clarkwgriswold Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 7 minutes ago, akzipper said: Nobody thought KD would ever leave and then it happened and he was about as Akron as they come. Groce has a son on the team and probably wants his family to stay put. I do think UA needs to put some serious money into the JAR if they want to keep him around. The new practice facility is a big step in the right direction. But we can only ignore the big ugly elephant in the room long enough. As for Groce's son, the word is he is on his way to a smaller program next season. This year was a chance to play for his dad and get some practice experience against solid competition before heading off to somewhere he can play. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 15 minutes ago, akzipper said: Nobody thought KD would ever leave and then it happened and he was about as Akron as they come. Groce has a son on the team and probably wants his family to stay put. I do think UA needs to put some serious money into the JAR if they want to keep him around. The new practice facility is a big step in the right direction. But we can only ignore the big ugly elephant in the room long enough. KD was still here 13 years, and there was the very unique situation of Duquesne's tie to his father. He had received offers many times before and, while he did consider 1 or 2 others, always turned them down. That's just to say that I also think it would take a unique circumstance for Groce to leave. This is a snippet from Terry Pluto's recent article about him: But after what happened at Illinois and then reviving his career at Akron, Groce sees life differently. “One of the things I’m most proud of is how the players who completed his eligibility here have also graduated,” said Groce. “We’ve had good guys in the program. One of my goals is to make sure they are better people for having played here.” The Zips have a 3.0 grade point average. Groce said after coming to the Zips, he changed his recruiting approach. He takes fewer chances with players when it comes to character issues. At Illinois, he had some players arrested during his tenure. “Obviously, who has to have physical talent to play at this level,” said Groce. “But talent isn’t enough. We are careful to bring in guys who fit our team and our culture. We are careful of red flags. We want guys with the right work ethic and attitudes.” Groce signed a contract extension in 2022 that carries him through the 2029-30 season. His base salary is $650,000. John and Allison Groce have three children and have been married 22 years. Living in Akron for eight years is their longest stay during their marriage. With his success, it’s possible Groce can be romanced by a major program. In his last four years, his record is 95-38. The 53-year-old Groce doesn’t seem in a hurry to go anywhere. “Faith and family are important to us,” said Groce. “I’ve always lived and coached in the Midwest. I love coaching at Akron.” I also found this interesting: “It used to be that you just had to recruit players,” said Dambrot. “Now, you have to recruit people in your community to back your program (financially). John has immersed himself in Akron. People know him and like him.” Dambrot said Akron has “one of the best” NIL programs in the MAC, which helps in the recruitment of players. “Then you add John, an experienced coach and a good one,” said Dambrot. “He’s also a good person. He has them set up to be successful for a long time.” 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 29 minutes ago, akzipper said: Nobody thought KD would ever leave and then it happened and he was about as Akron as they come. Groce has a son on the team and probably wants his family to stay put. I do think UA needs to put some serious money into the JAR if they want to keep him around. The new practice facility is a big step in the right direction. But we can only ignore the big ugly elephant in the room long enough. What do you mean by serious money and what would you like to buy with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 18 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said: As for Groce's son, the word is he is on his way to a smaller program next season. This year was a chance to play for his dad and get some practice experience against solid competition before heading off to somewhere he can play. Good for him. You're only young once. Go get some PT. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 33 minutes ago, akzipper said: Nobody thought KD would ever leave and then it happened and he was about as Akron as they come. Groce has a son on the team and probably wants his family to stay put. I do think UA needs to put some serious money into the JAR if they want to keep him around. The new practice facility is a big step in the right direction. But we can only ignore the big ugly elephant in the room long enough. Everything about the seating areas in the JAR feels rickety. Reduce capacity to make it all chair back. Newer, more solid (even perhaps cushioned?) chair back seats because even the current chair backs feel rickety. Don't mention the rickety GA bleachers. The older I get the harder the bleachers feel. There aren't even railings to hold on to as you climb the GA bleachers (even rickety railings would be better than no railings at all). I generally try to take guys to the games & I've had at least 3 comments this year alone about how they were expecting a nicer facility for D1 basketball (that's putting their verbalized sentiments graciously). 