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

[Captain Kangaroo]

16 minutes ago, VAZip said:

What does fb do for UA as whole?

 

There is no amount of success they could have in fb that is remotely as beneficial as tournament run. 

1.) It allows us to stay in MAC and avoid the Horizon League.

 

2.) We will never have a tournament run. Those days are over. That's a big reason why Groce left. He'll have more money to retain players like Nate Johnson...money that Bud Wentz and his supporters could only dream of generating.

 

Every upperclassman capable of leading the Zips to an NCAA tournament victory as a Junior or Senior will have left UA for greener pastures during their final 1 or 2 years of eligibility.

[kreed5120]

6 minutes ago, VAZip said:

If even part of the reason is the football program is hampering the success of bb and the other successful sports programs I have to ask..what does fb do for UA as whole? Even if they managed to when the MAC and went on to win a potato, tangerine, or fruitcake bowl, who would really notice and how would that add to the prestige of UA? There is no amount of success they could have in fb that is remotely as beneficial as tournament run. 

 

That was one of the things that stuck out to me about Goodrich's interview. He pointed out Duke's basketball program needed football to remain in the ACC. That makes sense as at that level only the Big East could provide a comparable alternative if they scrapped football and even then that could be a step down.

 

Akron will never get an AAC, let alone ACC invite so that makes it an invalid comparison. The A10 and MVC are non-FBS conferences in our own footprint that would be a step up in competition compared to the MAC for hoops.

 

10 years ago I wouldn't seriously considered canceling the FBS program, but with NIL and our well documented financial troubles I just don't see how we can keep up in both sports. It's reported the NIL spend in basketball is projected to be up 35% compared to last year. With that kind of growth it's just a matter of time before our basketball program decays over time. If we continue down this path I fear we will have 2 programs struggling. Maybe not now, but in 5-10 years out.