Ianello Press conference from OSU

[ZipGoTheZippers!]

This was the press conference after the game on Saturday.

Ianello Press Conference

[jupitertoo]

This was the press conference after the game on Saturday.

Ianello Press Conference

A lot of posters on this board write about Ianello as if he were a fool. This is no fool - he's a smart, articulate guy who is clearly passionate about what he's doing. TW didn't do him any favors when he stated that the cupboard was full last year - this is year 2 of a four or five-year process.

[g-mann17]

This was the press conference after the game on Saturday.

Ianello Press Conference

A lot of posters on this board write about Ianello as if he were a fool. This is no fool - he's a smart, articulate guy who is clearly passionate about what he's doing. TW didn't do him any favors when he stated that the cupboard was full last year - this is year 2 of a four or five-year process.

Same thing I've been saying. Good to see someone agrees with the idea.

It took Al Golden 4 years to see results, he went in ran out the troublemakers, stopped the nonsense, went 1-11, he was left with a team that was extremely young, 3 years later he is in bowl games and Temple is considered the class of the MAC despite not winning a championship. When he moves on, the program is in such good shape that an experienced coach can step in and be successful with only minor adjustment.

[Captain Kangaroo]

A lot of posters on this board write about Ianello as if he were a fool. This is no fool - he's a smart, articulate guy who is clearly passionate about what he's doing. TW didn't do him any favors when he stated that the cupboard was full last year - this is year 2 of a four or five-year process.

Lucky me...do you know how many football building processes I've endured over the past 25 years? The thought of waiting another 3.9 seasons is nauseating. Especially for a conference like the MAC. A good coach can turn a bad MAC program into a +.500 program in 3 seasons, maximum.A bad one can turn you into EMU or K.e.n.t. State.There are no excuses for bad football any longer. Great practice facility. Great stadium. The dude needs to start winning this season...even if it is only 4-wins. The winning needs to start.I did like how iCoach responded to the O$U clown that asked: "So who from Ohio State stood out to you?" That reaction made me like him a tiny bit more than before the video.

[Buckzip]

He came across very coach like to me. Good answers and non evasive. My problem with these press conferences is you can't hear the questions. You can sort of guess based off his responses, but you can't be sure.

[Doug Snyder]

He came across very coach like to me. Good answers and non evasive. My problem with these press conferences is you can't hear the questions. You can sort of guess based off his responses, but you can't be sure.

Did you mean that you can't hear the questions?? I agree with that.I think ICoach is more comfortable this year and much more at ease this year. Truthfully, I could never understand how he could be such a good recruiter based on how he handled interviews last year. This year he is more confident and at ease...hopefully that is more his true personality. Also...I hope it is a sign that he is growing and improving too.

[g-mann17]

Lucky me...do you know how many football building processes I've endured over the past 25 years? The thought of waiting another 3.9 seasons is nauseating. Especially for a conference like the MAC. A good coach can turn a bad MAC program into a +.500 program in 3 seasons, maximum.

So Golden wasn't a good coach? The problem is Brookhart left the program in shambles. I don't get why none of you realize that. He didn't give the team over with the depth it had in 2004-2005. He turned it over with the worst depth in a decade. Like I said after the failed 2006 season Brookhart had no plans. His idea of taking high risk athletes with 0 support systems failed on him, and he was lost. That is why the team played progressively worse the next 3 seasons. The problem was that nobody in the administration was willing to get rid of him soon enough. Likely due to the fact that they feared instability in the program would end up ruining the chances of getting the stadium done.

A bad one can turn you into EMU or K.e.n.t. State.

The only thing that turns you into EMU or K.e.n.t. is lack of University support for the program. Our board and president obviously care a great deal about football still.

There are no excuses for bad football any longer. Great practice facility. Great stadium. The dude needs to start winning this season...even if it is only 4-wins. The winning needs to start.

And what if it doesn't? Fire him, and let another guy come in and "rebuild". Even if we hire your "great coach" you still waiting the same length of time. We should know by the end of the season if this extremely young team is making the improvements necessary to compete. If so we can look forward to competing for .500 football next year and MAC Championship contention in year 4. If Ianello is doing the right things everything after year 4 should be constant championship contention, whether he leaves or stays (like NIU, Temple, CMU).

