Sarah Tokodi - Gone

[Captain Kangaroo]

Mixed messages in her departure comments

[ZachTheZip]

I wonder if this is the scholarship that opened up for our 5' 0" PG recruit.This gives a bit of substance to the rumors that are floating around. It seems like very few of the players really mesh with coach Kest's style. It also seems like we lose one of our top players every year to a rumored dismissal due to partying too much, followed by a transfer. This is a bad pattern that needs to stop soon, or we may see a new coach in a few years. You can't keep driving off your players like this.

[zippyrifle32]

This is a bad pattern that needs to stop soon, or we may see a new coach in a few years. You can't keep driving off your players like this.

i would agree that the pattern needs to stop, however i think it's on the player's shoulder's not the coach's. ultimately it is their responsibility to act in accordance with any rules, no matter how much you as a fan may disagree with them or think they are stupid.

[GP1]

Here is the cold hard truth of the WBB program at Akron (I don't think this is big news here). The program is absolutely terrible. JK should be given more slack than any other coach at the school. I say allow her ten years (8 more years) to straighten the program out (yes, it is really that bad). She has won at other places and I find it hard to believe that she may have already forgotten how to win BB games. If this team is not winning after 8 more years (some would accept just signs of life), then she should be fired and the program should be closed for good.I don't know what this hick girl from WV thought when she was signing a letter of intent to a D-1A school, but the reality of the matter is that most kids are not smart enough to play D-1A sports and pursue a difficult degree like nursing. Is JK too focused on sports and not academics? I don't know, but she will not get fired for her players graduating. I say good luck to this young lady and her desire to become a nurse, but she shouldn't blame Coach K. for her lack of ability to pursue the degree and play major college sports as well. She is just a good example of our society today. It is always someone elses fault when a person can't do what they want to do.

[Zip Watcher]

Here is the cold hard truth of the WBB program at Akron (I don't think this is big news here). The program is absolutely terrible. JK should be given more slack than any other coach at the school. I say allow her ten years (8 more years) to straighten the program out (yes, it is really that bad). She has won at other places and I find it hard to believe that she may have already forgotten how to win BB games.

.. snips..Agreed on the need for some extended patience here. Hipsher & Owens got 9 years. Kest should have lots of rope.

I don't know what this hick girl from WV thought when she was signing a letter of intent to a D-1A school, but the reality of the matter is that most kids are not smart enough to play D-1A sports and pursue a difficult degree like nursing.

This however, I think is garbage. I'll drop the BS card on you here.It has less to do with smarts, and everything to do with effort, motivation and efficient use of your time. There's required aptitude for nursing, sure .. but it's not mutually exclusive with talent on the basketball court. You sell today's students way short to have this opinion, especially as it pertains to a sport where the "next level" aka playing professionally is not a likely possibility.One of the great things about UA and the conference in which it currently resides is the recognition that it is the UNIVERSITY of Akron, and that the athletes are STUDENT athletes. To have some idea that we're going to have a varsity sport and bring in students just to do time, play the sport and walk away with a more easily obtained degree in {put your opinion here} is foolish. My experience tutoring and TA'ng classes at a BCS school with high level athletes studying engineering successfully tells me your argument / suggestion doesn't hold water.Go Zips.

[Valpo Zip]

Here is the cold hard truth of the WBB program at Akron (I don't think this is big news here). The program is absolutely terrible. JK should be given more slack than any other coach at the school. I say allow her ten years (8 more years) to straighten the program out (yes, it is really that bad). She has won at other places and I find it hard to believe that she may have already forgotten how to win BB games.

.. snips..Agreed on the need for some extended patience here. Hipsher & Owens got 9 years. Kest should have lots of rope.

I don't know what this hick girl from WV thought when she was signing a letter of intent to a D-1A school, but the reality of the matter is that most kids are not smart enough to play D-1A sports and pursue a difficult degree like nursing.

This however, I think is garbage. I'll drop the BS card on you here.It has less to do with smarts, and everything to do with effort, motivation and efficient use of your time. There's required aptitude for nursing, sure .. but it's not mutually exclusive with talent on the basketball court. You sell today's students way short to have this opinion, especially as it pertains to a sport where the "next level" aka playing professionally is not a likely possibility.One of the great things about UA and the conference in which it currently resides is the recognition that it is the UNIVERSITY of Akron, and that the athletes are STUDENT athletes. To have some idea that we're going to have a varsity sport and bring in students just to do time, play the sport and walk away with a more easily obtained degree in {put your opinion here} is foolish. My experience tutoring and TA'ng classes at a BCS school with high level athletes studying engineering successfully tells me your argument / suggestion doesn't hold water.Go Zips.

I totally agree with ZW here. One of my classmates was named Torbjorn Bjorkland. He was the captain of the soccer team, best scorer in the Mac in 2001-2002. He was from Norway (add a possible language barrier here) and he got a degree in Electrical Engineering.

[zippyrifle32]

I don't know what this hick girl from WV thought when she was signing a letter of intent to a D-1A school, but the reality of the matter is that most kids are not smart enough to play D-1A sports and pursue a difficult degree like nursing.

wrong.

I say good luck to this young lady and her desire to become a nurse, but she shouldn't blame Coach K. for her lack of ability to pursue the degree and play major college sports as well. She is just a good example of our society today. It is always someone elses fault when a person can't do what they want to do.

double wrong.she is looking for a place that gives her a start to a career. why should she settle for anything less than what she wants to do. what did you eat today gp1? honey bunches of bullshit?

