ZipAnalyst

Re: ZipboyComment is based on Zipboy "reading what he wishes to read;" not what is actually written.I will not allow Zipboy to define me.I have never, ever said that the Zips "should" drop football. If I wanted to advocate for the dropping of football, I would be direct, clear and unmistakable in my advocacy with no apologies for doing so.Mischaracterization, distortion and sheer invention are the tools of those who wish to define a world of their own making. It doesn't speak well of those on engage these tactics. They are destructive of the continued health and vitality of this board. A fair minded person would pose the question: Did you mean to say? Are you suggesting?But not Zipboy. He knows, just ask him. His diatribe is a case-in-point of a person not interested in exchanging points-of-view. It is Zipboy's way or the highway.

I have no confidence at all in Rasor's analysis. His column is not worth a reply. Rasor does a superb job in digging out and providing information. But that is the extent of the value of his writings.The clock is running out on football at Akron. If we are not at the top of the MAC appearing in bowl games year-in and year-out in the relatively near future, I question whether or not Akron has a future in football. All we can hope for at this point is that JD will turn things around next year. We already have three years invested in him. We have no choice but to abide him at least one more year, maybe even two. But that should be it.I don't like the excuse modality that JD is into now because it is a "mirror image" of what we got from Lee Owens. And we all know the rest of the story. It was nine years that the program was stagnated. Even then Owens apologists were asking for "one more year."Excuse making is indication of satisfaction with mediocrity or worse and having a job just to have a job. This is the most disturbing aspect of JD's comments.Brookhart and Rhoades probably pay no attention to what said in the ZipNationland. One thing Rasor can do to for those of us who care about the program and write about it, is to pass on our growing "impatience" - that is if he has the courage to "possibly" jeopardize his close relationship with the coach and AD - for we all know that the messenger does bear some risk.

Already the Lady Zips are showing progress. But the big move will come next year. An ABJ article on future Zip star Kara Murphy provides the specifics on Murrphy's development at St. Vincent - St. Mary's (Akron). Murphy will combine with Tokodi and McCoy (current roster players and team phenoms) to catapult the Zips into being one of the better teams in the MAC as early as next year. It is becoming apparent that Akron's athletic future is more likely to excel with the basketball programs (women and men) than in football. Basketball is where the university administration and athletic department administration should focus their efforts.Dambrot is clearly the class of coaching at Akron. It is too early to tell, but preliminary indications are that Kest is cut of the same mold.Last night I watched Mid-major Gonzaga take apart #2 North Carolina. In a few years this could be the Zips - either the women or the men; maybe both - provided that the Akron administration sets it priorities correctly.Can anyone fancy the Zip footballers taking apart Ohio State the next time they play the Buckeyes? Not a chance. But the basketball thing is doable!

I believe this post on "Rasor on the Zips" is by none other than Mike Rasor himself. If I am correct then Rasor gets:"Zip Football Pollyanna of the Year," to wit:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Overall, J.D. Brookhart is still doing a great job.If you look at the bright points of this team, they wouldn't exist without him: Dennis Kennedy? David Harvey? Luke Getsy, to a lesser extent?He's an offensive specialist. Defense is not his forte, nor will it ever be.He still deserved his extension. A lot of people are simply being impatient with one bad season.Posted by: Miike----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the ABJ report on the Tiffin game: ``This team is a little unsettled. We have a lot of growing to do to be an upper-echelon team.''And Dambrot is working on it and we will see progress as the season wears one. No excuse making a la the football program. Just fundamentally sound acceptance of responsibility for producing results. It was good to extend KD's contract and I support that move. But there was no urgent need to do so right now because this guy's end game is being at Akron and taking Akron to the mountaintop. The only way he would leave Akron is if the administration takes him for granted and fails to show him adequate respect.The only other coach who has had who was as committed to Akron as KD was Dennison. Akron treated him atrociously. Has the administration learned from the past mistakes made at Akron? Time will tell!

GP1 gets us back on point. "Just the facts, mam, just the facts" (a la Joe Friday [Jack Webb] of Dragnet). Captain Kangaroo is a good "facts" man, maybe he can answer this question GP1. Where is the Captain when you need him?

The full blown reality is that no matter how many "kicking game" miscues the Zips have had (and there have been far too many) the "fundamental problems" of this team reaches far beyond punting and kicking field goals and extra points.JD Brookhart has on his hands one of the poorest teams I can remember in terms of the basics of the game. I would put this team on a par with the Faust coached teams. And what was Faust's forte - he was a good recruiter!

