The Last Word on YSU

[Captain Kangaroo]

Akron and Can't have offered to play games for $125,000, but YSU doesn't plan to schedule those games when it can get much more from other major I-A schools."The only way we would resume playing Akron and Can't would be on a home-and-home basis and their conference rules do not allow them to play away games at a non-I-A opponent," Strollo said.

Source

[GP1]

I always thought the last word on YSU would be "suck" as in "they suck".

[UA1987]

Interesting... from my point of view this is a public relations spin by their AD and some biased writing by their paper.We all know it's done all the time in government and the private sector to get a desired reaction or sway public opinion. Yes, these Div IAA teams are reeping a short term benefit. Long term, the fans of the 'Big Boys' won't put up with sky high ticket prices and Penquin visits. Besides, Youngstown fans would love to see this rivalry played out again. Because fans ultimately rule, the game will be scheduled at some time, but only when it works for us. If I were Akron's AD, our $125,000 offer is off the table. It's now $75,000 and bring your own towels and bandages. See you in 2012.

[ZippyRulz]

We'll see what happens. That statement was from 2 years ago, before the new stadium was announced and we should be able to offer a little more now. The BCS payday teams can't schedule more than 1 FCS team per season and there just won't be enough of that to go around to fill every FCS OOC schedule. Is YSU going to make long trips to play other non-BCS teams OOC when they could come here at low cost to play a rival in a new stadium for a decent paycheck? Situations always can and do change.

[johnnyzip84]

We'll see what happens. That statement was from 2 years ago, before the new stadium was announced and we should be able to offer a little more now. The BCS payday teams can't schedule more than 1 FCS team per season and there just won't be enough of that to go around to fill every FCS OOC schedule. Is YSU going to make long trips to play other non-BCS teams OOC when they could come here at low cost to play a rival in a new stadium for a decent paycheck? Situations always can and do change.

Since Tressel got them going, YSU has generally traveled very well when playing UA or Can't St. so you would think this would be some incentive as well for them. I agree that we'll just have to wait and see. Attitudes may change.

[GP1]

Long term, the fans of the 'Big Boys' won't put up with sky high ticket prices and Penquin visits.

I have to respectfully disagree with this point. Teams like OSU and other BCS teams have their alumni and fans by the short hairs. They have more people who want season tickets than seats in their stadium. YSU is part of the season ticket package for OSU and anyone who wants season tickets must buy the game. Fans may buy the tickets and not attend the game or give the ticket to a friend, etc., but they must eat the crap OSU dishes out to them. I wish we had this same problem.

[Captain Kangaroo]

We'll see what happens. That statement was from 2 years ago, before the new stadium was announced and we should be able to offer a little more now. The BCS payday teams can't schedule more than 1 FCS team per season and there just won't be enough of that to go around to fill every FCS OOC schedule. Is YSU going to make long trips to play other non-BCS teams OOC when they could come here at low cost to play a rival in a new stadium for a decent paycheck? Situations always can and do change.

Since Tressel got them going, YSU has generally traveled very well when playing UA or Can't St. so you would think this would be some incentive as well for them. I agree that we'll just have to wait and see. Attitudes may change.

Seems pretty clear to me --

"The only way we would resume playing Akron and Can't would be on a home-and-home basis and their conference rules do not allow them to play away games at a non-I-A opponent," Strollo said.

[UA1987]

My last word on YSU - to entice YSU to play us (maybe they're a bit fearful of the Zips) we could suggest a post game trophy tradition. I don't know, maybe we already had one, but it seems whoever wins this game jump starts their season. Whoever looses falls into the abyss. The winner gains strength and aggressiveness, and the looser lays down for a while and plays timid. So I suggest that we declare the trophy for the game to be those rubber artificial bull testicles that you see hanging from some trucks trailer hitches. The team on top takes the manhood of the other. The winner could go running off the field scaring chearleaders by swinging and twirling their trophy to the admiration of their fans. We might even get some national media coverage.

