How do we take the next step?

[kreed5120]

7 hours ago, GP1 said:

When I go to Jersey Mike's among other restaurants, I'm always asked if I want to leave a tip and suggestions are made. Maybe they could raise some NIL money at season ticket purchase time doing something like this.  Depending on the past giving of season ticket holders, different giving levels could be recommended. 

 

I think it was Tennessee who already implemented a "talent fee" on tickets, which goes to the NIL.

[clarkwgriswold]

The only way to take the next step is more money.  We lose in the tournament because we have 2 and 3 star players playing against 4 and 5 star players.  We have a top 10% coach and effort is never an issue.  In the age of NIL the only way to get those 4 and 5 star kids is to pay them and the Akrons of the world are never going to be able to compete with P4 money.  Can Akron outspend the PCCCs and BGs of the world?  Yes, as long as they have guys like Bud Wentz.  However, it is a completely different era now than it was when teams like George Mason, OU, Florida Gulf Coast and the like made their runs.

[Zippy87]

1 hour ago, ZipCat said:

 

So Akron should be over McNeese State right? "Net Ranking" is meaningless.

 

Not to the Selection Committee.

 

The selection committee uses a number of factors to rank teams for the S-curve, including record, strength of schedule, and the NET in the Division I men's tournament and the RPI in all other championship tournaments. Relative subjective comparison of individual teams close on the S-Curve are also considered.

[clarkwgriswold]

2 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Not to the Selection Committee.

 

The selection committee uses a number of factors to rank teams for the S-curve, including record, strength of schedule, and the NET in the Division I men's tournament and the RPI in all other championship tournaments. Relative subjective comparison of individual teams close on the S-Curve are also considered.

 

It sure helped PCCC make the NIT.

[ZipCat]

16 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Not to the Selection Committee.

 

The selection committee uses a number of factors to rank teams for the S-curve, including record, strength of schedule, and the NET in the Division I men's tournament and the RPI in all other championship tournaments. Relative subjective comparison of individual teams close on the S-Curve are also considered.

 

Uh huh, sure they do. I'm sure they also use the magical S-Curve for seed placement on the brackets for where the teams play too right? Like Duke playing in Raleigh.

[zippy5]

No, top seeds get preferential locations and that has always been the case 

[Zippy87]

1 hour ago, ZipCat said:

 

Uh huh, sure they do. I'm sure they also use the magical S-Curve for seed placement on the brackets for where the teams play too right? Like Duke playing in Raleigh.

 

I'm not sure what to tell you - they use NET. 

[ZipsFan31]

I think the Jersey and Vest are priced very well. the listing does say an authentic Nike Jersey. if you buy a Cavs Jersey it cost $120-130... $159 is only $30 more for a piece of clothing you can't get anywhere else. I am assuming it a game jersey and the school is just purchasing more from Nike.  Plus it helps Nate and Tavari as the proceeds are going to them. it's like thanking them for the hours of fun you spent watching them, plus you get a Jersey that might be 1 of 100. 

 

a Nice Vest like that is worth $40 to $50 but you are helping the school. 

[zippy5]

Yeah, these aren't supposed to be bargains. The money goes to the NIL fund. Just a more fun way of donating

Edited Monday at 08:19 PM by zippy5

[Zippy87]

46 minutes ago, ZipsFan31 said:

I think the Jersey and Vest are priced very well. the listing does say an authentic Nike Jersey. if you buy a Cavs Jersey it cost $120-130... $159 is only $30 more for a piece of clothing you can't get anywhere else. I am assuming it a game jersey and the school is just purchasing more from Nike.  Plus it helps Nate and Tavari as the proceeds are going to them. it's like thanking them for the hours of fun you spent watching them, plus you get a Jersey that might be 1 of 100. 

 

a Nice Vest like that is worth $40 to $50 but you are helping the school. 

 

A Cavs jersey will run $120 for adult sizing, but only $90 for youth. Basketball jerseys are typically worn by middle school through college-age kids. Maybe things have changed, but I certainly couldn't afford $159 jerseys as a poor college kid and I don't see many parents shelling out $159 for a jersey their kid will grow out of in a year.

 

Again, I'm thrilled they're doing more things like this, because it's sorely needed - I just don't think they'll sell more than a handful at that price point. We can certainly agree to disagree on that. 

Edited Monday at 08:22 PM by Zippy87

[kreed5120]

A person who can't afford a $150 jersey likely isn't someone who they're marketing this product to anyway. The target demographic is likely upper middle class alums who plan to buy it for their kids, grandkids, or more likely man cave.

 

There are plenty of other ways to get discounted Zips gear that fit into working middle class or college student budgets. Those people can contribute to the program by buying season tickets, attending games, spreading Zips Fandom, and if they so choose sending a small donation if they so choose to do so.

Edited Monday at 08:36 PM by kreed5120

[Zippy87]

4 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

A person who can't afford a $150 jersey likely isn't someone who they're marketing this product to anyway. The target demographic is likely upper middle class alums who plan to buy it for their kids, grandkids, or more likely man cave.