The jury is still out on JD. What happens next year will be a better measure. His system will have been in place for a number of years and his first recruiting class will be seniors. I am not optimistic that he has what it takes to get Akron to premier status in the MAC let alone "to the next level" because I think he undermines his own ability to command the attention and respect of the players.Most ZipNationeers think JD is a good recruiter. I agree. On paper his recruits appear to be of high quality. But when one digs deeper there may be an explanation as to why he is not getting as much out of his recruits as perhaps he should.As one example. I am of the opinion that JD brought Getsy in having promised him starting quarterback status in the recruiting process. That he would do something like this, astonishes me. Given that he was such a huge success in the entrepreneurial world, he certainly knows better. My question is how many other "prized recruits" do we have that think they do not have to compete?It is now clear to many of us that we should have used this year to bring on one of our freshmen at quarterback. I would have done it as early as post-Central Michigan game. Getsy's experience was not a positive, it has been and continues to be a negative. He keeps on making the same mistakes which end up costing us games. JD has no choice but to play him because I believe he would never have come to Akron except for assurances that he would be the starting quarterback for two full years. One of the things that "good recruiter" head coaches of programs trying to ratchet up quality do, is give "guarantees" (never admitted to) to recruits they could not otherwise get to their school - just to get that "blue chipper." Even if the player is a high caliber player, if he knows he doesn't have to compete - it is predictable he will not be challenged to excellence.Getting back to my example of Getsy: If I am right, JD could not go back on his word to Getsy because the unreliability of his word would get out and future "primiers" would not buy into the promise and therefore would not come to Akron.I suspect that this may be the genius behind JD's recruiting. In the end it will not be genius because these folks feel "entitled." They take on "prima donna" attitudes that not even the coach who recruited them can harness and channel into productive growth.The hope I have for JD, if I am on to something about his recruiting methods, is that he will learn how utterly counterproductive such methods are to his own success.

Getting KD extended is a smart move. KD will probably be at Akron for years if not his entire remaining head coaching career. For me, he is the model coach in the entire athletic program. And, he will get results. Year, after year, after year!

Dennison wasn't missed. And, there have been others.Nowhere did I say that all our opponents have been worthy. Nor do I believe we will not have opponents in the future that will leave us shaking our heads "Why would we schedule that team?" But in the future I believe we will see less of this. For a mid-major to get "at large" bids to post-season play; strength of schedule means something and I think KD gets it and will react accordingly. Plus, he has high expectations for himself and the team.So what's your point? Is this a gotcha exercise? I hope it makes your day Captain!

In my byline to the topic heading on the discussion I started on Akron/Hillsdale, I remarked something to the effect that Hillsdale is a competent team. For some reason I expected KD to bring a patsy in for the exhibition game. I should know better. KD does not engage in exercises in fooling oneself.If my memory serves me correctly, Hillsdale played ahead of the Zips in the first 5 minutes and even if not a little better in the second half.KD's philosophy: to be the best you must be willing to play worthy opponents. The Zips first game against UALR is no sure thing. Akron will have to bring its "A" game. And, if they get by UALR, then its the legendary Bobby Knight and his TTU hoopsters.The most promising thing about the Zips in my opinion is their apparent depth. The depth is coming from maturing 1st and 2nd year players and they will get better and better and better as the year wears on. So even if the Zips do not start off that well, it will not be "woe is me" for the remainder of the season. Quick backup player development could solve problems in a hurry."

"David [Harvey] gives you a big threat out there,'' Brookhart said. ``When (a defense) starts to play your run game hard." (ABJ, 11/10/2006)"First-year Buffalo coach Turner Gill and Bulls quarterback Tony Paoli said UA's non-traditional 3-3-5 defensive scheme caused them problems" (ABJ, 11/10/2006)These two quotes reveal JD's game plan to make Akron the class of the MAC in ensuring years. I know, I know. Some of the ZipNationeers think 2006 is not a lost cause. And you might be right. I think that the Zips have a few more pieces to put in place before the plan will show consistent results.What pieces?Better quality offensive linemen (unseasoned but talented freshmen and sophomores, perhaps a junior or so, supplemented by JUCOS) and a more versatile quarterback (Jackson?)When those parts are added to the plan of "establishing a credible, consistent running" that the defense must over-commit to stopping only to be undone by Harvey et al and complemented by a defense staffed talented players playing in an unorthodox defense (confuse the opponent's blocking assignments), then the Zips will develop into a truly premier team. Right now not enough quality players (especially on the offensive line) are in place. But JD's recruiting prowess will cure this in time (maybe as soon as 2007).