[ZachTheZip]

ABJ: Ianello hopes the players will learn from the loss.So that's what we were doing all last year. Learning. At what point will the players be allowed to put all that knowledge into practice towards winning games?

[zipseuph]

Here's what bugs me about Ianello. He is either going to run this program further into the ground, or jump ship the moment we see some kind of success and he gets an offer elsewhere. If we by some miracle win out the rest of the season I can guarantee that Ianello will not be here for the bowl game. Anyone else remember his first ever press conference as Akron's new HC? Flat out told people that this was a good place to START his coaching career.

[Dr Z]

I like your positive outlook g-man. I hope I can get on board with your line of thinking. Unfortunately the only thing I have to make an educated opinion on, is what I see on the field. Like I said this week, even in that beat down in Columbus, I saw some improvements. I hope to see more this week. I'll be there.

[g-mann17]

Here's what bugs me about Ianello. He is either going to run this program further into the ground, or jump ship the moment we see some kind of success and he gets an offer elsewhere. If we by some miracle win out the rest of the season I can guarantee that Ianello will not be here for the bowl game. Anyone else remember his first ever press conference as Akron's new HC? Flat out told people that this was a good place to START his coaching career.

I really don't see that as the only options. You look at the Mike Haywood case, that is an isolated incident in college football. Most teams want a coach with a proven track record. And the way Pitt got burned on that deal, I think teams will be wary of these flash in the pan coaches.

[g-mann17]

Dr Z. All we have is hope. Its much better going into each weekend with the idea that we can win and things are improving, then waiting for failure. Does it hurt to lose? Yes. But I will take the one moment of despair after the loss, until I can get my beer and forget about it, over Zach's constant dismay every time he sees an I or the letters ello.

[Captain Kangaroo]

So Golden wasn't a good coach?

Good luck finding any text where I say Al Golden isn't a good football coach. I'll give you 25 years to check...starting...now. You act like, just because we seem to be following the Temple Plan, that we are guaranteed "Temple Results." Just because Ianello "devoured" a book by Vince Lombardi doesn't mean he's Vince's second coming.Other than gutting the team, and being 1-11 last season, there's no tangible evidence that we're on track to make a Temple Turnaround. You've followed Zips football as long as me...maybe longer. How can you question anyone being skeptical. The guy is 1-12? How is a Year 5 Championship such a slam dunk?

The problem is Brookhart left the program in shambles. I don't get why none of you realize that.

It wasn't in shambles. "Shambles" is what Owens inherited, where only 3 of a 25 kid recruiting class graduated. If Jacquemain doesn't stuff his backpack full of locker room goodies, we're .500 in what turned out to be his last season. Brookhart beat a bad 1-AA team 41-0 at home, with apparently terrible players. Ianello lost to one.

He didn't give the team over with the depth it had in 2004-2005. He turned it over with the worst depth in a decade.

You mean when Faust turned the team over to Owens? In Owens first year he went 2-9. After than, 4-7. In my post I state 4 wins is expected of Ianello in year #2. Why is that so insane? Owens did it with worse players, in the Rubber Bowl, with garbage facilities!

Like I said after the failed 2006 season Brookhart had no plans. His idea of taking high risk athletes with 0 support systems failed on him, and he was lost. That is why the team played progressively worse the next 3 seasons. The problem was that nobody in the administration was willing to get rid of him soon enough. Likely due to the fact that they feared instability in the program would end up ruining the chances of getting the stadium done.

Or, UA couldn't afford to eat his contract.To be clear - after 6 years, it was time for Brookhart to go. The topic isn't Ianello vs. Brookhart.

The only thing that turns you into EMU or K.e.n.t. is lack of University support for the program. Our board and president obviously care a great deal about football still.

Caring, and knowing what you're doing are two totally different things. Proenza is a genius. But he knows less about football than Zach. He's entrusted Wistercill to pick a winner. If he was wrong, we will not have good football @ Infocision until 2018, at the earliest.

And what if it doesn't? Fire him, and let another guy come in and "rebuild".

The same 25 year time frame to find where I said to fire the coach applies. Start the clock whenever you'd like.

If Ianello is doing the right things everything after year 4 should be constant championship contention, whether he leaves or stays.

On paper, yes. But on paper, everyone that attends an expensive motivational seminar will be a successful CEO.The statement stands: There are no excuses for bad football any longer. Great practice facility. Great stadium. The dude needs to start winning this season...even if it is only 4-wins. The winning needs to start.

