CSU to the MAC?

[ZippyTuba11]

If you haven't heard already, CSU is tossing around the idea of a new football team, as well as a name change. Would we want them in the MAC? We could finally balance the schedule. Would the conference do something stupid like it did with Temple and only bring them in for football?CSU article

[g-mann17]

If you haven't heard already, CSU is tossing around the idea of a new football team, as well as a name change. Would we want them in the MAC? We could finally balance the schedule. Would the conference do something stupid like it did with Temple and only bring them in for football?CSU article

Um, CSU would have to go FCS first. Besides that CSU doesn't need a football program. It would be a waste of the University's money. Everything that this president is talking about completely contradicts the concepts of the University System of Ohio. For crying out loud CSU had to turn over their research arm to the University of Akron. They should just focus on their indoor small venue sports that brings in a lot of quality students.

[ziptrumpet87]

Another reason for the Cleveland media to ignore us.

[skip-zip]

I can't see CSU being able to support a football program enough to get them into the Division 1-A level. And I believe that would take time anyway. Has anyone ever been able to get a program directly into 1-A from the get go??

[Zips fan]

That president is dreaming. There is zero chance that they will get a football program prior to July 1st, no less one that can support itself. He might be laying some groundwork for the school to have discussions but they will never have a self supporting football program. They can dream of joining the MAC but it will never happen. The MAC requires football and CSU will never taken on the financial responsibilities of having a team.

[ZachTheZip]

No way they join the MAC. We have too many teams in Ohio as it is, and the recent trend is for the MAC to expand into major Eastern cities (Buffalo, Philadelphia).If you're talking basketball, the only reason we would expand would be to get Temple to join, and I doubt CSU would cause them to come over.

[zipsbandman]

As a zips fan, I sure hope this never happens. But seriously, how can a school with half the enrollment of Akron and Can't State and a school that has a lot invested in basketball just jump right to Division I-A? Where are they playing their games? Browns stadium? I suppose they get extra revenue from the convocation center. And joining the MAC for them is a pipe dream at best. Akron and Can't would never allow that to happen so then where do they go? CUSA? The sunbelt? The Big Ten lol?

[ZachTheZip]

Let them play football in the same league as YSU. They can't play down a division, so 1-AA would be the best option to start a team.

[GP1]

This is interesting. UNC Charlotte's Board of Trustees just approved them starting a football program in something like 2010 or 2011 (you could go onto www.charlotteobserver.com and read about it). They are going I-AA and have no interest in going higher. CSU could join the conference that YSU is in.

[hoopla]

What about getting rid of a team to bring in CSU? Northern Illinois is a hard road trip for all MAC teams that can be very costly for the budget. And that goes without considering the money Northern Illinois has to put out for all of their travels. I understand people not wanting this to happen from a fan standpoint and all, but economically, it could be a possitive. Just trying to bring a new thought to the table.

[UAZipster0305]

I would much rather see Southern Illinois added than CSU and having NIU dropped.SIU is a strong academic and research institution with a distinguished men's basketball squad. They already have a D-IAA football program, which is respectable. SIU fits much better into the profile and geographic profile of what the MAC needs.I'd also like to see Temple added is a full member for all sports and not just an affiliate member for football. I think that should have been a stipulation for their joining.

[ZippyRulz]

If you haven't heard already, CSU is tossing around the idea of a new football team, as well as a name change. Would we want them in the MAC? We could finally balance the schedule. Would the conference do something stupid like it did with Temple and only bring them in for football?CSU article

Let "The University of Cleveland" join the Zips franchise. We would double the football budget with them paying 49% annually (gotta maintain controlling interest ) which would help tremendously with recruiting and boosting coaches salaries to attract better candidates and we could drop a money game here and there. The enlarged program could then tap into the entire Cleveland market for attendance and corporate sponsorship. When we need a venue larger than I/c we can play in Cleveland (home/home w/tosu, psu, etc.). That should get us to the Big East mucho pronto. We would have to share some control of the program, e.g. coaching and scheduling decisions and naming rights since we would become the Akron-Cleveland Zips (for football only). Wouldn't they rather do that and have a chance to get into BCS instead of languishing in 1-AA?

