Captain Kangaroo

The human side of college sports is gone. Today people coach and play for the names on the back of the jersey, not the front. Quoting the late Don Ohlmeyer - "The answer to all your questions is 'money'." We paid him to do a job, and he did it at a high level, with integrity. D1 basketball is a business, and it was a good business transaction for both parties.

I like the strategic positioning of the quote marks.

1.) It allows us to stay in MAC and avoid the Horizon League. 2.) We will never have a tournament run. Those days are over. That's a big reason why Groce left. He'll have more money to retain players like Nate Johnson...money that Bud Wentz and his supporters could only dream of generating. Every upperclassman capable of leading the Zips to an NCAA tournament victory as a Junior or Senior will have left UA for greener pastures during their final 1 or 2 years of eligibility.

E-sports! 📺💪🏽

Fastest. Hire. Ever.

Muse was the President when Crawford was hired? I recall from a Terry Pluto article in the ABJ that a big part of Crawford being hired was - He sent the UA AD a Christmas card every year after he left Akron (Crawford assisted Huggins for 3 years, then left in '86 to be an assistant at Tennessee). True story.

You're saying he's Gannon's "Stan Heath"?

My replacement hot list - Leader - Dustin Ford. Positives: He's paid his dues as the top assistant under the most successful coach in UA history. Culture stays in place. Bud likes him. Negatives: Coleman Crawford paid his dues under Bob Huggins, and that didn’t work out so well. We need to interview at least 3 candidates. Bobby Hurley: Positives – Won big in the MAC with Buffalo. Available. Nationally recognized “splash” hire (AD’s like this kind of hire). Negative – Wholly unlovable crybaby…but people tend to overlook that if you win. And at the mid-major level he's a proven winner. Dru Joyce: Positives: Lebron's buddy...although in 20 years Lebron hasn't given the Zips program much, other than some shoes and a logo patch. Dru will be championed by favorite son Keith Dambrot. He's a former Zips point guard with extensive professional playing experience. Presently Duquesne's HC with "moderate" success. He's a formidable opponent to Ford for this opening...should he want it. Negatives: The Lebron association doesn't seem to produce any tangible help to the Zips program. Dru hasn't exactly caught lightning in a bottle at Duquesne. His hire would take the Zips in a completely different direction. Long Shot Outside-the-Box Hire – Easton Bazzoli HC at Gannon Positives – Coaching Gannon in the D2 finals this Sunday. “Local-ish” guy. Took Gannon from a 3-23 record 2 years ago to 32-3 this season. Negatives – Not a “splash” hire. New culture install. Is he worthy of a D1 "high mid-major" job like Akron’s? This is where the rubber meets the road and we see what Goodrich is made of!

It’s been a bitch getting a beer and a burger at Corner Alley the past several years. Looking forward to the smaller lines and increased leg room when pregaming in 2027!

Maybe?

Nate Johnson and Enrique Freeman and John Groce are going to invest their salaries somewhere.

CougarNation rejoices!

@dirty-sanchez-thighmaster is listing Bobby Hurley and Keith Dambrot as leading candidates to replace Groce.

There’s four wheels on a wagon, so I think the Zips and flashes should meet 4 times per year on the gridiron. If the season series ends 2-2, they can play a 5th “bowl game”. The first half is played at Kent Roosevelt, and the second half moves to Hoban’s field. Play the OT at Fawcett. It’ll be a Tik Tok sensation, which is all that really matters.

If USF wants to run it back, Stan Heath is again available.