[zipboy]

A few other thoughts after reading this article.

1. This is as much a sales job as coaching job right now. Why did no one raise a red flag with Ianello? I could see if he had a Bowden like personality and could not coach why they might have hired Rob (which still would have been bad). I will scratch my head forever with that hiring. Even if he is friends with TW, a guy isn't going to commit career suicide to hire a friend.

2. As bad as Ianello was, Bowden will be even better. He may be the only guy to bring us out of this. I have no doubt that he will win and hope he stays until he retires. There will be enough improvement over the next 10 years, respectable in the MAC, winning the MAC, moving to another conference, and winning there for him to be loved the rest of his career here. I know it is a longshot but there is a chance.

3. A better slant would have been "how the heck did Akron only spend $60 million and get a stadium as good as this?" I read an article in the Wall Street Journal last week about Cal, looking to do $300M in renovations to their current stadium which is built on an earthquake fault. They were confident of raising that in donations. They raised 30M over the last 5 years, blamed the economy and will be raising student fees. My first thought was how dumb is their administration? I could see coming in 10-20% short due to the economy but not 90%. How do you expect to raise 300M just to renovate? The article also quoted Michigan as spending 148M to renovate and add loges. Minnesota (I think it was them) spent 220M.

4. If we build a new arena that is mostly to move to a new league. KD commented a new arena will help marginally in the MAC. We are already a top 3 team in the league year in and year out with the JAR. I understand a comment from some old guy about a waste of money for a new arena. But in football the Rubber Bowl was dead. Even if we moved to 1-AA and built a 20K stadium, it would have been 30-40M. I don't understand the negative comments about what was built for the price it was built at.

5. 5 years ago I thought Akron was never in a better place to advance and move up if the time were right down the road. A year ago at this time was the low point as the direction of football was horrible. I was a naive person a few years ago thinking build it and everything else will fall into place. What I learned which several of you have pointed out is the right people in place is by and away #1. With the right facilities we have a better chance of keeping the right people in place longer but we need the right leadership. We have the right leadership in the flagship sports with KD, Bowden, Porter. I hope Proenza has 5 good years left to see this through and I expect big things from Tressell. A 40,000 student, research powerhouse university makes Northeast Ohio much stronger and a better place to live. As a fan I want to see good entertainment but there is a much bigger prize if Akron can execute.

[GP1]

Why did no one raise a red flag with Ianello?

The Great GP1 did when I saw the words "pro style offense".

[ZachTheZip]

Why did no one raise a red flag with Ianello?

Hi there.

[zipboy]

My bad, I should have said anyone on the search committee.

[GP1]

My bad, I should have said anyone on the search committee.

Because they didn't know any better.

Who has sat on the last two football coaching hiring committees?

[Zipmeister]

Because they didn't know any better.

Who has sat on the last two football coaching hiring committees?

I has not.