How many points must we win by?

[g-mann17]

Now I'm not saying negative people don't have a right. You all do, and I respect what you have been saying. But with that said, how many points do we need to win by against VMI for you guys to give Doug and I a reprieve of you nonsensical "Burn it down, pave it, fire the coach, AD, and everyone else that less this happen" rhetoric till just Wednesday of the following week.Trust me if we lose, I will be marching into the JAR, right down to Wistrcill's office and demanding Ianello's head that very moment and a refund for the past 2 seasons. This game is the game to show us that we are better than last year and that you fixed something.

[Dr Z]

When you are in the phase of our football program that we are in right now, it might be more of "how" we play. Three points, ten points, etc, is not exactly what I'm focused on while watching home games. To answer the question asked, I'll go with one.

[Zipmeister]

14

[johnnyzip84]

I'll second Dr Z.....but I'll add that the game must be won in regulation!

[Doug Snyder]

When you are in the phase of our football program that we are in right now, it might be more of "how" we play. Three points, ten points, etc, is not exactly what I'm focused on while watching home games. To answer the question asked, I'll go with one.

I like your honesty and loyalty. lol 1 is fair. It puts up a "W"

[Blue & Gold]

This is our no-win scenario game. We're playing an 0-3 D-IAA team. IMO it's unacceptable to win by less than 28.

[Dave in Green]

However many points it takes to give the Zips players some self-confidence. The offense needs to score enough points to make them believe that they can score against FBS teams. The defense needs to hold VMI to few enough points to make them believe that they can keep FBS teams from scoring at will.

[you am i]

Since VMI is 0-3, I would consider a win by a touchdown or less to be a disaster. If we do struggle to beat a winless DII team, that will say it all. But a win by a lot of points won't mean that much, considering the weakness of the opponent.We will know more about this team once we get into the meat of the MAC schedule. I expect to get beat up by the good MAC teams, but we'll get a better handle on the situation once we see how they stack up against the middle and lower tier MAC teams.

[zips4ever2008]

I would really take a win. However, this is a D1AA team and we should beat them by 20+ points. I'm sure we all thought that when we played Gardner Webb that we would blow those guys out too. How did that turn out? I don't know about anyone else, but losing to Gardner Webb really set me off. We had the lead and control of the game and choked it away. I was so mad and embarrassed that we lost to them. If the Zips don't beat VMI, and preferably by a lot, I don't know what I'll do. I didn't like the coaching hire to begin with and I'll very likely demand change if we lose. I just don't see improvement with this team. I wonder if the coaches are even good motivaters. It's one thing to be competitive, but the Zips are just not. Even against the first three opponents, I wanted to see some toughness and competitiveness from the team. I better see it this weekend.

[akronzips71]

1

[Big Zip]

They lost last week to a 3-0 Richmond team and gave up 34 points. If we don't score 34 points and win by 15 (Richmond's margin) I will be disappointed. If they don't win by that much and score that much I would appreciate it if you guys would quit being apologists for this pathetic organization.

[Doug Snyder]

They lost last week to a 3-0 Richmond team and gave up 34 points. If we don't score 34 points and win by 15 (Richmond's margin) I will be disappointed. If they don't win by that much and score that much I would appreciate it if you guys would quit being apologists for this pathetic organization.

I am not an apologist. I don't think G-mann, DIG or many others are either. Some are a little more complex than black or white.If the Zips meet the requirements in your post...will you stop the complaining for or a week at least??

[Big Zip]

@Doug that was the question posed and that was my answer -- so yes.

[GP1]

However many points it takes to give the Zips players some self-confidence. The offense needs to score enough points to make them believe that they can score against FBS teams. The defense needs to hold VMI to few enough points to make them believe that they can keep FBS teams from scoring at will.

I'm a big believer in confidence and momentum. Will winning Saturday provide some confidence? Of course. More than anything, it will provide a sense of relief. I don't believe that equals confidence, but they need a break from losing.The real confidence booster would have been defeating Temple. Since that didn't happen, what the Zips really need to boost their confidence is a win against a MAC team.

[bobbyake]

1 and if they don't meet that, I'm done with Akron Football for the rest of the year.

[Kangaroo Craig]

I have already given up on Ianello. Last year was the worst year for Akron football since we joined division 1A. Based on what I have seen so far this season, I am prepared for this year to be at least as bad, if not worse. I live in California now, but I was able to make it up for the home opener against Temple. I felt embarrassed for the team and also for the Alumni and students that have to put up with this crap! I saw an offensive line that could not block and a defense that couldn't tackle or cover. Clayton Moore seemed to be on his back or running for his life on just about every play. Poor coaching + Inferior talent = Awful team. I'm not convinced that this team can compete at 1AA (FCS) right now.

[Dave in Green]

..... I am not an apologist. I don't think G-mann, DIG or many others are either. .....

Personally, I don't mind at all when a few people call me names like "apologist." It means they don't have a reasonable point to make, and I can quit paying attention to them and spend more time focusing on what those who are more thoughtful have to say.

