University of Akron interim President John Green says the school could learn a bit from the Cleveland Browns.

Green, delivering his likely one-and-only state of the university address Friday morning, didn't shy away from discussing the school's weaknesses, with one of them being a self-inflicted lack of confidence. He said UA must face its challenges, which also include sliding enrollment, a structural budget deficit and "leadership instability," with candor and determination.

"We could look to a certain NFL team just a few miles north of us, as a reminder that we, too, have great talent and great potential," Green said. "We need only a spark to produce results that reverse these perceptions and attitudes."

The Browns rebounded from consecutive 1-15 and 0-16 seasons to post a 7-8-1 record last year, with quarterback Baker Mayfield serving as the spark. The future appears bright for the football team.

UA is in the process of trying to find its spark. The school is conducting a national search for the next president, who will be its fourth leader in the last four years. Green, a longtime political science professor, isn't a candidate for the permanent job.

Green delivered his address at the Jean Hower Taber Student Union Gardner Theatre. The talk, which lasted 20 minutes, was attended by more than 300 people and came on the 199th birthday of university founder John R. Buchtel.

Green didn't unveil any major new initiatives, but said the school is focused on four main priorities. Those goals are to:

• Improve student performance, including retention and graduation rates.

• Emphasize programs that set the school apart such as its polymer, engineering, biomimicry and urban education programs, National Choreography Center and new Cyber Range.

• Generate additional revenue through increasing enrollment and fundraising.

• Improve efficiencies, including cutting costs.

"We will respond to the challenges of our times by harnessing our many strengths and we are already engaged in this task," Green said.

The school has seen its enrollment fall from a high of about 30,000 to 20,554 last fall. It also is wrestling with a $40 million deficit.

Green compared the university's situation to a hammer.

"I no longer want us to encounter the head of the hammer and feel pounded into unpleasant places," he said. "Instead, I want us to grasp collectively the handle of the hammer and remake this university into the shape appropriate for our time."

While UA is in a state of transition, Green said he wants it to be a "purposeful transition" and urged the college community to "resist the temptation of self-pity."

Green also debuted a new logo that will be used for the school's 150th anniversary next year. The logo features a gold ribbon winding through a blue 150 and the years 1870 and 2020. The audience applauded when the logo was shown on a large screen.

The anniversary should serve as a rallying point for the university, which has made a significant impact on the Akron community through the years, he said.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that the University of Akron will be strong and vibrant 150 years from now, preparing to celebrate its tercentennial anniversary," he said. "It may well look quite different than now — as different as we are today from the original Buchtel College founded in 1870.

"I have been granted a glance into our future and I believe our future is bright. Together we can turn that vision into reality."

Taylor Bennington, president of the Undergraduate Student Government, said he was encouraged by Green's speech and leadership.

"I'm just really excited about the future," he said. "I'm confident our best is yet to come."

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.