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If you were around here in 2005, you know the answer to that question. Unfortunately, there were a lot of one-time attendees in that crowd.

Just like the recent "free ticket" discussion, I guess we can turn this into a business-related discussion also. Here's my thoughts... Yes, it will bring more students to the game, for sure. But, does that generate more money? No. Those are free admissions anyway. Will it at least save us from embarrassment on national TV? Yes. We wouldn't even reach 10k on a Tuesday night. The threat of rain makes those chances even worse. I'm glad they are doing it. However, it will cost the University to do this. Sure, those classes are already on the books, and it doesn't cost anymore to run the class. BUT....the contestants will be current students, meaning that they would be paying for those classes if not for the free scholarship money. So, it is lost revenue, even if it's not technically "costing" them money. Maybe this convinces a few more students that an Akron football game is a worthwhile activity. Other than that, the long term benefits of such a promotion are really nonexistent. As we discussed in the former thread related to free ticket giveaways, most of those students will not come again until the next 'free tuition' giveaway.

Yep, the forecast is looking more and more like evening rain tomorrow.

Amen. It's not as if replacing 20-some percent shooters is a high bar to reach, right? At least, it shouldn't be.

Looks good on paper, Dave. But you know how I am. I'll believe it when I see these guys start launching 3-pointers in real D-1 college games. Until then, all I see is potential.

How about.....most important game in about 5 years? Chance to be in first place in November? A victory is even more important when you consider that we close with Buffalo, UMass and Ken+. The schedule sets up perfectly after this one. All very winnable, and we would control our own destiny. A trip to Detroit is all within our control. Now, I understand that the common college football fan in the area might not give a damn about the MAC. But for the diehard Zips fans, this is huge. Although, I will admit that this kind of game was made for a Saturday. But, get those students in there for the scholarship giveaways, and this could be an electric night.

Your memory of Harney filling some of that role was accurate. But, Melo was the starting PG.

Didn't anyone listen to the coach's show? Terry said he doesn't believe that a guy should be replaced because of an injury. Pohl was cleared too late to practice for the last game, but will play on Tuesday. End of the "conspiracy" speculations. Please.

I will always remember him for stepping into a tough situation, under heavy pressure, and performing well to win us a MAC title in 2013. I wish his career had grown from there, but it didn't. He was reduced to a role player, still could have helped us, but apparently that wasn't in the cards. Rumblings about his departure started last week. I had hoped that it was just a rumor. That's too bad.

This was my thinking also. I don't expect them to grill the coach. I just want information that's useful. I think they need to understand that someone who watches this show would probably not be a casual Akron sports fan.

I had been making a point to tune into the coaches show lately....hoping to get some additional information. Unfortunately, your description above is exactly what my impression is about the content of the show. It's not worth my time.

Speaking of being "fair", it's not as if Pohl hasn't experienced many bad stretches of play over the last two years, and has stayed in games. For what it's worth, I love Woodson's talent and his physical tools, and his ability to make plays. On the other hand, Pohl has an edge in experience. I really don't have a preference either way. And honestly, I have no feeling as to whether one or the other truly is better, and it looks like the coaching staff agrees. In fact, I really don't feel as if either of them is a good option....but they are all that we have until next year. I'm just saying.....With the first half that Woodson played, would it make sense to suddenly remove him from the game a few series later? On many, many occasions Pohl has been allowed to play through some very bad stretches of play himself.

Exactly. And it goes beyond that. Technically, from a sales perspective, you would give away or discount product to induce future sales. For decades, we found that with having 25k at the Acme/Zip game...and 10k for every other game....that this clearly wasn't helping us make money in the future. Like I tell everyone: As a fan, I'd love to see the place full....whatever it takes. But as a businessman, I know it's a bad, losing strategy, with many drawbacks, and no future benefits.

Very well said. Having spent the majority of my 30+ year working career in Sales, this is exactly you can't start giving away tickets. We'd never be able to sell tickets and make money again. And let me add this....$25 is already DIRT CHEAP for a D-1A college football game. So, until someone can show me that Akronites are not going to the games because the ticket prices are too high, there's absolutely nothing to be accomplished by lowering the prices at all.

