hiroad1

I believe this is a distinct possibility. UA may just be sitting back, being silent & simply enjoying the attention right now. However, I think the fallout would be too negative were we all to eventually learn that JT was never a serious candidate, or, let alone, a candidate at all & the UofA was just leading everyone on. So, I'm going with JT being a very real, perhaps even likely, possibility right now. I think he is a serious candidate. But if they sign him there will be a shit storm. NCAA baggage, money, priorities and GP1. There will be many who will disagree vehemently and loudly. What impact will paying JT 2-3 times KD and CP have?? I think there is nothing but upside for the football program but many other potential issues we have to deal with that could be harmful to the UofA. Would you take JT if it eventually drove away CP?? Lots of issues. This debate is good. It won't be JT that drives away Porter. CP is more likely to be "lured" away by a huge salary coaching in the pros.

I disagree. His roles at this time is to take on consulting.... not just due to his years of expertise, knowledge of players, recruits, and coaches, and his connections there-in... but moreso because of how his future is foggy with the NCAA. He is perfect for being on, or assisting, a search committee. I don't think Tressel would want to be judged based on the success or failure of the next coach. Another coaching flop and we'd really hold it agaisnt Tress. I could see him serving in a paid consulting role, but not on the actual search committee. I think he would want to keep himself at least at arms length from the actual decision.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say our starting QB this year will not physically grow taller in a different system or with a different coach. Well, Ianello trying to force a 6'1" QB into a pro-style offense to drop back against 6'5" defensive linemen never seemed too smart to me either. However, I really don't know if Moore might be better in a different system. Not saying Moore is in the same league, but Denard Robinson is also 6'1". BTW, I'm one of the people who sometimes stood at the games and screamed for Ianello to go to Nicely. So, I'm not here to defend Clayton. I'm just saying that things have been so screwed up for two years that I don't think the average fan (me) can assess what we have in terms of player talent. The one obvious exception being B. Wagner.

You could be right. It's the million dollar question hanging over Tressel. HOWEVER....... If UA and Tressel discussions have progressed to the point suggested on this board and a couple of media outlets, I have to imagine this has been contemplated by both sides already. That raises a few questions in my mind. 1. Why would Tressel publicly flirt with ANY coaching positon while still awaiting the final NCAA ruling (OSU has been told final rendering by mid-December)? Wouldn't his lawyers advise him not to taunt the NCAA, unless they know the NCAA would not be angered? 2. Why would The University of Akron engage in serious discussions with Tressel (assuming they are) if they have serious concerns that they NCAA is going to come down hard on Tressel? 3. Separately, and while it does not necessarily concern the situation with Tressel specifically, it seems relevant. Why would Urban Meyer take the OSU job if he didn't have some indication of how hard the NCAA is going to come down on the program there? Is it possible that that attorneys from all the parties have been talking, perhaps unofficially or through side channels? I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I know a bit about how business works. To me, it does not seem out of the realm of possibility that the parties involved might have some insight on this topic already. Frankly, I would be appalled if either Tressel or The University of Akron had not contemplated and investigated this prior to discussions and calculated it into any decision to engage, or to the timing of publicly acknowledging the talks (which they do not seem to have done yet, BTW). I'm not convinced that Tressel is a serious candidate for the Akron job. I'm also not suggesting the Show Cause is not a genuine threat. I'm just saying I can't believe Tressel, UA, or their respective attorneys would be in discussions without having researched the topic.

SIAP Meyer adds Fickell to staff.......... Per OSU pages at another forum site.

thank you. exactly what i am thinking (sans the seeing him play - im too young for that haha) BTW, getting away from the coaching discussion. Paul Winters really was fun to watch running the football. Dude had some moves.

Agree. We aren't going to win the MAC East next year, or get to the Little Ceasar's Bowl the year after that. Not even if Jim Tressel is the coach. Plus, I'm glad I don't have to be held accountable for selecting the next coach. Not an easy task, as you correctly describe above. Still, I do think "The Right Coach" could turn things quickly. I hope the selection committee pulls a rabbit out of the hat.

You beat me to it. Both of those guys were fairly highly rated Moore was recruited to the SEC. If put in the right system either could become all MAC or maybe they both truly do suck. However, based on this last season, everyone on the team, but Wagner, sucks. Anyone that thinks QB is our only issue is blind. It is difficult to judge players when the coaching was so bad. Coaches who fail to put the players in a position to succeed pretty much doom the players to fail. I am not suggesting the players are not at fault also. Only saying that one would have to be a really insightful football insider to be able to accurately asssess players given the coaching debacle we had. That is the next coach's job though.

