take my kid, not get charged $75+ a ticket and see good quality football.

the Western Michigan game to average 15000 per game for the season.

& you are going to the UC game, I think you will definitely like Nippert Stadium. It is nestled right in the middle of campus, and they really have done a nice job buidling around the facility (including nearby soccer & baseball fields). It is the type of stadium that I think many of us wish for Akron to build.GO ZIPS!

I also noticed they did away with the "95 Patriots" look for the uni tops= there used to be a back & forth white striping throughout the Zips away jersey, similar to the Patriots blue striping on home jerseys. Another suttle change, but definitely one that is more classic.

I think there are a few reasons (no particular order, though #3 might be the biggest reason) why Akron, as of yet, is not getting the bigger opponents:1. The Rubber Bowl (mentioned already)2. NO WAY did Minnesota or BC want to come to Akron this year (BC's game at CMU was not finalized until earlier this year, which is really late). Both teams have scheduled games against teams they definitely should be able to beat. If they were playing Akron, there certainly would be no guaranteed victory (esp. in Minnesota's case).3. Akron's reputation: we are in that gray area of being good enough to beat the big boys, but a loss to Akron would still look bad for a big name team. As much as we might hate to admit it, Miami (OH) and Toledo have had much more success recently= if a team loses to them, it does not look as bad as a loss to Akron. As respect grows for Akron nationwide (& it will happen), big boys will play at Akron.4. Schedules are done years in advance. There are exceptions (BC at CMU for example), but schedules are generally done for games 3-4 years in the future. If I'm not mistaken, teams like Kentucky, Indiana & Syracuse are coming to Akron in 2009-2012. I'm guessing those schools are seeing a game at Akron as a chance for recruiting exposure in NE Ohio, and they also believe that Akron's reputation will be much stronger then (going back to point #3). Perhaps, they also believe that by then Akron will either improve the Rubber Bowl (not really going to happen) or build a new stadium (HOPEFULLY will happen by 2010).I think we will see an Akron home game at Browns stadium, as long as Akron's president & athletic director want that situation. Browns/city want a college game there every year, and the goal is to have a MAC team from Ohio vs. a service academy (Navy, Army or Air Force) every year. I'd love to see an Air Force (with St. Ed's Shaun Carney starting at QB in his senior year) vs. Akron showdown in '07.

Another example of how costly this year' schedule is= no "name" opponent at home or no "home" game at a neutral site= no big crowds. BG will be saved by the 40,000+ that show up at Browns stadium. Too bad Akron couldn't pull off the same thing.

www.collegefootballnews.com is the site for that prediction:http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2006/Bo...Projections.htm

International Bowl Toronto, CanadaRogers Centre January 6, 2007, ESPNMAC vs. Big East No. 4 or 5Bowl Projection: Akron vs. Rutgers Is going to Toronto in January a reward? Actually, it might be (it's a really nice city). Toledo, Bowling Green, or Miami University could be here from the MAC, while UConn or South Florida could be here from the Big East.

While I don't agree with everything he says, I do agree that the schedule doesn't help the Zips capitalize on last year's success. It would have been nice to have a "marquee" or "name" home game this year...Indiana, Kentucky, Syracuse. It would have been nice to have 6 home and 6 away games. He also said that schedules are made years in advance...so it really would have been tough to change things much. Hopefully, another good season will lead to more "marketable" games. If they keep the momentum going, the name teams will be arriving just in time to take the program to another level.

It definitely does...UC, like UA has done a ton to their campus. Good road trip on Oct 7 to see the Zips/Bearcats.

The University of Cinicnnati has the perfect "model" for what a 35,000 seat stadium should look like in the middle of campus. While retail is not attached to the stadium, the workout facility is, along with one of the cafeteria's and retail/bookstore very close. The stadium location is, I believe, the 4th oldest used in the country. Obviously, it has gone through a lot of changes, and the difference btwn UC and UA is UC had the stadium and built around it over many years.Here is the link from the site (picture doesn't do it justice):http://ucbearcats.cstv.com/facilities/cinn...es-nippert.html

According to Roger Brown in today's PD, Akron is trying to get Syracuse on the schedule this year for a 12th game. I doubt it is true b/c Brown says all kinds of things that are not true, but it certainly would be great if it were true.

Names on the back is a fan-friendly move that should be done. You build team unity in many ways. If you are so desperate for team unity that leaving the name off is your move, you've got problems.Not to mention...so what if an Akron player or 2 gets a little pub? As long as it is good pub, it only helps the cause.

Feb 18-25..2 basketball games on ESPN/ESPN 2. Perhaps a perfect opportunity to announce a new stadium. Perhaps even showing a location and/or design?We can dream!

I think getting 4 teams in the Bracket Buster with solid opponents is an excellent opportunity for MAC to get 2 teams in. And count me as one person who is excited to get Nevada= very well may be the 1 game on ESPN. Talking up Fazekas (sp?) and Travis/Joyce as former teammates of LeBron= ARE YOU KIDDING ME (in my best Dick Vitale impression)?Another chance at great exposere for UA!

Boston College is playing at OU on Thursday, Aug 31.

Why do you guys bother with this Rocket fan? Really. I made the mistake once. Yes, I read his posts b/c they are funny. But just skip over "talking" to him...it isn't worth your time.

I'm sure the people in New England can't wait for the big Toledo vs. Marshall basketball match up to determine last place in the Big East West Division. There is not a ONE MAC school that could leave to go to a conference like the Big East and expect to compete for a conference championship in any sport.UCONN, WVU, Pittsburgh and Louisville are better than every MAC school in the sports that really count.....football and basketball. Save me the OU beat Pitt nonsense. That will never happen again. As bad as Syracuse has been in football recently, they could make a run at the MACC. If Notre Dame ever decides to join the Big East, they would be another team better than every MAC school.Sorry, I just have to laugh when I hear people from MAC schools seriously consider another conference like the Big East as reality. Hell, Marshall is getting killed in Conference DOA. UConn is solid, but where were they a few years ago? Oh yeah..not in Division I. Boston College, before Flutie, wasn't a huge team on the map. Now they are in the ACC (though probably a middle of the pack team). Virginia Tech= who were they 20 years ago? Heck, Miami, Fla was nothing until the early 80's.Those that think teams from the MAC can go to the Big East are visionaries= they see what can happen and what has happened at other programs. If you believe, as most sports analysts do, that the BE will not remain a 16 team conference and will add 4 football teams to 8 football schools...then I ask you:WHO WILL THEY TAKE?Memphis is a virtual lock. But other than that, you could make just as good of a case for a MAC school as any CUSA school. And, LOOK AT THE SCHEDULING= MAC schools are getting Big East schools and even lower-end Big 10 schools to play at their home stadiums. That wasn't happening much in the 70's-90's.The MAC has grown, and will continue to grow. But there is a ceiling, and the quality programs will have an avenue out. If you don't see that, you don't know what is going on in the current fabric of the NCAA.