Today's ABJ Story

[Blue & Gold]

I am grateful that Tom Gaffney is putting a bit of pressure on the program.

ABJ story

[zen]

The Owls are coming off a 42-0 victory at Buffalo last Saturday in which they had a 397-161 edge in total offense and scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions.

This could get UGLY

[Big Zip]

How is it we are only 27 1/2 point underdogs? I don't see how we aren't 50 point underdogs to another MAC program.

I really wish Tom would have gotten a quote from Tom Wistrcill and Luis Proenza and maybe the President of the Board of Trustees for this article. This would have been the perfect article to get the take of higher ups and what they think. I don't really care if they would just speak the comapny line I actually want them on record as saying something.

Thanks Tom.....keep the pressure on and I only hope your articles get more and more negative if this team continues to lose. Keeping the negative to iCoach and asking him pointed questions he can't dance around would be great!

[ZipRoo]

Best line from the article: Ianello said after the loss to Western Michigan — in which he faced a one-person news conference — that it was his team's worst overall performance of the season.

One reporter bothered to show up. Hmm...do ya think apathy for this program has reached an all-time high/low. Not even the press cares anymore, and they're PAID to care.

[ZachTheZip]

Best line from the article: Ianello said after the loss to Western Michigan — in which he faced a one-person news conference — that it was his team's worst overall performance of the season.

One reporter bothered to show up. Hmm...do ya think apathy for this program has reached an all-time high/low. Not even the press cares anymore, and they're PAID to care.

It explains why he feels no pressure to apologize or call out his staff. There's no external pressure to hold them accountable for anything. Everywhere he's been before, there were legions of reporters and influential alumni who would have ripped him to shreds by now. The only place that's happening for Akron is here on Zipsnation and in the comment section of Rasor's blog. Maybe we should broaden our horizons. ESPN conversations seem like a good start and are easy enough to do.

[MaxZIP]

Best line from the article: Ianello said after the loss to Western Michigan — in which he faced a one-person news conference — that it was his team's worst overall performance of the season.

One reporter bothered to show up. Hmm...do ya think apathy for this program has reached an all-time high/low. Not even the press cares anymore, and they're PAID to care.

He never answers questions straight. Spewing coach speak all over the media and having no personality make it a lonely event after a few weeks.

[skip-zip]

The Owls are coming off a 42-0 victory at Buffalo last Saturday in which they had a 397-161 edge in total offense and scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions.

This could get UGLY

Sure could.

But the silver lining on that cloud is..........Buffalo is Beatable

[Captain Kangaroo]

Thanks Tom.....keep the pressure on and I only hope your articles get more and more negative if this team continues to lose. Keeping the negative to iCoach and asking him pointed questions he can't dance around would be great!

I don't like "negative." You can be negative, and just be a jerk.

Gaffney has the access to ask legit, tough questions to Ianello that have nothing to do with being negative.

"Did you consider using a wildcat RB formation at games-end with one of your existing players, rather than pull Potts' redshirt?"

"How could #83 be so wide open up the middle on virtually every passing play?"

"Why do you always go for a field goal when your offense needs a touchdown?"

"Did you see that lowly Presbyterian ended the nation's longest 1-AA losing streak, beating Gardner Webb, at Gardner Webb?"

Ok, maybe I was being a jerk with the last one.

[Zippity Doda]

Thanks Tom.....keep the pressure on and I only hope your articles get more and more negative if this team continues to lose. Keeping the negative to iCoach and asking him pointed questions he can't dance around would be great!

I don't like "negative." You can be negative, and just be a jerk.

Gaffney has the access to ask legit, tough questions to Ianello that have nothing to do with being negative.

"Did you consider using a wildcat RB formation at games-end with one of your existing players, rather than pull Potts' redshirt?"

"How could #83 be so wide open up the middle on virtually every passing play?"

"Why do you always go for a field goal when your offense needs a touchdown?"

"Did you see that lowly Presbyterian ended the nation's longest 1-AA losing streak, beating Gardner Webb, at Gardner Webb?"

Ok, maybe I was being a jerk with the last one.

