GP1

It was the decision of the Athletic Department (UAM) to allow the Alumni Association to organize the MCB trip. Delegation of authority does not eliminate responsibility.Worrying about price increases is a natural response to one because doubt is a human emotion. In most cases, they don't matter. If worrying about price increases held prices, we would all still be paying ten cents for a quart of milk. When value is added to a product, people are willing to pay more for the product (at my company we use this cost-value-profit method of pricing and it works). I think this travel firm adds value to the fans and should be used if needed.What if using the travel firm freed up Athletic Department staff to go out and fund raise or sell more advertising than what they would have had they not needed to organize a trip? Why does every other school out there use travel services for away games and bowl games except us? Were we the only one out there getting it right?I'll be right back. I'm going to figure up some costs real quick.I'm back.The airfare travel package is $445 per person which includes plane ticket, hotel, tickets to the game, shuttle. If two people go, it is $890 to have someone take care of everything for you.I just priced out airfare and hotel for the game and here is what it would cost the same two people to organize the trip themselves. Two plane tickets = $230 each, $100 per night for hotel, two tickets cost $70, without the shuttle it will cost around $20 to park, rental car will be roughly $100 for the weekend, cab rides since you don't have the shuttle $50 and the game day give away will be around $50. For these two people it will cost around $900 for the trip (in reality it will probably cost more). For those Can't State graduates out there, it costs more to organize the trip yourself than to call the travel agency and have them do it for you. Don't be stupid everyone, call the travel agent and get a ticket. All things accounted for, it's just what you all want......CHEAP!

OK, I'm going to try to help everyone understand why I believe they are outsourcing the trips. They are doing it because it makes sense.Outsourcing things allows an organization to use a third party, that is better at doing something than they are, the ability to complete that task and make money doing it. I doubt it costs UofA much if anything to use a third party to provide these trips. My guess is they get a percent of what they sell. Akron makes money by not having to use it's man power to try to do something they have no expertise in doing.Last year, the University organized the MCB trip itself and it was almost a near disaster for the fans riding the bus to the game. Many showed up minutes before the game and there was a crush of people trying to hurry to get in to the game. That's no way to organize a trip or to treat your fans on game day of a bowl. The buses should have arrived in plenty of time for the fans to enjoy time at the casinos, or bars, or whatever else they wanted to do. There are companies like the one Akron is using now that do nothing but organize sports trips, and these companies should be used. I could go on about there being even more people who wanted to go to the game on a bus but once the buses were filled they didn't order more. A travel agent would have had as many buses a necessary because it is in their best interest to get as many people to the game as possible.Secondly, if the buses were a near disaster, the cheap cost of tickets and transportation to and from the game WAS a disaster for the University. They took a financial beating and in the process created a fan base that now thinks it should cost little money to go to a bowl. Akron is still struggling to get the people of Summit County to understand a free ticket to one game a year (Acme Zip) is not the direction that is good for the school. I understand why they did it, but it as a huge cost to pay to prove we could get people to a bowl game with no evidence people will respond in the future. Remember, it's hard to get people off of welfare once they get on it and they created a welfare state for any future Akron bowl. Athletic departments run on money and the new AD understands that. He really has his work cut out for him convincing the takers around Akron. If you want tickets only to any away game, you can get that through the University. If you want to just have transportation to and from NC State and a ticket, get the ticket through UofA and get your own plane ticket....that's what I'm doing. It really isn't difficult. If you want to have a nice weekend organized by someone else and all you have to do is show up to an airport, fly to the game, have someone drive you around while you get drunk and have fun, ride to and from the game, hotel taken care of for you and everything else taken care of for you, call the travel company. When you get back you will be glad you did. A couple of years ago my wife and I went to the Independence Bowl and took an all inclusive trip and it was worth every penny. The travel agency people could not have been nicer to us and eveyone there from both schools. Don't be cheap....it is a mental disorder in addition to a sin.The Athletic Department is doing the right thing with these trips. I know there are some out there who don't believe because they have never seen it done the right way before, but this is really the way to organize away games for fans.

Extremely well put, GP. You giving any seminars on cutting through the BS anytime soon? There's lots of folks that could use it. I'm guessing you're not an HR guy or ISO compliance officer.GP & Balki are skyrocketing on my ZN.O most eloquent posters rankings. I'm just getting in shape for the season. The form just smells of delegation gone bad.As a correction go my original post, the three errors on this form, so far, leave the 10 year average virtually unchanged.

Mine is automatic too. They could send me a note written by a first grader in crayon saying, 'Dear GP1, Your season tickets are due. Send $135 to the UAW Ticketing Office, JAR Arena, Akron, OH 44325", and I would send the money.If interns did indeed design the form, it's not so much interns designing the form as much as it is the adult supervision that should take place over the form. Back in the late 80s or early 90s, a horrible but popular book was written called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (or something), which was nothing more than a feel good book written by a self obsessed baby boomer. The delegation of responsibility is one of the ideas discussed, but the idea of delegator ownership over the results is never discussed. It's really a book about obsessing over process and not results. Ultimately, it's results that matter and not the process involved in making something. Unfortunately, the new AD is going to have to spend valuable time reviewing things like ticket forms until the adults under him show they can properly take ownership of the interns below them.