[Big Zip]

Perhaps the word "apologist" is used when there is no possible excuse for the state the program is in. I would argue we've presented fact after fact as to what is wrong with the program and why we have little to no faith in Ianello yet we are told we are wrong. At some point you give up and apologist is the term used for those who refuse to acknowledge this is the worst football in Div. 1 and there is the possibility Ianello may be the worst coach we've ever seen in college football.I ask all of you on the other side of this coin one question....if we had told you this team was going to lose to a Div 1AA team and win 1 game in the first 15 of Ianello's career in the MAC would you have said...yeah he is our guy lets hire him? He knows how to put a program together. We're going to need to break some eggs to make some omlettes. If we added the team was going to look as bad as they have looked in two years in the 16th game of Ianellos tenure would you have been enthusiastic when we hired him? I'm guessing -- No. It has been said here time and time again...if you continue to be okay with this kind of football and this product on the field perhaps the Akron fans are as equal to blame as the coach. I'm sorry that I expect more from my alma mater with the facilities we have and the beautiful campus that has been built...football was better under coaches with far less and I'm disgusted by what I've seen.

[Dave in Green]

I would have accepted 0 wins in the first season if someone I trusted had told me it would eventually lead to a winning program. The jury is still out on that, regardless of the early returns. I've been around too long to panic and pull the plug based on early returns. Over the years I've seen too many things turn out differently from what I thought they would to believe that I can accurately predict results with incomplete data.That is not saying that I predict success. That is saying that I'm just smart enough to know that I'm not smart enough to know.

[ZachTheZip]

I would have accepted 0 wins in the first season if someone I trusted had told me it would eventually lead to a winning program. The jury is still out on that, regardless of the early returns. I've been around too long to panic and pull the plug based on early returns. Over the years I've seen too many things turn out differently from what I thought they would to believe that I can accurately predict results with incomplete data.That is not saying that I predict success. That is saying that I'm just smart enough to know that I'm not smart enough to know.

So how long do you propose we wait? After every game you keep proclaiming that we haven't waited long enough. Tell us, how many embarrassments does it take before it's ok to make a judgement? Or will you still be here after three or four 0 or 1 win seasons under Ianello, telling us that we need to sit tight and see what happens next because you never know when things might start to turn around?

[Big Zip]

@Dave I hope you are right that we don't really know if this plan is going to succeed, but i would vote today that this plan has far less chance of success. Nothing iCoach has done to this point makes me believe he can be a successful coach...we have listed the reasons. I would love to see a list of reasons that would compel me to believe otherwise. I have seen iCoach compared to Al Golden and I will tell you if you or anyone think iCoach had half the coaching experience Al Golden had coming here you may have a point, but his history isn't even close. Iwould also argue Temple was in worse shape than us as evidenced by our dominance of them through the years.

[g-mann17]

So any way that the mods can hold these people accountable?If we win by 15 or more no negativity from Saturday evening through to Wednesday morning. Wednesday morning let the negativity fly.Like I said, if we lose I will be scheduling an appointment with TW to call for Ianello's head. And I will send the time of that appointment and location so that anyone who truly cares about the team can join me.

[Dave in Green]

Zach, I know you've read my posts where I've said that there must be clear signs of progress this season, and that so far I'm as disappointed with the results of the first three games as everyone else. I've been pretty clear in saying that I need to see some clear signs of progress this season. So far there have only been minor signs in some areas -- not enough to convince me that the Zips as a team are on the way up, but enough that I'm willing to see how they do in a few games against weaker opponents. I'm taking it game by game, and each game without clear signs of progress makes me less optimistic.I would say that if we reach the midpoint of this season (three more games) without some clear signs of progress that UA should start considering contingency plans. By the end of the season, UA should be prepared for the possibility of bringing in a new head coach if they believe that's what it will take to turn the program around. The end of the season would be the right time to change head coaches if that becomes necessary. On the other hand, if Ianello's plan starts producing results this season, I think he would earn the right to coach a third season to prove that the progress is sustainable.Look, we Zips fans are united in wanting to have a winning football team that represents UA well on the field, But we will never be in total agreement over exactly what defines clear progress or what level of team performance earns Ianello our support to return for a third season. That's OK. Look at any sports fan forum and there is always disagreement among fans over details.Let's just be aware that the level of our discussion on this forum is a representation of the quality of Zips fans.

[Dr Z]

Why is it so important for those that have given up on Ianello, to try to convince those that still have some hope, to give up? What does this solve? Do you think that if every person on this board called for Ianello's firing, it would happen? What exactly is the purpose? I understand those that have hope (or just big fans of college football) get tired of the same people posting the same negativity time after time, but don't get the other "group."

[K92]

Why is it so important for those that have given up on Ianello, to try to convince those that still have some hope, to give up? What does this solve? Do you think that if every person on this board called for Ianello's firing, it would happen? What exactly is the purpose? I understand those that have hope (or just big fans of college football) get tired of the same people posting the same negativity time after time, but don't get the other "group."

See, I told you so. I was right. I knew this guy was a bad hire. Shoulda listened to Tressel. Shoulda hired Fickell. I was right. Told ya so. The Zips suck. I was right. Zips are going to go 0-12. Told you so. I was right. See, see? Listen to me. Listen to me. Give me attention. I want attention! Iiiiiiiiiiii waaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssss riiiiiiiiigggghhhhhtttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!