[g-mann17]

My last word on YSU - to entice YSU to play us (maybe they're a bit fearful of the Zips) we could suggest a post game trophy tradition. I don't know, maybe we already had one, but it seems whoever wins this game jump starts their season. Whoever looses falls into the abyss. The winner gains strength and agressiveness, and the looser lays down for a while and plays timid. So I suggest that we declare the trophy for the game to be those rubber artificial bull testicles that you see hanging from some trucks trailer hitches. The team on top takes the manhood of the other. The winner could go running off the field scaring chearleaders by swinging and twirling their trophy to the admiration of their fans. We might even get some national media coverage.

Ok, um do some research, there is a trophy for the YSU/Akron rivalry. It's the Steel Tire.Second, until we are a team that can guarantee a "warm up" as all of you people are calling 1-AA schools, we should not be scheduling 1-AA schools. Bottom line is that we all 1-AA brings is a chance to have people make a joke of your team the entire season if you happen to lose. Period. It's not worth it.We should schedule how we schedule. Very plausible victories (Syracuse, Cincinatti, Army) and a money game (Wisconsin, OSU, Michigan, PSU etc).

[UA1987]

Ok, um do some research, there is a trophy for the YSU/Akron rivalry. It's the Steel Tire. GM quoteOh yeah... the steel tire. Wasn't relevant to my post, which you may not have understood (it was a joke son - said like Foghorn Leghorn - UH OH age issue). Awful trophy though.... the steel tire.... considering that both of these industries have all but left their respective towns.Thanks for doing my light work.Lastly, playing 'away only' money games - you're keeping Akron in the whore house. Let's be very selective with these flings lest we get a worse reputation.

[Captain Kangaroo]

My last word on YSU - to entice YSU to play us (maybe they're a bit fearful of the Zips) we could suggest a post game trophy tradition.

$650,000 to play Penn State, or $200,000 and a trophy to play Akron...even a penguin could make that decision.

[g-mann17]

Lastly, playing 'away only' money games - you're keeping Akron in the whore house. Let's be very selective with these flings lest we get a worse reputation.

Well, better to be a BCS whore then a 1-AA bitch, because at least a whore gets paid.

[UA1987]

Well, better to be a BCS whore then a 1-AA bitch, because at least a whore gets paid. GM QuoteOk, you go ahead and advocate whoring out our team. Great strategy. Nice cliche though, I think the last time I heard that I was in Youngstown. You're not Pete the Penquin are you?

[g-mann17]

Well, better to be a BCS whore then a 1-AA bitch, because at least a whore gets paid. GM QuoteOk, you go ahead and advocate whoring out our team. Great strategy. Nice cliche though, I think the last time I heard that I was in Youngstown. You're not Pete the Penquin are you?

I am beginning to wonder if you aren't the AD of YSU. Scheduling 1-AA teams, when we are a MAC program does nothing more then say "our team is one step away from being 1-AA" especially when our not so distant past is 1-AA. We are trying to develop a different image in this area of the program. You don't do that by bringing in YSU or Northeastern Southern West Central State Indiana University of Pennsylvania. You just don't. Because when you do, all the ho-hum OSU swinging Northeast Ohio people think, oh, that second rate 1-AA Akron team is playing today. When we have an option to bring in FAU or WKU to start the year, or play YSU, you pick FAU or WKU. If you have the option to take the program into OSU or play Liberty at home, you go to OSU. Why? Because money builds programs, and you get more money for playing OSU then you do Liberty at home. And, I would rather take a shot at beating OSU, no matter how small any of you think it is, get recognition in all of the Ohio newspapers just for playing them (let alone if we upset them), then end up on C6 in the bottom right corner of our own Akron Beacon Journal for playing some crap 1-AA school.

