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I've said it dozens of times already..... If a guy with this kind of experience and record of success cannot turn Akron into a winner, we're going to have to look at other factors for reasons why Akron can't climb the football ladder.

You don't become a drug dealer to the proportions described by having a singular lapse in judgment. So, I still have a problem with this continually being passed off as "A Mistake".

Remember, the years we beat Buffalo and Ken+ in the title game, I think we were a #6 and #5 those two years. So, we should know better than anyone that anything can happen. And then there's the flip side to that scenario. We've been one of the top seeds before, and ended up with nothing. That's why resting all of your hopes on the MAC tournament is such a big mistake.

Thanks for the update about the Rowdies. But, isn't just the fact that there is a home game enough to get more than 12 students out of 25,000 into those courtside seats? I'll say this again. Back in the mid-80s we would have fought each other over seats like that. And I hope I never again hear "we'll come if they win" as the excuse for why Akron students don't go to football games, because we now know that winning isn't the variable.

About last night's attendance..... Did anyone notice the dozen or so students behind the basket by the NIU bench? I swear I've seen more people in that area during some ladies games. I turned to my wife and said, "Are you sure school is in session right now?". Something needs to be done about this asap. It's reached a new low. No chants while the visiting team is being introduced? The small pep band as the only vocal, organized floor-level cheering section? As we are in the stretch run of a title race, ties for first place? Forget the "Official Rowdies Membership" requirement. We MUST have students in those seats. It's past pathetic.

Well said.

I think it's obvious now that the personality of this team is that they play well at times, but rarely good enough to put a MAC team away. Yet, in the past, we were always good enough to put average MAC teams away, especially at home. Now, I know a few people will say that they show an ability to find a way to win at the end of a game. But, all that shows is that you are giving opponents a chance to beat you at the end. See Ken+ State and WMU for examples. And we're lucky to have beaten EMU at home and BG on the road in the last week or so. And it's only going to get tougher with 2 guys out of the lineup. But I will keep saying this: This schedule this year ABSOLUTELY favors us. We get 3 games at home to close out the season in that last week. If we remain tied for 1st at that point, will any other team in the MAC be in such a great position to win 3 in a row to capture the title?

Hey, I'm not raving about the guy's greatness, but it's apparent that we need him now. And I'll take the Good Deji over the Bad Deji, please.

My immediate thought is....what the heck has happened to Deji? He displayed some great improvement early, moved into the starting lineup, but has now disappeared completely from the lineup?

In the postgame, Keith just pretty much blasted the way the game was officiated in the last 25 seconds, as carefully as he could without going too far. In particular, I think calling Reggie for a foul on a scramble for a loose ball in the last 10 secs. of a game is BS. In addition, the foul on Tree when the guy flopped on the floor with one second left on the shot clock was questionable, as well as a possible foul as Quincy was taking that final 3-pointer. Keith did go after the officials before the post game handshake. I think he really believed that the ending was really poorly called. And I think he has a point.

Horrible last 25 min. of play for Akron. Again, another double digit first half lead thrown out the window. Tree's 2 missed FTs late were critical, but the game was lost long before that. And that Western team wasn't impressing me very much. We did as much as we could to use Kwan and Big Dog to make up for Harney's absence. Just a bad night execution-wise on offense. Wow...it would have been nice to beat BG and Western on the road, back to back.

The people I know at Akron have always done a good job of keeping their mouths shut about these kinds of things. People talk about some things, but not this. And that's probably for the best, even though I am very curious. There is always cause for concern for me whenever something like this happen. First of all, it will likely affect the team's performance. Secondly, it can always be an indication that it's part of a bigger problem. We'll see what develops.

So, he works in Kansas, for Charlie Weis, and has lost both his recruiting job and receivers coach job for an "off the field" assignment? How low can you go? And we pulled this guy out of a nationwide search of applicants to be the best person to lead our football program?

Like I said, that team was pretty unconventional. After Merchant's departure, McLaughlin became the starter at the point, and Dowdell, McLaughlin and Loyer shared most of the total guard playing time between the 3 of them. So, I'm sure they all flipped around a bit. What an unlikely run by that team. Nobody saw it coming.

For the most part, I skipped the last few years of the Hipsher era, and the last few years of the Owens era in football. I think they were simultaneous. Dark days in Akron athletics, for sure.

I said this in another thread, but I just want us to grind it out until we get those last 3 home games to end the season. If we can somehow get to that point in a "control our own destiny" situation, I like our chances to win the regular season title again.

I remember him well, but just don't remember him playing the point. After we lost Merchant early in that 85-86 season, McLaughlin took over many of those duties as a freshman, along with Dowdell. And Dowling in a reserve role. Although, that was an odd team, with Huggins working his magic to make things work. We played with a 6'-3" Center that season, so it wouldn't surprise me. And that team won an OVC title. Unbelievable. A year in Zips basketball that I will never forget.

Yes, this would be a tough one to win. But, wouldn't we be in really sweet shape if we win it? In my opinion, that would leave only Buffalo as a significant road challenge remaining the rest of the season.

One down, and one to go. I've been saying that this 3-day, 2-game road trip would probably be the key to the rest of the season. Everyone needs to remember that we have the last 3 games.....in a row....all at HOME. If we can somehow get to that point with a "control our own destiny" situation, we'll have no excuses if we don't become

In that situation (when the ball is in the low post), people generally are not moving, unless they are cutting to the basket. The idea for the perimeter guys is to find an open spot. So, it's not odd that players are not moving in that situation. But, it agree that there should always be an open shot somewhere when 3 guys collapse on him. I think the spacing issue we are having is when the ball is out top.

What bothered me most about this game was BGSUs ability to drive to the basket. It reminded me of the Ken+ game in that way. Just like the Ken+ game, we also blew a chance to create some real separation in the first half. Forsythe. Oh boy. Looked lost defensively against some similar sized post players, who weren't really that talented....two missed shots and 4 fouls in 4 minutes. If we can't play him against size, and can't play him against athletic guys (like at Ken+), what can his role be on this team? I've seen enough banked last-second hail mary shots against us to last a lifetime. It can STOP now. It's our turn. If Keith's "we'll be in a lot of close games" comment proves true, we are all going to need Cardiologists before this season is over.

Now, here's the dilemma. It would seem quite impractical to play all of the women's volleyball and basketball games in the new arena. So, that would also seem to put a damper on the idea of turning JAR into a full-time men's basketball practice facility.

Reading that article made me realize how much Ron Zook's career has taken a nose dive.

Ok...so I see San Fran., LA, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and New Jersey.....with 2 more teams to be announced "later", according to an on-line story. With these being major population areas, what is the likelihood that Akron is one of those last two teams?

Is that one of his sons holding him back in that picture? Mount Saint Hipsher......love it.