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Dambrot says 'yes' to Duquesne this time


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  On 3/31/2017 at 7:44 PM, kreed5120 said:

He didn't even have the decency to have a team meeting to notify his players beforehand. Instead he left them in the dark and had his assistants do his dirty work afterwards.

 

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They were all on spring break. While I don't like him going after our recruits and possibly some players, I can't blame him for letting them know on the phone. No one was in Akron

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What has been eating at me (and if I'm being a sissy, somebody please tell me) is that he basically hasn't never even said bye. All of the players leaving have written their farewell letters to Zipsnation, but not a peep from Dambrot. It's like Akron never gave him his second chance or wasn't a big part of his life at all.

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  On 3/31/2017 at 7:44 PM, kreed5120 said:

He didn't even have the decency to have a team meeting to notify his players beforehand. Instead he left them in the dark and had his assistants do his dirty work afterwards.

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He wasn't able to do that.  They were on Spring Break when he made the decision to leave.  He did say that he contacted each of them. But I can't confirm that.  

 

Sorry  Zippy 5.........I didn't see that you had already corrected this when I responded.  

Edited by skip-zip
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  On 3/31/2017 at 8:20 PM, LZIp said:

What has been eating at me (and if I'm being a sissy, somebody please tell me) is that he basically hasn't never even said bye. All of the players leaving have written their farewell letters to Zipsnation, but not a peep from Dambrot. It's like Akron never gave him his second chance or wasn't a big part of his life at all.

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I kinda figured we'd get a token newspaper ad or something, but oh well. Don't really care to be honest

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To be fair to KD, someone is allowed to have a change of heart/mind.  Akron is his dream job.  I think him leaving for Duquesne should be a alarm clock for the U to do something drastic about the JAR.  No more talky-talky.

 

And thus far, TDM is the only Zip who's announced he's going to follow Dambrot to Duquesne, so it doesn't appear he's actively gutting the roster, as some have charged.  Also, it doesn't appear Dambrot's attempting to lure away our lone HS recruit, Jayden Sayles, who is not already on campus.  Parrish is already on campus and has developed some relationships (he's on spring break w/ Ivey, Eubanks & Poke) so I'd be surprised if he transfers out.

 

KD is recruiting current HS juniors who he had been recruiting at Akron... but that only makes sense.

 

I'm extremely grateful for what KD did here, but quite honestly, now I'm...

  On 3/31/2017 at 8:52 PM, zippy5 said:

...but oh well. Don't really care to be honest

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This is the first I've posted in a KD-related thread in a few days.  What I'm by far most interested in now is the Search for the next Head Coach thread!!!

 

Go Zips!!! :rock:

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  On 3/31/2017 at 8:20 PM, LZIp said:

What has been eating at me (and if I'm being a sissy, somebody please tell me) is that he basically hasn't never even said bye. All of the players leaving have written their farewell letters to Zipsnation, but not a peep from Dambrot. It's like Akron never gave him his second chance or wasn't a big part of his life at all.

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I've had this same thing on my mind, LZ.  I just have to wonder if KD is salty because a contingent of fans did not appreciate the 21 wins or the trips to the MAC tournament CG or whatever fill-in-the-blank success he accomplished while here.  Putting myself in his shoes it would be disheartening to hear complaints about not being able to take the next step.  It had to be a heartache.  On the other hand, I think you really have to put on your big boy pants if you want to be a D1 coach, but when someone gives you seven million reasons to forsake an unappreciative fanbase it's not surprising.

 

I think we all feel a little betrayed because KD played the Akron for Life card but it turned out to be just words.  I appreciate what he did for this program, but I don't feel especially warm and fuzzy about wishing him luck in Pittsburgh.  Maybe in time I will feel differently but right now I'm a little sore.

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  On 3/31/2017 at 9:33 PM, K92 said:

I appreciate what he did for this program, but I don't feel especially warm and fuzzy about wishing him luck in Pittsburgh.

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I can't wish him much luck in Pittsburgh.  We're going to be fighting for the same recruits in NEO & WPA.  I kinda hope he falls flat on his face.  And not due to sour grapes whatsoever. 