[UA1987]

GM17 - my scheduling formula that I would follow is on Topic Starter - 'Zips Scheduling' Post #97 (see below). Cut out the mis-information.My formula for OOC forward football scheduling in order of importance:1) Focus on the second half of the Big East as they would play one game here most likely and we would be somewhat close in talent and depth 2) Focus on the second half of the Big Ten (for the same reason)3) Focus on all of the Conference USA teams (for the same reason) 4) Contact select WAC, MWC, and Sun Belt teams or any of the Service Academies (for the same reason)5) Contact the second half of the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and maybe a lower level PAC 10 team for a home and away 6) If all else fails, look towards old rival YSU or another Div. IAA school with a strong academic rep.- home only, as game one, if possibleIf none of these can be booked or if we are in heavy financial difficulty (desperate), then book big name programs as away games with no returnand, if OSU calls, play them anytime. These phone calls should already have been made and proposed matchups should be on the wall somewhere in the AD's office.

[g-mann17]

GM17 - my scheduling formula that I would follow is on Topic Starter - 'Zips Scheduling' Post #97 (see below). Cut out the mis-information.My formula for OOC forward football scheduling in order of importance:1) Focus on the second half of the Big East as they would play one game here most likely and we would be somewhat close in talent and depth 2) Focus on the second half of the Big Ten (for the same reason)3) Focus on all of the Conference USA teams (for the same reason) 4) Contact select WAC, MWC, and Sun Belt teams or any of the Service Academies (for the same reason)5) Contact the second half of the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and maybe a lower level PAC 10 team for a home and away 6) If all else fails, look towards old rival YSU or another Div. IAA school with a strong academic rep.- home only, as game one, if possibleIf none of these can be booked or if we are in heavy financial difficulty (desperate), then book big name programs as away games with no returnand, if OSU calls, play them anytime. These phone calls should already have been made and proposed matchups should be on the wall somewhere in the AD's office.

So my bad, I had not seen that post, so apologies to you. But I still stick by my no 1-AA teams. There is no reward for winning and too great a loss for losing.

[ZachTheZip]

GM17 - my scheduling formula that I would follow is on Topic Starter - 'Zips Scheduling' Post #97 (see below). Cut out the mis-information.My formula for OOC forward football scheduling in order of importance:1) Focus on the second half of the Big East as they would play one game here most likely and we would be somewhat close in talent and depth 2) Focus on the second half of the Big Ten (for the same reason)3) Focus on all of the Conference USA teams (for the same reason) 4) Contact select WAC, MWC, and Sun Belt teams or any of the Service Academies (for the same reason)5) Contact the second half of the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and maybe a lower level PAC 10 team for a home and away 6) If all else fails, look towards old rival YSU or another Div. IAA school with a strong academic rep.- home only, as game one, if possibleIf none of these can be booked or if we are in heavy financial difficulty (desperate), then book big name programs as away games with no returnand, if OSU calls, play them anytime. These phone calls should already have been made and proposed matchups should be on the wall somewhere in the AD's office.

So my bad, I had not seen that post, so apologies to you. But I still stick by my no 1-AA teams. There is no reward for winning and too great a loss for losing.

The reward for winning is being 1/6 closer to going to a bowl where otherwise it would be just another loss. CMU got blown out at home by a I-AA team last year, and you don't see anybody ragging on them about it.

[UA1987]

We'll see what happens. That statement was from 2 years ago, before the new stadium was announced and we should be able to offer a little more now. The BCS payday teams can't schedule more than 1 FCS team per season and there just won't be enough of that to go around to fill every FCS OOC schedule. Is YSU going to make long trips to play other non-BCS teams OOC when they could come here at low cost to play a rival in a new stadium for a decent paycheck? Situations always can and do change.

