taxpayer

I'm tired of reading about the VCU game. Mr. Abreu was no longer running the point, his backup was a freshman with very little playing experience. Brian Walsh had spent the entire night before in the emergency room due to food poisoning and was taking IV's right up to the opening tip and probably never should have been allowed to try and play. Two other Zips were sick but not hospitalized. VCU took full advantage with their havoc full court & full game press. The Zips were a star crossed team that year Akron's best group (?) but they were physically and emotionally battered. If all were healthy they would have given VCU their money's worth but we will never know and all we remember is the heartless pounding Skaka delivered on KD's team and a lost opportunity to get an NCAA win and advance in the tournament.

1. Move to another conference? UofA can barely afford to remain in the MAC and has VERY LIMITED financial and fan support. 2. Students don't care about attending athletic events - even when the teams win. BB ball and soccer - can't get 2000 to attend for 2 hours. 3. UofA needs to develope a connection between students and teams if they believe athletics is an asset and will attract new students. 4. How can this disconnect be repaired or more accurately stated, established? 5. How KD & staff have been able to recruit in the players is amazing. The players attend because of the staff/winning; not because of the JAR w/15 students & 2000 fans 6. Short term cure invest more $ in the BB team/program to assist with travel costs for recruiting a larger region and improved travel arrangements vs out of state opponents. 7. Long term cure: fix the disconnect between the students and the gameday experience and continue winning. 8. Even if LBJ pays for an arena, there will still be 2000-3000 in attendance until the BB program has the consistent funds to compete in a bigger pond.

Honestly, some of you are the most negative "fans" I've been exposed to. Stop being negative, stop being front runners and enjoy what the KD era has brought to Akron....a consistent winning program. Instead of having the teams back some of you are the first to start pointing fingers when things get tough....do us all a favor, keep your insecure, finger pointing comments to yourself or at least off this board.

This is about money friends; IF Coach D and UA want to advance the program they are going to have to travel and play excellent schools/programs because they aren't coming to Akron. I'll set aside the fact UA doesn't draw well and offer the following. UA advertises a "home game wanted" will pay you to come play in the JAR type inducement. A top 50 program figures they can smash UA in the JAR so they call. First question is how much are you guaranteeing to pay us to come to your beautiful, always jammed packed, modern arena? UA coach says, well let's see.....5,000 fans at $20 each equals $100,000; no wait of the 5,000 who will showup to see us play, 2,500 have season tickets so we already spent that money. That leaves us 2,500 x $20 so we have $50,000. Wait, we will need extra security cause we never get 5,000 unless it's cant so that leaves $45,000. So we will guarantee you 50% of $45,000 or $22,500. The top 50 guy smirks and says what about splitting the parking and concessions with us? UA says, oh, I forgot about that so let's see.....parking.....we make $0 on parking so that's easy and concessions.....let's see.....ahhh.....concessions, right? You asked about concessions, what are concessions? So that brings us back to $22,500....hello?.......hello? That's why no one big comes to the JAR, not because KD/UA doesn't want them to.

It's either the Zips don't want to play Big Boy pay games, thus risking <20 win season or the Big Boys do not wish to give their Little Brother recognition. I do not know how large a check OSU, Dayton or Xavier would write to have the Zips come to their arena and play but I think the loyal UA fans would accept two less home games versus poor competition. The programs needs money for better travel arrangements and recruiting) and recognition. I think we all agree you learn more in a loss to a better program than you do than beating teams in the 200 - 300 D1 range. UA needs more $ if they want to get to the next level. Trading 20 win seasons for money appears to be reality today in Akron. Who knows, beat one of the Big Boys and maybe some students will attend the home games with the faithful 3,500 fans who populate the JAR whenever the opponent isn't cant.

