UAZipster0305

Can't down big at the half to BUGS, 35-22.

For those of you interested in scouting our MAC East competition, the Ohio-Miami game is also on ESPN3.

See, the only thing that matters is winning the MACC.

If we want serious consideration for an at-large bid, we can't lose games to teams in the 75-100 RPI range that are NIT or CBI bound without a conference championship. Relative to our MAC competition, the Detroit game was an opportunity for a decent win, and losing to a team in this range demonstrates that we are not worthy of competing in the Tournament unless we win the MACC. The OK St. and Creighton losses were acceptable though we should have won the former. They are both excellent teams that are at-large worthy of making the Tournament. My logic is, we aren't at-large Tournament worthy if we lose to other teams that aren't worthy and don't beat the ones that are. I'm sure the selection committee will see it this way as well, especially considering the bias towards more major conferences. Hence, if our goal is to have a resume worthy of an at-large bid (and it should be), then the Detroit loss was a bad loss. If we didn't lose such games every year to inferior programs in the OOC, I think Joe Akron would be much more likely to support the team during the MAC schedule and the following year's OOC. It's no coincidence that annually, the Zips get a lot of support during the three days in Cleveland. We can schedule games against the likes of Coastal Carolina and Detroit and still have Joe Akron's interest. We have to consistently win those games though! The OOC is not the preseason!!!

No. Wins against Coastal Carolina and Detroit along with the above description would have. Because of our OOC results, "Thinking Bigger" has to involve a MACC this year. End of story.

EJ Thomas is a world-class venue for what it is utilized for. Few (if any) schools in the nation have such a facility. Other than graduations, there is no competition between events hosted at EJ and those at a stadium or arena. Can you imagine a rock concert at EJ or a symphony in an arena? I can't either. The loss to Creighton did not kill our RPI. Granted, that would have been a great win (especially on the road); however, the losses that hurt our at-large chances were those to Coastal Carolina and Detroit. Both were winnable games. Even the game against Oklahoma State was winnable. Bottom line: yes, this team is winning, but it's not doing so by playing beautiful, tournament-caliber basketball (at least not yet), and we've lost a couple games we shouldn't have when we need to be flawless to receive such consideration. If we had won 2 of those 3 games and were playing excellent, fundamental basketball, I'd agree...let's have the at-large conversation (like we do every year). Unfortunately, the team and KD need to have a sense of urgency about the at-large prospects in November rather than January. Why start off the season saying that all that matters is winning the MACC? That's only true if we give away a couple wins in the OOC schedule. Sadly, because of the expectations, that's exactly what happens. This team still has Sweet 16 potential, but at-large resumes are built on results, not potential.

With more losses than wins, it's impossible for the winning percentage to be over .500. I calculated it myself, and it came out to 0.464.

Not at all actually. Just making a point, and I think I did so in a fair and constructive manner.

Most locals are clueless, but that's the reality we have. If the BCS Championship is mythical, why bother at all? I think that is a crux of STZ's argument. If we can't play for a National Championship, what is the point? We'd have that opportunity at the D-1AA level. The bowl games are nothing more than a last ditch opportunity to jockey for a variety of subjective poll rankings that don't matter and aren't remembered five minutes after they are released for the final time for the season.

If you haven't heard or seen the media coverage regarding Mount Union's perenial D-3 National Championships then you are either off the grid or not living in the region or using its media outlets. Most locals think MU would kick the crap out of Akron! I love college football, but without Akron in one of the bowl games, the only one I care about is the National Championship. All the others are nothing more than exhibition games. As for your mention of Cincy and Louisville, there are about 15 schools ahead of us on an informal list of potential additions to one of the 16 teams in the 4 or 5 new "BCS" conferences. These are the top 64-80 schools in D-1A. We are not among them especially when considering things like endowment and academic acceptance standards (open enrollement). Fair or not, that's how it is. More than anyone, I have advocated for Akron to make a move to a Big East-esque conference or to lead the reformulation of a new conference with the remnants of the Big East, Conference USA, and the best of the MAC. It's now or never. Go big or go home.

I don't know why this is always used as a badge of virtue. While I trust that your testimony about GF caring about the people around him is accurate, I am always skeptical about a religious label being used as a means of promoting someone. He's Christian...fine, I don't have a problem with that, but I also don't need to know about his belief system because that is part of his personal life. There are plenty of virtuous non-believers and there is also no shortage of believers who are horrible people. The opposite can just as accurately be stated.

While I don't advocate a drop to D-1AA (yet), this analysis is well-thought and accurate. NIU was super lucky to get a BCS game this year, and it has NEVER happened before for a MAC school. For those of you dreaming of Akron football in such a game, go buy a lottery ticket instead. Also, to anyone who thinks Akron is going to be the next Boise St. in football, the next VCU in basketball, AND remain a powerhouse in soccer is out of their minds. No other non-BCS school has even achieved two of those three...consider, how is Boise St. in basketball? What is VCU's football program like? Neither of those schools have OSU, Florida, UCLA, Texas, or any other D-1A powerhouse in their backyard like we do. Things are changing at the D1-A level, and if we aren't proactive, we are going to be relegated to whatever is left, which will undoubtedly be inferior. In this regard, I agree with all GP1 has said on the topic.

