ZipRoo

So nice to see some common sense on this board.

Note to TW: See, when you make the right hire, fans are on-board and willing to give him as much rope as he needs. We have confidence in his abilities. When you make the wrong hire, we have a completely different idea of what do do with the short rope. What a refreshing difference a month makes.

Ah, youth and arrogance. Never a good look.

Perhaps. But the difference between Akron and competence was wider.

No and no. Didn't even know there was a Jeff Bowden. Let's not bring in a tired cast because their last name is Bowden. Personally, I think we got the best of the Bowdens. Brighter days ahead. Bro, just hope Terry doesn't bring in his Appalachian black-sheep brother who uses the more formal last-name pronunciation...

Tells us all we need to know about you. Akron lost to freakin' Gardner-Webb. And you think the national runners-up couldn't have knocked off a 1-11 team that had stopped playing for its coach? That tells us all we need to know about YOU, my deluded friend.

I can't tell you the number of times I turned to my friends in the suite and said: "This guy would never have played at Mississippi State. He's not a D-1 quarterback." Like CK said, the swatted balls, the fumbles, the errant throws, the constant inability to escape the rush or make any sort of play... Coaching staff aside, the on-field problems certainly began with our horrific quarterback play each of the past two years. It spoke volumes about a coach's worthlessness that he was unable to 'coach up' either of those two "allegedly" good recruits into even a respectable performance, week in and week out.

STZ, I don't think we have anything against Winters. He's entitled to stay "in the hood" if that's where he wants to coach. It's a rough job, and somebody's gotta do it. And to clarify your point, I WOULD HAVE BET MONEY that Winters' Wayne St. team would've defeated Akron last year. You're probably thinking Winters is being snubbed now, but in reality, we're just happy we dodged that bullet when a much, MUCH, M-U-C-HHHHH better candidate was available. Would anyone here seriously trade Bowden for Winters? Thought not.

No coach gets hired or fired without an AD playing an integral role. Does not happen! Period! Also inextricably involved is the approval of the Board of Directors. Both the AD and BOD are culpable for Iannello. Both are to be praised for Bowden. There is an element of chance in every occurrence. Maybe TW got lucky. So what! All that counts is the scoreboard. Yes. It is because of Men's Soccer 2010 Championship that I am willing to defend TW. Was he primarily responsible for it? Certainly not! But TW played his part in it. Top executives take both the criticism and the accolades. What is your suggested response here, what is your rationale? "Nice job, Tom, but you're still fired because of that other thing." Are we allowing for Wistrill to redeem himself? If you EVER associate me with Kan't State again, I will make it my personal business to find out who you are. There is a difference between argument and insult . Your reasoning is senseless. Yeah, WAY TO GO, TOMMY BOY! WAY TO BRING HOME THAT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH!! And if TW did not personally contact Terry Bowden to inquire of his availability or interest in UA's coaching job--two years ago or a month ago--then trust me, buddy, YOU are the O-N-L-Y person showering our "beloved" lame-duck athletic director with accolades today. Sheesh. You sound like some corporate exec who takes credit for every good idea the real workers in the company suggest or implement. Meanwhile, you're at your desk...

Boy, did Akron blow it in not promoting Waddell. I can guarantee we wouldn't have endured the nightmare of the past two years.

While true about Kellen Moore, he also came in and did outstanding things as a freshman. He clearly had Moore to work with. Unfortunately for Akron, we've done less with Moore. It's Moops, not Moores. Moops.

Frankly, no one knows about Wayne State...because there's absolutely no reason to KNOW or CARE about it. No one knows where it is, whether it's a branch of Akron U, the home of Wayne's World, Kevin's brother on The Wonder Years, or the place John Wayne was born. Honestly, it seems incredulous that so many were wringing their hands over a coach who preferred to remain in that anonymous little hamlet. How pissed would every one of you be if we had hired P. Withers....and later heard that Terry Bowden wanted the job? So Georgie boy, I'll cut ya some slack for not knowing up from down, concerning Wayne State. Just do a good job with the Zips coverage and don't embarrass us, okay?