4 of my guys are getting older & aren't as mobile as they used to be. They simply can't navigate the rickety GA bleachers (which are an accident & a lawsuit just waiting to happen when they begin to fill) so always just sit in the front row of GA. Then, of course, they can't usually see the action on the floor due to the infamous railing & people constantly walking (or even just standing 😡) on the track. The JAR needs some very real TLC. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 8 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said: Everything about the seating areas in the JAR feels rickety. Reduce capacity to make it all chair back. Newer, more solid (even perhaps cushioned?) chair back seats because even the current chair backs feel rickety. Don't mention the rickety GA bleachers. The older I get the harder the bleachers feel. There aren't even railings to hold on to as you climb the GA bleachers (even rickety railings would be better than no railings at all). I generally try to take guys to the games & I've had at least 3 comments this year alone about how they were expecting a nicer facility for D1 basketball (that's putting their verbalized sentiments graciously). 4 of my guys are getting older & aren't as mobile as they used to be. They simply can't navigate the rickety GA bleachers (which are an accident & a lawsuit just waiting to happen when they begin to fill) so always just sit in the front row of GA. Then, of course, they can't usually see the action on the floor due to the infamous railing & people constantly walking (or even just standing 😡) on the track. The JAR needs some very real TLC. I agree with this. I think even starting with replacing the bleachers on the sidelines would go a long way. I have no idea on potential cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reslife4Life Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 7 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said: Everything about the seating areas in the JAR feels rickety. Reduce capacity to make it all chair back. Newer, more solid (even perhaps cushioned?) chair back seats because even the current chair backs feel rickety. Don't mention the rickety GA bleachers. The older I get the harder the bleachers feel. There aren't even railings to hold on to as you climb the GA bleachers (even rickety railings would be better than no railings at all). I generally try to take guys to the games & I've had at least 3 comments this year alone about how they were expecting a nicer facility for D1 basketball (that's putting their verbalized sentiments graciously). 4 of my guys are getting older & aren't as mobile as they used to be. They simply can't navigate the rickety GA bleachers (which are an accident & a lawsuit just waiting to happen when they begin to fill) so always just sit in the front row of GA. Then, of course, they can't usually see the action on the floor due to the infamous railing & people constantly walking (or even just standing 😡) on the track. The JAR needs some very real TLC. I took about 8 people to the kent game, most of which never went to akron or the jar before. We sat about at half court half way up in the GA bleachers. It is embarrassing that there is no middle aisle in those bleachers. If anyone had to get out, they had to either go across at least 15 people to the steps, or go in a maze path up and down rows to find the little space there was to move. And one guy is a ball state alum and was extremely unimpressed with how the Jar compared to Worthen Arena (I don't blame him) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 15 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said: I took about 8 people to the kent game, most of which never went to akron or the jar before. We sat about at half court half way up in the GA bleachers. It is embarrassing that there is no middle aisle in those bleachers. If anyone had to get out, they had to either go across at least 15 people to the steps, or go in a maze path up and down rows to find the little space there was to move. And one guy is a ball state alum and was extremely unimpressed with how the Jar compared to Worthen Arena (I don't blame him) Embarrassing is probably the best way to describe the JAR. It's not the worst in D1 or even the MAC, but it's not something to be proud of. For as much success as the basketball program has seen over the past 20 years we definitely deserve better. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 it needs upgrades, but if you attended that Kent game and left thinking about the facility, you got problems 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 I wish the JAR was nicer, but replacing bleachers with chair backs is going to cost the U money twice. Once for the cost to replace and the 2nd for the instances we would have crowds that would exceed the reduced capacity, though admittedly that would only come into play a few times a year at most. The Info has all bleachers and no railings and yet nobody complains about that for football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWAkron Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 That JAR is really holding this team back. 25-6 and 17-1 and UNDEFEATED AT HOME. What a hell scape. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZipsBBjunkie Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 I plead complete naivety on this one, I’ve been to the JAR countless times, but is the state of the JAR really a deal breaker for Groce? Or is this primarily a fan issue. Groce doesn’t care about the seating and bleachers does he? If he wins we come, when he plays Kent we come. It has nothing to do with recruiting as he’s proven already with the retention he’s had and the portal guys he’s brought in, many coming from places with top notch facilities. Sure a refurbished or brand new facility shows a deep level of commitment but it could also drain resources from elsewhere. I would think, in no particular order, salaries for his asst pool, NIL, funding for travel/tournaments, nutrition and perks for the athletes, and commitment from the University on things Bud has been paying for e.g. marketing AND ongoing operational support at the highest levels of the MAC are the things that would be much more relevant to him staying or going. 