menu
Logo
99+
Bobcat Attack Menu
Logo
99+
Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: U of Akron considering name change
Page: 2 of 4
OhioCatFan
General User
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 15,685
mail
OhioCatFan
mail
Posted: 3/12/2015 6:54 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Zipper U.

Seriously, they should resurrect Gov Rhodes old proposal to combine KSU and UA into one university with two campuses -- one city and one suburban. In terms of athletics, they could cut the combined costs about 1/4 and probably still have the largest budget in the MAC. When Rhodes proposed this the name was going to be Northeast Ohio University. At least that was the "working title" so to speak. A lot of folks, though, choked on that name alone. Something like Ohio Tech might be more palatable. I don't think that this kind of merger will occur, though, sort of some pressure from the governor's office, which I don't see happening. Ohio politics is a strange animal. No one in their right mind would have admitted Akron to the state system when KSU was already in suburban Akron, but that's exactly what happened. As I recall this was done by a very powerful state senator from Akron, who got the bill through the General Assembly in Robert-Byrd-like fashion to make Akron a state school.
perimeterpost
General User
Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165
mail
perimeterpost
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 2:18 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
New president facing declining enrollment, significant debt load. Thinks rebranding might help attract better quality students. One name being floated is "Ohio PolyTech." Commence snickering.
Snicker? LOL?

We should be very afraid. Ohio Tech is a genius move. Right now there's Ohio and Ohio State. (Nobody thinks of Northern Ohio.) But, Ohio Tech...
Ohio
Ohio State
Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Christian
Ohio Northern
Ohio Dominican

Oh no, if there's another school with Ohio in its name our brand will be forever diminished. eek! gasp!
Pete Chouteau
General User
Member Since: 11/17/2004
Location: You Can't See Me
Post Count: 1,696
mail
Pete Chouteau
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 8:43 AM
settings_applications edit_note
It think State University of Ohio at Akron has a certain ring to it.
GroverBall
General User
GB
Member Since: 12/3/2012
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,294
person
mail
GroverBall
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 9:01 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Pete Chouteau wrote:expand_more
It think State University of Ohio at Akron has a certain ring to it.
THE State University of Ohio at Akron? Or does the Evil Empire have a copyright on the word the?
OU_Country
General User
Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,401
mail
OU_Country
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 9:05 AM
settings_applications edit_note
GroverBall wrote:expand_more
It think State University of Ohio at Akron has a certain ring to it.
THE State University of Ohio at Akron? Or does the Evil Empire have a copyright on the word the?

No, they just copyright "THEEEEE".
Deciduous Forest Cat
General User
DFC
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: OH
Post Count: 4,559
person
mail
Deciduous Forest Cat
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 10:03 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Ohio Institute of New Knowledge - OINK
Mike Johnson
General User
Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: North Canton, OH
Post Count: 1,756
mail
Mike Johnson
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 11:29 AM
settings_applications edit_note
SBH wrote:expand_more
I believe Akron, Kent and CSU should be consolidated into a super regional university. Won't happen, mostly due to politics.
If you've read Betty Hollow's history of Ohio, you know that OSU tried similar ploys.

At one time OSU petitioned the Ohio legislature to force Ohio and Miami to close.

When that ploy failed, OSU petitioned the legislature to force Ohio and Miami to close all but their teacher training programs.

And of course there were OSU's failed efforts to force Ohio to change its name so that OSU could rename itself University of Ohio.
MedinaCat
General User
MC
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Lakewood, OH
Post Count: 750
person
mail
MedinaCat
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 12:44 PM
settings_applications edit_note
No one suggesting naming rights?

KeyBank State, Goodyear Tech, Timken U?
Pataskala
General User
P
Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,465
person
mail
Pataskala
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 1:56 PM
settings_applications edit_note
MedinaCat wrote:expand_more
No one suggesting naming rights?

KeyBank State, Goodyear Tech, Timken U?
There's already a Bucyrus company named "Ohio Poly Tech" so maybe that's the deal.