[Dr Z]

Does it hurt to lose? Yes. But I will take the one moment of despair after the loss, until I can get my beer and forget about it, over Zach's constant dismay...

Maybe the Lot Niners™ should wear these shirts this year?!?

[Buckzip]

He came across very coach like to me. Good answers and non evasive. My problem with these press conferences is you can't hear the questions. You can sort of guess based off his responses, but you can't be sure.

Did you mean that you can't hear the questions?? I agree with that.I think ICoach is more comfortable this year and much more at ease this year. Truthfully, I could never understand how he could be such a good recruiter based on how he handled interviews last year. This year he is more confident and at ease...hopefully that is more his true personality. Also...I hope it is a sign that he is growing and improving too.

Yes, I can't hear the questions being asked. I can sort of guess by the answers, but not all the time.

[g-mann17]

CK,You said "A good coach can turn a bad MAC program into a +.500 program in 3 seasons, maximum.". It took Golden 4 years to be .500 or better. So yes, the insinuation is that anyone who takes longer than 3 seasons is not a good coach. Therefore, you are saying in no uncertain terms Golden wasn't a good coach. And is a matter of Brookhart vs. Ianello. In so many ways. Brookhart's philosophy was win now at all costs. The problem with that approach is that when the coach leaves he didn't set up any way for the team to succeed after him. I'm not saying the TW Icoach plan will work, I am pointing out the merits of the ideology. I use Temple as an example because it was successful. I can point to many schools who have tried the same thing and failed. With that in consideration. We won't know if this plan has failed until the middle of next season. I too expect 4 wins this year. Minimum. Like GP1 says, its the MAC no one team is that far from any of the others. The Winning does have to start, but if we end up with only 3 wins and 7-8 close contests (7 points or less) then that is a vast improvement over last year and can be chalked up to the inexperience of the players. If we have a bunch of blowouts against MAC schools, there is something philisophically wrong.

[Captain Kangaroo]

CK,You said "A good coach can turn a bad MAC program into a +.500 program in 3 seasons, maximum.". It took Golden 4 years to be .500 or better. So yes, the insinuation is that anyone who takes longer than 3 seasons is not a good coach. Therefore, you are saying in no uncertain terms Golden wasn't a good coach.

Golden was 9-4 in his 3rd year in the MAC. Temple was an Independent in 2006. So my original criteria stands.Golden also won 4 games in his 1st MAC year, after that 1-11 inaugural season. That's what I expect of Ianello. At minimum. Good discussion.

[g-mann17]

CK,You said "A good coach can turn a bad MAC program into a +.500 program in 3 seasons, maximum.". It took Golden 4 years to be .500 or better. So yes, the insinuation is that anyone who takes longer than 3 seasons is not a good coach. Therefore, you are saying in no uncertain terms Golden wasn't a good coach.

Golden was 9-4 in his 3rd year in the MAC. Temple was an Independent in 2006. So my original criteria stands.Golden also won 4 games in his 1st MAC year, after that 1-11 inaugural season. That's what I expect of Ianello. At minimum. Good discussion.

Fair enough. But Golden was 1-5 against the MAC in that Independent season. So I would say since 50% of the schedule was in the MAC we go ahead and call that a MAC season.

[johnnyzip84]

CK,You said "A good coach can turn a bad MAC program into a +.500 program in 3 seasons, maximum.". It took Golden 4 years to be .500 or better. So yes, the insinuation is that anyone who takes longer than 3 seasons is not a good coach. Therefore, you are saying in no uncertain terms Golden wasn't a good coach.

Golden was 9-4 in his 3rd year in the MAC. Temple was an Independent in 2006. So my original criteria stands.Golden also won 4 games in his 1st MAC year, after that 1-11 inaugural season. That's what I expect of Ianello. At minimum. Good discussion.