This congers up the old Art Modell quote, "I would rather have my fans angry than apathetic"

[Dave in Green]

Confirmation in the story that Rodgers is suffering from a concussion and will be unavailable again this week.

[MaxZIP]

Confirmation in the story that Rodgers is suffering from a concussion and will be unavailable again this week.

i wonder if he will dress again

[Zipmeister]

More importantly, how many fans will spot him on the sideline during the first half if he isn't there?

[johnnyzip84]

The Owls are coming off a 42-0 victory at Buffalo last Saturday in which they had a 397-161 edge in total offense and scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions.

This could get UGLY

Sure could.

But the silver lining on that cloud is..........Buffalo is Beatable

I agree 100%, Skip. And I think it's worth mentioning the importance of trying to get at least one W in these last 4 games, no matter how dismal that prospect may seem right now. I see on another thread that iCoach has just landed a nice DC area prospect. I believe it would make recruiting a WHOLE lot easier if he can point to some level of improvement at the end of THIS season. The opportunity to come in and play right away at a terrific facility becomes far more appealing if the recruiter can spin 2010 as truly being the bottom of the valley. An 0-12 record is considerably more difficult to sell in that way. It may seem like a minor difference between 0-12 and 1-11 (for instance), but if a win (or one of the wins) comes against the Bulls, the timing would be most beneficial, both for recruiting and for the confidence of the current players who elect to stay with the program.

[ZipRoo]

Gaffney has the access to ask legit, tough questions to Ianello that have nothing to do with being negative.

"Why do you always go for a field goal when your offense needs a touchdown?"

I WANT AN ANSWER FOR THIS ONE! Trailing by 3 touchdowns in the middle of a 3rd quarter, we attempt a FIELD GOAL?! Again and again!? What's the point??

I'll never forget when ol' Lee Owens pulled that stunt down at Ohio State. Akron was in the game, moving the ball, trailing 28-14 late in the game....and instead of going for a fourth-and-short, he sends in the field goal unit. Should've been fired on the spot. Same for Ianello. Either you're here to WIN....or you're a LOSER.

[Dr Z]

More importantly, how many fans will spot him on the sideline during the first half if he isn't there?

It's embarrassing to hear your own fans screaming to put him in when he isn't even available.

[ZachTheZip]

More importantly, how many fans will spot him on the sideline during the first half if he isn't there?

It's embarrassing to hear your own fans screaming to put him in when he isn't even available.

I think we need to bring back the Frye for Heisman campaign. Anybody still have their signs or shirts?

[MaxZIP]

More importantly, how many fans will spot him on the sideline during the first half if he isn't there?

It's embarrassing to hear your own fans screaming to put him in when he isn't even available.

Can we all agree that he was there and dressed in the second half?

[72 Roo]

What is the fascination (or crap) with some folks on this board who have seemingly bought into the company line that Ianello is a great recruiter so he will someday save us? Someone posts that Ianello has landed a great recruit out of DC, so with our facilities and incoming talent he implies a turnaround is coming. Are you so blind that you can't see he can not coach! 0-8, soon to be 0-9 after Temple, points to his effectiveness. We are not devoid of talent now and the reality of our situation is that Ianello has mis-used and brought it down, not built it up. In no phase of the game are we getting better after 12 weeeks of training under him.

Be as optimistic as you can, but base it on reality. Not unsubstantiated hope. As someone wisely said before, "Hope is not a strategy." Our program can't get better until we admit reality. Primarily that rests on the shoulders of TW and Dr. P. They won't act if they think we will accept this humiliation.

Akron is currently ranked #120 out of 120 D1 programs.

[RootforRoo44]

What is the fascination (or crap) with some folks on this board who have seemingly bought into the company line that Ianello is a great recruiter so he will someday save us? Someone posts that Ianello has landed a great recruit out of DC, so with our facilities and incoming talent he implies a turnaround is coming. Are you so blind that you can't see he can not coach! 0-8, soon to be 0-9 after Temple, points to his effectiveness. We are not devoid of talent now and the reality of our situation is that Ianello has mis-used and brought it down, not built it up. In no phase of the game are we getting better after 12 weeeks of training under him.