Having the state name in their brand is probably a plus for them. Having the name of the city often has a negative connotation for a university; it seems to cheapen their image. There are only a handful of big-time universities that are named solely for the city that they're located in; Cincy, L'ville, MiamiF, Boston College, Pitt, Syracuse, Clemson, Auburn and Houston come to mind (UCLA doesn't count; they have their state in their name). Ohio shouldn't feel threatened by this. Often imitated, never duplicated, there's only one Ohio.
ozarkcat
General User
O
Member Since: 7/20/2006
Location: MO
Post Count: 96
person
mail
ozarkcat
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 3:08 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Miami (of Ohio) could actually use the Ohio A&M tag best. It would become Ohio Abercrombie and Marcus fits its profile to a tea, ah tee)
davepi2
General User
D2
Member Since: 7/9/2010
Location: columbus, OH
Post Count: 583
person
mail
davepi2
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 8:18 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
New president facing declining enrollment, significant debt load. Thinks rebranding might help attract better quality students. One name being floated is "Ohio PolyTech." Commence snickering.
Snicker? LOL?

We should be very afraid. Ohio Tech is a genius move. Right now there's Ohio and Ohio State. (Nobody thinks of Northern Ohio.) But, Ohio Tech... Fits nicely on a lot of tee shirts and sweat shirts. Tougher for OHIO to differentiate itself. Not good for us at all.

They can start saying "if you are interested in science, math, engineering, and technology, well, Ohio Tech was created specifically for that for the state of Ohio".

You hear Akron or Toledo or Tulsa and you think its a nice public commuter style regional/city school. Ohio Tech is a totally different thing. Like Virginia Tech. Or Georgia Tech....

Genius move for them if they can pull it off me thinks.
Northern Ohio is out. There is already a Ohio Northern and it is one of the most respected schools in Ohio.
Mike Coleman
Administrator
Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Near the Pristine Sandy Shores of Lake Erie, OH
Post Count: 1,999
mail
Mike Coleman
mail
Posted: 3/13/2015 9:22 PM
settings_applications edit_note
West Youngstown State Kangaroos
OUcats82
General User
Member Since: 1/9/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 1,912
mail
OUcats82
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 8:26 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Wagon Wheel Technical Institute and State University?

That's a shared cultural icon of both schools.......
The Optimist
General User
Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,610
mail
The Optimist
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 9:41 AM
settings_applications edit_note
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
New president facing declining enrollment, significant debt load. Thinks rebranding might help attract better quality students. One name being floated is "Ohio PolyTech." Commence snickering.
Snicker? LOL?

We should be very afraid. Ohio Tech is a genius move. Right now there's Ohio and Ohio State. (Nobody thinks of Northern Ohio.) But, Ohio Tech... Fits nicely on a lot of tee shirts and sweat shirts. Tougher for OHIO to differentiate itself. Not good for us at all.

They can start saying "if you are interested in science, math, engineering, and technology, well, Ohio Tech was created specifically for that for the state of Ohio".

You hear Akron or Toledo or Tulsa and you think its a nice public commuter style regional/city school. Ohio Tech is a totally different thing. Like Virginia Tech. Or Georgia Tech....

Genius move for them if they can pull it off me thinks.
I'm not "afraid" as I feel "Ohio" will always be a superior name to "Ohio _______" (State, Tech, A&M etc) but I completely agree with you that this could be a genius move.

When it comes to names:
(state name) & (state name) _______ > (city name) or (directional) (state name)
^^^
Certainly not absolute, there are some notable exceptions. Miami (FL) and USC being the two biggest.

Me thinks you put way more importance on this school name thing that it may deserve. Lots of colleges out there that have city names, family names and various other names that are renowned schools including UCLA, Duke , Rice, Northwestern, Columbia, Princeton, Chicago, Vanderbilt, etc that have made a name based on results more than having a state or state A&M name. Not talking athletics of course, but branding only goes so far.
I probably do put too much importance on the name. It is clear from OHIO's history that a name isn't everything. I also believe you don't put enough importance on it. Look around... Michigan, Penn, Kentucky, West Virginia... Every state touching OHIO... Seems pretty clear to me that someone didn't do their job in making sure OHIO was respected as it should be.