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reslife4Life Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 (edited) 8 minutes ago, ZipsBBjunkie said: I plead complete naivety on this one, I’ve been to the JAR countless times, but is the state of the JAR really a deal breaker for Groce? Or is this primarily a fan issue. Groce doesn’t care about the seating and bleachers does he? If he wins we come, when he plays Kent we come. It has nothing to do with recruiting as he’s proven already with the retention he’s had and the portal guys he’s brought in, many coming from places with top notch facilities. Sure a refurbished or brand new facility shows a deep level of commitment but it could also drain resources from elsewhere. I would think, in no particular order, salaries for his asst pool, NIL, funding for travel/tournaments, nutrition and perks for the athletes, and commitment from the University on things Bud has been paying for e.g. marketing AND ongoing operational support at the highest levels of the MAC are the things that would be much more relevant to him staying or going. No I don't think the state of the arena has that much to do with Groce's decision to stay or leave. But with some renovation it might be able to raise the bar on support from fans that aren't like us on here. I could be wrong, but we have seen what the bar looks like on games like Tuesday night vs Central Michigan, could a renovation help get more fans which would make a better environment for the team to play in? I believe so. Would that really have an effect on what goes on with the state of the team? I don't believe so And we have had this conversation on here so many times now. I don't think its bad to say we have a fantastic coach, great team culture, growing marketing/social media presence, AND we have a facility that doesn't match what the team deserves. Obviously being a public university that has declining enrollment for ~10 years any kind of money spent anywhere will have people arguing whether it is warranted. But if people like Bud Wentz are trying to model the Zips after Gonzaga, I am all for it, I'll support the team in a dated arena or wherever. I would just like to sit in a comfortable seat every once in a while Edited March 10 by Reslife4Life 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 18 minutes ago, NWAkron said: That JAR is really holding this team back. 25-6 and 17-1 and UNDEFEATED AT HOME. What a hell scape. My thoughts exactly. Putting a little lipstick on a pig won't move the needle. Potential recruits aren't going to care if the blue hairs have bleachers or chair backs. Akron would have to invest $80+ million in a new facility to get a wow factor from recruits. The University doesn't have that to spend and boosters, like Wentz, money is better spend on NIL. You get more bang for the buck. The low hanging fruit that entices players, like lockerroom and practice facility, has already been done. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 The JAR is a ****hole, but it's our ****hole. I'd love to see a new facility or a revamped facility but a school that is budgetary trouble and cutting staff has bigger concerns than throwing money at an adequate facility and doesn't much care about the comfort of the stalwarts that go to the games. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 16 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said: No I don't think the state of the arena has that much to do with Groce's decision to stay or leave. But with some renovation it might be able to raise the bar on support from fans that aren't like us on here. I could be wrong, but we have seen what the bar looks like on games like Tuesday night vs Central Michigan, could a renovation help get more fans which would make a better environment for the team to play in? I believe so. Would that really have an effect on what goes on with the state of the team? I don't believe so The new car smell always fades. Build it and they will come is only relevant in cinema. What drives attendance more than anything is success. Let me put it this way, do you think the football program would be in a better state like it is currently or if it played in a dumpy, paid off stadium, but had an additional $4+ million in its operating budget to pay for assistants, equipment, and NIL? Resources are finite. New facilities are nice, but are excessively expensive. You can stretch your dollar more by focusing on spending on things that provide the greatest ROI. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoopsFan03 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said: As for Groce's son, the word is he is on his way to a smaller program next season. This year was a chance to play for his dad and get some practice experience against solid competition before heading off to somewhere he can play. I know the College of Wooster was recruiting him last year. He would be a good fit in a winning program. