GP1

He was probably just listening to Frenchy and Dunn. What problem I had was he had a hat on as well. He clearly did not look like a professional. It's not a huge deal but I would have liked him to show some respect towards his teammates and the program. A hat as well? Well, that settles it....someone call the cops. How is listening to music and wearing a hat not respectful to his teammates? Yikes, did it turn into the 1950s in here again?

Nobody is perfect. We have people on the horizon. The only question now is how far is the coach away from perfect.

I hope the members of the committee are not the same people who sat on the Coach I committee. Unfortunately, nobody on the committee has probably heard of Ludwig von Mises and the three elements necessary for change. A person must experience all three before making a change. 1. Uneasiness with the current state of affairs. 2. A vision of a better state. 3. A belief that a better state is achievable. Before making Paul an offer, the committe/TW should have known the answers to these points. Was Paul uneasy with his current situation? I would tend to say no based upon the available information because WSU just played for the national championship. Given Paul's age, some discussion with him should have focused on his age and ability to make a leap/take a risk at this point in his life. The older someone gets, the more risk averse they become. Not scoring on point 1 is enough to not close a deal. However, is the vision of a better state UofA football coming off two 1-11 seasons and an Athletic Department with TW at the helm? My personal opinion is no, but others are free to argue. Strikes 1 and 2 now have happened. A belief that a better state is achievable. With TW as the AD? I would say no. It doesn't matter though because Paul was never uneasy with his current situation. Everyone thinks TW should have been able to easily "close the deal" with Paul. Nonsense. Even if TW is a good deal closer, von Mises would tell us there was no way Paul was going to accept the position. The best way to close a deal is to guide a person in a direction that creates points 1,2 and 3 to happen in the mind of the decision maker. That's what the best of the best salesmen do. Make them realize for themselves the change is necessary. Timing has to be right when closing a deal. It wasn't the right time for Paul so the timing was off. I told you guys weeks ago, I should be on the hiring committee. They need someone who understands Ludwig von Mises.

Perhaps a little more patience and time during that change would have yielded a better result? Maybe the two had been talking for a couple of months leading up to that period.?.? I'm all for a little more patience if the situation calls for it. More time isn't what I'm worried about. I'm more worried about us not being able to land one of our own from a DII school and what that says in general about the state of the program..... and our ability to bring in someone with a coaching pulse because our program has no pulse.

This is the oddest coaching selection since Ted Turner selected himself as manager of the Braves.

Ah, Dr. Ruebel. Never gets enough credit for the modern UofA.

Sorry Big Zip, this is Browns fan logic. Paul has done nothing wrong. He looked at the job and decided where he was was a better fit for him.

Application This is a chance to help your University. Please take a minute and print up this application for the head coaching position I found on the UofA website. Take it to all local malls and retail centers and distribute it so we can get a coach. Thank you and have a nice day.

I agree. I used to think we should act along with the MAC, but I'm not sure we can wait. 25 years is enough.

I'm glad someone else is. I've said all along that I think a lot of people could win at Akron because I believe in what can be accomplished at the school. Look at how well soccer and basketball do and the football team can do the same thing. Winters was one of those guys I believed could have won. I'm worried beyond the point I normally worry when TW is making a decision. Is there anyone left out there on the list of "a lot of people who could win at Akron"? I don't know, but the list has to be pretty darn small at this point, if not empty. Feeling pretty low right now. What's even worse about all of this is that Winters was a guy for whom UA would have been a destination job. Like a KD, we could have expected him to do well and to maintain long term continuity. If we're really lucky and we find a guy to turn this mess around, he'll likely be a hot shot who will stick around just long enough to earn a sniff somewhere else and will disappear. Seeing that happen constantly at MAC schools just sucks, even at the good programs. Winters, for me, meant something different than that demoralizing carousel and that was a significant part of my support for him getting the job. Now the best we can hope for is a young turk to turn things around and bolt. That's not awesome. Just when I thought I couldn't feel any lower....

I paid $25 to park at an App. State game this year. Don't complain. sorry you got ripped off. Given the amount of fun my wife and I had that day in Boone, I would have paid $200 to park.

I'm glad someone else is. I've said all along that I think a lot of people could win at Akron because I believe in what can be accomplished at the school. Look at how well soccer and basketball do and the football team can do the same thing. Winters was one of those guys I believed could have won. I'm worried beyond the point I normally worry when TW is making a decision. Is there anyone left out there on the list of "a lot of people who could win at Akron"? I don't know, but the list has to be pretty darn small at this point, if not empty. Feeling pretty low right now.

