ZachTheZip

How do we save on operating costs? It costs the same to run Infocision no matter what level we play at, and we will have to spend way more on travel than we do in the MAC. Our coaching salaries are not all that much higher than the upper FCS, which I presume is the level we would be shooting for competition-wise. In 2010, Delaware's coach made $310k and James Madison's coach made $248k in base salary. 22 scholarships at $30k per year is $660k. FCS travel costs are far higher than in the MAC. There is no FCS conference that Akron could join without having to fly more often than taking a bus, while we can bus to almost every MAC school.

So what makes you think that we would have been competitive in the FCS? By dropping down, the top 22 players will transfer out and look for a place to play in the FBS. Can you even imagine how horrid we would be if all the starters were suddenly gone? As the TV and bowl revenue I'm talking about added up to about $750k a year before the Orange Bowl this year.

Looks like he re-committed.

Being interested in "local, competitive college football" has nothing to do with what level the competition is at, right? Then why should a move to FCS make a difference to you? Do you think that by removing 22 scholarships and all the TV and bowl revenue used to pay for the program and the TV appearances that help us recruit beyond just the local OSU rejects that we would be more competitive?

There is no benefit to the FCS. Not financially, not in fan support, alumni interest, university reputation, competitiveness, nothing. You are deluded if you think otherwise.

There is no debate.

Stockett mentioned on Twitter that Akron just wasn't the right fit for him. Woodson is a good get for Akron.

Western Michigan hired a no-name WR coach who has studied under some impressive names but has no coaching or coordinator experience. You'd think they would learn from our mistakes. Can't State hired the guy who took Marshall from a MAC superpower to a C-USA scrub.

Most of the time WBB is a low-scoring, slow-paced, game with very little in the way of highlights. Akron, however, is 13th in the nation in scoring offense at 78ppg. They are fearless under the basket and have excellent guard play and lights-out shooting. They are the opposite of almost every stereotype of women's basketball.

I have no idea at this point. The NCAA's recruiting rules get really convoluted concerning this time of year. This is the early signing period for JUCOs. We may not have any that will sign early, and instead will just sign during the regular period. Also, the dead period doesn't mean that all communication ceases between coaches and recruits.

Yes.

The recruiting "dead period" runs from Dec 17th to Jan 3rd, so don't expect too much news for the next few weeks.

Coach Embick picks up his first recruit as Akron's head coach: Nathan Shultz of Highland Heights, Ohio.

On the bright side, Ohio is not one of the 10 most depressing states in the US.

He took a 4-year backup from the FCS and turned him into one of the top statistical QBs in the FBS in less than a year of working with him. I'd say he's pretty good.

And I believe that this is what you are looking for. Unfortunately, there is no way to separate what is real revenue and what is from student fees because of the way Akron reports things. However, you can take a look at what other MAC schools report. EMU, WMU, Ohio, and NIU show how things actually work. In terms of pure financial data, basketball gives you a much better ROI. But the question remains how much each sport brings in donors, gets alumni involved, and gives the university the better reputation within the local community and nationally. At Akron, that's basketball. What gets the alumni more excited? What gets them more involved and invested in their university at the present moment? It might change with success in football, but basketball is a quicker way to get the ball rolling. Remember, my point is that success in one sport can be re-invested to help other sports. We can focus on basketball, and take that good will and boosted revenue to pour into football to give it the boost it so desperately needs.

Here is where Akron's basketball spending is compared to the MAC and the rest of the country for 2011.

I'm looking for them right now. I know they're out there, it's just a matter of finding them. Until then, feel free to take a look at UA's overall athletic finances. Expand Akron's row to see how things have changed year-by-year since 2006. It's fascinating.

For the amount of resources put into it, basketball is far and away a better financial prospect than football for almost every school out there. Good basketball makes a profit much easier than good football. That profit can then be re-invested into a football program that's in the red. This is what WKU has done, and this is what Akron can do if they can put something together in basketball. We're much more likely to do that than for football to make a profit that we can put into funding other sports.

According to Rivals, we are still in play for four 4* recruits. Also, at this point I think it would be easier to list the JUCO players that we have not offered.

Akron native, JUCO WR Corey Smith committed to Mississippi State today. I guess he liked it down there.

They can afford that kind of salary for a football coach because of two factors: NCAA basketball tournament payouts and the athletic fund donations brought in from those NCAA tournament appearances. While football drives the boat in terms of national exposure and fan support, basketball is a bigger factor financially. Most schools lose money on football bowls, but make a profit on NCAA tournament runs. Success in one sport can fuel the other with boosted monetary support. Akron needs a breakout season in either one to get the ball rolling. We've come close, but close doesn't cut it.

Bo Boroski officiating. Thanks, MAC, for sending him to make sure we don't win.

http://triblive.com/sports/3089510-74/mcke...h#axzz2EKhCCbmu

Didn't look very good today. A tough loss.