Look again. There are many options to select from including transportation.

I would be happy to lend my brilliance to the University.We frequently have the option of laughing or crying at the mistakes in the University mailers. Since I'm not Adam Morrison (Fear the Crybaby) in a winnable game with three seconds remaining, I choose to laugh.

I work in a commodity business so I can tell you that Toledo does not charge too much for tickets. In fact, they probably don't charge enough. They will sell out probably every game this year which means they may have selected too low of a price point. If the only way to buy tickets for a Toledo game is through a scalper, it will be evidence that they have selected too low of a price point.Let's hope some day Akron is at a point where we can be having a debate over a price point being too low.

My tickets are reserved seats and they are $65 per seat and I get two for $130 plus $5 shipping.One thing that stood out to me was the price of a Toledo GA seat on the Single Away Game Prices. They charge $24 per ticket. I wish Akron had the fan base to charge the same.

I received my season ticket renewal notice today for the football team. Only one typographical error this year which should reduce the ten year average to about 2.187 per renewal form. Anyhow, enough nonsense.....There is a section called "New Seating Guidlines for 2006:" and an interesting piece of information is in this section. "Seating in section 4 & 5 is priority reserved seating for donors to the Zips Athletic Club (ZAC) only. Season ticket holders who held seats in these sections will have this requirement waived for he 2006 season only for the number of tickets purchased in 2005." A second piece of interesting information, "All General Admission seating will be on the East side for the Rubber Bowl." Personally, I like both stipulations. The first will produce an influx of much needed chash into the Athletic Department. From some of the posts I see, some of you are pretty cheap and I'm sure the donation will set you off. My advice is that you shouldn't expect a steak at hamburger prices. If you want a big time program, you have to pay for a big time program. I'm pretty much a prick and this first stipulation doesn't bother me at all. It is just the cost of doing something I like to do anyhow. The second stipulatiion doesn't impact me because I buy reserved seats. If you don't like sitting in the sweltering heat, spend an extra couple of dollars per game (and a small donation to the ZAC) and buy reserved seats.Some other good things I notice are the pricing choices. One needed a PhD to understand past ticket options. It's all pretty easy to understand this year.Single game prices are offered, but why are youth tickets (which I assume are general admission) more expensive than Reserved? Something must be wrong. Perhaps a second typo.You are also given the chance to purchase single away game tickets when purchasing your season tickets. Interesting......NC State tickets are only $32 each which is much less than the PSU $55 each. Finally no more trying to figure out what to do the week of a game. Good work UofA.In general, everything looks good. The MAC offers the public a cheap way to see D-1A football games at very affordable prices. There is no excuse for Akron not having good crowds with the season they had last year. The University has earned the right to sell a lot of tickets this year. Make sure you do your part. Copy the form and take it to work and ask your boss if he/she would be willing to purchase tickets for customers or themselves. Every little bit will help.

I've never had the experience of not being able to get a ticket to an event I wanted to attend. Rarely, if ever, have I even paid more than face value for a ticket, anywhere (suckeye games included). And I don't have serious ties with anyone but my wife and kid. I guess I'm just planning my usual tactics on this one. It'll work out ... always does.Go Rockets (in this game). Have you ever tried to get tickets for an OSU game? Ohio State even has a waiting list for season tickets that usually you sit on for quite a few years before you get the opportunity to purchase them. This isn't going to be your average game where tickets will be easy to get. Why not just wait ten minutes before a game, find a scalper who has poor inventory control with about 25 tickets in his hand, offer him $25 each for a ticket and buy one? If you are willing to sit in a piss poor seat, you can get into any OSU game or any other game for a cheap price.In lieu of an OSU game, why not just buy season tickets to Akron (or whatever MAC school you are from), sit on the 50 yard line near the field and enjoy a good football game? Which reminds me, season ticket notices came in the mail today. Buy early, buy often......

I was able to check out the hotel situation first hand this week in State College and here is what I found out.First, there is no hope for anyone getting a one night stay if you book at this time. Every hotel requires two nights and they are booking at their maximum rate. For example, the Residence Inn is booking at $299.00 per night plus tax.A piece of advice the manager told me was to wait until the week of the game and try to get one night then if that is what you want. Right not they are not filled up for the Akron game and sales are slow. This is a risky chance, but if you want only one night, you will have to take it.A second piece of advice he gave me was to not book a room and get to town in the morning and stop in to see if anyone checked out after Friday night. Since Residence Inn houses people who typically stay for long periods, it is not uncommon for people to check out on Saturday when their work in town is complete. Again, this is also risky because you may still be making a to and from trip that day.I would wait to see what the University offers in the way of a group trip. This may be your best option.

