A Critical Analysis

[GoZips]

Riding home from the Ladies at Purdue NCAA first round game on the ever rocking, cramped bus,

boredom sets in. Brought on by the loss, the sorry (for the most part) selection of movies (always

played at a volume you would never tolerate in your living room), the day morphing into dusk, stops

at such delightful dining experiences such as Burger King (one of my all time favories) and the

loathsome Mickey D's, I began reflecting on Mackey Arena.

Mackey was reportedly built in1962 and has had a number of facelifts. The latest being an outer

courtyard of fake terrazo complete with fake gold glitter. The new outer courtyard adds some

spaciousness to the ambeance. A nice touch, really. Inside, a number of chairbacks were removed,

in favor of all things, fake wooden benches. A sad reflection on industrial design in Indiana. Mackey

itself is a charming oval bowl with excellent sight lines and a closeness to the game floor that belies

its 14,000 seat capacity. All in all, the type of arena that Akron needs if Akron is to persue their

dreams of going "Big Six". Which I am completely in favor of.

The women's game examplified why getting to bigger conference is important long term. You see, the

deck is stacked. As I watched the game it was all too appearant that the NCAA has perpetuated the

glass ceiling in sports. The Lady Zips were getting their brains beat out and their spirits crushed by

the well thought out seperation of the haves and th have nots. Purdue had three players that were so

large that I quietly named them "moose". "cow" and "giraffe". They were so much physically larger

that Akron players were having sunlight deprevation. More so, these three were so gifted that they

almost never committed a foul (choke, gag, barf). And, quite obviously, the Purdue players were in

fact better basketball players. Of course, it stands to reason; Purdue is in the Big (as in over

grown) Ten. A conference that draws the better players to itself. It showed as they humbled the

proud, hard fighting Lady Zips to a point of utter embarrassment.

The deck was totally stacked in Purdue's favor; no shame in that. .How so? You ask. In women's

tournament seeding the top four seeds in each region get a home game. This insures that most

of the time the home team will clear the first weekend with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. That is, the

elite of the women's field. Rarified air that is almost always occupied by high majors. When a mid-

major sneeks in, that event is viewed as "awe, parity" (gag, choke, barf).

There is an additional benifit for mid-majors getting into the field of sixty-four; their hard working

and now successful coach gets noticed. And, shmoosed at the Final Four. In case you did not

know, most college coaches attend the Final Four games. A great opportunity to further one's

career. You didn't realize that Coach Kest is on a lot of high major teams radar? Well, she is.

How do you keep a valuable coach? Make your environment very, very, very comfortable.

This includes wonderous perks such as a high salary, moving your school to Florida, Texas or

best of all, southern California, great facilities, well respected conference affiliation, etc.

By now you get the picture. If you want your school to enjoy the annual high life, join a "Big Six"

conference, have wonderful facilities, national exposure, and be a school kids want to attend.

If you are content with the pinnacle of your school's success being making it to the NCAA you

should be quite happy and wallowing in slop. If your heart longs for more, do the work, build the

impressive, large arena, join a high major conference, pay your coaches and staff well.

Oh, and hire an atheletic director worth their salt.

[K92]

If by "Big Six" conferences you mean SEC, PAC12, BIG12, ACC, BIG10 & AAC, I will say this:

Akron has no chance of ever being considered for 5 of these conferences and no one associated with any of those 5 considers the sixth as a "big" conference.

Just sayin'.

[Balsy]

Unfortunately we need to accept that we're part of the MAC. UA can't afford the move, it would be suicidal financially.

I can't wait to see a new basketball arena, and will be more than willing to contribute financially to it. However, I doubt I'll get the chance to for another 15 years.

[ZachTheZip]

So where do you suggest we move to? How do you suggest we make that move? Aside from maybe the Sun Belt, no conference would take Akron right now, and without significant investment in every facet of athletics nobody will want Akron in the future. So, how do you improve our situation so another conference wants Akron when the best way to improve our situation is to move to another conference?

[zippy5]

UCF did it. Cinci did it. USF did it. SMU did it. Houston did it. Memphis, Louisville, so on.. Why can't we? Sure it could turn out bad. We could take our lumps for a year or two until our "Big six recruits" come in. But if we worry about the downside of everything as opposed to the upside, we'll never get anywhere.