Woods picked up two fouls early in the first half and didn't show much. But the second half was a different story. He showed some quickness off of post ups and scored on smooth moves. He had a beautiful lob to Milum for an exciting slam dunk.Speaking of Milum. He put the ball on the floor at about the foul line and zigzagged to the hoop for a score. For my part this move was the best of the game. KD should consider isolating Milum on defending big men and see if this is a developing talent. Maybe this was once-in-a-season move. Romeo was Romeo. Didn't play much in the second half but demonstrated what we saw all of last year in the first half of this game.Dru. Excellent defense, ball handling and shooting and - superb leadership on the court.Quickness, quickness and more quickness. Speed, speed and more speed. Both on offense and defense. And he proved that he will be a scorer this year. Who am I talking about? Cedrick Middleton, that's who. He was good last year. He showed today that he is improved.Dials created havoc on defense and was a factor in direct steals on poking to other Zips around him. He was open on a lot of threes and canned a number of them.Linhart was solid. You can see that he is getting more and more comfortable. Playing with an experience laded lineup will give him the space to continue to develop into a steady, productive post player who can take a less agile defender to defend on the three and creating space for Woods and Travis to wreck the opponent inside.McKnight showed that he will be ready next year to step in and begin to fill Travis' shoes. Ditto of Conyers. He is a comer. And next year is when he will come into his own. KD didn't use him this way today, but it is clear to me that Conyers is fluid enough, quick enough and fast enough to take smaller guards down law and score easy hoops. He was used today as if he was a small forward.Sallee looks like a capable point guard if need be. He had one turrnover which he neutralized within seconds by stealing the ball back.Rybak was a non-event as far as I am concerned. Maybe he'll be a "late bloomer." He's plodding and slow and thinks better of his shot (the three pointer) than I think his performance merits (both in this game and going back to last year).Bardo did not embarrass himself. He did get stuffed on a lay up but he stepped up and took a charge in the second half. Overall he played the way one would expect a first year big man to play. In time he will be productive.

Its probably technically possible. But not as a practical matter.The Zips are still floundering. BG lost to one of the worst 1A teams in the nation last week (Temple). The Zips needed good fortune (an offensive pass interference call BG in the end zone) to avoid overtime today. Of course, they may have won anyway. But this does not indicate a team that is primed to beat Ohio and Western Michigan.Perhaps they will defeat Buffalo. But that is far from certain. Witness Buffalo 41 - Can't 14 after Can't had a 14 - 0 lead today.So again - technically possible but unless there is a sudden turnaround in the how the Zips play (consistency, intensity and relatively error free) the Zips are in an uphill fight to finish 6 and 6 which would mean one more MAC loss. To assess that prospects are not good for the Zips repeating as MAC champs seems obvious to me.

Everyone needs to respect Zipsbandman's opinion.No name calling, please. Some of our number have a hard time with different points-of-view. A healty board discusses, parses, is open to a change of mind, gives opinions for whatever they are worth - and is healthy in that it is a mature board that will attract more and more participants.And that is what we want, isn't it?I respectfully disagree with Zipsbandman for the following reasons:1) The football team backed into the MACC in 2005. It has turned out to be success achieved to soon for what has turned out to be an immature team (e.g. the discipline problems this year) and a coach - in his first head coaching stint - that was not prepared to handle the discipline problems. This is a learning year for JD and I predict he will learn and the team will produce in 2007!2) KD has been a head coach before and in that sojourn learned that he needed more self-discipline. His players respect his administering discipline to himself and are responsive. Those who have a problem with KD calling the shots go off the Ohio University or elsewhere.3) KD embraces high expectations and will insist that his players respond. He knows that the only way that there will be SRO game after game after game at the JAR is if the Zips meet the high expectations year-after-year. Take a cue from LaBron (a close associate of KD both in their history together and his thinking). Last night after the San Antonio game in an interview LaBron was told that this was the first win over San Antonio since 1988. To paraphrase his response: "If we are the NBA caliber championship team we think we are - we will go out and beat the best NBA teams on their own courts"Folks if you have competitive talent all that remains is: "a will do attiitude and its concomitant - determination." LaBron has it and so does KD.JD should use the rest of 2006 to grow and develop into the first-rate coach many of us believe he can be!In the meantime, let us all get behind KD and fill up the JAR - no matter who the Zip are playing. I believe the Zips basketballers will meet the lofty goals. Let's hold them to it.