The present poor economic situation existing at UA should push KD to get a few Big Boys on the schedule by traveling to their arena and getting a guarantee payday for doing so. I'd love to see UA play OSU, Dayton and Xavier and can't imagine them being reluctant to play the Zips at home. These games would provide the Big Boys with a competitive game and the Zips get a shot at a huge win and get paid for taking the shot. Possible?

1. Zips - discipline. To reach their potential the Zips need to share the ball better and live for we not me. 2. Zips - health 3. Zips - being good teammate, student and citizen 4. Opponents - don't cheat and take anyone lightly. 5. $$$ - university is contracting...alumni/boosters will be needed more going forward 6. Facility - JAR will become a albatross when KD says enough

DIG - I'm aware of Mr. Smart, Mr. Boals and Mr. Paris. Mr. Paris was the most recent assistant to leave KD and I believe that's 4 or 5 years ago. Rick McFadden and Terry Wiegand have been around about 10 years and Charles Thomas for five years. Steve McNeese just completed his first year. I was simply stating my surprise that one of KD's top assistants haven't decided to seek another assistant's or head coaching position with the success they've enjoyed.

List of candidates?

Good for Bobby H, bad for the MAC. Like him or not, he elevated Buffalo and would have been an annual challenge to the Zips and the balance of the MAC. Hope they make a good hire.

I am sorry to see Bobby H leave Buffalo and the MAC. I thought he did a good job elevating Buffalo in the MAC. The MAC needs good coaches as much as good players. I hope Buffalo makes a good hire and keeps their program relevant. I'm surprised that some of KD's assistants haven't moved on to becoming head coach or an assistant at a higher D1 program with the long term success of the KD era.

Good work Balsy; helps with this discussion. Attendance appears static with exceptions being 2006/2007 and 2012/2013. Time for some fresh ideas as well as more improvements to the JAR. With numbers like these who would consider financing a new 8-9000 seat venue? I watched the Davidson vs Dayton game last night. Held at Davidson. Their arena appeared to be a similar vintage and design as the JAR. However, no track and better corner and close to the floor seating. UA might consider reviewing as well as inspecting it for ideas to improve the JAR. KD might consider implementing Davidson's offense as well. Excellent motion offense which doesn't require genetic freaks to function and succeed.

Good work Balsy

Could someone post a picture of the mural for us out of towners?

Zach The Zip: UA had a dynamic and creative young man in the Athletic/Marketing Department who was very creative. He also asked a couple of Zips players to speak to several student organizations as well as speaking in some dorms to ASK the students to ATTEND the games to provide the Zips with a home court advantage due by 1) attending and 2) being enthusiastic 3) sitting as close to the floor as possible. The formula was: Win, interact with and invite the students and be creative. The young man in marketing was scooped up by Illinois to use his talents there.

Good game by the Zips. Man does WM miss their big boy! I enjoyed watching the Zips on the web feed from the JAR. Yes, I just said that! Compliments to whomever fixed that problem! Attendance seemed embarrasingly low for the MAC opener against last years champ.....guess Joe A. was prepping his shovel and broom, right? Compliments to KD, staff and players - excellent effort and start to the MAC play.

To Whom It May Concern: I was critical in the past about the video feed from the JAR. I went on the web to watch the game last night and was pleasantly surprised. Great video feed and audio as well. Not sure what made me happier, a "laugher" by the Zips to open MAC play or the quality of the feed. I don't know the how's or why's but you have my thanks and gratitude! Nice job by the powers that be!

