hiroad1

An ambitious coach needs to demonstrate THEY make a difference in a program. Taking a 2-22 program makes it pretty easy to show improvement. Some coaches and their agents will surely consider Akron a palce where they can make an impact in 3-5 years and then move up to a more notable program. I'm okay if we are a stepping stone program. If the coach moves on, it means he was successful here.

Perhaps Winters would be a good choice. UA needs to conduct a true search before reaching that conclusion. We need to make the BEST choice, not an emotional choice.

Yeah, he'll be missing those players (and more) if he comes here. I don't agree that it's an excuse. We need someone who gets the most out of who he's got. The first step has been taken. Next is getting the right new leader. Personally, I think Fickel would be a great pick if Akron can get him. He knows how to run a top program, has the x and o experience, and should be a strong recruiter. He was an incredible high school wrestler and an OSU football player. He must be a tremendosusly driven competitor. IMO, if he were to make good selections for his assistant coaches, he could begin to turn things around quickly. For those critcizing spiking the ball on third down at the end of the game today, even the announcers were not sure that that was not a decision made by the qb on the field. Regardless, I think Fickel would be a great add. Anybody dreaming about Stoops or other big name coaches needs to be more realistic. That aint gonna happen. Fick would be a huge move for this program.

And this comes from a credible source????

I have been privileged to attend many games in a friend's suite since the stadium opened. They feel that it has been a complete waste of money. Food and drink only go so far. When going to a game--in a luxury suite--is a dreaded weekly burden, something needs to change. My friends and I cannot and will not tolerate another game of Ianello-ball. So, personally speaking, I know of tens of thousands of dollars that the coach is ALREADY costing UA. Not to mention the empty stands and many other suite owners whose renewal notices will go unreturned. College football is a big business. UA better realize that and get in the game....or get out altogether. They're putting a coach and product on the field that's like milquetoaste compared to Cardinal Mooney, Chagrin Falls, Mentor, St. V. It's pathetic, Luis. College is about EDUCATION. If football is all about big business then it should be left to those willing to take financial risk for financial reward. You seem to be OK with others footing the bill in all things. The university to provide your entertainment and your friends to provide access that entertainment. Your attitude is exactly what is wrong with society today. "Give me", "Provide it for me", "I/we deserve it" Ridiculous post. You missed the entire point. How much revenue is UA going to lose holding onto The Grim Reaper as head coach? College may be about education, but college football has nothing to do with education and everything to do with entertainment and revenue generation. I simply don't understand how UA puts ANY butts in the seats other than parents/family anymore. You talk about financial risk. How about the financial risk of building a 68 million dollar football stadium without the ability to sell any tickets to events held there? You're OK with that? You're OK with suite/box subscribers walking away? +1 Unlike other sports, D1 football is a public relations vehicle and renvenue generation source for the university. The board didn't decide to build the new stadium on campus just to make it easier for students to attend games. They did it to enhance and sell the campus to potential students and to facilitate other university expansion plans, including the development of retail around the univesity. Focusing only on the cost of getting rid of the coach fails to measure the cost of lost revenues and missed public relations (advertising value) if he stays another year.

I'd like to think that this (lack of signed recruits so far) is what did him in. If they go ahead and fire him, it's not like the new guy will be losing a ton of recruits. In fact, whomever it could be, he would likely have enough time to salvage a better class than iCoach would have ever signed in 2012. IF he is replaced...recruiting potential will be a big reason. I have thought all along that we needed to AT LEAST win 3 games to be able to recruit effectively. If he stays...next year will be difficult. He will have to rely on JUCOs and the guys already on the roster. Alternatively...a new coach could easily sell back to back 1-11 seasons to new recruits. So for Ianello...it will be an albatross but for a new guy it will be an advantage. I will renew my season tickets in any event. Then you are a better fan than I. If Ianello does not go, I do. I have had season tickets going back to the Rubber Bowl, but I won't renew if they allow Ianello back another year.

Tressel talk is crazy. Come on, though. Aren't there any people here with legit inside sources that can enlighten us with who is really on the target list of candidates? I'd love to know who the realistic possibilities are. Mostly, I need to read that Ianello is fired. That will be the first bit of welcome news. Then I hope we hear of a search committee that has a process to keep TW in check this time. No way I want him having final authority with this hire. Sorry, TW. You may be the AD, but you lost your right to final authority with your disaster of a decision two years ago. Please Dr. Proenza, do the right thing!

