National writer nails UA football

[ZipRoo]

Two Years, Two Wins, Ianello is Fired

By Paul Myerberg // Nov 26, 2011

Akron has fired coach Rob Ianello after two years and as many wins, ending the program’s failed experiment with a coach who was hired without having any head coach or coordinator experience on the college level. Akron’s lone win under Ianello in 2010 came against Buffalo, by 22-14 in the season finale. The Zips’ sole victory in 2011 came against V.M.I., a member of the F.C.S. Prior to being hired, Ianello was the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator under Charlie Weis at Notre Dame. It was in the latter capacity, as a recruiter, that Ianello earned his stripes.

It didn’t work. It never really had a hope of working, as while Ianello did do a fairly strong job recruiting second-tier talent to the MAC, there was a fatal flaw in Akron’s plan: with only one full recruiting class under his belt, there was no way to truly judge what Ianello was due to achieve with the program.

But this is a bottom-line business. After two seasons, Akron had showed zero progress as a football team. The Zips opened this season with losses to Ohio State and Toledo by a combined score of 83-3. Only two losses, to Eastern and Western Michigan, came by single digits.

On Friday, Akron lost to Western Michigan by 68-19. It was just that ugly. A week ago, Akron lost to Buffalo by 51-10. That’s the damning loss on the schedule; as noted, Akron’s lone win in 2010 came over the Bulls. Buffalo itself is scuffling, but had enough in the tank to beat the Zips by 41 points.

The experiment – since that’s what it was, an experiment – was failed from the start. It was a failure waiting to happen on several levels: one, Ianello clearly wasn’t ready, as a coach on game days, for this sort of endeavor; two, we’ll never know if Ianello could have grown into a solid game day coach, seeing that Akron cut him loose after 24 games.

I think it’s pretty safe to say that regardless of any of Ianello’s coaching deficiencies, Akron clearly doesn’t know what it’s doing. Forget about the fact that the Zips, if Ianello is the sole figure to blame, hired a coach unprepared for the task at hand.

One thing remains clear: a head coach on college football’s highest level needs to be a C.E.O.; he needs to have a big picture view, some sort of blueprint or schematic detailing how to build a winner under difficult circumstances.

Being merely a recruiter, promising that you will bring in better players than your opposition, is a band-aid. It’s not a chicken-or-egg argument: unproven coaches don’t win by recruiting but with game plans. It’s not the Jimmies and the Joes but the X’s and the O’s, regardless of what you’ve heard from Barry Switzer.

Woebegone non-B.C.S. conference programs, of which Akron is one, need to hire coaches, not recruiters. Ask Akron how hiring a coach without any leadership credentials turned out. Or ask Memphis. Or New Mexico. Or Minnesota. The list goes on.

If I’m Akron, I’m looking for the next Jerry Kill, an older, experienced coach with a track record of success and a proven system. I’m not touching the nation’s best recruiter with a 10-foot pole – unless he has play-calling or head coach experience. Arkansas State took a flier on Hugh Freeze, in a sense, but Freeze had coordinated the Red Wolves’ offense in 2010 and had head coach experience at Lambuth University, an N.A.I.A. school.

All Akron needs to do is convince this coach, one who might have options, that coaching under an administration that gave his predecessor 24 games is a good move.

[K92]

I saw this last night on pre-snap read and it's pretty hard for me to read any further when the writer makes 2 mistakes in the 3rd paragraph.

[Zipsrifle]

Though there are many valid points in the article, what exactly defines one as a "National Writer"?

[K92]

Though there are many valid points in the article, what exactly defines one as a "National Writer"?

Someone who is published on the internet. That's the world we live in.

[Dr Z]

Please somebody tell me something is going to be different in the hiring process this time.

I am scared of history repeating itself. There had to be some kind of plan in the works before we decided to can Mr Personality right?

[GP1]

Please somebody tell me something is going to be different in the hiring process this time.

I am scared of history repeating itself. There had to be some kind of plan in the works before we decided to can Mr Personality right?

I'm absolutely scared $H!+less about TW making another coaching decision.

[Zipmeister]

Though there are many valid points in the article, what exactly defines one as a "National Writer"?

Well the story is written in English and England is a nation.

[lance99]

I think it’s pretty safe to say that regardless of any of Ianello’s coaching deficiencies, Akron clearly doesn’t know what it’s doing. Forget about the fact that the Zips, if Ianello is the sole figure to blame, hired a coach unprepared for the task at hand.

Don't know what it is doing? Football may be one thing, but he must not be a Soccer fan. Having a possible dynasty in Soccer? If that is "not knowing what it's doing," I will take that all day!

[ZipRoo]

Please somebody tell me something is going to be different in the hiring process this time.

I am scared of history repeating itself. There had to be some kind of plan in the works before we decided to can Mr Personality right?

I'm absolutely scared $H!+less about TW making another coaching decision.

If anyone heard Wistrcill with French at halftime of last night's game, there's good reason to be scared. He made it sound like it's his baby.

