Tom Wistrcill

[Lee Adams]

Dear Mr. Wistrcill: as you are hopefully becoming aware there is a small but passionate number of fans who do and have followed akron football for years...certainly the numbers are not that of osu and nd etc. etc...but we are just as passionate about this program...we have watched for years while the program has lacked consistency on the field and on the sideline...we realize you have no prior connections with this area...however, please realize that many of us are as passionate about football as fans at schools with greater 'visibility'...if you visit this site you will find that there are those who agree and disagree with the hiring of mr. ianello...many of us have purchased season tickets and contributed to the athletic department for years...we are not expecting this program to compete consistently with the osu's,psu's'wisconsins,etc,etc...what we do expect is that the program CONSISTENTLY competes with the BEST programs in the mac and legitimately contends for the mac championshionship or bowl game year in and year out...the new coach gets his opportunity starting today to do so..we will support him as long as progress is being made...with the wonderful facilities here at akron there is no reason that you and coach ianello should not put a consistently competetive team on the field year in and year out...best of luck...

[zen]

zippadedittoLet me just add on thing.There is no replacement for one thing: WINI know you guys are in a position of responsibility for a lot of things, and I am not suggesting you neglect them. However, what will set you apart is your ability to meet those other responsibilities and manifest the consistent success on the field.I stayed with JD Brookhart in his 4th and 5th years while others grew impatient. I will be patient again, but don't let that stop you from demonstrating early on why you guys were brought here.Congratulations.

[Zipsrifle]

Dear Mr. Wistrcill: as you are hopefully becoming aware there is a small but passionate number of fans who do and have followed akron football for years...certainly the numbers are not that of osu and nd etc. etc...but we are just as passionate about this program...we have watched for years while the program has lacked consistency on the field and on the sideline...we realize you have no prior connections with this area...however, please realize that many of us are as passionate about football as fans at schools with greater 'visibility'...if you visit this site you will find that there are those who agree and disagree with the hiring of mr. ianello...many of us have purchased season tickets and contributed to the athletic department for years...we are not expecting this program to compete consistently with the osu's,psu's'wisconsins,etc,etc...what we do expect is that the program CONSISTENTLY competes with the BEST programs in the mac and legitimately contends for the mac championshionship or bowl game year in and year out...the new coach gets his opportunity starting today to do so..we will support him as long as progress is being made...with the wonderful facilities here at akron there is no reason that you and coach ianello should not put a consistently competetive team on the field year in and year out...best of luck...

Well done. I am one of those long time season ticket holders who is underwhelmed by this hire. With that said, Dr. Proenza felt that you (TW) were the right man for this job. I trust that you really, truely, deep down feel you did all that is required to hire the absolute best coach for the Zips. It goes without saying that this hire is, IMO, the most important head football coaching hire in the history of this school. It is imperative we have the right man as the shine will be off the Info in just a few years and any advantage this may give us in the MAC will vanish. The decision has been made. I truely hope that coach Ianello is the man to succeed where others have failed. My commitment to this school is unwavering and from this point on, coach Ianello has my support. Go Zips!

[Dr Z]

if you visit this site you will find that there are those who agree and disagree with the hiring of mr. ianello.

At this time, a little over a handful "disagree".

[Captain Kangaroo]

if you visit this site you will find that there are those who agree and disagree with the hiring of mr. ianello.

At this time, a little over a handful "disagree".

7 out of 67 disagree as of 9am today.I think there are a lot of AD's that would KILL for an 89.6% approval rating on a major hire.

[Zipsrifle]

if you visit this site you will find that there are those who agree and disagree with the hiring of mr. ianello.

At this time, a little over a handful "disagree".

7 out of 67 disagree as of 9am today.I think there are a lot of AD's that would KILL for an 89.6% approval rating on a major hire.

Ahhh, but are you considering the NE Ohio Fan Factor? This factor is influenced by what everyone else is saying and/or doing, in addition to other things such as the facts fed to you by the media. This factor, also known as "The Bandwagon" allows some persons to fit in, avoid being criticized, and lets other people back them up in the event they are questioned. My experience has been that this gain is generally a large value in this area of the country.

