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It is way to soon to discuss Guthrie departing UA. He just got here. His most-visible accomplishments so far are marketing some $7 beers in the JAR and filling a hundred or so otherwise empty JAR seats with students. That's Doctoral-level thinking when compared to Larry Williams or Tom Wistercill, but pales in comparison to the re-branding and stadium construction we saw in the early 2000's under Thomas and Waddell. Those guys accomplished some major stuff, and were ready to move on to bigger and better things. Credit for hiring Joe to coach the football team should be tempered. Joe's agent reached out to UA expressing his interest in the job. I do credit Guthrie for swiftly recognizing his good fortune and sealing the deal. I guarantee if Joe's agent had called Larry Williams, Williams would have hung up the phone and still paid buyout money to secure 3-win Tom. The best recent Akron AD's did something major in order to matriculate to the "next level." For Guthrie to make that leap he needs to fill InfoCision to a reasonable capacity every Saturday (17-20k = "reasonable"). If the football team wins ("wins" = 9+ wins, like Toledo has done 11 times in the past 22 seasons), a 10-12k Tuesday night crowd in November game should also expected. The days of 500 butts-in-seats has to be over. I like Guthrie. He seems hardworking, intelligent, personable and genuine. He's not the typical phony, hand-shaking stuffed shirt. He has great synergy with Gary Miller (another desperately-needed breath of fresh air @ UA). With all due respect to the tasks of keeping Groce happy, and getting soccer back to its deep NCAA tourney runs, rallying the community to support Akron Football and making the corner of Spicer and Exchange rock & roll on fall gamedays is Guthrie's measuring stick for success. I hope he can do it. I'll have a beer on ice waiting for him in Lot 9 when he does.🦘🏉🦾

A few thoughts about the Zips core moving forward into 2022-23...Admittedly, I have not read the entire thread so apologies if someone already said something similar! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Zips down the stretch in the MAC and NCAA tourney and thought they played well as a unit (especially defensively), but realistically I think that X, Ali, and Freeman are the only players I would put down in ink as starters for next season. X and Freeman looked the part against UCLA. Even as the lead slipped away, I was thinking how great it was that X got the experience against a player like Tyger Campbell (likewise w/ Freeman and Jaquez!). Don't get me wrong, Dawson and Tribble are key pieces but could contribute from the bench just as well most nights. I always root for Ali Ali, but I never really bought into his pro potential. ESPN+ and CBSSN commentators would use his potential as a talking point, but those are just media notes and not really based on scouting or the eye test imo. I don't think we need Ali to average over 15 ppg to make a deep tourney run in the coming years. I would like to see his 2PT field goal % go up and his assists as well next season. I.e. I think we need more efficiency out of Ali and not necessarily a lot more production. If that happens, Freeman improves even more, and we can find a lights out wing player (either the incoming guards or a transfer), the Zips will be a tough out next season. Parting Shot: I was surprised to see a post like that from Trimble as I imagined he left on bad terms. I guess it's possible that he got the yips in terms of his outside shooting and totally lost confidence? Honestly, he doesn't really have DI athleticism, so if his shot went bye bye that's a done deal. Hopefully, he finds his stroke and ends his college career somewhere on a high note.

Spring Ball gets started in a week! Next season starts now! I'm hoping to see a couple in person, but we'll see how my schedule works out. Is @Dr Z planning on taking the camera to any? I haven't been this excited for both Zips football and basketball's upcoming seasons in at least 5-6 years. We've got something special building at UA! GO ZIPS!!!

Very well said, Captain. Guthrie will be here for a couple of years, as CK said, he’s done some great things so far that don’t necessarily add much to the resume…yet. While he did land JoeMo, JoeMo’s wife and agent had a lot to do with that, however Guthrie used his connection with Dave Roach, Fordham’s former AD, to really move that forward. He’s got hundreds of similar connections, it is quite impressive. It seems that he knows or has a connection with every visiting coaching staff that comes to play against Akron across multiple sports. And if he doesn’t already have a connection, he introduces himself and tries to start one His plan for UA looks to be about 5 years. Once Miller is retired in a few years, I think he will follow suit. If football and basketball really catch fire, he could be out of here sooner, but either way I think possible P5 suitors are going to wait and see how things play out first. The alignment we have at UA is something he talks about a lot. While he didn’t hire Groce, they are still very much on the same page. Miller likes and supports athletics, he hand picked Guthrie, who did well for him at Green Bay, and Guthrie has put together a senior staff with a few people who have been around for a while and some fresh minds. It wasn’t an easy transition for everyone, but people are starting to see the vision play out. It feels like a special time to be an Akron Zip. The whole Moorhead hiring process and the months following, combined with being back in the basketball championship in a packed Pizza 216 for a pep rally have given me new life as a Zip fan after it was difficult for a few years. Hopefully, it’s just getting started and those are a drop in the bucket compared to what we’re about to experience.

We’ve got Groce and JoeMo. I really like Guthrie but if he leaves I trust Dr. Miller to find a likeminded replacement. Dr. Miller understands the importance of athletics as - like it or not - the most prominent face of a university.

