Akron vs. Penn State in 2009

[ZachTheZip]

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content..../id/511778.html

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Nittany Lions will kick off the 2009 season against Akron at Beaver Stadium, a source close to the program told the Mirror on Saturday.The game, to be played Sept. 5, has yet to be announced by the university but has been agreed upon by both schools. It's a one-game contract and will be one of eight home games for the Lions next year.Penn State has played Akron three times since 1999. The Lions beat the Zips in week two in 1999, 70-24, and opened up with them in 2004 and '06, winning 48-10 and 34-16, respectively.

Another piece of the non-conference schedule comes together.

[UA1987]

Our slant headed AD just whored our program out to Penn State in 2009 (can we get an Akron Grad as an AD).See my earlier posts on another thread... we should be focusing on Conference USA and Big East teams (for potential conference affiliation and more revenue) or only contracts with a return home game for Akron.Rhodes has bought into the idea that NE Ohio is Big Ten Country so the fans want to see Akron play Big ten teams. I'm Ok with that, but only if we get a chance to build our program with a home game in the contract (like Indiana). Home field advantage is too important to winning. Winning is what will draw the fans, interest, and revenue. Our scheduling strategy shouild be - No home game no contract. Rhodes is just after the short term money fix.

[zvillezip]

8 home games for Penn State in 2009, that should be illegal.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I'm tired of Penn State's $800.00 hotels with the mandatory 2-night stay. 3 times is enough. I may skip the road trip to Penn State next year.

[Zip N' Dots]

Winning is what will draw the fans, interest, and revenue. Our scheduling strategy should be - No home game no contract.

You just got my backing to be the next AD with the above statement!

[Blue & Gold]

This game sucks. If we go on the road to play a Big Ten team, why can't it ever be Minnesota or Northwestern? Why this Wisconsin, Ohio State & Penn State madness? Our chances of winning that game are slim at best. And we'd better not get rolled by PSU or it's really gonna put a damper on the opening day of the Info.

[gozips19]

this isn't anything new. the athletic department said that the schedule with the new stadium will include one money game and at least 6 home games. compared to previous schedules that's a huge improvement.

[UAZipster0305]

Our chances of winning that game are slim at best. And we'd better not get rolled by PSU or it's really gonna put a damper on the opening day of the Info.

I agree. If this game were scheduled after opening day at the Info, I'd be okay with it. One money game per year might be necessary. Minnesota or Northwestern would be nice, but a game like this does help with recruiting.The chances that we will actually win a money game are slim, but with the improving program you never know. We play at least one money game every year and it's only a matter of time before we get lucky and win one.

[zipsbandman]

If our fans would actually buy tickets and come to games Penn State would not be necessary. Penn State will give us a larger paycheck than 2/3 of the Big Ten schools. considering our budget is around 13 million, a half a million dollar paycheck from Penn State is a sizable chunk of our income. The reason this game is first is because the big schools want a tune up game before going into their season.

[Captain Kangaroo]

If our fans would actually buy tickets and come to games Penn State would not be necessary. Penn State will give us a larger paycheck than 2/3 of the Big Ten schools. considering our budget is around 13 million, a half a million dollar paycheck from Penn State is a sizable chunk of our income. The reason this game is first is because the big schools want a tune up game before going into their season.

I'm guessing the number is closer to $800,000. It is a bus trip (low expenses)...we need the money (we have a $61million stadium to pay off)...and we can be competitive with Penn State (35-16 to Penn State is no worse than 42-21 to Ball State). It is a no-brainer to play that game. I am just tired of how they rape you if you want to stay near campus.

[skip-zip]

In fact.....in the 3rd quarter, we were down only 17-9, so it's hard to call that an "unwinnable" game. Here's the argument for playing big teams with big stadiums in football.... You have to do it often enough to pay your bills. It's that simple. It's incredibly expensive to run a D-1A football program. If it weren't for that, I probably would not want to play these games in football because they ruin your only chance of playing in a big bowl game, which is to have an unbeaten season. Unless you are a MAC team that is ranked high at the start of the season, which is unlikely, you have to run the table (and hope a lot of people lose) to get to a big bowl game. And shouldn't that be the ultimate goal for a major college football team?Unfortunately, we don't enjoy the same luxuries in football as we do in basketball. To get to your ultimate goal in basketball (entry into the championship tournament), you can win a conference tournament, or have up to about 5 losses with a good enough strength of schedule. In football? Nearly impossible to get high enough in the rankings to get a big bowl bid with even one loss if you are a MAC team. Now...granted...I'd love to have an unbeaten season AND a win over a ranked team. But, historically it still looks like the best formula in football for teams in lower-ranked conferences is just to win all of your games, no matter who you play, and watch the others fall.

