Not much Going the Zips Way this Year

[akronad]

Gaffney Article http://www.ohio.com/sports/105365943.html

Not much going the Zips' way this year

By Tom Gaffney

Beacon Journal sports writer

POSTED: 02:30 p.m. EDT, Oct 20, 2010

Here are some observations and opinions about another forgettable football season at the University of Akron:

• Change for the sake of change sometimes can be the best option.

Experts more savvy than myself have suggested publicly and privately that the Zips need to start junior backup Matt Rodgers at quarterback rather than sophomore Patrick Nicely, who has a 2-11 record over two seasons as a starter.

I reluctantly agree, if only for the reason stated above, that change just to try something different might best serve the team.

This is not an indictment of Patrick Nicely, who has been asked to learn the new pro-style offense and abandon the spread offense that he has used since high school.

He also has been working with an inexperienced receiving corps after the likes of Andre Jones, Jeremy Bruce, Deryn Bowser and Dashan Miller exhausted their eligibility after the 2009 season.

Nicely has had to scramble behind a game, but beleaguered, offensive line that has had trouble protecting him. Nicely also has had accuracy issues, completing just 47.9 percent of his passes.

So, as an alternative, the move that might provide a spark is to turn to Rodgers, who started three games in 2009 before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Ohio.

Rodgers does not have as strong of an arm as Nicely, but it is considered more accurate. He has completed 57.5 (46-of-80) percent of his passes in 2009 and 2010.

He also is more mobile than Nicely, which helps because of the line troubles.

It might not be an ideal move, but it is worth a try considering the state of the 2010 Zips.

• It is not my job to suggest that Rob Ianello be replaced as head coach of the Zips, as some fans have suggested.

My job is to try to be fair and accurate in covering the team. Notice, naysayers, that I said ''try.''

That task does not include asking for the job of a coach who has been working for less than a year, does not yet have his own full recruiting class, and is here in a less-than-ideal situation.

Yes, less-than-ideal situation.

This is a coach who took over a team that won three games in 2009, only two of them over Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.

This is a coach of a program that has much to show for its days in the small-college division in a whole different era, but little to show for 23 years in the big-school divisions with only seven winning records over that time.

This is a coach of a team that has a large number of players who do not have legitimate FBS-level skills, according to several experts who have shared their opinions with me.

Time and results will tell if Ianello and his staff are the ones to lead a program that has the best facilities in the Mid-American Conference, but among the worst in talent and depth.

I don't know exactly how long they should get to prove themselves, but I do know one year is not enough.

While this season has been frustrating, it is naive to think the blame lies entirely with the head coach and his staff. It is like blaming an unwanted pregnancy on a comfy back seat. It not that simple.

• The university is taking a proactive approach to the Western Michigan game on Saturday to head off the potential of having a friends-and-relatives-only crowd at InfoCision Stadium.

The game is being designated Kids Day, in which any fan 14-and-under will be able to purchase a general admission ticket for $5. Adults will pay $15.

In addition, the game — and all other athletic events — is part of the new marketing program for students called Roo-Wards.

Students get into games free anyway but will be able to swipe their ID at all events and be awarded points for attending.

Students will be given prizes based on the number of points they accumulate and also be eligible for additional prizes through raffles.

No word yet if there will be a contest to predict the attendance against Western Michigan. Or the over-under.

• The Zips have eight oral commitments from high school players in the 2011 class, according to recruiting Web sites.

From Ohio comes defensive end Dylan Brumbaugh of Green, quarterback Kyle Pohl of Germantown Valley View, guard Travis Switzer of Conestoga Valley, tackle Andrew Bohan of Avon Lake and cornerback Bryce Cheek of Lewis Center Olentangy.

The others are linebacker Nick Rossi of Riverside, Pa., running back Karell Bostick of Oradell, N.J., and center John Clay of East St. Louis, Ill.

However, that likely will not tell the tale about the new recruits who will sign in February. It has been widely rumored that the Zips are switching gears and looking to add a large number of junior college recruits to provide immediate help.

• The unbalanced MAC schedule has not broken in the Zips' favor.

It is not a stretch of the imagination to say that the worst conference teams right now are UA, Eastern Michigan (1-6, 1-3), Ball State (2-5, 1-2), Bowling Green (1-6, 0-3) and even defending champion Central Michigan (2-5, 1-3).

Of those teams, the Zips play only one — Ball State — and that is on the road.

