ZipRoo

Listening to sports talk on the radio at lunch, it occurred to me that the AKRON ZIPS now have a more respected and successful head coach than the CLEVELAND BROWNS. It's amazing the depths that Mike Holmgren has taken the Browns to with just three moves: 1) Keeping Mangini for a wasted year, 2) insisting on drafting Colt McCoy (another wasted year and pick), and 3) hiring Pat Shurmur. On the other hand, as ITZ notes, this is one of the biggest days and hires in Akron U history. Every other school that hired a coach this year is now scratching their heads, wondering how Akron pulled off the coup of the century. Welcome, Terry, and please do plan to make this a permanent home.

Reinforces our belief that folks here on ZNO could've done the job for FREE that UA has now squandered $75,000 on: search committees. We were calling for Bowden two years ago, let alone a month ago when this process started. Like you, CK, I do wonder if TW ever even had Bowden on his wish-list. If he did, then why did he drive to Detroit and offer the job to a guy he snubbed two years ago? Did he somehow think Winters would do something for UA that a top talent like Bowden would not? How deluded is that thinking? No, I rather suspect that TW fell into this one back-asswards, and may come out smelling like a rose thru no effort of his own.

Poor Andy Kubick. Even GF admitted, the guy just "couldn't see downfield." As a QB, that's a problem. Sweitzer looked like a model, but either there was no talent around him or he just wasn't that good at the position.

Frankly, a coach's salary is nothing that concerns me in any way. As long as he's happy with his negotiated contract, I'm happy, too. Fans should just concentrate on the product on the field and the hoopla surrounding exciting college football. Why give a second thought to some paperwork that's ironed out in human resources that we're not responsible for or paying for? Ditto for pro athletes....why should fans give a crap what a player earns? People spend more time talking about finances than the sport itself. It's sad and crazy.

From what I read, Bowden "reached out to Akron." The process of bringing Bowden to Akron may have had very little to do with Wistrcill. If I'm wrong and he was the impetus, I stand corrected. But from what we know about TW from his past, I'm not giving him immediate credit for this--without knowing he was somewhat responsible. Rather than vote either way, I say we let the UA insiders--who SHOULD know the facts--determine Tom's fate when the contract expires next year. I read that as well and thought it seemed a bit odd.. Come on, people! You gentlemen read this where...? Right here, man. Read it yourself...Todd Porter does not report crap: http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1587718435/...-football-coach Quick summary edit: AKRON —The University of Akron may have found a fit better than a native son to breathe life back into its football program. According to a source with knowledge of contract talks, Akron will hire Terry Bowden to be the Zips next football coach. Bowden, who is reviving his coaching career, may need the Zips as much as the Zips need him. Key administrators from the university met with Bowden Wednesday near Cleveland Hopkins Airport and later offered him the job. Bowden, who has been the head coach at Division II University of North Alabama, flew back Thursday morning to inform his players of the move. Akron’s beleaguered football program has needed infused with enthusiasm. The Zips have won just one game in each of the last two years. Bowden is taking over for Rob Ianello, who went 1-11 in each of the last two seasons. According to the source, Bowden reached out to Akron. His hiring is subject to board of trustee approval. And B&G, I'm not sure I liked your "tone." Chill out, we're on the same side.

NOT TO MENTION, YouTube Tom "drove to Detroit and offered the job to Paul Winters"....who never, in any universe, would've created the excitement, buzz, credibility and success that Terry Bowden brings instantly to Akron. Offering to Winters was a big-time blunder. Side-by-side, Winters and Bowden, there's a clear choice. TW blew it, and then got reeeeaalll lucky that Bowden was interested. As Paul Harvey would say, that's the rest of the story. Let's not put TW on any pedestal. His decision-making appears to still be lacking. A lot.

From what I read, Bowden "reached out to Akron." The process of bringing Bowden to Akron may have had very little to do with Wistrcill. If I'm wrong and he was the impetus, I stand corrected. But from what we know about TW from his past, I'm not giving him immediate credit for this--without knowing he was somewhat responsible. Rather than vote either way, I say we let the UA insiders--who SHOULD know the facts--determine Tom's fate when the contract expires next year.

Think about the ELITE TRIO OF COACHES Akron now has: Football: TERRY BOWDEN Basketball: KEITH DAMBROT Soccer: CALEB PORTER Am I dreaming? I don't wanna wake up. There's not a stronger coaching lineup anywhere in the MAC, maybe not even in Ohio.