This discussion is focusing on the "intangibles" that one needs to be a successful head coach. Nobody knows whether or not JD posseses the motivational factors to excite player development and to command the respect of team members to the point they play as a disciplined unit that achieves because of the head coach's leadership skills/Factors in both directions (positive and negative) are now in evidence. But it is too early to know conclusively. I believe we all want JD to succeed. He certainly has the opportunity. We shall see what he makes of it.

Yes because, unlike football, the basketball program is blessed with a coach who welcomes the challenge and high expectation.Rather than focusing on building a new football stadium as a top priority the "movers and sharkers" at the University ought to be planning a facility becoming of an up and coming national power in basketball.If the moguls at Akron University will get behind Dambrot as a priority, he will deliver. It is very questionable that Brookhart will succeed on putting the football program on an upward spiral track. The only time that I have seen an Akron Zip athletic facility strain to accomodate fan demand was back in the days of Laterza, Bill Turner, Frank Thompson, et al. This success gave birth to planning the JAR which in the beginning was to be a facility, if it had been built as orginally planned, that would still do for the Dambrot teams. Obvously, Akron University lacked a visionary leader to see the initial vision through to the end.The Dambrot hoopsters and their consistent, championship caliber play will put enormous pressure on Proenza, Rhoades and the University Trustees to place their intercollegiate athlectic money where it will get the best return. For now it is basketball; not football. The current football program appears to be an example of "throwing good money at a bad project!"

If this is true let's hope that this guy can do a respectable job blocking when he is kept in the backfield to block for the "qb" when a pass play is called.On at least two occasions at Toledo Dennis Kennedy blew the block to protect Getsy. I am not a big Getsy fan but I will stick up for him when he gets pathetic support like that Kennedy demonstrated.Kennedy's poor blocking technique might be a reason we see Walker more than one might think given the "star" billing attributed to Kennedy. I say "might" because I have not focused on Walker and it could be that he is not any better than Kennedy at blocking. I do understand that blocking is not the primary skill asked of a running back. But it is a skill that quality backs possess.Watching the Toledo game was very painful because is showed many instances of a football team that does not appear to be well coached in fundamental techniques.

OHIO/Can'tI had the pleasure of watching the Ohio at Can't game in mid-afternoon. These two teams are clearly the class of the MAC. It is obvious that Ohio runs deeper in talent than Can't.Coach Martin had his players fully engaged the entire game. His game plan was appropriate to his talent. Moreover, he had the flexibility to get his freshman punter out of the game when it became obvious that this was not his day. The Can't quaterback's performance was worth the price of admission for those who actually went to the game on a miserable day - weatherwise. Ohio is clicking on all cylinders now both on offense and defense. The Bobcats win with power, in the trenches, football. I shutter to think what they will do to the Zips when our locals make the trip to Athens.AKRON/TOLEDOThe bottom dwellers of the MAC. Well, not quite. Bowling Green and Buffalo remain (Temple is not yet in the leagure). Coaching did prove to be a difference maker in this game. First, the Zips were not mentally into the game and, second, they were not prepared for the "trick" plays that the Toledo coach always has in his repetoire.Brookhart has lost control of his team. The only thing that will stop the Zips from going 0 and 4 for the remainder of the season is that two of the opponents are Bowling Green and Buffalo. But they still could go 0 and 4. Both Bowling Green and Buffalo are starving for wins and the ho-hum attitude that Zips play with make them a plausible candidate to lose to the Falcons and Bulls.Either we fans have be flimflamed on Akron's talent level and coaching skill or the coaching staff has allowed the players to make to much of winning the MACC in 2006 and the "last second" win over North Carolina State (the "read my press clippings phenomenon." If its the latter rather than the former, it makes no difference. For this too casts doubt on Coach Brookhart and his coaching staff.Could the Zips be headed to a 3 and 9 season? What a difference a "year" makes!

