exit322

The only thing I'd do would be to add the bottom four seeds and play first rounds again (probably at home arenas, why not? If it's good enough for the CFP...) But seriously, getting a way around those damn Tuesday/Wednesday football games is a bigger problem than this.

This. The basketball is absolutely fine (though moving to a 22-game league schedule would be fine). The football is closer to fine than we probably give it credit for, just for those midweek games that need to go the way of the dodo.

And to the surprise of no one, as soon as a couple teams weren't as competitive as they magically thought they would be sans Louisville, the EBC will be itself dead in a couple years.

What's wild is that not even 10 years ago, Marlington was even on a run where they were over .500 every year. I think 2015-2019 they were over .500 every year with a few playoff bids in those years. But, not a lot of playoff success, so it still feels like "not very good."

The Toledo/BGSU rivalry game got moved to a Friday night during Midweek MACtion. It's not Saturday, but Friday night will be a lot better than Tuesday. Hopefully this is a step towards killing the midweek stuff altogether leaguewide. Not ideal against HSFB, but it's regional finals so statewide there'll "only" be 56 schools left playing. In 2025 at least (obviously things change year-to-year), there were only a couple Toledo/BG area HS teams playing that weekend.

Bowden's Greenheads kick off on Saturday in Iowa. In their first two TAL seasons, the Iowa Woo (yes, Woo) have gone 2-8 and 4-5 (including playoffs), so probably an average opponent to see what's what for the expansion team. Almost assuredly, I'll be the only one here taking a peek haha (but that's more because I've followed indoor football for 26 years now). They've done a...reasonably poor job...of getting roster information out, but Monroe's defensive coordinator is a guy (James Shiver) who's been involved in indoor football coaching on and off since 2001. So, Bowden will at least have coaches that have worked with the walls before. Though Shiver was always an offensive coach indoors, but whatever. With the caveat that Iowa hasn't always produced stellar broadcasts, the game can be seen on YouTube on the TAL channel. Link below (though I think they embed on here)

Well, not "now." I've definitely said that before. I know I'm in the minority there, though YSU does generally outdraw Akron on the gridiron. But yes, I think best to agree to disagree.

I like this. I'd go as far as to say "giving the P4s the middle finger" is the only path mid majors can take.

Which is why scheduling home games against local teams that might interest a few people versus "maybe [insert SoCon team here] is good this year but no one knows what state they're in" is more important than worrying whether being in the fourth tier of mid-majors means we shouldn't play fifth-tier teams like Youngstown State or Cleveland State. None of it matters much if the athletic department doesn't significantly upgrade its marketing, but giving them as many bullets as possible to generate interest is all I'm asking for. And yes I am firmly in the camp of "YSU should be on the football schedule every year" as well.

If we're not good enough to get Dayton to come to Akron, then why are we trying to big time Youngstown State and Cleveland State?

That would be a better use of it. A handful of the non-P6 leagues getting together to make sure the best matchups happen (especially in the case one of the conferences is down in a two-league conference challenge).

Eh, you're either P6 or you're not. And we're not.

There very well could have been.

It's so hilariously bad that if it were $15 and not $35, I'd probably have bought one.

Sure, there's spots for them as well. They're not nearly as local, but adding Wright State, NKU, and Marshall to YSU and CSU fills out a lot of the nonconference schedule with games that at least have something to bring to a local fanbase. You figure the MAC-Sun Belt challenge probably stays, so even with a 22-game league schedule if they do that, you've got 3 games left after that to do whatever with.

Every other year is fine. It won't hurt Akron's standing as a mid major to travel to Youngstown or Cleveland every other year to help build a rivalry. Especially when it provides a likely road win in the non league.

Well right, and playing annual games against local rivals home and away would create another game that matters at least a little bit. And since we're all mid majors whose ceiling is the Round of 64, who cares if they're "beneath us" or some crap.

That would do it

Likely the same AI that gave me this soccer t shirt ad

Given the stadium cost and the annual payment, you'd have to think they're about a 20-year bond. So in theory if they were issued when the stadium opened, maybe it's close to done...

How much longer is that payment?

Eh basketball can take a step back and still win the MAC

I think it would help create stability for everyone else, except those teams near the top of that "top 40-50" that are trying to get into the big boys club. This sort of plan would absolutely create more stability for the Akrons of the world.

Starting in 2027 the season will be a fall/spring season. Fall 2027, teams will be able to play up to 18 games. Spring 2028, up to 10, with the tournament on the back end of that.

I would go almost as far as to say "no risk."