Ianello G-O-N-E!?

[InTheZone]

Just thinking here. What if we fire Wistrcill, hire Tressel as the new AD, and then he conducts a coaching search and concludes that he's the best candidate for the head coaching job?

You can get by hiring a coach coming off fresh NCAA violations. An AD? Not so much.

[Dave in Green]

Mrs. Rita A. Ianello's funeral services will be held on Monday.

[Quickzips]

I can't find one reasonable argument for keeping Ianello after this nightmare of a season. The guy is just clearly so far in over his head. The money shouldn't even be an issue at this point. As another poster said, it is either fire Ianello, or just fold up the football program all together. You can't let this guy continue to "coach" this program. Even the most loyal and die-hard fans amongst us will stop attending if the product on the field is going to be that quality. If Rob Ianello still has a job come Monday morning I will be completely and utterly shocked.

[Blue & Gold]

I can't find one reasonable argument for keeping Ianello after this nightmare of a season. The guy is just clearly so far in over his head. The money shouldn't even be an issue at this point. As another poster said, it is either fire Ianello, or just fold up the football program all together. You can't let this guy continue to "coach" this program. Even the most loyal and die-hard fans amongst us will stop attending if the product on the field is going to be that quality. If Rob Ianello still has a job come Monday morning I will be completely and utterly shocked.

Well, Mrs. Ianello's funeral is 10:00 Monday morning. So I'm thinking more along the lines of Tuesday morning? I don't know. Terrible timing.

But something absolutely must be done.

[bobbyake]

from searching google, all I can find was that JD was fired 11/28/09

http://ohiocollegefootball.com/members/ocf...s.html#00001167

[Zipsrifle]

Just thinking here. What if we fire Wistrcill, hire Tressel as the new AD, and then he conducts a coaching search and concludes that he's the best candidate for the head coaching job?

Personally, I think it is crazy to even talk about JT coming here. Really!? We are the most horrid college FB program in the country! Why would JT come to the graveyard of college coaching, ruin his college reputation when he can coach on the pro level and, if not successful, still be admired by millions of OSU fans?

On another front, TW needs to go. We were "bad" in JD's last year, but TW took it upon himself to hire the coach of the highest profile sport at UA, and failed miserably! The luster is off the Info and all the other Mac schools will have caught up in the facilities arms race by the time we turn this around. Rob I did his best, which was horrible, but it is TW who is responsible for hiring him and he must GO!

[MrAkronSoftball]

2011 was worst than 2010.

[MrAkronSoftball]

Anyone recall how many days after JD's final game the U waited to officially announce his termination?

With Owens, it was the night of. I'm not sure about JD. Regardless, this is happening.

I think I remember JD being immediately after the final game, or early the next day.

It was because I was in Alabama on vacation when word came out.

[Blue & Gold]

2011 was worst than 2010.

As hard as it is to believe, you are correct. After 2010 I thought there was only one way to go. But iCoach bought a shovel.

[Lee Adams]

@ Lee Legitimate question.

I'll try to answer your question...Tressel is a NE Ohio guy (I know everyone on this board seems to try to say Akron isn't NE Ohio, but it is) he was born in Mentor, played ball at Baldwin Wallace and went to graduate school at Akron. His father was a NE Ohio coach and from what I understand was well respected in the NE Ohio coaching community. Tressel was given the Distinguished Alumni award at The University of Akron a few years back and appeared honored and was gracious in receiving. The University has worked hard to continue to keep a connection with him over the years and this was another step in that process. Additionally, I still think some people do things for the challenge. Making an Akron program a perennial MAC contender and a team that threatens the top 25 in football would be a significant challenge. If Tressel could bring this program to a level that basketball and soccer are seen he could lead the University to a better conference and with that I could see a statue of Tressel in his sweater vest greeting you as you enter the stadium....or even see the field being named Tressel field. With simply naming Tressel as the head coach I think you are overlooking the alumni donations that would find their way to the University and the renewed interest alumni who haven't been back to the University since graduating would follow. I think the $350K paid to iCoach would be surpassed quite quickly with alumni donations. Additionally, the national interest alone is something that couldn't be paid for in initiating conversations with alumni who are on the Development offices radar, but haven't picked up the phone to answer the call. Tressel can always be a National Champion coach for OSU, but he would always be in Woody Hayes' shadow -- at Akron he could become Woody Hayes and leave a legacy that lasts lifetimes.