[UA1987]

In fact.....in the 3rd quarter, we were down only 17-9, so it's hard to call that an "unwinnable" game. Here's the argument for playing big teams with big stadiums in football.... You have to do it often enough to pay your bills. It's that simple. It's incredibly expensive to run a D-1A football program. If it weren't for that, I probably would not want to play these games in football because they ruin your only chance of playing in a big bowl game, which is to have an unbeaten season. Unless you are a MAC team that is ranked high at the start of the season, which is unlikely, you have to run the table (and hope a lot of people lose) to get to a big bowl game. And shouldn't that be the ultimate goal for a major college football team?Unfortunately, we don't enjoy the same luxuries in football as we do in basketball. To get to your ultimate goal in basketball (entry into the championship tournament), you can win a conference tournament, or have up to about 5 losses with a good enough strength of schedule. In football? Nearly impossible to get high enough in the rankings to get a big bowl bid with even one loss if you are a MAC team.Now...granted...I'd love to have an unbeaten season AND a win over a ranked team. But, historically it still looks like the best formula in football for teams in lower-ranked conferences is just to win all of your games, no matter who you play, and watch the others fall.

It's not that simple, and it is a no-brainer... you don't need a brain to sign these agreements. Yes, we can be competitive with anyone, but we should not be living in the past by tearing this program down with very bad situations for a short sighted payday. You build a winning program by putting your teams in very good situations, which should include OOC scheduling only with at least one home game in the contract. If you want a packed house and better recruiting every year going forward (not just the next few years) we must win consistently. Winning is greatly enhanced by playing in your home venue. Packing Infocision and going to bowls will far outweigh any short term whoring contracts with teams like Penn State. You have to look longer term, but if our AD is looking for another job, and he wants to show how he tried to balance his budget, maybe the longer term doesn't matter. Again, I think we need an Akron grad as an AD. Someone that wants to stay here and build our Athletic Department, ala Keith Dambrot in Basketball.

[GP1]

I'm OK with this game as long as UofA schedules a I-AA team to open the new stadium the week before the PSU game. Everyone else has a cupcake the first game, we should too. That stadium is going to be up for 100 years so who we play the first game ever really isn't important.

[Blue & Gold]

I'm OK with this game as long as UofA schedules a I-AA team to open the new stadium the week before the PSU game. Everyone else has a cupcake the first game, we should too. That stadium is going to be up for 100 years so who we play the first game ever really isn't important.

I've sorta had that thought myself. We're going to sell out our first home game anyhow, it doesn't matter who the opponent is. It could be Indiana, it could be Indiana State. Additionally, I'm a little superstitious (yeah, I played baseball), so I'd really not only love for us to win our first game, but I'd also love for us to score first in our opening game. Christen the stadium properly; get a good karma in there.The Aeros won their first game and scored first at Canal Park. I was thrilled/relieved by that! Good karma.

[skip-zip]

UA1987....Please take a look at my post again. Yes...Winning games is how you grow as a major college football program. I state that in my previous post as the long term solution. But you have to pay the bills. You can dream all you want, but the teams that can offer the big paydays are not going to play a team like Akron at home. Do you think that athletic administrators don't pursue these options? Our bargaining chips in these situations are few, but you still have to get the job done (i.e. bring in revenue substantial enough to keep your head above water).It's an unfortunate reality....but a reality nonetheless. Yes... a "no brainer".

