Akron to play Ohio State to open the 2024 season

[GP1]

1 hour ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

Earlier post regarding UA/Kentucky @ Akron

 

Kentucky will probably generate $5 million by bringing in a cupcake to pound at home. Paying the Zips $500,000 (?) NOT to play in Akron is deemed as a win-win by the powers that be at both UK and cash-strapped Akron. As a fan I don't like it, but my vote doesn't count.

Everyone knows this is going to happen. Why not not get the $500,000 up front and keep a position open on the schedule for a more competitive game? 

[KangarooJake]

6 minutes ago, GP1 said:

You answered your own question.

 

History and traditions matter in college football. Toledo has a long tradition of winning in the MAC. They have a great rivalry with a good program 20 miles away. They are very close to MAC West teams so travel is inexpensive and fans can attend games. Their program benefits the players students alumni fans and general community around Toledo, and all of these groups know it and appreciate the program. That's what a state university should do. It's what Akron should be doing, but can't get out of it's own way. 

Toledo fans for a while were bragging about high tailing to the Big East around '05 '06 if I remember correctly. Similarily, NIU fans were "rumored to be joining the Big 12"

 

Aren't they sure glad they didn't? Exhibit A: Cincinatti, something I think all of us saw coming. UC is 3-8 and Akron is 2-9. 

 

Another thing, who would honestly take Toledo? Let's be real. Big Ten? Big Twelve even? Doubtful at best.

[KangarooJake]

3 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Everyone knows this is going to happen. Why not not get the $500,000 up front and keep a position open on the schedule for a more competitive game? 

Firmly agreed, I wish we would bring a Sun Belt/MAC challenge to football. I'd be much more intrigued by seeing us do a home and home with someone like South Alabama or APP State then getting waxed by 3 P5 schools on the road every year. 

[GP1]

39 minutes ago, KangarooJake said:

Toledo fans for a while were bragging about high tailing to the Big East around '05 '06 if I remember correctly. Similarily, NIU fans were "rumored to be joining the Big 12"

 

Aren't they sure glad they didn't? Exhibit A: Cincinatti, something I think all of us saw coming. UC is 3-8 and Akron is 2-9. 

 

Another thing, who would honestly take Toledo? Let's be real. Big Ten? Big Twelve even? Doubtful at best.

Toledo is exactly where it should be. 

[GP1]

38 minutes ago, KangarooJake said:

Firmly agreed, I wish we would bring a Sun Belt/MAC challenge to football. I'd be much more intrigued by seeing us do a home and home with someone like South Alabama or APP State then getting waxed by 3 P5 schools on the road every year. 

Good idea. Tie in basketball as well. The MAC should be measuring it's against conferences like SB. Nothing like actually playing games to test how your conference is doing. 

[zippy-claws]

20 hours ago, LoyalZIP said:

Or he doesn’t like how the administration does things (he wouldn’t be alone)

YAY!  Finally someone else said it!!

[zippy-claws]

17 hours ago, ZippyRulz said:

Naw...louder sound system.

And a local High School Public Address announcer that is sooooo bad

[clarkwgriswold]

They need to put more money into that Infocision sounds system.  It not takes a quarter and a half for me to have ringing ears and a headache from the unnecessarily loud music.  With the right equipment, they could get that done as I am walking through the gate.  I guess Founders Day and high school football games deserve improvements.

 

Here's hoping the money goes to something that actually helps the program as well as the other SUCCESSFUL sports.

[72 Roo]

8 hours ago, GP1 said:

Everyone knows this is going to happen. Why not not get the $500,000 up front and keep a position open on the schedule for a more competitive game? 

I talked with one of Guthrie's asst AD's. He said Guthrie planned to tell UK they could buy us out at the full guarantee or more. He would then look to fill the date with a bottom feeding P5 team that presents a chance to win. We would go there for a decent payout.

What changed?

 

My guess is that the lack of any attendance put the program way under budget and they had to make up some revenue so they took the OSU offer. It sucks to lose when we all thought this would be a .500 team, or better. Whether we like it or not (I don't) the OSU guarantee allows us to give Joe the budget he wants. He's just not delivering so far. Next year brings hope. 

[Blue & Gold]

57 minutes ago, 72 Roo said:

My guess is that the lack of any attendance put the program way under budget and they had to make up some revenue so they took the OSU offer. It sucks to lose when we all thought this would be a .500 team, or better. Whether we like it or not (I don't) the OSU guarantee allows us to give Joe the budget he wants. He's just not delivering so far. Next year brings hope. 

