From Todays ABJ

[Hilltopper]

After reading this, UA coach sees little to cheer, Brookhart unimpressed after closed scrimmage http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/27214514.html I'm really starting to question whether JD will survive this season. If you watch the videos posted by Rasor, one might get the impression that JD is seeing the handwriting on the wall concerning his future as HC of the Zips. Lots of negative vibes in those videos and the newspaper stories.

[GP1]

I said this a couple of weeks ago and I'll say it again. Akron needs to treat the WI game like a scrimmage and sustain as few injuries as possible by playing back up players as much as possible. Take the 50-0 beating with the second team, pick up the check on the way out the door, get out of town and get ready for Syracuse and Ball State.There is still a lot of time to heal guys before Syracuse and Ball State. Don't take a risk on an almost sure loss.

[Dr Z]

I used to be a PSU fan before I went to Akron, JoPa would say the same thing ever year at this time..."we stink, we won't win a game this year, I can't believe I wasted my time recruiting these bums" That was his motivation.I am hoping JD is doing the same after reading these comments:''Without looking at the tape, there wasn't much to like,'' Brookhart said. ''I am really disappointed right now. Our injury situation is killing us. I have no idea where we are at right now because of that.''''It was sloppy; it was inconsistent,'' Brookhart said. ''We have guys in positions they have not played because of injuries. We are kind of piecing it together.''PS Decent work Tom Gaffney.

[Blue & Gold]

I used to be a PSU fan before I went to Akron, JoPa would say the same thing ever year at this time..."we stink, we won't win a game this year, I can't believe I wasted my time recruiting these bums" That was his motivation.I am hoping JD is doing the same after reading these comments:''Without looking at the tape, there wasn't much to like,'' Brookhart said. ''I am really disappointed right now. Our injury situation is killing us. I have no idea where we are at right now because of that.''''It was sloppy; it was inconsistent,'' Brookhart said. ''We have guys in positions they have not played because of injuries. We are kind of piecing it together.''PS Decent work Tom Gaffney.

I haven't yet read the article in today's ABJ, but I don't like the sound of the quotes you posted. JoPa could use that negative motivation because he had superior athletes under him, I think that'd be a big mistake w/ CJ and MR - they need all the positive affirmation they can get. Also, those quotes aren't sounding like constructive criticism or hyperbolic 'the-sky-is-falling' fare, ala JoPa (Lou Holtz used to do the same at ND). These quotes sound like excuses - and the season hasn't even started yet.

[Captain Kangaroo]

These quotes sound like excuses - and the season hasn't even started yet.

How do you get excuses out of his comments? How much more straightforward can he be?

'Without looking at the tape, there wasn't much to like,'' Brookhart said. ''I am really disappointed right now.

''It was sloppy; it was inconsistent,'' Brookhart said.

Man, if the guy blew anymore smoke up our butts it would be coming out our ears!

[johnnyzip84]

These quotes sound like excuses - and the season hasn't even started yet.

How do you get excuses out of his comments? How much more straightforward can he be?

'Without looking at the tape, there wasn't much to like,'' Brookhart said. ''I am really disappointed right now.

''It was sloppy; it was inconsistent,'' Brookhart said.

Man, if the guy blew anymore smoke up our butts it would be coming out our ears!

I take it that you think JD's playing opposum with these comments, CK? That may indeed be the case, but it's a little bit puzzling in that I don't recall him pulling that sort of thing too often before. Then again, maybe he realizes (in spite of the injuries in camp) that he has his deepest team, by far, to date?

[Blue & Gold]

These quotes sound like excuses - and the season hasn't even started yet.

How do you get excuses out of his comments? How much more straightforward can he be?

'Without looking at the tape, there wasn't much to like,'' Brookhart said. ''I am really disappointed right now.

''It was sloppy; it was inconsistent,'' Brookhart said.

Man, if the guy blew anymore smoke up our butts it would be coming out our ears!