I agree whole heartedly. If we all step back a minute, and think about what was said on this board (not the old paper article, but by CK)....'YSU won't play us in our new facility' YSU! If this is the case we are in trouble. 1st, they are close for reduced travel costs, 2nd, they would be playing up a Division which most IAA long for, 3rd, the game revenue stays in state, 4th, most fans on both sides would welcome it, 5th, I'm sure they have more than one slot per season for a Division IA opponent and a solid payday, 6th, we were old rivals, 7th, we will have a first class facility. Again, to agree with you ZR, all of these numbers... they don't add up to 'Ain't Gonna Play' at least once or twice in the future.Anyway, YSU would only be a candidate for a game at Infocision, in my formula, if we couldn't lock up other options.

[Captain Kangaroo]

'YSU won't play us in our new facility' YSU! If this is the case we are in trouble.

UA cannot match what Penn State or OSU can offer. And, both those games are a bus trip for YSU.

1st, they are close for reduced travel costs

Penn State and OSU are a bus trip for YSU. Travel costs are irrelevant. They would stay in a hotel in Columbus, Happy Valley or Akron, so lodging is irrelevant too.

2nd, they would be playing up a Division which most IAA long for

How can you say YSU longs to "play up a Division?" In the past 20 years upwards of 25 schools have made the jump to 1-A. YSU is content to sit at 1-AA. They long to be no where but 1-AA, playing the likes of Lock Haven, Edinboro, Slippery Rock and Gannon for their OOC games. Plus a money game vs. a BCS school.

3rd, the game revenue stays in state

I'd rather fund the athletic department of an out-of-state D-1 team than give $250,000 to a competitor 50 miles down the road.

4th, most fans on both sides would welcome it

It doesn't seem that way.

5th, I'm sure they have more than one slot per season for a Division IA opponent and a solid payday

Then why Lock Haven, Edinboro, Slippery Rock, Gannon, etc?

6th, we were old rivals

We'd still be rivals if YSU had the stones to go 1-A, but they don't. Thus the rivalry is dead.

7th, we will have a first class facility.

So why bring in a 2nd tier opponent? We just got a boob job, Botox and a tummy tuck and you want to still date a chubby junior high sweetheart?

Again, to agree with you ZR, all of these numbers... they don't add up to 'Ain't Gonna Play' at least once or twice in the future.

Unless YSU moves up in Division, or drops their laughable "home and home" demand, we'll never meet on the football field again. That's their choice. And I applaud it.

[UA1987]

'YSU won't play us in our new facility' YSU! If this is the case we are in trouble.

UA cannot match what Penn State or OSU can offer. And, both those games are a bus trip for YSU. If you think that YSU will be playing every year at OSU and Penn State then you do not understand their fans. Everyone I talk to that is an OSU Alum is upset that YSU is on the schedule and I'm sure it's even more so on the PSU side. They phone in complaints, they threaten to lower donations ect... these things are very good persuation tools.

1st, they are close for reduced travel costs

Penn State and OSU are a bus trip for YSU. Travel costs are irrelevant. They would stay in a hotel in Columbus, Happy Valley or Akron, so lodging is irrelevant too.Travel will be very relevant with transportation costs increasing, unless you think that YSU will be on a perpetual contract with OSU and PSU. Get out the white coats if you think this is true.

2nd, they would be playing up a Division which most IAA long for

How can you say YSU longs to "play up a Division?" In the past 20 years upwards of 25 schools have made the jump to 1-A. YSU is content to sit at 1-AA. They long to be no where but 1-AA, playing the likes of Lock Haven, Edinboro, Slippery Rock and Gannon for their OOC games. Plus a money game vs. a BCS school.By playing Akron, YSU is playing a team of a higher division - that's playing up. Akron used to do it against Temple and other MAC schools when were DIAA and these were our highlight games.

3rd, the game revenue stays in state

I'd rather fund the athletic department of an out-of-state D-1 team than give $250,000 to a competitor 50 miles down the road.That was the Good Ole Boy snob thinking that kept us locked out of most of Ohio's college football stadiums for years. Bad business and bad for schools like Akron.

4th, most fans on both sides would welcome it

It doesn't seem that way.Maybe in your circles - what the heck happened?

