BG at Browns Stadium

[LosAngelesZipFan]

Just read about BG playing a "home" game at Wisconsin at Browns Stadium next year. This SUCKZ! Big time. How could this happen? This is why I have been ranting about being audacious or just settling. Others, like BG, clearly are not just settling. Kudos to them for securing this (I am sure it was simply a matter of renting the place, not rocket science). This is a huge miss for UA-- BG gets an incredible recruiting tool in NEOhio. Cleveland canNOT be neutral territory if UA is to progress-- that should be our area and they are invading it and having a game there. A big turnout would really hurt UA. Does this bother anyone else?The only solution is to get UA-Ohio State scheduled there (get the '07 game moved). Guarantee OSU whatever they would make at home. Tressel is an alum and got his coaching start at UA...time to call in a favor.

[InTheZone]

Yeah that does kind of piss me off a little bit, I'm not gonna lie.

[zipsbandman]

A game at Browns stadium would not make for a bad deal for OSU. The place would still sellout due to the amount of Buckey fans on NE Ohio and it would give them an opportunity to play in front of their base in Cleveland. For Akron the advantages are obvious. But I agree that we need to chase the likes of BG and Toledo off our turf. I'm sick of them of taking our talent. What can a school like BG offer that we can't?

[LosAngelesZipFan]

I always feel like a loon when I write about scheduling OSU at Browns Stadium but I think it is a win-win for all. OSU gets a quasi home game and the same payoff. UA gets its most high profile game ever. UA needs to do something like this or we'll look like chumps. OSU is ideal because the game is already on the books but I think this could work with any top tier program. I don't think Wisconsin is a game I would choose to put there but it still works for BG.Makes me green with envy and simply pissed that we are not doing this.

[Sloopy]

I must be the only who disagrees with this. To me this can be spun in a variety of different ways against BG.1. So the big schools will not come to your stadium and play... why not?2. Can't you draw a crowd at home?3. Why did you move a home game and get outdrawn by an out of state team?I could go on and on, but why would anyone in Cleveland really care that much about a BG/Wisconsin game that would have not gone to BG any way for the game? BG will miss a chance to showcase their campus to a potentially huge crowd. Perhaps they are wanting to play in an NFL stadium because they did not make it to the postseason this year.As for Akron buying a game with Ohio State, that would seem to be a good idea. I know that Akron is due to play the Bucks twice here in Columbus over the next 6 years for some pretty good payoffs. Doubt that OSU would move either of those games to Cleveland without taking the financial piece out of Akron's hands. Since that is OSU's home game Akron would then get little if anything from the move of site.Akron has some bigger schools coming to the Rubber Bowl in the upcoming years and playing in that stadium has got to be worth 7-10 points for Akron every time out.

[Zips Win!]

I continue to be confused on why the Zips insist on scheduling OSU at all. I understand that it is a paday, but aren't there a dozen other BCS teams available to play and get paid. Every year we should play two BCS teams and two other Div 1A teams---no more 1AA teams.Other than money, what are the actual advantages of playing OSU? Does it really help the program and recruiting? As for playing them in Browns' stadium, again I ask, how is this beneficial to Akron? As it stand now, it seems that about half of OSU's starters are from Akron and NE Ohio. Wouldn't this just be another showcase to get even more players to Columbus? Have we ever even had one high school player from NE Ohio stay home to play for the Zips and pass up a scholarship to OSU? Would playing them in Cleveland change this? Or are we banking on getting the good players that end up at Toledo and BG? In addition, how would the 72K tickets be allotted? For argument sake, even if we got half the tickets and our alumni purchased all 36K, how many of our alumni would show up in OSU gear? I fear more that the posters on this board may want to think.I say look into playing teams in Conference USA and the Big East, not the Big Ten.

[msopher]

No way Wisconsin comes to BG. That's the way it is, and that's the way it will probably be for a long time. Big time BCS schools will not play at a MAC venue, plain and simple. I know Purdue and Northwestern and other BCS schools have signed deals to come to MAC stadiums, but they are not consistently at the top of their respective conferences. This game does suck for the MAC but it's probably the closest a MAC team will get to "hosting" a quality BCS school.

[GP1]

I continue to be confused on why the Zips insist on scheduling OSU at all. I understand that it is a paday, but aren't there a dozen other BCS teams available to play and get paid. Every year we should play two BCS teams and two other Div 1A teams---no more 1AA teams.Other than money, what are the actual advantages of playing OSU? Does it really help the program and recruiting? As for playing them in Browns' stadium, again I ask, how is this beneficial to Akron? As it stand now, it seems that about half of OSU's starters are from Akron and NE Ohio. Wouldn't this just be another showcase to get even more players to Columbus? Have we ever even had one high school player from NE Ohio stay home to play for the Zips and pass up a scholarship to OSU? Would playing them in Cleveland change this? Or are we banking on getting the good players that end up at Toledo and BG? In addition, how would the 72K tickets be allotted? For argument sake, even if we got half the tickets and our alumni purchased all 36K, how many of our alumni would show up in OSU gear? I fear more that the posters on this board may want to think.I say look into playing teams in Conference USA and the Big East, not the Big Ten.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the money. Five years ago we were paid something around $365,000 to play OSU. That same year or the year before K-ent went to WVU and only made $200,000. As far as recruiting, I think it would help on a small level to have OSU on the schedule. Especially with in state recruits. At least we could match the other Ohio MAC schools that play OSU.A game at Browns Stadium against OSU is not the answer for Akron. Look at the wonders playing OSU at Paul Brown in Cincinnati has done for that program. Four years later they are one of the worst teams in the Big East.Akron should take the approach Toledo does with their team. Toledo was on national TV 12 times in the past two seasons because they are willing to go anywhere and play anybody on any day. Kids will be attracted to playing on TV more than playing at OSU. I agree Akron should schedule two BCS teams on the road each year for the money alone. If you can get a two for one deal then great. The other games should be against any D-1A team willing to play us home and home. Maybe a home and home against Pittsburgh or Cincinnati or someone like that. I'd love Akron to include some west coast teams. Boise State, New Mexico, Fresno State, Air Force,......how about Colorado State?How about this? Opening day of a new Akron stadium, OSU comes to town. The only way to guarantee tickets to the game is to buy Akron full season tickets. Sell the tickets for that game at a way inflated price to pay OSU what they would want and sell the remainder at a normal price.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