I'll also offer you this from a devil's advocate perspective....why would Frank Solich go to OU? His only connection with OU was knowing it was a college in Ohio when he left Holy Name in the 60s to go play ball at Nebraska. I don't think anyone would have guessed that was going to be his next landing spot when he was canned by Nebraska.

I'll also throw one other thing into the mix relative to all of this talk...assuming the Tressel thing doesn't happen (I'm guessing it won't) I would love to see Wistrcill reach out to Dennison and Jack Lengyl to assist in his search for a next coach. Hell if Dr. P wanted to fire Wistricill I think he could do a hell of a lot worse than bringing in Lengyl to right the ship and hire the coach....maybe hold the fort down for a few years.

Some good,hopeful arguments. I think Solich's situation was a little different. He got the bum's rush from Nebraska,probably without real good reasons. Nebraska had tons of money to cover a vacant contract if they even needed to with Solich. OU very likely has better financial resources behind its athletic programs than Akron so they could actually afford someone of his stature. Why did Solich pick a MAC program in the middle of nowhere? Maybe he wanted a low pressure situation. Maybe somebody at OU had a connection. Who knows?

I am still not convinced Ianello will be fired. The person I have spoken with still says they can't afford it this year. Would Tressel even consider a place like Akron? If Tressel wanted to be an AD and if the NCAA allowed him to work,I could conceive of Tressel considering an offer from a place like Akron. But,then you have basketball and soccer that are on the outside looking in.The stars just don't look like they are aligned at this point.

But good points all Big Zip.

[skip-zip]

Here's another questions.

Lets say we find a way to get the board to approve his firing. And we eat the final 3 years of his contract.

How much will they approve to pay the new coach under those circumstances?

I think it puts a real damper on our hopes to get any "high profile" coach.

[RowdyZip]

This just popped up.

Not that it's any better of a source, but if anything, signals are mixed.

[ZachTheZip]

The team is on the bus home right now. Won't be getting back until around after 10:00 tonight. Probably too late to have a sit-down in TW's office. Maybe tomorrow we'll hear something. Go to the basketball game Saturday and keep your ears open.

[InTheZone]

Here's another questions.

Lets say we find a way to get the board to approve his firing. And we eat the final 3 years of his contract.

How much will they approve to pay the new coach under those circumstances?

I think it puts a real damper on our hopes to get any "high profile" coach.

If he gets another job, which he will, we only pay the difference. He's not gonna sit on his ass for three years and collect a paycheck, otherwise he'll never get back in. We'll only end up eating a very small fraction of this contract.

[zen]

Here's another questions.

Lets say we find a way to get the board to approve his firing. And we eat the final 3 years of his contract.

How much will they approve to pay the new coach under those circumstances?

I think it puts a real damper on our hopes to get any "high profile" coach.

If he gets another job, which he will, we only pay the difference. He's not gonna sit on his ass for three years and collect a paycheck, otherwise he'll never get back in. We'll only end up eating a very small fraction of this contract.

small fraction?

With the last two years on his resume, who is going to pay him a large fraction of what he currently gets?

[ZachTheZip]

Here's another questions.

Lets say we find a way to get the board to approve his firing. And we eat the final 3 years of his contract.

How much will they approve to pay the new coach under those circumstances?

I think it puts a real damper on our hopes to get any "high profile" coach.

If he gets another job, which he will, we only pay the difference. He's not gonna sit on his ass for three years and collect a paycheck, otherwise he'll never get back in. We'll only end up eating a very small fraction of this contract.

small fraction?

