Let'sGoZips94

The Big Ten didn't add Rutgers & Maryland for their competitive athletic programs. They added them for their markets. The MAC needs to expand to capture more markets. More markets = more money = more exposure = more excitement = better atmosphere = increased level of competition.

RIP C-USA. I'd imagine the MAC expanding is imminent at this point.

The main post in this thread contains the following information... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have obtained the Form 990s for the G5 conferences for their fiscal years ending June 30, 2019, and June 30, 2020. Obviously, June 30, 2021 Form 990s have not yet been filed. In terms of dollars, the AAC ranks as the clear top dog in the G5, with the Sun Belt Conference as the poor man. Total revenues of each conference are set forth below. AAC 2019 $73,203,230 MWC 2019 $57,058,330 CUSA 2019 $44,250,642 MAC 2019 $30,848,489 SBC 2019 $33,072,881 AAC 2020 $111,278,729 MWC 2020 $ (not available) CUSA 2020 $40,861,629 MAC 2020 $32,241,698 SBC 2020 $31,584,812 Revenues from TV/media rights are interesting. These amounts are included in the total revenues above. AAC 2019 $22,726,100 MWC 2019 $14,232,915 CUSA 2019 $6,968,263 MAC 2019 $8,639,734 SBC 2019 $3,920,523 AAC 2020 $43,988,700 MWC 2020 $ (not available) CUSA 2020 $6,440,156 MAC 2020 $9,186,590 SBC 2020 $2,250,000 By far, the largest expense amounts for each conference are the grants and distributions they make to their member institutions. The total grant/distribution amounts set forth below are net of any membership dues paid to the conferences. The parenthetical amount represents an average grant/distribution amount for each conference member, although these individual amounts can vary widely depending on the formulas used by each conference to hand out the money. AAC 2019 $49,635,911 ($4,136,326) MWC 2019 $42,883,422 ($3,898,493) CUSA 2019 $27,876,250 ($1,991,161) MAC 2019 $24,116,351 ($2,009,696) SBC 2019 $17,959,464 ($1,496,622) AAC 2020 $65,385,468 ($5,029,651) MWC 2020 $ (not available) CUSA 2020 $26,620,665 ($1,901,476) MAC 2020 $24,530,154 ($2,044,180) SBC 2020 $14,882,160 ($1,240,180) Below are the highest payouts to an individual conference member in each year. AAC 2019 $7,476,770 (UCF) MWC 2019 $ (not available) CUSA 2019 $2,921,341 (Middle Tennessee) MAC 2019 $2,393,714 (Toledo) SBC 2019 $1,621,356 (Georgia St.) AAC 2020 $8,656,466 (Memphis) MWC 2020 $ (not available) CUSA 2020 $2,739,105 (Marshall) MAC 2020 $2,386,989 (Buffalo) SBC 2020 $1,386,608 (Georgia St.) Finally, one way of measuring the financial health of an organization is to look at its net worth - calculated by determining how much its total assets exceed its total liabilities. This calculation taken from the Form 990 of each conference reveals the following: AAC 2020 $43,315,213 MWC 2020 $ (not available, but was $7,984,041 in 2019) CUSA 2020 $8,748,914 MAC 2020 $6,431,401 SBC 2020 $6,457,663 One could conclude from all this financial data that a possible move by Marshall to the AAC might be expected to eventually increase revenues by $2-3 million per year on average, or by as much as $5 million per year if Marshall's teams performed exceedingly well in football and/or men's basketball. Conversely, a possible move by Marshall to the SBC might be expected to decrease revenues by $1 to 1.5 million per year. One might question whether the SBC generates enough money to feed an additional mouth or two through expansion, at least without identifying additional sources of revenue through TV/media rights or other means. Perhaps the recent SBC's TV/media contract extension with ESPN announced in July will generate additional dollars, though none were mentioned in the press release. A move by Marshall to the MAC would be, at best, a lateral one financially. Of course, all of this becomes even more complicated if CUSA teams start dropping off (UAB/FAU to the AAC? ODU to the Atlantic 10?). After the AAC, I do believe CUSA is the most unstable conference. The idea of forming a new conference sounds great, but is not very practical given the fact it would not have access to the football playoffs, would not have access to an auto berth in the NCAA basketball tournaments, and would not have any established TV/media revenue. Getting an additional auto berth in basketball only takes money away from P5 at-large berth contenders, so good luck getting that approved by the NCAA. It would be difficult for any school to abandon its conference affiliation for a new conference venture given this level of uncertainty. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another interesting post from that thread... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the problem with numbers and not up to date numbers at that. AAC will have to redo their contract immediately to the worse unless they get the MWC teams that ESPN covets. It's why they are mentioned as targets. The MAC will remain the same CUSA is going to lose as many as 4-5 teams, maybe more and one of them will be the ratings leader most years. Their money is going to drop, significantly. The Sunbelt has a raise already not reflected in those numbers. Not AAC current money but much better than what is there for the last 2 years. And ESPN has told them there is more available to them if they get a few teams from CUSA that ESPN covets. If the MWC stands pat they will be unchanged and may in fact lose revenue depending on who the Sunbelt adds and who the AAC can lure over. Either one can drop their status from solid #2 to #3 or worse. Conferences that can add teams that ESPN doesn't control but would like to are going to get more money from them to cover the cost of those teams. It saves them from having to pay for a whole new conference. They're picking a la cart who they want and encouraging the AAC and Sunbelt to get them. ESPN is going to get UAB and Marshall, either way. I have no idea who they're taking after that. But rest assured CUSA is cooked and will be squarely at the bottom of that money list in 2 years. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've always thought of the MAC as inferior to C-USA. That mindset has probably been due for an update, as it stems from the days of C-USA having its now-AAC members. The numbers above show the MAC and Sun Belt as superior to C-USA TV revenue wise. The Sun Belt has done an excellent job at growing in a relatively short period of time. The MAC, on the other hand, has taken steps backwards in my eyes. The height of the MAC, talent & relevancy wise, was the 90s/early 00s, when both basketball and football were consistently producing professional star talent AND making runs on the National stage in both football & basketball. Since then, the MAC hasn't made too much noise. Their marketing strategy is a mixture of mid-00s graphics and mid-2010s at the height of Twitter (#MACtion). Rarely are they ever "ahead of the game". The very unpopular weeknight games on ESPN probably has something to do with the higher TV contract; it doesn't sound like many schools in other conferences were lining up for that opportunity, which could mean a hard sell to other schools to join the MAC. I don't know if there's enough money to spread among 5, G5 conferences. I could see 3-4 non-P5 conferences remaining when all is said and done. I also don't believe the P5 re-alignment is done. The Big 10 and SEC are FAR superior in TV revenue to the ACC, Big 12, and PAC 12. I think we could see several P5 schools switch conferences (WVU to the Big Ten, for example), which would create more opportunities for change at the non-P5 level. I've wanted Akron to get out of the MAC for YEARS now. I think the leadership at the top of the MAC is pee-poor. However, adding new blood like MTSU, WKU, Marshall (new, old blood), etc., would make remaining in the MAC more enticing. So the question becomes: how open and aggressive will the MAC be in trying to obtain new members?