This thinking is wrong. I am a premium member on another site and a gentleman that writes and reports on Ohio recruiting has said Akron is the bext job in the MAC and the 2nd best in Ohio. The facilites, stadium and local talent pool would make any good coach a winner almost immediately. Then give him a few years to get his players in and recruit even better after having a winner and Akron could move out of the MAC. This is a very respected neutral football guy saying this. FWIW So if it's so easy to win here, why can't we seem to do it? Why are we talking about leaving the MAC? We haven't even won our division in FB in a convincing manner, EVER! I never said it was easy. I said it's the best job in the MAC. We just got our new stadium a couple years ago and hired a moron as coach. The right coach will be able to turn this thing around. If I am a high school player and I look at 2 straight 1-11 seasons and then I visit and see 1000 people in the stands, I am not going to Akron. However, if the program starts winning, then we will look better to recruits and there will be more people in the stands and we won't be the laughing stock of CFB. We need the right coach to get it started. Miami was nothing before Schnellenberger got there. Florida was nothing before Spurrier got there. The list is long and endless. If you remember, Cincy was nothing until Dantonio got there and got them turned around. Then they got Kelly and continued it. Once the winning started it kept going. They are usually close to if not a top 25 team. We have better facilites, stadium and talent area than Cincy. Being a good team is like getting rich. You have to spend money to make money. You also have to have a good coach to get the train rolling. Once the train is rolling it keeps picking up speed and nothing can stop it. If there is a good young proven coach that really wants a stepping stone to prove his worth, Akron is the perfect place for him. He can take the worst program in America and turn it around. Once the turn around is complete then we can continue to bring in better coaching talent. Akron is a sleeping giant for football. There are so many positives that we have going for us. We know this team sucks so we can't picture it not sucking. But get the right coach and all that would change. I don't know who that coach is. That's above my paygrade. Imagine a winning Akron team with a good coach, the facilites, stadium and beautiful campus recruiting against any other MAC team. It would be no contest. We would also get our share from the Big East, Conf USA and middle to lower B10. Everybody here knows I am not a sunshine pumping homer, but this really is a good job for a good coach to prove himself at. I agree 100% that the situation at Akron is primed for an up and coming coach to come in and make an impact that gets attention in a big way. It may not be where a big name comes to "get well", but an ambitious young coach has the table set to be able to make major gains for Akron and set themselves up for the next step in their career. This would be good for us. If they get the opportunity to move up, it would mean Akron has done well.

The rumor about Tressel being on campus is 100% true, which I find interesting that he is reporting otherwise. Hopefully we find out everything tomorrow. Or this could be a planned leak of misinformation to deflect attention and save face if JT has declined. In that case, maybe what we hear tomorrow will be nothing. As if nothing ever happened with Tressel.

Your first post since February is a downer I have no sources, but I agree many people have tended to embrace a scenario that seems terribly unlikely. We are all relieved to have a terrible episode behind us. Let's be prepared to embrace a realistic future that probably does not have Jim Tressel in it. Hey, I'd love JT, but I just want to get the best guy we can and get this program moving forward. Man, I hope I'm worng, but Tressel seems such a stretch for UA.

I still find it hard to believe Tressel would come to Akron, but..... I can imagine his possible logic against taking the Akron job, or his logic for taking it. Against it: He's been on a huge national stage for a long time. It seems to be hard for coaches, athletes, politicians, celebrities, etc. to walk away from that limelight. He may believe, probably correctly, that he could still land something high profile. While he has made a lot of money, one's earnings still remain an important measure of their achievement and success. It may not hurt his finances to take a pay cut, but it might hurt his ego. Plus, he may be fed up with the NCAA investigations and just want to avoid the hassle for the time being. For it: Remember that his father coached forever at B-W. Fathers are powerful influences in men's lives. Maybe JT feels compelled to "give something back". He's achieved money and fame already. Maybe his motivation now comes from the heart. He sure seems to love Ohio football, he has some times to UA, and the Zips sure could use some help with the program. In the "benevolent" scenario, Akron makes some sense. Further, maybe he really wants to redeem his good name nationally. He may feel that his sincerity is much more likely to be believed if he takes on a "cause", rather than going for the limelight. On top of all of this, he must believe he can make a major impact in the MAC with/for Akron. I'm pretty greedy. If I was Tress, I'd be more like Pete Carroll and move on for more limelight and money. But that may not be the way JT is wired. One thing I am confident about. If Tressel comes to Akron, he will not rest. He MUST be successful here, or his name will be further tarnished. He would only come here with the intention of winning BIG. Unless the NCAA advises Akron to avoid Tressel pending future action, we have to sign Jim Tressel if he is willing to come here. There would be ABSOLUTELY nobody close as a second option.

