FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[reality check]

What was the old saying......."Can't read......can't write........Kent State".   

Kent read....Kent write...Kent State.

Kinda like Wright State University in Dayton.


"Wright State....wrong college."

[02 Warhawk]

As a VERY proud Kent grad (cough.....cough), I can tell you that I have attended many......errr...some.....errr....a few......errrrr....ONE game since I graduated in 1984.  I got so annoyed in the mid to late 90's with the constant onslaught for donations, that I just really tuned out anything to do with the school.  My oldest son attended, but he lived at home for all four years.  

What was the old saying......."Can't read......can't write........Kent State".  

I can admit I had one WHALE of a time my second semester freshman year, and first semester sophomore year.  Such a great time that I was on academic probation for the following semester.  

Out of curiosity, if you're a Kent State grad...how did you succumb to slum it with us DIII football grads/or family of grads     ? I've come to notice the only way one becomes a DIII fan is if you yourself graduated from a DIII school or your son/daughter did. Other than that, it's rare to find someone who has no ties to a DIII school to be a DIII fan....If that makes sense

[TooForRaider]

My neighbor's son got invited to the game along with his peewee football team the day Cribbs was recognized on Oct 30. Kids were very excited about autographs. While waiting in line for Cribbs, a member of his entourage offered to sign his son's ball. The 7th grader said "no way you are a loser." I was standing right behind him and was so proud of him-even I'm not that quick with comebacks.

I am sure that this was the most exciting thing to happen at Dix Stadium all season.

[skunks_sidekick]

As a VERY proud Kent grad (cough.....cough), I can tell you that I have attended many......errr...some.....errr....a few......errrrr....ONE game since I graduated in 1984.  I got so annoyed in the mid to late 90's with the constant onslaught for donations, that I just really tuned out anything to do with the school.  My oldest son attended, but he lived at home for all four years.  

What was the old saying......."Can't read......can't write........Kent State".  

I can admit I had one WHALE of a time my second semester freshman year, and first semester sophomore year.  Such a great time that I was on academic probation for the following semester.  

Out of curiosity, if you're a Kent State grad...how did you succumb to slum it with us DIII football grads/or family of grads     ? I've come to notice the only way one becomes a DIII fan is if you yourself graduated from a DIII school or your son/daughter d"do well in school, and chase all the girsl you can"id. Other than that, it's rare to find someone who has no ties to a DIII school to be a DIII fan....If that makes sense

I got "roped in" when one of my close friends Skunk (hence the moniker)kept nagging a few friends and I  like crazy to go to a Mount game.  His brother & LK were teammates, and are still close friends.  This happened once LK became coach, but we didn't start going to games until the mid-90's.  I/we have stayed close to the program ever since.  Season tickets for 15 years, and my son has attended the Mount football camp for the last three years.

Having the pleasure of getting to break bread and speak to LK in person, it's easy to be a huge fan.  Funny thing is he almost never talks about football when he is away from the game. I once asked him to give my youngest son some advice a few years ago, and he proceeded to say....."do well in school, and chase all the girls you can".     Unfortunately, my son has only listened to PART of that advice, and it's not the "well in school" part.

[Toph]

Toph, seventies, Raider68, et al:

What do you think would happen with regard to the MAC if some of its member schools like Akron, Kent, Eastern Michigan, Buffalo and even Western Michigan or Northern Illinois were regulated to FCS status?  The MAC has insisted on being a DI conference for a long time and only a few of the schools hit the attendance mark regularly (Central Michigan does, but...while they play some big time DI schools for non-conference, they really aren't "in that league").  Would the conference then have to be considered FCS?

This is totally without a source, and entirely my opinion, but I think that we may see the NCAA relax its attendance requirements, given that a chunk of the MAC and other small schools could simply disappear from football.  I can see the press release now:  "Given the state of the current economy...etc. etc. etc."

Just think of the number of headaches the schools would be facing.  The MAC has built itself a decent little brand in basketball, and right now, you're required to play football in the MAC to play basketball in the MAC. 

Or you can go the route of Kent and Akron have gone...and buy the tickets themselves. 

I think I've pimped this book before, but if you ever have an interest in the financial world behind the NCAA, I'd recommend The Game of Life:  College Sports and Educational Values, by William G. Bowen and James L. Shulman.  It's an interesting, if somewhat flawed study.