Good Day Zips Fans! A quick update on Kwan. He's having a GREAT season over in Spain. He's expecting another son with his wife Emily

Wow, my statement starts with agreeing with @Let'sGoZips94 I’m just saying get away from the stupidity of Russia attacking Ukraine to have anything to do with The University of Akron rebranding. I believe by all the likes and statements zipnation agrees. Have a nice day 😂

To echo some of the posts/sentiments I saw on the KSUcks and other MAC boards... ThE mAc DiDn'T sEnD tHeIr BeSt To ThE nCaA tOuRnAmEnT

Charles is a rising star. He will move from Akron when the situation is right. He is a great guy and better than we can provide. He will move to Syracuse (both his and his wife's alma mater), Pitt, Penn State or BC. All four will put him in a P5 position with more money than he could ever get at Akron. He also would be closer to home, which is Albany NY. He is a strong family man and wants to get home one day while his mom and sisters are still healthy. I can't blame him. I'd do the same thing. One thing is for sure, he will leave Akron far better than he found it. He will make that happen before he leaves. When he does go I will thank him and wish him well.

4th foul was even worse, still not convinced he even made contact

I love how Jay Bilas rants about how the refs are letting players get away with excessive contact yet Enrique gets whistled every time he breathes near an opponent.

Basile just entered the portal.

The Horizon League has become quite the stepping stone league. It’s the bottom-tier of mid majors before you get to low major. Good coaches have a hard time actually building a program beyond a 15-16 seed and players don’t have much in the way of pro prospects. If Akron were in the HL with a coach of Groce’s caliber, he would’ve inked a bigger job by Friday afternoon last week. But Akron (most MAC) can pay a guy enough to stay a bit longer and the good players don’t feel shame in sticking around a league of this level.

Over signing is pretty standard these days given how much the transfer portal has exploded.

This is the junior commitment, Leila Jones from Westerville. Her sister is a sophomore on the OSSuckeyes squad. I believe we are still considered a finalist for class of 23 guard Jenna Kopyar from Dublin.

I have been following HS girls bb recruiting pretty closely the past several months, since the start of school and was disappointed that coach Jackson lost the battle to keep Lanae Riley, the dominant Hoban post player in town. Akron had been pursuing Riley and was the first to offer when she was a sophomore. She signed to go away to Middle Tennessee. However, Faith Stinson is a player very much in the same style -- a wide body who has athletic moves in the paint and can shoot the three as is so important in Jackson's offense. Melissa has also offered Faith's sister Jamisyn, a sophomore guard (5-9 or 10 now) who could end up being more heavily recruited than her sister. Also, Melissa had a verbal commitment from a Columbus area junior, I believe it was Dublin Coffman star Jenna Kopyar, however her Twitter no longer shows a commitment -- since her teammate committed to Wisconsin. Perhaps she's holding out hope to follow her or get a B1G offer.

Zips shut him down, but he was a beast against pretty much everyone else. Averaged 18 points per game this season.

I think this team will have solid enough post play. Getting any more guards shouldn't hurt! All-Ohio teams were just released these past two days. Here is what the incoming two recruits got Alia Miller - Division 3 All-Ohio Second Team Faith Stinson - Division 2 All-Ohio First Team - Division 2 Co-Player of the Year

Young teams take time to develop and mature. That's what we did. Great coaching. Look out next year!!

I believe Akron has a good chance here. I was told at the tournament that she would be interested in UA so she could be with her boyfriend, who is none other than Ali Ali. Could Melissa Jackson be looking to bring in her own Sincere Carry?

Hyperbolize much? Just stop. You're embarrassing yourself, as well as Akron grads. Apparently they didn't teach you this thing called critical thinking when you attended The University Of Akron. You're really putting the "Hilltop" in the "Hilltop High".

Between the Z logo and potentially using Russian oil imports to fuel the travel for athletics, we're practically part of the war! There's going to be an ESPN 30for30 someday about the nationwide March Madness bracket boycott of the Akron Zips over their Z logo. Millions picked UCLA because they were appalled by the Z. Rumor has it that's why the refs fouled Freeman out of the game - couldn't let Akron win.

The MAC postseason came to an end tonight with a 1-4 record as Ohio fell to Abilene Christian 91-86 in the quarterfinals of the CBI in Daytona. Ohio played Abilene Christian and Rice in the postseason while the archrival played Southern Utah. I feel like these are the types of teams we need to schedule in November and December.

I fear he is going to be gone sooner rather than later. that means good things for us in the here and now I suppose! I am so happy things have changed around a little bit.

Forever a Zip

Guthrie is getting some hype.. https://dailyorange.com/2022/03/syracuse-university-grad-charles-guthrie-becomes-rising-star-akrons-athletic-director/

Thanks for the update. Great that Kwan is making money in the sport he loves.

https://twitter.com/uakron_ad/status/1505648288682463232?s=21 At Meijer in Stow. Just left, they’re $7.50 on clearance!

Interesting that a major national conversation right now is how bad the officiating is this tournament. We were getting screwed before it was cool.

Fantastic! Thanks for the update Mom. Congrats. We've been lamenting the Zips need for a stretch 4 and Kwan keeps coming to mind from his time here.

Yeah. We knew someone would have to decide to/be encouraged to transfer out, but most of us were speculating it'd be Wynn.

sorry, i phrased that poorly. Also, in the "life comes at you hard" category: Steve Hawkins to small-town Illinois https://www.quincy.edu/quincy-university-announces-new-mens-basketball-coach/

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1 Robert G. 165 Mike Spi. 134 John E. 129 Mike Sw. 128 Jeff H. 123 Brian G. 119 Nick K. 118 Rob C. 111 John C. 108 David M. 107 Luke T. 104 Eric M. 100 Kyle M. 100 Andy V. 91 Mark Spa. 89 SKY'S THE LIMIT CLUB Top 3 Potential Points Robert G. 365 Jeff H. 357 John E. 335 Luke T. 335 SHAME CLUB Those Who Picked UCLA John C. David M. Mark Spa. (Dis)Honorable Mention: @NWAkron (apparently) Good luck to all in Round 2 (except the Shame Club members)!