Great question. I think it would be a terrible career move for him. IF he can stay on staff at OSU for just a couple of more years, better opportunities will open up and his professional experience will be expanded beyond Owens and Tressel. I would tend to agree with these as reasons logic would compel Fick to stay at OSU, plus no move for his family (kids schools). Staying is certainly less risky than leaving. Heck, he may get a better offer than Akron yet this year. On the other hand, maybe he has anxiety over how his role will play out under Urban Meyer. Have you ever had a job where you got a new boss, and it was clear the new boss never considered you one of "his guys", and you never really felt comfortable with them? Luke must be wondering how that situation will work out. Plus, while he'd be taking over a bad program at Akron, he should be able to improve it fairly quickly and then move on to coach at a bigger program. IMO, it could be decided based on money, and how comfortable Luke feels being in a situation where he knows he was "pushed" onto Urban Meyer by the OSU atheletic department. UA may be able to close the gap regarding money. The other variable can only be determined by Luke's gut decisons, and likely only after he has had substantial discussion with Meyer (who will surely say all the right things). I doubt Fickel will be prepared to make a decision right away, unless he has already concluded he does not want to stay on under Meyer. Why would Meyer want a leftover from the Tressel era. All that does is divide loyalties among the players. You know there would be players who would have more loyalty to Fickell than to Meyer in a case like that. He doesn't need that crap. Its not as if Meyer couldn't pretty much get the pick of any assisstants he wanted. Supposedly, the OSU administration and athletic department insisted to Meyer that he offer Fickel a position as a reward for his thankless job of loyally leading the team during this season of suspensions, investigations, and turmoil. They are rewarding Fick for his service as a good soldier.

Great post JZ84. I'd just like to focus on this little bit. We have learned in the past year that Tressel was a fake and fraud as it relates to his campaign to be the most honorable person in America. He can't afford to come to Akron and be exposed as a fake and fraud as a coach. He'll never take the chance. Tressel won a boatload of games at OSU with three MAC schools per year and a cake Big Ten schedule. He routinely got his butt kicked against OOC BCS teams. There is no scheduling to hide behind at Akron. He can't take the risk of being exposed. One thing Tressel isn't is a risk taker and Akron is a huge risk for him. I've never said that Tressel couldn't win at Akron. There just isn't any evidence to show he can win without breaking NCAA rules. I don't want to risk him not being able to win without breaking rules at Akron. If he doesn't break rules and loses, we are screwed. If he breaks rules, wins and gets caught, we are screwed. If he doesn't break rules and wins, which there is no proof of, we win. We have a 2 in 3 chance of losing with this guy. No thanks. People need to think with their heads and not with their hearts. This is a fair post. And the negatives don't end there. We know Tressel won boatloads of games at OSWho by scheduling inferior competition in the OOC games, and got a handful of cupcake games on top of that from the bad teams in the weak Big 11 conference. Against Top-ranked teams, he failed miserably. Against the Top conference in the country, he failed miserably. However, many people think that OSWho has the best talent in the country, right? So, I have to ask...how many inferior teams can we put on our schedule? Not many, since nearly every team in D-1A is better than us right now, And...how can anyone make the assumption that good players want to play for Tressel, and not that they just simply wanted to play at OSWho? How many kids on Solich's roster at OU are anywhere near high level talent? Plus, the nicely-pressed sweater vest won't look the same to kids in different colors, especially with the recent massive hit to his credibility and honesty. I just think there's some assumptions here that really need some further thought. First, lets look at his history against ranked teams: 2001 - Defeated #14 Northwestern, #11 Michigan...Lost to #14 UCLA, #12 Illinois, #14 South Carolina 2002 - Defeated #10 Washington State, #17 Penn State, #19 Minnesota, #12 Michigan, #1 Miami 2003 - Defeated #17 Washington, #9 Iowa, #24 NC State, #14 Michigan State, #11 Purdue, #8 Kansas State...Lost to #5 Michigan, #23 Wisconsin 2004 - Defeated #7 Michigan...Lost to #15 Wisconsin 2005 - Defeated #21 Iowa, #17 Michigan State, #22 Minnesota, #17 Michigan, #6 Notre Dame....Lost to #2 Texas, #18 Penn State 2006 - Defeated #2 Texas, #13 Iowa, #2 Michigan...Lost to #2 Florida 2007 - Defeated #20 Purdue, #25 Penn State, #19 Wisconsin, #23 Michigan...Lost to #2 LSU 2008 - Defeated #18 Wisconsin, #20 Michigan State...Lost to #1 USC, #3 Penn State, #3 Texas 2009 - Defeated #11 Penn State, #15 Iowa, #7 Oregon...Lost to #3 USC 2010 - Defeated #12 Miami, #21 Iowa, #8 Arkansas...Lost to #18 Wisconsin By my count: 34-15 vs Top 25 10-8 vs non-Big Ten Top 25 1) A ranked team is a top team, regardless of what conference they play in, and I don't think 10-8 is "failing miserably". 2) Nobody outside of Columbus thinks Ohio State has or has ever had the best overall talent in the country, even in their best years. 3) If his biggest on-field issue is not being able to beat Top 3 SEC schools, I think we'll be OK. Great! I knew some buckeye honk would post the tosu wins over second tier BCS schools and big ten schools ranked #15-25. THese schools were only ranked this high because they beat up on the MAC and started 4-0 or 5-1. This was a great thread until DFG had to post yet another meaningless thread just to clog up ZNO. Get a job, go volunteer or start your own Zips board. Just stop posting. Suckeye fans conveniently forget about the 1-5 record against Top-5 teams. But, they are sure anxious to tell you about the rest of them. I'm merely pointing out that, if OSWho has "Some of the top talent in the country" (is that better, Dave?), then it's fair to judge Tressel's coaching ability against SIMILAR competition, and say that he was a failure against equivalent opponents. How else do we judge "coaching ability" than to look at his games against teams with similar abiilty? And my point is that we don't play teams right now in which we have superior talent. I can't imagine UA could really land Tresssel. However, if they could, I can't imagine you truly believe there could possibly be a stronger coach for UA to get. For me, if UA can get Tress, sign him quickly before he changes his mind.

