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Maybe we can turn out like Buffalo when Hurley left

Groce's teams were really fun and I appreciate the high character of the guys he brought in. The last 5 years have been especially fun. He didn't do what everyone said he would, though, in taking this program to levels KD couldn't, so that is disappointing. I often wonder what the program may have looked like if a skinny kid didn't decide to attend an open tryout...but you also have to credit the player development, too (Ford seemingly had a huge role in that). He's a good man and I wish him the best.

Plz no

With any coaching change I am going to be skeptical. With an Akron zips coaching change I will be even more skeptical. Until I’m proven otherwise all I can think about is us turning out like Buffalo once oats left

I'm hoping there were enough conversations behind the scenes so that the AD was not caught off guard and already has formulated some thought about where he will go next.

how much does KD have left in the tank?

Do we know that Groce didn't take Ford along with him?

Is Jim Grobe available?

Keep your eye on the portal now. I hope we don't see a mass exodus.

Probably worthy of a separate thread Ford appears to be a favorite - how about Andy Toole at RMU if he goes with JG to CoC?

Sad but inevitable day in Akron athletics.

Excellent points. Americans seem to have lost the appreciation of watching people compete for the sake of competition. The word "competition" throughout history has had nothing to do with winning or losing. When one competes at any level, that means to bring out the best in yourself AND the person who is your opponent. The worst thing to do is to win a game against someone who isn't trying hard. The best thing to do is to win against someone who has given it their all for the entire game and you also had to give it your all to win. It's hard to imagine how great UConn players must have felt after beating a Duke team that played at an extremely high level. Like the attendance issue, there are many variables as to why this is. In some ways, I am guilty of this. I don't like going to high school sporting events. I don't even like going to college football and basketball games below the G5 level. In fact, I won't go. I have not always been like this. Over time, I think my tastes have been "refined" for lack of a better term. What may have solidified this for me was having Wake Forest football tickets for 18 years. It is high level college football in person very close to the field because their stadium is so small. Guys on both teams will play in the NFL and the fan experience is still good, but not as good as it used to be (see all of my comments on games lasting entirely too long).

I feared this day and am trying to make sense of it. Maybe this was done for Dustin’s benefit? If he is already being groomed to be the head guy? I think I also read that Geno Ford’s contract was just about over at Stony Brook. I believe Geno’s son coaches at Nordonia High School. Maybe this ends up with the Ford brothers both on the Zips sideline?

Couldn't agree more. This is like JoMo ditching Akron football to coach The Citadel. I hate Duquesne and now I hate Charleston. I school I didn't even know existed a few weeks ago.

I am all in on Dustin Ford. I was generally against Embick's hire as Porter's legacy coach, but I was wrong. We'll be fortunate if Groce-Ford plays out equally well, but I think it could.

I was speaking of geographical areas and connections.

Groce didn't really have a set system. We went from one of the slowest paces in the country a few years ago to one of the fastest paces the last 1-2 years. Groce best attribute was probably adjusting his strategy to his teams strengths instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Based off that Ford has experience recruiting all kinds of different style of players.

Agreed. And with Charleston at the same level I wouldn’t be surprised to see either Sharron or Eric transfer over and fit right in

3 straight championships, 4 out of the last 5. Best conference record in MAC history 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.

He's been recruiting for Groce's system, though. Who knows what kind of connections he has maintained with the thought of his own system someday.

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

I agree with you but most on here don't think attendance is the issue. They say we have the NIL $$ and facilities and that is what players/coaches care about. While I think that is important, I think support, attendance and excitement are what players and coaches like. Look at the enthusiasm Miami O stirred up in the last couple months. The swim team with the bathing suits was played over and over. I guarantee their applications and enrollment will go up. When we have the attendance argument around football the argument is "we need a history of winning first".....Well, that is not the case with basketball.

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

I'm telling you, lifestyle matters. Charleston is beautiful. Dambrot left for DUQ for family legacy. Neither move should be shameful. Absolute dominance in the MAC, especially over Kent State. We don't know Ford's style and how it differs from Groce. A lot of people of putting the cart before the horse with this situation.