Conversely, the Zips play heavyweights Miami (4-3, 3-0), Ohio (4-3, 3-1), Temple (5-2, 2-1) and Northern Illinois (5-2, 3-0), missing only Toledo (4-3, 3-0) among the MAC teams with winning records.

A question to ponder: Is the MAC is imposing a cooling off period for the Zips and Bowling Green? They will not play this season or next season, as part of a two-year schedule rotation.

It is generally agreed that Bowling Green reported recruiting violations by the Zips that led to UA recruiting co-ordinator Reno Ferri being suspended and then leaving the program.

• Speaking of schedules, the 2010 season opened with losses to BCS members Syracuse, Kentucky and Indiana, which certainly contributed to the woeful start.

It does not get any easier in 2011 because the Zips will open at Ohio State on Sept. 3 and will play at Cincinnati on Sept. 17.

• As a personal aside, the dismal UA season is not the only sad thing I have seen in football locally this fall.

Also worthy of a sense of disbelief are the coaches of a flag-football team in a Medina County community whose players are 5 and 6 years old.

The coaches have stacked the team with many of the league's best players, played loose with the rules to benefit themselves, allowed players to intimidate opponents and routinely ran up the score.

Recently, one of the team's opponents walked off the field early in the second half because the taunting had some of them in tears.

Did I say the players in the league are 5 and 6?

And, no, I am not going to recommend the head coach of that team be named to succeed Ianello.

[ZachTheZip]

This article is a good overview of everything going on right now.

I hope his source is correct for this quote: "However, that likely will not tell the tale about the new recruits who will sign in February. It has been widely rumored that the Zips are switching gears and looking to add a large number of junior college recruits to provide immediate help." Six or seven JUCo players to go along with Michigan State transfer oren Wilson would provide immediate help for a team with very little talent currently and far less than that next season when you look at who graduates and who is supposed to replace them.

[MaxZIP]

This article is a good overview of everything going on right now.

I hope his source is correct for this quote: "However, that likely will not tell the tale about the new recruits who will sign in February. It has been widely rumored that the Zips are switching gears and looking to add a large number of junior college recruits to provide immediate help." Six or seven JUCo players to go along with Michigan State transfer oren Wilson would provide immediate help for a team with very little talent currently and far less than that next season when you look at who graduates and who is supposed to replace them.

Jucos are very unreliable. About half never see the field.

[ZachTheZip]

Jucos are very unreliable. About half never see the field.

That was under Brookhart. I hope that Ianello's long years as a recruiting coordinator would give him the connections to find JUCo players who will actually pan out. And still, half is better than not getting any when you look at the returning talent.

[MaxZIP]

Jucos are very unreliable. About half never see the field.

That was under Brookhart. I hope that Ianello's long years as a recruiting coordinator would give him the connections to find JUCo players who will actually pan out. And still, half is better than not getting any when you look at the returning talent.

I don't think Notre Dame used too many juco transfers. I would hope that he is a good enough recruiter not to have to rely on them much longer. He was brought here to recruit and prove he can coach those players. Proof is in the pudding. I hope he is great at both.

[ZachTheZip]

Notre Dame didn't need JUCO transfers, but maybe Wisconsin did? I know Arizona did because on the west coast JUCO is just as popular as high school for getting recruits.

[MaxZIP]

Notre Dame didn't need JUCO transfers, but maybe Wisconsin did? I know Arizona did because on the west coast JUCO is just as popular as high school for getting recruits.

Ok since you know.

[Buckzip]

I Want to know who the coach was of the Medina team. What an a-hole.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Experts more savvy than myself have suggested publicly and privately that the Zips need to start junior backup Matt Rodgers at quarterback rather than sophomore Patrick Nicely, who has a 2-11 record over two seasons as a starter.

Well, I wouldn't call myself an expert, but that was nice of Tom to say.

[bUAkronG]

While this season has been frustrating, it is naive to think the blame lies entirely with the head coach and his staff. It is like blaming an unwanted pregnancy on a comfy back seat. It not that simple.

I laughed.

Tom pretty much echoes all of my sentiments. Looking forward to the future.

[Dr Z]

iCoach's recruits knock off #14 in the country. Does this give us any hope?

[MaxZIP]

iCoach's recruits knock off #14 in the country. Does this give us any hope?

I hope we can get a game against them before his players graduate and the team turns the proverbial corner.