[Zipmeister]

And I quote, "He said that any football program would have to be self-supporting and not draw money from academic programs."Translation, "CSU will never have a football team."

[ROCK1]

And I quote, "He said that any football program would have to be self-supporting and not draw money from academic programs."Translation, "CSU will never have a football team."

Since no current MAC teams are self-supporting, I guess their plan is dead.

[zen]

I have heard different people in cleveland media talk about this. They didn't seem overly excited when they talked, BUT just the fact that they are talking about it is a curious thing...Last night I was driving and Mark Schuab was talking about University of Cleveland getting football, and talked about how there was so much local football talent to tap.I don't think these people even gave UA a mention when it beat NCstate. Akron doesn't exist to the Cleveland media and it never will, so I think we have to get it out of our heads that we can somehow tap into the entire NEOhio market. The mere rumblings of CSU getting football and garnering chatter is proof that the Ohio Turnpike is the mason-dixon line as far as cleveland is concerned.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

I have heard different people in cleveland media talk about this. They didn't seem overly excited when they talked, BUT just the fact that they are talking about it is a curious thing...Last night I was driving and Mark Schuab was talking about University of Cleveland getting football, and talked about how there was so much local football talent to tap.I don't think these people even gave UA a mention when it beat NCstate. Akron doesn't exist to the Cleveland media and it never will, so I think we have to get it out of our heads that we can somehow tap into the entire NEOhio market. The mere rumblings of CSU getting football and garnering chatter is proof that the Ohio Turnpike is the mason-dixon line as far as cleveland is concerned.

Agreed, but Akron football barely exists with AKRON media either. I'm amazed at how little the Leaking Urinal covers the team. They leave most of the coverage to a student blogger. Now don't get me wrong. He does a nice job, but his coverage is irregular because he's a student. Now that the Leaking is a tiny-town-rag, you'd think they'd wring maximum bang for the buck by covering the teams that are three blocks away. Nope. Rarely are the Zips featured. Drives me nuts.As far as CSU football, I have one thing to say: Yawn. GO ZIPS!SeeTeeZip

[ZippyRulz]

I can hear Eric Fingerhut groaning all the way down in Columbus.

[Z.I.P.]

From an old-timer take it from me, that this is not exactly a "new idea". Governor Rhodes (for current students, he's the guy our gymnasium is named after) promised Cleveland sportscaster Gib Shanley about 35 years ago that Cleveland State would have a football team -- and I think that it would be in the Big Ten. How many votes did that garner?

[dgull021878]

Count me as another UA supporter frustrated by the lack of attention by the Cleveland media.However, I think some of the blame lies with "Greater Akron" and what I perceive to be our "inferiority complex"; big-brother to the north (Cleveland market) & South (Ohio State). Even Can't State gets more attention from CLE, and despite what they would have you believe, Can't State is part of the AKRON market, not Cleveland. No disrespect to my fellow Clevelanders on here.We don't do the best job of covering our own local sports. If I'm not mistaken, I believe we're still the largest city in America w/out it's own news broadcast, and that off-brand 23 News doesn't count.It would help immensely if we actually had a legitimate news broadcast.We cannot count on big-brother to the north to provide us the exposure we need. UA and Greater Akron will need to be more aggressive with marketing and creating brand-equity throughout NE Ohio.If CSU fields a football team, so be it. I could care less, although it would futher dillute the talent pool for recruiting. I believe its up to UA and its supporters to continue building upon the synergies we have in place currently. I'm not satisfied with just being one of several D-1 schools in Ohio. I want people in AZ to recognize who UA is. The reality is, that starts with a school's FOOTBALL program. We'll need to build consistent success, build strong partnerships with the media, and become more aggressive building the school in general and promoting it.Infocision Stadium in '09Next: A new arena for the basketball team....hopefully.

[ZippyTuba11]

I'm not satisfied with just being one of several D-1 schools in Ohio. I want people in AZ to recognize who UA is. The reality is, that starts with a school's FOOTBALL program. We'll need to build consistent success, build strong partnerships with the media, and become more aggressive building the school in general and promoting it.