No, no, no my friend. JD only blows smoke up our butts when he keeps telling us all how much CJ has been progressing. The quote that rings of "excuse," is neither of the two you mentioned above, naturally. Here's the ringer:"Our injury situation is killing us. I have no idea where we are at right now because of that.''Technically, I'm sure it's true. But... This quote wouldn't be so bad if it were coming from someone w/ a proven track record. But having listened to all of JD's excuses last season, and now this, eh, it seems to be a developing trend, don't 'cha think? After last year's losses I know we all got just a little bit tired of JD repeating things like, "We would have won if only the ball had bounced this way on this play...," and "We would have won if only the ball had bounced that way on that play..." That was a recurring theme last season and those are shaky apologetics that fans are supposed to employ, not head coaches. So yeah, this quote does in fact raise a flag.I had a friend who would have a built-in excuse everytime we'd play pick up ball. "I'll play but my hamstring is tight." "I'll play but I tweaked my ankle last night." I'll play but I only got 3 hours of sleep last night." He had a built-in excuse for failure before we even checked the ball in. So, yeah, after hearing JD's excuses last year and now that quote this year... yup, red flag.

[zen]

okay... just so I got this straight....If JD sounds optimistic, then he is blowing smoke up our butts....but if JD sounds pessimistic, then he is making excuses....right?

[Zipmeister]

okay... just so I got this straight....If JD sounds optimistic, then he is blowing smoke up our butts....but if JD sounds pessimistic, then he is making excuses....right?

I believe you have successfully grasped the concept. On a related matter. In the early 1970s the men's swimming coach predicted before the season started that the Akron squad may be the first swim team that needed a life guard. They ended the season 9-2. Hope the same thing works for the footballers.

[zippyrifle32]

The good news is that starting defensive linemen Almondo Sewell and Eric Lively, who combined for 73 tackles in 2007, and tailback Dennis Kennedy, who has rushed for 1,201 yards in his first three seasons, have recovered from injuries and participated in the drills Wednesday.

Lively is now injured. Chipped his elbow. Not season ending, but he'll be out for a few weeks. This sucks.

[InTheZone]

Honestly, I think the Zips could go 0-11 this year and some of you would still find a way to suck JD off. The state of Akron football right now is pathetic. JD has successfully transformed this program into the WORST team in the MAC EAST!!!! He's got all of his own recruits, those recruiting classes that so many on here were just raving about, and we are the worst team in one of the worst conferences in the country. In 2009 we will finally have complete 1st rate facilities, and we're going to need a new first rate head coach. And I don't want to hear this BS about JD having won a MAC title either. JD backed his way into a MAC championship in a crazy year in the MAC (with the same conference record his predecessor got fired for), won a MAC championship with 90% of his predecessor's guys in the starting lineup, and then proceeded to get beat by the 5th place CUSA team in a bowl game. I'm not saying Lee Owens was a great Division 1 coach, because he wasn't, but if any of you think JD has done anything better you're delusional. Now that the team is fully his, we are back in the same sad state we were at the end of the Faust era. Guys aren't even graduating, and we're losing scholarships because of it. JD's already pulling the injury card as to why his team isn't functioning, and the season hasn't even started. I have a bad feeling that the final year in the Rubber Bowl is going to be a long one sadly. The sooner it's over, and the sooner this program can move on from the train wreck this coaching staff has created the better from where I'm sitting. I will continue to support my alma mater and this team, but I have lost any faith I had left in this coaching staff.

[ZippyAlum]

Why play the season at all if it's gonna be so dismal? Hell, let's throw in the towel now and eliminate the team and fire the coaches. Maybe the new stadium can be used for something else. If this is a Zips' support network then we're in trouble. Some of the guys on the team do read your postings. And I'm sure they're just so excited to go out and kick some butt after reading the great backing that they're getting from their true fans. Ya know that old saying, "if ya don't have something nice to say then shut the hell up."