[ZachTheZip]

You need to not lump in the AAC with the real power conferences.

[zippy5]

Are you implying that the MAC is not worse off than the AAC?

[ZachTheZip]

Are you implying that the MAC is not worse off than the AAC?

I'm not implying it. I'm stating it. They're in the exact same boat as the MAC, in regards to football and every sport but basketball, and they're losing Louisville so even that will take a major step back. Only difference is, they still spend like they're in the BCS, only now they don't have any BCS money to keep them going. They'll have major financial issues within two years. Temple was the first victim, having to cut seven sports this year. Others will follow in the near future. They can't sustain what they're doing.

[K92]

There is a reason Boise and San Diego State rethought jumping conferences and stayed put in the MW. The AQ status that the Big East enjoyed is a relic of the past and when the Catholic basketball schools left, the conference morphed into the old C-USA. Fact. And don't kid yourself, the old C-USA was never a big boy conference.

The power 5 successfully stripped the Big East of every football asset they had, forcing the Catholic schools hands, rendering the AAC irrelevant.

[skip-zip]

So, how do you improve our situation so another conference wants Akron when the best way to improve our situation is to move to another conference?

That's the challenge, for sure. But as I have said all along, if others have done it, it shouldn't be too hard to examine those situations, and copy the formulas of those who have accomplished it before us.

[K92]

That's the challenge, for sure. But as I have said all along, if others have done it, it shouldn't be too hard to examine those situations, and copy the formulas of those who have accomplished it before us.

Totally agree. UA should have made a plan 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity has passed. It would have been fantastic if Akron could have been a part of the old Big East, if the league could have continued on with stable membership as it existed when Cincinnati joined, but that's not what happened. Ask a Cincinnati fan if the AAC is a good conference to be in now. I am not trying to be a naysayer, but the MAC is the best option for the Zips if we are going to continue playing football. Scrap football and then we can look for a better conference to park basketball, but that will be a worse place for all the other sports.

Perhaps I see things the way I do because I love football first. I like to be able to travel and tailgate at the MAC stadiums. It's convenient. If I looked at conference affiliation through a basketball first lens I might feel differently, I suppose.

[Balsy]

Besides...scrapping football isn't going to happen. Because it isn't. UA made a commitment first to football, so we're unfortunately stuck with it.

[Dave in Green]

Haven't we eliminated all possibility of UA giving up on football with the major investment in the new stadium? It's really not even a viable option. I happen to like basketball first and football second. But I wouldn't want to give up on football just to pump more resources into basketball, even if that were an option. UA is committed to both football and basketball, but lacks adequate resources to consistently compete at the big boy level in either.

Playing in a higher profile conference might help UA generate more revenue from and for both football and basketball. But any higher profile conference we could move up to is not looking for less-well-endowed schools who want to boost their revenue by being in a richer conference. They're looking for well-endowed schools who can bring more revenue into their conference.

[LZIp]

Besides...scrapping football isn't going to happen. Because it isn't. UA made a commitment first to football, so we're unfortunately stuck with it.

unfortunately?

[K92]

Haven't we eliminated all possibility of UA giving up on football with the major investment in the new stadium?

Yes. That's why I would like to put the topic of switching conferences to bed. For good.

[LZIp]

Yes. That's why I would like to put the topic of switching conferences to bed. For good.

Right. The most likely move that would make any sense would be to join the A-10 for basketball only, sort of how like UMASS is in the MAC for football only. But, that is pretty unrealistic and I honestly feel we have a better chance in the MAC in making the tournament. Maybe even the Big East as a basketball only conference as well, but I have to imagine we would be near bottom feeders there.

Throw out joining any major conference for any or all sports. Completely unrealistic. The C-USA (all sports), Horizon (bball only), etc are all lateral moves.

I actually think the MVC would be a great fit for us as a basketball only conference, but doesn't really fit geographically.

[Dave in Green]

UMass is in the MAC for football because they just moved up from FCS to FBS and the A10 doesn't support FBS football. Are there any schools in both FBS football and D-I basketball that play in different conferences even though their football conference also supports D-I basketball? Is that even possible within the bylaws of the various conferences?