[GJGood]

Personally, I think it is way too early to tell if this was a good hire or bad hire. Heck, I don't even think we'll know until his first recruits and redshirt sophomores and true juniors. It just take that long for a guy to start being able to play the guys he recruited.I just hope that the program finds success before Coach Ianello's own guys are ready to be major contributors. Then, if it finds success, that Ianello actually decides to stick around until a few of his recruiting classes have graduated and that he doesn't bolt a la Brian Kelly.So far, I don't think it is a good or bad hire. Although I will admit that I personally liked the OC at Kansas' resume a little better because he seemed like a guy that would stick around longer. I just have a bad feeling about the staying power of Ianello IF he turns the program into a winning one.

[CPAZip]

I would also request that the new coach work on self control of players and coaches. The former coach hopefully was not aware of the F bomb being used on the sideline by players and coaches. I have seats are in row one right behind the benches where the Defensive players gather and when the O is on the field. Everyone around me and I probably heard the F-Bomb 20+ times per game. I know its been 20+ years and kids are very different today, but Coach Dennison would have administered 20 lashes at mid field for even a gosh darn. Self control should be something the university teaches these fine student athletes. WIN the right way.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I would also request that the new coach work on self control of players and coaches. The former coach hopefully was not aware of the F bomb being used on the sideline by players and coaches. I have seats are in row one right behind the benches where the Defensive players gather and when the O is on the field. Everyone around me and I probably heard the F-Bomb 20+ times per game. I know its been 20+ years and kids are very different today, but Coach Dennison would have administered 20 lashes at mid field for even a gosh darn. Self control should be something the university teaches these fine student athletes. WIN the right way.

Glad you don't sit in our section...that 3-9 season generated f-bombs galore. Richard Pryor would have blushed.

[indiandad4]

Personally, I think it is way too early to tell if this was a good hire or bad hire. Heck, I don't even think we'll know until his first recruits and redshirt sophomores and true juniors. It just take that long for a guy to start being able to play the guys he recruited.I just hope that the program finds success before Coach Ianello's own guys are ready to be major contributors. Then, if it finds success, that Ianello actually decides to stick around until a few of his recruiting classes have graduated and that he doesn't bolt a la Brian Kelly.So far, I don't think it is a good or bad hire. Although I will admit that I personally liked the OC at Kansas' resume a little better because he seemed like a guy that would stick around longer. I just have a bad feeling about the staying power of Ianello IF he turns the program into a winning one.

More players are ready to play right out of high school than most coaches give them credit for. Harder for lineman and maybe QB's, but if you were recruited at the D1 level then you should be ready to play if you are needed to. Most all the kids on Akrons roster were recruited by schools other than Akron. The talent is there. I met Ianello 2 years ago in the recruiting process for my son. If he only stays for 3 or 4 years we will be better off for it. We want a winning program year in and year out. If we have that, there are those schools who will want our coach. If he leaves for a better oppurtunity, then there will be someone who wants to come to Akron for a better oppurtunity, and trust me he will leave. Thats what great coaches do. They create winning programs then move on to bigger and better things. Thats what I have done in my career, better job, better money, I'm gone. As long as we are a MAC school that is just the nature of the beast. Lets take what we have right now and run with it. If Akron become a power in the MAC then everyone can complain about the Coach leaving for a bigger and better school.

[GP1]

I know its been 20+ years and kids are very different today, but Coach Dennison would have administered 20 lashes at mid field for even a gosh darn. Self control should be something the university teaches these fine student athletes. WIN the right way.

Oh my, emotional college kids are swearing.....Amazing.Dennison would hand out 20 lashes for swearing, but he looked the other way while allowing rampant steroid abuse to take place and guys getting drunk the night before games. If that's winning the right way, I'd like to know what winning the wrong way is. The legend of Dennison is much greater than the reality.

