I would like to congratulate you all on a fine season. While you may not get the respect, nationally or even in your own state, that you deserve, I assure you, the VCU program and their fans respect the quality of the Akron program. I will also offer a vote of confidence. As a program, VCU has been in the same place as Akron, pre-2007 and really pre-final four. We were a damn good program for many years, however, it had yet to translate into the postseason. Respect comes with postseason wins, and not just a one year fluke (look where Mason is now) and even Ohio one year after winning tourney games two consecutive seasons. The non-power schools will always be at a disadvantage. In order to establish yourself as a national brand a program has to make the tournament consistently and advance consistently. An good effort will do nothing (ie. VCU's one point loss to Chris Paul led Wake Forest in 2004). At VCU, it started in 2007 when we beat Duke. In 2009 we almost beat UCLA, one point loss, no one cared. 2011 and the final four changed it all, however, that would have been diminished if we were one and done last year.
Anyway, point of the story, I'm terrified the one program misstep will turn into a has been midmajor (Can't State, So. Illinois etc.) teams who have made runs, but have vanished from the National spotlight. Akron is in a great place, you all are continuously in the dance. Once you turn those appearances in to W's, the program will make that turn. I wish you and your program all the success in the world. It's definitely on the rise.