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I just doubt an unappreciative fan base had anything to do with it when the $$$ is that great and the stakes are so high.  We were all frustrated these last few years, and I saw no upside to his staying.   He had played the LeBron and the 20 win season cards too many times for my taste.  Did either of those cards get us a quality win or a new gym or a tourney run?  He knew damn well that he left us with a smallish line up for next year.  And his plan for the 2016-2017 season was weak at best.  That's my rant.

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  On 3/29/2017 at 7:25 PM, LZIp said:

How many Zips fans at the meaningless bowl game? I don't understand why everyone wants to make it basketball vs football. There are many other less value-added sports to take aim at.

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Because Football is the big sinkhole that continues to damage the University of Akron.

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  On 3/31/2017 at 9:33 PM, K92 said:

I've had this same thing on my mind, LZ.  I just have to wonder if KD is salty because a contingent of fans did not appreciate the 21 wins or the trips to the MAC tournament CG or whatever fill-in-the-blank success he accomplished while here.  Putting myself in his shoes it would be disheartening to hear complaints about not being able to take the next step.  It had to be a heartache.  On the other hand, I think you really have to put on your big boy pants if you want to be a D1 coach, but when someone gives you seven million reasons to forsake an unappreciative fanbase it's not surprising.

 

I think we all feel a little betrayed because KD played the Akron for Life card but it turned out to be just words.  I appreciate what he did for this program, but I don't feel especially warm and fuzzy about wishing him luck in Pittsburgh.  Maybe in time I will feel differently but right now I'm a little sore.

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  On 3/31/2017 at 10:11 PM, Blue & Gold said:

I can't wish him much luck in Pittsburgh.  We're going to be fighting for the same recruits in NEO & WPA.  I kinda hope he falls flat on his face.  And not due to sour grapes whatsoever. 

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  On 3/31/2017 at 10:21 PM, NWAkron said:

I just doubt an unappreciative fan base had anything to do with it when the $$$ is that great and the stakes are so high.  We were all frustrated these last few years, and I saw no upside to his staying.   He had played the LeBron and the 20 win season cards too many times for my taste.  Did either of those cards get us a quality win or a new gym or a tourney run?  He knew damn well that he left us with a smallish line up for next year.  And his plan for the 2016-2017 season was weak at best.  That's my rant.

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I am mostly on point with all three of you here. Ran out of likes.

I never watched the Duquesne press conference and never will. If I'm flipping channels and I see Duquesne is on, my remote will continue to flip to the next channel. Time to move on. Akron will still be suiting up next year, with or without any of the staff or players from this past season. Our goal should be to support those that stay and also the new coaching staff.

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  On 3/31/2017 at 7:41 PM, skip-zip said:

 

I think that's a very, very noble gesture on your part.  Can you "pledge" that donation to the U of A with that condition?

 

BALSY ARENA................that might take awhile to get used to.  

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I'd probably let ZipsNation decide the name, or something like that.  Older folk know the Zips legends better than I do.  Or perhaps "ZipsNation Arena"  kinda like the sound of that.  ;)  

 

Now about winning the $500-powerball....

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  On 3/31/2017 at 10:36 PM, Balsy said:

 

I'd probably let ZipsNation decide the name, or something like that.  Older folk know the Zips legends better than I do.  Or perhaps "ZipsNation Arena"  kinda like the sound of that.  ;)  

 

Now about winning the $500-powerball....

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Could always name it after Fred. Wonder what he would be thinking right now...

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  On 3/31/2017 at 9:33 PM, K92 said:

I've had this same thing on my mind, LZ.  I just have to wonder if KD is salty because a contingent of fans did not appreciate the 21 wins or the trips to the MAC tournament CG or whatever fill-in-the-blank success he accomplished while here.  Putting myself in his shoes it would be disheartening to hear complaints about not being able to take the next step.  It had to be a heartache.  On the other hand, I think you really have to put on your big boy pants if you want to be a D1 coach, but when someone gives you seven million reasons to forsake an unappreciative fanbase it's not surprising.

