MaxZIP

I understand the "logic" on the go side. The 2005 bowl did wonders for the Zips as well. Really set them up for a decade of success. I think the positives of the bowl game are way over hyped.

Hey, this train seems to be rolling in the right direction at this point in the season. Press onward.

Hummm. Seems a bit extreme. A coupe hundred thousand dollars savings sounds like a pretty reasonable business proposition. Or they could deflate the inflated assistant salary pool. Good thinking. Chuck and AJ are making $300,000 base salary combined. That is a major investment for the product. This brings up an interesting thought. The football team racks up over 5 million in expenses...not including the stadium costs. Univ of Akron $5,738,172.00

I like option number 6...does anybody know what the team APR rate is? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowl_eligibility On August 2, 2012, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a significant change to the process to determine bowl eligible teams, going so far as to potentially allow 5-7 teams to go to a bowl, in case there were not enough regular bowl-eligible teams to fill every game. If a bowl has one or more conferences/teams unable to meet their contractual commitments and there are no available bowl-eligible teams, the open spots can be filled – by the particular bowl's sponsoring agencies – as follows:[10] Teams finishing 6-6 with one win against a team from the lower Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), regardless of whether that FCS school meets NCAA scholarship requirements. Until now, an FCS win counted only if that opponent met the scholarship requirements—specifically, that school had to award at least 90% of the FCS maximum of 63 scholarship equivalents over a two-year period. In the 2012 season, programs in four FCS conferences cannot meet the 90% requirement (56.7 equivalents)—the Ivy League, which prohibits all athletic scholarships; the Patriot League and Pioneer Football League, which do not currently award football scholarships; and the Northeast Conference, which limits football scholarships to 38 equivalents. 6-6 teams with two wins over FCS schools. Teams that finish 6-7 with loss number seven in their conference championship game (that has been eliminated by the conference championship waiver rule). 6-7 teams that normally play a 13-team schedule, such as Hawaii's home opponents. Although Hawaii normally plays a 13-game schedule, it only played 12 games this season. FCS teams who are in the final year of the two-year FBS transition process, if they have at least a 6-6 record. Finally, 5-7 teams that have a top-5 Academic Progress Rate (APR) score. This was later adjusted to allow other 5-7 teams to be selected thereafter—in order of their APR. [11]

To keep a winning season? To save money?

The records look the same on paper but is it better to win at the end of the season or lose 5 on the way out the door? Step backward in my book.

Sights of 2014: Do you think Terry's hair was stained while trying on chrome helmet when they were still wet from painting...mystery solved!

Two simple questions... Would a 6-6 middle of the pack MAC team been invited to play in a bowl? I say they would have had to want and see who turned down some higher on the food chain invites to get a spot. Should their have accepted the offer if it was extended? I think it would not have been worth wasting the money to send this team to a bowl game.

I made the vision 2020 plan up last year after Bowden came out with the mission statement to win at least one more game than the previous year...his version of improvement. By that math, a 1 win 2012 season would put them at 9 wins by 2020. 9 wins should be enough to compete for the MACC coming out of the east. So he is actually ahead of pace :-)

I had a large group of Alumni down for a couple of games. Most of the group were athletes and they still couldn't work out a lot nine pass for us. The pipe dream of $5000 donors is comical and gets used to justify more than the parking situation in lot 9. The staff were too busy juggling the overflow crowds this year. I honestly think this might have been one of the lowest wire to wire (actual bodies in seats) attendance years I can remember. The numbers were headed in the wrong direction even before the team shut down for the season. I agree with you 100% Keener that more creativity and a sense of community is needed for the core group of fans that show up...and sadly pay to watch this team. I honesty sell about 50-75 tickets for the football program each year in addition to my 4 season tickets. I could bring more people in if I didn't have to sneak into lot nine or lot 57 (odd corner) like a criminal to get the group a place to tailgate. I am calling out the Varsity A people and the ticket people on this one. Both have let me down repeatedly this year.

Bowden is still ahead of pace for his vision 2020 plan. Win the mac by 2020 includes winning at least one more game each year as he stated after the 2012 season.

No tv? Now all I have to look at are my unused tickets

I agree with you both. Zips fans are still a little raw from last year. Brings back bad memories! Nick wouldn't be around if it was a rehash of five pound friday!

Mike Tally (EMU #1) was too busy creating/faking contact to actually make an impact. Melo and Diggs picked up a couple of questionable calls near half court.

I hope the new practice facility has a locking mechanism that can only be opened with three consecutive made free throws.

Allegedly this will impact only 2% of enrollees. Seems like programs come and go with the times. Modern and relevant programs are a competitive advantage. I have heard of some new programs faculty are developing to provide better value to students. Many of them cross departmental lines and are pretty exciting.

Betancourt has a different look in his eyes these days. Looks like the game is finally slowing down for him a bit.

Look at that first sub. Change.

Fundamentals are lacking across the mac. It is sad that it is noteworthy when players execute the basics. Juice is above and beyond but what made this game were the small things.

#2014

Knitting with fluff.

It is amazing what can happen when you ride your best 5 and play the hot hand. Sometimes the game is just that simple.

Can't

FYI Groce and the Fighting Illini are on a 6 game losing streak with Iowa and Wisconsin on tap. The wheels are officially off!

It is amazing what happens when you put your best players in the spotlight. Put up or shut up...pride should take over.