At the nadir

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

It is my opinion that this is the low point for this program in the Div1-A (FBS) era. As we deal with having been spurned by Winters in favor of a D-II program, am I the only one who will not be surprised if, 5 years from now, UA is a FCS program? There are schools that maintain tiered status (big time basketball, small time football) and it certainly seems possible that UA could decide that the 25-year big-time-football experiment has failed in Akron. I know some will flame me for bringing this up today, but how much lower can UA football sink before structural/competition changes are contemplated?

[GP1]

I agree. I used to think we should act along with the MAC, but I'm not sure we can wait. 25 years is enough.

[K92]

This has been on my mind for a while now. I am primarily a football fan. I don't really want to see the Zips go FCS. Especially since they would probably be a sub-.500 team in the lower division right now. Moving down to suck would kill any interest that was left in the program.

On the other hand, if moving down in football could get basketball and soccer into better conferences, perhaps the administration should really start investigating the strategy.

That's how disheartened I am right now.

[Class of 82]

It is my opinion that this is the low point for this program in the Div1-A (FBS) era. As we deal with having been spurned by Winters in favor of a D-II program, am I the only one who will not be surprised if, 5 years from now, UA is a FCS program? There are schools that maintain tiered status (big time basketball, small time football) and it certainly seems possible that UA could decide that the 25-year big-time-football experiment has failed in Akron. I know some will flame me for bringing this up today, but how much lower can UA football sink before structural/competition changes are contemplated?

After the field house and the stadium, we are all-in with football. As we should be. Building a winner here, building a tradition here, building the kind of bridge between the school and community that football is uniquely able to build... it's downright critical. Heck, it's even more critical now, if you ask me.

This low-point in a way reminds me of when the infamous Peggy Elliott nearly succeeded in destroying UA on her pathetic way out of town. What followed was caretaker Marion Ruebel righting the ship and setting the stage for the Landscape for Learning and the amazing things Dr. Proenza has been able to achieve in campus improvements, research growth, corporate partnerships, etc. Out of the bedlam and chaos left by evil Queen Peggy, came the greatest era of growth and development the university has ever known.

[hiroad1]

It is my opinion that this is the low point for this program in the Div1-A (FBS) era. As we deal with having been spurned by Winters in favor of a D-II program, am I the only one who will not be surprised if, 5 years from now, UA is a FCS program? There are schools that maintain tiered status (big time basketball, small time football) and it certainly seems possible that UA could decide that the 25-year big-time-football experiment has failed in Akron. I know some will flame me for bringing this up today, but how much lower can UA football sink before structural/competition changes are contemplated?

After the field house and the stadium, we are all-in with football. As we should be. Building a winner here, building a tradition here, building the kind of bridge between the school and community that football is uniquely able to build... it's downright critical. Heck, it's even more critical now, if you ask me.

This low-point in a way reminds me of when the infamous Peggy Elliott nearly succeeded in destroying UA on her pathetic way out of town. What followed was caretaker Marion Ruebel righting the ship and setting the stage for the Landscape for Learning and the amazing things Dr. Proenza has been able to achieve in campus improvements, research growth, corporate partnerships, etc. Out of the bedlam and chaos left by evil Queen Peggy, came the greatest era of growth and development the university has ever known.

So true about the university.

Way too early to write off FBS at Akron too. A smart hire can still get us going in the right direction. Though we may not be thrilled with the name the day he is hired, someone can come in here and make a positive impact for UA football.

[GP1]

What followed was caretaker Marion Ruebel righting the ship and setting the stage for the Landscape for Learning and the amazing things Dr. Proenza has been able to achieve in campus improvements, research growth, corporate partnerships, etc.

Ah, Dr. Ruebel. Never gets enough credit for the modern UofA.

[ZachTheZip]

Knock off the melodramatics. Notice that the only people who are panicking are the ones who went all in on Winters and dismissed any attempt at looking at better candidates.

[Class of 82]

What followed was caretaker Marion Ruebel righting the ship and setting the stage for the Landscape for Learning and the amazing things Dr. Proenza has been able to achieve in campus improvements, research growth, corporate partnerships, etc.

Ah, Dr. Ruebel. Never gets enough credit for the modern UofA.

No, he doesn't. And few remember just how bad things were when he took over. Actually, "bad" is an understatement.

[Z.I.P.]

It is my opinion that this is the low point for this program in the Div1-A (FBS) era. As we deal with having been spurned by Winters in favor of a D-II program, am I the only one who will not be surprised if, 5 years from now, UA is a FCS program? There are schools that maintain tiered status (big time basketball, small time football) and it certainly seems possible that UA could decide that the 25-year big-time-football experiment has failed in Akron. I know some will flame me for bringing this up today, but how much lower can UA football sink before structural/competition changes are contemplated?