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 (edited) 2 hours ago, zippy5 said: it needs upgrades, but if you attended that Kent game and left thinking about the facility, you got problems When I was at UA I always heard my friends say "Man I wish every basketball game was like that." It drove me crazy because every game WOULD be like that if people showed up more than once a season. Judging by the average crowds you would think the Zips won 5 games a year, not 20+. Every soccer game was like that regardless of opponent or weather. People would literally stand the entire game and didn't care. It was always fun. Edited March 10 by akzipper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reslife4Life Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 14 minutes ago, akzipper said: When I was at UA I always heard my friends say "Man I wish every basketball game was like that." It drove me crazy because every game WOULD be like that if people showed up more than once a season. Judging by the average crowds you would think the Zips won 5 games a year, not 20+. Every soccer game was like that regardless of opponent or weather. People would literally stand the entire game and didn't care. It was always fun. Key word, was. Even with the sustained success of soccer for the last 20+ years, the atmosphere isn't the same as it was. And its not even a covid thing, attendance dropped off before that even. I don't really know what has caused that decline, but it has to be said that winning isn't the end all be all for attendance 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 2 hours ago, zippy5 said: it needs upgrades, but if you attended that Kent game and left thinking about the facility, you got problems What does this even mean? I can understand that UA probably doesn't have the budget for it, but "I wish several local high schools didn't have nicer seating than my D1 college" means I have problems? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 5 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said: Key word, was. Even with the sustained success of soccer for the last 20+ years, the atmosphere isn't the same as it was. And its not even a covid thing, attendance dropped off before that even. I don't really know what has caused that decline, but it has to be said that winning isn't the end all be all for attendance I think that to win over the average student/fan, you have to achieve results that are being the norm. For basketball, the norm is a top 3 team in the MAC and contending in Cleveland each season. We are lucky that is the norm, but people start to get complacent after awhile if that norm doesn't change. I think part of what drew fans to Enrique Freeman - beyond his greatness and how amazing of a young person he is, of course - is he went beyond our norm in getting drafted and playing in the NBA. For Akron basketball to go beyond their norm, the next step is needing to win a tournament game. That will get the community's attention because it's a level of success they haven't seen before. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1981 grad Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 4 hours ago, Zippy87 said: We are careful to bring in guys who fit our team and our culture. We are careful of red flags. We want guys with the right work ethic and attitudes.” This statement is why Groce should not leave and will not be successful at the next level. Listen to our student athletes during the post game interviews. They are smart, articulate and will graduate with a degree. As a Zip fan, I appreciate how well our basketball team represents the U both on and off the court. Further, we have all seen how hard they have worked to improve their game from last year. However, this team would not do well at the Big Ten level. If Groce leaves, he will have to lower his standards to find those players that can excel at the Big Ten level. I think Groce loves working with scholar athletes. If it is between money and enjoying your job, I think Groce is smart enough to stay at Akron. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72 Roo Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 I agree that the JAR needs upgraded, but I don't think that is needed to keep Groce. He knows Camden Stockton is working to line up donors. Regardless there is no money to get the job done now. To do the job right the estimates range from 30-40 M. A new arena starts at 60 M so why do the upgrade at that level? Instead there are some donors who are being lined up who will give 5-10 M to make basic improvements to the present JAR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennZip Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 1 hour ago, Reslife4Life said: Key word, was. Even with the sustained success of soccer for the last 20+ years, the atmosphere isn't the same as it was. And its not even a covid thing, attendance dropped off before that even. I don't really know what has caused that decline, but it has to be said that winning isn't the end all be all for attendance Attendance has dfinitely dropped off for soccer. You write about sustained success for the last 20+ years. However, Akron did not win an NCAA soccer game for a 5 year period. (2019 to 2023). Also, there has been very little done to promote Akron soccer to the students or the Northeast Ohio soccer community. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 22 minutes ago, 72 Roo said: I agree that the JAR needs upgraded, but I don't think that is needed to keep Groce. He knows Camden Stockton is working to line up donors. Regardless there is no money to get the job done now. To do the job right the estimates range from 30-40 M. A new arena starts at 60 M so why do the upgrade at that level? Instead there are some donors who are being lined up who will give 5-10 M to make basic improvements to the present JAR. What are some examples of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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