[Buckzip]

Why play the season at all if it's gonna be so dismal? Hell, let's throw in the towel now and eliminate the team and fire the coaches. Maybe the new stadium can be used for something else. If this is a Zips' support network then we're in trouble. Some of the guys on the team do read your postings. And I'm sure they're just so excited to go out and kick some butt after reading the great backing that they're getting from their true fans. Ya know that old saying, "if ya don't have something nice to say then shut the hell up."

Go Zips

[Blue & Gold]

okay... just so I got this straight....If JD sounds optimistic, then he is blowing smoke up our butts....but if JD sounds pessimistic, then he is making excuses....right?

Uh, when JD says CJ's really been "progressing nicely" (a painfully relative statement to begin with), what goes through your mind? By this point in time don't you just cringe a bit? In your heart of hearts wouldn't you actually be surprised if JD turned out to be right and CJ has progressed into a QB that can take us into contention for a MAC East championship? Yeah, me too.Also, JD saying that the play was "sloppy" and that he was "disappointed" is being pessimistic. That's all fine and good. But bringing up all the injuries rings of a front-loaded excuse to me. And it very well is a legitimate excuse, aren't most? But it is an excuse none-the-less and I'm tired of excuses; I'm more than ready for this team to just start winning. Go Zips!

[akronman2008]

I am still looking forward to the season. Two a-days are long and the players get pretty banged up. But they get that second wind when you are talking about the regular season. I think that the zips will be oK and will make a push for the MAC EASTCheck out the following highlight clip and get excited about the 2008 Football seasonGo Zipshttp://www.macbattles.com/forum/index.php/...-akron-football

[Captain Kangaroo]

So if Ryan Bain is injured...the cornerstone of our 3-man front, you can't say anything because it is an "excuse." Lively is out...that's now 2/3rds of our starting DL out...but JD is supposed to ignore it? Gheez...Bowser being out is also a killer because he's one of our top 2 WR's. But that's no big deal...sour grapes if he mentions it.If everyone were healthy and JD were really grousing about Kennedy's injury, then I'd say it's a big joke...Kennedy hasn't been a factor for 2 years. But losing Bain, Bowser and Lively sucks. Bain by himself is worth two extra wins this year, IF he's healthy. DL's like him come through the MAC only a few times a decade.If you want to throw out hyperbole, then say JD has brought the program down to the level of Faust's last season. Or if you choose, you can pine for the mediocrity of Owens. The simple fact is Faust and Owens had 9 years. JD has had FOUR. I'll reserve my coach evaluation for the seasons end. It's really tempting to cry for the guys head after 3 weeks of summer camp and a few excerpts from and ABJ column...but call me a shill...I'm going to hold off until I see what we've got on the field this season. August 21st is a bit too soon to call for the coach's head.Our QB situation is as bad as I can remember. But what if Frye was hurt in his Junior or senior year? How would Owens' Zips have fared with Micah Fahler or Jonathan Gill leading the team for multiple games? It would have been a freaking train wreck. Matt Cherry would have been #15 on the Zips all-time WR list instead of #2.How would Owens have fared if Dwight Smith blew out his ACL in his senior season? I'll tell you...we'd have been lucky to win 2 games. But it would just be making excuses if Owens mentioned such injuries in an interview. Injuries to key players suck. And they inpact a team tremendously. Especially a MAC team, where depth is much thinner than a BCS program. Discussing major injuries with the ABJ beat writer isn't making excuses, it is stating facts.Unlike ITZ, I think this team is WAY better than the later Faust era squads. Like ITZ, I agree that the MAC East is pretty pathetic, and 5 years into any coach's tenure, if he's any good, he gets things rolling. Sub .500 would be unacceptable. Even .500 may be unacceptable depending upon the losses, and the trend at year's end.Time for bed.

[Z.I.P.]

