Staying Close to the Vest - Coach Groce-related News and Views

[UAZipster0305]

I am all in on Dustin Ford.

 

I was generally against Embick's hire as Porter's legacy coach, but I was wrong. We'll be fortunate if Groce-Ford plays out equally well, but I think it could.

[akzipper]

13 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

At least when Dambrot left he went to a school in indisputable better conference and had a close, personal connection to the school. I would have preferred Groce get the Butler job as that would make a ton of sense. This feels like a swift kick in the nuts and is a humbling experience for the state of the program.

 

I will cheer for Groce if he returns to the JAR to have his name retired, but I will be actively rooting against CoC.

 

Couldn't agree more. This is like JoMo ditching Akron football to coach The Citadel. 

 

I hate Duquesne and now I hate Charleston. I school I didn't even know existed a few weeks ago. 

[GJGood]

I feared this day and am trying to make sense of it.

 

Maybe this was done for Dustin’s benefit? If he is already being groomed to be the head guy? I think I also read that Geno Ford’s contract was just about over at Stony Brook. I believe Geno’s son coaches at Nordonia High School. Maybe this ends up with the Ford brothers both on the Zips sideline?

[GP1]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

You can probably add in the if you're not first, you're last mentality that has made people less compelled to support teams unless they're not national title contenders.

 

Also, the loss of community in sports at a local level. Attendance in high school, college, and even pro sports is down all across the country. Particularly at the lower levels there appears to be less pride in where one lives.

Excellent points. 

 

Americans seem to have lost the appreciation of watching people compete for the sake of competition. The word "competition" throughout history has had nothing to do with winning or losing. When one competes at any level, that means to bring out the best in yourself AND the person who is your opponent. The worst thing to do is to win a game against someone who isn't trying hard. The best thing to do is to win against someone who has given it their all for the entire game and you also had to give it your all to win. It's hard to imagine how great UConn players must have felt after beating a Duke team that played at an extremely high level. Like the attendance issue, there are many variables as to why this is. 

 

In some ways, I am guilty of this. I don't like going to high school sporting events. I don't even like going to college football and basketball games below the G5 level. In fact, I won't go. I have not always been like this. Over time, I think my tastes have been "refined" for lack of a better term. What may have solidified this for me was having Wake Forest football tickets for 18 years. It is high level college football in person very close to the field because their stadium is so small. Guys on both teams will play in the NFL and the fan experience is still good, but not as good as it used to be (see all of my comments on games lasting entirely too long).

[clarkwgriswold]

Sad but inevitable day in Akron athletics.

[blueandgold]

Keep your eye on the portal now. I hope we don't see a mass exodus. 

[GP1]

Is Jim Grobe available?

[GP1]

I'm hoping there were enough conversations behind the scenes so that the AD was not caught off guard and already has formulated some thought about where he will go next. 

[Reslife4Life]

With any coaching change I am going to be skeptical. With an Akron zips coaching change I will be even more skeptical. Until I’m proven otherwise all I can think about is us turning out like Buffalo once oats left

[Zippy87]

Groce's teams were really fun and I appreciate the high character of the guys he brought in. The last 5 years have been especially fun. He didn't do what everyone said he would, though, in taking this program to levels KD couldn't, so that is disappointing. I often wonder what the program may have looked like if a skinny kid didn't decide to attend an open tryout...but you also have to credit the player development, too (Ford seemingly had a huge role in that). 

 

He's a good man and I wish him the best. 

 

 

[zippy5]

Just now, Reslife4Life said:

With any coaching change I am going to be skeptical. With an Akron zips coaching change I will be even more skeptical. Until I’m proven otherwise all I can think about is us turning out like Buffalo once oats left

Maybe we can turn out like Buffalo when Hurley left

[UAZipster0305]

Now I am really curious as to what UA may have tried to do to counter Groce's CoC offer or upgrade the program, even if only marginally.

[NWAkron]

its been an amazing 9 years.  incredible fun.  but these situations dont last forever.  im excited for what is next.

[GP1]

6 minutes ago, UAZipster0305 said:

Now I am really curious as to what UA may have tried to do to counter Groce's CoC offer or upgrade the program, even if only marginally.

They could have asked to be given the last look, JG shows them the offer and they told they couldn't do it. Decision made. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

10 minutes ago, UAZipster0305 said:

Now I am really curious as to what UA may have tried to do to counter Groce's CoC offer or upgrade the program, even if only marginally.

 

Live look at Nemer and Goodrich attempting to move Akron, OH, to a beautiful oceanfront location in the south.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Let'sGoZips94

[UAZipster0305]

1 minute ago, GP1 said:

They could have asked to be given the last look, JG shows them the offer and they told they couldn't do it. Decision made. 

If so, that's a perfectly reasonable and respectable scenario from both sides. If it played out that way, so be it.

[zippy5]

1 minute ago, UAZipster0305 said:

If so, that's a perfectly reasonable and respectable scenario from both sides. If it played out that way, so be it.

I wouldn't expect anything less from Groce. He is a stand up guy and I know this couldn't have been easy on him either

[Captain Kangaroo]

It’s been a bitch getting a beer and a burger at Corner Alley the past several years. Looking forward to the smaller lines and increased leg room when pregaming in 2027!

[kreed5120]

3 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

It’s been a bitch getting a beer and a burger at Corner Alley the past several years. Looking forward to the smaller lines and increased leg room when pregaming in 2027!

 

Shorter lines for $2 beers nights at the JAR as well.

[GP1]

3 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

It’s been a bitch getting a beer and a burger at Corner Alley the past several years. Looking forward to the smaller lines and increased leg room when pregaming in 2027!

Akron is being left on solid footing. You may need to plan better. 

[exit322]

42 minutes ago, GP1 said:

(see all of my comments on games lasting entirely too long).

 

College basketball for the most part has this sorted well.  Football...just does not.

[clarkwgriswold]

I was angry when KD left.  I'm sad with Groce's departure.  What a great ride it was.

 

I wish him the best.  We just lost a top 25 coach in the country.

 

All that being said, let's get behind Dustin.  He's really earned this opportunity.

[a-zip]

Been trying to figure out what I am more upset about.  Losing Coach Groce or losing him to College of Charleston.   

 

It's the latter.  This is an insult.

[AkronAlumnus]

Just now, a-zip said:

Been trying to figure out what I am more upset about.  Losing Coach Groce or losing him to College of Charleston.   

 

It's the latter.  This is an insult.

I'm w/ you on this.  I could see Butler, but CoC is a puzzling.  

[zippy5]

it seems crazy to me that he supposedly priced himself out of the USF job so they settled for the CoC coach, but CoC as able to then meet his demands. Maybe the USF rumblings weren't as real as we thought