Be as optimistic as you can, but base it on reality. Not unsubstantiated hope. As someone wisely said before, "Hope is not a strategy." Our program can't get better until we admit reality. Primarily that rests on the shoulders of TW and Dr. P. They won't act if they think we will accept this humiliation.

Akron is currently ranked #120 out of 120 D1 programs.

I don't believe ZachtheZip was attempting to defend ICC (iCantCoach) with that post about the recruit. He was just trying to point out the commit and show a welcome to the young man. Also, he's only a two star recruit so i dont believe it would be a great argument anyhow.

[ZachTheZip]

What is the fascination (or crap) with some folks on this board who have seemingly bought into the company line that Ianello is a great recruiter so he will someday save us? Someone posts that Ianello has landed a great recruit out of DC, so with our facilities and incoming talent he implies a turnaround is coming. Are you so blind that you can't see he can not coach! 0-8, soon to be 0-9 after Temple, points to his effectiveness. We are not devoid of talent now and the reality of our situation is that Ianello has mis-used and brought it down, not built it up. In no phase of the game are we getting better after 12 weeeks of training under him.

Be as optimistic as you can, but base it on reality. Not unsubstantiated hope. As someone wisely said before, "Hope is not a strategy." Our program can't get better until we admit reality. Primarily that rests on the shoulders of TW and Dr. P. They won't act if they think we will accept this humiliation.

Akron is currently ranked #120 out of 120 D1 programs.

I don't believe ZachtheZip was attempting to defend ICC (iCantCoach) with that post about the recruit. He was just trying to point out the commit and show a welcome to the young man. Also, he's only a two star recruit so i dont believe it would be a great argument anyhow.

I don't recall mentioning anything about the coach at all, how great the recruit might be, facilities, or any type of turnaround. In fact, I mentioned all those tings exactly zero times when informing the board that we just got a verbal from a kind who chose us because he would get to play immediately as opposed to sitting at other schools, which is hardly an endorsement of the talent on our current roster or the coach's handling of that talent.

[johnnyzip84]

It’s might be me who 72_Roo is mistaking for an iCoach apologist. He may be referring to my post regarding how I see the Buffalo game as being important in recruiting.

If you check my posts, I haven’t hid my displeasure in this hire from the beginning. But I’m not naïve enough to think he’s going away anytime soon. Short of some off the field shenanigans, he’ll get at least three years here. There is no way he voluntarily steps aside because that would be career suicide.

It’s true that I haven’t seen much yet in his COACHING abilities that has impressed. While it may be slim, I see the only hope of a turnaround under iCoach occurring from an influx of new talent to combine with the few “diamonds in the rough” currently on the roster. If this is baseless hope, I can live with it. The only other choice I have is to take a sabbatical from Zips football, and that’s just not going to happen. It’s no less realistic than expecting iCoach to be fired before he gets at least 3 years, regardless of fan disgruntlement.

[lance99]

Gaffney has the access to ask legit, tough questions to Ianello that have nothing to do with being negative.

"Why do you always go for a field goal when your offense needs a touchdown?"

I WANT AN ANSWER FOR THIS ONE! Trailing by 3 touchdowns in the middle of a 3rd quarter, we attempt a FIELD GOAL?! Again and again!? What's the point??

I'll never forget when ol' Lee Owens pulled that stunt down at Ohio State. Akron was in the game, moving the ball, trailing 28-14 late in the game....and instead of going for a fourth-and-short, he sends in the field goal unit. Should've been fired on the spot. Same for Ianello. Either you're here to WIN....or you're a LOSER.

I am with you there, what do you have to loose at that point being down 3 touchdowns, and I have no answer to that one

Using the Ohio State game is a bad compairson. If it is the game that I am thinking of with the several onside kick attempts at the end of the game, Lee Owens did everything on his power to win that game

[GP1]

I think we need to bring back the Frye for Heisman campaign. Anybody still have their signs or shirts?

You guys aren't going to believe this, but I have a button on my frige....

[johnnyzip84]

I think we need to bring back the Frye for Heisman campaign. Anybody still have their signs or shirts?

You guys aren't going to believe this, but I have a button on my frige....

I have a yard sign and a bumper sticker (never used).