October 14, 200816 yr In theory, these are great ideas. Name change: State universities that place the city's name before "State University" always sound cheap to me. It would sound better, but the name change process needs to be handled well. Football: If CSU could field a competitive D-1AA program, that would be a huge boost for the campus. I'm glad that he says that it must pay for itself. CSU needs to grow agressively and in a financially-responsible way. An intelligent and a passionate president could balance those two things.
October 14, 200816 yr Cuyahoga Quadrangle A&T. They should steer clear of anything marketing-esque like "Chancellor University," which apparently bought out Myers. Hi, I'm the chancellor of Chancellor...
October 14, 200816 yr Author I wonder who will be on the 'Blue Ribbon Panel.' I hope they have a place for the Lerner Family and the City of Cleveland. It would be great to work on a deal where the university could use the stadium on Saturdays. (Does any one hear $1 a year lease for 50 years?)
October 14, 200816 yr I wonder who will be on the 'Blue Ribbon Panel.' I hope they have a place for the Lerner Family and the City of Cleveland. It would be great to work on a deal where the university could use the stadium on Saturdays. (Does any one hear $1 a year lease for 50 years?) If CBS had field turf, then I could see this happening.
October 14, 200816 yr For seating size, and accessibility, I think Jacobs Field would be the best choice. Seats 43,000 versus 74,000 (Could be a pretty bad football environment for CSU in CBS). Not as many scheduling conflicts as CBS could look pretty bad on Sunday after a Saturday game.
October 14, 200816 yr For seating size, and accessibility, I think Jacobs Field would be the best choice. Seats 43,000 versus 74,000 (Could be a pretty bad football environment for CSU in CBS). Not as many scheduling conflicts as CBS could look pretty bad on Sunday after a Saturday game. Unfortunately the Jake cannot be retrofitted for football.
October 14, 200816 yr They need their own baseball/football stadium. Isn't their baseball stadium in Lorain or some other city?
October 14, 200816 yr They need their own baseball/football stadium. Isn't their baseball stadium in Lorain or some other city? Yep. This is why a certain neglected stadium should get a face lift!
October 14, 200816 yr CSU/MLS/St. Ignatius/NCAA Final Four adaptable stadium! The Cleveland State University!
October 14, 200816 yr Thinking on what MrNYC has said. I would think that the cost to change the field so that CSU team could play on Saturday's would not be too much, but the operation of an extra day might not make it worth it as I don't see a CSU team averaging more than 9k people a game unless they field a really good team. The reason I say this is that the ticket sales, consession, etc. won't pay for the operation of CBS on Saturday's, but I think they should at least play there in their inaugural season. Knowing that they won't attract 70k fans, they could block the middle and upper bowls. Place seat covers over those sections and develop those spaces as advertising to help pair down costs. The Baseball and softball teams should definitely move into League Park along with the nearby Cleveland Public schools. They could be co-tenants. The community would benefit.
October 14, 200816 yr There is a stadium in the campus master plan, isn't there? I don't remember. I think having it off campus would take away from the benefit of getting a football team. Campuses light up on football weekends. The more I think about this the more I like it. We would have an instant rivalry with YSU.
October 14, 200816 yr There is a stadium in the campus master plan, isn't there? I don't remember. I think having it off campus would take away from the benefit of getting a football team. Campuses light up on football weekends. The more I think about this the more I like it. We would have an instant rivalry with YSU. Campuses light up on weekends for football depending on what school you go to. At Toledo, it really wasn't apparent that it was a home game weekend around campus during football season. Some people got excited (I did as I love college football), but for the most part, there wasn't much of an atmosphere around them. This would be great for CSU, but moreso for a regional/statewide notoriety thing versus turning CSU into a crazy tailgating school on fall weekends.
October 14, 200816 yr I really wish Schwartz wasn't retiring. I think CSU finally has someone with the vision to bring CSU to the next level. It's a shame he'll be leaving, just as things are getting really interesting.
