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OK, I will say it. There is no such thing as feminine logic.

As the saying goes, “its not over till its over”. However, I am now again enthused by the possibility of bringing a proven football coach to the side lines at InfoCision Stadium. I am a Zip from the sixties and attended many games at the Rubber Bowl. You did not need season tickets then but since the opening of InfoCision Stadium I have been a Club Level Season tickets holder. Aw yes 2005 MAC Champions, I was there in Detroit. Finally, we had something to celebrate. I was there when Charlie Frye became the Zips starting QB at the old Rubber Bowl. There have been some just awful hires made by our AD’s for football. I was encouraged when TB was hired and yes there was some success there. But that waned for some reason. I felt If we were serious, we needed a change. I like football but I don’t like undisciplined play and going to games with no thought we could win. That brings me to Game Day Experience. The real Game Day Experience is winning or have the real possibility of winning. By the way loved the Buffets this year in club level but, this does not replace being excited about performing with excellence on the field. I do not mean to diminish the efforts of the team we had this year. I do think they tried. Maybe some will grow. I am not an expert in talent evaluation so I don’t really know for sure how good those on the roster could be but, they deserve the best coaching we can give. However, we need to remember the whole idea with a university is education. We can do both, excellence in education and excellence in athletic performance. If we can’t do this, then we will be Champions. This is a longer and deeper discussion so I will stop with this. Finally, I hope this is all true and we get a real football coach here and great staff. The Head Coach needs a staff of assistance that inspires and capable of maximizing the ability od athletes toward excellence. By the way I hope JM will consider Todd Stroud and bring him back to Akron. Great defense coach knows what it takes to win. Mr. Guthrie if your pull this off, I take my hat off to you. Game Day Experience is equal to “its reasonable to expect to win”. STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. GO ZIPS.

Keith Kennedy far, far away from any microphone at Infocision.

I think the team is better off without Walton. We can get plenty offense from the guys we have. Trimble and Ali have shown they can go off. This is the first time Groce has consistently put Tribble in high ball screen situations and he scored or assisted on about 75% of them we’ll take that. I never was a fan of the one year rental for a player in his 7th collegiate basketball season when we have talented guys on the roster who are invested in Akron basketball.

Agreed. I remember hearing back when he left that it wasn't on great terms, as there was kind of a "watch your own death" situation happening with that final season of theirs being full of weird turmoil. But he worked his way up here, he was very well-respected, he was a hell of a recruiter, he coached a great group of RBs. Bring him home Joe. Edit: I will never understand why I remember all of this completely useless nonsense about history of Akron athletics, but a quick search and here we go!

Echoing what many have said here, but my takeaways: Heck of an entertaining game. Marshall sort of gave it to us at the end, but credit to our team for taking it when the opportunity was there. Didn't like Groce switching to the zone at times. There were to distinct instances I recall it leading to a wide open 3 - which they made - and it should have cost us the game. Heck of a game by Tribble and Trimble, but not sure its fair to count on that from them every night. We simply need more from #13 and/or #11 if we want to go to the tourney. We are getting as close to nothing from them as we can. Not necessarily negative plays - but nothing that I see that really contributes to our success. I thought something was up when I didn't see Walton starting or on the bench, and checking here confirmed it. 6/9 shooting and 16 points is what he gave us against the best team we'll play all year. I believe Groce & Co brought him in because it was known his experience and skill was a big need. We aren't as good of a team without him and he lasted a grand total of 6 games. I'm sure it is on Walton that he's no longer on the team, but I think Groce deserves some criticism for not doing better vetting. As a result, we'll have a scholarship not going to use when it was expected to be used on potentially our top player the whole year. Big loss, but hopefully we can overcome it and players perform like they did last night on a more consistent basis.

For all those Zips fans that complain about the refs, we got every call in the last minute of the game. X got a foul call when driving to the hoop, Marshall got called for a foul on Freeman under the basket on a rebound, Freeman got fouled on the dunk, a travelling call on Marshall on an offensive rebound, and the foul by Marshall on Freeman with 3.2 seconds left. Don't get me wrong, they were all fouls and violations in my eyes, but the refs rarely see the same things I do. However, the key to the game was Marshall missing on a one and one that would have sealed the game. And the Zips hitting their foul shots at the end of the game. We earned this game and a great victory for the Zips.