[LZIp]

might be more credible if he knew his facts.

[Kangaroo Craig]

Please somebody tell me something is going to be different in the hiring process this time.

I am scared of history repeating itself. There had to be some kind of plan in the works before we decided to can Mr Personality right?

I'm absolutely scared $H!+less about TW making another coaching decision.

Me too. The man has already proven that he is clueless in this regard.

[GoZips]

Please somebody tell me something is going to be different in the hiring process this time.

I am scared of history repeating itself. There had to be some kind of plan in the works before we decided to can Mr Personality right?

I'm absolutely scared $H!+less about TW making another coaching decision.

If anyone heard Wistrcill with French at halftime of last night's game, there's good reason to be scared. He made it sound like it's his baby.

I walked out to my car during halftime and listened to the Tom Wistrcill

interview. In my opinion the AD shouldered the blame and the responsibility

to move forward. I thought it was an excellent interview.

AD Wistrcill skillfully side stepped the "does it have to be a coach who has

only ever coached an Ohio team?" An obvious reference to Jim Tressel.

During the second half I spoke with our AD and complimented him on his

tactful side step. When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

[Captain Kangaroo]

The Zips opened this season with losses to Ohio State and Toledo by a combined score of 83-3. Only two losses, to Eastern and Western Michigan, came by single digits.

On Friday, Akron lost to Western Michigan by 68-19.

If this guy is a National Writer, then RACER is an International Writer.

[Dr Z]

When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities. Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

I would be shocked.

[GoZips]

When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities. Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

I would be shocked.

You are easily shocked.

[Zipmeister]

The Zips opened this season with losses to Ohio State and Toledo by a combined score of 83-3. Only two losses, to Eastern and Western Michigan, came by single digits.

On Friday, Akron lost to Western Michigan by 68-19.

If this guy is a National Writer, then RACER is an International Writer.

Well the national writer would fit right in on this board.

[Zip_ME87]

When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities. Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

I would be shocked.

It actually makes sense. You fire Ianello with 3 years remaining under either of 2 circumstances or a combination thereof:

1) A donor ponied up most of the money to buy out Ianello's remaining contract; or

2) You have a handshake deal in place with someone to replace Ianello, and that someone is someone who can guarantee ticket sales

We'll see.

[Dave in Green]

Tressel is a possibility, for reasons cited here and elsewhere on ZN.o. But it's still a longshot. It's just one of those things that would be too good to be true. Tressel could bring so much more to UA than just good football coaching.

You just don't want to build your hopes too high and then have a big letdown, because the gap between what Tressel would bring to UA and what any other potential head coach UA would likely be able to attract could bring is huge.

[bandzip]

During the second half I spoke with our AD and complimented him on his

tactful side step. When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

Are you positive it was a grin or was he simply laughing at you?

[liljc]

During the second half I spoke with our AD and complimented him on his

tactful side step. When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

Are you positive it was a grin or was he simply laughing at you?

Exactly!

[zen]

During the second half I spoke with our AD and complimented him on his

tactful side step. When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

Are you positive it was a grin or was he simply laughing at you?

Exactly!

Never trust a cat. They are so Captain Kangaroo-esque

[Dave in Green]

Forget about the grin and focus on the words: it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

[MDZip]

The Zips opened this season with losses to Ohio State and Toledo by a combined score of 83-3. Only two losses, to Eastern and Western Michigan, came by single digits.

On Friday, Akron lost to Western Michigan by 68-19.

If this guy is a National Writer, then RACER is an International Writer.

Well the national writer would fit right in on this board.

Actually, Myerberg is a fairly respected sports writer for the NY Times. Yes, he had a couple facts wrong but mostly I think he was on the money. Akron doesn't know what its doing I think was solely applied to football. Hopefully this next hire changes that perception.

[Dr Z]

When I suggested that for my money I would love to see

coach Tressel as a Zip. Tom struck up a Cheshire cat grin and told me that

it is not out of the realm of possibilities. Stay tuned ... i have a feeling.

I would be shocked.

You are easily shocked.

Not much has shocked me in my decades of being a Zip fan. Wistrcill hiring Tressel would be my first. I might even make that t-shirt today.

I don't like JT, and can't respect him, but the program is in dire need right now. I would not be against the hire, and understand why Akron would go after JT. I just can not understand why JT would come to Akron? Money?...no. Because he wants to save the program?...why? To win a national....Please? Because he feels sorry for Akron...Come on? If you were advising JT on his next career move, where would "I think you should coach at Akron" fall on the list? With all this being said, I'm going to keep dreaming he is coming to Akron to save us too. Wake me up soon....

[g-mann17]

If you were advising JT on his next career move, where would "I think you should coach at Akron" fall on the list?

You said you wanted a place to take it easy and still make an impact on kids lives. Akron is that kind of place. You want to make good on your name and legacy and you are about teaching football. Well Akron desperately needs to be taught how to play football.