October 14, 200816 yr I hope if they are changing CSU's name, someone considers changing the sports teams from the Vikings - I mean Cleveland isn't exactly known for its Norse heritage or immigrants (not that I'm suggesting the Polacks or anything :)) Here's the history behind the Viking name: Personally I wish Lakers had been chosen - The University of Cleveland Lakers has a nice ring to it. The Mascot During its 36-year run as Fenn College, the school's athletic teams were known as the Foxes. No one has ever uncovered a reason for the nickname other than alliteration. Somehow the moniker "Foxes" went nicely with Fenn. However, the Cleveland State Foxes didn't have quite the same ring, so when they city's new state university was born in 1965, it was decided to hold a vote of the student body to select a new nickname. A panel of judges pared down a long list of selections to three finalists - Lakers (Eriemen was a near miss), Foresters and Vikings. Vikings was an overwhelming winner, some hinted darkly because a large contingent of students, who had spent their pre-college days at Cleveland St. Joseph High, stuffed the ballot boxes. St. Joseph teams were, of course, known as the Vikings. No matter, the nickname has remained. The Viking mascots, Hagar and Helga, were adopted from the popular comic strip "Hagar the Horrible" in 1981 through the generous permission of his creator, the late Dik Browne. They have become the Vikes' highly popular on-court symbol.
October 14, 200816 yr There is a stadium in the campus master plan, isn't there? I don't remember. I think having it off campus would take away from the benefit of getting a football team. Campuses light up on football weekends. The more I think about this the more I like it. We would have an instant rivalry with YSU. Campuses light up on weekends for football depending on what school you go to. At Toledo, it really wasn't apparent that it was a home game weekend around campus during football season. Some people got excited (I did as I love college football), but for the most part, there wasn't much of an atmosphere around them. This would be great for CSU, but moreso for a regional/statewide notoriety thing versus turning CSU into a crazy tailgating school on fall weekends. True. But the Toledo games did put a lot of students in the same place on saturday nights, and that fed into house parties afterwards. CSU won't have house parties unless students start taking over a nearby neighborhood like the one off Perkins. That in itself could be interesting. When we plan parties at CSU, its always at some bar downtown. It would be great if there was an actual spontaneous CSU party scene. On campus residential will help, as will football. But like Toledo, CSU will need some off campus housing for a party scene to develop in.
October 15, 200816 yr Even CWRU lights up for football these days. And it doesn't hurt having 700 students with bedrooms adjacent to the gridiron.
October 15, 200816 yr CSU/MLS/St. Ignatius/NCAA Final Four adaptable stadium! The Cleveland State University! I agree. This is the perfect opportunity to get the MLS team we've been trying to get for years now.
October 15, 200816 yr Author There is a stadium in the campus master plan, isn't there? I don't remember. I think having it off campus would take away from the benefit of getting a football team. Campuses light up on football weekends. The more I think about this the more I like it. We would have an instant rivalry with YSU. There is a "stadium' of sorts in the master plan, but at the time the thinking was more of a baseball field. Of course, that can be re-thought out. IIRC, the field is proposed on the Super Lot between Chester and St. Clair.
October 15, 200816 yr CSU/MLS/St. Ignatius/NCAA Final Four adaptable stadium! The Cleveland State University! I agree. This is the perfect opportunity to get the MLS team we've been trying to get for years now. Ugh.. no MLS talk please.. I think about a year ago that thread got ugly..
October 15, 200816 yr I agree that outside (and inside) of the region people are inclined to think that CSU is a junior college. I am trying think of any major College with a city name and State in it's name. There aren't many. Most (City name) States are junior colleges. Maybe the problem is that it is Cleveland State University and not "THE" Cleveland State University. (Sorry as an OU grad I never got the OSU'ers obsession with stressing the "THE") I am digging the idea of CBS for vikes football with huge banners blocking off the upper bowl with back projected Ads and graphics. That could be pretty cool. Does anybody if it is possible to coordinate NCAA and NFL schedules to makes sure that there is generally only one game a weekend?
October 15, 200816 yr You can compare the Tampa Bay Bucs schedule vs. the South Florida schedule. I'm pretty sure USF still plays in Raymond James Stadium. EDIT - just checked out the schedules and it doesn't appear as though they make any special effort to have one game per weekend at Raymond James which I believe has natural gas turf. They do play some Thursday and Friday games which could help.