[Z.I.P.]

Damn, I love this thread. Thank you Gozips for starting it!!! -- Isn't it about time we discussed Akron moving to the BIG TIME!?!? Although, just to give my personal opinion, I feel great sympathy for Balsy, who wrote: "UA made a commitment first to football, so we're unfortunately stuck with it." Sorry LZip, but I would like to employ the Idaho Vandals as a role model. The former PAC-8 member leaves the WAC in 2014 for the Big Sky Conference. Who says Akron can't move up to the MVC?

[johnnyzip84]

Damn, I love this thread. Thank you Gozips for starting it!!! -- Isn't it about time we discussed Akron moving to the BIG TIME!?!? Although, just to give my personal opinion, I feel great sympathy for Balsy, who wrote: "UA made a commitment first to football, so we're unfortunately stuck with it." Sorry LZip, but I would like to employ the Idaho Vandals as a role model. The former PAC-8 member leaves the WAC in 2014 for the Big Sky Conference. Who says Akron can't move up to the MVC?

Idaho (football) joins the FBS Sunbelt in 2014, not the FCS Big Sky.

[Zipgrad01]

Besides...scrapping football isn't going to happen. Because it isn't. UA made a commitment first to football, so we're unfortunately stuck with it.

WTF????? Surely, you arent serious with this comment?

[LZIp]

UMass is in the MAC for football because they just moved up from FCS to FBS and the A10 doesn't support FBS football. Are there any schools in both FBS football and D-I basketball that play in different conferences even though their football conference also supports D-I basketball? Is that even possible within the bylaws of the various conferences?

I think we would be a good fit for the MVC in basketball, at least a lot better than any other conference if we are looking to take the basketball program to another level. I just don't think it makes sense geographically. Ask WVU how they are enjoying the Big 12.

[Balsy]

I'm really confused why you're confused @Zipgrad...or @Z.I.P... Yes I am serious about that comment. You don't financially tie up $62 million dollars in a new football stadium and NOT call that a commitment to Football. Last time I checked, UA is barely staying afloat financially, so any talk of moving to another conference is simply wishful thinking IMO. Or axing football (getting rid of the program...or moving it down to a lower level of football) also isn't likely. We can't even fill BOTH stadiums...we can't fill the lowely JAR (5500) for more than 2-3 games a year. We never fill the Big-Dialer (27,000), however it's average attendance is double the capacity of the JAR. It just doesn't seem like a realistic conversation talking about moving to a "Bigger" conference, when we can't even fill a stadium.

I enjoy the conversation as well, but it seems like it's 99.9% wishful thinking and 0.1% reality based feasibility.

[skip-zip]

I know that I love to always bring up CINCINNATI, but they are the model for Ohio success.

Back when I was in college in the early 80s, NOBODY went to Cincinnati football games....NOBODY. Today, they are nationally recognized, and darn near put themselves in position to win a National Championship a few years ago.

They also have truly carved out a loyal region of fans in SW Ohio who don't give a damn about the Suckeyes. In fact, they MOCK them, in their marketing material and their merchandise.

So....does anyone want to analyze how they got there??? I'm sure it didn't just magically happen. And if elevating to a higher conference was the big moment for them, what did that do prior to that to attract a big conference? Did they possibly feed off of the 90s success of the Bob Huggins led basketball program?

[skip-zip]

I think we would be a good fit for the MVC in basketball.

Maybe so. And you just reminded me of something else.

I always see talk that we may have missed a window of opportunity to "move up" a couple of decades ago. And I can recall something that was talked about back then that still sticks with me today.

There was a conference called the METRO. Does anyone remember it? It contained many middle-of-the-country city schools like Akron, such as Louisville, Memphis, and St. Louis. And the football programs played Independent, which was exactly what we were doing at the time (prior to joining the MAC).

I'm not sure why this never happened, but many of the schools in that conference are now split up into some very good situations today, including Cincinnati and Virginia Tech, who had stints in the METRO as well.

Could we have ended up being one of them?

[Dave in Green]

I suspect that all conferences which include both FBS football and D-I basketball, including the MAC, have contracts in place that do not allow member schools to split their FBS football and D-I basketball programs between conferences.