If we're going to schedule an FCS school every year, I'd prefer it be YSU. I think their fans would travel well, and there is some history to the series.

Dropping to 1-AA would save far more than $750,000 in reduced operating costs, lower coaches' salaries, and fewer/no scholarships. But no, I'm not an advocate for dropping down. Staying just doesn't have all the benefits that most people think.

Because for the past 4 years and throughout most of our tenure in D-1A, Akron has not seen competitive college football. And I don't know what TV and bowl revenue you're referring to...in the MAC both are at a minimum with this year being an exception because NIU made the Orange Bowl. That has NEVER happened before for this conference and judging by its cyclic performance relative to other conferences, I wouldn't count on it happening again anytime soon. Had a few more programs like OSU and PSU been eligible or the Big East circumstance been different, NIU NEVER would have had this opportunity either. We don't get local OSU rejects...Pitt does. We get Pitt rejects. Like it or not, that's the hierarchy.

For someone interested in watching local, competitive college football, I disagree. However, for the casual alumni and Joe Akron, a drop down would just reinforce long held (mis)interpretations of the niche of UA locally, regionally, and nationally.

The enthusiasm for this among fans (and especially casual ones) would be huge and the ticket price adjusted accordingly by supply and demand. However, no AD or President from Alabama or OSU is going to want to compromise their shot at a playoff or National Championship game appearance for the sake of an OOC / early season big name game with little meaning. Regardless of how popular among fans, such games are even bigger when there is something at stake such as the advancement through a playoff round or the National Championship where such teams meet anyhow. Throughout the regular season, teams have to be nearly perfect in football to have high post-season aspirations. This is a major way football and basketball at this level are different. The ACC-Big 10 (or analogously SEC-Big 10) challenge would never happen in football.

I'm not Joe Akron, and I don't expect consistent huge OOC wins or annual NCAA Tournament runs. At a school like Akron coming from the MAC, it's not going to happen overnight and these are not the next steps in advancing the program. I do however expect a few notable OOC wins every couple of seasons and the occasional NCAA Tournament run in our best seasons (as this year should be, talent-wise). What really kills me about this program is that we are yet to have a handful of big OOC wins or ANY NCAA Tournament runs over KD's tenure in spite of having the top MAC talent while watching other schools achieve these goals. Even most post-season appearances are one-and-done after an uninspiring performance against very beatable teams. Every year it's the same thing...slow start in the OOC, we play well throughout the MAC schedule, play well but lose in the Bracket Buster, run to the MACC game, and play uninspired or intimidated in the post-season. And KD's words about all that matters is the MAC sadly reinforces this pattern. This is not at all what I have in mind when "Thinking Bigger."

DiG, end-of-season RPI means very little to me after losing a MACC and then giving an uninspired effort in the NIT, CBI, or whatever flavor of post-season tournament we get into. KD has certainly improved the competitiveness of the program. This is especially true within the conference where we are one of the perenial favorites to win the MACC and post-season appearances have been earned. The NIT wins against Temple and FSU are certainly notable relative to the history of the program. I appreciate these things; however, how long ago were those? Until the past two seasons, I felt the program was growing and continuing to raise its profile. Now, I feel we are in perpetual win-the-MAC-or-bust mode and the OOC and post-season play reflects this attitude. KD continues to comment that the only thing that matters is winning the MACC and that is always reflected in the uninspired efforts of the OOC (including the Bracketbuster) and post-season. To continue growing the program KD needs to take the attitude that we are now bigger and better than the MAC and that every game matters. Maybe then we will start over-achieving with some OOC/post-season wins. Until then, we are just another above average MAC school. Based on the trajectory of the program and talent on the team (and Zeke's senior season), anything less than a MACC and a highly competivitve NCAA Tournament game (and preferably a win) is a disappointment.

UConn is on an entire different plane than the other three because of the strength of their basketball programs. They are primed for addition to a major conference. However, with the other three, it's all relative. Major additions to the ACC, SEC, Big 10, PAC 10, or Big 12? Definitely not, but if they replaced a couple of directional Michigans and Ball State in the MAC, it would be huge for the conference. It amazes me that no one else seems to be taking an interest in this potential.

I don't think the conference roulette will be totally settled until there are 4 or 5 super conferences with 16 members each. Hence, UC, UConn, UCF, and USF are ripe for the picking now, but they won't be in pergatory for very long.

A10 to add BE basketball schools?

So you recommend staying in the MAC until the end of time and just have us all accept that UA athletics won't even ever be a big deal in its own city? Thinking like that is exactly why we have the history that we do.

Yeah, imagine a new conference with NIU, SIU, Marshall, Cincy, UConn, UMass, Temple, UCF, USF, Memphis, Houston, Tulane, Akron, Ohio, Can't (sorry, they are worthy), and Toledo. 16 members with two divisions (North and South or East and West) from mostly mid-west and east coast schools and essentially the same status as the BCS mega-conferences. This is a win for all schools involved!

I know. Meaning there are going to be some high quality schools like UConn and Cincy looking for a new home.