It's great and long overdue that OSU is keeping its non-conference opponent money in-state (remember the old policy under Woody was to never play an in-state school). It's a great payday for the Ohio MAC schools and, as much as it pains me to admit it, I'm sure a real thrill for Ohio players to play down there. I think Cincy DID get a huge boost by hosting OSU and getting a solid turnout and performance-- THEY GOT IN THE BIG EAST! Granted, The BE is a shaky BCS conference but it is still a BCS conference. And while the real prize for the BE was Bearcat basketball, the football team at least had the OSU game to point to as a demonstration of its potential. I agree TV is a huge draw for recruits, something that comes from consistent winning but also by skillful scheduling and marketing. I'm not sure what the TV will be for the BG-Wisconsin game, but guarantee you that there is a much better chance of that being an ESPN game by being at Cleveland Stadium.Akron needs to differentiate itself (its brand, for those fellow marketing geeks) from the other MAC schools. Winning, clearly, is the best way to do that. Facilities need to be there (an awful lot of mo' has been built by the changes to campus and the field house and hopefully impressive new stadium plans). But that will just keep us at parity with other solid MAC programs. The NEOhio media market is the largest in play in the MAC (assuming that E. Mich is a non-starter in Detroit with UM so close). The best thing that could happen to the MAC is to have UA really get traction and generate national interest and excitement. Simply put, UA needs to stake claim to Cleveland. Being acknowledged as the clear #2 to OSU in NEOhio would be a great start and platform to something bigger down the road, and a game at Browns stadium would help secure that IMO. But I LOVE the idea of having OSU be the first home game in a new Akron stadium-- THAT'S A BIG BIG IDEA--I would totally donate money to make that happen!!

[zipboy]

The reason we play them is so that we beat their a$$. Sept 8, 2007 is how Akron becomes #1 in the hearts of NE Ohio.

[InTheZone]

The reason we play them is so that we beat their a$$. Sept 8, 2007 is how Akron becomes #1 in the hearts of NE Ohio.

Amen. Do you people have any idea what a win over OSU in '07 would do for Akron?? The reward is well worth the risk my friends. Excuse the French, but FUCK OSU.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

MMMmmmmmm...music to my ears. An earlier post made the point that alot of NEOhio fans buying Akron tickets to a theoretical OSU-Akron game would come wearing Buckeye gear...but I'm telling you, a good chunk of NEOhio Buckeye fans could be won over. What would be really great is if Tressel and OSU became Akron's best recruiter (the way Woody was Notre Dame's best recruiter). Instead of Meechigan, other Big 10 or ND getting great talent that OSU can't offer scholarships to, how about if that talent gets directed to UA.

[GP1]

MMMmmmmmm...music to my ears. An earlier post made the point that alot of NEOhio fans buying Akron tickets to a theoretical OSU-Akron game would come wearing Buckeye gear...but I'm telling you, a good chunk of NEOhio Buckeye fans could be won over. What would be really great is if Tressel and OSU became Akron's best recruiter (the way Woody was Notre Dame's best recruiter). Instead of Meechigan, other Big 10 or ND getting great talent that OSU can't offer scholarships to, how about if that talent gets directed to UA.

I don't agree at all. The same people with the OSU stuff would continue to wear their OSU stuff and probably wear it to the game AND cheer for OSU. They would also be pissed off to no end if Akron beat OSU.I travel all over the country for work and this is something that isn't just isolated to Akron and Ohio. I know a guy in Nashville who graduated from MTSU and every week he goes to UT to watch the Vols. I could tell you the same thing about Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Georgia, etc. People tend to follow their bigger state schools. I don't agree with it, but that is the way it is.Akron just needs Akron alumni to be Akron fans and everything will take care of itself. Akron doesn't need the greatest players out there, we just need better players than every other MAC team. The Akron alumni can influence that by just coming to games and if we make the conference championship game and bowl game, they need to go to that as well.

[Zipsrifle]

Though a win against OSU would definately get Akron attention across the country, it would be discarded by nearly everyone as a fluke. We beat NIU twice this season, and I bet a majority of MAC fans RIGHT NOW would say NIU had a better football team than Akron. I'll be at the OSU game, you can count on that, and if we win, I'll get my @$$ kicked as I walk out of Ohio Stadium rubbing each and every Buckeye fans face in it. Unfortunately, we'll need to win big games for a number of years before ANYONE outside of the diehard Akron fans considers us playing on a Big Ten level. I think a grassroots effort is what will put Akron at the level we all hope for. GP1 is right, we need to get Akron students hooked on Akron Football. They'll come back when they are alumni. We're not going to convert anyone over 30 who is a currently an OSU fan. It'll take a while, but I think this is the most realistic vision of how to build the support we all desire! On the BG vs. Wisconsin game at Browns Stadium, I think it will have good attendance ONLY because there will be a Big Ten team playing in Cleveland. It wouldn't matter if it were BG or Can't, I think the draw would be the same.