[Zipgrad01]

Our slant headed AD just whored our program out to Penn State in 2009 (can we get an Akron Grad as an AD).See my earlier posts on another thread... we should be focusing on Conference USA and Big East teams (for potential conference affiliation and more revenue) or only contracts with a return home game for Akron.Rhodes has bought into the idea that NE Ohio is Big Ten Country so the fans want to see Akron play Big ten teams. I'm Ok with that, but only if we get a chance to build our program with a home game in the contract (like Indiana). Home field advantage is too important to winning. Winning is what will draw the fans, interest, and revenue. Our scheduling strategy shouild be - No home game no contract. Rhodes is just after the short term money fix.

I agree with this quite a bit. I love scheduling bigger OOC schools, but we need to be smart about it. We need to schedule and keep scheduling the Syracuse, Cincinnati, Indiana, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Purdue type teams. Why? Because they are big names that draw people to the games + we have a chance to be very competitive. Those teams will also negotiate home and home series with us. All you get with OSU, PSU, etc.. every year is a big check, a road game and an L in the column. Besides the money it doesn't do much for us at this stage of our programs current level.

[UA1987]

UA1987....Please take a look at my post again. Yes...Winning games is how you grow as a major college football program. I state that in my previous post as the long term solution. But you have to pay the bills. You can dream all you want, but the teams that can offer the big paydays are not going to play a team like Akron at home. Do you think that athletic administrators don't pursue these options? Our bargaining chips in these situations are few, but you still have to get the job done (i.e. bring in revenue substantial enough to keep your head above water).It's an unfortunate reality....but a reality nonetheless. Yes... a "no brainer".

No one that I've heard has ever proposed asking Penn State or any of the Super Bigs to play here at Infocision, except for you. If a program won't play here then they should no longer be a scheduling target (OSU would be an exception). What you are saying, Skippy, is that we cannot be a viable program with a near sellout home schedule (including specialty seating) and an OOC schedule that only includes teams that will play here, at least once, as part of our game contracts. This was the case at the Rubber Bowl but will not be the case at the Info. We are at a point where we can build a winning tradition by using our new facility to gain a scheduling edge. The old Rubber Bowl mentality is leaving the station... I just wish Rhodes would be going too because I don't have confidence that he is pursuing the right options for the long term success of the football program.

[RACER]

akron is building a new 55 million dollar stadium.akron then has to go on the road to pay for the stadium.what's the point of having a new stadium if you don't use it.there are plenty of teams that will play a one for one.especially now with new stadium.akron is just like most of the other mac schools.play money games on the road with little chance of winning.mac schools have been doing this for years,and what has that got them.0. akron finally has some leverage to get some home/home games and they just gave it away.college football is messed up in the sense it's a have/have nots.every year teams like osu,penn state play 7-8 home games.

[zippyrifle32]

UA1987....Please take a look at my post again. Yes...Winning games is how you grow as a major college football program. I state that in my previous post as the long term solution. But you have to pay the bills. You can dream all you want, but the teams that can offer the big paydays are not going to play a team like Akron at home. Do you think that athletic administrators don't pursue these options? Our bargaining chips in these situations are few, but you still have to get the job done (i.e. bring in revenue substantial enough to keep your head above water).It's an unfortunate reality....but a reality nonetheless. Yes... a "no brainer".

No one that I've heard has ever proposed asking Penn State or any of the Super Bigs to play here at Infocision, except for you. If a program won't play here then they should no longer be a scheduling target (OSU would be an exception). What you are saying, Skippy, is that we cannot be a viable program with a near sellout home schedule (including specialty seating) and an OOC schedule that only includes teams that will play here, at least once, as part of our game contracts. This was the case at the Rubber Bowl but will not be the case at the Info. We are at a point where we can build a winning tradition by using our new facility to gain a scheduling edge. The old Rubber Bowl mentality is leaving the station... I just wish Rhodes would be going too because I don't have confidence that he is pursuing the right options for the long term success of the football program.

Have you ever actually spoke to the man and listened to his reasoning or long term plans for the program and department? or do you like living in continued denial about the reality of the situation? New stadium or not, we are a product of the MAC and as long as we are in that conference that standing alone will give us a harder time with scheduling home games. Seriously, why should Penn State want to come play in a 30,000 seat stadium when they can sell out a 100,000 + stadium? Ok, so we threaten not to schedule them if they don't play a game here and what will they do? They'll go find someone else. There are also so many other things to take into account besides just the money...

[Z.I.P.]

8 home games for Penn State in 2009, that should be illegal.

