Having sat in the Convo and in Pedan for so many dry years, this Golden Era of Ohio Sports is truly amazing. I just got back from Cleveland and enjoyed taking in the atmosphere in the watering holes and eating establishments before the game, as well as the first half of the game itself. However, reality reared its ugly head in the second half.

DJ Cooper couldn't carry us forever. I have coached basketball in high school and one of the many things I learned from true greats of the high school game, and some of the college coaches I have met along the way, is the whole concept of team chemistry and mental toughness. Some guys can bring it each and every game, and some guys try as they might can't. This team was so perplexing this year. The mental toughness just wasn't there for a full 40 minute game. I wonder if mental toughness is what seperates great mid-major players from great players in the major conferences. There were games when Walter and Nick looked as if they could play for any team in the country, and then there games like tonight's second half.

Coach Christian is a proven commodity. I am sure he is going to address everything in the off season with those returning and with the recruits who are coming. I feel very blessed to have seen the success of the past few seasons in basketball and football, it sure beats the late 1980s when we weren't sure about the MAC's Division I status and continuity. The only danger is losing teams to the trainwreck that was the Big East.

It is amazing to see what Butler and Gonzaga have done in basketball. Perhaps Akron and us will continue to step it up in basketball and even football (if Terry Bowden can't get it going for Zip football.) I hope for Akron and the MAC's sake that Coach Dambrodt stays. He certainly didn't have a shortage of mental tougness this season, especially after what Alex Abreu put them through. Perhaps we can learn something from their mental toughness for next year. In the meantime, I want to thank the Bobcats for bringing us a lot of joy this season.