I don't think you are wrong at all. This program is in such bad shape, it is going to be hard to bring in a decent D-1A assistant. It would be hard to bring in a decent DII or I-AA coach at this point. Coaches are very calculated about their careers and Akron isn't a strong career move. The following happened to our last four coachs.Faust - Never got a sniff at another job in coachingOwens - DIIJD - Out of coaching for a year and now assistant at ColoradoCoach I - Will be assistant somewhereRight now, Akron isn't the place one goes to for the next job. With that said, it makes Winters all the more logical choice for many of the reasons stated on the board.I always say that things can always get worse than what they seem to be. I can't believe what TW has done to this program in two years. Two years ago, JD was at least a competent coach who was struggling. Lots of odd things happened prior to his departure. The program needed a change and along comes TW with his "vision". Look where we are now...a national laughingstock. No, I take that back, we aren't even a laughingstock...we're nothing. People don't even pay enough attention to laugh at us because we are so pathetic it isn't even funny.If the boom is lowered on Coach I, I say good luck to him and wish him only the best in the future. However, there needs to be another boom lowered this week and it should be the guy who created this whole situation, TW. Coach I needs to go....TW REALLY needs to go.I don't think any big name coaches will take the Akron job. Not now. Not in the future.You make a good point about where former Akron coaches go. Under normal circumstances, I could agree with your full logic that we'd be unlikely to attract a hot Coordinator or lower lever head coach. This is not normal though. A combined two season total of 2-22 is what they would be coming into. A coach needs to demonstrate "results" to move on to a better job. It can be hard to continue winning (results) after following a highly successful person in business managment or coaching. Sometimes it is better to take over a poorly performing unit, quickly show improved results and gain recognition for it, then get the opportunity to move on to another, better position. I think a good coach can come in here and be successful enough in 3-5 years to get themselves a better job. At 2-22, I would think that some coaches probably understand this, and that many of their agents would advise their career management in just this way. A confident coach must believe they could do better than 2-22 in the MAC.I'm fine if we are a "stepping-stone" for our next coach. If they get the chance to move up from Akron, it will mean they were successful here. Win-win for us and them.

Well, Tressel would be a grand slam for Akron. If he can use UA to manage his career with the NCAA, then maybe that would be sufficent motivation for him to consider a stop here. I just want to see somebody who can inject a positive attitude, get some momentum going, and start the winning. Just a few years ago we felt the program had tremendous potential. The new stadium, one of the most attractive campuses in the state university system, etc. should be great recruiting assets against other MAC schools. We've suffered a terrible setback during the past two years, but I believe the right person can make an impact here quickly. If that is Tress, spectacular. If it is a hot-shot O or D coordinator, super. A promising head coach from a lower level, that can be okay too, but has some risk given what we've seen due to lack of experience under the current coach. However, it has to be a guy who has been in the trenches making x and o decisions, and someone who can inspire the players. Maybe that was why Tressel was here recently. Maybe he was consulting with Dr. Proenza in regard to a coaching search and advising him what to look for. Dr. Proenza has made some huge strategic decisions for UA. After the current coaching debacle, I hope he sees that finding the right football coach is hugely important too. Another mistake and we might..... man, I don't even want to think about the consequences of another blunder.

What is it with all this crazy talk of Tressel? Look, I love UA and I'm hugely loyal fan, but how does this make any sense at all? Tressel is not completely toxic in the football world, and he doesn't need a stop at UA to resurrect his career. True, his brand is damaged a bit, but if he wanted to coach again he'd be attractive to another major program. Why would he even consider a stop in Akron at this point? Then think about how much he was paid at OSU and how much he could make at another major. UA could never afford that kind of money unless a major donor stepped forward to fund it. This makes about as much sense as me fantasizing that Kim Kardashian might be interested in marrying me and settling down to a life here in Ohio. Oh how Iwould love to be wrong, but Tressel to UA defies all logic.

Agree 100%. I really despise what Ianello has done to the program, but that is professional, not personal. I actually feel sorry for him that the timing of the passing of his mother comes while he is in the midst of anxiety over his loss of a job (he must be speculating about it). I too express my condolences and respect that he will be with our football team during the Thanksgiving holiday during this period of grief.

Regarding a new coach, I think we need to be realistic, even though it is fun to speculate in fan forums. UA is not likely to be attractive to guys who already have establsihed their name as D1 head coaches, particularly if they have been at more notable schools. As much as I love Jim Tressel, and believe he loves Ohio football, I simply can't imagine he'd take the UA job. Nor, do I think Leach or Stoops or others would. Heck, Rich Rod just got the job at Arizona after being specuated for Tulane and Ole Miss. These high profile coaches can get better jobs than Akron. IMO, that leaves two types of coaches available. An up-and-comer who needs a platform to prove themselves and get head coaching experience before moving on in 3-5 years. Or, a solid guy who can win and is likely to stay with the program longer. Personally, I like the first scenario. Let's get the program on track quickly and establsih a perception of excellence. If that means we are a stepping stone program for head coaches, so be it. Let's get the hottest, most energetic, driven guy out there. I don't even know who that is, but that's the profile I'd like to see.

Just found this site, but I'm an alum and season tick holder. Please excuse newb status and bold first post, but...... First, I don't see how Ianello will not be fired, but the timing will almost certainly be impacted due to the death of his mother, and it should be. There is no need to fire the guy in the midst of such family grief, and the University would appear insensitive. We don't need more bad publicity around the program. However, it will have to be done soon enough to assure that UA can begin interviewing, and does not risk losing, any available coaching candidates. Within two weeks I would guess.