October 15, 200816 yr Unfortunately the Jake cannot be retrofitted for football. There, fixed that for you :-) MTS, you need to go work for an College or University. Seriously. As an alum of the University-thats-40-miles-to-the-south (akron). I admire the efforts of the current CSU president. When I'm back in Cleveland for convention, I marvel at all of the changes made and forthcoming. CSU is on the cusp on something big. HOWEVER- I just don't think CSU is ready for a football program. There's a lot of competition with other football programs in NEO and of course, the browns. Pitt currently shares Heinz with the Steelers and even though they average over 30,000; it's not really deemed the success they were hoping for. Keep in mind that Pitt is nearly 3 times the size of CSU. I do agree with the name change, though.
October 15, 200816 yr Well I think you have to do something to get the program started before you move them into CBS.. what about CWRU's field? How big is that?
October 15, 200816 yr Well I think you have to do something to get the program started before you move them into CBS.. what about CWRU's field? How big is that? this is why I think League Park is the best solution for all. If in the event they need a larger facility, CBS should be willing to negotiate.
October 15, 200816 yr Unfortunately the Jake cannot be retrofitted for football. There, fixed that for you :-) MTS, you need to go work for an College or University. Seriously. As an alum of the University-thats-40-miles-to-the-south (akron). I admire the efforts of the current CSU president. When I'm back in Cleveland for convention, I marvel at all of the changes made and forthcoming. CSU is on the cusp on something big. HOWEVER- I just don't think CSU is ready for a football program. There's a lot of competition with other football programs in NEO and of course, the browns. Pitt currently shares Heinz with the Steelers and even though they average over 30,000; it's not really deemed the success they were hoping for. Keep in mind that Pitt is nearly 3 times the size of CSU. I do agree with the name change, though. I don't think that CSU would be gunning for a DI-A program. I think that a DI-AA would be more appropriate.
October 15, 200816 yr I would be very surprised if they put anything CSU at League Park. Why? Stranger things have happened. I understand they play their games at Pipe Dreams Yard Stadium in Lorain, but the university building/rehabbing a location in their city would do wonders for their image, the city and the neighborhood. Hey, and they would probably get a tax writeoff. Lastly their "fan base" wouldn't have to travel to Lorain to see the team play and I'm sure the insurance to drive them to/from would decrease.
October 15, 200816 yr Well when you have a very residential campus (similar to U. Dayton where over 90% of students live on/around campus), you want it walking friendly. Having the field 2 miles away doesn't accomplish that.
October 15, 200816 yr I am very excited for both of these proposals by Pres Schwartz. I did my undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh and grad work at CSU. There is a definite difference in the vibe of the campuses (yes Pitt has a much larger residential population, but we all know Schwartz has been working on that too). The name change certainly promotes the changes that have been happening physically and academically at CSU...it is definitely time for the University of Cleveland to emerge, and with a football team as a coming out party! As far as where to play, it works well for the Pitt Panthers to play at Heinz Field, sharing it with the Steelers. And Pitt does this while being 3 miles from the stadium in Oakland. I think the University of Cleveland Vikings could easily play at CBS, blocking off the upper levels and focusing in on the lower bowl. And since Univ. of Cleve is downtown, it won't suffer from the disconnect with the stadium that Pitt students deal with. All in all I think this could be great for the school and Cleveland!
October 15, 200816 yr hehe UD is no longer friendly walking since the bridge has been demolished. It is now like a 2.5 mile hike unless you want to swim across that river....
October 15, 200816 yr ^Most people drive or take the shuttle anyway... even before the bridge was demolished.