This was also my guess. Our abominable season led to almost zero gate revenue so we’re now desperate to make it up somehow. If we had a team worthy of more butts in the seats we’d have the financial flexibility to be able to survive while picking up a game with a middling to low tier P5.

[GoZips86]

On 11/21/2023 at 7:05 PM, MangoZip said:

Why is everyone so negative? Sure, they will lose, but it’s not like Akron is the only MAC team to load up with tough out of conference games. No doubt that big paydays can help a program struggling for cash. The biggest negative in my mind is that it seriously hurts their chance to gain bowl eligibility. 

In my opinion this is exactly what’s wrong with the program and the MAC. Being happy about another guaranteed thrashing for a payday is mind boggling to me. This happens yearly. We will guaranteed start off 0-1 and frankly will lose to Rutgers and South Carolina. That is 3 loses right there, but as fans we should accept it all because it will be a pay day for the university? Goodness.

 

Akron should drop down to FCS. Yea board, dislike this post, quote this and trash me. I don’t care. At least at FCS we may be able to win and host a playoffs game. Being a guaranteed win for these big programs is bullshit. Expecting fans to accept it because it’s a payday for the university not only is bullshit as well, but also a clear sign your program does not deserve to be FBS. 
 

I’m fed up with being a Zips fan and accepting this crap. But this board doesn’t like to go against the grain, so I’m sure I’ll be more lectured how im wrong on this and how I need to be happy. Someone on here said this is a positive to see the program go against  big competition. Just stop. That’s a clear sign you cheer for a loser program. Accepting this due to the payday…goodness.

[GP1]

26 minutes ago, GoZips86 said:

 

 

Akron should drop down to FCS. Yea board, dislike this post, quote this and trash me. I don’t care. At least at FCS we may be able to win and host a playoffs game. Being a guaranteed win for these big programs is bullshit. Expecting fans to accept it because it’s a payday for the university not only is bullshit as well, but also a clear sign your program does not deserve to be FBS. 
 

 

This doesn't solve the problem of mismanagement of the program. Moving to FCS could just be trading one set of problems for another. 

 

Further, I think almost everyone agrees the scheduling of OSU is a terrible idea. 

[egregiousbob]

Playing at the 'Shoe is a thrill for players.  That's a positive.

[GP1]

9 minutes ago, egregiousbob said:

Playing at the 'Shoe is a thrill for players.  That's a positive.

With the spread of the transfer portal, many of the players come from P5 programs. They are less impressed by big stadiums than a normal recruit.

 

The shine of these games has worn off. Heck, the shine of those stadiums has worn off for fans. My understanding is OSU is having trouble selling out games. Seems as if fans and alumni aren't impressed with the product they are selling. Look at their 2024 home schedule, it's horrible other than Michigan. I can't give a good reason why anyone would buy tickets. 

 

IMO, college football should benefit these five areas:

athletes

Students

Alumni

Fans

General Community 

 

Maybe this benefits the athletes that week on a superficial level, but going to a bowl game is more important than playing OSU for all five parties than getting killed at OSU. The students miss out on going to a game on campus. Same for the alumni and fans. The general community doesn't get a chance to come together at a game for a fun event. 

 

What Akron did was just gross and short sighted. I guess it's par for the course for college football these days. 

[Zipmeister]

On 11/21/2023 at 7:05 PM, MangoZip said:

Why is everyone so negative? Sure, they will lose, but it’s not like Akron is the only MAC team to load up with tough out of conference games. No doubt that big paydays can help a program struggling for cash. The biggest negative in my mind is that it seriously hurts their chance to gain bowl eligibility. 

On the other hand, we could use some of the beat-down money to boost recruiting. Here's how.... Promise recruits that they will get a bowl game experience every year they play for the Zips. Contract with Hunter Biden to set up a series of shell companies, deposit money in company #1, have company # 20 sign up as a source of Zip NIL funds. Then, each year, have it buy each Zip player a ticket to the bowl game of their choice.

Edited November 23, 2023 by Zipmeister
.

[GP1]

5 minutes ago, Zipmeister said:

On the other hand, we could use some of the beat-down money to boost recruiting. Here's how.... Promise recruits that they will get a bowl game experience every year they play for the Zips. Contract with Hunter Biden to set up a series of shell companies, deposit money in company #1, have company # 20 sign up as a source of Zip NIL funds. Then, each year, have it buy each Zip player a ticket to the bowl game of their choice.

When jokes bomb. 

