Week 2 of this college football season showcases matchups such as Ohio State vs. Texas, Oklahoma vs. Michigan, BYU vs. Arizona, Texas A&M vs. Arizona State, Kentucky vs. Alabama, and Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech.
Additionally, there’s an interesting afternoon game featuring FCS team Robert Morris taking on Akron.
The initial drive of this game is set to be a highlight on ESPN+, with Akron handing over responsibilities for play calling to Martin Alan Whims II as the “Offensive Coordinator of the Game.” Whims, who is both an alumnus and a loyal season ticket holder for the Zips, will work with head coach Joe Moorhead to create the opening series for their home opener on September 12.
Whims emerged as the winner of a viral contest held over the summer among season ticket holders. The selection process involved a random drawing, allowing participants to increase their chances by referring new season ticket holders, ultimately narrowing the field down to nine finalists. Among these were Barstool Sports personality Dan “Big Cat” Katz and popular YouTuber James Bordeaux.
Akron announced Whims’ victory on Tuesday.
The contest garnered significant attention after the Zips first announced it on X (formerly Twitter) on August 4, amassing over 23.1 million views. This surge in publicity led to a notable increase in season ticket sales, resulting in a sellout of the suites at InfoCision Stadium for the first time.
Nate Ulrich from the Akron Beacon Journal delves into the origins and details of the contest in a detailed article. The school’s athletic director, Andrew T. Goodrich, shared that the idea came from a brainstorming session after an NCAA men’s basketball tournament trip, aiming to capture the energy Zips fans exhibited during March Madness.
“Maybe it was a late night and we were a bit delirious, but we believed this could work,” explained Matt Pottorff, Akron’s senior deputy AD. They had held onto this idea for months, waiting for the right moment before launching it, anticipating it might attract around a million views.
Goodrich and Pottorff’s brainstorming yielded more success than expected, but it required the backing of head coach Moorhead, who has a notable history of offensive coordination at schools like Oregon and Penn State.
Initially, Moorhead had reservations about the concept but quickly came around once he realized the framework that would support it. Since he currently serves as the team’s play-caller without an offensive coordinator, he emphasized that he wasn’t relinquishing control, especially for the scripted drive in Week 2.
“I’ll guide the winner through the Robert Morris scouting report, showing them first and second down tendencies by formation,” Moorhead stated. “We’ll see if any ideas fit into our system.”
He added, “While I’ll have the openers set, they’ll bring their suggestions. We might find a great idea that’s really fitting for our offense.”
Ultimately, Moorhead will have the last word, but Whims will certainly put his mark on the anticipated opening drive, which will take place in less than three weeks.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” Whims expressed in a video shared by Akron, noting that even being named a finalist brought him unexpected attention. “This has created a buzz in my life, and winning is just the cherry on top.”
Fan Take: This unique opportunity for a fan to participate in play calling could revolutionize fan engagement in college football, highlighting the bond between teams and their supporters. It reflects an emerging trend where fan experiences may increasingly influence team dynamics and strategies, potentially reshaping the sport’s landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