You did raise a good point. It isn't just athletics... I mentioned USC and Miami raising above their name only thinking of athletics but you gave some examples of schools that (for the most part) are known for more than their athletics.

It is OK though. I view it as inevitable. It'll just take some good people. I think we have some of them already!
Last Edited: 3/15/2015 9:44:50 AM by The Optimist
SBH
General User
SBH
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,678
person
mail
SBH
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 10:31 AM
settings_applications edit_note
If you study the histories of our school and Columbus Tech, you'll note that we were doomed to our fate not by bad strategy but by geography and politics. The state legislature latched on to OSU and to them went the spoils. We had to fight off multiple attempts to either shut us down or absorb us into the younger brother. We also had some very lean years financially and academically in the first several decades that made our school look like a losing proposition to elected officials. Add to that some hideous decision making in the late 1960s and early 1970s that put our near-bankruptcy and student strife on the front page. Frankly, it's a miracle we are as strong as we are. Charles Ping, though no great friend to ICA, saved this institution from ruin.
Last Edited: 3/15/2015 10:39:53 AM by SBH
Alan Swank
General User
AS
Member Since: 12/12/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,375
person
mail
Alan Swank
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 10:50 AM
settings_applications edit_note
SBH wrote:expand_more
If you study the histories of our school and Columbus Tech, you'll note that we were doomed to our fate not by bad strategy but by geography and politics. The state legislature latched on to OSU and to them went the spoils. We had to fight off multiple attempts to either shut us down or absorb us into the younger brother. We also had some very lean years financially and academically in the first several decades that made our school look like a losing proposition to elected officials. Add to that some hideous decision making in the late 1960s and early 1970s that put our near-bankruptcy and student strife on the front page. Frankly, it's a miracle we are as strong as we are. Charles Ping, though no great friend to ICA, saved this institution from ruin.
People keep saying Dr. Ping was no great friend to athletics. I'm at a loss as to why that is said.
Mike Johnson
General User
Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: North Canton, OH
Post Count: 1,756
mail
Mike Johnson
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 11:08 AM
settings_applications edit_note
SBH wrote:expand_more
If you study the histories of our school and Columbus Tech, you'll note that we were doomed to our fate not by bad strategy but by geography and politics. The state legislature latched on to OSU and to them went the spoils. We had to fight off multiple attempts to either shut us down or absorb us into the younger brother. We also had some very lean years financially and academically in the first several decades that made our school look like a losing proposition to elected officials. Add to that some hideous decision making in the late 1960s and early 1970s that put our near-bankruptcy and student strife on the front page. Frankly, it's a miracle we are as strong as we are. Charles Ping, though no great friend to ICA, saved this institution from ruin.
Ever wonder what Ohio State would look like if the state hadn't moved its capital from Chillicothe to Zanesville and then C-bus?
SBH
General User
SBH
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,678
person
mail
SBH
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 11:36 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
If you study the histories of our school and Columbus Tech, you'll note that we were doomed to our fate not by bad strategy but by geography and politics. The state legislature latched on to OSU and to them went the spoils. We had to fight off multiple attempts to either shut us down or absorb us into the younger brother. We also had some very lean years financially and academically in the first several decades that made our school look like a losing proposition to elected officials. Add to that some hideous decision making in the late 1960s and early 1970s that put our near-bankruptcy and student strife on the front page. Frankly, it's a miracle we are as strong as we are. Charles Ping, though no great friend to ICA, saved this institution from ruin.
People keep saying Dr. Ping was no great friend to athletics. I'm at a loss as to why that is said.
Dr. Ping wrote a book a couple of years ago in which he admitted to having a naive view of the role of ICA in the modern university. He almost bragged about alienating people like Bill Rohr. Ping is a scholar and he held some coaches to an almost impossible standard when it came to recruiting.
bornacatfan
General User
Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,752
mail
bornacatfan
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 12:01 PM
settings_applications edit_note
SBH wrote:expand_more
If you study the histories of our school and Columbus Tech, you'll note that we were doomed to our fate not by bad strategy but by geography and politics.
Which is why the BOD at IU and PU fight to keep IUPUI a commuter campus. They use their considerable clout to neuter the University from becoming a full fledged independent body. Their fear is totally based in the lesson tO$U left. Info from the Faculty Senate and professors at all 3 schools.