 

 

[Zipmeister]

 

[zippy-claws]

2 hours ago, egregiousbob said:

Playing at the 'Shoe is a thrill for players.  That's a positive.

why do you think that?  Isn't playing in front of 100,000 at Tennessee a thrill, or other past big games.  This just reeks of being a Suckeye or else fan base.

[GP1]

31 minutes ago, zippy-claws said:

why do you think that?  Isn't playing in front of 100,000 at Tennessee a thrill, or other past big games.  This just reeks of being a Suckeye or else fan base.

A lot of the players didn't grow up in Ohio and don't care. A lot of OSU players didn't grow up in Ohio and playing there is just part of their road to the NFL. 

[Spin]

23 hours ago, KangarooJake said:

Firmly agreed, I wish we would bring a Sun Belt/MAC challenge to football. I'd be much more intrigued by seeing us do a home and home with someone like South Alabama or APP State then getting waxed by 3 P5 schools on the road every year. 

That’s how they pay the bills. They can’t draw fans or TV ratings with those results so they take as much from the top schools as they can get.

[Zips Win!]

9 hours ago, GoZips86 said:

In my opinion this is exactly what’s wrong with the program and the MAC. Being happy about another guaranteed thrashing for a payday is mind boggling to me. This happens yearly. We will guaranteed start off 0-1 and frankly will lose to Rutgers and South Carolina. That is 3 loses right there, but as fans we should accept it all because it will be a pay day for the university? Goodness.

 

Akron should drop down to FCS. Yea board, dislike this post, quote this and trash me. I don’t care. At least at FCS we may be able to win and host a playoffs game. Being a guaranteed win for these big programs is bullshit. Expecting fans to accept it because it’s a payday for the university not only is bullshit as well, but also a clear sign your program does not deserve to be FBS. 
 

I’m fed up with being a Zips fan and accepting this crap. But this board doesn’t like to go against the grain, so I’m sure I’ll be more lectured how im wrong on this and how I need to be happy. Someone on here said this is a positive to see the program go against  big competition. Just stop. That’s a clear sign you cheer for a loser program. Accepting this due to the payday…goodness.

Well said! The only fans I want to hear from are those who show up every week and we got screwed out of a winnable home game. Miller and Guthrie are a couple of clowns. I wish they would go join the circus.  That 3 mil will go a long way of funding our leaders and their over priced salary, trips and other amenities.  I am ever so close of not renewing my season tickets.

[GP1]

4 minutes ago, Zips Win! said:

Well said! The only fans I want to hear from are those who show up every week and we got screwed out of a winnable home game. Miller and Guthrie are a couple of clowns. I wish they would go join the circus.  That 3 mil will go a long way of funding our leaders and their over priced salary, trips and other amenities.  I am ever so close of not renewing my season tickets.

You shouldn't renew them. Joe Akron hasn't asked for much for a long time. The University is stealing money from Joe Akron who just wants to see a good football game and have a nice day at a game. If you feel the urge to go, go stand around and wait for someone to give you a free ticket. You can basically sit just about anywhere you want. 

 

My advice to anyone who wants to financially support the University is to find a scholarship that gives money directly to needy students and donate. 

[ewbrooman1]

Rumors are that Ryan Day took time away from his TTUN game preparations to strategize how he can be sure to be in the position to call three timeouts with less than a minute left in the first half to get in position to kick a field goal to extend a 35-7 lead when the Buckeyes are already getting the ball to start the second half.

Yeah, I can hold a grudge. 

[Hilltopper]

5 hours ago, Zips Win! said:

Well said! The only fans I want to hear from are those who show up every week and we got screwed out of a winnable home game. Miller and Guthrie are a couple of clowns. I wish they would go join the circus.  That 3 mil will go a long way of funding our leaders and their over priced salary, trips and other amenities.  I am ever so close of not renewing my season tickets.

You are wrong on many counts. Miller has been great as the President of UA. He has been working hard to undo all the damage done by Proenza etc... Guthrie has raised the level of accountability in the atheletic department to a much higher standard. Pretty soon you will see where this money is going. It won't be to fund trips and amenities. It will be to improvements in facilities that will benefit fans and athletes. If you feel otherwise you really should just walk away.

[GP1]

46 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

You are wrong on many counts. Miller has been great as the President of UA. He has been working hard to undo all the damage done by Proenza etc... Guthrie has raised the level of accountability in the atheletic department to a much higher standard. Pretty soon you will see where this money is going. It won't be to fund trips and amenities. It will be to improvements in facilities that will benefit fans and athletes. If you feel otherwise you really should just walk away.

If the fans hardly get to see any games because the University schedules away games for paydays, how do they benefit from facility improvements?