ZipsBBjunkie

I don’t think Bud will let anyone walk.

Zips Barstool posted the entire letter https://x.com/zipsbarstool/status/1902401030119154066?s=46

You don’t need months, weeks or even days of planning to hop on a flight to Vegas or Florida from Cleveland these days. Maybe when it is Spring Break for all the local primary schools it would be a problem and certainly more pricey, but I’m sure the season ended in the semis and they figured they were done.

Does any of that fall on the shoulders of the head coach and his staff - IMO it can’t all be blamed on bad luck. Lack of depth going in had to contribute to some extent, no?

Couldn’t agree more and for me it all started with the music playing constantly - isn’t this about the game. It has more of a WWE, Harlem Globetrotters feel. You are not the only one who relishes in the sneakers on the floor. Couple other things that I believe leave the NBA closer to ‘entertainment’ than accountable professional sports league when compared to NFL/MLB is the load management, and the scores hitting All Star level tallies night in and night out. Even in the playoffs the defensive juggernauts seem to have gone by the wayside.

The trip to Portland might have been a bear, but they almost pulled it out against UCLA! I don't see this year's team impacted by much of anything. I think wherever they head they will be highly prepared, poised and confident.

Option for mktg if they can’t get RP

I’m sensing a trend. Luckily we already have our GM and he pays us vs the other way around.

https://x.com/cbkreport/status/1899498406772457954?s=46

I plead complete naivety on this one, I’ve been to the JAR countless times, but is the state of the JAR really a deal breaker for Groce? Or is this primarily a fan issue. Groce doesn’t care about the seating and bleachers does he? If he wins we come, when he plays Kent we come. It has nothing to do with recruiting as he’s proven already with the retention he’s had and the portal guys he’s brought in, many coming from places with top notch facilities. Sure a refurbished or brand new facility shows a deep level of commitment but it could also drain resources from elsewhere. I would think, in no particular order, salaries for his asst pool, NIL, funding for travel/tournaments, nutrition and perks for the athletes, and commitment from the University on things Bud has been paying for e.g. marketing AND ongoing operational support at the highest levels of the MAC are the things that would be much more relevant to him staying or going.

They just fired a coach who went to the Final Four the year before … yikes! That has run the other way written all over it.

https://gozips.com/news/2024/4/21/baseball-Big-Eighth-Inning-Propels-Akron-Past-EMU-15-5

Paid access only but I’m sure this emphasizes how happy he is here. I don’t see him even exploring other offers with the backing he has from Wentz. Would have to start all over somewhere else without the trusted circle he has here. Why even put doubt in current team or recruits minds.

Less than 24 hours after NDSU gets upset in the Summit League Tourney player hits the portal. On a side note, what a game by Eaglestaff for South Dakota-dropped 51 points!

FYI only, hopefully irrelevant

Since this weather is crap and in the spirit of my buddy GP1 I'm feeling extra snarky today, I thought I'd keep going on my horsey and share some thoughts on the current state of the Zips rivalry with Kent. I saw online its been more than 720 days since Kent beat Akron in football or men's basketball. The programs, for the moment, seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum with the Zips riding high, but oh how quickly that can change with something as 'basic' as a program's approach to scheduling. Scheduling, particularly in football and basketball, is a huge uphill battle for mid-major FBS and one-bid conference schools, ADs and head coaches. This is not some bullet point on an AD job description. It is a challenge to create reasonable schedules without major money games when school administration (boards, presidents, provosts and the like battling enrollment challenges and budget deficits who aren’t able to get creative outside of taking a quick payday for a football game) get used to the big fat paychecks coming in at the expense of coaches, players, and fans who care about winning. You need not look further than just down the road… The Chucklers who knock Guthrie on this forum, have been so busy scathing their own, that they seem to have completely ignored a Kent-specific jewel right in front of us. Sure, Kenny is gambling his life away. Pinky is dejected and the brightest shade of pink. Come on Zips Nation! Dig deeper! Step up your game! It’s disappointing how surface level you’ve become with your insults and quips. How easily you can dismiss that successful scheduling is critical to ongoing success and argue that it’s base level AD 101 – if that was true schedule drops wouldn’t pull in so much attention. All simply because you dislike a guy. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this group gush over the above ‘marketing’ of Kent's money grab, blood bath football schedule, and chide UA’s marketing for not doing better. Riddle me this timeline and the results - I remember having many emotions as a Zips fan in the spring of 2021 when Randel Richmond, Kent’s current AD was hired to replace long time Kent AD Joel Nielson. Richmond was hired just after Williams announced his departure from Akron. First and foremost for me, relief to see Larry go as my heart was broken numerous times throughout his tenure but also immediate fear that Kent would continue to trend upwards and we may never recover post-Williams, post-Covid. When Richmond was hired, Kent was on a roll with a Sean Lewis-led football team, we faced the sting of the 2017 heartbreaker in basketball, and I personally had deep wounds when it came to the different paths for Kent vs. Akron baseball. What would Miller do with his first and turns out only AD hire while at the helm at UA. When you consider it now, in hindsight, it was a real crossroads for the Zips and became a real turning point, particularly in the UA Kent rivalry as it stands today. Looking back at the dates, Guthrie was brought in just three months later than Richmond. Since those moves in 2021, other than the Kent NCAA tourney appearance in 23 when they had POY Sincere Carry, it's clear Akron has thrived, while Kent has struggled mightily under Richmond's leadership, coaching hires etc. Richmond and Kent’s totally inept, uninterested president, have been unable and/or unwilling to do what Miller and Guthrie were willing to do while at Akron, prioritize athletics. All these beat downs of Kent - all these wagon wheels the past two seasons across sports-was the outright vision of the guys or guy some of this board seem to loathe. Cornerstone in the strategy for Miller and Guthrie was dominating Kent. There’s quotes from them both over the tenure saying as much. Moorhead has followed suit in his own messaging and approach to the rivalry. Can the same be said for Kent’s president and AD? As we find ourselves in the position to joyously crap talk PCCC and hoist the Wagon Wheel high above our collective heads all year long, and as we assume the announcement of our next AD nears, I think back to where we were before Miller was named president, on the heels of Covid, and prior to Guthrie. I sure hope Nemer and the incoming AD keeps this momentum going because after writing this post and realizing how bad KENT SUCKS I'm feeling much better.

How the Kent faithful are feeling after the schedule drop