Yes, it does not stand to reason that JD would be a difference maker in the OSU/Akron game in 2007. The disparity in talent is so vast that for Akron to win it would take them playing a flawless game and inexperienced players (such as the new quaterback) playing beyond what the experience would indicate. Moreover, OSU would need to make some key mistakes. Having said that, I will be rooting for the Zips to pull the upset. And it would be an upset of gigantic proportions.I enjoy being part of the ZipNation but it is a bit trying when the multi-logue includes those who have created an unreal world for themselves and wish to impose it on others. The imposers use three tactics: Often they anticipate disagreement so they place a "poisoned pill" within the parameters of their point so as to cut off any possiblity of disagreement. Second, they attack anyone who disagrees with them by labeling the dissenter with the bevy of nasties they have at their beck and call. Third, they keep re-defining the discussion so as to make fit the imposer's argument and only the imposer's argument fit the ever-changing framework, or, alternatively, re-define the purpose of the board (e.g. "this is just for fun" after it has obviously been a serious until the re-definer senses the discussion is taking a turn he does not like).Imposers are insecure people who cannot abide disagreement. Difference of opinion should be taken to be enriching and thought-provioking; not as threat to the reader. In the final analysis readers need to take each and every comment "for whatever it is worth" to them individually. If its worthless, discard it. Leave ego-enhancing, manipulative rhetorical devices in the outhouse where they belong. On the other hand, if a given comment provokes or stimulates; respond and help make the thread one to grow on or, if the discussion is merely "for the fun of it" (which is an important part of this board) just enjoy it.

Analysis? Very incomplete, at best? And here come the nasties again: "blowhard"Now GP1 thinks he's the one who determines how the board is used. Now it is all fun and games.Can he shift the playing field any more?The intellectual dishonesty continues! Go figure!!

It is too early to say that JD is a success. There are affirming signs and there are disaffirming signs.Why the rush to judgment?Time and results will tell the tale. I am willing to go another year after this one. Maybe even another.After getting "nasty" in prior posts, now GP1 wants to help. I don't buy that GP1 is interested in a analytical approach because I have read posts on other topics wherein he annouces he is a JD booster. And that is fine. But don't annouce that you want to analyze after you have predetermined.The label for GP1's specious approach of "under the guise of analysis" given his already annouced commitment to JD, is: "intellectual dishonesty."I am neither a booster nor detractor. I am measuring performance over a 3 to 5 year cycle. The facts will speak for themselves. And, if JD turns out to be an unqualifed success Akron will be moving out of the MAC to something on the order of The Big East and the "new stadium" will be "standing room only" home game, after home game, after home game.GP1 your are the one who needs help. Get intellectually honest! Quit being a cheerleader!!It could be that the facts will confirm your "first take." It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if you turned out to be correct. I hope you are. Otherwise, we have to go through all of this "selecting" a coach that will move the Zips up a rung or two - at least one more time. I have a feeling that the The University of Akron is running out of time in this quest.

The full story on JD will not be known until the end of the 2007 season. Then he should be fully accountable. A winning record will not be good enough. Akron needs to win or be very close to winning the MAC East year-in and year-out and get a bowl berth for one of the MAC connected bowls.If it ever comes to a replacement coach, by experience as a "head coach" I mean a la Tressel at Youngstown State. A school like Akron should be looking at a Division IAA, II or III head coach who consistently win national championships (e.g. Kehres at Mount Union).

From the Colorado State message board: "Brookhart is probably the obvious #1. An alum who has been absolutely stellar at Akron. I hope he's the first one offered."Wouldn't bother me in the slightest if this CSU fan got his wish. In time Brookhart may turn out to be a "stellar" coach. From what I have seen in three years, it will surprise me if that happens.So maybe it would be good for JD and for CSU for JD not to wait around at Akron to see who is right. He can get a fresh start at CSU and apply the lessons he has learned at Akron. In the meantime Mac Rhoades can select his man to take the high quality Brookhart recruits and apply proven coaching skills (requirement: new coach have prior head coaching experience) to the recruited group.None of this is going to happen. We will be finding out in Akron within the next year or so whether or not JD can is a stellar coach. But it is fun to conjecture!

"Sometimes you point at discipline," Brookhart said. "It's something we've worked hard on. We obviously need to do a better job with that." This is Brookhart's recognition that a number of the Zip footballers need to be reined in. Although it is hard to tell from a Steve French broadcast, it appears that there was way too much freelancing going on in the game.Freelancing is not being a team player. It is Brookhart's task to make gaining control of the team a top priority. This is his first stint in being a head coach. He is learning a hard lesson that success is not wrapped up exclusively in recruiting and knowing the x's and o's.A "team" composed of players that play for the team and not for individual revenge and individual stats is usually a team that wins and is enjoyable to watch.The win against Miami was a win. But it was an "ugly" win. The thing about ugly wins (turnover, penalty and stupidity laded) is to wonder how much progress is being made towards playing as a team.We know Brookhart recruits well. I suspect he and his staff know the x's and o's well enough. But what is unclear is his ability to command the attention of his players. It is good to see that Brookhart himself understands his obvious deficiency in getting his individual superb athletes to play for the good of the whole.When he masters this skill, then, and only then the Zips will become a quality football team!