72 Roo

I think I like him more than Arth, but time will tell. From what I have heard this Griswold guy has never lost a game!

Kehres can interview during the season, but it is considered classless and a betrayal of the coach's (his) current team. Once the season is over our AD, if he wants to talk to him, calls the Mount AD and asks permission to talk to Vince. It is almost always given. As for Jacobs, now that his season is over, we can begin the process with him if we want. I was once skeptical of this search, but as it goes on I am becoming more confident we will make a good hire.

Much thanks to all in the athletic dept who made the weekend in SB so much fun. Our ath. admin did a super job in hosting alumni and representing UA. I talked with the director of the tournament, an associate AD from UCSB by the name of Hastings. He was very complimentary of the university, our team and Akron fans. We really do have many friends out here. Caleb Porter came to the final and it was good to see him. It was better to talk with him about the culture of Akron and how players learn to play for the colors and the school or they leave. That is still the case. Believe it or not recruits love that and come in eager to embrace the Akron culture. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. In this age of pampered, entitled, egotistical athletes these guys are so refreshing and inspiring. Congratulations to Maryland. They were the better team, but our guys would play them again, anytime, anywhere. Let's also not underestimate the job Jared and the coaches did this year. They completely rebuilt the team - recruited individuals and created a team. Jared deserves national coach of the year. He replaced 7 out of 11 starters and at the beginning of the season it was 9 out of 11 due to injuries. I even had time to talk with our athletic administrators about the football hiring process. Let me restate that. I talked and they nodded their heads and said absolutely nothing. I appreciate that. They know this hire has to be about the best coach possible and they can not have a deadline if there are still good candidates to be found. They also recognize the passion the Akron fan base has for finding a winner who wins the right way. ZNO was even cited as an example of the passion for Akron football. I think they get it and I support them in the process. I still like Kehres though. Just my opinion.

I wish I could capture the excitement of being in Santa Barbara, but here's a feeble try. The team is at a level now that few teams can appreciate, yet alone duplicate. We are rested, confident and extremely well coached. I thought Jared was two steps ahead off his Mich State counterpart all match long. Maryland has strength in its center backs, but we can score in so many ways that will create havoc for them. Our team believes in itself and that is all because of Jared. Today we walked down State street in SB and you wouldn't believe how people would smile at us and say "go Zips" when they saw our Akron Soccer T's. This final match should be a huge spectacle but the NCAA does not give a damn about marketing this weekend. They bid out who wants to host the event and how much they will guarantee the NCAA. Once the event is awarded the NCAA puts all the promotion and marketing on the shoulders of the awarded host. If attendance is poor the NCAA doesn't care, they got their guarantee. The risk is all on the host and it appears UCSB will only break even at best. The Zips and the other three teams deserve better. The Akron following is good, but not great as far as numbers. That's understandable duet the cost. One thing that strikes me is the support of former players and families. Akron is known for the almost fanatical support the former players give the program. So many were in the stands and it was great to renew friendships with them. I don't know if it is well known, but every year Jared asks the former players and friends of the program to help him grow the program. This year it was a new camera system for game /practice review. In past years it might have been for financing trips to Brazil or Europe. We can be proud of our soccer alumni. I wish every sport had this heartfelt support. FWIW not all DI elite programs can claim this level of support too. Well it's low 70's during the day. The field is in beautiful shape and we are ready to win our second star. Please let us know what it's like at the JAR.

I listened to the discussion of our next HC on Big Time Sports. It further piqued my interest in Vince Kehres. I have believed all along that he is so close to the values of his dad that he would be a great hire for us. He is about legacy building and not a bigger paycheck and greater celebrity. He is like his dad in that he does not want to move his family. Akron is a perfect it. He knows the area, he has recruited but with no scholarships and he has consistantly won. When I was a director of sales for my company all the management courses I took stated, when hiring, past success is the single greatest predictor of future success. Vince has it and I would go after him with all I have. Next I'd target Getsy. To be truthful, Arth would not be on my radar because, altho' he won at JCU, his record at UTC does not show the success I want and casts too much doubt. Just my opinion. This is a critical hire for us because the football program affects all of athletics. We have to get it right.

If you really think TB had only one bad season this discussion is not worth continuing. This was a prudent decision because the team had stopped playing for him and it showed. Financially UA will not end up paying his buyout, just like they didn't pay Faust's. That is being worked out under other budget areas than athletics where TB can be very effective. The decision was further prudent because UA was hurting in ticket sales and sponsorships. TB had lost the paying public. Look at the actual butts in the stands. Our attendance was pathetic. Sometimes less than 1,000 actual bodies in the stadium. & years is enough time to be judged on performance and not wishes or excuses.

Art looks like an up and comer, but I'd like to see more wins under his belt before he takes us on. Winning 3 games in his first year and 6 in his second does not demonstrate excellence.

George has certainly hurt their chances by, well let's face it, being George. But of the group I am intrigued by Getsy and Kehres. I like Getsy's progression up the ladder, his offenses and his history with us. As for Kehres I believe he knows how to win, no matter what the challenge. I also think he may be more about legacy than moving on to the next level and better pay. His dad repeatedly turned down better offers and showed by example that money isn't everything. I like guys who know how to win and make that expectation part of the team culture. Kehres also picks good assistants and manages them well as a staff. I do not believe TB did that well. At Mount they have 13 assistants. Many are volunteer coaches who receive little to no pay, but they are highly qualified ex-D1 or NFL coaches or NFL players who love being part of the game. He deserves an interview if he will take it.