Don't tell Gonzaga and company that...

[zip81]

If Akron wins, the coverage will be there.When you go into a story meeting, you decide what stories impact or interest the greatest amount of people. PERIOD.We all bleed blue and gold here, but the guy on the lawn chair in Kenmore with an OSU flag flying from his porch simply doesn't care.

[Blue & Gold]

If Akron wins, the coverage will be there.When you go into a story meeting, you decide what stories impact or interest the greatest amount of people. PERIOD.We all bleed blue and gold here, but the guy on the lawn chair in Kenmore with an OSU flag flying from his porch simply doesn't care.

I hate that reality, but I think you're right. My dream is that the ABJ would cover the living daylights out of Zips athletics which would THEN ignite our communities interest about the program. However, the ABJ has to primarily be concerned with selling papers and right now more people in greater Akron are more interested in the Buckeyes than the Zips. The only way that will change is to start winning. Why do people prefer Ohio State over Ohio U? Because OSU is a consistent winner, and has been for as long as anyone can remember. Just to get little barbs in on some of my OSU fan-friends, I ask them, if they're truly "state of Ohio" fans, why they don't root for Ohio University. They can't ever answer that with an honest, straight answer. That's because the truthful answer is that people are naturally band wagon jumpers on. The fact of the matter is that people just want to be associated with a winner. It's human nature; makes us feel better about ourselves and, quite frankly, is much more fun than following a losing program. Winning, unfortunately, comes before coverage. It's not a chicken-or-egg situation. This is a very important time for the football program. The Info will be worthy of much coverage and community attention. Now we MUST put a winner on the field! It is an absolute imperative. If we put a winner on the field and average 25k a game, the ABJ will be happy to write more stories about us.The Cleveland television media is a different story. I don't have much hope in them. But, know what, that's FINE, because I don't know many people who aren't grey haired and in assisted living homes that even watch the local 6:00 news anymore. The ole channel 3, 5 and 8 times are slipping away. It's the age of the internet, baby! And I'm excited about that!

[zip81]

One thing to remember....the ABJ is suppose to report the news, not promote a cause.As for the Cleveland TV pinheads (and I know of which I speak), they'll cover the new stadium opening, and it will be covered by News rather than Sports.However, sustained coverage will come from winning.

[Wally B]

I usually stay away from these subjects, but i feel the need to interject here. IMHO both sides are deluded to what the real problem has been. I love my home town, but this whole why don't they do this for us complex has to go. It's just another chicken or the egg debate. How long do we have to repeat the aged mantra of "If only the Cleveland stations/Beacon would give us coverage" spiel? We can't expect them to build the program for us, it has to be the other way around, and it is happening. What was the difference between the student sections at the Cant game?? Where were the AK-oldies in 94' when we truly sucked??? The program is growing because the fans are organizing themselves. Brining the "cheer" leader in from the b-ball games?? Brilliant. Look at TxA&M, they've done this for years and their game days have become legendary, not just because they won games (especially now). If the fans/students have fun they will return (more so if we win) and our fan base is growing. In fact we may have the best game day experience in the MAC right now. The AK-oldies is just the start, i foresee many spirit groups in the future and expanded activities once we settle into the 411. Will the band march through campus?? Will groups reserve their own tailgating zones?.............................. yes! i believe so. Will it be because ch3 sent a camera crew....... no. If we have the biggest party in NEOhio will they want to know what is going on?............yes! Will a winning team help..... of course! Will we see an attendance boost from the 411....... yes Will that boost wane?...... yes. Will that matter if our base grows (w/out free ticket give aways)...... no! Will Cant do the same?...... probably not. Would it help the rivalry, the MAC, and our profile in the Cleveland/Akron Metro area if they do.... YES (think Browns/Steelers, OSU/UM) Do i want to see house divided UA/Can't State bumper stickers?.................... yes and my brother can kiss my roo loving Point is, if you want something done right..... do it yourself. Stop waiting for someone else to do the work!

[Captain Kangaroo]

If CSU fields a football team, so be it. I could care less, although it would further dilute the talent pool for recruiting.

A new CSU football program would affect Zips' recruiting as much as Hiram or Muskingum.