NWAkron

Wonder who the other 2 finalists were?

Big Game tonight!! Exciting.

Akron is notoriously bad at staging these events. The John Groce welcome was a train wreck as well. The best part was watching Antino smirking and circling around the student union while Groce introduced himself. They then had a private meet and greet for the fans at EJ Thomas. That wasn't that hot either. I don't understand football that well, but I do understand human nature. Tom Arth has a hunger to succeed. He's got a wife and five small kids (I think one is special needs), and he knows he can't screw this thing up, get fired, and be scrambling to find a head coaching job at Albion or Otterbein. I'm sure this is overwhelming change all of a sudden mid-school year for his family. John Groce had such an easy transition. Illinois owed him millions. He had a stable group of assistants who were going to follow him wherever. And he only had to meet with 9 or 10 players as opposed to 80! So if he wasn't all rah rah Akron U at the presser I get it. Also, he was sitting there with an interim president who is a political guru who joked about Arth being the lowest paid in D1. He is right out of central casting for football coach, and I can see how he wowed the interviewers. He's going to need all that youth, energy and family support to make this thing work at Akron. Right now he's refreshing and definitely something new for us. I hope he succeeds and can really brand himself and our football program.

I know that Infocision is a WiFi black hole but.no problems for me at the JAR.

There was nothing of substance from Arth. He stood up there, looked like a Sears catalog model, and gave the usual drivel about this and that. No hard-hitting questions. I also expect GT wanted something more scandalous than what John Green gave him regarding finances. OT...future NE game is worth 1.45mill

Basic question about the buyouts. John Green explained that the Nebraska payout took care of Bowden and there is still negotiations with UTC including bringing them here for a game. Something about $8mill being reallocate from athletics. Basically, Arth I'd one of the lowest paid coaches in D1 and he needs to produce.

A lot of pressure on this young man

John Green is funny.

I hope there are some tough questions

Sound isn't matching but I can hear it fine.

I'm so happy John Green is doing this press conference instead of say...Scott Scarborough.

I appreciate the sentiment but seriously? Dinner with parents after the game? Kent plays all of their home games at 7pm. I think this has more to do with ESPN. That being said, I remember back in the day that afternoon games were fairly normal.

He coached in the MAC. He was asst coach at Akron w/ Shaka Smart. But for a few unwise words he wouldn't have been at St. Vs. Basta.

Those were the ugliest T shirts. I think these 2pm games are a drag for the fans. And all the Saturday games this year are at 2pm.

He's not a homer he's a full time ride-share driver AND a free-lance writer.

It was time to change. I think they should have fired Bowden last year after the Cherry Bowl. Loyalty...hmm...my loyalty is to the University and not to some average football coach with zero connection to this community.

I hear the coach at Norwayne is pretty good. Creston...right in our backyard.

Ugh. My math skills. Thanks Kreed.

So between SC, NW, and NE, U of A athletics made about $2.1mill this year. I'm sure that made the buy out an easier pill to swallow for the University (whether you agree with Arth hire or dont) (see correct math below)

Yes. Seriously, he is.

Well Steve French did say during post game that he is "really good looking,"

Too soon?

Roscoe made a huge defensive mistake I think when we had just tied them. Groce lost it...yelled to Dustin, "get him out!" Sayles rebounded well when the ball fell directly into his hands. There's plenty of blame to go around and I shouldn't focus so much on the last play considering the Zips were behind the entire game. With Buffalo ready to sweep the MAC and the entire season, the goal should be to get on the other side of the bracket. They need some confidence and urgency that's for sure

We always have had 1/2 empty arenas this time of year and crowd today was pretty good. But this was handed to us. Last year's team could close out a game better. That being said, this game was lost thru turnovers and crappy rebounding. They need a crunch time player who can make the big play

Groces honeymoon is quickly fading away. That was an awful ending. No confidence this team can deliver when it counts.