I will be there with a former Zip from Charlotte and one from Phoenix. I understand ME_87 will also be in attendance. We need to have a pub for a pregame Zip rally. If the university doesn't set one up it will far on your shoulders being a local. We will be counting on you

I would prefer a new football coach but the salary can't be cut if we are to get a good one. I realize you, like all of us, want to keep Jared for a long while. I believe we will. He could have gone to Ohio State earlier this year but he loves Akron. He is loyal and only asks for a fair salary and the autonomy to run a top 5 program. Williams, to his credit, has given him that and Jared likes working for LW.

So proud of this team. They hung together and got the train rolling after the WVU loss. The coaching staff was fantastic proving coaching does matter and excuses are not an option. I wish someone would describe what the watch party was like and how attendance was. I'll bet ME87 and VA Zip are making plans for Santa Barbara. I really enjoyed watching the game with you two and the Nanchoffs at Wake. More so I enjoyed closing the bar at Wake with the coaches and former players. Hope to do it after wins in Santa Barbara. So proud!

This is a much needed response to issues of mental health. My family has been affected by it and I bet yours has too. Football players are not immune to this disease. Get them all the help we can.

I don't have any problem with this at all. It's up to us to stop them from scoring. If we can't, we suffer the consequences.

A change must be made. Anything that keeps the status quo is denying reality. The fan base has deserted this program and rightly so. I have always felt Summit county fans know good football. They don't settle for less. The attendance and sponsorship support speak volumes about what this knowledgeable community sees in our future under this leadership. Invoke the buyout and end the bleeding.

Quite possibly. I admire your Thanksgiving Day prep, but Milwee has called a completely different game than Bowden beginning with the first year he took over play calling. And it has been consistently bad.

As I watched the game it seemed to me coach Groce needs to address two things: 1) better shot selection on our 3's and, 2) better play out of the center. If we want to shoot 3's I don't have a problem if we don't force it and we get a good look at the basket. I thought Riak was going to be the answer for us in the paint, but today raised more questions than it answered. He looked lost at both ends. Poke is limited and Klac is still a work in progress. I hope Sayles responds to whatever coach Groce wants. He's looking like the post player with the best potential. This team is going to be good yet this season. They just need time.

What a nice bedtime thought. Unfortunately it will never happen. Maybe in my dreams tonight. That's the best we can do.

Extremely shrewd observation on your part. How did you ever pick that up so quick?

Z.I.P., I criticized Williams for this hire, but if she proves me wrong, which I hope she does, I will gladly acknowledge my mistake and give her all the credit for a fantastic rebuild. Best left her little and if she wins it's all on her. Mahalo.

B & G, yes he is serious and quit calling him Shirley (Thank you Leslie Nielson and the director/writers of one of the greatest movies ever made ... Airplane!)

This is no longer a Milwee issue. It is a Bowden issue. The talent level on this team is no longer an excuse. Injuries happen to every team. The coaching staff is incompetent on the offensive side and demotivated on the defensive side. There is obvious detachment from the coaches to the belief in TB's leadership. Time to clean house. I'd do it tomorrow and eat the last year(s) of TB's contract. Name an interim HC and put ourselves in the market for the best available coach we can get. Eating the contract is probably better financially than have 2-4,000 butts in the stands. Sad it has come to this.

Glad to have him as a Zip. We can build on him being a freshman. I'm impressed with how articulate he is. I hope he excels in the years ahead. Congratulations to the coaching staff for bringing him in.

Lee Adams said: Nobody is blaming'every single loss on coaching'. What objective fans are doing is looking at patterns over the past 7 seasons. Just because some think all fans are idiots doesn't mean its true. Some fans can actually watch ballgames and understand what is and is not happening. This is not personal for most folks. But after 7 seasons this program should not be losing its first two conference games. It should not be getting waxed by the NIU's MU's,UB's and EMU's. The offense should not be as pathetic as it has been. That is seen most markedly in the poor O-line play and lack of a running game. This is finally about being consistently competitive with the best programs in the MAC. Clearly this program is not. Kreed and Lee, will you two stop being so logical! Why don't we just lower our aspirations/expectations and then our FB coaches will look like geniuses. They then will meet the challenge of winning 4-5 games a year. Please don't mention the performance of PJ Fleck at WMU, Campbell and Crandle at Toledo, Dino Babers at BG, Lance Liepold at UB or any host of NIU coaches. That's discrimination to expect Akron with the best MAC facilities, a hotbed for recruiting and an upper level MAC football budget to produce teams like those coaches did. That's expecting too much. I say we give the staff cupcakes after every game and medals to take home. Meanwhile let's expect excellence out of MSoccer, M & W Track and Field, M BBall, W Swimming, W Tennis and Rifle. They want to compete w/o excuses.

You are definitely a "glass half full" guy. I hope you are right. Go Zips!

You're damn right I do. When a coach goes 2-22 and you are sprouting that athletes are "flocking" to Akron I call bull---t. I can't respect anyone who can't admit the obvious, but turns around and asks alumni to give more and more money. Maybe athletes were "flocking" to Akron, and they were all bad athletes who no other DI program wanted. That is underlined by how bare TB found the cupboard.