72 Roo

Like others I'm curious to see what coach Arth does with his staff and recruiting. I was, and still am, hoping Arth will reach out to Tim Tyrell at Hoban to join his staff. Tyrell is a brilliant play caller. You can never predict what he will do. He has the ability to use what his talent will give him and not force on the players a system that they are incapable of executing. With four state championships Tyrell has great credibility. I also hope coach Arth keeps Nemec. His knowledge of the program and the area can help make the transition to a new staff smoother. All this being said I understand that coach Arth may want as many ties to Cleveland as he can get in his new staff so the recruiting is enhanced by coaches who intimately know the area.

Steve's suggestion would never work. It makes too much sense. But I applaud him for thinking creatively and coming up with a novel solution. Wish I was smart enough to think of it.

Buf, I agree with you wholeheartedly, but Williams may be under pressure from the MAC not to pull out. an exit from the MAC may negatively affect our other programs. But all things being equal I would love to see us in the Big 10.

Danny Clark would be a cancer if added to the Zip football program. He is immature and gets bad guidance from his father. Although it would be fun to see who is the most obnoxious dad on the team, Clark's or Cato's . Danny is a hell of a football player, but he needs to go to someplace where he can learn humility and ego control. Art should not take that on in his first year as he seeks to set his own culture/values.

If the MAC was untenable for the Zips, which is a real possibility, I prefer the AAC. It is better than the MAC and it could open doors for the rest of our athletic programs. My second choice would be CUSA. It's not bad in soccer, especially with UK, and I think they would welcome us. To me, those are the only real options.

I too appreciate you being on this board. Your posts are very insightful. FWIW, I liked your Illini avatar. I think it is classy and by no means disrespectful to the Zip faithful. A diversity of perspective is valuable and welcome. Happy New Year!

I haven't noticed anyone posting a greeting for this Christmas so I thought I'd send ya'll these best wishes for a blessed and joyful Christmas, even though I'm late. My first, and maybe best, present came when Zip_ME87 confirmed Jared was staying put. Other presents scattered around our Zip tree are the growth of Men's basketball, the turnaround of women's basketball, the high hopes we have with a new football staff, the excitement of baseball returning under coach Sabo, the fire Christy Mitchell seems to be bringing to our fledging LaCrosse team and the continued excellence of Track and Swimming & Diving. That's a lot to be grateful for. But I'm also grateful for the informative news and discussions that are presented on this board. I can even say I appreciate the occasional idiot because he/she makes me value the vast majority of posters who actually make sense with their opinions. To the mods who make ZNO possible.... Thanks!

I like Keith. I think he is a good guy who did his best at Akron before he knew he had to leave. It was time for him and us, but that's another story for those of you who want to continue to fight it out ad nauseum. His outburst against Penn State was a different matter. The AD or President of Duquesne should have suspended him. He embarrassed the university, the team and himself. No athlete would ever, ever be permitted to act that way. The same applies to a coach. I lost all respect for Duquesne University.

That sucks, but it's not surprising considering the timing of the hire. Bowden should have been fired during the season so we could have had a better jump on the coaching search, building a staff and recruiting. We may have waited until the end of the season out of respect for what TB accomplished in saving the progrum from Ianello. Just speculation on my part. Coach Arth knew this signing day would be poor. Let's give him time to get his staff and vision out to recruits. I'm hoping February signing is better, but even if it isn't Arth deserves time to build the program his way.

I wholeheartedly agree with hiring coach Tyrell as an assistant. His teams are very well prepared. No discipline issues and when they arise the player is sent packing. He knows NE Ohio and is widely respected. I love his play calling and officially endorse him as an OC candidate. I'm sure coach Arth was waiting for my endorsement before he moved on the hire. Now he's got it.

OK, I do buy that he is better than Bowden, but that doesn't mean we couldn't have done better. I'd like to see Williams explain this hire. Did he speak with Kehres? Was Kehres even interested? Was Getsy contacted and was he interested? I realize Luke had a higher salary than we might offer, but he had the chance to run his own program at his alma mater which is very alluring. When the university asks us to donate our money but they don't answer these probing questions I find my confidence in their leadership dropping. Help me understand what is so great about a guy who took over a program that averaged over 9 wins per season and he subsequently averages 4 wins per season and we want him. Why? In any matter in life past success is the best predictor of future success.

Well that makes me feel so much more confident in this hire. Now I can sleep at night.

This hire does nothing for me. I don't get the excitement to hire him. He took over a program that had 10, 9 & 9 wins the three years prior to him and turned that into 3 and 5 wins in his two years. In his second year at the helm he never beat any of the top four teams in his league. Is that the success we want? I would love to know what LW saw in him that was better than Getsy or Kehres. He's our coach now and I'll do all I can to help him be successful, but pardon me if I'm not excited.

I think I like him more than Arth, but time will tell. From what I have heard this Griswold guy has never lost a game!

Kehres can interview during the season, but it is considered classless and a betrayal of the coach's (his) current team. Once the season is over our AD, if he wants to talk to him, calls the Mount AD and asks permission to talk to Vince. It is almost always given. As for Jacobs, now that his season is over, we can begin the process with him if we want. I was once skeptical of this search, but as it goes on I am becoming more confident we will make a good hire.

