The real issue at Akron isn’t the stadium per se (as at Cal or Washington) but the decision to move up to FBS football. The idea that this will change the school’s image for the better, and be worth the cost, represents a gamble at long odds. Even Buffalo’s move made (a bit) more sense, as part of its effort to make itself visibly a state flagship campus. UMass next, by the way.
This is a sad story. Akron actually has a very good polymer science department for historical reasons. Schools like Akron could be very strong regionally, run a decent small college athletic department, and even have pockets of strength that are competitive nationally. I note that the Athletic Director at Akron, Mr. Tom Wistrcill, was previously the Associate Athletic at the University of Minnesota. From the GoZips.com site:
Wistrcill, who has been with the University of Minnesota since May 2006, brings a wealth of experience in intercollegiate athletics, not the least of which includes the grand opening of a new $288 million 51,000 seat football stadium. UM will open its new TCF Bank Stadium on September 12, the same day UA opens InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.
“I am incredibly humble and excited to be the new athletics director at The University of Akron,” Wistrcill said. “The vision Dr. Proenza has for this University and the Department of Athletics made it extremely attractive to come to Akron. The opening of InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field coupled with the success of the Zips’ athletics programs makes the timing great as well.”
UA and UM are the only NCAA Division I universities to open new football stadiums in the country this year.
Such gambling is worthwhile for administrators, including presidents and chancellors, especially if the forecasted numbers add up.
In a worst-case punishment, younger admins scramble for a new campus before they lose salary, before tenure returns them to a classroom. Older admins retire.
Or they get a free pass. Kinda like Joe E. Brown telling Jack Lemmon “Nobody’s perfect.”
Or the development proves profitable, and they’re hailed as geniuses.
December 1st, 2010 at 8:24AM
The real issue at Akron isn’t the stadium per se (as at Cal or Washington) but the decision to move up to FBS football. The idea that this will change the school’s image for the better, and be worth the cost, represents a gamble at long odds. Even Buffalo’s move made (a bit) more sense, as part of its effort to make itself visibly a state flagship campus. UMass next, by the way.
December 1st, 2010 at 10:03AM
This is a sad story. Akron actually has a very good polymer science department for historical reasons. Schools like Akron could be very strong regionally, run a decent small college athletic department, and even have pockets of strength that are competitive nationally. I note that the Athletic Director at Akron, Mr. Tom Wistrcill, was previously the Associate Athletic at the University of Minnesota. From the GoZips.com site:
Wistrcill, who has been with the University of Minnesota since May 2006, brings a wealth of experience in intercollegiate athletics, not the least of which includes the grand opening of a new $288 million 51,000 seat football stadium. UM will open its new TCF Bank Stadium on September 12, the same day UA opens InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.
“I am incredibly humble and excited to be the new athletics director at The University of Akron,” Wistrcill said. “The vision Dr. Proenza has for this University and the Department of Athletics made it extremely attractive to come to Akron. The opening of InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field coupled with the success of the Zips’ athletics programs makes the timing great as well.”
UA and UM are the only NCAA Division I universities to open new football stadiums in the country this year.
QED?
December 1st, 2010 at 11:35AM
“a gamble at long odds”
Such gambling is worthwhile for administrators, including presidents and chancellors, especially if the forecasted numbers add up.
In a worst-case punishment, younger admins scramble for a new campus before they lose salary, before tenure returns them to a classroom. Older admins retire.
Or they get a free pass. Kinda like Joe E. Brown telling Jack Lemmon “Nobody’s perfect.”
Or the development proves profitable, and they’re hailed as geniuses.