Let's not quibble with Akronyms here. The fact is, Akron football (or most of MAC football for that matter) is not significantly above FCS status -- and never has been. When Akron was "College Division", and then in Div I-AA, they were able to defeat MAC teams occasionally. Since joining the MAC, it took until the Mack Rhoades era before the athletic department began making any serious commitment to playing sports besides soccer at the D-1 level and succeeding. The difference between being a mediocre MAC football team (i.e., a team that might be a contender for the playoffs in FCS -- a level we are not at now, obviously, but teams like K e n t and Buffalo are) and a MAC title contender and bowl team is not a very large distance. If we could get serious people in charge, who can just instill some pride and coaching competence, I believe we could build (Oh, Holy Cow, Sorry GP-1!) a contender in 2 or 3 years from the hole that's been dug. So, IOW, talk about "downgrading" the program is irrevevant -- we're already there! We have the physical plant to win -- we just have to find the intellectual and moral leadership. Can anyone disagree with that?

[Class of 82]

So, IOW, talk about "downgrading" the program is irrevevant -- we're already there! We have the physical plant to win -- we just have to find the intellectual and moral leadership. Can anyone disagree with that?

No.

[you am i]

There is absolutely no reason why Akron cannot field a good MAC football team, especially with these facilities. One good head coaching hire is all it would take to turn things around.

Unfortunately, I think we may have to wait a few more years until the TW era is over to get a realistic shot at the next Saban, Meyer, Pinkel, Hoke, Beckman, or Kelly.

[Lee Adams]

It is my opinion that this is the low point for this program in the Div1-A (FBS) era. As we deal with having been spurned by Winters in favor of a D-II program, am I the only one who will not be surprised if, 5 years from now, UA is a FCS program? There are schools that maintain tiered status (big time basketball, small time football) and it certainly seems possible that UA could decide that the 25-year big-time-football experiment has failed in Akron. I know some will flame me for bringing this up today, but how much lower can UA football sink before structural/competition changes are contemplated?

After the field house and the stadium, we are all-in with football. As we should be. Building a winner here, building a tradition here, building the kind of bridge between the school and community that football is uniquely able to build... it's downright critical. Heck, it's even more critical now, if you ask me.

This low-point in a way reminds me of when the infamous Peggy Elliott nearly succeeded in destroying UA on her pathetic way out of town. What followed was caretaker Marion Ruebel righting the ship and setting the stage for the Landscape for Learning and the amazing things Dr. Proenza has been able to achieve in campus improvements, research growth, corporate partnerships, etc. Out of the bedlam and chaos left by evil Queen Peggy, came the greatest era of growth and development the university has ever known.

You can throw money at some things. You can sell 'things' to corporations and have them dictate your future. Football at Akron has neither enough money throw nor much of anything of any value to sell.

[Zipsrifle]

It is my opinion that this is the low point for this program in the Div1-A (FBS) era. As we deal with having been spurned by Winters in favor of a D-II program, am I the only one who will not be surprised if, 5 years from now, UA is a FCS program? There are schools that maintain tiered status (big time basketball, small time football) and it certainly seems possible that UA could decide that the 25-year big-time-football experiment has failed in Akron. I know some will flame me for bringing this up today, but how much lower can UA football sink before structural/competition changes are contemplated?

After the field house and the stadium, we are all-in with football. As we should be. Building a winner here, building a tradition here, building the kind of bridge between the school and community that football is uniquely able to build... it's downright critical. Heck, it's even more critical now, if you ask me.

This low-point in a way reminds me of when the infamous Peggy Elliott nearly succeeded in destroying UA on her pathetic way out of town. What followed was caretaker Marion Ruebel righting the ship and setting the stage for the Landscape for Learning and the amazing things Dr. Proenza has been able to achieve in campus improvements, research growth, corporate partnerships, etc. Out of the bedlam and chaos left by evil Queen Peggy, came the greatest era of growth and development the university has ever known.

OMG, Peggy was the worst. To put things in perspective, there were some concrete steps in front of the Gardner Student Center that were falling apart. They weren't like 50 steps, no more like 6. Instead of fixing it, they blocked it off for MONTHS. When someone asked her when they were going to fix it she said they were trying to allocate money to fix them. REALLY! 25,000+ students on campus and you can't fix 6 steps!

Thanks for pointing this scenario out. You gave me some hope that maybe we'll be a decent program in the future.