AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Marty Whims II got to experience the joy and frustration of being the offensive coordinator for a Football Bowl Subdivision team on Saturday.
Unfortunately, it lasted for only four plays.
Akron was moving the ball on its first possession against Robert Morris when wide receiver Marcel Williams fumbled at the Colonials’ 37-yard line. David Johnson recovered the ball after Tasheen Howard and Jake Lopinto forced the fumble.
Whims got
to call plays as part of Akron’s “Offensive Coordinator of the Game” for its home opener. The 46-year-old Whims — a longtime season-ticket holder — graduated from Akron and is the chief financial officer for Stark Enterprises.
The promotion went viral on social media after it was announced on Aug. 4, generating more than 23 million views.
“We were moving the ball. The initial script that we developed was successful. So unfortunately ended with a fumble,” Whims said after Akron's 45-10 victory. “I still think it was a success on the field, as far as the promotion goes and for the university.”
Whims and Akron coach Joe Moorhead met Thursday to go over strategy and review game film before coming up with a 20-play script.
Moorhead, who has said he was skeptical about the promotion when it was first brought up by athletic director Andrew Goodrich, was pleased, though, with how everything turned out despite the Zips not reaching the end zone on the opening drive.
“He did an unbelievable job. We spent probably an hour and a half going over the game plan, discussing the opening script,” Moorhead said. “We were rolling on the third-and-short. We were lined in the wrong formation and got the penalty which put us behind the sticks and we still converted it. So don’t put that on Marty, put that on me. I think that thing would’ve ended up in the end zone.”
Only season-ticket and suite holders were eligible for the contest. Suites sold out for the first time since InfoCision Stadium opened in 2009.
Fans from 38 states and as far away as Germany became Zips season-ticket holders, including Jon Gruden, Pat McAfee, and Dan “Big Cat” Katz.
Every season and suite ticket counted as an entry (four tickets, four entries). Season ticket-holders also received extra entries for each new buyer they referred.
The contest was the brainchild of Goodrich.
The nine finalists were announced Aug. 19, including Katz of Barstool Sports, longtime season ticket-holders, and people from Nebraska and Texas. Whims was announced as the winner on Aug. 25.
The Zips deferred after winning the coin toss and forced Robert Morris into going three-and-out. Akron got the ball on its own 40 with 11:12 remaining.
A 12-yard run by Jordan Gant on the first play moved the Zips into Colonials’ territory. Going no huddle, Cibastian Broughton had a 2-yard completion to Kyan Mason on a bubble screen, and Gant had a 7-yard gain to give Akron third-and-1 on the Colonials' 39.
Nick Saban — no stranger to the Mid-American Conference after graduating from rival Kent State and coaching one year at Toledo — told Whims during “College GameDay” to get the play in quickly and “stay ahead of the sticks and run the ball. All the fans are going to want you to throw it. Run the ball. You won’t get criticized as much.”
Whims was staying ahead of the sticks until a false start penalty on right guard Nate Hampton put the Zips in third-and-6.
Williams had the necessary yards for the first down on his catch, only to turn it over.
“I tried to dive and get the first. It was a great punch by the defender. I thought I was down,” Williams said.
Because of the turnover, Whims was unable to try Saban’s third idea: “Don’t get cute, but if you’re gonna get cute, throw the damn flea flicker. The fans will love it.”
Akron did score on its next three possessions after the fumble and was up 21-10 at halftime. The Zips' first touchdown — a 41-yard pass from Broughton to Sean Patrick — came on a play called shark wheel. That was one of the plays Katz said he wanted to call if he won the contest.
Broughton finished 23-of-27 passing for 227 yards and four touchdowns.
“We saw a bunch of videos on TikTok about people saying what they would call. Some of those were funny. Someone said on the first play they would punt the ball,” Patrick said.
Whims stayed on the sideline behind Akron’s bench before going back to the stands to watch the game with his three sons. He returned to the sideline for the second half and then got the game ball in the locker room after the game.
“I’m going to be honest, some of it was above my head. I’m sure Coach Moorhead sensed that, but it gives you more appreciation for what it takes to be a good head coach,” Whims said. “It’s easy for fans just to kind of sit back on the day after the game and complain about what was called, but there’s a lot more that goes into it. So it definitely gives me far more appreciation for what these guys do. A lot more respect too.”
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