Friends,Fact is, it doesn't matter a hill of beans whether Akron wins the MAC, or goes 0-11 this season, the AD will make absolutely no changes to the football program. Go back and read the interview from a year ago, when he said exactly that. Brookhart has a blank check with these guys. Don't you wish you could get a job like that?

[Buckzip]

So if Ryan Bain is injured...the cornerstone of our 3-man front, you can't say anything because it is an "excuse." Lively is out...that's now 2/3rds of our starting DL out...but JD is supposed to ignore it? Gheez...Bowser being out is also a killer because he's one of our top 2 WR's. But that's no big deal...sour grapes if he mentions it.If everyone were healthy and JD were really grousing about Kennedy's injury, then I'd say it's a big joke...Kennedy hasn't been a factor for 2 years. But losing Bain, Bowser and Lively sucks. Bain by himself is worth two extra wins this year, IF he's healthy. DL's like him come through the MAC only a few times a decade.If you want to throw out hyperbole, then say JD has brought the program down to the level of Faust's last season. Or if you choose, you can pine for the mediocrity of Owens. The simple fact is Faust and Owens had 9 years. JD has had FOUR. I'll reserve my coach evaluation for the seasons end. It's really tempting to cry for the guys head after 3 weeks of summer camp and a few excerpts from and ABJ column...but call me a shill...I'm going to hold off until I see what we've got on the field this season. August 21st is a bit too soon to call for the coach's head.Our QB situation is as bad as I can remember. But what if Frye was hurt in his Junior or senior year? How would Owens' Zips have fared with Micah Fahler or Jonathan Gill leading the team for multiple games? It would have been a freaking train wreck. Matt Cherry would have been #15 on the Zips all-time WR list instead of #2.How would Owens have fared if Dwight Smith blew out his ACL in his senior season? I'll tell you...we'd have been lucky to win 2 games. But it would just be making excuses if Owens mentioned such injuries in an interview. Injuries to key players suck. And they inpact a team tremendously. Especially a MAC team, where depth is much thinner than a BCS program. Discussing major injuries with the ABJ beat writer isn't making excuses, it is stating facts.Unlike ITZ, I think this team is WAY better than the later Faust era squads. Like ITZ, I agree that the MAC East is pretty pathetic, and 5 years into any coach's tenure, if he's any good, he gets things rolling. Sub .500 would be unacceptable. Even .500 may be unacceptable depending upon the losses, and the trend at year's end.Time for bed.

Does anyone know when Bain should be back? We keep hearing he is injured, but no timetable.When he is back will he be 100% or is this a season lingering issue?

[Captain Kangaroo]

Does anyone know when Bain should be back? We keep hearing he is injured, but no timetable.When he is back will he be 100% or is this a season lingering issue?

I was told last night that his availability for Wisconsin "is still up in the air." Ditto Bowser.As much as I want to give Wisconsin our best shot, if there's any chance either of these two could aggravate their injuries in Madison, JD can't play them.

[Quickzips]

Friends,Fact is, it doesn't matter a hill of beans whether Akron wins the MAC, or goes 0-11 this season, the AD will make absolutely no changes to the football program. Go back and read the interview from a year ago, when he said exactly that. Brookhart has a blank check with these guys. Don't you wish you could get a job like that?

Yes, because those kinds of things never change. I mean AD's NEVER change their minds. Once you have job security in the athletic department you've got it for life. It's like a Supreme Court appointment in that regard. Brookhart isn't quite a lame duck coach just yet, but if this team doesn't come out of the box and show that it can compete for a MAC Championship he will be very quickly. In that regard I don't think we will let our banged up guys rest at Wisconsin and taking a big loss to try and get healthy. JD's job depends on getting out to fast start this year. Big losses to open the season will very easily snowball into more losses late in the season and JD will turn into that lame duck coach. This administration isn't stupid. They aren't building a $55 million stadium to fill it with a crap product. This is year five for JD and by the end of it he will have had plenty of time to show whether or not he is capable of building a winner. If he's not, he's gone. Big contract buyout and sunshine and puppy dog press confrences from a year ago notwithstanding.