 

I think we all feel a little betrayed because KD played the Akron for Life card but it turned out to be just words.  I appreciate what he did for this program, but I don't feel especially warm and fuzzy about wishing him luck in Pittsburgh.  Maybe in time I will feel differently but right now I'm a little sore.

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Never. f him. I come across as a dick a lot of times and most of the time it is intentional. However, I will never feel any sort of love for him anymore. If he was a TRUE zip this wouldn't happen. 

Edited by Zipgrad01
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  On 3/31/2017 at 10:35 PM, mes102 said:

I never watched the Duquesne press conference and never will. If I'm flipping channels and I see Duquesne is on, my remote will continue to flip to the next channel. Time to move on.

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I am not bitter at Keith. I got to know him enough off the court as a person that I couldn't feel like that.  But I can't believe he left, and I'm just mad that we'll likely have to endure some sort of "starting over" period.  

 

But I have to tell you, I can echo what you are saying above.  I'll never be able to watch the press conference, and it will be too painful to ever see him walking the sidelines with another team (unless it's because we're beating his team at the JAR).  I even remember the first time that I saw the words: Keith Dambrot - Head Coach - Duquesne.......and I wanted to scream.  

 

When we all get past this, it will indeed be time to put all of this behind us, recharge our enthusiasm, and rally behind the team.

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  On 4/1/2017 at 12:11 AM, Blue & Gold said:

Already there, Skip.  And, quite honestly, this has recharged my enthusiasm.

 

Go Zips! :rock:

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Things are going to feel a little different to all of us, at first.  But I think this team and this program are going to need all of us more than ever.  

 

No turning back.  I've endured bad Akron basketball many times going back to the early 80's.  No more.  

Edited by skip-zip
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  On 4/1/2017 at 12:27 AM, kreed5120 said:

I'm still salty about the situation, but in 5-10 years when they have a banner raising ceremony to honor Dambrot I'll be at the JAR (yes, I have 0 faith we'll have a new arena by then) standing and clapping as loud as everyone else in the arena.

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Speaking of this, how long till we hang Dru III & Rome's jerseys in the rafters?  IMO this should have happened already!!!  

 

(Probably Big Bad Jeremiah Woods' jersey too.)

Edited by Blue & Gold
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I harbor no ill will for KD leaving. I do feel the way he left destroyed the feel-good Akron story he preached and lived ..... until it did not suit him. Like Skip I got to know him but my way was thru away soccer games as he watched Roby. He was impossible not to like and I still feel he is a good person. He handled his leaving the wrong way; he refused to admit he was the biggest factor in this team not going deeper in the NCAA tourney. Forget the arena, attendance, budget, resources. It was there for him to do it and he didn't. That's hard to take. It's easier to leave. KD raised the level of our progrum. The next guy needs to take it further before he too leaves.

 

I've read some great posts about who are next coach should be. But that decision is up to Larry Williams and Matt Wilson. I'm giving them my faith that they will find the best replacement. By then I'll stop feeling bad and start building up the Zips. The JAR will be improved, someday, and a new arena is a target of this new regime. Let 'em do their job.

 

For us the measure of a man, or fanbase, isn't how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up.

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A lot of comments about being recharged, re-excited...I've been dwelling on the situation since he announced he was moving and it finally hit me I was kinda looking forward to the new regime...new staff, new style, new players, grief and angst (we're fans, right?).  When I was first financially able to go to games on a regular basis, it was Huggins' team, and season tickets were not cheap.  When he left and we got Crawford, I could affort chairbacks up top for the first time.  And I felt like I was a part of soething new.  Basketball sucked, wore a paper bag over my head towards the end, but still went and was part of my "Section Community".  Because Crawford was so bad, when Hipsher came, lower chairbacks were more abundant and I could afford 4!  And it was exciting again...new.  Of course KD's taken it all to a higher level, but as I look back, It's gotten stale to me.  So maybe I'll be back for more home games this next season, and will probably pay more attention to the minutea again...Just some thoughts from an old guy. 

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