Let's talk JD

[zipboy]

He hired a men's golf coach twice and women's coach. He also hired softball coach (maybe twice). He hired the swimming coach and tennis coach in additon to volleyball, and women's soccer that you named. I don't know how this would translate to other sports but most of the hires have improved the programs they took over.

[GP1]

Record 5 seasons prior to JD- 28-31Record 5 seasons with JD- 27-32How can anyone argue this program is going in the right direction? We haven't gotten any better under JD, we've actually gotten WORSE!!!! And he's working with facilities and recruiting tools his predecessors could only dream about. We've had three straight pathetic seasons, and ended this year with the kind of collapse that signifies a complete lack of leadership and motivational ability from the top. Mack needs to look at the facts, quit wasting valuable time and money, as we head into a new era of Zips football at the Info, on a guy who has proven he doesn't have what it takes. Do what is necessary Mack, this isn't working.

Weren't three of those wins in the last three years of LO against I-AA teams (Howard, Cal Poly and Liberty)? I'm sure that if that was the case and we filled those I-AA spots with I-A teams, the record would look more like 25-34. I fail to see how that is better than 27-32. Don't forget the wins against BCS teams and the MAC Championship either.I'm not being overly defensive of JD because if he got fired tomorrow I would not lose a minute of sleep over it, but this team is better now than it was under the LO era. After 9 years at Akron, LO could only muster 5 wins against I-A teams his last year.

Lee inherited a disaster of a program and had the worst facilities and administrative support in the nation to deal with. JD inherited a team with 4 future NFL players, coming off a winning record, one of the top graduation rates in the NCAA, and one of the top brand new practice facilities in the nation. STARTING OFF with that, he can barely muster 5 wins in his fifth season, in what has become the worst division in college football (the 2003 MAC had 3 ranked teams throughout the year and was knocking off ranked teams left and right). The comparison doesn't look too hot for your man JD.

You are dodging the point. JD would have a better record vs. LO if LO didn't play three cream puffs. It's OK to say your comparison isn't quite honest if you look closely.

So JD is two or three games better than LO over the course of five years. Big deal!!! The results are still not good enough as I have described in several other posts. The facilities and administrative support differences are also notable.

Yes, over a five year period, JD is better than LO. Yes, the results aren't good enough.Some of you need to calm down. JD is coming back next year and we will see then whether he has the ability to win at least six games or not.

[skip-zip]

GP1...I'm right with you on most of what you are saying. I have no problem with people arguing about different eras of Akron football, but it bothers me when people choose to pull selected time periods, and ignore selected facts, to try to prove a point.Even with the wins over 1-AA teams (you should see the records of some of the 1-A teams we beat that year too), LO was 20+ games under the .500 mark after 8 seasons. There is no way around that. JD would have to completely fall apart over the next 3 years to match that level of futility.And please, stop with the thought that LO had all of these disadvantages. Gerry inherited a program with D-1AA players, absolutely NO facilities, wasn't able to make it up to 95 scholarships for several years due to NCAA limitations, took his players to the Rubber Bowl to practice (even though we played many road games on natural grass back then), and still managed to climb to the .500 mark as our coach by his 8th year. By contrast, LO already had a full roster of D-1A players, and many other advantages, such as obtaining the grass practice fields that we so desperately needed. Plus, although Gerry had an awful season his last year, he handed LO a team that had something like 15 freshman and sophomore starters (I can't remember the exact number any longer). And where was he after his 8th season? Some 20+ games under the .500 mark. Personally, I don't understand how someone can twist the facts enough to make this look like it was somehow better than either the JD or Gerry eras.

[zen]

Record 5 seasons prior to JD- 28-31

Record 5 seasons with JD- 27-32

How can anyone argue this program is going in the right direction? We haven't gotten any better under JD, we've actually gotten WORSE!!!! And he's working with facilities and recruiting tools his predecessors could only dream about. We've had three straight pathetic seasons, and ended this year with the kind of collapse that signifies a complete lack of leadership and motivational ability from the top. Mack needs to look at the facts, quit wasting valuable time and money, as we head into a new era of Zips football at the Info, on a guy who has proven he doesn't have what it takes. Do what is necessary Mack, this isn't working.

