clarkwgriswold

Yep, it will be a battle at the top. I was amused watching the ESPN's "The Last Dance" and them talking about Jordan's letter to his mom asking for her to send him money during his freshman season. I assumed they paid better, even back then.

Agreed, but they're going to have to come up with some pretty specific rules or just throw the doors open entirely. Without specific rules, boosters will set the market for players and you'll have guys like Phil Knight paying kids thousands to make Nike appearances/go to Oregon. I envision LCJ supplementing his income with commercials for Wentz Financial!

I was speaking with a friend today that is a casual Zips sports fan. I mentioned that the football program, along with the rest of the university, was facing some cuts and maybe a pairing back to FCS. His response was "that's a fine example of sports Darwinism. That football program hasn't been worth a s*** in years."

I can't fathom that they'd cut ALL sports. There are changes ahead but the AD's charge is to cut 20% of the budget, not euthanize athletics.

If he's being told to expect a 20% cut in his pay and the program budget and not to expect any more support from the administration and ETSU is willing to offer much more, I can't say I blame him. It could potentially be a warning shot fired by him to those starting to sit down and crunch/trim the numbers.

That falls under "mentally challenged.' I used that cuz we're talking university level stuff here.

I think that we all need to step back sometimes and acknowledge that just because another poster doesn't agree with our position or sees things from another perspective does not mean that they are wrong, disloyal to the school or a program, or even worse mentally challenged as we sometimes suggest. These are uncharted waters. There are no 100% correct answers.

My grandfather was an old time one classroom country schoolteacher. In defining an "expert" he said "an ex is a has been and a spurt is a drip under pressure."

Naaaah, not a waste of time! Thanks for posting.

Some show on Netflix I bet.

The only thing of value I derived from that article was the statement "The first thing you say to a school facing financial exigency is: Do not cut sports," Lopiano said. "Every alumni that ever played that sport at your institution in the last 100 years will be on your case, and the loss of future donated revenues and goodwill is not something you want to deal with." The company that employ the woman quoted is a consulting firm apparently devoted to developing sports programs. Not sure she's a disinterested expert.

It was better when Churchill said it! One area the president could save money is in video production. The weekly end of the world updates could be done in a brief memo form.

I hate to disturb the lovely quiet over here but here's a Beacon article on the anticipated budget deficit. The original article is short enough to paste here- The University of Akron’s financial woes as a result of the coronavirus outbreak are “at least a $65 million to $70 million challenge,” President Gary Miller said in a video message to campus Monday. That number takes into account both “real and anticipated” loss of revenues for next fiscal year, Miller said. Miller also announced an initial plan to consolidate the university into five colleges. Newly appointed Provost John Wiencek will announce further details within the next week, he said. The announcement came a week after Miller released a similar video sharing plans for substantial cuts to athletics and a reorganization of departments. Executives will also take a 10% pay cut. The university was already expecting financial uncertainty, as enrollment has continued to drop for the last decade to just under 20,000 this year. The budget approved for the current fiscal year, which ends in June, called for dipping into the university’s reserves by about $11 million.

Wow, Joe Lunardi must have been really bored in his downtime.

I saw something about PCCC signing 3 kids that never visited the school due to the coronavirus. I'd say kids not traveling to Brimfield can only benefit Mr. Pinky.

Right now, there's one very large reason, unfortunately- the cost of attending (travel.hotels, ,food, etc.).

Mr. Pinky and Mr. Stinky taking 10% pay cuts in Brimfield.

But administrators are in part politicians (except Scarborough, LOL) and part of their decision making involves where they'll take heat from and what decisions won't draw criticism. The students and the teaching unions aren't marching on the President's office over cuts to sports. Don't get me wrong guys, I don't want to see drastic changes, I'm just saying in a world of pay to play and criticism of the finances of athletics that a winless football program is an easy target. Hopefully, there are enough donor alumni to apply enough pressure to prevent drastic changes.

Agreed, not at all. I just point to it as an example of the environment in which these decisions will be made.

Fair enough. I respect a respectful disagreement! I just think if you pull an average UA student or faculty member off of the street and ask them how the basketball team did this year or who the starting QB is, you will get a blank stare. Unfortunately, that's the environment in which these decisions will be made.

...and the reason we haven't has been that no one in authority gives a **** or they would have devoted the budget to it to do it right.

I would say that collectively the University of Akron as a whole cannot get past step one as the administration and students by and large do not give a **** about athletics. Looking at the crowds tells you the students don't care. Looking at history tells you that the administration has never made athletics a priority or acknowledged the benefits a strong athletic program can have on a campus. They can't be uncomfortable with the current state as they don't care.

I think it would also help fuel local interest in the team. I think some kids though just want to go away to college and there's not much you can do about that.

...and recruiting coordinator. The Pryor kid shows promise. He came from Glen Oak. He is only a sophomore.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/20190412/ua-seeks-1-million-for-construction-deficiencies-at-infocision-stadium