I guess on the surface it seems stupid to put a new QB in that situation, throwing 40+ passes with a capable stable of running backs, but the game situation dictates everything. On most plays, OU brought enough people to get into our backfield. It wasn't the Bears 1985 defense, but they attacked like it. If that stops running plays, and simultaneously puts pressure on the QB if it turns into a passing situation, then you normally have no choice but to get the ball to people who are beyond those defenders. That's your opportunity to make plays...when they are gambling like that on so many plays. And we couldn't make those plays.

It doesn't matter. Billboards, newpaper ads, etc., that announce the game time with a "buy your tickets now" tagline is not going to get people too excited.

Let me share a little story.... I was listening to an AKRON LOCAL radio station a few weeks ago, which happened to be right at the time that the Ken+ vs. OSWho football game was being played. The radio DJ kept coming on every once in awhile gloating about how "our Buckeyes" were trouncing Ken+. Now...I have no affection for Ken+ State, but one of the teams playing was 10 miles away...the other one was 2 hours away. And who was clearly getting treated like the "home team"? Actually, the DJ said he was starting to get calls from listeners about what he was doing. This is an example of the state of Akron Zips sports. Until we start doing something significant, this will never change. It's not "winning games", as I keep insisting. It's all about accomplishing something that matters on the National level rather than the MAC level.

Besides many other things, I want to see another college game where the officials call a team for "Unsportsmanlike Conduct".....twice....directly following plays in which they just got a takeaway on defense.

Yep. When we all sit around complaining, some of us forget about the people who are suffering through it the most.

Lets hope history doesn't repeat itself. It's time to start a new trend. After the narrow Michigan loss last year, we came home and lost to Louisiana Lafayette. After the NC State win, we got spanked up at Central Michigan. After the Syracuse win, we got blown out at home against Ball State. I think Eastern is the right opponent at the right time for us to break this cycle.

I think that's the bottom line, Dave. He's been bad at times, adequate at times, and has had a few good moments as well. But as you say, I am sure the coaches are giving us the best option we have right now. I wish that wasn't the case, but it is what it is.

Just a quick note of rankings before and after this game. Pitt was at #47 in the CBS Sports poll before the game, and has dropped 20 spots. I'm stunned that they moved the Zips from #91 to #65. Goes to show you the impact of one meaningful win. Will this one win be enough to affect attendance? Maybe a little bit. But, that's all this program needs, and all we can wish for right now in the coming few years. A more consistent dose of NC State, Syracuse, and Pitt wins. We will grow if that happens. BTW....Marshall is sitting at #26, and I was happy to see that after the whooping they put on us.

I have a few takes on this game. Sorry I haven't had a chance to read anyone else's comments yet. 1) First and foremost, I think this was a Coaching Win. Recognizing at some point that Pitt was having difficulty defending the inside handoff in the shotgun in the spread formation was brilliant, and mixing it in without "going to the well too often" was even more brilliant. A great tactical win by the coaches. 2) Secondly, major kudos to the defense. If someone would have told me that we would hold Pitt's running back to under 4 yards per carry, I would have taken it. And we did take it. And it was enough to limit their points enough to win the game. 3) Our defense carried us through some late season victories last year. Looks like we are in for a repeat. I expect us to be able to contain "most" of the MAC offenses with this personnel. 4) Pitt's lack of an effective passing game made me feel very comfortable with an 11 point lead. I never got nervous again after that. 5) I'm growing tired of so many of Pohl's 5-yard passes ending up at the feet of receivers. It appears the coaching staff might be tired of it too. 6) Those running plays that were available to us negated the need for Chisholm. Don't you think Pitt would have been wise enough to take away the inside running game, knowing we had nobody healthy enough to run effectively to the outside?

Meanwhile, nobody in Akron Ohio is surprised. Giving this guy a head coaching job at the D-1A level has to be one of the biggest mistakes in Akron Zips sports history.

I have news for both of you. Beating teams of little or no significance will not increase our fan base.