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I have heard on good authority in the last couple of weeks that Groce got rid of his agent during the beginning of COVID, and hasn't hired one again. Good news for us, as nobody is showing him off and negotiating on his behalf with search firms at other schools. Let's hope it stays this way. While I would be fairly surprised if Groce was still here in 2-3 years, he talks a lot about how he's changed throughout his career. The first time I noticed this was in '19-'20 after clinching a share of the title after the comeback win over OU. He had a Super Soaker water gun in the locker room and was celebrating with the guys after a win like that even though they hadn't clinched the 1 seed and hadn't even beaten Kent yet. In his presser that night, he mentioned that in the past he would've been much more calm and focused on the next step and the next game, but he's learned to appreciate it more in the moment. I'm glad he did then, little did anyone know, that was the true championship celebration that year. Since then, and especially in these last few weeks, you hear him talk about appreciating and enjoying the smaller things. The regular season wins, the wins in the tournament in the first couple rounds, even his daughter's birthday. He said something along the lines of he wanted to focus more on enjoying things in the moment instead of always strictly being on to the next game. You can tell he genuinely enjoys coaching at Akron, at no point has it felt like his foot is out the door. The P6 money will most likely inevitably lure him away eventually, but I think he is starting to see that coaching at a good mid-major for $650k isn't too bad after all. To bring it back to MAC discussion, it's all about the culture. You can't win with culture alone, but I'm giving Akron Culture a lot of credit for these last three years, especially this one (Team 121). I have said numerous times, no other program in the MAC could overcome 2 no-shows from starters at the beginning of the season and do a single thing of significance. They would've given into Walton wanting to be Walton, they would have kept forcing it with Trimble (see: Pinky allowing Carry to lose them a title game), the teams would have fallen apart. It would have been easy to get cocky and let the noise get to you in the midst of a big winning streak going through the conference tournament. It would've been easy to let Kent get under the skin, it would've been easy to fold and pack it in during a trip to the Ypsilanti black hole in the midst of a 3-game losing streak. But Groce got his program of high-character guys to buy in and simply trust their process. They may as well have played NIU in the title game. They just played their butts off regardless of who the opponent was. That was one of my favorite things from the title game, they didn't give a s*** about Kent. They just went out and took what was theirs, and they celebrated for themselves. It was a thing of beauty. Akron Culture. It's a very real thing, that could be dangerous for the rest of the MAC.

I think sometimes we fail to see how lucky we are as fans of this program (myself included). @LoyalZIP's post made me update my MAC records spreadsheet to include both last year and this year and the numbers are remarkable. I've updated this sheet periodically since the beginning of the Dambrot era (2004-2005), which I consider the start of the "Golden Age" of Zips basketball, so these totals are over the last 18 seasons. Really illustrates the differences between the old East/West divisions. If/when Coach Groce moves on, the pressure will be immense to get the right hire to continue the growth of the program. 20 win seasons (ties broken by winning pctg): Akron 14 Kent 13 Buffalo 9 Ohio 9 Toledo 7 WMU 6 BGSU 3 EMU 3 CMU 3 Ball State 2 NIU 1 Miami 0 (!!!) Winning Percentage: Akron .668 Kent .637 Buffalo .608 Ohio .599 Toledo .533 BGSU .490 WMU .484 Miami .457 Ball State .454 EMU .451 CMU .427 NIU .380

It's unknown at this point, but that's exactly the purpose and reason why most top coaches -- led by the Terp's Cirovski -- are getting behind the new model. The belief that college soccer is falling rapidly behind the times in its ability to develop pro players is putting severe pressure to make the college experience more like developmental and professional models. There are other aspects to the model, such as limited substitutions that are also intended to increase the interest of top-flight prospects -- particularly American players, to use college as a bridge to a pro career rather than jumping from (especially MLS) academies into USL or other pro leagues.

I enjoy reading the Captain's posts, even when he takes issue with me. This last one was super until he wrote about Groce being lured away. I truly hate to think of him leaving. He is a perfect fit for us. But he needs to do what he sees best. Until then I will try to appreciate every season we have him, but Lord would I love to see him here for a long time.

This is why success in the NCAA Tournament is so key. I see that list, and unless you're an Akron fan or hardcore MAC fan, I doubt you would have any idea of the general success of Akron's program. Buffalo, OU, and KSUcks (reputation from 2002) are who the average college basketball fan would probably guess has been the most successful MAC programs in the last 18 years. Dambrot laid the foundation. Groce is building Akron Culture, and it's a blast to be a part of.

Absolutely fell in love with Groce at this moment. He wasn't going to let Buddy Mayborg and Bill Ek leave without hearing what they needed to. A win over Kent and a MAC tournament win @ WMU followed. AKRON CULTURE.

Came back from a several year hiatus from season ticket ownership. Went in with two other alums for one of the outside loges. Looking forward to the new era in Zips football and retaining season tickets "good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise".

I am. Been there for all but 3 games at the Info.... Prior to that spent many years growing up at the RB.