5th, I'm sure they have more than one slot per season for a Division IA opponent and a solid payday

Then why Lock Haven, Edinboro, Slippery Rock, Gannon, etc?They seem to have a good strategy (even though they do turn whore every now and then) - build a winning program... have you heard that before from anyone?

6th, we were old rivals

We'd still be rivals if YSU had the stones to go 1-A, but they don't. Thus the rivalry is dead.Maybe not rivals anymore... but it would just make good sense based on our history to play them if we could not schedule other more favorable games.

7th, we will have a first class facility.

So why bring in a 2nd tier opponent? We just got a boob job, Botox and a tummy tuck and you want to still date a chubby junior high sweetheart?When you get a moment take the time to read some of my posts on scheduling above. I'm not advocating playing YSU every year, but only to approach if we need a game.

Again, to agree with you ZR, all of these numbers... they don't add up to 'Ain't Gonna Play' at least once or twice in the future.

Unless YSU moves up in Division, or drops their laughable "home and home" demand, we'll never meet on the football field again. That's their choice. And I applaud it. :bow:There is the key... the YSU home and home provision - deal breaker.

[K-Roo]

For the record, YSU-Akron already have a trophy to play for,...The Steel-Tire Trophy.. And the Penguins won it more than we did...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_TireABJ Story 80's"NO TROPHY NEEDED TO SPUR PENGUINSSource: Roland Queen, Beacon Journal staff writerGerry Faust may not attach special significance to the Steel-Tire Trophy, but Jim Tressel certainly does. The trophy has been the symbol of victory in the football series between the Faust's University of Akron Zips and Tressel's Youngstown State Penguins for the past 13 years. For the past two years the trophy has been the property of Tressel and the Penguins. Youngstown leads the overall series 14-12-1. The Steel-Tire centerpiece will be up for grabs Published on September 30, 1988, Page D6, Akron Beacon Journal (OH)

[UA1987]

For the record, YSU-Akron already have a trophy to play for,...The Steel-Tire Trophy.. And the Penguins won it more than we did...

Yes, and I hear we are in a war in Iraq too... Come on K-Roo, for crying out load the trophy thing in an earlier post was a joke. Well, OK, maybe some relatively new Zips fans don't know much about YSU and Akron history and they needed your post.Speaking of history... the craziest YSU Akron game I ever listened to was the snow bowl game in 1987 at the RB. We had Whitey Wahl and Don Ursetti announcing (phew... Frenchie sure was a huge upgrade). It was 6 to 3 with Akron on top in foul weather and it started to blizzard in the bowl towards the end of the game. White out conditions. YSU had the ball late in the fourth quarter and, all of a sudden, they were gobbling up huge chucks of yardage in what had been a defensive struggle. I believe time was running low with YSU on about the fifteen. YSU then dropped back to pass, no one could see what had happened, including the announcers, and then a YSU kid came running out of the endzone with the ball and a TD. Oh the humanity of it... Game over... The start of Tressel's legacy.

[Captain Kangaroo]

So in summation: The Zips are a Division 1 football program that has no business playing Wisconsin, and should schedule 1-AA Youngstown State.Makes sense to me.

[Zipsrifle]

Travel will be very relevant with transportation costs increasing, unless you think that YSU will be on a perpetual contract with OSU and PSU. Get out the white coats if you think this is true

Come on, do you really think that travel costs are that relevant? Does it cost more? Yes. Will it keep a team from playing a football game....No. If this were the case, then confrences and bowls should be re-aligned according to which teams are closest to each other and the venue.

[UA1987]

Travel will be very relevant with transportation costs increasing, unless you think that YSU will be on a perpetual contract with OSU and PSU. Get out the white coats if you think this is true

Come on, do you really think that travel costs are that relevant? Does it cost more? Yes. Will it keep a team from playing a football game....No. If this were the case, then confrences and bowls should be re-aligned according to which teams are closest to each other and the venue.

Ah, most conferences are aligned in the same region for travel, both for teams and fans, and natural rivaries.