JD Critiques, the 3-3-5, Recruiting etc.

[InTheZone]

Pretty embarrassing way to go out

[zippyrifle32]

Pretty embarrassing way to go out

now that the season is over, i'll just wait and see what happens instead of still speculating

[skip-zip]

I'll say this....this was certainly a game this year that I can say I was clearly dissappointed in our performance. I'm really sad that we ended the season this way, after we had taken some very positive steps forward as a program this year up to this point. That 4th quarter meltdown is something I won't forget for awhile. After a tie game midway through the 4th on the road in the MAC, you can't ask for more. And, we end up playing maybe our worst 8 minute stretch of the season. Reminds me of the game at home against Temple last year. And to think...our passing attack let us down today, when they were one of the strengths of this team all year. And we only converted on four 3rd downs today. That will take the air out of any offense. On a side note, hats off to Dennis Kennedy for what he did this year, and did again today. I was a student at Akron back in the early 80's to see the other two RBs ahead of him on the Akron list, Black and Clark. And I can tell you, Dennis gave us one heck of a show this year....bouncing back from a poor Junior season. But, you can still mark me down as someone who will be extremely surprised if a coaching change is made.

[Lee Adams]

I'll say this....this was certainly a game this year that I can say I was clearly dissappointed in our performance. I'm really sad that we ended the season this way, after we had taken some very positive steps forward as a program this year up to this point. That 4th quarter meltdown is something I won't forget for awhile. After a tie game midway through the 4th on the road in the MAC, you can't ask for more. And, we end up playing maybe our worst 8 minute stretch of the season. Reminds me of the game at home against Temple last year. And to think...our passing attack let us down today, when they were one of the strengths of this team all year. And we only converted on four 3rd downs today. That will take the air out of any offense. On a side note, hats off to Dennis Kennedy for what he did this year, and did again today. I was a student at Akron back in the early 80's to see the other two RBs ahead of him on the Akron list, Black and Clark. And I can tell you, Dennis gave us one heck of a show this year....bouncing back from a poor Junior season. But, you can still mark me down as someone who will be extremely surprised if a coaching change is made.

so you might be surprised...so what?

[johnnyzip84]

I'll say this....this was certainly a game this year that I can say I was clearly dissappointed in our performance. I'm really sad that we ended the season this way, after we had taken some very positive steps forward as a program this year up to this point. That 4th quarter meltdown is something I won't forget for awhile. After a tie game midway through the 4th on the road in the MAC, you can't ask for more. And, we end up playing maybe our worst 8 minute stretch of the season. Reminds me of the game at home against Temple last year. And to think...our passing attack let us down today, when they were one of the strengths of this team all year. And we only converted on four 3rd downs today. That will take the air out of any offense. On a side note, hats off to Dennis Kennedy for what he did this year, and did again today. I was a student at Akron back in the early 80's to see the other two RBs ahead of him on the Akron list, Black and Clark. And I can tell you, Dennis gave us one heck of a show this year....bouncing back from a poor Junior season. But, you can still mark me down as someone who will be extremely surprised if a coaching change is made.

so you might be surprised...so what?

Quite frankly at this point, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see JD go. BUT your tone here indicates either you EXPECT JD to get fired OR you simply just want to take a pot shot at another Zip fan. Which is it Lee? Because if it's the former, how about a little wager on that.....say a tall one at OBC? Or if it's the latter, perhaps you should take heed of your own advice and skip the lectures.There is MAYBE a 5% chance of JD not coming back next year, so I hope you aren't getting your hopes up too much.

[skip-zip]

johnnyzip...right on the money. How the season ended is a disappointment to me too. But, it takes some old timers like us, who have been around this program forever, to understand the realities of being a team in the lower half of D-1A. This guy makes these "I hate JD" related comments daily, and so be it. Lee..we understand your thoughts after 500 posts that all indicate your same thoughts about not liking JD. But as Johnnyzip states...it's a slim chance that a MAC school fires a coach who is 5 years into a contract that already has been granted an extension, and has shown improvements in many areas over the previous two years. Very, very slim. Yes...with my experience with this program...I will be highly surprised if he losses his job. Deal with it, and maybe spend more of your energy supporting the program instead of going on a continual, daily rant about wanting a new coach.

