Not taking it anymore

[g-mann17]

Decided I would post my e-mail to TW. I am tired of this. You all know that I was an optimist and supported the program through this horrible season. But this season has so sickened me that I cannot tolerate it anymore. Something must be done.

to Tom Wistrcill <tw41@uakron.edu>

cc proenza@uakron.edu

date Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 8:57 AM

subject State of the Football Program

hide details 8:57 AM (2 minutes ago)

Tom,

What can I say here? I am vehemently disappointed right now. Through 4 seasons as a season ticket holder, I have been investing into this program with expectations of seeing performances similar to 2004-2005. Instead I am greeted with 3 seasons of football that, combined, don’t even match the win total from 2005. I am writing to request several things.

First, I want a full refund on my season tickets. Between the special deals you are giving to no season ticket holders and the constant expectation that the most loyal of fans continue to foot the bill for this product that is given to us is appalling. We barely have any fans but you decide to raise parking prices for season ticket holders? That is absolutely insulting. Then other sports get something for being a season ticket holder. They get gifts for going to see a winner. We get nothing but higher prices and our treated each game to hearing about other deals and free tickets. Soccer ticket holders get a scarf and a great chance to see a win, we get nothing. Its down right shameful.

Second, I want coach Ianello fired. This is unacceptable. Understand I was a huge supporter, I saw some improvement starting near the end of last year. But there has been nothing this year. In fact we have regressed. There is a growing contingent of supporters that will refuse to renew season tickets until this clown is removed. I send this now, because I do not care what happens over the next two games. He has been given a chance and has failed.

We’ve talked, I sat in your office. I know you want to succeed here. I also know you respect the fans. We are not happy, and we will not put up with this. Now is an opportunity for the University to make a statement to everyone. LOSING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE HERE. Ianello has had a fair shot to show improvement. He has failed miserably. I think fans, and I know at least I, would have understood 4 wins last year and a fall back to 3 this year. But this team is unlikely to win a game against the MAC this year. This is with a fairly weak MAC schedule, considering Ball St. Bowling Green, NIU, and Toledo were not on it.

Which brings me to my final request. If you are unwilling to fire coach Ianello and cut our losses now, then I ask that you resign so that the University can find someone that is willing to get rid of him. Understand that despite this program’s ups and downs, Can't has not won back to back Wagon Wheel games for 23 years. This is absolutely unacceptable.

There comes a time when you have to cut your losses. Now is the time. Make a statement to this city and to the alumni of this great University. LOSING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE HERE!

I fully expect a reply from you in the coming days.

[zipsfan33]

Good luck on that one! Let us know what you hear!

[Dr Z]

I fully expect a reply from you in the coming days.

Let me know how close I get.

Dear g-mann, thanks for your support. Here at the University we are striving to be the best. I assure you that we are doing everything we can to put the most competitive team on the field. I am coping [_fill in the blank_] to see if we can get you one of those scarfs, I am also copying [_fill in the blank_] at the ticket office to let them know your concerns. Thanks for being a great Zips fan, and Go Zips!

Tom Wistrcill

Director of Athletics

University of Akron

[ZachTheZip]

I doubt anyone will be hearing from Wistrcill for a while. He's got a lot of things on his plate that were pushed onto him by the university.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I doubt anyone will be hearing from Wistrcill for a while. He's got a lot of things on his plate that were pushed onto him by the university.

Yeah. No use paying any attention the University's D1-A football program. It can run itself.

[GoZips]

g-mann17,

GREAT LETTER ... !!!!

I fully expect that you will get only a form letter or no reply

at all if you failed to give your name, address and phone number.

Dr Z's, form letter repsonse is a hoot. Good job.

g-mann, your letter gave me an idea. Why not we invest

in tee shirts that have LOSING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE HERE

one one side and fire Ianello NOW ...!!!! on the other?

They would quickly be banned at Zips basketball games and other

events unlike Cant crap or Suckeye rags.

[tbozeglav]

still trying to get #fireianello trending on twitter.

its what the hip, trendy kids do these days.

[johnnyzip84]

It's a little late for this season but how about the following "modification" to a popular UA cheer:

Eat 'em up --> Buy 'em out

Eat 'em up --> Buy 'em out

Go Zips go! --> Rob must go!

[jupitertoo]

still trying to get #fireianello trending on twitter.

its what the hip, trendy kids do these days.

"vehemently disappointed," eh?

If you want to be taken seriously, write a serious letter. Suggesting that the recipient resign so someone else will fire the football coach is not a serious suggestion. Proofreading the letter might also help, given that you want Dr. Proenza to take you seriously as well.

Here's how change happens - people with money start spending it elsewhere. During the Brian Knorr years at OU, a group of alumni purchased billboards around town and ads in the local papers so the president and AD had no choice but to seriously consider their arguments. Think about buying ads in the student paper - I guarantee you'll get an audience with Wistricill, if not Dr. P.