 

There are plenty of other ways to get discounted Zips gear that fit into working middle class or college student budgets. Those people can contribute to the program by buying season tickets, attending games, spreading Zips Fandom, and if they so choose sending a small donation if they so choose to do so.

 

I don't want to hi-jack the thread, but I will say a few quick things:

 

1) It's less about being able to afford it than it is something most parents may choose not to buy.

2) That's a bad target demographic for jersey sales, IMO

3) No youth sizes being available will limit much if the sales for kids. 

 

Happy they're doing it though and looking forward to seeing what else they cook up! 

 

 

 

[kreed5120]

I'm sure they think they will only sell dozens of these, not hundreds or thousands. Personalized Akron gear is a very niche market to begin with. Joe Akron isn't going to buy a Nate Johnson jersey regardless if it's priced at $200 or $100. He would prefer buying a Donovan Mitchell, Garland, or Mobley jersey instead.

 

Selling them just above cost with the hopes of selling thousands of them IMO is even a worse strategy. They're best to be sold as a novelty item. Heck, only the Akron die-hards would know where to go online to buy them anyway.

[clarkwgriswold]

For most, the jerseys will be interesting pieces in a man cave.  Adult men look a little odd in a basketball jersey and they're the ones with the money to spend on such things.

[kreed5120]

11 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

For most, the jerseys will be interesting pieces in a man cave.  Adult men look a little odd in a basketball jersey and they're the ones with the money to spend on such things.

 

Had Akron sprung an upset, I'd probably have gotten a signed one for my man cave. I'm kind of limited on space at the moment.

[clarkwgriswold]

Every year there's a week when you can give to a specific program through the university and I give to basketball.  I wonder if there's any advantage or disadvantage to doing that instead of the collective.  I'd like the collective option more if I could specifically designate basketball.

[LZIp]

3 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Every year there's a week when you can give to a specific program through the university and I give to basketball.  I wonder if there's any advantage or disadvantage to doing that instead of the collective.  I'd like the collective option more if I could specifically designate basketball.

You can specifically designate basketball for the collective. Of course, you do not get a tax deduction for donating to the collective like you would the university, however (assuming you itemize).

Edited Monday at 10:15 PM by LZIp

[zippy5]

Basketball donations through UA go to facilities, equipment, etc. Collective payments go to whatever Bud deems most necessary I suppose, including players

[clarkwgriswold]

2 minutes ago, LZIp said:

You can specifically designate basketball for the collective. Of course, you do not get a tax deduction for donating to the collective like you would the university, however.

 

Here's what it currently says for men's basketball donations-

 

Men's Basketball

Payment options

coming soon!

 

Contributions to the

general fund welcome.

[kreed5120]

14 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

Here's what it currently says for men's basketball donations-

 

Men's Basketball

Payment options

coming soon!

 

Contributions to the

general fund welcome.

Yes, oddly enough only WBB has donations setup to directly contribute to that sport. I'm not sure why the others don't have QR codes.

[LZIp]

15 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

Here's what it currently says for men's basketball donations-

 

Men's Basketball

Payment options

coming soon!

 

Contributions to the

general fund welcome.

Understood, but have been told you can make a contribution to the “general fund” and state which account you want it allocated to.

[GP1]

What if they had a donation option like a tip at the concession stand?

[GP1]

If you watch a NASCAR race, each car has their main sponsors on the roof and hood. On the side of the car are lots of smaller stickers, at least there used to be before I stopped watching. Those small stickers were called Provisional Sponsorships or something like that. The cost for those sponsorships vary by race by finishing position. The higher the car places in the race, the more money the sponsors pay. Maybe they could sell these types of sponsorships to people or local businesses. The higher the Zips finish in the regular season, the more the players make. Maybe figure out a bonus for winning the MAC Championship. I have no idea where they would be placed. 

 

My experience in life is if you reward behavior, you get that behavior. Reward winning. It's minor league sports now. 

[MDZip]

13 hours ago, GP1 said:

If you watch a NASCAR race, each car has their main sponsors on the roof and hood. On the side of the car are lots of smaller stickers, at least there used to be before I stopped watching. Those small stickers were called Provisional Sponsorships or something like that. The cost for those sponsorships vary by race by finishing position. The higher the car places in the race, the more money the sponsors pay. Maybe they could sell these types of sponsorships to people or local businesses. The higher the Zips finish in the regular season, the more the players make. Maybe figure out a bonus for winning the MAC Championship. I have no idea where they would be placed. 

 

My experience in life is if you reward behavior, you get that behavior. Reward winning. It's minor league sports now. 

Advertising on jerseys cannot be too far behind. 

[kreed5120]

4 minutes ago, MDZip said:

Advertising on jerseys cannot be too far behind. 

 

That will just further the gap between the haves and have nots. Like sure some local business might give Akron $100k to place logo, but MWC or AAC will probably then get $500k. P5 schools north of $1 million. Obviously these numbers are hypotheticals. I'm just trying to illustrate a point.