[zen]

I don't want to see JD go. I'd like to keep him.I'll bet that if he leaves he goes on to have success elsewhere.But he has had nearly enough of a chance. I think all head coaches should have 4 years to prove themselves. In the NFL, 4 is definitely enough. In college, I'd prefer 5. All I am saying is not to make a change for the sake of making a change. That would be a big mistake.If you must, then do it RIGHT.

[Big Zip]

I do not think we'll see the end of the JD Brookhart era at Akron after this year. I do believe we will be feed a line of BS how this team overachieved this year after being picked to finish last in the MAC and how they had one BCS win (against a team that beat Notre Dame at home). I will say (as the Cap'n has been found of saying) this team found ways of ripping defeat from the arms of victory. Unfortunately this time I'm commenting about JD and not LO. The Cap'n usually is referencing LO in that regard. In the same sense we witnessed another very LO thing this year -- a team that found a way of putting lots of points on the board and then gave up just a few more to lose. That is what I remember about the LO era and what I'm starting to think about the JD era.I had a dream last night that many of JD's coaches got the axe, but JD reamind in tact. Although I didn't dream last year this is what I thought would happen last year and it didn't. I'm hopeful Mack sits down with JD this week and they both come to this conclusion. I hope they also come to the conclusion that the 3-3-5 needs to go. I would like to ask the question to those of you who don't want to fire JD. Money aside -- if this is not the type of performance that deserves firing what type of performance does? What is it going to take for you to say he isn't the guy? Personally, I have seen enough in five years and if I had my choice he would be gone. I haven't seen enough progress. This team this year (as I said above) reminded me of the worst of the LO era with perhaps less fire power and if I'm to believe Akron Athletics and this board more talent than LO ever had.Finally, I by no means am a LO apologist -- I thought he stayed way to long and wanted him gone for a few years (and took heat from others on this board for it) prior to his actual departure. We are beginning of new era in Akron football starting next year with the new stadium and if we are going to build our fan base it is going to take a different approach -- an approach I haven't seem take hold from JD.

[Lee Adams]

there are some other issues that arise,(besides the losing records of the last three years), assuming brookhart gets'one more last chance'(sounds like a country/western song)...someone on this board said brookhart has two years left on his contract...assuming that is correct,recruiting got a lot tougher than it already was starting yesterday(he was meeting a recruit last night)...if a prospect knows the coach has two years left and the program has been losing, will he sign knowing that in two years(assuming redshirt)when he is ready to play the coach who recruited him could be gone and the new coach may not want him...thats why coaches want that 3-4 year cushion...aside from what happens to the coaching staff...starting NOW this situation has consequences for the program for years to come...by the way,wonder if that kid is going to sign?

[GP1]

I would like to ask the question to those of you who don't want to fire JD. Money aside -- if this is not the type of performance that deserves firing what type of performance does? What is it going to take for you to say he isn't the guy? Personally, I have seen enough in five years and if I had my choice he would be gone. I haven't seen enough progress. This team this year (as I said above) reminded me of the worst of the LO era with perhaps less fire power and if I'm to believe Akron Athletics and this board more talent than LO ever had.

This is actually a good question. Not agreeing to get rid of the defense he uses right now would be a good reason to get rid of him. I'm not convinced that there are good coaches out there to be had. If there are, who are they and why would they come to Akron? The thing to be most critical about JD is his inability to do anything with the talent on the team. In the end, I want JD to stay, but I don't care if they keep him or fire him at this point. I felt exactly the same way after Bill Cowher's last year with the Steelers and things seem to be working out well for them contrary to how a lot of Yinzers felt at the time. 10-15 years from now, next year will not be the critical time in the program's history that a lot of you think it will be. Akron will have a lot of good seasons ahead of it and a lot of bad seasons. The entire future of the program does not rest on next season. Akron does not need to win next season because there is a new stadium. Akron needs to win next year because they have a lot of talent and they SHOULD be winning. The new stadium will just be a nice place to go watch a team win that should be winning. At this point, the best I could do to predict whether firing JD is the right thing to do or not would be to apply my fool proof Zips/Browns fan logic to it. From the poll on another thread, it is 50/50 right now to fire or not. I guess I will have to see how that poll plays out.

[InTheZone]

I'm not convinced that there are good coaches out there to be had. If there are, who are they and why would they come to Akron?

Glenn Mason... go get him Mack.

