ZipRoo

And Dithers for A.D.

Good lord, don't make us sit thru that. Just spell out the lowlights for us.

I like Winters...err, Withers, for three reasons: 1) Bluto backs him, and he's never wrong. Right? 2) Paul is an Akron guy, so he'll feel more allegiance and pressure to win than any no-name vagabond Wistrcill would unearth. Of the menial names bandied about as candidates, I'd go with a known quantity. 3) Paul is an OFFENSIVE mind. Like the Browns recent mistakes, I am so tired of "defensive" minded coaches who produce an offense that's barely-there. That's why I was thrilled when Shurmur & his bosses came aboard. Sadly, they have proven to be big-time busts with no creativity whatsoever. However, on a college level, an offensive guru with a high-powered, exciting offense will attract fans, even if we don't win every game. We've gotta score points.

Gotta say, if Tressel's not taking the UA job himself, I'm not so sure I like him "advising" us on candidates. I think he's got his own agenda now: placing his former associates (coordinators or less) in good jobs. I don't think he's got the same vision of the UA job as we do. I get the feeling he'd recommend anyone if we'd hire them...even if they weren't the right person for the job, as long as his goal is taken care of. In other words, fine...listen to his suggestions, but don't take his word on this hire as the be-all, end-all.

With a little space and perspective, it becomes clearer just what an immense DEBACLE Rob Ianello was...and the way he, courtesy of Tom Wistrcill, orchestrated the utter destruction of Zips football for who-knows-how-many-years? Such a thing can never, ever be permitted to occur again. After that fiasco, coupled with the all-too-real failings of JD before him, UA is lucky the football program even exists. It's on life-support, though. I know most of the posters on this site could've made better coaching choices than the two AD's who hired those losers.

Maybe you didn't get the memo. They're going with Withers. Or Smithers. Something like that.

Don't know him personally, but it's probably Bob Demyan. He's posted on FB that he interns at 850AM. I'm sure the guys there have some sources. Wouldn't be surprised if Tress is trying to find some coaching jobs for his former staff that Urban is letting go, including his brother, Dick.

I'm going with Withers, just because it makes me smile.

Marky Mark, if "Mr. Withers" is good enough for you, he's good enough for me. Your info is impeccable. We'll let you do the introduction at his first press conference.

We could hire a staff of Knute Rockne, Bear Bryant, Vince Lombardi and Eddie Robinson and we won't be competitive until Year #3. We were down 68-5 to WMU in the 3rd quarter...lost 51-10 to a 3-9 Buffalo team...lost 35-3 to Can't...down 49-0 at the half to Cincinnati...there's no 2-year plan to turn this Program around. Well it only took Tom Wistrcill's #1 choice two years to take the program from bad to abysmal. Never say never.

Having suffered through Nicely last year and Moore this year, I can honestly say I've seen better quarterbacking at the high school level. Sure, they are co-dependent on the guys around them, but really....they showed nothing, no spark, that would indicate they can lead a D-1 team to victories. For that reason, I certainly hope the new coach isn't one of these "play the veterans at all-costs" guys. QB is the most critical position on the field. I don't know how the team could've had any confidence with either of those two passers in the game. We've GOT to look in a new direction.

Zach, you and I are completely in-sync in our thoughts. You couldn't have said it better. I might be willing to give Winters the benefit of the doubt, though, and I'm not sure about Pelini or Polian. I really wouldn't want to be responsible for making this hiring. Like 2 years ago, people's expectations are so high...this HAS to be a home-run hire. RE: marky says Mr. Withers is the man! RE: mes102....you are spot-on, the "planted rumor" shenannigans caused more harm than comedy.

ZachTheZip makes very valid points.

League Rule: MAC schools are not permitted to play away games at 1-AA stadiums. YSU will not play the Zips unless it is a home-home. The Zips have offered to host YSU, and YSU has declined. End of story. Then maybe THAT's something Tressel could help out with....encouraging his old school to make a short trip west. It would be good for both sides, wouldn't it?

