OU-AKRON

[ZippyTuba11]

As the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. JD is not the one out there dropping passes, throwing bad passes, fumbling the ball on key plays, or missing tackles.He is however, trying to coach these players to get them to improve. We have all seen this team grow before our eyes. Those first couple games were just horrible for the team. Jaq was bad, the RBs got injured, and the WRs were dropping passes like it was their job. Yet, we had a couple games where those mistakes were limited and the Zips flourished.One thing that gives me a lot of hope for next season is the Toledo game. The Zips were well prepared for that game. JD experimented with the defense and the were a few great plays for the defense in that game. The offense was in sync and Jaq actually looked like a quarterback.Another thing is special teams. Win, lose, or draw, the special teams have been keeping us in there this year. This is primarily pointing out the kick return team. I rarely recall a drive that didn't start out on the 30 or beyond. This is a real boon for the Offense when they can get 10-20 extra yards before they even get on the field. Igor was also pretty good too. Sure he missed a couple clutch ones, but I never had to worry about missed PATs with him this year. He also hit a few big ones too. If he can work on his consistency, next year he will be great.Who isn't ready to see that run game next year? Most of the defense-eating O-line is coming back and we are still going to have a great core of running backs.The above three points all belong to JD. He was able to get the team motivated and well prepared for Toledo after that ridiculously long break. Special Teams is his baby and they have performed well most of the time and kept us in games. The O-line and the running backs are his recruits and are doing great.If next year, JD either improves the defense and/or switches to a better scheme, gets Jaq to consistently throw good passes, and gets the WRs to catch them, I bet we will be looking at the same success that Central/Western are enjoying. The run is there. The Special Teams are there. Go Zips!

[Lee Adams]

its been painfully obvious the last few years that if this team had a defense that was even in the middle of the MAC pack it would have won(probably this year) at least one more division title...if i am the AD i tell brookhart, you get a locker at the INFO....ONLY IF you replace the defense coaches...if not.......

[zippyrifle32]

I've said from the beginning of the season that 6-6 or better and JD should probably stay and that 4-8 or worse and he should probably go. I've also thought that 5-7 would be the "toss up" record, where Rhodes/Proenza would really have a difficult choice. Given that, here are the conversations that I truly hope takes place this week.Proenza: "Mack, three in a row is something we simply can't tolerate heading into the opening of the Info next season. We can't tolerate losing the last three games of 2008 and we can't tolerate the 2008 season as being the 3rd losing season in a row. Do you understand?"Rhodes: "Yes Dr. Proenza"Rhodes: "It's make or break this week, JD. You need to defeat Temple on Friday, or someone else will be heading the show as we open the Info next year. That's just the way it is. And I have the utmost confidence that you'll do whatever is necessary this week in practice to give us the best chance of accomplishing this."JD: "We'll do what we can. What about the recruits we are already lining up? What about the talented RS class from this year?"Rhodes: "Relax, JD. If you win Friday, you'll get to coach them next year. If not, I believe the Info itself will recruit plenty of talent for the next head coach. And he'll also benefit greatly from this year's RS class. Either way, we certainly appreciate all you've done for UA while you've been here. Now go beat the Owls!"Tune in Next Week for the Next (Final?) Chapter of "As My Stomach Turns"

I also feel the need to clarify. I don't think JD should stay nor do I think he should go. I trust whatever decision Mack makes. I just get tired of the extremes we do out here, praising one guy as a god after a good game and then saying he should be put back on scout team where he belongs after another. Then again, all of you out here are football experts, and honestly I don't know enough about the game to know the in depth details of what should be done strategy wise.

[johnnyzip84]

I've said from the beginning of the season that 6-6 or better and JD should probably stay and that 4-8 or worse and he should probably go. I've also thought that 5-7 would be the "toss up" record, where Rhodes/Proenza would really have a difficult choice. Given that, here are the conversations that I truly hope takes place this week.Proenza: "Mack, three in a row is something we simply can't tolerate heading into the opening of the Info next season. We can't tolerate losing the last three games of 2008 and we can't tolerate the 2008 season as being the 3rd losing season in a row. Do you understand?"Rhodes: "Yes Dr. Proenza"Rhodes: "It's make or break this week, JD. You need to defeat Temple on Friday, or someone else will be heading the show as we open the Info next year. That's just the way it is. And I have the utmost confidence that you'll do whatever is necessary this week in practice to give us the best chance of accomplishing this."JD: "We'll do what we can. What about the recruits we are already lining up? What about the talented RS class from this year?"Rhodes: "Relax, JD. If you win Friday, you'll get to coach them next year. If not, I believe the Info itself will recruit plenty of talent for the next head coach. And he'll also benefit greatly from this year's RS class. Either way, we certainly appreciate all you've done for UA while you've been here. Now go beat the Owls!"Tune in Next Week for the Next (Final?) Chapter of "As My Stomach Turns"

I also feel the need to clarify. I don't think JD should stay nor do I think he should go. I trust whatever decision Mack makes. I just get tired of the extremes we do out here, praising one guy as a god after a good game and then saying he should be put back on scout team where he belongs after another. Then again, all of you out here are football experts, and honestly I don't know enough about the game to know the in depth details of what should be done strategy wise.