IUPUI is 4 blocks from the State Capitol building. There is a reasonable paranoia
Alan Swank
General User
AS
Member Since: 12/12/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,375
person
mail
Alan Swank
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 12:20 PM
settings_applications edit_note
SBH wrote:expand_more
If you study the histories of our school and Columbus Tech, you'll note that we were doomed to our fate not by bad strategy but by geography and politics. The state legislature latched on to OSU and to them went the spoils. We had to fight off multiple attempts to either shut us down or absorb us into the younger brother. We also had some very lean years financially and academically in the first several decades that made our school look like a losing proposition to elected officials. Add to that some hideous decision making in the late 1960s and early 1970s that put our near-bankruptcy and student strife on the front page. Frankly, it's a miracle we are as strong as we are. Charles Ping, though no great friend to ICA, saved this institution from ruin.
People keep saying Dr. Ping was no great friend to athletics. I'm at a loss as to why that is said.
Dr. Ping wrote a book a couple of years ago in which he admitted to having a naive view of the role of ICA in the modern university. He almost bragged about alienating people like Bill Rohr. Ping is a scholar and he held some coaches to an almost impossible standard when it came to recruiting.
I'd love to read that book. As for naive perhaps it was more idealistic. As for recruiting, perhaps he wanted more of an Ivy model when it came to athletes and students. Listening to Tommy Amaker and a couple of his players after their last minute victory over Yale yesterday was quite refreshing. I don't think it's an either/or proposition but something nearer the middle would be nice.
OhioCatFan
General User
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 15,685
mail
OhioCatFan
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 1:54 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
Ever wonder what Ohio State would look like if the state hadn't moved its capital from Chillicothe to Zanesville and then C-bus?
Actually it was Chillicothe to Zanesville back to Chillicothe and then to Cowtown.

Chillicothe is thus both the first and the third capital of Ohio.

I've often wonder about this also. If the capital hadn't been moved to Cowtown, a whole lot of history would have been a whole lot different. Also, if the Federal capital and been placed along the Ohio River midway between the mouth of the Muskingum and the mouth of the Scioto (approximately where Huntington, W.Va. now is) as was recommended by a report commissioned by the Confederation Congress around 1790, think how much different this area would be.
Jeff McKinney
Moderator
JM
Member Since: 11/12/2004
Post Count: 6,163
person
mail
Jeff McKinney
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 2:06 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Great thread. I really enjoy reading some of the knowledge and insights of many of our posters.

The corporate naming rights idea is intriguing. I'm sure that's only possible at a proprietary school, however, since many would view such a move as selling out to corporate interests when a public institution should to an extent be a counterbalance to corporate power.
The Optimist
General User
Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,610
mail
The Optimist
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 2:08 PM
settings_applications edit_note
SBH wrote:expand_more
If you study the histories of our school and Columbus Tech, you'll note that we were doomed to our fate not by bad strategy but by geography and politics. The state legislature latched on to OSU and to them went the spoils. We had to fight off multiple attempts to either shut us down or absorb us into the younger brother. We also had some very lean years financially and academically in the first several decades that made our school look like a losing proposition to elected officials. Add to that some hideous decision making in the late 1960s and early 1970s that put our near-bankruptcy and student strife on the front page. Frankly, it's a miracle we are as strong as we are. Charles Ping, though no great friend to ICA, saved this institution from ruin.
I agree that geography and politics were two huge forces going against us. I don't agree these forces doomed us. A crucial factor to strategy is identifying forces working against you and addressing those issues. When I look at various decisions made over time that have impacted the University, it seems to me some leaders were not concerned with the long-term imapact of their choices. I'm a bigger fan than Rod than most becuase I feel he is taking a long-term approach to his choices. That is not easy to do and I respect it.

