Spin

This format is actually very similar to the one I laid out when the program was cancelled. What's missing is to get other schools to join in so there's competitive balance. What it needs is a conference of cold weather baseball programs from the same area, some MAC East teams, YSU, a revived Clevaland State and Duquesne, and maybe some other programs that don't want to spend millions chasing the dream of a Superregional asskicking. Play less games, or play more games per week and start later in the year (April). No long travel trips to the Sunbelt. No shovelling money into the program (like the other sports) chasing a dream of someday competing against the powerhouses. And you're playing other D1 schools. All it takes is a change in how college $port$ are run. If this "self sustaining" method does come into play, I bet other schools will be watching closely. If it works, this idea might just happen.

So, it sounds like our marketing "effort" is only going to get worse as well. Sadly baseball has no effect on getting a new basketball arena, as it is dead in the water either way. Hindsight being 20/20, it should have been done at the same time as the Info, maybe at the expense of the five story monstrosity that pretty much sits empty on the home side. The economy was better, potential sponsors were at least approachable, and the bottom hadn't publicly fallen out yet on extravagant spending at the U. Now, it's a pipe dream. And the poorly worded downtown arena bill that was publicly crucified by the citizens killed any chance of the city helping fund one.

The biggest problem with the research is that it ONLY DEALS WITH FOOTBALL. So we have all these parents who mean well, who put their kids in soccer or baseball or volleyball, let them ride bicycles or horses or skateboards, drive cars, and do any of a number of other things that cause concussions. Is there a research program on concussions from repeated headers in soccer? Beanings in baseball? Is ESPN doing documentaries on the serious head injuries from hockey? No. Someone has a hard on for football, and skewing the research. Personally I've had worse symptoms from firefighter training accidents than my years playing football. Where's that research? How many fire dogs have been diagnosed with PTSD when it's really physical trauma?

If it's like when I went to school 5-10 years ago, it's fromthe sale of text books.

I am excited to see baseball return, the press release was very interesting, and a lot of things could (should) change between now and then. The first oxymoron is the term "fiscally responsible". Sounds great in theory, but we're talking about major college sports. There is no such thing outside of say, an Ohio State. Right away they're holding the program to a standard that no other program is held to (or could dream of attaining). Let's be honest here. And does "fiscally responsible" mean no travel to the Sunbelt in March? You know, like Softball does? The next point is non-scholarship, or only scholarships that are outside funded. That's great. But in the next breath, he wants the program to play in the MAC. Where the typical program has 6-12 full scholarships. So, we get our asses kicked every game and nobody wants to watch. Me personally, I would either fund the sport like the rest of the MAC, or stay in our lane. I'd much rather play the Malone's and Woosters as a non-scholarship sport then try to play the funded Eastern Michigan's and Northern Illinois'. Some think that's below Akron's status, but they are the same people who don't understand college baseball to begin with, so who cares what they think? They won't come watch us play WestCentral Nowhere State anyhow. Quick question, does the MAC have a Mercy rule? Canal Park. Great idea. I always thought that was a missed opportunity. But you put a lousy product in there, you could play in heaven and nobody would care. Another note, we're only going to recruit in Ohio? First do you really recruit if you have no scholly's? And if you did have them, do you want to limit your recruiting to a state with more scholarship programs per capital than anywhere else? Is a kid from, say, Cincinnati that much better than one from say Hermitage Pa? What the hell's the difference? I'm excited, yet I see so many ways the University can FUBAR this to unimaginable new depths.

I agree,this needs gone faster than Rolling Acres (and someday Chapel Hill). The city has gone to great lengths to rid South Main/I-76 of dilapidated buildings. This should be next on their radar. I hate to see it go, I have so many memories. But it's already gone.

Nope, he left after last season. Kirk Harwat is the new coach. I can't find anything about what the former Cleveland Force/Canton Invaders star is doing now.

Just the opposite for me. I wanted a baseball jersey and couldn't find my size. Skinny little twerps...

Is it possible Dambrot was already gone before the final, and the team found out?

IMO we need a Basketball Bowden. A charismatic coach who has been around, can strategize and call plays with the best, recruit well, and wants one more chance to coach outside the famous program ulcer factory. Someone who will be here 10 or 12 years and see the build through. and won't bolt for St. Nowhere University if they offer and his roster here just became depleted.

This is what I meant in another thread when I said "we are not tOSU". I didn't mean the quality of the hoops program, I meant the athletics dept as a whole.

Like you made Akron relevant? Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

I spent a lot of money on the athletics program while I was in college at Akron. I also spent a lot of money on a lot of other things that (unlike sports) I never used. I never bowled or played pool at the bowling alley, never attended anything at the EJT except my graduation, or the theater, hundreds of other programs and clubs and activities I never had an interest in. I'm not complaining. Go Zips!!! Where I do feel like I was was the book store. Mandatory books, with new editions released every year (with miniscule changes or updates) so they wouldn't buy them back, which that nobody had time to crack. Someone needs to do an article on that money grab.

this...

That doesn't happen by bickering among people who could spearhead that effort over the details.

Nahhhhhh, the JAR is fine. Stop whining. Think small be small

For one thing, Channel 3 "news" keeps bringing it up like it's breaking news that he's leaving.

Very good post. We as alumni/fans can get delusions of grandeur, wanting better facilities, better conferences, and tournament runs. The reality is, we're not tOSU. Like the old saying, "it is what it is". We have high expectations for the programs, but they don't have the budget. The legacy. The fan base, being stuck in Buckeyeland. Maybe instead of criticizing the Zips for playing so good in a "weak" conference, we should enjoy the ride against similar programs. Be comfortable in our own skin. Maybe it's time for some honest soul searching.

Geez sorry to hear that. Hopefully they have different mgmt with the new team.

Let's ask Cavs fans...

Well they should get rid of softball too. Too bad equality only works one way. Which is obvious if you look at the two ball parks. Something should have been done for northern college baseball years ago. Start the season later, end it later, no out-of-state non-conference games, forget the dream of "making it big someday" (being Superregional fodder to some southern school that has a bigger baseball scouting and recruiting staff than your entire university). A tough pill to swallow I guess, until you become the next CSU/Akron. At least we still have club baseball. In some ways it (like club hockey) is more fun than the sanctioned college programs.

Understood. Times like this I wonder if we need a new one. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see us getting back to the MACC next year.

How much does it cost the University to send the team travelling to another game which could be God knows where? Travel, lodging, etc. Then if you win, you go somewhere else. Meanwhile a lot of the fans are back home watching the real Tournament, or Cavs, or Indians spring training games. meh

That's on the team, more than its on us. They raise our expectations every season. On February 17, we were 22-4 12-1. They crap their pants against Kent and went 4-4 against conference opponents when it mattered. The "one game" thing is what we get in college basketball. I don't like it, but that's how it is. You play 30+ games then the post-season is one game series'. Although, with the late season collapse, could the Zips have won a series against the Golden Flushes? Year after year it's the same northeast Ohio "good enough but can't close the deal" BS.

For this?