Good call, NW. Yes, DJ "Liked" and re-tweeted this tweet 👇 [edit]: FWIW (don't want to jinx us!!!) 🤞🙏🤞🙏

Incredibly fun game that all the fans at the JAR needed. Some breaks went for the Zips at the end: 1. Refs catching that Marshall travel at mid court was huge. 2. Non call on Xavier trying to steal the ball with 2.8 left. 3. Watching replay, Jackie thought it was mistake for Marshall to call timeout at 18 secs left. They have hot shooters...play it out when game is tied. 4. And clutch free throws. Greg Tribble one of my favorite players. Groce obviously has him as the core of the team. I noticed in replay that he was really being a leader on the floor during last 20 secs. As for KJ, I don't blame him. I wouls rather blame Whitford. Groce is a high level coach. Whitford is not. This waa KJs 3rd school. I hope he finds what he's searching for. It's a real shame. But he may have been a toxic force in Florida.

"Todd Orlando - Football Coach - USC Athletics" https://usctrojans.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/todd-orlando/5256

Each player will be evaluated against a group of players the new coach brings in. It will create a new and different competition on the team. May the best players win. Nobody gets a break for time served.

FWIW. I saw a random tweet aimed at DJ Irons telling him that he is getting a good head coach and that his skill will fit in his system. DJ re-tweeted.

The Akron football legend going forward will be that late one night in the Summer of 2021, Charles Guthrie was perusing Zipsnation and came upon this "What about Joe Moorhead" thread and had his "AHA" moment.

I went and found an article. It looks like the real number was 26 out of the 105 players on the roster. Some were walk-ons. https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/portal-to-success-wkus-approach-to-building-team-pays-off/article_1d7fc788-8bf8-500a-91a4-6158d570b117.html Edit: Also, not all buy games are the same. If you're good enough to win the MAC, you have a decent chance of upsetting a team like Maryland. I actually like games against programs like Maryland, Nebraska, Illinois, etc. as you have nothing to lose by playing, but if you upset them you have tons to gain. It's when you start playing OSU, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame that you kind of are just penciling in losses.

I don't disagree with anyone's assessment on Walton. All I'm saying is the lack of fit should have been identified well before he was on the roster so that scholarship could go to somebody else who is making our team better right now. To double down, Fulford was coach at Missouri. I don't care enough to confirm they were there at the same time..but its pretty close looking at it. He should have known better.

I’d love to see a Reno back in Akron. Hope it happens.

Agreed. He wasn't present on the stat sheet so much, but he played a really good game. His D on Taylor with a couple seconds to go was superb, and a guy that had been hitting a whole lot of junk all night missed the shot. The free throws as well. The missed layup to set up the tying play (LOL), and challenging the inbound after Freeman's free throws. I'm more concerned about Clarke. He's allowed Tribble to surpass him in both leadership and ability. But we know what Clarke is capable of, he had some very impressive moments buried on the depth chart last year. I'm ready to see him blossom. Groce missed on Walton. I'm sure Ball State is laughing, as they should. I'm bummed about the wasted scholly, but as far as the basketball and chemistry part at this point, it's addition by subtraction. Like I said, be thankful it happened now when there's plenty of time to improve and grow.

Exactly. Some contradictory results there!

J.D. has been out of football a long time hasn't he? But that would be interesting wouldn't it. Getsy would SEEM to be a good option. Like him over Frye because of the type of game he played here. But...Can't see why either he or Frye would leave the gigs they have. That seems a stretch. The D coordinator is going to be a very, very important hire considering how bad that group has been for the last few years.

I like the Ball State message board a lot. They are funny and smart. My post on KJ got some comments over there. They read too much into my mid-game missive. Since they were confused, I will clarify: https://overthepylon.boards.net/thread/3891/walton-grad-transfer?page=3 1. Zips and KJ played like crap in Florida. They come back from Florida. KJ departs. The team plays exponentially better. So I draw conclusion, that the team gels better without him...at least for one game. 2. Yes, Groce is a high-level coach. He is better than Whitford, even though Whitford won all those MAC West Championships over the 4 directional schools and that shady Toledo squad. For me, Whitford was always one of my least favorite coaches who came to the JAR. 3. I was joking when I blamed Whitford for KJ's behavior, but Groce (unlike Whitford apparently) has a very low level of patience for egomaniacs.

