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Ya cuz that rivalry philosophy is absolutely KILLING tOSU...

At first I thought it was funny. But then I thought, well, it is Delonte...

To maintain the attendance standard, they count each fan twice. Once in the area outside the stadium, and then when they go in. The count the cheerleaders too, and the players, the band, the announcers, people in cars driving by. That was sarcasm, in case anyone wondered. They don't count people in cars. Do they?

Handing out tickets for the sake of getting people to come isn't the answer. Just ask the Force... But if you work with another organization, like Acme Stores back in the day, you're not giving away anything. If you get a poster in a tire store or a fast food joint and say "If you get your oil changed here this month..." or "If you buy a rediculously big burrito full of rice and little else..." then there is a value on that ticket. You're getting your name and logo in those stores. That some of us remember the AcmeZip game in 2010 means it was an event. The more I think about it, you may be right about the kids. After being bombarded with the kid stuff at baseball games, hockey games, arena "football" games, not to mention the loud obnoxious garbage we're hammered with at Cav's games, let's let football be football. We'll let the Aeros and Monsters run the circus.

Judging by the Aeros, and the teams who did well at the Coliseum despite not playing a "big three" pro sport, I would say: Have a nice convenient comfortable venue. Check. Get the clothing and memorabilia out there. People like to wear clothes of their favorite teams. It makes you legitimate. Get the clothes into department stores and sporting good stores. I know, dead horse, but it bares repeating. Stay off of SportsCenter. The only time a mid-maj or a minor league team makes SportsCenter is for something really really bad. Starting QB kicked off, coach resigns under the pall of recruiting violations, that all spells "train wreck" to the consumer. The opponent is not important but being competitive is. Beat the BGSU's and Northern Illinois'. The Aeros draw nice crowds playing Altoona and New Brittain. And beating them and winning championships. Bringing in Indiana if you can compete with them will attract the big time college football fan, but when you give up 56 to Temple, big time college football fan knows you're not even a mediocre mid-major. Save that for later. Make it a fun event for everyone in the family. I'm a purist and don't like the sideshows at games, but they are popular with the kids. And all those kids pay admission and could be lifelong fans. Advertise. Advertise the family aspect. Advertise the FOOTBALL. Eastern Ohio is football central. We have high schools that outdraw most colleges. Get with a marketing partner like we had with the Acme/Zip games. Just don't expect them to pay the whole thing like we did Acme. We need the exposure. We need people to come out and see the team beat the BGSU's and Northern Illinois. Giving away seats is better than playing in an empty stadium. The Zips have one thing on the Aeros, is they have local talent. Make that known. First things first, win MAC games. Play non-conference games you can win. Market. Advertise. Remember the kids. Look at the Aeros, they're a perfect case study in selling non-big-time sports.

I wonder if it's for a PR. The campus is within a few seconds driving time to several level 1 trauma centers, adult and pediatric, certainly a lot quicker than a flight can get there. Even where I work, 20 minutes from a trauma center +/-, it's quicker to transport by ground... Hopefully it was just a PR event.

That does bring up an interesting point. Just how do you define "FAN"? Am I a true fan of the US National Team if I have never paid to see them in person? The Italian National Team? When I was first able to drive, TTed Stepien owned the Cavs. There were nights only 1500 people were at the game. Does that mean those of us 1500 who are still alive are the only "true" Cavs fan? And everyone else is a fair weather bandwagon jumper? How many games do I have to attend to be a "true" fan? How many innings on the radio or TV? I'm sure everyone has a different answer to that. Could the guy in the bleachers who bangs on the drum call you a fair weather fan because you have missed X number of games in the past 40 years? It's all relative.

This is a tired old excuse that carries very little merit. The fact is, Mark Shapiro is incompetent. The team can't draft, overpays for washed up has-beens (the latest, Russell Branyon), and pays big money to sign free agents to platoon (ie Dave Dellucci in 07). The coaching at the major league and AAA level is horrible, year in and year out the Aeros are a threat to win the title. Yet by the time these guys make it to Cleveland, they act like the simplest fundamentals are beyond them. I don't hear anyone in Tampa Bay whining about the salary disparity. Florida has two rings. Arizona has one, St Louis has one. Colorado went. It's all just an excuse for an owner who doesn't want to invest in a real management and a real roster who can win, even though this market has proven over and over it will support a winner. I do support the pro and college teams teams who at least try. Once the football team melted down last season, I was done. I put all of my support on a program that deserved it so much more, the soccer team. I refuse to waste time and money on a circus run by clowns. Now this year, I'll start supporting the "new" football program (and the "new" Browns) unless they prove they don't deserve it. But the Indians? They're dead to me. It's much more fun right here in Akron at Canal Park.

Thanx, that'll come in handy...

It's just incredible how year after year, Caleb keeps the talent coming in.

Dude, you need to lay off and find a life. Seriously, this man crush you have on me, its not healthy.

If you attract 4 new students and make them buy a bunch of books they don't need, you made up your cost right there...

