ZippyRulz

It's early season, it's not that far, and they know about the nice stadium. I think there will be a good number of them here.

I think the governor just wants to let sleeping dogs lie for the next year and 3 months.

The no-spin statement: http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ua-president-s-statement-on-rescinded-fees-1.609589 “Following the passage of the state budget, The University of Akron has worked with the Chancellor’s Office of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and with legislators to address how best our institution can achieve a sustainable financial position that protects academic quality and ensures the investments necessary to enable the University to fulfill its mission going forward. “The University’s Board of Trustees approved a FY2016 budget on June 10, prior to the adoption of the state budget. In addition to reducing expenditures significantly, the budget included several fee increases, including an upper-division program fee. The state budget adopted on June 30 contains an increase in the State Share of Instruction for higher education, with approximately $4 million in additional funding to UA. We are grateful to the legislature under the leadership of Senate President Keith Faber and House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and to Governor John Kasich for the additional funding. “We also appreciate the intention of Chancellor John Carey and State Representative Kirk Schuring to work with the state legislature to resolve a unique financial burden on UA resulting from its status as the only university participating in the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio (SERS). Due to SERS regulations, UA is forced to pay a ‘surcharge’ on its contribution to the system that artificially increases the university’s payment by more than $1.2 million annually. “I am asking our Board of Trustees to approve retracting the upper-division program fee previously established and amending the FY2016 operating budget accordingly. I will make that recommendation at a special Board meeting on July 27. The net change to the University’s budget will be relatively flat due to the increase in state funding and the planned changes related to SERS.” Jonathan Pavloff, Chairman of UA’s Board of Trustees, said, “The conversations with Chancellor Carey and legislative leadership have resulted in them better understanding and appreciating the steps we are taking to strengthen our financial position so that we can maintain our academic excellence and invest in the growth of the University. Their support of our efforts is very much appreciated.”

Did anybody here catch the show on Sat.? Any tidbits worth sharing?

I'll take that scenario all day

It's not that they don't want to speak publicly right now...according to the article you linked to, they are speaking publicly through the media and stating that potential mergers are completely off the table, even if it were to benefit the economy and future of NEO. I too am glad UA is not waiting around for the other universities but instead establishing a position of strength for if/when the state makes a move.

It frankly does surprise me there is such adamant opposition and running away from the mention of consolidations, as if any one of the NEO U.'s has nothing to gain and everything to lose by it. I don't understand where it comes from. Presidential/Trustee egos? Alumni? Local politicians? More than anything, I think it may stem from everybody's fear of losing the university names and the identity and history that goes along with them. But at some point you have to look at the benefits of competing with the Cincinnati's, Pitt's, and Louisville's of the world rather than BG, Ball State, etc.

Terry Pluto chimes in on WAKR https://soundcloud.com/wakr-newstalksports/terry-pluto-on-akron-athletics-ncaa-football

I just discovered Mike Birkbeck's kid went to GlenOak and is a pitcher for the Flashes. Of course, Mike has been a long time coach there.

If the ABJ wants to engage in rumor-mongering instead of news reporting, they just discredit themselves. Don't count on Dr. S. to save them from themselves.

Excellent digging, DIG...thanks

If anyone here subscribes to The Chronicle of Higher Education, this might be interesting: Stirring Fear and Hope, U. of Akron Mulls an Aggressive Move Online

I like it. Of all things to criticize, that would be bottom of my list.

Pitt fans. When Syracuse was here, there were tailgaters spread all over, including down by Wolf Ledges. It would be better IMO to have as much of the tailgating as close to the stadium as possible. The baseball field would be a nicer spot than behind the field house / rec center.

New VIP tailgating area on the baseball field? (another reason to make & keep it a general-purpose lawn)

+1. Or the other MAC programs that are heavily subsidized?

Sooners conference story line http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/would-oklahoma-bolt-the-big-12-and-join-the-sec-070215 Boren also singled out the Longhorn Network as a disruptive force because it prevents the Big 12 from creating a league-wide network like the Pac-12, Big Ten and SEC enjoy.

Akron is looking pretty good after reading that!

Recruiting hoopsters in Indiana has to be a good thing.

If it's FCS football Mr. Rich wants, he's free to go teach at YSU or any of the other FCS schools.

I'd guess Pres. Scar.'s explanation is going to be the plain simple truth, that he is up against it due to the circumstances he came into and he is having to find creative solutions to get through the current financial situation. I'm starting to think it's the trustees and Proenza who are going to have some 'splainin to do in Columbus about the current situation and wouldn't be surprised if some trustees get the boot.

There's some strange irony in that the state appoints trustees who then hire a president who pokes his finger in the eye of the state who is ultimately responsible for his actions. I guess in the end it just means they could fire his a$$ directly or cause the trustees to do so. Another funny thing is that the governor could get as involved in the situation as he wants to but he is now preoccupied with becoming a presidential nominee.

"The Legislature made a mistake by not addressing fees as well as tuition, Johnson said." So the state continually reduces financial support of the universities, then makes them freeze tuition, and when they make ends meet however they can, blames them for a mistake made by the state. Now that's embarrassing.

I don't disagree with you, LAZF, with a few conditions: 1) that the name not include a direction or "Ke.nt" 2) the combined sports program joins the AAC or better and a future arena is located in Akron 3) "main campus" admission standards are further raised (branches could be open/inclusive for remedial coursework)

http://wakr.net/personalities/jasen-sokol/item/159181-audio-ua-debuts-new-cadets-program Per Pres. S. interview: * cadets program rolling out this fall * will march with band at halftime; expected to be smaller at first, like the size of a band flag corps, growing larger over time * the band itself will be growing in size from about 150 to about 225 members