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By saying "ball handling skills", I am sure you are referring to his ability to hang on to a basketball, and not his dribbling. I couldn't count the number of times a ball was knocked away from him, or taken away, surely contributing to lower rebounding and scoring numbers.

I know you didn't mean any disrespect, and neither have I in my critique over the last several months in evaluating his chances in the NBA. He had a lot working against him, lets face it. He was a 7-footer playing in the MAC, which certainly puts a lot more pressure on you to stack up some noticeable numbers. Yet, he lacked an aggressive scoring move toward the basket against this lower level of competition. His 2 offensive rebounds per game had to stick out like a sore thumb also. If he had become a 20/10 guy by his Senior year, he probably had a chance. It didn't happen. And I commend his work on his physique, but there was rightfully a concern over whether he had an NBA body. Who knows if he can possibly still develop enough to get another chance. But, I do believe that NBA teams are more likely to take a "flyer" on a big man when he is 18 rather than 22 years old.

I think it's a shame that such a unique place is no longer a memorable place to stay for both my personal and business guests over the years. An era has ended, for sure. Akron does indeed have an issue with downtown hotel space that needs to be resolved. Some of the other projects that are being discussed could alleviate that problem. Who knows. Time will tell.

I was still holding out hope, regardless of what I thought about his chances. It would have been a great piece of publicity for the U of A if his name/school had been called in this type of nationally televised forum. I wish him luck, and hope he works hard and becomes one of the fortunate ones who somehow finds his way to the NBA by some other route.

I've often thought about these kinds of things over the last few years whenever Cleveland fans find ways to discredit someone with LeBron's character. We live in an era where, unfortunately, sports fans worship guys who commit crimes, hit their wives, etc.

Maybe not in Franco's case, but I can think of quite a few HS QBs at Akron who were really successful at other positions. This is actually very, very common. Coaches know that QBs are often among the most athletically gifted players on their respective HS teams, and converting these kinds of athletes to other positions is often pretty successful compared to other position changes.

If that happens, that should tell you that we're really starting to add some talent and depth to that position. Franco came here with some pretty good accolades. And if you go back about a year or so, I'd say that he would have been the one I was most looking forward to eventually rising to the top of the chart.

Dave, Thanks for taking over my role of reminding everyone about this same thing every year. Some people feel compelled to start inserting freshmen into key roles before they have even had a taste of a D-1 basketball court. And I do agree with you that the "scrub factor" has been reduced in recent years. May that trend continue.

Here's the way I see it. I don't think there would be any problem with our own fans welcoming him back. My only issue is this: It's not his first problem, and he is now a convicted felon. Can our program handle bringing back someone like this? Should our current team be forced to deal with the distractions? And is the long-term recruiting, reputation and integrity of the program more important?

I guess the disappointing thing for me was that there was a plea deal, and as a result, we will never know what really happened. And after following the facts of the case for so long, that's a letdown for me. I sure hope that he is never allowed back on the team. For me, that would not speak highly of the integrity of our program. Time to move on.

I went with "bozo", but all of those words apply. He called a tie against Michigan one of the greatest "wins" in school history. He railed on TCU and BSU for playing the "sisters of the poor", not realizing that his team's SOS was ranked lower. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck........you know the rest.

Very funny, but I think you know what I meant. There's so many stories of very committed and successful people who die shortly after they stop doing what they love. It really has to make all of us older folks wonder if leaving the stress of the working world (especially sports coaching) is really the path to a happier and healthier existence in our later years.

I still remember Keith and Charlie standing on the floor with an arm around each other waiting for the results of that debacle in the 2007 title game. Charlie was a fierce competitor, but a gracious loser as well. The man had already escaped death once, and never looked well to me after that point. You also have to wonder why so many people pass away after retiring from doing what they love.

I'm sad that the years of stupid statements from Gee is coming to an end. The entertainment was always priceless. What a bozo.

Because "quality" isn't quite the first word that comes to mind when we're talking about someone who ends up on the cover of SI, with an accompanying story about a long history of undesirable behavior (I'm being kind). High Profile? I'll give you that. But, that just makes the quality issue stick out even more. Yes, I'll stick with my claim of being embarrassed. I'm disappointed that my alma mater didn't hold themselves to a higher standard when making this hire.

I'm with you. Just about everyone I know outside the circle of UA athletic fans saw it that way. The whole Tressel thing is just embarrassing to me, as a UA alum. As I said back when we hired him, maybe waiting a few years or so, until he was no longer the poster child of disregard for the rules in college athletics, could have made the perception a lot different.

I didn't see him today either.

I don't get it. How can anyone expect any return on investment by putting 35 million in that place? You can build a brand new football stadium for a minor-league football team for that amount.

Huh? Ken+ was a #9 just a few years ago. Better watch. A couple of people on here who yearly predict that we will be a Sweet 16 team will be all over you for that response. Although we can debate the chances of the MAC ever being a multiple-bid conference again, the single-digit seed is very attainable.

Could we have been a solid single-digit seed in the NCAA tourney last year with Q in the lineup? I say YES. We can only hope that he'll be just as big of an addition to a team with some holes to fill in 2013-2014. I believe what Keith has said, that he is possibly one of the best players in the MAC. Welcome back Q. We need you. You are a necessary addition this year if we are to keep pushing forward as a program with some national prominence.

Absolutely. There's a reason why they have refused to play us for decades. And the last time they played us in the 80s, they were forced to play us because it was an NIT game.

Against OSWho in Buffalo? We can only dream.

I couldn't help but to notice that there was about 70 guys on that list too. And they don't even put him on the list of "top players not invited" either. Just keep hoping for the best.

Isn't it funny how the people that bash LeBron on this board seem to be the same people who are finding any way they can to criticize the new St. V arena?

So, you think this guy is leaving a very possible starting gig at Colorado to be a good and supportive soldier in a bench role at a MAC school with a 1-11 record?