[GP1]

I'm not convinced that there are good coaches out there to be had. If there are, who are they and why would they come to Akron?

Glenn Mason... go get him Mack.

He was average at Can't and terrible at Minnesota. Why him?

[InTheZone]

I'm not convinced that there are good coaches out there to be had. If there are, who are they and why would they come to Akron?

Glenn Mason... go get him Mack.

He was average at Can't and terrible at Minnesota. Why him?

He took the joke of the Big 10 and went to 5 bowl games in his last 5 years. Look at what Minnesota has done since then and tell me they don't regret firing him. if that's "terrible", what word is appropriate for our head coach?He also brings instant credibility, knowledge on how to run a Division 1 football program, connections in the area, and a name which will attract recruits. Thats pretty hard to come by for a first year MAC head coach. He's the man for the job in my opinion. Wonder how much he's getting paid by the Big 10 network?

[johnnyzip84]

Mason has a Neanderthal's understanding of the modern passing game. Plus he'd demand at least $500K. I much prefer a younger FCS head coach or a hot coordinator.

[zipboy]

I would like to ask the question to those of you who don't want to fire JD. Money aside -- if this is not the type of performance that deserves firing what type of performance does? What is it going to take for you to say he isn't the guy? Personally, I have seen enough in five years and if I had my choice he would be gone. I haven't seen enough progress. This team this year (as I said above) reminded me of the worst of the LO era with perhaps less fire power and if I'm to believe Akron Athletics and this board more talent than LO ever had.Finally, I by no means am a LO apologist -- I thought he stayed way to long and wanted him gone for a few years (and took heat from others on this board for it) prior to his actual departure. We are beginning of new era in Akron football starting next year with the new stadium and if we are going to build our fan base it is going to take a different approach -- an approach I haven't seem take hold from JD.

It is like Dan Gilbert said, now is not the time to be cheap. If firing JD and bringing someone else in will give us 9 or 10 wins, you more than make up for it with the success that you will have. I give JD 1 more year for 2 reasons. First, JD admitted his recruiting blunders 2 years ago. With that attrition, it was a 2 year back step. We had that in 2007 and 2008. By cleaning house at the end of 06, chances of being successful the last 2 years were a lot tougher. If a plug should have been pulled it should have been then. Secondly, I do believe we will have the most talented and deep team maybe ever at Akron next year. Maybe it was luck or whatever, but we did win 1 title with JD as coach which tells me that it could be done again. Does he give us the best chance to be successful next year? I just don't hold out much hope that we strike gold and get some unbelievable coach who turns out be an Urban Myer. Usually I am wrong, but I see a good chance to go 8-4 next year by keeping JD. And if we don't, even the biggest JD fan should not complain.

[zen]

Does he give us the best chance to be successful next year?

That's the reason why I want to give our head coach one more year.I just can't see bringing in someone new and starting over and having more success than JD would.The people who want JD gone just want JD gone. They aren't thinking about whether we can get someone better. They just want JD gone. To me, that is a very bad mindset to have.If you are ready to give up on JD (which some people have been for at least two years... at least... go back and check the threads) then that's fine. Just don't act like we are going to be able to afford a proven head coach to replace him. Dumping JD now means two things1) rebuilding2) unproven gamble

[Captain Kangaroo]

