Comments on: National search may include Yurachek

By: Zach

Zach — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:48:19 +0000

If Yurachek has any ideas, why didn't he say them during the past three years? Then he could take credit for them and this whole debate about whether he should have the job would be a no-brainer. I wouldn't appreciate him holding on out any great ideas for that long.

By: Doug Snyder

Doug Snyder — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:38:54 +0000

I am not sure you can say attendance has been down every year….at least in football. Here are the figures for the last 3 years:

2006 2007 2008
Median 16,011 15,851 16,927
Mean 16,132 16,506 14,342

Record 5-7 4-8 5-7
Home Record 4-1 3-2 1-4

What I find a little disturbing is the big variations in attendance in 2008. Our first home game was played before only 9,013 fans. Our record at the time was 1-1 …playing a ranked Wisconsin competitively on the road and beating Syracuse on the road. I think attendance should have been much higher. OK…there was some rain, but 9,013 is really lame. Then after a 2 week bye, we play Toledo with a chance to win the Eastern Division and draw only 10,134. The weather was good so that was not an issue. Those 2 games really bother me…I think attendance should have been better for both games.

What does this mean?? I do not know. I do know if you are a hammer….everything looks like a nail. So I don't want to be too negative…but Yurachek would have to be really impressive in interviews and have some great ideas for me to endorse him. I do trust Dr. Proenza but I am skeptical of Yuracheck at this time based on history. Maybe it would be better to hire an aggressive, fast-track AD and match him with a marketing person who has experience with these types of situations. The problem is…someone who is a proven winner in marketing will be way too expensive.

This will be very interesting and I hope we get it right.

By: Shill

Shill — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:26:56 +0000

Geez Pat, could you be any more of an apologist or shill for Yuracheck? Attendance has been down every year he has been marketing. In the real world he'd be fired, not considered for promotion.

By: mrasor

mrasor — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:12:31 +0000

Hi Pat,

I think that it will be the primary struggle, regardless of who's hired. A defeatist attitude is not the attitude of someone I'd want running my ship, though.

My personal opinion is that marketing has to start with the students — and at a grassroots level. If you have a great student atmosphere, the rest of the crowd will enjoy it more, AND you're building your future paying clientele. What do I mean by grassroots? Have assistant coaches visit the fraternities. Ask Keith Dambrot knock on dormitory doors. Tell the players to bring 10 friends each. The AK-Rowdies are a huge improvement (especially the hardcore members), but their attendance numbers could be much, much higher.

That's why this alcohol decision is such a dead loser. Get the upperclassmen in the doors — even if it means you're giving away Natty Light for $1.50 a can. Well, maybe not that.

By: Pat McManamon

Pat McManamon — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:05:17 +0000

Mike … It's Pat McManamon. Don't you think anyone would have trouble with marketing and promotions at Akron? I mean … marketing and promoting a MAC school in a depressed economy is going to be very difficult, no? … Just curious … pat.

By: Zach

Zach — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:52:28 +0000

Being an "Akron guy" shouldn't have anything to do with how qualified a candidate is for the position. If there's one thing I hate, it's routine. Yurachek has been around enough that he could start to take certain things for granted that a person new to the situation might not.

What should be a requirement is an almost maniacle obsession with being the best at yout job and imparting that obsession onto your whole department. That's what Akron needs: somebody who won't stop until they have done everything they possibly can to make Akron athletics the best it can be in every category and someone who has the ability to do it as quickly as possible the right way.

By: Akron Alum(Los Angeles,California)

Akron Alum(Los Angeles,California) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:12:37 +0000

I really believe the decision that will be announced by President Proenza will be best for Akron Athletic Department. No question in that.
However, in regard to the basketball team, here what i think how they need to look at to get crowds and national attention:

Th ebasketball team has shown us over the last 2 years that it can be more than just an "advanced team to NCAA", all what it needs is a new JAR Arena and who's better than Lebron to help the coach and Akron for a new basketball stadium. A lot of kids in the Lebron James Academy every summer are very talented and athletic but we cant keep them when they c the old basketball arena.
In conclusion, i believe Dr.Proenza needs to search in our home roots(Lebron who admires Akron and the COACH)on ways to improve our basketball team.
Who ever becomes the Athletic director need to be asked in the interview,
WHAT SHOULD WE(AKRON) DO TO LEVEL OUT THE BEASKETBALL,FOOTBALL AND SOCCER TEAMS?
His answer better be need to coordinate with our kid in our own backyard,LEBRON.

By: fred

fred — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:10:43 +0000

but remember what the candidates backround will be. Just like Yuracheks backround.

By: fred

fred — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:09:15 +0000

To Barney:What does a zebra have to do with anything? How do we know that Yurachek is a small thinker? Do you know him? Do you know how he thinks and feels? Have you talked to him? Unfortunatley Akron and my school, Kent are in the same boat when it comes to athletic programs. Kent has made a very nice niche in D-1 athletics, partly by knowing they cannot compete with Ohio State in fan support. Does it irritate me to see the narrow minded people in Ohio believe that if you do not go to OSU, you are inferior as an athlete? Yes! All other schools play second fiddle to the Bucks. At least here in Miami, we get equal treatment with the Canes, Gators, and Seminoles. I have no problem with a national search……

By: Nate

Nate — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:18:51 +0000

Building the fan base is utmost as the unscientific results show. And a big factor in that equation is having a state-of-the-art basketball and multipurpose arena conspicuously and clearly on The University of Akron campus and not downtown. If UA does otherwise, it will be the school's waterloo.

THAT MAYOR DOES NOT RUN THIS UNIVERSITY!