I agree this is an excellent discussion. The Golden experience certainly gives some cause for hope. Take a look at his early years, especially 2006 and the early part of 2007. As bad as some of our results have been recently, I think these probably eclipse them in terms of "suckiness". I mean there is a 42-7 loss to U@B, a home loss to K.E.N.T., and a 62-0 home loss to Louisville among the lowlights.Another program that provides another possible parallel is Syracuse (our good friends), since Marrone also reportedly runs a tight ship with a pro-style offense up there. His turn-around has been at a quicker pace for sure (4-8 in 1st year followed by 8-5 with a bowl win last year), but he also had to tear the existing program apart to the point where scholly numbers were scary (mid 60s).I'm not saying iCoach is equal to either guy. But these examples indicate our current course does not necessarily have to end in abject failure. Having said that, I'm in the "4 wins minimum camp" for 2011 or else I will lose faith this staff can ever do the job. There are two things I can count on. I will be cheering, exhorting, pleading the team to pull off the upset this Saturday AND I will have a fantastic time in Lot 9 ahead of the game

[Dr Z]

I hope this discussion (Al vs Rob) doesn't turn out to be like when the Cleveland media/fans used to compare Tim Couch's early stats to that of Troy Aikman's early stats.

[g-mann17]

I hope this discussion (Al vs Rob) doesn't turn out to be like when the Cleveland media/fans used to compare Tim Couch's early stats to that of Troy Aikman's early stats.

Tim got a raw deal . So I think most of us are in the 4 wins camp. Ideally 4 MAC wins and a VMI win (5) but 4 is showing capability.

[Big Zip]

I think the Temple comparisson is fair as far as the state of a program and the objective to turn it around.The comparisson of Al Golden to Rob Ianello not even close. If you read through Al Golden's bio the amount of success he realized in being an assistant and an actual Defensive Coordinator dwarfs that of Ianello. Golden's track record was quite impressive with better and better jobs where as Ianello was a wide receivers coach (interim head coach doesn't count because he didn't coach a game). With that in mind I'll be happy with five wins (one being over VMI). By the way look at Golden's record in the 1-11 season again -- there was no loss to a Div. 1-AA school like there was on Ianellos.

[Dave in Green]

On the point about Ianello leaving UA for a better job if he's successful in turning the Zips into a winning team, that's pretty much a given. If he has dreams of someday coaching a national championship team, the chances of doing so at UA are infinitely smaller than they were for Porter in soccer. And I'm not aware of any ties Ianello may have to UA or Akron like Dambrot has that might keep him here if he gets good offers to go to a powerhouse football school with a multimillion dollar coaching budget.Back when the Ianello hire was first announced, I spent quite a bit of time researching his background. I went beyond the usual sports websites and tried to get some insights into his working style. What struck me the most is that he is widely credited with having good organizational and administrative skills.Best case scenario is that he uses those skills to create a solid system at UA and loads up on better and better recruits each season. That way, when a new head coach is eventually brought in, the cupboard really will be full and the new coach will have a lot to work with.

[Doug Snyder]

I think the Temple comparisson is fair as far as the state of a program and the objective to turn it around.The comparisson of Al Golden to Rob Ianello not even close. If you read through Al Golden's bio the amount of success he realized in being an assistant and an actual Defensive Coordinator dwarfs that of Ianello. Golden's track record was quite impressive with better and better jobs where as Ianello was a wide receivers coach (interim head coach doesn't count because he didn't coach a game). With that in mind I'll be happy with five wins (one being over VMI). By the way look at Golden's record in the 1-11 season again -- there was no loss to a Div. 1-AA school like there was on Ianellos.

The one win was against the Div 1-AA team?? Not so impressive.

[Doug Snyder]

On the point about Ianello leaving UA for a better job if he's successful in turning the Zips into a winning team, that's pretty much a given. If he has dreams of someday coaching a national championship team, the chances of doing so at UA are infinitely smaller than they were for Porter in soccer. And I'm not aware of any ties Ianello may have to UA or Akron like Dambrot has that might keep him here if he gets good offers to go to a powerhouse football school with a multimillion dollar coaching budget.Back when the Ianello hire was first announced, I spent quite a bit of time researching his background. I went beyond the usual sports websites and tried to get some insights into his working style. What struck me the most is that he is widely credited with having good organizational and administrative skills.Best case scenario is that he uses those skills to create a solid system at UA and loads up on better and better recruits each season. That way, when a new head coach is eventually brought in, the cupboard really will be full and the new coach will have a lot to work with.

Best case scenario?? He goes 11-1 next year and leaves for greener pastures and one of his assistants takes over. I know I know....you like none of them now. But if he goes 11-1 you will like some. Especially since many think ICoach is not a good coach...someone must be responsible. I won't guess because this is already enough of a fantasy