LOL! I know it's really really unfair to pull this back up now (necropost)... but it wasn't my idea. I looked at the currently online users and saw a guest looking at this thread.

The above quoted post stands out to me as a way of demonstrating changing perspectives.

Oh how much different 27-32 looks now.

Not saying it's something to strive for or praise. I just think a lot of people felt there was no risk in changing. heh

[bobbyake]

Record 5 seasons prior to JD- 28-31

Record 5 seasons with JD- 27-32

How can anyone argue this program is going in the right direction? We haven't gotten any better under JD, we've actually gotten WORSE!!!! And he's working with facilities and recruiting tools his predecessors could only dream about. We've had three straight pathetic seasons, and ended this year with the kind of collapse that signifies a complete lack of leadership and motivational ability from the top. Mack needs to look at the facts, quit wasting valuable time and money, as we head into a new era of Zips football at the Info, on a guy who has proven he doesn't have what it takes. Do what is necessary Mack, this isn't working.

LOL! I know it's really really unfair to pull this back up now (necropost)... but it wasn't my idea. I looked at the currently online users and saw a guest looking at this thread.

The above quoted post stands out to me as a way of demonstrating changing perspectives.

Oh how much different 27-32 looks now.

Not saying it's something to strive for or praise. I just think a lot of people felt there was no risk in changing. heh

After Ianello, I regret ever creating this thread and calling for JD's head.

[Lee Adams]

Record 5 seasons prior to JD- 28-31

Record 5 seasons with JD- 27-32

How can anyone argue this program is going in the right direction? We haven't gotten any better under JD, we've actually gotten WORSE!!!! And he's working with facilities and recruiting tools his predecessors could only dream about. We've had three straight pathetic seasons, and ended this year with the kind of collapse that signifies a complete lack of leadership and motivational ability from the top. Mack needs to look at the facts, quit wasting valuable time and money, as we head into a new era of Zips football at the Info, on a guy who has proven he doesn't have what it takes. Do what is necessary Mack, this isn't working.

LOL! I know it's really really unfair to pull this back up now (necropost)... but it wasn't my idea. I looked at the currently online users and saw a guest looking at this thread.

The above quoted post stands out to me as a way of demonstrating changing perspectives.

Oh how much different 27-32 looks now.

Not saying it's something to strive for or praise. I just think a lot of people felt there was no risk in changing. heh

After Ianello, I regret ever creating this thread and calling for JD's head.

I said the same thing. The program was losing ground. The '06 season should have been better. JD unfortunately started bringing in some questionable characters. Remember David Harvey? If JD had been able to salvage one .500 season after '05 he could have bought some time. The team wasn't performing real well on the field and there were some issues off the field as I recall.

[Blue & Gold]

For me, the big turning point in JD's tenure (and, consequently, the downfall of the Zips' football program leading up to today's cumulative low point) was the K e n t game following the 2005 MAC championship.

We were coming off the Motor City Bowl appearance & I was fully expecting to level K e n t. Unfortunately, our D simply couldn't stop Julian Edelman in any way, shape or form. He absolutely shredded us both through the air and on the ground that day.

I don't think we ever really recovered from that. Everything, I mean everything, seemed to be downhill from that point on.

[bandzip]

I thought the turning point was when Jacquemain got kicked off the team, then Rodgers tore his ACL soon after. Even with Nicely starting as a true freshman we won two more games that year including Can't. 3-9 with your third string quarterback and staying competitive in about every game doesn't seem so bad in retrospect.

[K92]

I thought the turning point was when Jacquemain got kicked off the team, then Rodgers tore his ACL soon after. Even with Nicely starting as a true freshman we won two more games that year including Can't. 3-9 with your third string quarterback and staying competitive in about every game doesn't seem so bad in retrospect.

That seems like a very long time ago.