Maybe he's just up for a new challenge? Maybe he's come to the conclusion that he's done all he can do at Akron and that the support, pay and facilities are all they're ever going to be. I can't imagine a pessimistic John Groce but who knows.
I'm just curious as to what leads you to conclude that "his Butler candidacy was very real" and "there was mutual interest for that job".
I get that he didn't make some announcement that he was not interested but I can't conclude from that that there was a serious threat of him leaving or an explored interest.
I'm certainly with you on the rest of the post. Lord knows we don't want to return to the Hipsher days!
I hear there's an ultralight flying of a remote clearing of grass in Hudson tonight headed for Chapel Hill, North Carolina, under the radar. I will continue to monitor and keep everyone advised.
I only see Groce laving for a "prestige job" or in a situation where he's just fed up with the administration and the "ceiling" on the program (not unlike Dambrot). I never saw Butler as a "prestige" job so that one didn't worry me. We'll see what happens with the NC and possible Kansas fallout (good call by @kreed5120).
Interesting article here about the causes of the death of the Cinderella-
https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/article/ncaa-tournament-if-cinderella-is-dead-who-or-what-is-to-blame-here-are-the-biggest-culprits-183114570.html