[Dr Z]

Think about buying ads in the student paper - I guarantee you'll get an audience with Wistricill, if not Dr. P.

That's a good suggestion. Probably better than mine. I was going to suggest dressing up like Dee Snider and singing Were Not Gona to Take It on campus until something is done.

[K92]

Think about buying ads in the student paper - I guarantee you'll get an audience with Wistricill, if not Dr. P.

That's a good suggestion. Probably better than mine. I was going to suggest dressing up like Dee Snider and singing Were Not Gona to Take It on campus until something is done.

How 'bout a compromise? I'll chip in to run this ad in the Buchtelite:

HEY ROB,

If that's your best,

Your best won't do!

[g-mann17]

still trying to get #fireianello trending on twitter.

its what the hip, trendy kids do these days.

"vehemently disappointed," eh?

If you want to be taken seriously, write a serious letter. Suggesting that the recipient resign so someone else will fire the football coach is not a serious suggestion. Proofreading the letter might also help, given that you want Dr. Proenza to take you seriously as well.

Here's how change happens - people with money start spending it elsewhere. During the Brian Knorr years at OU, a group of alumni purchased billboards around town and ads in the local papers so the president and AD had no choice but to seriously consider their arguments. Think about buying ads in the student paper - I guarantee you'll get an audience with Wistricill, if not Dr. P.

Oh, I'm sorry professor, extremely, passionately, fervently disappointed. And I should extend to the AD a well thought out professional style letter? Because he has done a well thought out and professional job in running the athletic department up to this point?

Sorry, I waited two days to write it so it wasn't full of profanity. While I appreciate your outside take on things, I don't see a problem in sending a raw writing to either of these people. I would rather them see the anger behind it then have it come off as a clinical "here are the reasons this decision is not the correct decision."

Asking for TW to step down as I did is more of a "if you aren't going to fire him, you are just as big of a problem and need to go" style comment.

I would love to have several of us from zipsnation, buy ad space with the circulated twice a week and read by tens of people student newspaper. I fully think that would get us somewhere. No the next step is writing the Beacon a well thought out article on why Ianello isn't working and why Akron (the university and city) deserves better, and calling on the donors to cough up the money to get rid of this guy. And that is coming in due time.

[Dave in Green]

Just send a note with a copy of Marla Ridenour's ABJ story and say that Marla speaks for all Zips fans.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Think about buying ads in the student paper - I guarantee you'll get an audience with Wistricill, if not Dr. P.

Wistercill and Ianello are a combo-package. If one goes, the other goes.

Wistercill is a remora on the belly of Caleb Porter and Keith Dambrot. He inherited two great coaches, and TW looks really nice smiling in their respective championship photos...but he had nothing to do with their hiring or success.

Wistercill was hired to:

1.) Fill a brand new football stadium, and hire a football coach that can win games

2.) Don't screw up soccer and basketball

Wistercill sabotaged Brookhart's final season, holding weekly interrogations trying to get the guy to resign over some BS secondary-level recruiting violation. If Brookhart resigned, UA would save $250k in salary. UA didn't save the $250k, but he did get rid of JD after a 3-9 season.

And you know what...I don't care about how the JD firing was handled. Sausage tastes great, but you never want to see how it's made. Ditto running an Athletic Department. But we didn't get a decent coach out of the deal. We aren't better program as a result. We are worse-off than after Faust, Owens or Brookhart. Way worse. The $70million dollar stadium sits empty.

Gerry Faust and Lee Owens won games at UA with crap facilities. With a budget that was far below "shoestring."

Brookhart won a championship. When he lost, he was usually competitive. He beat Syracuse and NC State.

Ianello is horrible. His team is reaching depths that no other UA coach has seen in decades, if ever. He's been whipped back-to-back by annually woeful K.e.n.t., who fired their coach only 11 months ago. Ianello's game-day bungling has become legendary.

I'd never left a Zips football game early, until Saturday. With 15 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, I'd seen enough. To my surprise, I saw familiar face after familiar face in the parking lot. Decade+ season ticket holders by the dozens, heading back to their vehicles before the 4th quarter began. Surreal...

Wistercill made his own call with Ianello. He put all his money on black...and the ball dropped on beet-red. But instead of his money on the table, it was all our money. That sucks.

The inertim AD needs to fire Wistercill first, so he doesn't have to fire his friend Rob. That's the classy thing to do.

Then it all begins again. If you want Hunter Yurachek's cell, just PM me.

[GoZips]

Would Yurachek take the job?

Cap'n, good post.

You are correct. It is a package deal. Wistrcill has to go first so he

does not have to fire his friend. That said; Uncle Tom can save his

own job if he cuts Robbie loose at the end of the season.

That means firing Ianello immediately after the Western Michigan

game. Well, in kindness, do it Monday morning. An early open job

would be attractive to potential head coaches including an under

valued Luke Fickell. I'd take him in a New york minute.

[GP1]

With 15 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, I'd seen enough.