I paid $25 to park at an App. State game this year. Don't complain.

I don't mean to sound like a smart ass so please don't take it that way, but why in the world would this guy leave what he has to come to Akron? We have a habitually losing program and an AD who is surely to be relieved of his duties in the near future (one year). Anyone who takes the job would be subject to the crazy whims of the next AD who wanted to hire "his guy". Any coach who takes on Akron at this point is either desperate to become a head coach, or should be placed on career suicide watch. I don't think we fully realize yet what Winters turning down the job means....it says much more than he just didn't want the job or a contract extension at WSU.

I'm really holding out hope that a guy like Mike Johnson might actually be interested. If not, we are going to have to look at some local retreads like John Heacock. This is really a bad sign and I'm worried for the first time during this coaching search.

For the love of Christ CK, don't give him any ideas!!!!

Tell us the truth. Are you really Johnny Paycheck?

Detroit News article with stronger language. Wow. Is anyone against picking a name out of a hat at this point?

I think a lot of people noticed him which is why he won awards. There is a bid difference between getting noticed and hired. Not too many black coaches were getting hired when Winters was on the job market after the Owens era. The color of a coaches skin matters because it matter to older donors who grew up in a different time. Things are different now, but nine years ago they weren't like they are now. I figured we'd see a response like this. Yep, the views in this country have changed incredibly since 2004 Race is always a difficult subject. I think there have been a lot of interviewing policy changes in the past six years opening the door for a lot of black candidates to at least get a shot, when in the past they would have never had an interview. It can be viewed as good or bad depending on a person's personal opinions. I like to think it is a godo thing. Although it is the NFL, but the Rooney rule produced the Steelers current coach....I'd take him any day over the list of retreads they were interviewing. In 2004, there were a lot of people who thought there would never be a black President and we have one today. While I don't agree with his politics, maybe his being President for four years (we can only hope) will be a great legacy and a point of inspiration for those who never thought of themselves as being able to accomplish great things. Mississippi State had a black coach and we are actually at a point now where a black coach can get fired without the Al Sharptons of the world having a fit...and that is a great thing for this country. As the WWII generation passes away, we will see more blacks getting opportunities. Let's be honest, folks of that generation loved the Celtics when I was growing up and we all know why. On some level, I get it because people tend to root for the familiar. They certainly didn't mind watching a couple blacks play on a team, but many certainly didn't want one coaching their team. They also tend to be the big dollar donors at the largest schools. If big dollar donors don't want it, it doesn't happen. I actually think views are changing and interviewing policies are changing. Not sure if one is the cause of the other or even if they are related, but there is change with both....for the better. I'm not saying Paul was passed over because of his skin color at Akron at all. He wasn't the right fit until now. He might have had better opportunities right after Akron if, nine years ago, the climate was like it is now. He may not have had to take over the worst DII team in the country if things were different.

I think a lot of people noticed him which is why he won awards. There is a bid difference between getting noticed and hired. Not too many black coaches were getting hired when Winters was on the job market after the Owens era. The color of a coaches skin matters because it matter to older donors who grew up in a different time. Things are different now, but nine years ago they weren't like they are now.

I'm not kidding when I say this. I could study the Temple playbook for a week and put up 41 on our defense.

Article Good article. RC is a pretty good writer and sums up BCS college football in the tri-state area these days very well. Kind of the way I feel about college football in 2011. I'm sick of hearing about ncaa rule violations, child rape, stupid coaches and even more stupid ADs making stupid decisions. We don't need to rehash the problems with the Zips right now that makes it even worse. I really didn't enjoy college football this season with the exception of some of the games I attended. I know we are getting into the bowls and the season isn't over yet, but I'm hoping for a differnt off season and a better 2012. Here's to a better 2012.

We need a head coach, not a QB coach.

If this was the Zips, I would want them to be 91-0 in the same number of games, but that's not within reality. Given the situation Paul took over, it seems about right. If Paul does get the job, I would like him to have a quick turnaround. In four years, I don't want our best win total to be 4 or 5 games. I would expect 4-5 wins, if not more, his second season. Everyone else in the MAC does it...Why not us?

He also brought in a future NFL offensive lineman. Transfers helped JD a great deal at the beginning. The risk worked. The next Akron coach will have to take some risks with transfers. Maybe not next year, but the year after, we need to win 4-5 games. 11 loss seasons are killing this program in terms of recruiting and a quick turnarond is in order. I don't see how, with the current talent level, we can do it without transfers.