morris buttermaker

Universities have for years (especially in states where individual universities compete with each other-- rather than fall under one system) spent money on anything and everything, like drunken sailors.

?.. as others have said, there are 9.9 for men's soccer-- I would assume that it is a fully funded sport at Akron...and that would mean that 9.9 are given.

I would guess Akron is already at the max for soccer schollys

If title IX didn't exist, you would cut a lot more than softball.

I think sports are not as important in the big picture to the marketing of a school like Akron. I am going to speculate and say that the vast majority of students attend Akron for specifically three reasons.. 1. they were able to get in (I know standards are changing), 2. it allowed them to live at or near to home -- low total cost. and 3. they are an older non traditional student and living in the area-- not wanting to relocate for school. Others attend for specific reasons of academics a love of Akron etc--- but most I think fall into the 3 areas above If the University is interested in increasing enrolment, a more affordable university with good academic programs should lead the way. The University has overspent on Athletics for years- and now the price of that overspending are the short and looming long term cuts to sports...IMO. I think this will be followed by many more schools getting lean on athletics... they are unsustainable for many universities-- but especially for schools with student profiles like Akron The athletic teams really seem to be insignificant to the student body judging by the attendance at virtually every sport... the athletic program is move valuable or important to the community--- but still is not supported to warrant the expenditure-- and doesn't generate the community giving ($) to cover things without a huge student/ Univ funded subsidy. Someone will say alumni will stop giving $... but if the money is/ was earmarked for Athletics it has no impact on the Univ.... The true benefactors of academic programs and research should continue to give regardless of the sports programs. I love sports -- Akron sports, but I am a realist... not a pessimist (I'm guessing that's how most people view me on here). I've seen this coming-- I'm surprised its taken so long. One more thing... I think the days of confrences like the MAC are done... I think most Universities will go to an a la carte type of arrangement for sports... no more you need this sport and this sport, and need to sponsor so many total sports etc.

The new basketball arena would hold all of the 2500 paying fans, right?.... and we would get to se Coppin St some years, and maybe a team like Xavier every 10 yrs? How does anyone think a new arena works for this University? Re Zipsoutsider... the "Power 5" aren't stickin around... they have one foot outside the NCAA already. So everything will change for the remaining schools .. See Div 2

It was odd that a date of elimination was not included in the release-- but i would guess it is immediate. I also assume that Akron would honor any scholarships-- keep in mind that all scholarships are for 1 yr in the NCAA.... but the University could choose to honor them for the students remaining eligibility period. I also doubt that any baseball players are on full rides.

Re CSU....Cleve State ADDED lacrosse

All the MAC schools need to cut sports-- but the first step is getting the universities to reel in the pay for coaches --especially of teams and sports that don't generate any net revenue. I get the idea that So and So are great basketball or football coaches--- but the reality is they are great at coaching a team in the MAC.... and in my (real) world if you are a MAC head coach, you really aren't worth much ($$) unless you deliver the goods ($$) People need to take emotion out and treat sports and athletic depts like they are businesses--- which they are.

It only gets tougher

I hear he's a jerk. ...In all seriousness, I think this is a tough hire, and we should ride an interim until it is clear what lies ahead

Can I like post #12?

Haha .. That looks brutal. Lazy guys kidding themselves that they are getting better.those guys should be embarrassed. Bird Wilkins ?yeah.. Maybe Larry and Dominique's fathers playing pickup.

College sports are a business ... And unfortunately Akron's are bad business. The emerging MAC basketball team? Avgs about 2500 paying fans... Soccer? A flagship sport?.... Some tough sledding ahead

This is for the job that I said isn't as attractive this time as it was in previous searches-- correct?

Spin... I think you see it heading where I see it heading. As far as baseball, I am almost certain it is not a requirement, but a total number of MAC sponsored sports is. In reality, the MAC is a financial gun to Akron's head... and all the other schools. The MAC is full of non revenue generation athletic depts--. that really cant afford to be in an athletic/ coaching arms race... it will implode. As for the subsidies.. 330 pointed out the Akron receives the 15th most money in D1...I believe (I know I saw it somewhere) that Akron is like 3rd in the percentage of student funding % of subsidies... at any rate I would look for Akron to drop to the minimum required number of sports in the MAC on hold on. EDIT Per Zach below-- baseball is required... so the move is to become affiliate member in football , find a basketball only conference, become an affiliate member in soccer somewhere, dump a bunch of mens sports and stay Title IX compliant..... (but Im sure there are bylaws against current members dropping to affiliates)

"The cuts will include sports, but no significant changes are expected in the football, basketball or soccer programs because of their historical strength and marketing value for the university, Scarborough said" I think Bowden is doing a good job... but I think the need to win and put people in Infocision (neither of which has been sniffed) is a negative for anyone coming in- given the fact it has never happened. On the basketball side, a new arena is desired, but that's not going to happen... so I see that program as stagnant. KD =does a nice job, but I see the program as the same, and the historical lack of paying fans is also a concern. Soccer will remain in its place-- which is in a good spot nationally, but lets not think that a niche sport that draws 2,000 fans can carry an athletic dept. A new AD will face budget cuts.. the UA athletic dept is one of the most heavily subsidized (as a %) departments in the country. Their are no new facilities on the horizon that an AD will be able to brand as his. Short of being involved in a NCAA basketball tourney RUN, or a MAC football championship, I don't see the job as a stepping stone like it was for many before. I see a fair amount of uncertainty ahead for sports... the AD is in charge of a business, and I think this is a very tough one, now that the $ don't rain down

Akron had more to offer AD candidates in the past

I am not optimistic about a great hire... in previous hires, you could look to the future... a growing soccer program, football in a growth period-with a new stadium or one that had a chance of being built, a stable and growing? basketball program, and overall athletic facility growth. Now the current hire will face an unimportant football program, with serious attendance issues and is a financial drain, a soccer program that has probably plateaued, a basketball program that hasn't taken the next step-- and has not given us reason to think they will, doesn't draw- even while winning. It's also a basketball team that wants a new building, at a University that is facing budget issues, at one of the nation's most subsidised athletic depts-- and at a time when the general long-term future of the NCAA is probably up for debate. I think an in-house interim AD -- of which there is not much choice is where this goes for a yr or two, then someone comes into overhaul a new very downsized athletic dept

well that's good

The floor looks nice.... that said, I am not a fan of the "Z" logo. I feel that if you are going to use an identifying letter, it should be that of the school , and not the nickname or mascot. I can't tell from the photos, but I'm guessing the "Z" logo is in either black or silver since those colors have nothing to do with the school, but are apparently now the "in" colors? On a side note, word from several of the B1G schools is they like what the Zips have done. Maybe we se a "B" on the floor in Cbus, a "W" in Ann Arbor, an "H" in Bloomington, etc?

No complaints here

agree

Anyone think the RubberDucks will draw more students to their games during the school year than the BB Zips?.... i do

In the words of George Costanza Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? I tell you, I gotta plead ignorance on this thing, because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing is frowned upon... you know, cause I've worked in a lot of offices, and I tell you, people do that all the time.