[seventiesraider]

My personal opinion, which I only share because my father-in-law won't read it here (retired Akron Department Head) is two fold. Akron-Kent should join as a regional school and eliminate the waste of two State Schools 15 miles apart. Two sets of Administration and all that overhead is ridiculous. It, of course will never happem.

Barring that, both schools belong in DII, at least for football. Obviously Kent has DI strength in Basketball but nothing else, so non-bowl sub-division in football makes sense

[formerd3db]

Thanks for the follow-up guys, very interesting.  I agree with you that an Akron-Kent merger will never happen. I don't really see them as DII, but rather FCS as I mentioned, or perhaps even the route of Dayton et al and the Pioneer League.  But, I doubt that will happen either.  Regardless, I just wouldn't want them to drop the sport - going the Swarthemore debacle route is simply not the answer at all.

[HScoach]

As a VERY proud Kent grad (cough.....cough), I can tell you that I have attended many......errr...some.....errr....a few......errrrr....ONE game since I graduated in 1984.  I got so annoyed in the mid to late 90's with the constant onslaught for donations, that I just really tuned out anything to do with the school.  My oldest son attended, but he lived at home for all four years. 

What was the old saying......."Can't read......can't write........Kent State".   

I can admit I had one WHALE of a time my second semester freshman year, and first semester sophomore year.  Such a great time that I was on academic probation for the following semester.   

You've got me beat.  In my 6 years of engineering school (yeah, I know, it should have been only 5) I made it to exactly ZERO Akron games.  And they were free with your student ID. 

[HScoach]

Hmmm, the All-OAC awards are announced and Lambert Budzinski isn't the OAC's best D-lineman?  Yikes.

[SaintsFAN]

My personal opinion, which I only share because my father-in-law won't read it here (retired Akron Department Head) is two fold. Akron-Kent should join as a regional school and eliminate the waste of two State Schools 15 miles apart. Two sets of Administration and all that overhead is ridiculous. It, of course will never happem.

Barring that, both schools belong in DII, at least for football. Obviously Kent has DI strength in Basketball but nothing else, so non-bowl sub-division in football makes sense

I speak from experience here... I liked the talent level at Kent State... I met a young lady while I was going through my divorce at a Bar in Columbus, she was a student there.. I visited a few times and was shocked at the good-looking girls who surrounded her, also.. mostly because its Northeast Ohio and we're taught as kids that everything from that corner of the state has green skin.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I taught my whole career at Eastern Michigan.  They at least have the excuse of being 7 miles from the "Big House" - they can never escape that shadow, and will never IMO consistently be even decent in football.  The last time they were genuinely good (even won a bowl game) was 1987, and Cal immediately 'stole' their coach!   They were caught a few years ago falsifying attendance numbers, which was the only thing that has kept them from already being demoted.  They give away lots of free tickets, but even free tickets generally go unused.   I've been to games where I was surrounded by a cast of hundreds!

Being right in a hotbed of hs football, I'm wondering why Kent and Akron have such trouble?

[reality check]

Hmmm, the All-OAC awards are announced and Lambert Budzinski isn't the OAC's best D-lineman?  Yikes.

Just had time to do a quick once-over and wow...

There are lots of head scratchers on the list.  I know the Berg is getting better but are they playing Saturday and I missed it?  WR of the year, QB or the year, OL of the year; I'm not knocking the kids that won because Miller and Preston had great years and it's hard to comment on the lineplay but really? 

Lots of names missing or in weird spots. 

[formerd3db]

HScoach and reality check:

That happend to an extent i.e. to a few this year and last in our MIAA.  However, this year, I was shocked at a couple of those who were chosen 1st team - indeed, head scrathers on those choices like you say.  Oh well, it happens frequently as we all know and that will always be the case.

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi:

You've educated us over on our MIAA very well re: the Eastern Michigan situation and we've learned much.  Thanks for sharing that over here on the OAC board as I'm sure our colleagues here will appreciate how that relates to their own regional schools Akron and Kent.  +k for you.

[HScoach]

RC:  "wow" was my first thought too.  I expected Andrew Miller or Kyle Simmons to be the 1st team QB, and Preston is the clear favorite at WR with Cecil missing so much time, but boy does it look odd to have 3 Heidelberg guys get the special awards.  Very weird list.  And how Nick Driskill is only 2nd team is a head scratcher too.  Wonder when the last time Mount didn't have a single special award winner?  Will have to do some digging.