yahoo
The University of Akron's innovative fan engagement initiative, which allows a season-ticket holder to serve as offensive coordinator for the opening possession of a football game, has drawn national attention and some skepticism. To address concerns about the legitimacy of the selection process, the athletics department has partnered with the university's College of Business and the George W. Daverio School of Accountancy to oversee the random drawing.
The contest, launched on August 4, has led to a surge in season-ticket sales. Nine finalists were announced during a news conference on August 19 at House Three Thirty, with the winner set to be revealed on August 25. The finalists include sports media personality Dan "Big Cat" Katz, YouTuber James Bordeaux, and several longtime Zips fans.
Ensuring Integrity
Terry Daugherty, dean of the College of Business, and Julianne Jones, director of the Daverio School of Accountancy, have publicly vouched for the process. Jones explained that she received ticket holder and referral files from the athletics department, which had no access to the names, and used a random generator in Excel to rank entries. Two witnesses from the College of Business reviewed the procedure.
"This needed to be a random and independent draw to keep it fair for everyone who was entering in the competition," Jones said. The top 10 individuals in the ranking were named finalists, but one withdrew, leaving nine. Daugherty expressed surprise at the withdrawal but noted that the contest is meant to be fun, despite the pressure on the eventual winner.
Skeptics have suggested the contest might be rigged to include celebrities, but Daugherty dismissed such claims, emphasizing the accountants' commitment to rules and compliance. Jones, who admitted she didn't recognize the names of famous sports figures like Katz, Pat McAfee, and Jon Gruden, said the process was conducted with utmost impartiality.
The winner will have the opportunity to help coach Joe Moorhead script the Zips' first offensive plays in their home opener against Robert Morris on September 12 at InfoCision Stadium. Akron's season begins on the road against Wake Forest on September 3.
Originally reported by yahoo.