I was speaking to a friend of mine who coaches at the Divsion 1 level regarding the transfer portal. His opinion was - 1.) It sucks. 2.) You combat it with "culture." If the kids like the staff, and like their teammates, they are much less likely to exit your program. Ball State has no culture. They've been floating in mediocrity for over a decade. Maybe Sparks landed there because the extra year of COVID eligibility meant fewer available scholarships at the P5 level? I don't know...but why would you your prime years in Muncie when you are getting scholarship offers from programs guaranteed annual trips to the NCAA's? I see a lot of #2 with Groce. I can't see Enrique ditching Aziz and Ali to chase glory at Xavier, or some other higher-conference program. The Zips players all seem to like each other. They've bought into Groce's culture and system. They're all growing, excelling, having fun and winning. Why leave? You can't bat 1.000 when recruiting 18-22 year old kids. For every Xerius Williams there's inevitably going to be a Trimble. But batting .750 overall is possible if you're consistent in your approach. And not desperate. Groce is too confident in himself and his system, and his contract situation, to be desperate and load up on mercenaries. From the ashes of the Great Dambrot Exodus he's built an OUTSTANDING program. I'll digress for one moment and mention recruiting "stars" as the pertain to the Zips - Ali and Enrique are arguably our most talented players. Neither was recruited by any D1 programs. ZERO! People go gaga over transfers from Florida...St Johns...Wake Forest...Missouri...there's usually a reason these guys are free agents. Groce recognizes talent like few other coaches I've seen. And places that talent in the best positions for team success. Sincere Carry is a tremendous basketball talent, but I really doubt he'd have been anything but a disruption had he played at UA. No player will ever admit they're a "me-first" guy...but it's pretty obvious when a player cares more about playing time, personal statistics and adulation than the good of the team. And, which coaches tolerate those antics. I'm keeping my March calendar clear for 2023. I fully expect the 2022-23 Zips to be dancing. 2024 is promised to no one. If Groce were to be lured away, a lot of the team could follow without penalty. I hope that doesn't happen, because the sky is the limit with Groce captaining our ship, and our "super-sophs"... soon-to-be "super-juniors"... inevitably improving. Enjoy the Zips one-year-at-a-time, as the fan of any successful mid-major should!

Fascinating-- and hilarious discussion of Steele on Miami Hawktalk! Apparently coach is married to an heir to an old money family in Cinci, and fans suggesting they can get an ex-X coach and a Millett Hall remodel in one package! 😂

I missed one that I just saw in @Illini Zippost about Groce's first year. Eric Parrish went from Akron (2017-18) then to Bosssier Parish Community College (2018-2019) where he averaged 18 points, 9 boards and 6 assists and was the #4 Junior College prospect when he committed to Nevada for the the 2019-2020 season but was only there in the fall of 2019 before signing with to UTSA in December 2019 (played 2020-2021 season) before closing out his career at Grambling (2021-2022). So on 5 rosters in his college career! Eric Parrish finished (assuming) out his career at Grambling State this year starting in 9 of the 20 games he played in averaging about 5 points and 5 rebounds a game. I thought he was an All-MAC capable player 2 years down the road but injuries must have derailed his playing career.

I would now refer to the Dambrot years as the Gilded Age and Groce era as the Golden Age.

Hmm.. I can usually remember these kinds of things, but this one I can’t quite picture. One of them may have been Geoff Vejsicky if my memory is correct. If I do some digging I may be able to find it. Terry Wymer did the UCLA game, he’s a fine ref that’s a great guy and retiring soon. Matt Potter called the foul on Aziz down the stretch, he’s a terrible, arrogant ACC ref. Edit: nice memory, @NWAkron . It was indeed Buddy Mayborg, Vejsicky, and Dambrot’s arch nemesis Rob Kueneman. After the Mayborg thing in Buffalo, I think he’s had maybe 2-3 Akron games since, and I believe recently retired. Assigners are smart enough (sometimes) to know where to send what guys, it was best for Buddy to not get Akron games anymore.

That clip also makes you love Jimond ivey.

I’d like to see a lower tier big ten team or big east like penn st or Georgetown. Would love a match up with Maryland if we are getting recruits from that area.

We should sue Russia for copyright infringement and royalties.

Top-notch comments Captain. You can just sense that culture stuff when you listen to Groce talk about the kids locker room discussion after the UCLA loss. That tells me he is instilling a culture and sense of family that makes kids want to stay.

Agreed. I'd like a number of these type of teams mixed with a few P5 teams and then a couple of lower-tier teams.

the non-conference thing jogged my memory a bit - remember when we had a soft OOC sked this fall, because this was supposed to be a rebuilding team? A) good call, that probably helped us. B.) rebuild didn't take long C) I'd expect a much tougher OOC schedule next year

Z for Zelenskyy!!! Problem solved 😁 (more sarcasm for ya)

That;s what I expected. Unfortunately, the mid-majors have become the developmental leagues for the top programs.

Thank you. @LZIp I'm not happy with Illinois lately, but that is a long boring story. Just as Groce does more with less than any coach I know, Underwood does less with more. Still my Big Ten team, but I spend more time over here these days. You are all my kind of people. Thanks for having me. Go Zips!!