RE: Give credit where credit is due. TW is to be blamed for Iannello because it happened under his directorship. Conversely, TW gets the credit for Bowden, as it also happened on his watch. We must remain logically consistent. Dude, Ianello "happened" under TW's watch because TW was the ONLY one who wanted the guy. Wake up. "Credit" for Bowden? Uh, no no no...not until we hear that Bowden was on UA's short list and that TW personally contacted and persuaded him to come to Akron. In total reality, TW may have had ZERO to do with this hiring. Your "logic" is nonsense. Just because men's soccer happened to have great players and a coach in place, yet the National Championship occurred under "TW's watch," are you giving HIM the "credit" for it? Surely you're a Can't State student.

All of which makes it even more mind-boggling that our crack A.D., the Clueless One, did not consider Bowden two years ago...and apparently wasn't targeting him this time around, either. Does everyone also understand what a hindrance it is to have such a worthless representative running the athletic department? This needs to be rectified...and quickly.

...think we can all agree, G-Thom is pretty lucky just to have a writing job, let alone the sports beat of the largest D-1 college in Northeast Ohio. Perhaps he needs to re-examine his use of the term "big time." Was he just flashing back to his movie review of Any Given Sunday?

I was tempted to vote 3-5, but knowing Terry Bowden, there's no way HE would be content with those numbers. I'd guess he's looking for at least a .500 record his first season. And I'm not about to cast doubt on his high aspirations. Not after enduring two years of a "process" in which our only goal was to seeming "get better" or "compete"....neither of which happened.

Boy, that WAS an irritating article by Pluto. Did he really, truly say it would've been "better news" for UA to have persuaded Withers to "come home?" Poor guy. He's just losing it. Good thing he moved to Cleveland. Lee Owens on staff? Uh, no. UA didn't like his after-practice hang-outs then, and I'm sure they haven't changed their minds. Now, one former guy I *would* take advantage of, if I were Bowden, is Gerry Faust. The two are friends, and no one can sell a popsicle to an eskimo like Gerry. He's a nice guy, and could most definitely help with recruiting, especially the parochial kids statewide. He can be a very valuable tool for Bowden.

Amen, GP1. I had no problem with Clayton Moore coming in--heck, I don't care WHERE the players come from, as long as they can contribute. Of course, should've known that any Ianello recruit was gonna be a mess. We're about to see how a football leader LEADS his players to levels they've never tapped into. And having a packed stadium will help get their adrenaline flowing. I seriously doubt we'll ever see a FG try, trailing 40-0, or a 2-pt. conversion try when a PAT would've won the game. Zips fans have sat in stunned, mystified, dumbfoundedness for two years, wondering what in the world are we watching?

The "JD" he talks about might be Jim Dennison. Ahh, good point. What an alphabetical coincidence.

McCoy still stinks. And don't think that Holmgren/Heckert/Shurmur don't know it, either. No way is he QB of the team next year. Only wish we could send Shurmur packing, too. How embarrassing for the Browns that Akron now has a better coach. The lowest-ranked D-1 college in America has a better coach. Anyone else questioning Big Show's antics?

For once, GP1 and I are on the same page.

How did we "treat JD?" Wasn't he pretty much another hack head-coach-wannabe who got lucky, backing into the playoffs with a 6-6 record and Owens' players, and winning a game only on a miracle catch by Hixon that was the biggest defensive blunder imaginable? What, were we supposed to "reward" ol' JD for leading the Zips to the brink of mediocrity, and then saying "jump!" ? I agree on your other points, though.

Dear Josh Stein...oops, I mean LIONS (sorry Josh), Thanks a bunch. Akron is MORE than happy to "take Coach Bowden" off your hands. I can understand your feelings having suffered through 11-2, 9-4 and 9-3 seasons. You must just feel like the sun will never rise after all that torment. Call it an even exchange, then, when I say that you are welcome to steal our former Coach, Rob Ianello, immediately. You'll never again have to agonize through those frustrating, dominant years of crushing your opponents. And he'll be a real hit on the message boards you speak of. Once again, your loss...our gain, and we are more grateful than you can ever imagine. Zippy-do-dah!

AMEN, brother!!!! THAT is what a quality coach DOES. And NEO fans haven't seen that mentality either at UA or in Cleveland.....well, maybe EVER. All the new coaches come in with their "excuses" of why they CAN'T WIN NOW. It usually involves a "stall tactic" labeled "I'm getting MY GUYS." Well that's just BS. As a wise coach once said, I'll beat you with my team....and then I'll trade sides with you, and I'll beat you with YOUR team. Winners win. Losers make excuses and talk about a fictional "process." I'm freakin' giddy about this hire.