Terry Bowden is the coach I screamed for two years ago during the abbreviated "search." His credentials are second to none. This amazing hiring is on-par with, or better than, Jim Tressel. A winner, without the sanctions and baggage. This one move will do exactly what we've all been calling for: energize the dormant fanbase, fill InfoCision, attract recruits, excite the campus, keep players from leaving....and, above all, WIN GAMES. I don't know what part TW played in this. If he made it happen, kudos to him. It's the move he had to make two years ago...and went brain dead. Simply put, this is the BIGGEST UPGRADE IN A COACHING POSITION IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY. P.S. As a new beat reporter, George Thomas couldn't have taken vacation at a worse time.

Nice! Doug annoys me, too.

Guess I'm in the minority, but I liked Dr. Elliot. She was a very sharp woman. Bill Muse, on the other hand? Talk about a college butcher.

Hey. We had the chance to land a real gem, so we had to jump on the opportunity very quickly. I'd like to hear the answer to one simple question: When the VAST majority of Zips fans knew INSTANTANEOUSLY that Rob Ianello was the wrong man for Akron's job...why were the men being paid hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars unable to reach the same conclusion? How does a simple coaching hire get massacred so badly...historically so?

I don't care how long it takes, as long as Wish-ter-cill lands one of three men: Tress, Bowden or Mason.

Might feel at home with all the blimps flying overhead. Just sayin'.

Didn't want to start a new thread...but I notice that someone on the Facebook / UA Football Fans page just mentioned that TERRY BOWDEN's name is suddenly in the mix, at least in discussions. Does anyone have any knowledge as to whether Bowden is a candidate? How long would it take YouTubey to drive to Alabama?

Absolutely NOT. Anyone with the stench and taint of Ianello has to GO. And that includes Okruch and his porn 'stache. Times are not THAT desperate, my friend. And also, I do not want Mike Johnson. Just seems that he is not very personable. The community definitely would not "rally" behind that guy. He's a West Coaster. Leave him there.

Absolutely not. NO TOM BRADLEY. Good heavens, *that's* the best UA can come up with?? Let's just call Chuck Kyle. His teams could whip Akron, anyway. Why not coach here.

It all boils down to this, does Jim Tressel want to continue mentoring 18-22 year old young men as a college coach? If so, this is the place for him. If he has higher aspirations, such as NFL money (really?) or becoming a preacher (that "higher calling" mentioned here earlier), then the discussion is ended. But if Tom Wistrcill has any sense at all....and that, frankly, is 50/50 at best....then he's reaching out to Tressel one more time before taking any further road trips to nowhere. Tressel would bring to Akron exactly what's needed here. He may be the only person who can transform a dead/dormant program into one that can (sooner than later) become a MAC contender--or better. If there's one guy I'd put "all my eggs in his basket" for, it's Jim Tressel. Apparently TW did that with P. Withers...and scored bupkiss.

I believe UA has erred in not floating the names of potential candidates, so as to gauge the fans' support. For instance, if Ianello's name had been tossed out two years ago before the hiring, I believe Zip Nation would've egged the AD's office. This hiring goes far beyond Xs and Os. This new coach will be charged with re-uniting a fractured fanbase, an apathetic student body, a highly discouraged group of alumni donors...not to mention coaching up a group of young men who've just endured the berating of a non-respected employee (I dare not call him a "coach") for two years. It's a tough assignment, and this new guy better have the charm and charisma of.....well, I don't know who....but *somebody* impressive.

Source? Magic 8 Ball.

Unfortunately, I don't believe Tressel's ego, which is larger than he lets on, would allow him to take this job. No, he's looking for a high-profile gig, and I believe he will land in the pros. Good ol' boys network takes care of their own, especially one who has stocked the NFL with so many talented players.

Suppose you're also a fan of Bernie Madoff and the Fair Finance swindlers. Guess you missed the point, or are just stubbornly ignoring it. Luis is paid handsomely. He wants for nothing. And he does very little, save schmooze donors. When he makes a blunder as large as hiring Tom W. and rubber-stamping Ianello, costing his employer millions upon millions of dollars....then it is not out of line to say, we'll forego that exhorbitant "bonus" check this year, sir. What, do we just blindly reward incompetence now?

CBS president Les Moonves made a salary this year of $3.5 million. Then he was lavished with a $27.5 million bonus, $23-million in stock option awards, pension money, and $2.5-million reimbursement for the taxes he had to pay. Seriously, you think there's nothing wrong with CEO compensation? Then we live in two different worlds, and yours is bankrupting America, Ada.

RE: Compare what he makes to CEO's of a company UA's size. We're lucky to have him for what he makes. Don't get me started on CEO's and their "bonuses." Sweet mother....

If no announcement is made today, I wonder if that hurts Scot Loeffler's chances? It's a long drive from Detroit to Philadelphia. And gas ain't cheap.