Akron fan play-caller’s drive ends in fumble: ‘Sorry, Marty’

Marty Whims II won the chance to call the Akron Zips ' first offensive series on Saturday as part of the school's Offensive Coordinator of the Game competition. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a fan to finally prove whether they could call plays better than the coaches, as so many college football supporters have claimed from their couches over the years.

Whims had a lot invested in the moment. A Cleveland-based real-estate development company, he's also a Zips alumnus and multi-decade season-ticket holder. He beat out the likes of Barstool's Dan Katz for the chance to call plays, and he wasn't going to mess it up.

Instead, the players did the messing up.

Akron's opening drive against the Robert Morris Colonels started on their own 40-yard-line. Running a no-huddle offense, Whims put quarterback Christian Broughton in the shotgun, and on the first play he handed the ball to RB Jordan Gant for a 12-yard gain and first down.

On the next play, Broughton completed a pass to Kyan Mason for a two-yard gain, moving the chains. On 2nd and 8, Gant rushed for seven yards, setting up a critical 3rd and 1 call. A false start moved the Zips back to a 3rd & 5.

With his back against the wall, Whims called for a pass, and Broughton completed it to Marcel Williams , who appeared to have gotten the first down and kept this magical drive alive.

Alas, that's when the ball came loose, and the Colonels recovered. A dream extinguished, just like that.

If it's any consolation, RMU couldn't capitalize on the turnover, and Akron scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

But as for Whims, the whims of destiny just didn't see that touchdown coming, courtesy of his playcalling.