If Hawai'i finds out about this, they may sue. :blink:

[xu9697]

Playing PSU makes sense. Not only is it a big paycheck, but it is cheaper to travel there than, say, Nebraska. And, fans can follow them to PSU.Now, where folks SHOULD get upset is if we follow up this game by playing Virginia Tech (or someone similar) on the road the next week. At that point, we play 2 power teams and come in all beat up to open our home schedule vs. Indiana. Let's hope they either play NOBODY on 9/12 or travel to play a team like UConn, Memphis, Navy, etc. before opening Info.

[UA1987]

To be clearer...The football program should be able to be in the black with our new facility. We should not be funding other sports with football game contracts that are not good situations (away only payday contracts) for the football program. We need to build a winning tradition first in football, grow interest and revenue long term, then we can start to syphon off some revenue for other sports and balance the Athletics Department's budget. Not as simple as some thought.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Just out of curiosity...how did Northern Illinois do against Tennessee this past weekend? How did the Zips do vs Ohio State last season, or against Wisconsin this season? How did OU do vs. Ohio State this season? How did Miami fare against Michigan? Etc, etc, etc.Truth is the MAC teams can compete very well against these teams. Even "down" MAC teams fare well (the Zips, OU, NIU and Miami in 2007-8 are hardly MAC juggernauts). And, no one gets injured any more than in any other game. And, we now get $800,000 per game which is a HELL of a lot of money for a MAC program. Money that the entire UA athletic department desperately needs.If we stand a 9-out-of-10 chance of losing a game to an upper-tier BCS school, who cares. The benefits FAR outweigh the negatives. Do we play more than one? No. But that's a moot point since Mack is already on record saying or future scheduling model will only consist of one upper-tier, BCS "money game."

[GP1]

To be clearer...The football program should be able to be in the black with our new facility. We should not be funding other sports with football game contracts that are not good situations (away only payday contracts) for the football program. We need to build a winning tradition first in football, grow interest and revenue long term, then we can start to syphon off some revenue for other sports and balance the Athletics Department's budget. Not as simple as some thought.

This has always been my understanding of the cost of the football program. It is 25% of the Athletic Department costs. I understand it takes around $13 million to run the A. Dept., so 25% of that is $3.25 million. A 25,000 seat stadium x 6 home games x $20 ASP for a ticket = $3 million. With parking, food/drinks/merchandise and suite fees, they should be able to cover the $3.25 million if they can sell out all of their games. That's best case. Whatever the case is, they will be better off than the Rubber Bowl. The problem is, rightly or wrongly, football needs to fund the other programs because many do not charge for attending a game and others are not attended enough to fund themselves with the tickets they sell. This goes on at every school. If football does not fund them, then the tax payers do and are doing right now. I really hope they can bring in the money they expect to.

[UA1987]

Just out of curiosity...how did Northern Illinois do against Tennessee this past weekend? How did the Zips do vs Ohio State last season, or against Wisconsin this season? How did OU do vs. Ohio State this season? How did Miami fare against Michigan? Etc, etc, etc.Truth is the MAC teams can compete very well against these teams. Even "down" MAC teams fare well (the Zips, OU, NIU and Miami in 2007-8 are hardly MAC juggernauts). And, no one gets injured any more than in any other game. And, we now get $800,000 per game which is a HELL of a lot of money for a MAC program. Money that the entire UA athletic department desperately needs.If we stand a 9-out-of-10 chance of losing a game to an upper-tier BCS school, who cares. The benefits FAR outweigh the negatives. Do we play more than one? No. But that's a moot point since Mack is already on record saying or future scheduling model will only consist of one upper-tier, BCS "money game."

All of your examples are losses. Thank-you for helping me prove my point. We should not be following the herd on this one. Northeast Ohio is desperate for a winner. You give them one and you will make money faster than you can spend it (for the entire Athletic Department). If you go out and be competitive with a so-so winning tradition hanging almost sure losses on your team and perpetuating a cupcake reputation... only the die-hards like Captain Kangaroo will stay over the long term. Who cares you say... the typical fans that could boost revenue and interest in University of Akron sports. We have a great opportunity starting with the Info, I'm worried that we will ruin it with a short term budget strategy from a short timer AD.