Sidenote: Forgot Indiana in my most on border states with a name school... My argument holds.
colobobcat66
General User
C66
Member Since: 9/1/2006
Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
Post Count: 4,744
person
mail
colobobcat66
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 5:13 PM
settings_applications edit_note
The Optimist wrote:expand_more
New president facing declining enrollment, significant debt load. Thinks rebranding might help attract better quality students. One name being floated is "Ohio PolyTech." Commence snickering.
Snicker? LOL?

We should be very afraid. Ohio Tech is a genius move. Right now there's Ohio and Ohio State. (Nobody thinks of Northern Ohio.) But, Ohio Tech... Fits nicely on a lot of tee shirts and sweat shirts. Tougher for OHIO to differentiate itself. Not good for us at all.

They can start saying "if you are interested in science, math, engineering, and technology, well, Ohio Tech was created specifically for that for the state of Ohio".

You hear Akron or Toledo or Tulsa and you think its a nice public commuter style regional/city school. Ohio Tech is a totally different thing. Like Virginia Tech. Or Georgia Tech....

Genius move for them if they can pull it off me thinks.
I'm not "afraid" as I feel "Ohio" will always be a superior name to "Ohio _______" (State, Tech, A&M etc) but I completely agree with you that this could be a genius move.

When it comes to names:
(state name) & (state name) _______ > (city name) or (directional) (state name)
^^^
Certainly not absolute, there are some notable exceptions. Miami (FL) and USC being the two biggest.

Me thinks you put way more importance on this school name thing that it may deserve. Lots of colleges out there that have city names, family names and various other names that are renowned schools including UCLA, Duke , Rice, Northwestern, Columbia, Princeton, Chicago, Vanderbilt, etc that have made a name based on results more than having a state or state A&M name. Not talking athletics of course, but branding only goes so far.
I probably do put too much importance on the name. It is clear from OHIO's history that a name isn't everything. I also believe you don't put enough importance on it. Look around... Michigan, Penn, Kentucky, West Virginia... Every state touching OHIO... Seems pretty clear to me that someone didn't do their job in making sure OHIO was respected as it should be.

You did raise a good point. It isn't just athletics... I mentioned USC and Miami raising above their name only thinking of athletics but you gave some examples of schools that (for the most part) are known for more than their athletics.

It is OK though. I view it as inevitable. It'll just take some good people. I think we have some of them already!

We have clearly lost the name war.I talk to dozens on people that don't even know that Ohio exists as a university. I'm not sure what it would take to educate the masses, but we are really behind. Keep trying, I guess.
OhioCatFan
General User
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 15,685
mail
OhioCatFan
mail
Posted: 3/15/2015 5:52 PM
settings_applications edit_note
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
We have clearly lost the name war.I talk to dozens on people that don't even know that Ohio exists as a university. I'm not sure what it would take to educate the masses, but we are really behind. Keep trying, I guess.
I think you are using the wrong tense here. We lost the first dozen or more battles of the name war, but we've been winning recently. I find more and more folks who know who OHIO is and can distinguish us from the Evil Empire. I think this is especially true among sports fans. The war is not won yet, but we've got the momentum. In terms of the name recognition issue, Ping was like McClellan, but Glidden and McDavis have been more in the mold of Grant. [Charlie was an excellent president in many, many respects, and he brought us back from near bankruptcy with a deft hand; he is a man of great integrity. However, the name issue was not one of his strong suits.]
Showing Messages: 26 - 50 of 86
reply
vertical_align_top
vertical_align_center
vertical_align_bottom
add_comment
chevron_backward
chevron_forward
MAC News Links



extra small (< 576px)
small (>= 576px)
medium (>= 768px)
large (>= 992px)
x-large (>= 1200px)
xx-large (>= 1400px)