Captain Kangaroo

For recent historical reference -- JD - Fired November 28th. Iannello - Hired December 10th.

Relatively "local" guy (New Castle Pa). Transformed Kansas for doormat, to contender. Available, and wants to coach. He was even in Akron this year.

You can't include such a clause in this Zips' contract. The aforementioned Jesus isn't going to be sniffing .500 at UA for at least 3 seasons. No more banking on "mulligans," hire a good coach!!

Hey, look at the bright side....he nabbed a great baseball coach.

Ummm...Mike Johnson?

Yeah. I don't foresee interviewing Winters a 4th time.

I don't see a contradiction there, ZW. CK was simply stating that there was, in actuality, no sincere search happening & that TW was just sitting around waiting for PW. Essentially not accomplishing much of anything over those three weeks. Thank you.

Read my post above. Winters was offered the job, as I predicted (predicting the sun will rise tomorrow would get you similar odds). UA put all our eggs in the Winters basket. But I didn't foresee Wistercill being incapable of sealing the deal. I had no way of knowing the damage that was done the last time TW turned Winters down in favor of Rob Iannello. In hindsight, I should have seen it. Winters is a very intelligent guy. 26 days of sham...2 days and counting of reality.

He is a different player this season. He's looking for his shot. He's being aggressive. He has had a couple games where he's committed some stupid fouls. Usually when he starts thinking he's a guard and strays outside the paint. But his entire game is better this season. Last year, when everyone was down on the kid, I simply stated a universal truth - 7-footers Develop Slow. With the rarest of exceptions, this is true. I believe I predicted his numbers would be roughly double from last season. We'll see if that holds true. It'll probably fall a little short, but he'll still make a huge leap over 2010-11.

I wonder if there are records kept for Division 1 programs being entirely head coach free? 28 days has to be nearing a record. What the hell is going on?

1.) Yes. 2.) Probably as big a laugh as I get from his football-related decision making.

And the answer to my original question is: "Yes." And while I was correct that we were sitting around for 4 weeks with our thumbs up our butts awaiting Winters availability, I did not expect that TW would not be able to close the deal.

Any particular Saturday? Or is this like the "Free Beer Tomorrow" sign?

It seems last night was a re-preview of what is possible with this edition of the Zips, when we can field a consistent, drama-free line up for a couple consecutive games. The preview was Mississippi State. Now we lose Abreu. Fingers are crossed that he is good-to-go for VCU. Even at 70%, he'd be a major contributor. It will also be interesting to see how Harney's return affects this 1/3rd-of-the-way-through-the-season chemistry that's developed. When Brett McKnight returned last year, things regressed before getting better. Cventinovic seems to have snapped out of his funk and begun using his strength to his advantage again (God, did he crush that little YSU guard on the way to the rack last night). I think Harney will need to work a little before getting and of Nic 2.0's minutes. I watched Abreu and Treadwell last night and wondered how different the West Virginia game would have been. We really have the guns to compete with them...if we have all the bullets in our chamber. So I love the mid-majors beating the BCS programs, and the way we lost that game still bugs me a little...sue me. Boy does Walsh have strong hands. Seems like he comes up with every loose ball within his reach. Off for a Carolina Christmas Cupcake tomorrow, then back to the grind...

Too bad TW chose Iannello the last time. That was apparently the final Winters mulligan. Play it where it lies from here on out. Thanks, ITZ. I better understand Winters' decision. But it doesn't make me feel good about the Zips Football situation today.

And Paul Winters is an Akron alum.

Thanks for checking in, Tom. But we know Dambrot, Porter and Mitchell aren't really all that concerned with job security, so get back on the phone and find us a new football coach. One that isn't a coordinator at a MAC program that couldn't even win the MAC East.

He was probably just listening to Frenchy and Dunn.

I think your time would be better spent not worrying about Tree transfering.

Great idea to wait until after the D-2 playoffs until we selected "our man." Please don't hire a coordinator whose team couldn't even win the MAC East. Please. I am worried too.

Dude - Cease with the new threads that regurgitate the same damn thing. We get your point.

What? What is wrong with driving to Detroit to talk to a candidate? You wouldn't be impressed if someone drove to your house for an interview instead of flying to see them? I don't agree with everything TW does but get real. It is Zach. Please do not reply to him. It clutters our board. Thanks, CK

"Hello, Lee Owens? Tom Wistercill here. Got a second? I have a question for you...."

We look like a bunch of clowns for failing to lure a D-II coach and alum to our D-1 coaching job. On the theory - What if Winters called his bluff and took the job? Would Wistercill risk losing his #1 choice? No chance. Dumb internet theory. Dumber AD.

Twitter Tom botches up yet another one. Wow. He couldn't sell a Akron alum, D-II coach to lead the Zips. How many weeks did he have to prepare for this?