Let'sGoZips94

Yes, this is exactly where I want to go.

The First Amendment doesn't protect you from responses; that's called a safe space. You were the one that brought up the team prayer due to Akron being a public University. The fact that you're questioning team prayer at all, in America, shows you might be the snowflake as the team prayer obviously triggered you. I'm just as guilty about mixing politics and sports - sports have mixed in politics themselves, and I also think there are relevant discussions - but I try to keep it relevant. I didn't and still don't understand why team prayer was questioned, and if you want to talk about facts, talk about how the First Amendment protects freedom of religion, which does include Christianity despite the on-going war against said religion.

I believe this is correct. However, I believe there are deadlines that determine eligibility, i.e. how long the player would have to sit out.

If you could please pay attention to the team prayer, and let us know who leads it, is it voluntary, etc. I think we're all interested in that information. (I'm kidding; just having some fun) Looking forward to hearing what you see. Unfortunately, I will be busy putting up backsplash in my kitchen and won't be able to attend.

Do you really think if the tournament was expanded, the committee/NCAA would push to give mid-majors more of a chance? Do you think they'd really make a change to benefit mid-majors? They literally added more play-in games for the 11-seed spot in order to dip into some bigger schools' pockets at least one last time for the season. There are ~.500 P5 schools making the tournament over 20+ win mid-majors. Expanding the tournament to 96 teams believing mid-majors would have a better chance to make it to the round of 64 is like people who don't trust the government, voting to grow the government and give it more power. The little guy would continue to get squeezed out.

There are 351 DI men's basketball teams to be exact, compared to 130 DI FBS football teams. I'd say that's a lot of DI men's basketball teams. My question was directed at the number of teams admitted to the DI ranks since 1985, the last time there was a significant tourney format change. There were 42(?) teams in 1984, but how many DI schools were there in total? Heck no they all shouldn't make the tournament. That would be the death of March Madness and college basketball as a whole.

Any updates on commitments, offers, etc.?

Three thoughts... 1) The play-in games are a money-grab joke, especially the 11 seeds to squeeze every last dime possible out of the upper echelon level of schools. 2) The field was expanded to 64 in 1985. How many teams have been added to the Division I level of competition since? That would be interesting to know. 3) These coaches need to realize it's all about quality of wins, not quantity.

I was confused on the point of the original post to begin with, so I did probably miss it. If Groce succeeds to the point of another, bigger program wanting him, I'm going to be happy as hell because that means my wishes came true from when we hired Groce (NCAA tourney run). That will also prove that the next level can be reached at Akron, which should attract a good, young coach to replace him, again should Groce leave. I do not expect LBJ to foot the bill for the arena. However, some public, vocal support backed up by a sizable financial donation to build the foundation would be/have been nice. The guy is close to becoming the first ever billionaire athlete. The money is there for him to truly make a difference when it comes to the city of Akron and its university. Maybe if he wasn't spending the time boosting up OSUcks athletics, sporting the Suckeyes gear, he'd have more time to focus on Akron. I have similar feelings towards Dambrot. He complained and complained about the JAR, yet took a salary that made him the highest paid coach in the MAC, from a school he knew was strapped for cash. It would have been nice for him to maybe make a statement and put some of that as a foundation towards a new arena, but ultimately he has to do what's best for he and his family. Ultimately, as @kreed5120 mentioned, the taxpayers have spoken, and I don't blame them. Heck no I wouldn't trust them to spend my money better than I can, not with their track record. A new arena needs to come from private donations, which is why I'm so adamant that if LeBron truly cares about the city of Akron so much, he'll become a bigger voice and put his money where his mouth is.

Edit: Actually, after further thought, is the joke really on you and the OU fan base?

Someone should post this on BobcatAttack and watch them implode with a similar Dambrot/Groce Civil-War-like debate.

This wouldn't surprise me in the least. That's why I'm so interested in the QB competition.

I disagree that the biggest chance we had to dominate the MAC and get into a better conference left with Dambrot. Maybe LBJ should have ponied up some dough for a new arena if he loved his HS coach and hometown so much. Not sure how anyone can make this post when there is so much optimism looking ahead to next season.

Excuse me? Happy Easter? This is a public forum. How about "Happy first Sunday in April"? Seriously, when does the real QB competition start?

Well hold on here. You might be onto something. What if he's entering the draft to build a relationship and connect with LiAngelo Ball, to get to know his dad, who is a self-proclaimed big time GM in Europe? In all seriousness, entering the draft is smart. You get to play against better competition, go through some rigorous training, and develop excellent connections I presume. Odds are he wouldn't make it, but he'll build the relationships necessary to be successful overseas.

I think first and foremost, we need the ever-elusive-but-ever-so-important killer guard. I understand we need talent everywhere, but that killer guard makes the difference come March and can take you to that next level. He had that guard at OU with Cooper (Kellogg was solid from deep, too). Look at March Madness this year. How do teams like Loyola become Cinderellas? They have the guards that step up and hit the big shots or make the key passes. Look at WVU. Their success almost single-handily came from Jevon Carter, who was the heart and soul of that team. Much like Terry Francona has revolutionized the importance of a bullpen mafia, college basketball is dominated by killer guards. You can neutralize athletic forwards with a killer guard or two; typically only the blue-chippers are match-up proof, and even then those blue-chip forwards play like guards. The importance of the killer guard is showing by the number of guards we have offered so far.

What about Antino and what is his relevance to Jimond's tweets?

Has nobody showed him a list of MAC players that get drafted? Hell, the #1 overall pick a few years back was from CMU. Good riddance.

With how bad MAC refs are and how close in proximity some of the fans are to the court, it's probably to protect the zebras from getting an early shower. Bottlegate 2.0?

You should be suspended from the board for a month for this.

When there are adamant assertions made, such as "3. Is Akron better off compared to when he became President? NO and yall will soon find out once stones get un turned with him out the picture" (- Dre), those aren't opinions. The title of "fake news" would be applicable, despite your level of disdain for our President. Let me get this straight. You're ripping the guy for doing damage control, making amends, and regaining lost donations? He had to start somewhere. That would be like ripping Dambrot in the beginning of his time here for getting Akron back to mediocre mid-major status instead of bottom of the barrel. Whomever takes over next has a better and higher foundation to build upon. Regarding any statements that question if the University improved under Wilson, look no further than the crowd reactions to him at basketball games. Loud cheers and people loved his interactions and involvement in the shooting contest. He was great. Now make the right hire on the next guy and keep moving forward; no more backward movement.

Next year should prove that's saying something.

Terrific field thus far. @Illini Zip's fandom - especially his newly developed support for the Zips - will be tested if Akron has to play Illinois State.

I would feel better if we start getting commitments from recruits that a program of Memphis' caliber is targeting.