The case against Ianello

[K92]

The failures of Rob Ianello have been well documented on this forum. A record of 2-22 speaks for itself. I really hate to beat a dead horse, but humor me for a minute...

This year's Ohio game was the turning point for me. In the parking lot after that game, you could sense all hope was gone. It was like we were standing around at the funeral home at a close friend's calling hours. There was no sense in searching for bright spots any longer. It was a sad drive home that Saturday.

Then came the Central game and despite the Chippewas trying to choke the game away, RI makes the call to go for 2 and the Zips lose again. Although the story at the time was spun that the players supported that decision to try and win the game at the end of regulation, the facts seem to say different because it is at this point of the season the Zips quit.

They travelled down to Oxford and put on one of the most listless, uninspired, flat performances I have ever seen, setting up Can't week. Or should I say ruining Can't week.

Can you ever remember less excitement leading up to the Wagon Wheel game? No banter. No pride. No hope. The best part of the season was Robbed from us. Pun intended. The Zips delivered a 35-3 embarrassment. There is nothing worse than losing to Can't and we got shellacked. We weren't even in the same area code. A defeat so sound that Can't fans didn't even feel the need to gloat.

Two more road games and two more beat downs. As a matter of fact, two games where our opponents were able put entries into their record books at the Zips' expense.

So here we are folks. Rob has obviously lost the team. They stopped playing for pride. Chisholm's sideline performances exemplify the surrender, but obviously he's not the only one who quit. I can not forsee any way RI gets the team behind him again. He has to go. The University can not afford to keep him another day.

I gave this guy all kinds of benefit-of-the-doubt. Not because he did anything to warrant it. It was all out of love for the Zips and wanting them to succeed so badly. It was all out of understanding the disaster to come if this experiment failed. He totally blew up the program. Installed an offense that no other staff is going to run. We are so deeply invested with this guy that if I thought there was a small sliver of hope, maybe we should give him a little more time. But that sliver isn't there. This is a total bust. He has to go. Now.

[akronzips71]

The failures of Rob Ianello have been well documented on this forum. A record of 2-22 speaks for itself. I really hate to beat a dead horse, but humor me for a minute...

This year's Ohio game was the turning point for me. In the parking lot after that game, you could sense all hope was gone. It was like we were standing around at the funeral home at a close friend's calling hours. There was no sense in searching for bright spots any longer. It was a sad drive home that Saturday.

Then came the Central game and despite the Chippewas trying to choke the game away, RI makes the call to go for 2 and the Zips lose again. Although the story at the time was spun that the players supported that decision to try and win the game at the end of regulation, the facts seem to say different because it is at this point of the season the Zips quit.

They travelled down to Oxford and put on one of the most listless, uninspired, flat performances I have ever seen, setting up Can't week. Or should I say ruining Can't week.

Can you ever remember less excitement leading up to the Wagon Wheel game? No banter. No pride. No hope. The best part of the season was Robbed from us. Pun intended. The Zips delivered a 35-3 embarrassment. There is nothing worse than losing to Can't and we got shellacked. We weren't even in the same area code. A defeat so sound that Can't fans didn't even feel the need to gloat.

Two more road games and two more beat downs. As a matter of fact, two games where our opponents were able put entries into their record books at the Zips' expense.

So here we are folks. Rob has obviously lost the team. They stopped playing for pride. Chisholm's sideline performances exemplify the surrender, but obviously he's not the only one who quit. I can not forsee any way RI gets the team behind him again. He has to go. The University can not afford to keep him another day.

I gave this guy all kinds of benefit-of-the-doubt. Not because he did anything to warrant it. It was all out of love for the Zips and wanting them to succeed so badly. It was all out of understanding the disaster to come if this experiment failed. He totally blew up the program. Installed an offense that no other staff is going to run. We are so deeply invested with this guy that if I thought there was a small sliver of hope, maybe we should give him a little more time. But that sliver isn't there. This is a total bust. He has to go. Now.

Really, we should keep him. If we can schedule a D3 team next year he could get win #3.

[Blue & Gold]

I hope this link works. It's to Rivals.com football recruiting. It's not nearly as accurate as what Zach has accumulated for us, but it shows enough. We're dead last in the MAC in recruiting this year. We're getting left behind.