I walked in in the third and left about the same time. I don't know how anyone can sit through an entire season of that.

[Dr Z]

I don't know how anyone can sit through an entire season of that.

Your right, I couldn't. I found better things to do two of the home games this year. Such a shame because we finally got a good weather year for our home games. Wasted beautiful stadium, and weather. Zip Fans Got Rob-bed™

[Zipmeister]

Think about buying ads in the student paper - I guarantee you'll get an audience with Wistricill, if not Dr. P.

Wistercill and Ianello are a combo-package. If one goes, the other goes.

Wistercill is a remora on the belly of Caleb Porter and Keith Dambrot. He inherited two great coaches, and TW looks really nice smiling in their respective championship photos...but he had nothing to do with their hiring or success.

Wistercill was hired to:

1.) Fill a brand new football stadium, and hire a football coach that can win games

2.) Don't screw up soccer and basketball

Wistercill sabotaged Brookhart's final season, holding weekly interrogations trying to get the guy to resign over some BS secondary-level recruiting violation. If Brookhart resigned, UA would save $250k in salary. UA didn't save the $250k, but he did get rid of JD after a 3-9 season.

And you know what...I don't care about how the JD firing was handled. Sausage tastes great, but you never want to see how it's made. Ditto running an Athletic Department. But we didn't get a decent coach out of the deal. We aren't better program as a result. We are worse-off than after Faust, Owens or Brookhart. Way worse. The $70million dollar stadium sits empty.

Gerry Faust and Lee Owens won games at UA with crap facilities. With a budget that was far below "shoestring."

Brookhart won a championship. When he lost, he was usually competitive. He beat Syracuse and NC State.

Ianello is horrible. His team is reaching depths that no other UA coach has seen in decades, if ever. He's been whipped back-to-back by annually woeful K.e.n.t., who fired their coach only 11 months ago. Ianello's game-day bungling has become legendary.

I'd never left a Zips football game early, until Saturday. With 15 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, I'd seen enough. To my surprise, I saw familiar face after familiar face in the parking lot. Decade+ season ticket holders by the dozens, heading back to their vehicles before the 4th quarter began. Surreal...

Wistercill made his own call with Ianello. He put all his money on black...and the ball dropped on beet-red. But instead of his money on the table, it was all our money. That sucks.

The inertim AD needs to fire Wistercill first, so he doesn't have to fire his friend Rob. That's the classy thing to do.

Then it all begins again. If you want Hunter Yurachek's cell, just PM me.

Have you thought about sending this post to Dr.P?

I am vehemently disappointed in how few posts on this board include a Remora reference. You have temporarily salved my angst.

[Dave in Green]

I'm still trying to make sense of the mysterious Gerry Faust Nether Regions Gurgle Factor:

Only, after a sweet, productive interview with former football master, Gerry Faust,

he instructed me that I can not publish any of it.

Suffice it to say that we need to give coach Ianello more time, keep the love up

for KD and Caleb and things are gurgling in the nether regions that bode well

for the near future.

Coach Faust is the greatest living Zips fan; bank it.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Have you thought about sending this post to Dr.P?

If Dr. P can't figure it out by looking at the stands on Saturday afternoons, my little rant won't help.

BTW - Dr.P is a regular on ZipsNation.

[Lee Adams]

We all know Proenza has other fish to fry in addition to the football program. He is first and foremost going to listen to the AD HE hired. Unless we remind him of the investment he made in the football program via Infocision and the fieldhouse and how that investment is being wasted he is going to do what most admins. do. He is going to go with what the people he hired are doing. He is going to see one side of the issue because thats what he will get from Wistrcill. Like most people in that position Proenza will respond to money and media.

[RowdyZip]

Who has the money to PAY for advertising to get rid of this guy? I sure don't. I'd throw in $5-$10 to go towards a billboard if we could get one cheap near campus. I feel that strongly. We haven't lost consecutive wagon wheel games in 20+ years. Not only did we lose, we got pantsed at home.

How much does a billboard cost for a month or two?

[mes102]

Who has the money to PAY for advertising to get rid of this guy? I sure don't. I'd throw in $5-$10 to go towards a billboard if we could get one cheap near campus. I feel that strongly. We haven't lost consecutive wagon wheel games in 20+ years. Not only did we lose, we got pantsed at home.

How much does a billboard cost for a month or two?

I'm not sure...but isn't there a billboard right off of Route 8 southbound by the Carroll Street exit ramp? We should have an arrow pointing towards stadium saying:

"Home of the worst head college football coach in DI-A history. LOSING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! FIRE ROB IANELLO!"

[Zipmeister]

The cost of billboards can range anywhere from $700-$2,500 per month.

[Big Zip]

There is one right across from the stadium almost...on top of Thursday's I believe.

Can you imagine being a recruit and coming to town and seeing that billboard? To some extent I think I'd still be okay with it because I think it shows passion from fans and that is good.

I'd be willing to kick in money for the cause.