Akron vs. WMU

[ZipRoo]

GP1 (King of all Negativity) how does that roll up the carpets and give up philosophy work for you in your real life? People on this board complain a lot, but people on this board have lots of ideas for doing things differently than the University. The University has failed miserably running the football program an there is as much chance of the ideas on this board fixing the problem as the ideas that have been implemented. Dropping the program down and giving up because "it can't be done" like you seem to suggest in most of your posts is not something fans would like to see. I'm thoroughly confused by you. You seem to hate the program, enjoy telling everyone your the smartest guy in the room and the only guy with ideas that make sense. I'd challenge you to put some thoughts on here about how the football program could get better instead of putting everyone down. You have to know how to fix it you know everything else.

I have found myself not biting on all of your non productive digs on the program, but I finally had to say something. I get it....the message board is a place for people to post their thoughts and you have all the right to post what you want, but I struggle to actually understand your hatred for the University and your consistent presence here.

So glad you posted this, Big Zip. I'm certain that GP1 is the guy who is also the king of negativity on Rasor's blog. A big sore spot with him seems to be the very notion that our tickets are overpriced. I mean, that's not even open to debate. $15 or $20 for this product is utterly insane, but somehow GP1 justifies it and even believes those who won't pay it should just stay home. He must be independently wealthy and not realize the tough times many families are going thru. Family of 4 x $15, plus parking, food, drinks, time wasted....add it up.

He probably also supports the insipid notion that Ianello should stay. Yeah, GP1, he's doing a bang-up job destroying the last remnants of a once-proud program.

[akzipper]

Suprised no one has mentioned my personal favorite play call sequence of the game. It went something like this:

1st and 10 at AKR 40 Patrick Nicely pass complete to Antoine Russell for 56 yards to the WMich 4, tackled by Doug Wiggins for a 1ST down.

1st and Goal at WMU 4, Alex Allen rush for no gain to the WMich 4, tackled by Raheam Buxton.

2nd and Goal at WMU 4, Alex Allen rush for 3 yards to the WMich 1, tackled by Jamail Berry.

3rd and Goal at WMU 1, WESTRN MICHIGAN penalty 0 yard offside accepted, no play.

3rd and Goal at WMU 1, Alex Allen rush for no gain to the WMich 1, tackled by Doug Wiggins and Lewis Toler.

4th and Goal at WMU 1, Alex Allen rush for a loss of 2 yards to the WMich 3, tackled by Dex Jones.

Five times in a row Alex Allen ran to the left for no gain or a loss, all inside the opponents FIVE YARD LINE! For pete's sake mix it up a little bit, put Burney in, play action pass, quarterback keeper, SOMETHING!

I mentioned it in a different thread

never thought i'd say this but... THAT IS HOW YOU COACH A FOOTBALL GAME, Ianello should learn from Mangini!

Totally unrelated i know but wow. Though the ONLY 2 plays that have got me excited enough to jump out of my seat all year have been the only two trick plays that RI has run (fake FG vs Can't, flea flicker vs WMU) so at least do some more of that and lose while being entertaining!

Are you kidding??? the 5 straight run plays in the 1st quarter (1st and goal at the 1) didn't excite you. But you can't blame RI, if the run didn't work the first 4 times, who would have thought the 5th time wouldn't work either?

Throw a play action pass at least once...they knew the run was coming every time!

[akzipper]

Completely disagree with the notion of giving up DI football.

Akron has great facilities, a new stadium and is in a hotbed of football. Ohio is a football state. There is a lot of talent here.

If UA would stop going after position coaches from other schools and actually get a coach that had HC experience at a lower level and was a winner, I think things could turn around.

Last 3 coaches-Owens OL coach, Brookhart WR coach, and now Ianello, don't know what the hell he coached.

There are a lot of consistent winners in DIAA, or whatever it's called now. We need to get one of these guys here.

Enough with the 1st time HC BS.

Name a coach you would have rather had, with a legitimate chance to hire and don't give me any of that Mount Union crap I have to hear about...

there's a reason none of you are ADs or coaches. Just because you are a fan you don't know more than them. Of course I don't agree with some of RI's play calling and I HATE losing. But think about it, this is not his team yet. He did not recruit a majority of these people. A good coach can't win if he doesn't have a good team, and he absolutely can win if his team doesn't care about winning. Not you, but actual Zips fans should stick behind our team, we ARE NOT band wagon fans like those from OSwho.

[skip-zip]

We're paying the price for Muse and Adams' scheming a quarter-century ago. Jim Dennison was a highly-respected football coach, here in Akron, throughout Ohio, and across the country. Bo Schembechler confirmed that. It's no knock on Coach Faust, who was brought in to "make the transition to D-1," but many UA fans and Dennison supporters lost respect for the school at that time and have never returned. [Bottom line, if Dennison were still coaching UA today, we'd no doubt be having success.]

