Akron Fan Called Plays in Dominant 45-10 Victory

Stark Enterprises executive Marty Whims II served as offensive coordinator for the team's home opening win.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Football

Akron Fan Called Plays in Dominant 45-10 Victory

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University of Akron fan Marty Whims II successfully served as offensive coordinator during a 45-10 win over Robert Morris. The appearance followed a viral promotion that engaged fans from 38 states and abroad.

Why it matters

The University of Akron athletic department launched the unique fan-focused promotion to boost engagement, resulting in the first sell-out of luxury suites at InfoCision Stadium since 2009.

Quarterback Cibastian Broughton recorded a 23-of-27 passing record for 227 total yards and four touchdowns during the blowout win. The game featured a 12-yard opening run play called by the guest coordinator.

The players

Marty Whims II

He is a chief financial officer for Stark Enterprises who served as the guest offensive coordinator for the University of Akron.

Joe Moorhead

He is the head coach of the University of Akron football team who worked with the fan coordinator on the game script.

Cibastian Broughton

He is the University of Akron quarterback who threw for four touchdowns in the game.

The details

Marty Whims II, a chief financial officer, spent 90 minutes with coach Joe Moorhead reviewing strategy and game film prior to calling a 20-play script during the contest. The promotion generated 23 million social media views and attracted participants from as far as Germany.

August 4, 2026: The fan promotion was officially announced.
August 19, 2026: The university announced the nine finalists for the coordinator role.
August 25, 2026: Marty Whims II was officially named the winner of the promotion.
September 19, 2026: Whims and the coaching staff held a strategy meeting.
September 21, 2026: Akron defeated Robert Morris 45-10 at InfoCision Stadium.

Season Trajectory

This promotional event marks a unique deviation from standard collegiate coaching practices while highlighting current efforts to increase stadium attendance. It follows the precedent set by fan-engagement initiatives aimed at reversing declining luxury suite occupancy in mid-tier programs.

The 45-10 blowout victory secures an immediate boost for the Akron football program's home-field momentum. Fantasy implications remain negligible as this was a one-time promotional event, though it sets a high bar for future stadium marketing experiments.

The takeaway

The successful integration of a fan into a high-stakes coaching role demonstrates how creative promotions can effectively drive luxury suite sales and social media engagement. Future athletic departments may look to replicate this model to bridge the gap between casual fan interest and high-ticket game attendance.