Why Akron and Youngstown State don't have a home-and-away rivalry game scheduled every year is beyond me. The geographics seem like a no-brainer. Why are we wasting our time with VMI or those other dinky school non-conference games, when we could be playing a solid program with Tressel-tradition 50 miles to the east? Did we stop scheduling YSU because Faust seemed to lose to them so often? Someone explain this. When you're floundering as badly as the Zips program, it seems like a new rivalry/tradition game, much like the Wagon Wheel, would be something 'special' on the early schedule each season. It's also a close school, so people could freely travel back and forth. Zippy, get on this...will ya?

I'm sure there are a lot of lingering hard feelings about the Aeros moving to Akron from Canton. That had to hurt, especially a sportswriter. That said, I also trust Porter's reporting. He's usually on the money. Also like g-mann's comment. Yes, Tressel did recommend Fickell to UA 2 years ago around the time he also made a sizable donation to UA. Call it an 'attention-getter.' The fact that TW ignored JT's input shows just how ignorant he was about how things operate here in Ohio. Surely there are people in the athletic dept. and administration who are better equipped to recommend the next coach than an outsider like TW. That's why I really dislike these "nationwide searches." They often lead to men who have no connection to NE Ohio, and that puts them behind the 8-ball with a target on their back before Day 1.

Yeah, you keep us posted, marky.

I might tend to agree.

Somethin's going on. Don't lose hope.

Okay, maybe an overreaction. The twitter fiasco obviously had no bearing on JT or the job, but it was an immature use of the technology and wasted a lot of people's time. That's the kind of stuff you expect out of "one of our most dedicated supporters?" Sorry, not me. Not to mention, how stupid does it make ALL Zips fans look to the nation when we're falling hook, line and sinker for a false trail started by one of "our own?" I don't know if we were even talking about the same person, as there was much twitter and rumor abuse today by many. I just happened to see one especially braggart post. Bottom line, there were folks here who knew the widespread impact Tressel coming here would make, and we didn't take this hiring lightly. The out-of-control twitter stuff made a mockery out of it. And a lot of people passed on false information and now have backtracking to do. To know it was done intentionally for no good reason is....wow. I do apologize if I offended anyone with my initial reaction. It's been a stressful day. Here's hoping a lot of things today have been smokescreens for the "rumored" interview tomorrow. I'm doubting it now, as I'm left not knowing what to believe. It's like watching a Kardashian TV show.

then ban yourself from a while. For what? Something he did on his personal facebook? It's not like he came on here and started the rumor! He started the whole Twitter rumor, fanned the flame, then sat back and mocked as Zip Nation devotees hung their hearts out in the hope that, for once in this sorry football program's existence, something good was actually happening. I expect WAY more from a college guy with some actual responsibilities at the school. He played all of us for idiots, then bragged about his Twitter escapades on FB. If some of you are fine with that, more power to you. I don't have time to waste on the immature antics of a guy out for a cheap laugh. This football situation is no laughing matter.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I tracked down the idiot on FB who started that rumor. He's now on FB bragging about it. See, this is when social media gets out of control and becomes worthless. Everyone wants to be a comedian. Everyone wants the "look at me" attention. Well, big guy, if you're reading this, you did some damage today and really hurt your own reputation with a very careless and immature act. You toyed with people's hopes and emotions, people who have really labored to bring about change at their beloved school, and you go tossing out nonsense like a 10-year-old sissy girl prank. Hard to believe you're a UA guy, 'cause your maturity level is nil. Maybe guys like you need laughs to exist. Are you that insecure that you'd stoop to this level, then laugh and brag about how you mocked so many? Look in the mirror, dude.

Oh yeah, completely forgot about Terry Bowden. That would be the ONE hire that would bring a shred of excitement to Akron. In fact, if Tress had never been in the mix, Bowden's hiring would bring sheer bedlam.

Those names inspire as much excitement as a soggy piece of toast. If UA wants to make a splash or put butts in the seats, there better be a much, much MUCH better list.

Funny, sitting here lamenting our potential loss...I couldn't even come up with one "runner-up" name I'd like to toss into the search. There is not one other person in the country who could do what Tressel was capable of--instantaneously--for Akron.