After Coach Faust, it was one mistake after another, with Owens, Brookhart and now the worst, Ianello. In two decades, was it utterly impossible to find a coach, at any level, with a track record of success as a head coach? Word is, UA has approached D-3 Mount Union's Larry Kehres more than once, but he didn't want to leave.

The point is, you find a successful winner at some level, and normally success will follow. Guys who know how to win....WIN. Sure, high school programs like Moeller (Faust) and Massillon (Owens) are successful thru the advantage of drawing many of the top athletes to their powerhouse schools. So the transition from HS to college head coach is not ideal.

But how many D-2 coaches....or even OHIO guys (like those on Tressel's staff) would look mighty good on our sideline now?

Really? If this situation would have produced a no-brainer success story at the D-1A level, as it seems you suggest, then please tell me why 25 years later the man is coaching at NAIA Walsh College?

[GP1]

I'm interested to know if the age old idea of basically giving away tickets for $5 is packing the stands or not. Did they pack them in yesterday or did they just reinforce the expectation in NE Ohio that the cost of going to a UofA game, good or bad, should be $5?

First off, $5 is not "giving away." A butt in the stands purchasing a program, food, drinks, etc. is better than a butt on the couch at home adding zero to the UA coffers, wouldn't you think.

Second, only kids got $5 tickets (with a paying adult). And I can assure you, there's no kid in Akron who received $5 worth of entertainment with that ticket.

Was the stadium packed or not?

[GP1]

GP1 (King of all Negativity) how does that roll up the carpets and give up philosophy work for you in your real life? People on this board complain a lot, but people on this board have lots of ideas for doing things differently than the University. The University has failed miserably running the football program an there is as much chance of the ideas on this board fixing the problem as the ideas that have been implemented. Dropping the program down and giving up because "it can't be done" like you seem to suggest in most of your posts is not something fans would like to see. I'm thoroughly confused by you. You seem to hate the program, enjoy telling everyone your the smartest guy in the room and the only guy with ideas that make sense. I'd challenge you to put some thoughts on here about how the football program could get better instead of putting everyone down. You have to know how to fix it you know everything else.

I have found myself not biting on all of your non productive digs on the program, but I finally had to say something. I get it....the message board is a place for people to post their thoughts and you have all the right to post what you want, but I struggle to actually understand your hatred for the University and your consistent presence here.

I'm trying to save the football program, not destroy it. It may seem negative, but it isn't. Stating that this program has done next to nothing in 20+ years isn't a dig, it's a fact. Stating the MAC has been a terrible conference with some good years since 1940whatever isn't a dig, it's a fact. Reality isn't an opinion.

There could be a great ending to the story of college football if the non-bcs schools decided to go their own way and have their own division. Great endings are positive, not negative. It is silly to believe that there are 130 some teams out there who can compete at the same level. Even in D-1, there are only about 40 programs (probably less) at a high level. If we could get things turned in the right direction, we could compete for a national championship at that level. In terms of facities, we have everything we need to compete at a new level. Instead,we choose to be victims of a bad decision made 20+ years ago now. I used to be a believer, but a few years away from the MAC and watching even bad ACC football has shown me how far away the MAC is from being respectable.

Somehow my idea has been turned around to mean we are "droping down" to I-AA. That isn't the case. The non-bcs schools need to get together and form their own division and take control of their own future before the non-bcs schools do it for them. When the BCS schools act on their own, they don't consult nonbcs schools and it always turns out bad for us. I say screw them and get away from being their b....youknowwhatitchs.

If anyone out there thinks the BCS schools wouldn't act on their own, ask yourself this...Is the BCS the first step in those teams making their own division? If you say no, are not reading all of the tea leaves. Look beyond the MAC and UofA to see the future.

[MDZip]

Second, only kids got $5 tickets (with a paying adult). And I can assure you, there's no kid in Akron who received $5 worth of entertainment with that ticket.

Not true, the kids on the end zone grass were having a ball and not paying one bit of attention to the game. They got their money's worth and more.

[ZipRoo]

I'm interested to know if the age old idea of basically giving away tickets for $5 is packing the stands or not. Did they pack them in yesterday or did they just reinforce the expectation in NE Ohio that the cost of going to a UofA game, good or bad, should be $5?

First off, $5 is not "giving away." A butt in the stands purchasing a program, food, drinks, etc. is better than a butt on the couch at home adding zero to the UA coffers, wouldn't you think.

Second, only kids got $5 tickets (with a paying adult). And I can assure you, there's no kid in Akron who received $5 worth of entertainment with that ticket.