[g-mann17]

Friends,Fact is, it doesn't matter a hill of beans whether Akron wins the MAC, or goes 0-11 this season, the AD will make absolutely no changes to the football program. Go back and read the interview from a year ago, when he said exactly that. Brookhart has a blank check with these guys. Don't you wish you could get a job like that?

Whether you meant JD should be gone if he loses, but Rhoades won't. Or if you actually feel he deserves to be around. Think about this...Out of 4 years, JD has made us Bowl Eligible for Two and won us a MAC Championsip. That is more then Faust and Owens managed to do in 18 years. Not to mention it is more success then the program has seen in probably 30 years. It was the MAC Championship that spurred the donations. The hope that the Zips could be successful. Oh sure, someone will say, well it's been on the table for a long time, and the previous AD laid all the ground work, etc. The fact is without that MAC Championship they would still be having trouble finding a way to make people believe they are going to get any value out of donating for naming rights.So yeah, I kind of think you give JD a little more then 2 bad seasons (each of which were filled with injuries and youth).

[UA1987]

It seems easy this year to get wrapped up in pessimism about this season . 1st - we had a bad year last year. 2nd - several of our highly touted transfer/recruits are hobbling to start this year. 3rd - we are starting off against a powerful team in a hostile environment where there is a history of cheating. 4th - all the scouting services have us staring down the gun barrel of a disaster season.Well Zips fans I've got good news for you... we will be better than most think. As far as Wisconsin goes... yes we will be outnumbered, but they have their weaknesses. I'm sure that we have studied them and have a plan to capitalize. As far as Bain goes... I would be very surprised if he does not play in Madison.

[bigham78]

Here's the current power ranking104. Can't State: flushes have high expectations, but aren’t used to them.109. Akron: Zips have enough QB and defensive issues for two bad teams.How's that for a preseason downer?

[RACER]

i agree with c/k that jd is not making excuses.no mac team could lose two starting dl lineman and be in big trouble.no mac team can stockpile 280 -300 lbs d-lineman.there is not enough of them to go around in d-1 football.this team needs to be healthy for the mac opener against ball state.the chances of any mac school beating a bcs schoolon the road are not very good/ period.cuse is probably a winnable game,but i can't see losing guys for the season if they are already hurt.having said that there is no excuse for the last two seasons this team had.we are in one of the worst conferences in d-1 football.there is no excuse you can give losing to buffalo/temple,and getting shut out against miami.i am willing to give jd one more year if we can have a 6-6 season.aything less is not exceptable.i could care less if jd is better than owens or faust.all i ask is we be able to compete in the mac every year.if jd cannot get it done this year then akron needs to find a coach who can.

[Lee Adams]

Friends,Fact is, it doesn't matter a hill of beans whether Akron wins the MAC, or goes 0-11 this season, the AD will make absolutely no changes to the football program. Go back and read the interview from a year ago, when he said exactly that. Brookhart has a blank check with these guys. Don't you wish you could get a job like that?

Whether you meant JD should be gone if he loses, but Rhoades won't. Or if you actually feel he deserves to be around. Think about this...Out of 4 years, JD has made us Bowl Eligible for Two and won us a MAC Championsip. That is more then Faust and Owens managed to do in 18 years. Not to mention it is more success then the program has seen in probably 30 years. It was the MAC Championship that spurred the donations. The hope that the Zips could be successful. Oh sure, someone will say, well it's been on the table for a long time, and the previous AD laid all the ground work, etc. The fact is without that MAC Championship they would still be having trouble finding a way to make people believe they are going to get any value out of donating for naming rights.So yeah, I kind of think you give JD a little more then 2 bad seasons (each of which were filled with injuries and youth).

3 bad seasons?