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Why I'm Ready for My Akron Zips to Drop to Division II in Football

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Steve_424

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If you've paid attention to the news lately, you've seen that my alma mater, the University of Akron, is having some budget issues. They cut 215 jobs, the baseball program, and more in a sweeping $40 M budget cut. Part of the issue is the brand-new football stadium drawing critically low attendance figures.

Here's why I think it's difficult for people to care.

Let's say the Zips have a magical year. Beyond magical even - let's say they go undefeated. They beat Oklahoma, they beat Pitt again, they dominate the MAC, and they go 13-0.

As MAC Champions, they would look to stay undefeated in a Bowl Game. They could potentially find themselves in a major bowl game, but more than likely they'd be headed to the Bahamas Bowl. They would not be considered for the College Football Playoff.

Let me repeat that - the ultimate prize if literally everything goes right and they have the best season in program history is the Bahamas Bowl.

That, my fellow Zips fans, is why it's difficult for the average fan in Akron to get excited about the football team. Nobody cares about the Bahamas Bowl.

Like all but 20-25 D1 teams, the Akron Zips football team has been eliminated from contention for the 2015-2016 National Championship before the season has even started.

In comparison, a great season by Zips soccer will place them in the NCAA Tournament. Same goes for men's basketball. While they'd have to fight (likely) crappy seeding and might have odds stacked against them (mostly in basketball), they'd have a chance to win a National Championship.

That's why I'm not opposed to Division II. They'd save by having less scholarship to pay out. Playing to have a shot at the D2 National Title is better than the Bahamas Bowl. And hey, it might even add a little excitement along the way and increase attendance.

Thoughts from fellow Zips fans and/or fans of other mid-major programs?
 
You go undefeated, you will be in a New Years Six bowl. Almost guaranteed. Which is a massive payout to your school. Not exactly the end of the world scenario you are describing.

Smaller schools have to start somewhere. Build the program, win big games, the respect will eventually come. Could even join a major conference if enough goes well.

Don't just quit because you won't make the playoff next season even if you go undefeated against the mediocre competition in the MAC.
 
I'm assuming you meant dropping to FCS? Similar to Youngstown State?
 
There should be a power 5 playoff and an everyone else playoff.

DI-A (Power 5)
DI-AA (The rest of the conferences)

The FCS should divide up with some schools (like YSU) moving to DI-AA and some schools dropping to D-II.

Do any Akron high schools play at the new stadium? I know they host high school playoff games.
 
You go undefeated, you will be in a New Years Six bowl. Almost guaranteed. Which is a massive payout to your school. Not exactly the end of the world scenario you are describing.

Smaller schools have to start somewhere. Build the program, win big games, the respect will eventually come. Could even join a major conference if enough goes well.

Don't just quit because you won't make the playoff next season even if you go undefeated against the mediocre competition in the MAC.

Marshall was 11-0 at one point and wasn't projected to get in one of those bowl games if they won out.
 
Marshall was 11-0 at one point and wasn't projected to get in one of those bowl games if they won out.
They were one spot below Boise State in the Playoff Rankings and ahead of them in most others (not that they matter, though).

In comparison, OSU was ranked 6th in those same rankings, behind the three other playoff teams and TCU. Not projected to get into the playoff. We all saw how that worked out.

Like I was with OSU, I'm pretty confident Marshall would have made it (it being, a New Years Six bowl for them) had they won out. Of course, we'll never really know for sure though. And Boise State winning another big game in bowl season will certainly continue to help their cause.

Edit: Also, isn't the MAC a stronger conference than C-USA?
 
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They were one spot below Boise State in the Playoff Rankings and ahead of them in most others (not that they matter, though).

In comparison, OSU was ranked 6th in those same rankings, behind the three other playoff teams and TCU. Not projected to get into the playoff. We all saw how that worked out.

Like I was with OSU, I'm pretty confident Marshall would have made it (it being, a New Years Six bowl for them) had they won out. Of course, we'll never really know for sure though. And Boise State winning another big game in bowl season will certainly continue to help their cause.

Edit: Also, isn't the MAC a stronger conference than C-USA?

I don't know that the MAC is a stronger conference than anyone really. Northern Illinois and Toledo are good programs and Bowling Green builds a good team here and there but that's about it.
 
Bigger problem is your team nickname is a verb and your mascot is an animal from Australia. Not to mention the 'verb' is prominently used in the flagship song of the racist Disney movie 'Song of the South' that the company has quietly conferred to the storage vault. It also reminds people of Zippy Chippy, the worst race horse ever.

A better idea would be a complete dissolution of the football team. Modern Americans love sports like futbol, ultimate frisbee, beer pong, American Ninja Warrior and CrossFit. Turn the unused stadium into a park for all these other things and I guarantee you it gets filled more often than it is for the Zippy Chippy football squad.
 
A better idea would be a complete dissolution of the football team. Modern Americans love sports like futbol, ultimate frisbee, beer pong, American Ninja Warrior and CrossFit. Turn the unused stadium into a park for all these other things and I guarantee you it gets filled more often than it is for the Zippy Chippy football squad.

3 words:
Weiner. Dog. Races.
 
Akron would get destroyed by YSU year in and year out.
 
Small programs will never be able to compete with the bigger ones consistently. Sure you get a Rutgers every now and then, but they go back to where they were shortly after.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk at your local pub.
 
Yeah I would suggest not taking MAC football seriously. And they won't ever drop down unless forced to because of the pay day they get twice a year from getting stomped on by a legit school. Moving down to FCS means only getting to play those teams once.
 
This is a depressing topic and I am definitely against it. I'll swing back around with my thoughts when I have some time.
 
This is a depressing topic and I am definitely against it. I'll swing back around with my thoughts when I have some time.

You must be one busy dude.
 

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