What a depressing thread about a needed improvement. I've submitted ideas in the past to try to improve the fan experience without breaking the bank in past years. UA did improve the JAR lighting a few years ago which was a good start. The lobby renovation still looks like a basement work in process area in my opinion. So as not to pile on with more negatives addressed at a program I care about: Sit down with KD and see if it's possible to trade 2 guaranteed win home games for "get paid" games at top 20 basketball powers. Give KD money made for this exchange so he can charter 2 or 3 selected away games so the Zips have a chance to show up rested compared with the plane & ridiculous bus ride to State College where the Zips blew the game due to road wear in my humble opinion. I like the idea of minimal improvements while planning a new on campus facility directly next to the JAR. If a design could incorporate the new team suite and weight training rooms into the new design so that money isn't wasted than so much the better. Currently, most UA students and Mr. Joe Akron don't care much for the Zips. Roll the dice, go get paid to be a patsy a couple of times and maybe surprise a couple of teams. I believe UA is closer than commonly believed. It's time to drop the 20 game wins mantra and go with we'll play anyone, anywhere. Especially, those with $$$ To those of you who want to change conferences.....what are you thinking? Attendance in the two revenue sports is pathetic. In the RED financially. What makes UA such an attractive partner....other some easy wins in sports not named soccer/basketball and rifle, sniper, hunting??

UA athletic department needs TB to win or UA is SOOLuck soon!

Sports junkie - in today's college basketball world $400,000 is a decent assistant coach salary. KD has done an excellent job at UA. I'd agree his offense is below average what's to be critical about with his coaching? Don't blame coaching for an average budget which leads to low paid assistant salaries and pathetic recruiting budgets, facilities, travel/food. Don't even get me started on the student attendance issue.

Class act! Best of luck Rachel!

Concur with LZip

Money is in short supply at UA and KD should be praised for producing MAC champs....the run of playing in the conference championship game is remarkable and we were all sad to see it end last year. Back to money. Football is killing UA athletics. UA's investment in Info and the repeated lousy teams with zero attendance is draining the UA well dry. KD has done some tremendous work in getting the program to being the dominant MAC program. With a facility that is......well, you know. As stated previously, the best way to assist UA/KD with getting this program to the next level is BOOSTER DONATIONS. I believe I'm correct when stating the budget given to KD the last couple of years is not increasing...and won't be. We need to contribute so the Zips can charter selectively during the season. It still ticks me off to hear the Zips travel arrangements from Charleston to State College and compare it to PSU's guys chartering direct. I believe the Zips beat PSU if we charter directly to State Colllege instead of the unfortunate scenerio the Zips experienced. Want "better" assistants? I'm not sure what that's all about but if you want better....give more money to the program. Forget about a new facility...as I've said it won't happen unless LeBron pays for one or the football program rountinely sells out. Oh, one more idea that the fans will like and KD won't. Play as many high majors at their homecourt in the OCC. We won't get many invitations but we could get paid some nice money to afford my suggestions above.

Mr. Buttermaker - too bad the Zips don't have the $ to execute your plan; if they had they would have beaten PSU imo. If you want them to play against the big boys it will take some cash so they at least not play exhausted due their travel arrangements. As stated in another thread, I think we should forget about building a decent facility and fund raise for "charters" when deemed to give the Zips a chance to compete on a level playing field/court. A previous poster is right, how much $ are the Zips playing in front of 2-3,000? Heck, Joe Akron doesn't care nor do 95% of the students. The charter fund will be dependent on supporters. I read an article recently where the UA athletic department is $21,000,000 in debt. There isn't going to be a new basketball facility unless LBJ builds and pays for it. The article stated all MAC athletic departments are multi-millions in debt.

From reading last night's thread on the game, I wanted to put up this thread. I'm not a tech guy but with 20,000 students can't someone with some technical prowess address this issue? Isn't someone at UA responsible for such a production? Do they receive compensation? If so, withhold it until this issue is resolved. If the issue is our equipment came over on the Mayflower and blah, blah, blah.....turn it off. This "little" issue effects alumni, those unable to attend, parents/family of players & staff not able to attend in person AND RECRUITS AND THEIR PARENTS. No facility, no internet feed, no ESPN, no money = NO VISIBILITY = NO RECRUITS who live more than an hour or two away. If some of these issues aren't addressed the success of this program will continue to be contingent on KD's loyality to UA and nothing more. Could the powers that be address this issue and provide some insight as to what's up? How it will be improved?