His argument has some validity Wick. However, not in this case. In an area where there are multiple universities, this can make some sense. The last time I checked Kent State Trumbull does not field a football team. Should Kent decide to concentrate on academics ...so be it. Akron can fill the athletic void. It would meet with lots of resistance due to history and the success of Kent's teams like MBB, Golf, Baseball, etc.
You are right on the coverage Wick. I remember when the university began competing in (and hosted) the Engineering Olympics. They had to due things like build a zero-emission vehicle, canoes out of concrete, human powered planes, etc. The local media covered it for days and YSU won many times. Our region included (and still does) all of the schools in NE Ohio and WPA. Then when when OSU came and we beat them, the coverage was great. They launched the planes down at the Lub in Sharon over the water ...we all went to watch. What does this tell us?
The town has a competitive nature and sports mentality, so Sports is just a huge part of YSU ...just the opposite of what DeSousa is saying.