Was the stadium packed or not?

Just how clueless ARE you, GP1? What part about "not all tickets were $5" aren't you understanding? And at this point in the season, a beautiful day with an 0-7 team and a coach/AD which no one wants, Akron U is about the furthest thing from people's consciousness. They could've stood at the door and given away free tickets and no one else would've showed up. It's too little, too late. The $5 ticket campaign needs to begin before the season, before we see how atrocious the team is and people KNOW to stay away.

[Captain Kangaroo]

It's too little, too late. The $5 ticket campaign needs to begin before the season, before we see how atrocious the team is and people KNOW to stay away.

I told YouTube Tom to do THIS back in May 2010, but he was too busy kicking season ticket holders and Z-Fund donors out of Lot #9 at the time (...for "5k and up Donors," as I was told by UA Athletics).

If your AD believes in unicorns, it is not a good thing.

I wonder what You Tube Tom promised Proenza when he was interviewing for the AD's position, and how close he is to delivering on those promises?

[Dr Z]

Name a coach you would have rather had, with a legitimate chance to hire and don't give me any of that Mount Union crap I have to hear about...

Plenty of thoughts on that subject before iCoach was announced, just use the search button.

Nov 9, 2009 Coaching Thread

Nov 16, 2009 Coaching Thread

I love reading through these old threads. Everybody knows some credible source who told them this and that.

[Buckzip]

Name a coach you would have rather had, with a legitimate chance to hire and don't give me any of that Mount Union crap I have to hear about...

Plenty of thoughts on that subject before iCoach was announced, just use the search button.

Nov 9, 2009 Coaching Thread

Nov 16, 2009 Coaching Thread

I love reading through these old threads. Everybody knows some credible source who told them this and that.

You beat me to it. I was about to do the same thing.

Yeah, none of us are coaches or AD's.

I think we could have done a better job though.

As an AD, I certainly wouldn't have hired a recruiting coordinator from a losing program whose HC was just fired.

As the coach, I certainly couldn't do worse than losing every game and getting destroyed doing it.

Wow, how exactly are you related to TW or icoach?

[akzipper]

Name a coach you would have rather had, with a legitimate chance to hire and don't give me any of that Mount Union crap I have to hear about...

Plenty of thoughts on that subject before iCoach was announced, just use the search button.

Nov 9, 2009 Coaching Thread

Nov 16, 2009 Coaching Thread

I love reading through these old threads. Everybody knows some credible source who told them this and that.

You beat me to it. I was about to do the same thing.

Yeah, none of us are coaches or AD's.

I think we could have done a better job though.

As an AD, I certainly wouldn't have hired a recruiting coordinator from a losing program whose HC was just fired.

As the coach, I certainly couldn't do worse than losing every game and getting destroyed doing it.

Wow, how exactly are you related to TW or icoach?

I never said I was related and I couldn't do a better job. Next time there is an open coaching position at UA, go try to get that job! I'd love to see them laugh right to your face...

[Buckzip]

Name a coach you would have rather had, with a legitimate chance to hire and don't give me any of that Mount Union crap I have to hear about...

Plenty of thoughts on that subject before iCoach was announced, just use the search button.

Nov 9, 2009 Coaching Thread

Nov 16, 2009 Coaching Thread

I love reading through these old threads. Everybody knows some credible source who told them this and that.

You beat me to it. I was about to do the same thing.

Yeah, none of us are coaches or AD's.

I think we could have done a better job though.

As an AD, I certainly wouldn't have hired a recruiting coordinator from a losing program whose HC was just fired.

As the coach, I certainly couldn't do worse than losing every game and getting destroyed doing it.

Wow, how exactly are you related to TW or icoach?

I never said I was related and I couldn't do a better job. Next time there is an open coaching position at UA, go try to get that job! I'd love to see them laugh right to your face...

I have no desire to be a football coach. Why would I apply for it? Still, I know I couldn't do a worse job. Is it possible to be worse than winless?

I see you are extremely butt hurt here and are trying to defend your friend, relative or whatever he is to you, but 0-7 and not even being competitive doing it speaks for itself.

[ZachTheZip]

Name a coach you would have rather had, with a legitimate chance to hire and don't give me any of that Mount Union crap I have to hear about...

Luke Fickell

Terry Bowden

Danny Rocco

Mark Stoops

[ZipGrad93]

Name a coach you would have rather had, with a legitimate chance to hire and don't give me any of that Mount Union crap I have to hear about...

there's a reason none of you are ADs or coaches. Just because you are a fan you don't know more than them. Of course I don't agree with some of RI's play calling and I HATE losing. But think about it, this is not his team yet. He did not recruit a majority of these people. A good coach can't win if he doesn't have a good team, and he absolutely can win if his team doesn't care about winning. Not you, but actual Zips fans should stick behind our team, we ARE NOT band wagon fans like those from OSwho.

