Spin

We have never had a functional advertising plan. Garbage in, garbage out. Smart advertising made indoor soccer a hit in Northeast Ohio for years. We had two franchises for a long time. The most profitable never won a championship. Poor visibility makes a championship level traditional soccer program invisible to soccer fans. Including their OWN STUDENTS. I’ve seen 18,000 fans at “human pinball” Force games, in the “Richfield Mausoleum” and maybe 180 at some Zips games...

That may or may not be two different things. If there were a realignment like GP is discussing, part or all of the MAC would (should) be part of it. In a previous post I talked about growing up with ( and playing for) a D5 football high school. Nobody had delusions of grandeur, nobody wanted to get driven into the ground by Moeller, the goal was to win the WCAL and brag about it for a year (or a lifetime). A lot of us didn’t even know there were state playoffs, the competition was close and everyone had losses so nobody we knew went. These are “meat and potatoes” sports fans. What sport has the biggest potential for common fans to show up for a competitive product in NEOhio? Acme Zip ring a bell? Only what, five college teams win national championships out of 730+ programs? That sounds like magical thinking, living so close to a powerhouse (and the jealousy that goes with that). People see Ohio State football’s success in not only breaking even, but making the entire athletic Dept breaking even. What they don’t see is that is a result of winning. Winning national championships. Building a legacy over the decades. Smart advertising. That’s why the networks outbid each other to get the games, and why ticket prices are so high. That’s not going to work with probably the worst mismanaged program in major college football.

One thing was brought up when Baseball was announced to be coming back. In a couple places they talked about the goal being baseball being a "self sustaining model" within the next five years. I've been interested in hearing more about this concept, but haven't heard anything in awhile. They could be onto something in this new reality of mid-major athletics.

This thread shows me that this is a complex problem because of the number of sports and programs involved. Everybody has their favorite program in Zips athletics, and do not want changes to adversely affect their favorite. Fans whose favorite program(s) is basketball and/or soccer are worried changes in the football program will affect those programs' Division 1 status and membership in the MAC. Fans whose favorite is football see the fallacy of non-Five schools ever catching up with the P5 programs, no matter how much money they can scrape together to throw at it. They/we prefer to play at a level can where a program can progress to competing for a national championship someday at the proper level for their program. Just like basketball and soccer and every other Zips program. And they're (we're) not as excited about taking several beat downs a season, possibly sustaining key injuries and affecting bowl eligibility, to bankroll the rest of the athletic dept. Why should football be the sacrificial lamb? How is that fair? Everyone's opinions seem to be based on protecting their favorite Zips program. Myself included. There is nothing wrong with that. But if you're looking for a compromise among fans of the different programs, forget about it...

^ I'm out of likes for today. Very interesting...

Basketball and soccer and anyone else can remain in Division 1. The "other five" conferences can drop football down into a more sustainable level. They can still send the players to FBS slaughterhouses to bankroll the athletic dept. since that's the answer. And there's no reason to think the TV telecasts would go away (I watch high school and small college football on TV, why would they drop Akron in a more competitive environment?). But, it's the MAC. I am confident they will manage to tick off every college sports fan/supporter.

Ohio has SEVEN divisions for high school football, determined by enrollment. And the football division you are in has no bearing on what basketball, soccer, or any other sport's division you are in. Teams can play teams from other divisions, in fact a conference can have teams from different divisions playing against each other. Different sports have different numbers of divisions. There are 4 in basketball, three in soccer and wrestling, one in hockey, etc. It can be done.

If that's your debating skills, no big loss.

College taught us to think for ourselves and discuss situations

A bigger question might be, with all the students doing distance learning during the pandemic, I’m waiting for someone to ask “why do we need a huge campus”?

Others enjoy annual 50+ point drubbings (with their starters pulled at half time) because it makes them feel like a big time program. Not to mention Ohio U...?

...and going 0-12 and seeing cold rainy games in front of a couple dozen fans is sooooo much better. NOT

Best case scenario.

To who? The students who are Ohio State fans? Or could care less about sports? I'm a firm believer it's more exciting, more interesting to play to your level. I come from a Division V high school football program, Doylestown/Chippewa. I have never heard fans say "Man I wish we were getting smoked by St Ed tonight" or "We should be playing in Massillon!!" I personally had a lot more fun watching the Canton Charge than the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. I would rather see a competitive, fun football team. At whatever level we eblong. I enrolled in Akron in 2007 (non-traditional student) and in that time I've seen the program go 49-110. .308 winning percentage. ONE winning season. We're talking the MAC, not the SEC. Sure the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory was fun, but overall THIS SUCKED. Season tickets? Not anymore. Criticize me all you want about not being a "real fan" anymore, I won't cry. It's time to be realistic here.

Competition has hurt too. Having a community college “right next door” (and in Barberton) has done a number on enrollment. Both for the two year programs, and for four year students looking at a more cost conscious first two years (I went to Wayne and Medina to save money). These students who go to Stark don’t feel a bond with Akron like Wayne/Medina/Polsky students. KSU and CSU are just as much in their decision making as Akron.

And network TV revenue, pay from games against big schools, non-alumni attendance, radio and TV coverage, and lower travel expenses by having most of the conference foes a short drive away...

TItle IX is going to derail a LOT of programs. Now does that go by the number of scholarships (85 just for football) or the number of sports? Does the Univ have to supply 85 women's scholarships because of the football team?

I think dropping to FCS (D1A) is the right move for the entire MAC. Never gonna happen, too many schools (and fans) have delusions of grandeur of winning the "Joe's Towing Bowl" against Tulsa or Rice. Dropping to FCS without other regional teams dropping down would multiply the travel budget. There are two FCS schools in Ohio, Dayton in the Pioneer League (teams in Florida and California), and Youngstown State in the Pioneer League (with two schools in North Dakota and two in South Dakota). That's a 15 hour drive or a 4 1/2 hour flight. In Division 2 you're allowed 36 full scholarships. I don't know how many we have, or how many drop off after this season. There are 9 D2 football programs in Ohio. The question is, if it came to that, would you choose Division 2 football? Or no football at all? President Gary Miller blames the COVID virus for this, but I think we all saw it coming years ago. Some links. Affirming Our Promises in the Post-COVID World The Beacon Urinal's front page article

I think I have that same game on my XBox 360. FTR I was offered by three schools after my high school season, but moved up to XBox One and it doesn’t have NCAA Football 14. i coulda been a champion...

The NFL is looking at games without fans. MLB is looking at a miniseason played at spring training facilities with no fans. Even the NBA has tossed it around. But everything I’ve heard Is college football can’t afford to play without ticket revenue. The other sports can survive on their network deals. According to that Akron is screwed both ways...

I don’t know why but I always pictured the coaches all getting along. My days as a high school football player should have clued me in LOL.

The University of Akron makes the front page And finally, it's positive!! Proud 2012 Graduate of the College of Nursing BSN program

Spring sports athletes are getting an extra year of eligibility because of the cancellations. That doesn’t get immediately affect the Zips since IIRC there are no seniors on the team. but it will give the coaching staff an extra year to develop the players. Can’t hurt.

MLB Network is showing the 1990 World Series with the Reds' #17 getting a key hit. Not particularly exciting, but for now it's all we got.

Not really. We can only play the games scheduled.