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I'll HOPE for the "new coach effect" to produce a much-better-than-expected 7 wins, much like our success at the beginning of the JD era. I'll be VERY HAPPY with 6 wins. I'll be SATISFIED with 5 wins, and a feeling that we are getting better. But...my honest thinking is that we don't have the personnel to get more than 4 wins with this schedule.

If this was said, when was it said? If it was after our 14 point victory in 08, their team certainly responded by kicking our tails in 09. I sure hope that they don't continue to show improvement again this year.

Is there an "absolutely not" option?

First of all, thanks for making me feel old. I was a student at Akron at that time. In my opinion, nothing has really ever changed about the MAC. There could be periods of time where we seem a little more or less competitive on a national scale. But for the most part, it's decades of bottom-level D-1A football, with minimal fan interest.

Word on the street is Ianello had the existing scoreboard torn down. New 2010 InfoCision endzone view is below: What's funny about that photo is that it seems like UND has been irrelevant since they obstructed the view of TD Jesus. Coincidence? I think not! Maybe we need one of those to change our fortunes. Anything would help.

Some things just speak for themselves. This would be one of them.

I would never describe us as an "athletic" team. In fact, I think many teams in our own league are more athletic than us. For the most part, I also don't believe we have guards that can "burn" defenses off the dribble.

I just simply want to see us do enough just to get INTO the tournament on a yearly basis. Butler would have certainly been there, even if they did not win their conference tournament, and being in that king of position should be a reasonable short-term goal. In term of conference limitations, our situations are similar. This is how their formula apprears to me. And it's pretty simple. 1) Scheduled several power-conference opponents OOC. 2) Were fortunate enough to win some of them. (you can only win them if you play them) 3) Dominated conference play. 4) Took the great news of the growth of their program to the recruiting trail.

Ok...come on...stop right now. That game would not be anything close to competitive, even while we are a bad D-1A football team right now. If the game actually happened, I'd be disappointed if the score wasn't at least 35-0 at the half.

I recall that too. It was a Wallaby, not a Kangaroo. I think it died. You can find it in the biology lab now. Captain.....Actually, if I remember correctly, the winning name for it was also "Wallaby". Was anyone working in the athletic dept. at the time who could remember more of the details? I don't recall ever hearing anything about it ever again.

Dave, Thanks for the data. I think this is close enough to convince me that someone would have a difficult time showing the there's really any significant difference between the two leagues. The MAC East is probably better than the overall Horizon. But with all teams considered, unfortunately, I can't see much difference.

This was done....something like 15-20 years ago. My memory tells that there was a contest to name it, and it was introduced at a football game. But, I don't remember ever seeing it again, or what happened after that.

???? Just so nobody is misled by this.... Huggins did not even start coaching here until after the completion of the JAR. And...Muse was Akron's president during the Huggins era.

Although I often agree with most of the assessments about the JAR's deficiencies.....please....direct me to something that shows that the shape/size of the arena was THE reason Huggins left, and not the serious move upward that the Cincinnati job presented. I was still a student when Bob was hired. The JAR was a brand new facility at the time, and an amazing upgrade from where we used to watch basketball games. If you want to feel sorry for someone, feel sorry for some of the last coaches who preceded him, who had to run our program with Memorial Gym as their centerpiece.

If I had to guess before the season was over, I'd say there was no chance of him becoming a pro. But, many times when players from less-known leagues get a chance to showcase their talents in high profile, televised games, they get a huge boost. Is it enough for him to get drafter by the NBA? It's certainly a possibility.

If they expand, it means a lot more money into the pockets of the power conferences. This is well thought out, and they know how much this benefits the BCS schools. Throw a little bone to some mid-majors, but at the end of the day, the BCS schools will receive a much greater benefit than mid-majors. The power conferences would have even more teams in the tournament if it expands....I know that. But, it does add many more opportunities for all the rest of us. Having only 2 appearances in the last 30 years isn't going to give us much of a chance to make up any ground. Now, with the field expanded, we'd have a chance to get in every year if we continue to be one of the 2-3 best teams in our league. And I'm sure there are supporters of dozens of other programs who will feel the same way.

Certainly an opportunity for many "smaller" schools and conferences to show something. At this point, I can't see this as anything other than a positive for all of us that are in non-power conferences. Which also means that I am surprised that such a move would materialize considering that it doesn't appear to be something that benefits the big boys.

I was referring to the personnel on the floor when I said the starting lineup was pretty obvious for next year. Not necessarily the positions. Steve will be the PG. I think KD really trusts him to run the team out there, and he'll be in his 5th year with the program. Humpty will be the starter at the SG, unless Darryl wins back that spot. I'm not crazy about it, but it's what we have right now. I'll be shocked if the stating front court has anyone other than who he mentions. I know KD is going to be looking for some different skills in the backcourt, and it will be welcomed. But, I don't see an immediate transition away from having his most experienced players in the starting lineup.

Hard to argue about anything there. The starting lineup seems like a no-brainer, expect for the possibility that Darryl could go back to being a starter again. Note: An article about Ken+'s future was in the ABJ yesterday.

Appreciate you posting the updates. Especially this off-season, where so many uncertainties will exist.

You're joking right? You refuse to go to any Clippers, Blue Jackets, or Crew games because Ohio State is less than 10 miles from all of those stadiums? I sometimes feel like when I am that close to OSWho....that's correct. Doesn't the presence of high concentrations of Red and Silver make you ill as well? But regardless, I don't have an interest in making a 4-hour round trip to see any of those teams you mentioned, and don't really care much for Cowlumbus as a whole, beyond using their highways to get to other places south of here.

Ohhh. Unfortunately, I can't see spending any money on admission to sports stadiums of any teams in Cowlumbus. Especially the ones that wear Red and Silver I only do it when they are playing the Zips.

I remember seeing him at spring practice around that time. I thought he was going to have a fantastic career. I hope he has a great senior season with all that he's been through.

I think a lot of people will view Akron as losing alot too. Especially the way Jimmy and C Mc were carrying so much of the load for us in the tournament. We definitely need to see more improvement out of some of those other guys that have been around here for a few years.

We're certainly better than several of the conferences on the list. So, I'm guessing it was an oversight. However, it does tell me that we're easily forgettable.