[RACER]

i think it's a bad hire,but since he's the coach i am behind him now.the big issue will be who he brings in on his staff.i don't know if walt harris is even interested, but i thought he did a good job with our qb's given what happened.if he was smart he would go after winters for his oc position,but once again will he be interested.the biggest challange will be to find asst coaches.most asst coach at bcs make more than make head coaches so finding the right people will be tuff.i think we have enough talent to be competitive in the mac.we do not have the talent of temple,cmu,ou.we do have the talent to compete with everybody else.i would imagine golden, or jones will be gone if not both.cmu loses thier qb whcih carried that team.we need an upgrade in talent,but that does not mean this team cannot win 6 games next year.

[Zipgrad01]

i think it's a bad hire,but since he's the coach i am behind him now.the big issue will be who he brings in on his staff.i don't know if walt harris is even interested, but i thought he did a good job with our qb's given what happened.if he was smart he would go after winters for his oc position,but once again will he be interested.the biggest challange will be to find asst coaches.most asst coach at bcs make more than make head coaches so finding the right people will be tuff.i think we have enough talent to be competitive in the mac.we do not have the talent of temple,cmu,ou.we do have the talent to compete with everybody else.i would imagine golden, or jones will be gone if not both.cmu loses thier qb whcih carried that team.we need an upgrade in talent,but that does not mean this team cannot win 6 games next year.

No Winters. This guy needs to bring in top quality guys that he knows. He doesnt need to bring back Akron guys from the past.

[Captain Kangaroo]

i think it's a bad hire,but since he's the coach i am behind him now.the big issue will be who he brings in on his staff.i don't know if walt harris is even interested, but i thought he did a good job with our qb's given what happened.if he was smart he would go after winters for his oc position,but once again will he be interested.the biggest challange will be to find asst coaches.most asst coach at bcs make more than make head coaches so finding the right people will be tuff.i think we have enough talent to be competitive in the mac.we do not have the talent of temple,cmu,ou.we do have the talent to compete with everybody else.i would imagine golden, or jones will be gone if not both.cmu loses thier qb whcih carried that team.we need an upgrade in talent,but that does not mean this team cannot win 6 games next year.

No Winters. This guy needs to bring in top quality guys that he knows. He doesnt need to bring back Akron guys from the past.

I don't know who you are, but you aren't Terry Pluto.

[g-mann17]

I would also request that the new coach work on self control of players and coaches. The former coach hopefully was not aware of the F bomb being used on the sideline by players and coaches. I have seats are in row one right behind the benches where the Defensive players gather and when the O is on the field. Everyone around me and I probably heard the F-Bomb 20+ times per game. I know its been 20+ years and kids are very different today, but Coach Dennison would have administered 20 lashes at mid field for even a gosh darn. Self control should be something the university teaches these fine student athletes. WIN the right way.

OH NO!!!!Adults using adult language.

[Zip Watcher]

I would also request that the new coach work on self control of players and coaches. The former coach hopefully was not aware of the F bomb being used on the sideline by players and coaches. I have seats are in row one right behind the benches where the Defensive players gather and when the O is on the field. Everyone around me and I probably heard the F-Bomb 20+ times per game. I know its been 20+ years and kids are very different today, but Coach Dennison would have administered 20 lashes at mid field for even a gosh darn. Self control should be something the university teaches these fine student athletes. WIN the right way.

OH NO!!!!Adults using adult language.

The language is going to happen .. that's probably why the family section is upper deck.My issue has to do more with self control. From the moment that Jacq made the mental error at the end of the half @ UConn, it was clear to me that the HC had no sense of self control or discipline. He chose to berate his player right in front of an ESPN(?/U/8) camera on the way to the lockerroom, rather than waiting 30 seconds and keeping it in the confines of the team meetings. The minute that event happened, I had doubts as to his ability to get the Zips on a winning path. That's when my opinion turned. Kept the hope, but somehow knew it wasn't going to happen.Throughout the past 5 years, the Zips were victims of their own lack of self control: timely personal foul penalties ended how many drives, pushed the Zips out of field goal range at critical junctures of important games. And I think that all points to a lack of self control / discipline to keep your head when it matters. Teams are generally a reflection of their coach .. and if the coach was unable to exercise restraint, how could the players be expected to?