Here's my impressions of you. You seem to be highly educated, and intelligent. Although some characteristics (like spelling and tact) are missing. Never mind the fact that sarcasm blows right over your head and out the window. You may have an important position with the U. From your posts, I gather you are in Accounting or Political Economics. Something prudish. Not Law though. Wrong set of debate skills for Law. On the lighter side I picture a small man with gray/white hair, bad comb-over, Clark K.E.N.T. glasses, black high-water pants, white dress shirt complete with pocket protector, ZNO.org on one browser, thesaurus.com on another. Instant Messenger open but there are no friends. Bottle of Maalox and half-empty bag of taste-free rice cakes on the desk. Am I close?

And your pretending that your retorts arn't filled with insults are even more priceless. Thank you as well, ass hole! If my pointing out your every back and forth waivering, and every response you ignored as insults, you have very very thin skin. I'd call you a sore loser but that might completely ruin your psyche... Or if I compared you to the nerd on the playground who answers everything you say with "I know you are but what am I?" Same elementary mentality. You might even resort to FOUR letter words. Then we'd ALL be impressed!!!! Being called "ass hole" by you is a compliment.

Sounds like a Phil Savage reply.

I may restart my dynasty, as from what I understand the Info will be in the game this year. Actually I have Zips artwork for Madden 08 on PC, along with other schools. I may switch over to that as it seems easier to get around in, has AutoPass, and it's a heck of a lot easier to enter player's names.

And for the record, I don't hate GP. Don't always agree with him, but certainly don't hate him. I have a lot of respect for his debate abilities. For the most part.

Thanks Jake, I needed a good laugh this week. Someone who can't make a point without throwing an insult calling someone else "juvenile" is priceless.

I hope you don't have anything to do with the University of Akron because I don't want to be associated with someone who has to resort to name calling to get his point across, and then lying when called out on it. You have written post after post criticizing Akron's campus, how beautiful Can't's is, and how we should bow down and ask for forgiveness to the bronze squirrel for ever criticizing it. Then you come back and say you never said anything about Akron, that it's the best urban campus in the nation. Then in the next post you rip it apart again. So not only are you childish, you're also a liar. And you call me juvenile. And, one more time, Polsky is not part of the main campus. Here's a shocker, Wayne College isn't either. Because Wayne's building doesn't fit with the buildings on main campus means Akron shouldn't own it, by your way of thinking. It's a different setting, genius. Definition of "Landmark" In modern usage, a landmark includes anything that is easily recognizable, such as a monument, building, or other structure. In American English it is the main term used to designate places that might be of interest to tourists due to notable physical features or historical significance. It's easily recognizable by anyone who knows Akron from their left hand, and it has historical significance as a major retail store for almost a century. Again, if you don't know crap about Akron, have no fond memories of Polsky's, then it doesn't have any historical significance to you. You. Not a vast number of Akron area natives. You. And to tell you the truth, we couldn't care less what you think. Debating whether Akron needs a downtown presence, a "community college", an inner city regional campus, just doesn't sound like fun. I've had enough name calling and story changing for one thread. Just take your lies and your failed attempts at insults and go back to Can't State or whatever rock you crawled out from under.

Coaches use stats and probabilities CONSTANTLY during a game to make decisions. They just don't know it. Third and 8. What's the probability our running game can get us eight yards? What's the probability our passing game can get is eight yards? Who is our better 3rd down back? Which receiver is the better possession-type receiver? Who do we want him matched up with in the secondary? What are the completion percentages to the right, midfield, left? Player evaluations, they look at 40 yard times, 60 yard times, vertical jump, broad jump, 3 cone time, bench press. They've been looking at school grades and IQ since Paul Brown started using them. With quarterbacks, they look at release times, arm strength, accuracy. All numbers. So Coach Bill had a numbers geek in the background crunching out numbers to help make those decisions. Not a bad idea if you ask me. Maybe it was that dork who finally convinced him that running Metcalf up the middle 50 times for 60 total yards wasn't working... Fear of stats doesn't make them go away...

I think it's a great way to prevent May Day from ever happenning again. Seriously, it looks like a great event for the traditional student, to celebrate the end of the school year. A lot better than burning furniture (and houses) and rolling police cars. If I could have stuck around I would have. But I saw enough softball to last me a lifetime (has BGSU ever HEARD of simple fundamentals?). The baseball game was still 2 hours away. And I spent enough idle time on that campus this year... It looks like a really fun event, for the current traditional student. But there's nothing there any time of the year to bring back alimni, to bring in the non-traditional student, and their family, the commuter student.

I usually don't either. But some days you just deal with one too many ignorant people...

But if you ask anybody in statistics, they will admit that you can work the statistics to say anything you want them to.

It'll never happen. Because then the BCS would have to justify all the political crap it does...

How long before LeBron injures his elbow and ruins the whole championship run. I bet the Indians lose 150 games this year. Oh woe is us!!!