I think we have our QB of the future in ZG5. Looking at the stats, ZG5 outplayed Miami's QB, by far if you consider ZG5 didn't have a running game to open up the passing game. 265 yds rushing to less than 70. That's where this game was won/lost, which points to two problems. Defense and the running game. Arth recruited ZG5, and so far that is proving he has the ability to identify at least some talent and bring it in here. He also has shown the ability to snag talented portal transfers - Boating being the guy that comes to mind. I don't count the COVID year against Arth. To me, he's in the middle of his second year as the Akron HC. Should we have been more active during the COVID chaos of the transfer portal? Possibly. Would that have hurt the development of the young guys? Yes. There are certain things that point to "he just doesn't get it at this level," then there are other things that give me a glimmer of hope. So, to me, the main focus of improvement (mostly going into next year since you can't make trades at the college level) is how does Arth improve the two glaring weaknesses - rushing and defense?

According to Rivals, he had offers from Dartmouth, Georgetown, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. Is that an indication of what this kid's intellectuals are like? His featured video on Rivals would also indicate this kid is quite intelligent; good decisions, smooth, calm, collected.

@clarkwgriswold I see your bad juju video, and raise you a positive juju video... Ironically enough, the QB in your video no longer has JuJu...

Bold Prediction: no fumbles by Akron this week. 27-17 Zips.

Love that this is our exhibition game. Press Virginia will challenge our backcourt, presenting an opportunity to be forged by fire before we head into CBus for a game that actually matters. Additionally, our front court is slightly bigger than WVU's, and I'm excited to see if we can take advantage inside.

His last name is Hester, and he hits the hole like All-Pro Devin Hester hit the hole on punt & kick returns. It was very impressive, especially considering how poor our run game has been thus far. I think Kent State has a safe space if you need one, though. Go Zips!

What a win.

Are you kidding me...

I've been debating recording the sound to this game to play for my soon-to-be-newborn baby girl at night. 1) It should help her sleep. 2) Not sure how often she'll get to listen to positive Akron football.

4th & 2, you've had an easy time running it with Hester, and you elect to punt. Why, Arth? Why?

The Pat McAfee Showed used the A with the Roo on their ticker the other day. I think it's best that media outlets ignore our script Akron memo.

White Devin Hester! Where the heck did he come from?

How did Minnesota lose to BG? Unbelievable. Gibson looks incredible. That's Arth's recruit, too. I don't understand Arth. As critical as we are of him, he's at least a good person and someone you want to root for (unlike Ianello). I just don't understand him. The team plays hard for him. But how did he think Kato was the guy over Irons or Gibson? Stuff like that is extremely puzzling.

Assuming so. He got ROCKED at the end of the first half.

Blocked FG with 5 seconds left. As soon as the ball was snapped you could tell it was going to be blocked.

Accurate finish to the half.

Kato's arm is one of the weakest I've ever seen at the D1 level.

Add this to my Parlay.

Who do we have behind Kato at QB?

Sports betting in Ohio would make a killing on Akron if it were legal. Give me the Parlay... (Insert opponent) Over 100 Rushing Yards ANYTIME Akron Fumble Akron Under 50 Yards Rushing (Insert opponent) Moneyline This would hit weekly.

A timeout on defense in a 4th and 7 situation where the opponent lined up to kick a FG. Oy.

Bring the fans and $500k, and we'll provide you with the prestigious honors of not only having Akron on your schedule, but the opportunity to play at The Info.