Let'sGoZips94

Bowl games don't matter. Day of a Sweet Sixteen game does.

They announced the hiring of an assistant that is still coaching in the NCAA Tourney? Odd. Can he recruit without the UCLA name?

You missed out. There is nary a more satisfying feeling than having Zippy stiff-arm the teeth out of the PCCC chicken.

Not sure why, but I just had a flashback to playing NCAA Football 2005. They had this Mascot mode where you're entire team was the respective school's mascot. I always had a team full of Zippy's vs whomever - Brutus, whatever the hell they named the bird with teeth to the east, etc. - in the Rubber Bowl. That 2005 Snow Bowl vs KSUcks was my favorite Rubber Bowl memory. Little did we know 2 years after that game came out, Zippy would literally beat all the mascots nationwide to win the 2007 Capital One Mascot Challenge.

Yep. Only John V and Luke T have their champions remaining. Brutal night for many.

That's a real kick to the Balls.

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.

Heck of a hire if they can make it happen.

When JoeMo was hired, gas was $1 cheaper. That could effect everyone differently. I'm not in the business of spending other people's money. We have a great community on ZipsNation and there is tangible excitement with Zips athletics. Attendance will be just fine.

100% agree. Akron basketball has an identity again - defense and teamism. It's so much fun to get behind. How cool. I hope he gets it.

I'd be ok with Marshall & Wright State being perennial opponents. Interested to see how Groce beefs the schedule up. I doubt Ohio State schedules us again after we gave them quite the scare (along with UCLA). I'd love to see Guthrie's Alma Mater (Syracuse) on the schedule, along with more A10 & Big East opponents due to geographical relevance. Pitt & West Virginia are always desirable matchups, and add Cincy to that as they prepare to join the Big 12. Mid Major wise, give me more OVC & MVC teams.

How much would this make college a more attractive option than going "pro" (or whatever the right term is) out of high school?

STANDINGS AFTER Round 2 Robert G. 193 Mike Spi. 162 John E. 159 Brian G. 157 John C. 154 Mike Sw. 154 David M. 153 Jeff H. 150 Eric M. 145 Luke T. 145 Nick K. 141 Rob C. 140 Mark Spa. 128 Kyle M. 127 Andy V. 126 SKY'S THE LIMIT CLUB Top 3 Potential Points David M. 295 John E. 287 John C. 281 Mark Spa. 281 SHAME CLUB Those who had UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen John C. David M. Mark Spa. (Dis)Honorable Mention: @NWAkron(allegedly & probably) BUSTED BRACKET CLUB Champion Pick Eliminated Robert G. (Auburn) Mike Spi. (Baylor) Brian G. (Kentucky) Andy V. (Auburn) Good luck everyone in the Sweet Sixteen!

That 6 seed was based off another ranking system - RPI - which we were higher than OSUcks in. They then created NET rankings, which seem to favor P5s. Why was the First Four in Dayton created? To eliminate 2 lesser schools and provide 4 money game opportunities. It made room for more P5s/better programs. The elimination of some of the seeds is crooked, but it's college athletics. They're as clean as a Mechanic's hands.

This isn't new. Akron played at Ohio State when Akron was the better team.

Interesting...

Agreed. I would like to see teams like Wright State and CSU on our schedule more. The MAC is a notch above them, but I'd rather these schools with geographical relevance than Coppin State or a second DIII school.

That squad was talented and went through Hell this year with 3(?) close relative deaths on the team/staff. Scott Nagy is a heck of a coach. I wonder if this means Nagy is on the move, or if Grant is simply looking to move into the P6 ranks.

Even prior to the UCLA game they were silly comments. Akron beat every top team in the MAC going back to their last OU game during the regular season (then the 3 big dogs in the tournament). A 20 pt drubbing of KSUcks was the final nail in the coffin for any argument against Akron being the best in the MAC. I'm glad to hear some common sense clicked finally.

I never attended The University of Akron. Some of us were born with Blue & Gold blood.

Between the Z logo and potentially using Russian oil imports to fuel the travel for athletics, we're practically part of the war! There's going to be an ESPN 30for30 someday about the nationwide March Madness bracket boycott of the Akron Zips over their Z logo. Millions picked UCLA because they were appalled by the Z. Rumor has it that's why the refs fouled Freeman out of the game - couldn't let Akron win.

To echo some of the posts/sentiments I saw on the KSUcks and other MAC boards... ThE mAc DiDn'T sEnD tHeIr BeSt To ThE nCaA tOuRnAmEnT

He deserves it but damn... These types of articles might shorten his stint at Akron.

It's a shame the quote was cut off. "I will always be a Zip at heart... Just not on defense." Kidding. Is this trying to save face a bit with the next program? Or is this sincere? His Twitter pic is a Getty Images pic of him from his St. John's days. Trying to show coaches he was good enough for a Big East school at one point? Odd.

He had 2 acceptable fouls. That one was probably the worst of the other 3.