[Dr Z]

From the moment that Jacq made the mental error at the end of the half @ UConn, it was clear to me that the HC had no sense of self control or discipline. He chose to berate his player right in front of an ESPN(?/U/8) camera on the way to the lockerroom, rather than waiting 30 seconds and keeping it in the confines of the team meetings. The minute that event happened, I had doubts as to his ability to get the Zips on a winning path.

Did you get to see Brian Kelly berate his QB after an INT during the Big East Championship game?

[Zip Watcher]

From the moment that Jacq made the mental error at the end of the half @ UConn, it was clear to me that the HC had no sense of self control or discipline. He chose to berate his player right in front of an ESPN(?/U/8) camera on the way to the lockerroom, rather than waiting 30 seconds and keeping it in the confines of the team meetings. The minute that event happened, I had doubts as to his ability to get the Zips on a winning path.

Did you get to see Brian Kelly berate his QB after an INT during the Big East Championship game?

No I didn't see it, and since I'm not a Cincy fan .. I pretty much don't care.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I would also request that the new coach work on self control of players and coaches. The former coach hopefully was not aware of the F bomb being used on the sideline by players and coaches. I have seats are in row one right behind the benches where the Defensive players gather and when the O is on the field. Everyone around me and I probably heard the F-Bomb 20+ times per game. I know its been 20+ years and kids are very different today, but Coach Dennison would have administered 20 lashes at mid field for even a gosh darn. Self control should be something the university teaches these fine student athletes. WIN the right way.

OH NO!!!!Adults using adult language.

The language is going to happen .. that's probably why the family section is upper deck.My issue has to do more with self control. From the moment that Jacq made the mental error at the end of the half @ UConn, it was clear to me that the HC had no sense of self control or discipline. He chose to berate his player right in front of an ESPN(?/U/8) camera on the way to the lockerroom, rather than waiting 30 seconds and keeping it in the confines of the team meetings. The minute that event happened, I had doubts as to his ability to get the Zips on a winning path. That's when my opinion turned. Kept the hope, but somehow knew it wasn't going to happen.Throughout the past 5 years, the Zips were victims of their own lack of self control: timely personal foul penalties ended how many drives, pushed the Zips out of field goal range at critical junctures of important games. And I think that all points to a lack of self control / discipline to keep your head when it matters. Teams are generally a reflection of their coach .. and if the coach was unable to exercise restraint, how could the players be expected to?

You've mentioned that episode in the past. I will disagree. Of all Brookhart's problems, lack of personal self control and discipline would rank near the very bottom of the list.Forfeiting two full recruiting classes, recruiting kids that had no business attending college, that hurt him.Sticking with the known screw-off Jacquemain, recruiting no reliable fallback at QB, that hurt him.Relying on gimmickry in all phases of the game plan...that hurt him.Being some out-of-control, Hipsher-esque lunatic? No way. Can GP1 or InTheZone provide a better insight here? On a scale of 1 - 10, "1" being a saintly Division 1 football coach and "10" being an absolute raving mad man, how lacking in self control / discipline was Brookhart?From the 45-or-so games I watched...I'd say "3."

[Zipsrifle]

I would also request that the new coach work on self control of players and coaches. The former coach hopefully was not aware of the F bomb being used on the sideline by players and coaches. I have seats are in row one right behind the benches where the Defensive players gather and when the O is on the field. Everyone around me and I probably heard the F-Bomb 20+ times per game. I know its been 20+ years and kids are very different today, but Coach Dennison would have administered 20 lashes at mid field for even a gosh darn. Self control should be something the university teaches these fine student athletes. WIN the right way.

Glad you don't sit in our section...that 3-9 season generated f-bombs galore. Richard Pryor would have blushed.

LOL Probably good that I'm behind you guys, though I'm convinced my kids will learn all the standard four letter words courtesy of their father cursing at a Zips sporting event of some type.