I like this wit!

Well said. Below are some simple questions about Tressel everyone should ask. 1. Does Tressel win? Yes 2. Does Tressel recruit well? Yes 3. Is Tressel well liked by high school coaches? Yes 4. Will he fill the stadium? If he wins, yes. If he doesn't, Faust Part II. 5. Is he a good coach? Yes 6. Does he use lying and cheating to accomplish success in questions 1, 2, 3 and 5? Yes My biggest question is now and will always be until the question gets answered, Can he win without lying and cheating? There isn't much evidence he can because it has always gone on. He'll probably do just fine at Akron, but I don't have much certainty. Paul Winters has won at a place where lying and cheating just isn't possible because nobody knows who the players are and almost nobody cares about the program. Good football players in Youngstown are minor celebritites, especially when they are on a roll so there is room for cheating. Good football players at OSU are celebrities and future NFL players. There are so many jock sniffers arond Columbus, rules ARE going to be broken. It's easy to win at OSU. It's hard as Hell to win at Wayne State and PW has done it. Give me the underdog for an underdog program. First, I find it really difficult to comprehend that Tressel would really take the coaching job at Akron. Though, I admit I would be be thrilled if he did. Anywhere he goes he will be under the microscope from both the NCAA and the media. IMO, he could turn around the situation at UA even under that microscope and with a probe placed you know where. The guy can coach, even if you want to dwell on the negatives. Plus, he could surely recruit better than anyone else we are going to get. And he'd probably get the best assistants. If, somehow, UA could land Tressel, they must do it. I just can't imagine it.

Great question. I think it would be a terrible career move for him. IF he can stay on staff at OSU for just a couple of more years, better opportunities will open up and his professional experience will be expanded beyond Owens and Tressel. I would tend to agree with these as reasons logic would compel Fick to stay at OSU, plus no move for his family (kids schools). Staying is certainly less risky than leaving. Heck, he may get a better offer than Akron yet this year. On the other hand, maybe he has anxiety over how his role will play out under Urban Meyer. Have you ever had a job where you got a new boss, and it was clear the new boss never considered you one of "his guys", and you never really felt comfortable with them? Luke must be wondering how that situation will work out. Plus, while he'd be taking over a bad program at Akron, he should be able to improve it fairly quickly and then move on to coach at a bigger program. IMO, it could be decided based on money, and how comfortable Luke feels being in a situation where he knows he was "pushed" onto Urban Meyer by the OSU atheletic department. UA may be able to close the gap regarding money. The other variable can only be determined by Luke's gut decisons, and likely only after he has had substantial discussion with Meyer (who will surely say all the right things). I doubt Fickel will be prepared to make a decision right away, unless he has already concluded he does not want to stay on under Meyer.