Tough to figure out which thread to respond within...seems like Lee Adams is rubbing off...others are now starting the same thread multiple times?Zipboy is dead-nuts on. JD f-d up his recruiting classes of 3 and 4 years ago. The guy corrected things. And he did it the right way, with predominately HS kids whom he's redshirted. Where he was burnt by WRs like Vince Hill, Harvey and Lindsay, he had to go JUCO/transfer. And he did so very well. But the lion's share are on the 5-year plan.Since Mack allowed JD to fix things "the right way" and not via some JUCO-fest, he pretty much needs to give him three years from that point. Next season is year #3.Spare me the Lee Owens crying violin. The guy had 9 freaking years to win at UA. In his 9th year he was .500 vs 1-A competition. In his 7th year, with an NFL-caliber QB, he was 4-8? What was the guy in his 8th year...something like 5-6? I forget...thank God for long-term memory loss. Graduation rates? Owens' grad rates were solid for 4 years while he attempted to build the program. Then they fell hard as he tried to get over the hump. His retention rates were below 50% his last few years. That's a fact.So how does JD win in 2009? That's the million dollar question. JD has put his trust in Captain Almost...the QB that keeps you competitive for 3 1/2 quarters, puts up nice overall stats...but walks back into the locker room tunnel the loser against any decent competition. His penchant for crippling late-game gaffes is becoming legendary. But JD has invested 4 years in trying to groom the kid to be the team leader. I can't believe he doesn't start Captain Almost in 2009, with all that time invested. Especially when Jordan Miller and Matt Rodgers have a combined 3 D-1 minutes to their credit. But can JD really trust his fate to Captain Almost? If the QB position is the million dollar question, addressing the defensive problems is the two million dollar question. There is a tremendous amount of young talent returning on the defensive side. DL and the secondary should be solid. LB may need a JUCO. But the talent is there. The scheme? I don't think there's anyone on this board who has faith in the scheme. How much more proof is needed that it is ineffective? That is wreaks no havoc. We have 12 returning DL's next season. JD, and his DC need to figure out how to use them.People like to paint with a broad brush on this board. If you want to give JD another year, you're an Owens basher. That's pretty ignorant. Even after Owens' 8th year, with the talent he had returning, I backed the guy for his 9th season. He had enough talent that 2003 should have been a winning campaign, if the guy was any good. 5-5 against D-1 competition, and 9 years to biuld to that level, that was enough for me. And in hindsight, 9 years was too long. I've said it many times...it ain't simple to figure our how to win championships at UA. It takes time. If it didn't, Lee Owens would have figured it out in 9. Or JD in 5. And unlike hoops, where one or two recruits can turn a program around, football programs are a much larger ship to swing around. The turning radius is a lot wider.JD screwed himself by losing the final three games. By going 1-4 @ the Rubber Bowl. The Zips should have been 7-5, worst case 6-6. The team had the ability to take the heat off themselves...but the fumbled it away vs. Buffalo...got shoved down the field @ OU...tossed late-game INT's @ Temple...instead of finding ways to win, they found all sorts of different ways to lose. Now we're in this situation.Keeping or canning JD is Mack's call. But he needs to make it quickly. Come out with a clear, decisive statement that he's our coach in 2009. Or that he's gone. BG, Toledo, EMU, Miami, Toledo...they're all looking for new coaches as we speak. Ball State and K.e.n.t. may be too. This is prime recruiting time. For recruiting both players and coaches. Every day that Mack waits to make a statement hurts the Zips program.JD deserves Year #6. But the fans deserve better than 2008. I want JD back, but not the same-old-same-old. He needs to make meaningful changes that allow us to be highly competitive in 2009. Because there's no excuse not to be.

[Lee Adams]

