ZipsBBjunkie

And you have Steele ending up either ‘stuck there’ and them stuck with him (I’m not convinced he’s anything above average.) Or he finds a way to jump ship if they can manage another decent season / run, and they are starting over and stuck with that stadium project!

I still struggle labeling Miami special … just sort of makes my stomach turn because we should have beat them, they got lucky what at least 5x, and got beat in first rd of MAC tourny by a team that didn’t end up making the final. To me they will always be a mediocre team that got more than a few breaks. I get the undefeated thing is always a statement because it is so rare but I sure would love to see them brought way back down to Earth next season.

That’s a super strong add. Head coaching experience on the back end and the bench can’t be underestimated. It’s a trend right now and in my mind huge for a first time HC

Same here! They have been doing this for a while now and know how to build. They obviously weren’t blindsided and knew this was what would be coming and got ahead of it yesterday on social media BEFORE the portal announcements came. Also, who’s to say Bud himself didn’t encourage the guys to explore their value and then come back and give Akron a chance to keep them (aka we’ll do our best to match your true market value). Obviously they’d prefer to not have them go in the portal but I have to imagine they would welcome them back with open arms and want to show they care about what’s best for the athlete and their family - similar to Groce encouraging Nate.

Good weekend reading even if you’re not a parent, player, advisor, consultant, HS/AAU coach or agent …

I would think he is debating whether to follow JG but if that was the case he’d likley include a DNC tag correct?

As we lose one of the Akron greats I see there are plenty chiming in re: the parallels to when we lost KD. Let’s also make sure we don’t have selective memory when it comes to the start of this unbelievable run in 2022. According to Groce himself, repeatedly, during the: Joe Gingo, Gary Miller, Chuck Guthrie, Groce run there was incredible alignment. Groce would use the same language he used in the CoC press conference in public and private on replay after the ‘22 championship and up to the unveiling of the Wentz practice facility. Remember there was so much alignment that they had ALL signed multi-year extensions approved by BOT under Adkins who followed Gingo as chair that would have had that group in place through 2027 (Miller) and beyond (Guthrie, Groce). The outlier was the provost Wiencek (along with the ‘brilliant’ Mr. Saxon - my eye is on the state of UA in 2031 after his 9 yr term ends I’ll then revisit the validity of this characterization) who after having a publicly documented (see Signal Akron expose) primary role in the upheaval of all that alignment was quickly shown the door by the person he had handpicked as his new boss. Funny enough he ‘stepped down’ in Jan 25 right after they donned the front cover of Walsh Jesuit’s alumni magazine Winter 25 issue together. Credible sources say Nemer doesn’t like to share the spotlight beyond a few exceptions e.g. photos with shirtless Ak rowdies so that magazine cover could have been the nail in the coffin for Wiencek who knows. I jest. https://issuu.com/drakem-walshjesuit/docs/warrior_paths_-_winter_2025 Whatever happened, happened, that full BOT to admin to head coach group is now completely gone with Groce’s departure - Nemer cleaned house and has his people in place. You mention current alignment, but what I hear is Nemer loves only those who do his bidding, and even uses the nickname puppet boldly in his cabinet meetings for some of his closest followers on campus. Bottom line, I’m just not sure unilateral say is the same as alignment? Regardless, appears Groce didn’t think or feel so. Thankfully, we have Ford in place and most importantly, keep Bud in a primary role, BUT those are some rose colored glasses you’re wearing @72Roo and/or you’re drinking the proverbial cool aid that Nemer loves to pour. You’ve been around a long time so I’m not totally discounting. I’ve consistently heard similar rumblings to what @Let'sGoZips94 mentioned from some of the coaches and coaches staffs non-basketball. Not all is what it seems, but at UA it never is so I just shrug, support our programs and hope we can keep the momentum. I’ve renewed my season tickets and will continue buying into whatevr Bud has to offer, literal and figurative. I just wonder what this could look like if it was Bud on the BOT someday.

Feels like there is already a thread somewhere on viability of / state of football and the program where the football discussion could sit? In the meantime, looks like a beautiful arena there at CoC - did someone on this thread say they live there, have attended games there? What kind of student turnout do they get?

Assume more quotes will be coming timed with the intro today. Nothing from Rique?

Well appears a hefty raise wasn’t the primary driver of the decision.

And the bball managers are headed to the Final Four I believe