A good coach finds a way to put his players in a position to succeed. He doesn't try to put the proverbial square peg into a round hole. iChump forced his system onto the team, instead of evaluating his team and designing a system that plays to their strengths. Although a good coach may not win without a "good team," he absolutely will impact the progress and improvement of the team collectively and the players individually. That is absolutely NOT happening with the Zips. The Zips are regressing, not progressing! And, don't tell me the Zips players don't care about winning. I watched Saturday's game, and there are still plenty of players playing with pride, passion, and maximum effort out there (Wagner, Lemon, Thomas, Burnley, Allen, Pride, etc.). It's not their fault the coaches haven't done more to help them succeed.

ZipGrad93

[Dr Z]

A good coach finds a way to put his players in a position to succeed. He doesn't try to put the proverbial square peg into a round hole. iChump forced his system onto the team

You think we would be a better team with a different system under the current staff that was hired to run the system the coach knows? You think Rob would be a better coach in a different system? Do you think the systems were mentioned in the interview with the AD? You don't get more basic than the pro offense and the 4-3 defense. You are looking for one simple answer to a bad football team. Just think for a second of running the spread with this team. Who would catch the ball? Who would block? Same guys or will we magically get a bunch of talent at those positions because we have a different scheme? What defense will we run that we don't have to cover receivers and we don't have to put pressure on the QB, because THAT is what we should run. There are many more problems than just one.

[ZipGrad93]

A good coach finds a way to put his players in a position to succeed. He doesn't try to put the proverbial square peg into a round hole. iChump forced his system onto the team

You think we would be a better team with a different system under the current staff that was hired to run the system the coach knows? You think Rob would be a better coach in a different system? Do you think the systems were mentioned in the interview with the AD? You don't get more basic than the pro offense and the 4-3 defense. You are looking for one simple answer to a bad football team. Just think for a second of running the spread with this team. Who would catch the ball? Who would block? Same guys or will we magically get a bunch of talent at those positions because we have a different scheme? What defense will we run that we don't have to cover receivers and we don't have to put pressure on the QB, because THAT is what we should run. There are many more problems than just one.

You're missing my point... There is no one "magic" system that will fix our problems. However, a coach should adapt his system, or change his system, to play to the strengths his players have. Here's a simple analogy: let's say I'm taking over a program, and "my" system is the triple option. I've just inherited Bernie Kosar as my QB. What do I do? Try to run the triple option with him? Absolutely not! I take what he does well, and build my "system" around that. Coaching isn't rocket science. Certainly a "pro system" coach can learn facets of other systems to incorporate into his game plan. Coaches steal from each other all the time (e.g. the "wildcat" formation).

And, I'm well aware there's more than one problem. Position swtiches like Carter's come to mind. However, why haven't we seen any improvement at all? Why can't we adapt to at least be competitive against bad teams? In my opinion, it's because the coaching staff doesn't know how or doesn't want to adapt. We may be bad, but with good coaching, we certainly should get better...

[cornbread]

However, a coach should adapt his system, or change his system, to play to the strengths his players have. Here's a simple analogy: let's say I'm taking over a program, and "my" system is the triple option. I've just inherited Bernie Kosar as my QB. What do I do? Try to run the triple option with him? Absolutely not!

I wouldnt be so sure it wouldn't work.

[Dr Z]

I've just inherited Bernie Kosar as my QB. What do I do?

You get a new quarterback. (see history)

[dreal1scout]

A good coach finds a way to put his players in a position to succeed. He doesn't try to put the proverbial square peg into a round hole. iChump forced his system onto the team

You think we would be a better team with a different system under the current staff that was hired to run the system the coach knows? You think Rob would be a better coach in a different system? Do you think the systems were mentioned in the interview with the AD? You don't get more basic than the pro offense and the 4-3 defense. You are looking for one simple answer to a bad football team. Just think for a second of running the spread with this team. Who would catch the ball? Who would block? Same guys or will we magically get a bunch of talent at those positions because we have a different scheme? What defense will we run that we don't have to cover receivers and we don't have to put pressure on the QB, because THAT is what we should run. There are many more problems than just one.

EXACTLY

[ZipsAlum92]

Nothing on this team is working and I blame the coaches. Not just Ianello, but all of his assistants as well. The Zips are currently ranked 118th in total offense and 112th in total defense. That means that Ianello's buddy from Notre Dame, offensive coordinator John Latina, isn't doing his job. Neither is Ron Powlus, who Ianello also brought here from Notre Dame to coach the QBs. Any ideas where our QBs rank in terms of efficiency? 119th.