Much thanks to all in the athletic dept who made the weekend in SB so much fun. Our ath. admin did a super job in hosting alumni and representing UA. I talked with the director of the tournament, an associate AD from UCSB by the name of Hastings. He was very complimentary of the university, our team and Akron fans. We really do have many friends out here. Caleb Porter came to the final and it was good to see him. It was better to talk with him about the culture of Akron and how players learn to play for the colors and the school or they leave. That is still the case. Believe it or not recruits love that and come in eager to embrace the Akron culture. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. In this age of pampered, entitled, egotistical athletes these guys are so refreshing and inspiring. Congratulations to Maryland. They were the better team, but our guys would play them again, anytime, anywhere. Let's also not underestimate the job Jared and the coaches did this year. They completely rebuilt the team - recruited individuals and created a team. Jared deserves national coach of the year. He replaced 7 out of 11 starters and at the beginning of the season it was 9 out of 11 due to injuries. I even had time to talk with our athletic administrators about the football hiring process. Let me restate that. I talked and they nodded their heads and said absolutely nothing. I appreciate that. They know this hire has to be about the best coach possible and they can not have a deadline if there are still good candidates to be found. They also recognize the passion the Akron fan base has for finding a winner who wins the right way. ZNO was even cited as an example of the passion for Akron football. I think they get it and I support them in the process. I still like Kehres though. Just my opinion.

I wish I could capture the excitement of being in Santa Barbara, but here's a feeble try. The team is at a level now that few teams can appreciate, yet alone duplicate. We are rested, confident and extremely well coached. I thought Jared was two steps ahead off his Mich State counterpart all match long. Maryland has strength in its center backs, but we can score in so many ways that will create havoc for them. Our team believes in itself and that is all because of Jared. Today we walked down State street in SB and you wouldn't believe how people would smile at us and say "go Zips" when they saw our Akron Soccer T's. This final match should be a huge spectacle but the NCAA does not give a damn about marketing this weekend. They bid out who wants to host the event and how much they will guarantee the NCAA. Once the event is awarded the NCAA puts all the promotion and marketing on the shoulders of the awarded host. If attendance is poor the NCAA doesn't care, they got their guarantee. The risk is all on the host and it appears UCSB will only break even at best. The Zips and the other three teams deserve better. The Akron following is good, but not great as far as numbers. That's understandable duet the cost. One thing that strikes me is the support of former players and families. Akron is known for the almost fanatical support the former players give the program. So many were in the stands and it was great to renew friendships with them. I don't know if it is well known, but every year Jared asks the former players and friends of the program to help him grow the program. This year it was a new camera system for game /practice review. In past years it might have been for financing trips to Brazil or Europe. We can be proud of our soccer alumni. I wish every sport had this heartfelt support. FWIW not all DI elite programs can claim this level of support too. Well it's low 70's during the day. The field is in beautiful shape and we are ready to win our second star. Please let us know what it's like at the JAR.

I listened to the discussion of our next HC on Big Time Sports. It further piqued my interest in Vince Kehres. I have believed all along that he is so close to the values of his dad that he would be a great hire for us. He is about legacy building and not a bigger paycheck and greater celebrity. He is like his dad in that he does not want to move his family. Akron is a perfect it. He knows the area, he has recruited but with no scholarships and he has consistantly won. When I was a director of sales for my company all the management courses I took stated, when hiring, past success is the single greatest predictor of future success. Vince has it and I would go after him with all I have. Next I'd target Getsy. To be truthful, Arth would not be on my radar because, altho' he won at JCU, his record at UTC does not show the success I want and casts too much doubt. Just my opinion. This is a critical hire for us because the football program affects all of athletics. We have to get it right.

If you really think TB had only one bad season this discussion is not worth continuing. This was a prudent decision because the team had stopped playing for him and it showed. Financially UA will not end up paying his buyout, just like they didn't pay Faust's. That is being worked out under other budget areas than athletics where TB can be very effective. The decision was further prudent because UA was hurting in ticket sales and sponsorships. TB had lost the paying public. Look at the actual butts in the stands. Our attendance was pathetic. Sometimes less than 1,000 actual bodies in the stadium. & years is enough time to be judged on performance and not wishes or excuses.

Art looks like an up and comer, but I'd like to see more wins under his belt before he takes us on. Winning 3 games in his first year and 6 in his second does not demonstrate excellence.

George has certainly hurt their chances by, well let's face it, being George. But of the group I am intrigued by Getsy and Kehres. I like Getsy's progression up the ladder, his offenses and his history with us. As for Kehres I believe he knows how to win, no matter what the challenge. I also think he may be more about legacy than moving on to the next level and better pay. His dad repeatedly turned down better offers and showed by example that money isn't everything. I like guys who know how to win and make that expectation part of the team culture. Kehres also picks good assistants and manages them well as a staff. I do not believe TB did that well. At Mount they have 13 assistants. Many are volunteer coaches who receive little to no pay, but they are highly qualified ex-D1 or NFL coaches or NFL players who love being part of the game. He deserves an interview if he will take it.

I will be there with a former Zip from Charlotte and one from Phoenix. I understand ME_87 will also be in attendance. We need to have a pub for a pregame Zip rally. If the university doesn't set one up it will far on your shoulders being a local. We will be counting on you

I would prefer a new football coach but the salary can't be cut if we are to get a good one. I realize you, like all of us, want to keep Jared for a long while. I believe we will. He could have gone to Ohio State earlier this year but he loves Akron. He is loyal and only asks for a fair salary and the autonomy to run a top 5 program. Williams, to his credit, has given him that and Jared likes working for LW.

So proud of this team. They hung together and got the train rolling after the WVU loss. The coaching staff was fantastic proving coaching does matter and excuses are not an option. I wish someone would describe what the watch party was like and how attendance was. I'll bet ME87 and VA Zip are making plans for Santa Barbara. I really enjoyed watching the game with you two and the Nanchoffs at Wake. More so I enjoyed closing the bar at Wake with the coaches and former players. Hope to do it after wins in Santa Barbara. So proud!

This is a much needed response to issues of mental health. My family has been affected by it and I bet yours has too. Football players are not immune to this disease. Get them all the help we can.