We have gone over this scheduling business too many times. Always remember that it is the loge rental revenue that drives everything. It generates more money than gate receipts from common folk. It is paid up front, it is immune to bad weather, and, very, very unfortunately, it does not differentiate Robert Morris from Northern Iowa. We must play six home games because we cannot afford to forfeit 1/6th of that loge revenue. And there is another important factor. The folks that buy those loges, and there is a waiting list, are also the biggest university donors. You cannot alienate those guys. And many of them (not all) know so little about sports that they can not distinguish between a Robert Morris and somebody good. Say what you want about Ron Strollo (and my record proves that I am not his fan,) the man sucks up to our fat cats about as well as any mid-major athletic director in the country.
There was a horribly painful pregame radio interview with moRon who claimed a necessity for six home games. However, in 2013 and 2014, both of which were 12 game seasons, we played 7 home games. If six is a "magic number", why not be innovative with the extra game? Am I supposed to believe that if we played five home games, loge patrons would walk away, but are content and have a waiting list with six? It makes no sense...because it has no sense.
The answer is that all OOC, non-solitary $$ games are 1AAA opponents under moRon. Kent was just beat by a MEAC school that they paid >$300K to. My understanding is home games generate ~$200k. So we forego $100K of revenue because of a false fear of POing loge renters?
The truth is with an OOC schedule that preps our team for conference play (rather than softening them), there would more likely be at least two additional home games/season...playoff home games...in which you'd have higher occupancy in the stands (and obviously the loge folk)..and would be much further ahead financially (I realize playoff games have a buy in, but its a fraction of MAC game revenue).
There are intangibles with enhanced hype created by a better OOC schedule, such as apparel sales, interest in the University as a whole, etc.
My preference would be to replace one NEC game with a MAC away game. My plan B would be a home/home with a CAA team, giving us 6 regular home game every other year. Some may still consider Delaware a rival, and IMO is our second best all time rivalry. JMU would be also exciting.
Only the hamster-wheel brain of moRon could conclude that we are trapped with a NEC junior membership. There are much better options.
....and oh yeah....Jerry Slocum is still the MBB HC.