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I don't think the KD detractors realize that the only reason for their complaints is the level of expectation KD has brought to the Zips program. There weren't discussions like this when Dan Hipsher was recruiting division 2 level players to UA (including his own kids). The program was mired in mediocrity and we had no expectations, happy to be occasionally competitive. Now, based upon KD's hard work, we've been to the summit of the MAC and want more. We're not having these discussions without the KD based success. Changing course from the guy that's brought the program here is more likely to set it back rather than further the success. Don't get me wrong. I'm the guy in the bleachers smarter than the coaches and I whine about bad defense on dribble penetration and all of the other faults we beat to death on here, but to jump ship here or make major changes would be the NCAA basketball equivalent of the the New Coke.

I'm with you. There are MAC teams that I would cheer for if they were to make the tourney (Ball State, WMU, Bowling Green, etc.). Kent and Ohio don't make that list.

Too bad it states that. If you read the thread only 1 or maybe 2 wing nuts want KD fired. Everyone else, rightfully so IMHO, simply want KD to shake things up a little bit.

I normally just let people fly with their excuses about why people don't come to the JAR. But I will comment because I've never heard this one before. Go to about 30 other arenas across the country, and then come back here and tell me how the JAR bathrooms stack up. I'd rate them pretty high to some of the smelly concrete-floored facilities I've trampled into. And they are no more difficult to find. I actually can't believe that our conversations on here over the years regarding the JAR have been reduced to how much we could increase attendance if only we had a few more toilets, and if only they made them more easy to find? I'l; repeat this again: If people WANTED to see Akron Basketball, they'd climb the stairs, sit on wood bleachers, and gladly take a few extra seconds out of their day to ask someone if they can't find the toilet. People don't come to Akron Basketball games because they don't want to go to an Akron Basketball game.

Maybe my reading comprehension is bad, but I don't think I've seen a single person I would take seriously say they want KD fired.

Well that's just mean

Yeah. I'm bitter and not ashamed to admit it. I hope they get smoked

I hope we win and Kent gets their a$$es kicked. Sorry. But I'm with you on this one.

I have read about 10 posts berating other posters who want Dambrot fired, but I don't remember reading any post suggesting that !!!! Who are you arguing with? Why are you arguing about something we all agree on?

All signs to point toward KD wanting to retire at Akron.

Tough... Will go higher than his skill level. I don't understand that... why not make a name for yourself at the "mid major" level?

It appears we have some competition in the coveted 21 win department.

$60 is pretty reasonable, and fitting of the sub par high school type game experience. I have done season tickets to basketball, and multi-game passes in the past. The fact that once you get to the game, you are better off just leaving if you want food or need the restroom is terrible for the whole experience. Enough so that my wife will no longer go to basketball games because it is a chore to even get to a restroom. Think about that for a minute. People feel put out to go to the restroom or get concessions at a basketball game. There are minor changes that can be made that would improve the current experience, but is it worth it? People already know the JAR, they know what they are getting. I don't see minor upgrades changing people's opinion of that dump.

They had some pretty terrific promotions, including that LBJ jersey giveaway. I myself have noted there are some changes I'd like to see in the Gameday experience, but overall I feel they do a great job. Short of paying people, which they have somewhat did in the past with free tuition giveaways, I don't see how they'd consistently crack 4,000 at the JAR. Tickets are already about as cheap as they get. A new arena I agree would probably provide a short-term boost, but attendance would eventually trickle down to today's numbers. Short of becoming the next Wichita State or Gonzage I don't see that changing. Edit: It's more likely Dambrot has taken this program as far as it can go given the constraints of playing in the MAC and our less than ideal facilities. Every year he puts us in a position to succeed, but we still need the ball to bounce our way a few times if we are to win. Our 3 point % against Kent showed "luck" wasn't on our side. This team was always going to need offense to win. I could have told you they were going to lose given their % from 3 and the free throw line.

Amen. This kind of mentality is why Dambrot has "only" 3 COY awards. People just expect us to go 15-3 in the MAC and win the tournament. Victim of his own success I suppose.

And those of us who are critical of Akron's current circumstance aren't die-hard fans? Again, I'd like to emphasize that there aren't many voices here calling for Dambrot to be fired. However, there are some critical voices of displeasure. Are you guys seriously happy with a four year drought? What the hell is the point to being the "best program in the MAC" if you can't get to the finish line? There's obviously something that's got to change with the Zips program or it will continue to be stagnant.

Maybe they can get an equity line on that empty behemoth of a football stadium.

A good place to start is to awknowledge that a $40M-$45M 5k-6k seat arena is more practical than a $80M 9k seat arena. Now only if we can find a generous donor...

Wish you were an active member these days. We need more logical minds such as yourself around here.

A 7 seed in the NIT for the regular season champ of the MAC is a strong sign of the respect the college basketball world has for the Tuesday night football playing, poorly officiated, ESPN kowtowing, Mid-American Conference. Rant over.

I'm just not sure where this thought comes from. The coaching staff has gone to great lengths to elevate the program - trying guys like Tree and Harney, grabbing transfers like Walsh and Gilliam, looking to build recruiting hotbeds across the country (Texas). It hasn't all worked, but some of it has, and we've had the best program in the MAC over the past ten years. Of course we want more, and so do the leaders of this program. Could someone other than KD and his staff do better? Maybe, but I think chances are stronger that a replacement would do worse. Be careful what you wish for.

Scrolling through this thread I see several Bowden apologists being critical of Dambrot... I'm disappointed as anyone with how this season turned out. I'm losing faith that we will ever see Dambrot win a NCAAT game, which is a damn shame because there have been lesser coaches that have achieved that feat. Regardless, of how the final x-number of years of his career play out, he's going to go down as Akron's greatest basketball coach. Looking down the road 10, 20, 30 years from now when the Zips have trouble making it past the 1st round of the MAC tournament, which is bound to happen at some point, that's when we'll realize how good we had it under Dambrot.