Tough to figure out which thread to respond within...seems like Lee Adams is rubbing off...others are now starting the same thread multiple times?Zipboy is dead-nuts on. JD f-d up his recruiting classes of 3 and 4 years ago. The guy corrected things. And he did it the right way, with predominately HS kids whom he's redshirted. Where he was burnt by WRs like Vince Hill, Harvey and Lindsay, he had to go JUCO/transfer. And he did so very well. But the lion's share are on the 5-year plan.Since Mack allowed JD to fix things "the right way" and not via some JUCO-fest, he pretty much needs to give him three years from that point. Next season is year #3.Spare me the Lee Owens crying violin. The guy had 9 freaking years to win at UA. In his 9th year he was .500 vs 1-A competition. In his 7th year, with an NFL-caliber QB, he was 4-8? What was the guy in his 8th year...something like 5-6? I forget...thank God for long-term memory loss. Graduation rates? Owens' grad rates were solid for 4 years while he attempted to build the program. Then they fell hard as he tried to get over the hump. His retention rates were below 50% his last few years. That's a fact.So how does JD win in 2009? That's the million dollar question. JD has put his trust in Captain Almost...the QB that keeps you competitive for 3 1/2 quarters, puts up nice overall stats...but walks back into the locker room tunnel the loser against any decent competition. His penchant for crippling late-game gaffes is becoming legendary. But JD has invested 4 years in trying to groom the kid to be the team leader. I can't believe he doesn't start Captain Almost in 2009, with all that time invested. Especially when Jordan Miller and Matt Rodgers have a combined 3 D-1 minutes to their credit. But can JD really trust his fate to Captain Almost? If the QB position is the million dollar question, addressing the defensive problems is the two million dollar question. There is a tremendous amount of young talent returning on the defensive side. DL and the secondary should be solid. LB may need a JUCO. But the talent is there. The scheme? I don't think there's anyone on this board who has faith in the scheme. How much more proof is needed that it is ineffective? That is wreaks no havoc. We have 12 returning DL's next season. JD, and his DC need to figure out how to use them.People like to paint with a broad brush on this board. If you want to give JD another year, you're an Owens basher. That's pretty ignorant. Even after Owens' 8th year, with the talent he had returning, I backed the guy for his 9th season. He had enough talent that 2003 should have been a winning campaign, if the guy was any good. 5-5 against D-1 competition, and 9 years to biuld to that level, that was enough for me. And in hindsight, 9 years was too long. I've said it many times...it ain't simple to figure our how to win championships at UA. It takes time. If it didn't, Lee Owens would have figured it out in 9. Or JD in 5. And unlike hoops, where one or two recruits can turn a program around, football programs are a much larger ship to swing around. The turning radius is a lot wider.JD screwed himself by losing the final three games. By going 1-4 @ the Rubber Bowl. The Zips should have been 7-5, worst case 6-6. The team had the ability to take the heat off themselves...but the fumbled it away vs. Buffalo...got shoved down the field @ OU...tossed late-game INT's @ Temple...instead of finding ways to win, they found all sorts of different ways to lose. There we're in this situation.Keeping or canning JD is Mack's call. But he needs to make it quickly. Come out with a clear, decisive statement that he's our coach in 2009. Or that he's gone. BG, Toledo, EMU, Miami, Toledo...they're all looking for new coaches as we speak. Ball State and K.e.n.t. may be too. This is prime recruiting time. For recruiting both players and coaches. Every day that Mack waits to make a statement hurts the Zips program.JD deserves Year #6. But the fans deserve better than 2008. I want JD back, but not the same-old-same-old. He needs to make meaningful changes that allow us to be highly competitive in 2009. Because there's no excuse not to be.

AMEN!

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

Mason has a Neanderthal's understanding of the modern passing game. Plus he'd demand at least $500K. I much prefer a younger FCS head coach or a hot coordinator.

Where is the Geico caveman to respond to this post?GO ZIPS!SeeTeeZip, aka OBC MUG #89

[johnnyzip84]

Mason has a Neanderthal's understanding of the modern passing game. Plus he'd demand at least $500K. I much prefer a younger FCS head coach or a hot coordinator.

Where is the Geico caveman to respond to this post?GO ZIPS!SeeTeeZip, aka OBC MUG #89

You're right, SeeTee. I was a bit harsh here. Mason has a CRO-MAGNON's understanding of the modern passing game.

[ZippyRulz]

For what it's worth & sorry if someone else already posted it... http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24 hears that the Akron staff is safe...

[zipsbandman]

For what it's worth & sorry if someone else already posted it... http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24 hears that the Akron staff is safe...

He better be gone with anything less than 7-5 next year.

[johnnyzip84]

For what it's worth & sorry if someone else already posted it... http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24 hears that the Akron staff is safe...

Interesting find, ZippyRulz. You have to wonder where this information comes from, although it looks reasonable after skimming through it. One item jumped out at me. It says Mark Snyder will keep his job at Marshall. He has gone 4-7, 5-7, 3-9, and 4-8 in four seasons there :blink: Much of the Herd must be boiling right about now, particularly if the AD DOES keep him. Perhaps this is an indication that some mid-majors are getting concerned about a dearth of HC talent available currently due to the huge turnover that has already been reported.

[Dr Z]

For what it's worth & sorry if someone else already posted it... http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24 hears that the Akron staff is safe...

Giving up 400 yards a game with a 100th ranked defense and the "staff" is safe!?!?! I don't believe it. Nice find though.Can we make little wrist bands and pass them out to the "staff"? They will read "Defense Wins Championships"

[Buckzip]

For what it's worth & sorry if someone else already posted it... http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24 hears that the Akron staff is safe...

He better be gone with anything less than 7-5 next year.

7-5 gets other coaches canned. Here at UA it is required to save your job.I am not picking on you, as you are correct. That is the problem here.We consider mediocrity as being a winner.