ZachTheZip

The deck is a necessity. We're going to lose more surface lots (including the large lot 9) to dorms in the near future.I also like the looming feeling that it gives when you're on Exchange. It's the same feeling that the dorms on Exchange and Spicer have: they're like walls or a fence for the campus. It sets a clear boundary. I wish we had more buildings with that effect. Even though it will be primarily used by commuters I think it does something to set campus apart from the surrounding area, which is more like something a residential school does instead of blending in smoothly with the city like most commuter schools.It will look better once the brick and brushed steel face goes up.

I think the idea behind these tickets is to drag along any family that will be here for the holiday.

I get the feeling he dropped his commitment. Hope I'm wrong.

It's going to be a new building for the College of Education, last I heard (allowing them to move out of Zook Hall so it can be renovated like Leigh Hall). There is no need for a gym since the rec center was built. What is needed is an arena, and I can't see it being built on that spot, nor can I see something like that being named after Hipsher.But yes, Memorial Hall is being torn down as soon as the offices and classrooms can be moved to floors 2-4 of Infocision Stadium.

Nothing posted on footballscoop.com so far.

Too many people out shopping on Black Friday. Maybe if the team shop was open and had some deals going on we could attract a crowd.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/72022282.html

Loeffler interviewed a couple of years ago with Tennessee and should have been hired over Dave Clawsen (who's now the HC at BG).He's a great QB coach, and has developed Tom Brady and others. Brady speaks highly of him. And he's from Barberton, so there's a local tie there. Not saying we should hire him, but would be one that would be intriguing to interview.As per that UT staff, Browning is a good one, no doubt. The two others from that staff that I would hire having followed them this year are Eddie Gran (RB/Spec Teams Coordinator) and Lance Thompson (Linebacker Coach). Both are OUTSTANDING recruiters who have really cleaned up on the recruiting trail this year. Gran in particular has developed a few RB's that you might have heard about, esp. Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams. Thompson will move up the coaching ladder as time goes on, he is a very impressive personality and has done a great job with the LB's at Tennessee this year, esp. with all of their injuries.A couple other names from the South would be interesting. Gary Crowton is one of the two finalists for the Memphis job, and he's the OC at LSU. Also, Hugh Freeze, the current HC at Lambuth University. I know that this season has been a BIG disappointment, but the one difference that Akron has now compared to the last coaching search is the football facilities in place. If the adminstration is willing to pay the money for a good coach (and I know that's a big if), then things could really take off.Yes, think how good Notre Dame could be if they just paid their coach more. Weis is actually paid less than you think. Akron can't continue to pay a bottom-ten coaching salary if they want to have any chance of success.

1-AA is not an option for Akron. It might be for EMU and Ball State (they're actively scheduling like they're one).For most MAC teams, they are the way they are because they won't spend the money to support the program. That wouldn't change if they dropped down; it would only get worse. If you're bad, you're bad, no matter what level you are competing at.The MAC would quickly work their way to the bottom of 1-AA despite having the best facilities. The only way to change anything is to get together the schools that are committed to their athletics programs and split off from the rest. Drop the dead weight. Drop the influences of the presidents who hate athletics. Let them drop, let them flounder.

The field remains in the same spot. The dugouts are on the opposite side of where they are now. I like the premium seating under the pressbox and the courtyard behind it.Did anyone else notice that the baseball stands are also being replaced (or added since there are none right now). A major upgrade there.This takes the best aspect of the current field (the claustrophobic-for-opposing-goalies grass berm) and adds to it the best aspects of many of the stadiums that I've seen in my travels following the team. I assume we will finally be able to have TV games?

Because it's a holiday weekend and most people are off of work.Also, we need the stadium free on Saturday for the more important football game between Glenville and Massillon.

Why does it suck? Specifically, what does a fan actually see when they watch a game?I'm not trying to be silly or anything like that. It's important to get these issues out in the open for fans so they understand where the league is and why it is the way it is and why it really needs to start doing things differently.No right or wrong answers.I said it in my post - MAC teams will not spend what it takes to be successful in D1-A football. If you want to be like Temple and turn around decades of losing - spend the f*ucking money. If you want to lose, if you want a "great" season to be 7-5, then keep your coaching salaries in the bottom 10% of D1-A football. You get what you pay for.That is the right answer. Any other answers are wrong.I don't disagree. What does a MAC game look like though? Describe what you see, specifically.....It has to be worse in person because TV can show only what they want to show. Some they just can't hide though.I see a continuation of high school football. When I watch a BCS game, i see something leading into the NFL.

The two most media-covered teams in NE Ohio.Recruiting won't be really impacted, since if we are going after these kids they will likely have already seen the stadium. The biggest benefit would be non-athlete students seeing campus for the first time, and adults seeing the changes that might change their perception of Akron as a smaller version of Cleveland State.

Stanford wins 1-0. I hope they bring their drunk tree.Their win means that 50% of the seeded teams were eliminated in their first match. Poor seeding on the NCAA's part.Stanford won't be able to play like they did against Irvine if they want to have any chance at all against Akron.

Stanford seems to have a great goalie, but a soft defense.

UCSB knocks off #11 San Diego 1-0. That's 7 out of 16 seeded teams that have been upset in the 2nd round, in their first games.#6 UCLA holds on against Sacramento State. 7 yellow cards in that game.

Who to root for...Stanford has the name recognition (helps when talking to the "sports fans" in the area), but Irvine gives you more respect with people more familiar with the tournament.

Even though Irvine is seeded and has a better record, Stanford is more dangerous and has played a tougher schedule.Irvine is practically located in Mexico, while Staford is farther north and subject to some Pacific Northwest weather. If the weather forecasts are right, we could have a bigger advantage against Irvine than the Fighting Trees.

UCSB on the verge of knocking off #11 San Diego 1-0. Sacramento State tied 1-1 with UCLA with 12 minutes to go.The Selection Committee could (and should) come under some heavy scrutiny if 50% or more of their seeded teams lose to unseeded teams in the second round. I don't like how the first round is based almost 100% on geography.

Boston College beat #13 St. Johns, setting up a matchup between non-seeded teams (They'll play Drake). That makes 6 seeded teams losing in the 2nd round so far, and at least one more is likely. That tells me that the selection committee didn't do a very good job.

Attendance was officially 2700. That's a Lee Jackson Field record. It also didn't count the dozens of people hanging around outside the stadium, peeking in through the fence, or watching from the Student Union Balcony.A true sellout. The third one of the season, with at least one more coming. Time to expand the stands or something.

Around the nation in the 2nd round, there were some upsets of note.So far, the biggest one was #4 seed Ohio State getting beat at home by Drake. Indiana beat #12 Butler, assisted by the fact that they could play at home despite being the lower seed. Maryland beat #7 Penn State. Duke beat #14 Michigan State.

From where I was standing, it didn't look good. He had to be carried off the field. I'm afraid he may have a broken shinbone just below the knee, but I hope I'm very wrong.

USF is playing very dirty.

In 2011, Akron is supposedly playing @OSU, FIU, @Cincinatti, and a TBA.The Cinci game is likely to repay them for coming to the Rubber Bowl in '08.FIU at home is a game I like simply because it's a very winnable home game against a FBS team.