Welp as a recently graduated student (2010), I will offer this. Akron isn't big time to the students. They've seen OU beat us, and beat Gtown, go to the elite eight. They've seen close loss in big game after close loss, and don't think we're getting anywhere/March is all that matters to them. Win some big games (Namely schedule some good home games) and they'll be there.
On an NFL Sunday against Middle Tennessee State (Yeah, I know they're a very good mid-major, but does 95% of the student body? No.), this game didn't have much of a chance at drawing big.
Our home schedule has been absolutely pathetic the past few years. How many Arkansas Pine Bluff or NC A&T's can we play before we get 0 people there? And yes, I get that it is a tough draw getting OOC teams in the JAR, but get someone for goodness sakes.