He has only two years at the coordinator level, but otherwise a very impressive resume. Those two years being at USC are meaningful though. I agree, if a guy like this is interested, Akron should at least investigate him as a possibility. I've said repeatedly, I don't care if a guy comes here for only 3-5 years and then moves on/up to a bigger program. If they are moving up, it will mean Akron has been successful. I want the best guy we can get, period.

Oy. This does not add to the discussion, nor is it much of a "hiroad". This looks more like a disguised anti-Winters post, than a plea for open minds. Not my intent. I just find it incredulous that so many people want to stop the search before it has begun in earnest. If Winters is hired I will be behind him 100%, and I will vote for him by renewing my four season tickets.

hat I certainly agree that the search should be thorough, but am interested in the negatives regarding Winters. What are the things that give you pause? It's all speculation and advocacy amongst fans at this point, so I'd like to know what the perceived strengths and weaknesses of potential candidates might be. Keep in mind, I said things that give me pause. Not things that are show stoppers. Mostly, that he is running a smaller program without some of the complexities of a D1 program. Wistrcill thought Ianello could run the program, but he was overhelmed. It's not fair to compare Winters to Ianello (for many reasons) because he already has head coaching experience. But the point is that a D1 program can be complex, and it would clealy be bigger that what Winters has done to date. Not saying he can't do it, but it is a mild concern. Also, Akron can't just recruit locally. They MUST recruit out of state effectively if we are to get the athletes we need to be competitive. How much expericne does Winters have competing at that level, and against the likes of not just the MAC, but at times the Big East or even the Big 10? I am absolutley not saying Winters is a bad choice, but he does not walk on water. Let's give the selection committee a chance to do their work. Fair enough. I cannot disagree. BTW, while I think someone like Fickel might bring the administrative experience of a big program and recruiting experience at a higher level, I think it is possible that Paul Winters might be the better x and o guy when it comes to game day coaching. It's all just me speculating anyway. What do I know? It's a tough and important decison. I want to see the search done by committee (without TW having ultimate authority), and for them to look at everyone who might be available.

hat I certainly agree that the search should be thorough, but am interested in the negatives regarding Winters. What are the things that give you pause? It's all speculation and advocacy amongst fans at this point, so I'd like to know what the perceived strengths and weaknesses of potential candidates might be. Keep in mind, I said things that give me pause. Not things that are show stoppers. Mostly, that he is running a smaller program without some of the complexities of a D1 program. Wistrcill thought Ianello could run the program, but he was overhelmed. It's not fair to compare Winters to Ianello (for many reasons) because he already has head coaching experience. But the point is that a D1 program can be complex, and it would clealy be bigger that what Winters has done to date. Not saying he can't do it, but it is a mild concern. Also, Akron can't just recruit locally. They MUST recruit out of state effectively if we are to get the athletes we need to be competitive. How much expericne does Winters have competing at that level, and against the likes of not just the MAC, but at times the Big East or even the Big 10? I am absolutley not saying Winters is a bad choice, but he does not walk on water. Let's give the selection committee a chance to do their work.

Okay, the blind "hire Winters" post are getting me to a point where they are turning me away from the guy. We had an emotional hire two years ago. Why would we want to do it again without a thorough look at all qualified candidates. I went to Akron when Paul Winters was playing. He's a great guy, and his record would indicate he has become a very good coach. However, why in the world would we not want to keep an open mind through this search. I can think of a couple of things that give me pause regarding Winters, but not that would keep me from embracing him if he is selected. He is one of several qualified candidates that need to be investigating. Some of you are beginning to remind me of people who voted for the phrase "hope and change" without asking what it meant. The University of Akron needs to do a thorough search. If the man is Winters, great. But not by default!!!!!!!!!

Agree. Winters may be the guy, but a rush to Winters is a mistake. This university owes it to itself to conduct a thorough search and not make an emotional hire.

I think it is likely a search committe has been formed. The bigger question in my mind is around the rules of the search committee. I certainly hope a process has been established that assures the AD does NOT have final decision making authority.

That is good, very good, but not necessarily the best strategic decision. This needs to be a great decision. This university owes it to itself not to simply make an easy or emotional choice. I'm not looking for "good enough". I'm looking for movement to the "next level".