clarkwgriswold

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

I didn't mean to infer it couldn't happen. I was just referencing how it might work in the "real world", not the public institution/bond world.

Imagine that conversation in the private sector. "We have this property that we're upside down in that nobody else wants and it's 10 years old and already decaying. We'd like to refinance." Click. "Hello.....hello?"

I'd have to see how much was donor supported. We could always put the Skeeles' names on the JAR. Rhodes can't complain!

Fair enough. The MAC is a good fit. It begs the question- where do they look to make the cuts? Axe programs? Across the board cuts?

Who would want a decaying, depreciating, unmarketable white elephant? If I live in Akron there's no way in hell I'd ever support the city or school district taking that on.

I'd just like to say that in a world of budget cuts and debates and awful football that it's great to have a team we can enjoy and get behind.

Their noodling team and washboard and jug band program are doomed.

Yep. Our enemies in Brimfield set a record for that last year.

Wouldn't fewer scholarships at the FCS level make it less of a financial burden on some level?

Fresh from Cleveland.com (with some small modifications at the beginning)- "Brimfield, Ohio – PCCC President Todd Diacon announced Monday the university intends to reduce spending, including salary cuts, layoffs and a hiring freeze, to offset as much as $110 million in losses incurred because of the coronavirus crisis. In an email to faculty and staff, Diacon said the university plans to reduce its budget by 20% for fiscal year 2021, which begins on July 1, 2020." "Other cost-saving measures including a hiring freeze in effect through fiscal year 2021, pausing all university-sponsored travel, reducing spending on athletics and postponing new campus construction projects." This along with the stuff posted about other schools is actually promising. It shows, as we've hoped, that others are going through the same things and that system wide changes could be coming as a result.

Well, we're already playing the Concords, as well as the Louisvilles. I get your point and your passion Captain, but I am still showing up if there's a change. I enjoyed them just as much in the OVC, OAC, DII and D1-AA as I do now. I hope to God there's not a change but I will be there to support the teams if there is. At the end of the day, I think we're all getting ahead of ourselves. Every other MAC school is going to have to face those issues and will face the same limitations and I think there will be a solutions beyond Akron alone.

I think we all need to realize that we're not exactly a strong cross section of the University of Akron consumer here. We are strong and informed fans of the athletic program. That's what brings us here. The average UA consumer is aware of athletics at the school but little else. They could care less whether the teams competed in the Big10 or CYO and wouldn't lose a second of sleep over any cuts. For me, as long as the teams are competitive and the games are entertaining and not unduly expensive, I will show up and support the teams of my alma mater, whether they're playing Concord or Louisville. I'd also venture a guess that the average UA consumer (not us) could not distinguish between a game between two good high school teams and two MAC teams.

That's the one factor that keeps me from full panic. With so many schools struggling financially in athletics there are bound to be some corrections system-wide.

Really looking forward to seeing Brian Trimble after hearing Groce's comments. Sounds like he's a next level shooter and should help replace some of the shooting they lose to graduation. Sounds like he can handle the ball too which brings some real value, like Tyler Cheese, when LCJ is off of the floor. He and Daily are going to give the Zips some dangerous wing players. I understood KD's approach in focusing on freshmen, but the infusion of transfers (e.g. X, Riak. LCJ) and JUCOs (Cheese, Banks, Reece) has added a lot of excitement to the program. Dailey, Trimble and Currie will be a huge infusion of talent.

One thing I think many have failed to acknowledge is that this day has been coming for some time. It has only been accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis. We can debate the cause of the problems and the finances all day every day, but the reality is that these are all issues that have been on the horizon for some time but that have aggravated and exacerbated by poor leadership and planning by those in power at the university and the NCAA. At this juncture, the university has to chart a course without regard to the territorialism of the respective sports programs and stick with the plan in the face of the inevitable protests and whining. The plan also has to involve making difficult objective choices rather than just cutting the low hanging fruit.

Is that the total of Student Fees or the portion that goes to athletics?

In simple terms, that's a lot of money for bad football.

That too, he was Mr. Polytechnic!

For him. LOL.

They'd better get flexible or you're going to see some schools start to break away from the NCAA.

I know it is a sore spot with many, but the last guy that proposed budget cuts was Scarborough and he was run out of town on a rail. He was brought in to be the bad guy and make cuts then was run in part for being the bad guy and making cuts. He didn't have the COVID-19 crisis for cover. Don't get me wrong, he messed up plenty, but he was the budget cuts guy.

Wow, this really has me looking forward to next season.

The athletic program can't be all things to all people. My son attended a snooty east coast school that played top notch D1 men's and women's basketball and participated in lower level leagues in every other sport. Schools need to pick their poison. Do you think anyone really cares about the football teams of Gonzaga, Butler or Georgetown? I get that this is a football area, but if UA bases its decisions on historic success, football is in trouble while soccer and basketball should be less impacted.

Enjoy Groce now. If he is successful next year and his budget gets cut in proportion to the President's plan for the athletic department (20%), he might not be here much longer. We can only hope other schools feel the same plan and follow a similar plan.