With the last two years on his resume, who is going to pay him a large fraction of what he currently gets?

Last year at OSU, Luke Fickell made about $200k. I expect Ianello to end up getting paid somewhere between $100k and $150k as a BCS position coach. So in a best-case scenario we're on the hook for maybe 2/3rds of his salary.

[Zipmeister]

Here's another questions.

Lets say we find a way to get the board to approve his firing. And we eat the final 3 years of his contract.

How much will they approve to pay the new coach under those circumstances?

I think it puts a real damper on our hopes to get any "high profile" coach.

If he gets another job, which he will, we only pay the difference. He's not gonna sit on his ass for three years and collect a paycheck, otherwise he'll never get back in. We'll only end up eating a very small fraction of this contract.

small fraction?

With the last two years on his resume, who is going to pay him a large fraction of what he currently gets?

Last year at OSU, Luke Fickell made about $200k. I expect Ianello to end up getting paid somewhere between $100k and $150k as a BCS position coach. So in a best-case scenario we're on the hook for maybe 2/3rds of his salary.

You might consider a math refresher course.

[Zipmeister]

Even though what we all want to happen isn't likely to occur, during this holiday season I am thankful that the Captain started this rumor. It really perked up my spirits as well as scores of other Zips fans.

[bobbyake]

Even though what we all want to happen isn't likely to occur, during this holiday season I am thankful that the Captain started this rumor. It really perked up my spirits as well as scores of other Zips fans.

does everyone forget that it was footballscoop.com that first reported Ianello was being hired? I don't want to be let down on this.

[Blue & Gold]

I want to see Jim Tressel hired.

I need to see Rob Ianello fired.

[flipthezip]

Gerry Faust was fired the following morning about 10AM but it wasn't announced until mid-afternoon. There is quite a bit to work out when there are years remaining on a current contract.

The buyout agreement and language of the press release will be reviewed (and some points possibly renegotiated) by both his and the university's attorney before the official announcement is made.

[hiroad1]

Tressel talk is crazy.

Come on, though. Aren't there any people here with legit inside sources that can enlighten us with who is really on the target list of candidates? I'd love to know who the realistic possibilities are.

Mostly, I need to read that Ianello is fired. That will be the first bit of welcome news.

Then I hope we hear of a search committee that has a process to keep TW in check this time. No way I want him having final authority with this hire. Sorry, TW. You may be the AD, but you lost your right to final authority with your disaster of a decision two years ago.

Please Dr. Proenza, do the right thing!

[Zipmeister]

Even though what we all want to happen isn't likely to occur, during this holiday season I am thankful that the Captain started this rumor. It really perked up my spirits as well as scores of other Zips fans.

does everyone forget that it was footballscoop.com that first reported Ianello was being hired? I don't want to be let down on this.

Do a little research on how they get their info.

My fingers are crossed, but I am prepared for the worst.

P.S @ softballer: I am uncertain weather 2010 or 2011 was the worstest, but they was both bad.

[GoZips]

Here's another questions.

Lets say we find a way to get the board to approve his firing. And we eat the final 3 years of his contract.

How much will they approve to pay the new coach under those circumstances?

I think it puts a real damper on our hopes to get any "high profile" coach.

If he gets another job, which he will, we only pay the difference. He's not gonna sit on his ass for three years and collect a paycheck, otherwise he'll never get back in. We'll only end up eating a very small fraction of this contract.

small fraction?

With the last two years on his resume, who is going to pay him a large fraction of what he currently gets?

Last year at OSU, Luke Fickell made about $200k. I expect Ianello to end up getting paid somewhere between $100k and $150k as a BCS position coach. So in a best-case scenario we're on the hook for maybe 2/3rds of his salary.

Who in their right mind is going to hire Ianello at a BCS school?

[ZachTheZip]

Somebody at a BCS school will hire him. They'll look at the same resume that Wistrcill saw and they'll jump on the chance to have him as a recruiting coordinator. Just because somebody works at a BCS school does not mean they're very smart.