April 27, 200916 yr After searching and searching, it appears we do not have a city discussion thread on Cleveland State (well besides sports and construction), so here it is. I'll start it off with the announcement of the new president :-D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cleveland State taps Florida International provost as president By SHANNON MORTLAND 4:30 am, April 27, 2009 Cleveland State University has named Ronald Berkman to replace Michael Schwartz as the public university’s next president. Dr. Schwartz will retire from the post June 30. Dr. Berkman currently is provost, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Florida International University. After receiving his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1976, he has spent his career in various capacities at universities across the country and in Puerto Rico. More from Crains: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090427/FREE/904249954 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the PD: New Cleveland State University president's base pay: $400,000 Monday, April 27, 2009 Janet Okoben Plain Dealer Reporter The $400,000 base salary promised to Cleveland State University's new president is far more than the current CSU president and more than what all but two Ohio public university presidents earn. Ronald Berkman, who was of- ficially hired by the CSU board of trustees on Sunday night, will come in with a base salary higher than his counterparts at the University of Akron, University of Toledo, Kent State, Ohio and Miami universities. Those salaries range from $332,000 to $392,000. More at Cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1240821168296700.xml&coll=2
April 28, 200916 yr More on the President... Cleveland State University's sixth president hails from similar school Tuesday, April 28, 2009 Janet Okoben Plain Dealer Reporter Ronald Berkman had 5,000 reasons why he couldn't be in Cleveland on Monday, a day after being named Cleveland State University's new president. Florida International University, where Berkman is executive vice president and provost, began graduation ceremonies Monday and has two more ceremonies today for its 5,000 graduates. The events will be his last at the Miami university after 11 years there. More at Cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1240907504324760.xml&coll=2
April 28, 200916 yr Hmmm .. sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders. I hope he picks up the momentum Schwartz started and takes things to the next level.
April 30, 200916 yr <a href=http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090430/FREE/904309943>Next Cleveland State president awaits challenges of role</a> By SHANNON MORTLAND 12:04 pm, April 30, 2009 It might sound a bit strange for someone to leave Miami for Cleveland, but Ronald Berkman couldn’t resist the opportunity to head up one of the most well-known universities in urban education. Dr. Berkman, 62, will take on his new role as president of Cleveland State University July 1, succeeding Michael Schwartz, who will retire after eight years as president. Dr. Berkman addressed the media in a news conference this morning at Cleveland State. Though Dr. Berkman currently is provost, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Florida International University, he said he has spent his entire career building up to leading Cleveland State. He taught at Princeton University, Brooklyn College, New York University, the University of California at Berkeley and the City University of New York, where he was dean of urban affairs...
April 30, 200916 yr "He was attracted to Cleveland State’s head post because the city has an opportunity to reinvent itself and because so many Floridians he talked to spoke highly of Cleveland. “The community needs to hold its head up high and be proud of what it has, be proud of where it’s going,” Dr. Berkman said." Why does everybody love this city so much except for the people that are here?
April 30, 200916 yr Because people from the outside aren't clouded with the negativity prevalent in the city. He sounds fantastic. Look at the schools he's worked at. It's a pretty impressive resume .. and out of all those, he CHOOSES to work in Cleveland. Why?? Because Cleveland is a fantastic city. And people need to stop being so afraid to say that.
April 30, 200916 yr "He was attracted to Cleveland State’s head post because the city has an opportunity to reinvent itself and because so many Floridians he talked to spoke highly of Cleveland. “The community needs to hold its head up high and be proud of what it has, be proud of where it’s going,” Dr. Berkman said." Why does everybody love this city so much except for the people that are here? Sweetie, that is the 64 million dollar question!
May 5, 200916 yr Author The new president said "California State University" in his welcome speech to the university.... with a $400,000 paycheck.
May 5, 200916 yr The new president said "California State University" in his welcome speech to the university.... with a $400,000 paycheck. And he was serious?
May 5, 200916 yr The new president said "California State University" in his welcome speech to the university.... with a $400,000 paycheck. And he was serious? It was actually a joke. He has been scrutinized in Miami papers for introducing Isiah Thomas as Isiah Thompson just a few weeks ago.
May 5, 200916 yr Dr. Berkman also is looking forward to using the urban campus to the city’s advantage. At the City University of New York and Florida International, he helped build the residential communities around those campuses by opening K-12 schools on campus. I think this would be really, really huge. Can you imagine what a college-affiliated, K-12 school would do for downtown residential development!?! Bigger than a full-service grocery store, "college town", or any other XYZ development. I hope he makes this a priority.
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