Dan,I have a friend who has Pitt season tickets and I saw your brother play several times when he was there. I always felt he wasn't given a chance to really show how good he could be. When he had a chance to produce at Pitt, he did and he continues to produce for the Zips. The move to offense at Akron was the best thing for him now and in the future.

The basketball team has an outing of their own and I don't think they have had it yet. If you are interested in going, contact the Athletic Department.

WADR...Why would you feel sorry for those guys? They make millions of dollars a year, they just won the Super Bowl and they get more a$$ than a toilet seat. Sympathy on top of all that seems to be a waste of emotion.

This isn't really pointed at you zen, just a general comment on feeling sorry for people. Again, I'm a Steelers fan and I don't feel one bit sorry for the guy. I just can't gather that type of emotion for someone I don't even know. In fact, we should celebrate events such as this because it allows others to see what can happen to you when you behave in a stupid and irresponsible manner thus educating others on the risks associated with being stupid. Save the sympathy for those who deserve it.

I'm a Steelers fan and I agree 100%.

Just a quick word to the wise when going to a PSU game and planning on staying over night. Most (not all) hotels there require a Friday and Saturday night stay for a home PSU game.I would advise waiting to see what the University offers. They are working on some good road trips for this upcoming season. A day trip is also not out of the question if you are going and from NE Ohio.Good luck room hunting.

Of all people Zipsrifle, you are one of the last people I expected this from. Your work in this matter was completed some time ago. No need to miss any games.

I'll give you the same advice a friend of mine received from his 100% Italian grandmother prior to getting married. "There can only be one man of the house. It can be you or it can be your wife, but you have to decide." Take it for what it is worth.If your wife continues to give you grief, go out and buy a set for each room of your house just to make a statement.

If I understand this quote properly, I think we agree. Let's say JD is making $200,000 per year. A 25% raise gets him to $250,000 per year. What has that accomplished other than Akron having to put out an extra $50,000 next year for a coach that hasn't done enough to get plucked from us yet and not raise his salary enough to keep him here if a BCS school offers around $700,000 minimum?I like JD, but let's not flush money down the toilet if we don't have to do so. Can't may be flushing money down with JC. First of all, he wasn't going anywhere and his name was on absolutely no short list for any other school. Secondly, if they raised his salary $150,000 for next season and he gets a better offer after next season, the administration at Can't does not look like geniuses any longer. The financial reality is trying to bribe coaches to stay at Akron with small bribes is not going to keep them here. I'm not in favor of paying JD say $500,000 per year. It's more than Akron can afford and in the long run will sap the athletic department of necessary funds to do other things (ie: money for a new stadium).Now, why hasn't anyone picked up on my brilliant idea of paroling Butchie Washington from Division II and bringing him to Akron as the QB coach now that there is an opening?

Does anyone evern know with absolute certainty what JD's financial consideration is?

I'm surprised to see this. I would bet that he easily gets paid more money at Illinois than Akron.This presents an interesting problem for Akron. At this late notice, the pickings are going to be slim. JD should not pick up this responsibility and needs someone to coach this position, but could they get a qualified candidate........Didn't Coach Faust play QB at Dayton? (me shooting myself for that thought) Ahhhhhh!!!!!! I just thought of a great candidate.......Butchie Washington. He is living in the area and coaching at Ashland. He played professionally for some time in Canada and I'm certain he would find the change from Ashland to Akron to be a pay increase. He is an Akron graduate and is very popular on the high school recruiting circuit. They should make a call to him to check his interest.

Nice!

I pick this guy. He owes NE Ohio sports fans more money than anybody.He robbed them blind, time to donate something back.I'm not really sticking up for Couch, but I have much less respect for many other Cleveland athletes who had much more to work with and didn't get it done. I'll name a few from relative recent history for you.... Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Omar Vizquel, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton and Sandy Alomar. Couch had nothing to work with and made the playoffs and the Browns almost beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Couch was out, but he would have given the Browns a more balanced offense and they would have won. Holcomb showed why he is Kelly Holcomb...it wasn't what he could do, it was what he couldn't do (scramble) that lost the game for Cleveland.If you want to blame anyone for the Couch years, you should be blaming Carmen Policy for his horrible management as it relates to his general cluelessness. The only reason that knucklehead got into sports is because Ed Debartolo Sr. sent him out to San Francisco from Youngstown to keep an eye on his coke head of a son, Ed Jr., while he owned the 49ers. He failed at that too because Ed Jr. was arrested for bribing the governor of LA while Policy was working for the 49ers. I have no idea how he got as far as President of the Browns. He must have had pictures of Paul Tagliabu in a compromised situation. If it wasn't for that shill Mike Trivisano proping him up on WTAM, Policy wouldn't have lasted as long as he did.

Perhaps....there were a lot of different smells and it was hard to distinguish between each.