[Ryno aka Menace]

Wait a minute, can someone fill me in on what the argument is about? This story is BS to meShe has a full ride scholarship?1. which means she can register before other students for her classes2. she could take the class in the off-season3. Take the class in the summer. 4. Take the class her senior year after basketballIf it is truly that important to you it shouldn't matter when you take the class. as a student athlete she should also understand that you are going to have to juggle your responsibilities. We all know education comes first BUT..You sign a contract saying you will play a sport in return for a free education. Every class I have ever taken at The University of Akron has had more than one class offering, I find it hard to believe that between an athletic academic adviser, student, and coach they couldn't work this out!!!Come on if this was truly the reason you know how quick you would have a law suit on your hands?, man one visit to the dean's office and her butt would be in that class on Monday if it was the only offering. This isn't OSU were our student athletes are 3 years and gone, this is the UofA. We play our sport, make life long friends, graduate, and leave.I agree with ZW She is just a good example of our society today. It is always someone else's fault when a person can't do what they want to do. Hypothetically lets say it is just like she says AND there is no work around, at the very least take all the classes you can and hand them the bill so when you do leave you pay for 1 class instead of 1 year of college classes.I quote... My coaches (at Akron) weren’t really with that attitude that academics come first.” (Either they are or they aren't, what does she mean "not really?")To me this says I had a disbute and instead of sucking it up or working it out I quit and went somewhere else.quote #2I think West Virginia Wesleyan is a better fit as far as what I am getting academically,” Tokodi said. (how do you know you never took a class there)“Plus, I get the chance to play with my younger sister and that doesn’t happen very often at the collegiate level.” (If this is your reason then say so, don't blame the coach on your way out!

[zippyrifle32]

well this argument is probably going on because most people still don't know the exact reasoning as to why she is leaving and the rumor mill isn't always correct. so people out here are filling in the blanks the best they can with the limited information they have, which is perfectly reasonable. they're conclusions aren't exactly accurate. my view though is that if she wanted people to know all the intimate details she would announced it. since she's speaking around the details, this indicates it's something that should be accepted and left alone. she's a nice girl and even if she's not going to be playing here next year i wish her the best of luck.

[GP1]

Here is the cold hard truth of the WBB program at Akron (I don't think this is big news here). The program is absolutely terrible. JK should be given more slack than any other coach at the school. I say allow her ten years (8 more years) to straighten the program out (yes, it is really that bad). She has won at other places and I find it hard to believe that she may have already forgotten how to win BB games.

.. snips..Agreed on the need for some extended patience here. Hipsher & Owens got 9 years. Kest should have lots of rope.

I don't know what this hick girl from WV thought when she was signing a letter of intent to a D-1A school, but the reality of the matter is that most kids are not smart enough to play D-1A sports and pursue a difficult degree like nursing.

This however, I think is garbage. I'll drop the BS card on you here.It has less to do with smarts, and everything to do with effort, motivation and efficient use of your time. There's required aptitude for nursing, sure .. but it's not mutually exclusive with talent on the basketball court. You sell today's students way short to have this opinion, especially as it pertains to a sport where the "next level" aka playing professionally is not a likely possibility.One of the great things about UA and the conference in which it currently resides is the recognition that it is the UNIVERSITY of Akron, and that the athletes are STUDENT athletes. To have some idea that we're going to have a varsity sport and bring in students just to do time, play the sport and walk away with a more easily obtained degree in {put your opinion here} is foolish. My experience tutoring and TA'ng classes at a BCS school with high level athletes studying engineering successfully tells me your argument / suggestion doesn't hold water.Go Zips.

I think if you reread my original post, you will see I use the word "most". I did not use the word all. I stand by what I said.

[GP1]

she is looking for a place that gives her a start to a career. why should she settle for anything less than what she wants to do.

She shouldn't settle for less. She was here to get a nursing degree (BTW, UofA has a GREAT nursing program) AND play basketball. When she saw she could not do both or maybe perform at the level she wanted to in her school work, she bolted. If you guys could drop your insanity for a minute, you will see in my original post that I say good luck to her. I still say good luck to her, but I also wish she would not blame JK for her inability to manage both a demanding degree and basketball. You guys like to use the word "classy" a lot on this board...Let's just say her comments to the local paper were "not classy".Another option could have been her not playing basketball, finishing her degree at UofA and getting a good job in an area of the county with a lot of growth in the hospital business. Where is she going to get a job in West Virginia or Marietta? In reality, this young lady has made a very short sighted and immature decision. Don't want to play BB? Fine, finish the degree at a good nursing school.

[GP1]

so people out here are filling in the blanks the best they can with the limited information they have, which is perfectly reasonable.

Actually, we are filling in the blanks with her own words from a local newspaper.

[K-Roo]

FWIW .. My wife graduated from UA's Nursing school .. from what I observed, there is no way you can play a college sport and take the Nursing Program course work.... there are many times when only one class session is offered --- you must take them in a particular order or you will fall behind.. you only have a certain amount of time to complete your degree --- also, almost every level requires a Clinical Element -- these are assigned by the school and are usually at local hospitals.... these are 3-4 days a week and for a full shift 8-12 hours. You must be there or you are booted from the program.... As a sophomore, she was probably facing this dilemma -- tough situation-- she got in over her head and has made her choice and went to another school where the pressure was less intense... I can understand that. Sorry to see her go..... this is why most athletes are not in medical school or nursing school... both require a HUGE investment of time and energy.