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Not to derail the convo even further, but a huge part of the problem is the MAC schedules their conference games on Tuesdays with the top Saturday games typically flexed to Friday nights. HS boys basketball players would likely be the demographic most likely to attend a quality DI hoops game right? Ohio HS boys basketball is played on Tuesdays and Fridays. A conference schedule change would be the most cost effective first logical step in attempting to boost attendance. Wouldn't cost the University a dime. The MAC and Steinbrecher are that stupid, though.

Losing our best two coaches ever to Duquesne and Charleston is about as painful as it gets. Nobody can convince me that the CCA and Charleston is a step up. If it is, we have big problems.

This might be Akron’s best shot if they do go with Ford. I imagine Ford’s salary will be less than Groce’s as a first time head coach. Which means more resources for other things, mainly players. Ford would have a learning curve, but he is knowledgeable, experienced and has a culture already in place. Plus he knows the MAC and the Midwest like the back of his hand.

I will be making a statement shortly. My agent is finalizing the small details of my contract extension as we speak.

Being in Richmond I saw what a tournament run did for bb attendance at VCU firsthand. Prior to that VCU was not that much different than Akron…mostly a commuter college. I think Akron came within minutes of turning bb attendance around in the UCLA game. Been a Zips fan since 2012 and I think the band has been playing the same songs in the same order for that long…maybe that’s the problem…everything on game night has become too stale! But what do I know

Groce was 4-0 in MAC championship games and COVID took away his 5th. KD was 3-6 or something like that. Grateful for both but not even close imo

At least when Dambrot left he went to a school in indisputable better conference and had a close, personal connection to the school. I would have preferred Groce get the Butler job as that would make a ton of sense. This feels like a swift kick in the nuts and is a humbling experience for the state of the program. I will cheer for Groce if he returns to the JAR to have his name retired, but I will be actively rooting against CoC.

Guys, I know this feels like big news, but can we please concentrate on what's really important? That NWAkron called this and was laughed at?

I think we already got that with Dambrot to Groce.

Sad day

The purposeful devaluation of college basketballs regular season by those who run it. Make everything about March Madness and nobody pays attention until March Madness. There are many other problems, but I think that's a big one.

3 straight championships, 4 out of the last 5. Best conference record in the MAC over 2 seasons. I didn’t think there was a “level” between what KD did and winning a NCAA tourney game, but Groce showed there apparently was.

I was speaking on recruiting - he's been with Groce for 12+ years or something, he doesn't have a recruiting connection that hasn't already been of use to us. He will have a chance to add to that with his assistant hire(s)

Damn

Don't be. this is the natural course of things. It will all work out. First big decision for the new A.D. and his staff.

It's sad that our coaches leave for destinations like Duquesne and College of Charleston. That says everything there is to need to know about the difficulties of taking the next step(s).

Well, I got 2 good uses out of my vest

anyway.

Unless Bud's contribution magically quintuples from its already significant amount, Groce hit the program's ceiling in today's NIL world.

I am hoping this turns out to be a Ken Lolla to Caleb Porter type situation for us.

Who buys tickets for halftime entertainment at a mid-major college?

It's happening from what I hear.

Likely there's less generational consistency in a lot of these areas, causing at least the high school issue. How many of us live in the same high school district we graduated from? I know I don't!

I brought up the attendance issue because this board is wondering why Groce is making a lateral move. The only time I have heard him express his frustration is with the attendance so I checked the attendance for the college of Charleston. I understand Groce's frustration is that the Zips had their highest win total, the longest home winning streak, and three out of four years we went to the NCAA tourney and he is playing in a half empty jar. I would also be frustrated. Every person likes to know that there hard work is appreciated and Akron fans just do not show up to support this team. I really hope that Groce stays but I could also understand why he would want to leave and play in front of 4900 fans instead of 2200 fans.

This is the real issue imo. Zips Nation shows out for meaningful games (ie Kent and MAC tourney). Beating EMU by 20 just isn't that interesting anymore. That said, we should still be able to get more than 2K.

I'm in agreement with you. It shouldn't be a challenge to get 3,500-4,000 people to an Akron game given their success. It's not like the JAR is some oversized Wolstein Center that we need to get 9k to in order to make it an exciting atmosphere. IMO the larger problem is apathy and small STH base. Need a larger, more dedicated fanbase. Not just people who show up for just Kent and the MAC tournament. It's more a matter of how can that be achieved. I also kind of enjoy the Friday games, particularly when the Zips are on the road, as it's nice not being on ESPN+. The production quality is better.

Here's hoping he's good enough to get Dustin and then smart enough to stay the hell out of the way of Dustin and Bud.

Someone once told me that a manager must be able to manage two things: safety and turnover. If this all goes down, we'll find out how good the ad really is.

Bud Wentz retweeted these...interesting...

Change can be exciting. A renewal.

I saw a lovely photo on the Zips Soccer IG story of Ger post match with all of the Zips on both teams of this match. Great showing by the boys!

What a save by Beto …. Goal for Emil…

I wasn't going to go too deep into personal politics with my post, but what you say is definitely true. It is astounding and sad to me. Thanks for being a voice of reason.

The Sun Belt has bigger names than the MAC; they probably don't have to play on Tuesdays to get a decent enough deal. While attendance itself isn't the perfect metric (and MAC attendance is hurt by the midweek stuff), the MAC had five teams (Buffalo, CMU, Ohio, Toledo, WMU) that averaged at least 15,000 fans (the latter three averaged 20,000) announced. The Sun Belt had six over 20,000 (App State, GA Southern, JMU, Marshall, Southern Miss, Troy) and one (App State) over 30,000. Your second point, however, is 100% spot on. The midweek games reduce that access for the fans locally, and that's really the last thing any of the MAC teams need.

They don't even have a message board. What a sad program