A few days have passed and I still hope these conversations occur (or have occurred) this week. I didn't necessarily say that I wanted JD to be fired, but I DO want a FIRE to be lit under his butt. I think most of us can benefit in such a way from time to time. Here is probably my biggest gripe during this downturn. The defense plays with very little emotion, and it seems to have started right after the UC game. I would think this is something that could be addressed in fairly short order. Maybe it's made more obvious by the way the D is always seem to be playing on its heals. One thing I'd like to see in the last game is a go-for-broke approach on D. For instance, let's take a look at how BWill has been used this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but has BWill been given ANY opportunities to blitz at all? If he has, it surely has been a rarity. I realize that a safety blitz is something you only throw in there once in a while, but with his speed and strength one would think sending him on a well timed safety blitz could wreak havoc on the opposition. It could end up being the kind of play that the Ball St. DB makde on Jacq to turn that game in the Cardinals favor. Heck, he's not making a huge impact in coverage, so why not use him in a way he can be more effective? The worst that can happen is we give up 60 instead of 50

[RootforRoo44]

KD said it in his press conference. We got to think bigger than the MAC. Screw the MAC. It's a joke conference that's taking us nowhere. We have a huge huge opportunity to grow our fan base and generate some buzz around this program, and we are blowing it. I'm looking at the excitement being generated by our soccer team and I'm amazed. We sent three buses of students down to Columbus to cheer AGAINST the Buckeyes. Thank goodness for our soccer team. And now I'm thinking, man what if our football team....? Look at what Caleb Porter, Keith Dambrot, Dennis Mitchell, and some other UA coaches are doing around here while the guy who gets paid more than all of them continues to field a team that can barely beat fellow MAC schools. This team makes fundamental mistakes. They have the consistency of a high school squad. We need to stop accepting mediocracy. If the next coach can't get it done you fire his butt too. This is a business. We need to sell tickets to remain a viable 1-A school and pay off a stadium.

AMEN...the football team is the only one that seems to be lagging behind the whole concept and direction this school and it's athletics are heading. Let's find a way to set it straight. (dont get me started on the baseball team though)

[Dr Z]

JD needs to bring somebody in here that can coach defense. Do whatever possible.I know a college defense guy that is out of a job right now. Please start the interview process now.Progress can continue if this happens, if this is not the choice, I'm going to have a tough time being a fan.

[UApride94]

I believe that many people on this board need to speak with reasoning rather than emotion. Football is a game of inches, sometimes you get that inch, sometimes you don't. We have lost four games this year by an inch "cinci, BG, Buffalo, OU" and won 2 "cant, EMU" this majority of this team comes back next year along with a redshirt freshman class that seems talented. Those losses can easily turn into wins with experience, adjustments, and STAYING THE COURSE. As in every job experience leads to a better product. JD has learned alot over 5 years. He always spoke of getting rid of the guys that were cancers a couple years ago which left big holes in the team. Those holes are being filled by young players that are learning and this team has character. This team will get that inch every time as the winning culture is instilled.I also noticed all of the talk of the defensive coaches and the 3-3-5 needing to depart from akron. I then went to look up who in fact these coaches were and found out information about each coach showing past successes that was quite impressive. The most meaningful showing that the 3-3-5 has worked here.QUOTE < After ranking 10th in the MAC total defense in 2004, the Zips climbed eight spots to No. 2 in 2005. On a national scale, the Zips move from 98th to 32nd in total defense (339.9 ypg) was tied for fourth-highest leap among I-A schools. Akron also improved in scoring defense and passing defense. The Zips jumped from 91st to 52nd in scoring defense (24.5 ppg), the seventh-best increase in the nation, as well as improving from 87th to 16th in passing defense (180.9 ypg), also the seventh highest jump nationally. All of that was accomplished with the Zips playing nearly half the season without their starting safeties, Chevin Pace and Dion Elie, who suffered season-ending injuries in the middle of the year>

[uafan]

Another thing is special teams. Win, lose, or draw, the special teams have been keeping us in there this year. This is primarily pointing out the kick return team. I agree that our return teams have been very good again this year. But I think our kicking game needs to improve. Igor misses some I don't think he should, but is alright overall. Our kickoffs are too inconsistene. The kick might go to the end zone or they might go to the 20. With any return, the other team has good starting position. Stec had a few good games in weeks 5-8, but has reverted back to his old form. A D-1 punter should be around 40 yard average, but he has been 30-35 yards since his good streak. Not good enough!