Coach with hair 🧐

An exciting win over a quality opponent, 5 pages on a single game thread and a new qualified head football coach. Good week to be a Zip.

We’re getting a lot less offensively from Walton and X than anyone thought. I figured they’d be good for 20-25 per night combined? At least for last night, X took good care of the ball and hit some FT’s down the stretch. Do we remove the redshirt from a freshman? Or did last night show we have enough incumbent firepower to fill the Walton void?

Btw, love the rivalry with Marshall. Wish they were coming back to the MAC. Since they're not, I pray our respective administrations are diligent in continuing to schedule each other in basketball, soccer, and, if possible, football.

j.d. brookhart?

Quality reporting on the game: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/marshall_university/marshall-basketball-late-mistakes-doom-herd-in-88-86-loss-to-akron/article_417c17af-1d10-5979-9cdd-0a0d6788d439.html

Yes, I can see the coach drawing up plays but it all Greek to me. I have had those seats for over 10 years and that was a first.

That was one of the best games and finishes in a long time. I heard during Groce pregame that they were going to play the ball low to Freeman. And it worked!! He has improved so much offensively. I sit behind the Marshall Bench and telling his player that Tribble was not a shooter and to not guard him on the perimeter. I guess that started listening in the second half. I am sorry to hear that Walton is no longer with the team but it opened up time for Tribble, and other players. I even saw Wynn. My only gripe is the Groce should not have gone to a zone and given up a wide open 3 in the corner. Our zone play was not that great. I think we are better man to man. I hope they continue to feed Freeman in the post.

They ran a play and missed the shot. Then fouled Freeman on the rebound with 3 seconds left. Freeman hit both. And then they missed a final prayer shot.

Look at Moorhead - already making Akron's offense better! What a game! Heck of an effort, well coached by Groce.

Wow!!!! That was fun!!!

Freeman is special.

From Groce's comments post-game a couple of weeks ago it went poorly early and Groce sat him down to discuss if it was going to work out, then he came around. Looks like it didn't last.

Transition defense even after makes has been bad. Marshall has kept us sleeping too much by pushing it on makes when we're too relaxed. It's led to quite a few uncontested pull up 3's and some layups.

The buzz about the JAR is that KJ Walton is no longer a Zip.

I was thinking the same thing when the news of this first broke.

...should have bet the over

Bull pucky! You being a man just doesn't understand it. 😄

I guess so. I take it back.

Not sure Walton is even on the bench.

Great start offensively. Is this the same team that played last week? They seem to have found their shooting stroke.

I hope the new HC re-evaluates each present player individually before going out and hauling in many new guys, not that some aren't needed. How many times have we seen the "bench-sitters" come in and make plays? Our reaction has been, "Where the heck has that guy been since the beginning of the season." Arth and company had their darlings, the rest sat. I hate when any coach only plays his recruits, ignoring the guys that have stuck with the team through all the crap. COVID, coach roulette, rotating QBs, etc. The TEs have had 3 different coaches this season I think. No consistency, no creativity, no efficient use of all players: ex. a player that was recognized in HS for his outstanding play at his position is switched to another. His experience then is lost to the team. Some position play is close enough for easy transition. Others aren't. Then the coaches say, "Gee, he isn't playing well at that position. Bench him." I'm talking in general terms after watching lots of different HS and college coaches. Women are from Venus and men are from Mars! Therefore, I find it hard to understand why men coaches do what they do sometimes. It defies feminine logic. 😂

I doubt anyone who starts at Oregon would follow Moorhead to Akron. If we get anyone it will likely be players who are buried on the depth chart who Moorhead promises playing time too. Those players would still be a big upgrade over what we have on the roster currently.

I will enthusiastically renew my season tickets (which I put on hold three-years ago) if information ends up being true.

Her husband had a recent health scare. she probably wants her husband to do whatever will make him happiest. Rebuilding the Akron Zips may be less stressful than calling the offensive plays for a Power 5 school with a rabid fan base.

Here's a comment!! 😬

Tribble gets an elbow to the face and then get called for a foul. Are the refs even watching this game?