[johnnyzip84]

I hope this link works. It's to Rivals.com football recruiting. It's not nearly as accurate as what Zach has accumulated for us, but it shows enough. We're dead last in the MAC in recruiting this year. We're getting left behind.

I'd like to think that this (lack of signed recruits so far) is what did him in. If they go ahead and fire him, it's not like the new guy will be losing a ton of recruits. In fact, whomever it could be, he would likely have enough time to salvage a better class than iCoach would have ever signed in 2012.

[UAZipster0305]

We were 1-22, Keener!

And +1 about the beat-down by Can't being so convincing and worthy of sympathy that the Can't fans didn't even feel the need to gloat. That's when you know we've hit rock bottom.

[Doug Snyder]

I hope this link works. It's to Rivals.com football recruiting. It's not nearly as accurate as what Zach has accumulated for us, but it shows enough. We're dead last in the MAC in recruiting this year. We're getting left behind.

I'd like to think that this (lack of signed recruits so far) is what did him in. If they go ahead and fire him, it's not like the new guy will be losing a ton of recruits. In fact, whomever it could be, he would likely have enough time to salvage a better class than iCoach would have ever signed in 2012.

IF he is replaced...recruiting potential will be a big reason. I have thought all along that we needed to AT LEAST win 3 games to be able to recruit effectively. If he stays...next year will be difficult. He will have to rely on JUCOs and the guys already on the roster. Alternatively...a new coach could easily sell back to back 1-11 seasons to new recruits. So for Ianello...it will be an albatross but for a new guy it will be an advantage.

I will renew my season tickets in any event.

[hiroad1]

I hope this link works. It's to Rivals.com football recruiting. It's not nearly as accurate as what Zach has accumulated for us, but it shows enough. We're dead last in the MAC in recruiting this year. We're getting left behind.

I'd like to think that this (lack of signed recruits so far) is what did him in. If they go ahead and fire him, it's not like the new guy will be losing a ton of recruits. In fact, whomever it could be, he would likely have enough time to salvage a better class than iCoach would have ever signed in 2012.

IF he is replaced...recruiting potential will be a big reason. I have thought all along that we needed to AT LEAST win 3 games to be able to recruit effectively. If he stays...next year will be difficult. He will have to rely on JUCOs and the guys already on the roster. Alternatively...a new coach could easily sell back to back 1-11 seasons to new recruits. So for Ianello...it will be an albatross but for a new guy it will be an advantage.

I will renew my season tickets in any event.

Then you are a better fan than I.

If Ianello does not go, I do. I have had season tickets going back to the Rubber Bowl, but I won't renew if they allow Ianello back another year.

[fear the brown roo]

+1. These past two years have been neither competitive nor entertaining. It's not about the money. It's about the time I've wasted, not enjoying myself, dragging myself to games we rarely were given chances to compete, much less win. My family and I don't need this and are not buying this horrible product in 2012 if no change is made

[GoZips]

NOT buying season tickets or even single game tickets

is the single loudest voice you have as a fan.

You are dealing with Academia; that means they are Liberals.

They always see things through rose colored glasses.

They have not spent enough money; been given enough time.

Oh, I'm sorry, we were talking about football here weren't we?

Remember kids, a Liberal is a person who firmly believes that

you can pick up a turd by the clean end.

Oh, by the way, its Bush's fault.

[Buckzip]

NOT buying season tickets or even single game tickets

is the single loudest voice you have as a fan.

You are dealing with Academia; that means they are Liberals.

They always see things through rose colored glasses.

They have not spent enough money; been given enough time.

Oh, I'm sorry, we were talking about football here weren't we?

Remember kids, a Liberal is a person who firmly believes that

you can pick up a turd by the clean end.

Oh, by the way, its Bush's fault.

Actually the liberal theory works. We don't want to beat other teams and make them sad. We want everyone to be the winner at our expense.

You add that in to building facilities, a stadium and then hiring a coach only to lose more and more money and this is liberalism in a nutshell.

I think we have a winner.

[MrAkronSoftball]

How does the UA administration sell this "product" to the fans if Ianello returns next year?

[lance99]

How does the UA administration sell this "product" to the fans if Ianello returns next year?

There is only one way: make a "forced" package that will include Soccer tickets.

I have a better idea: Years ago the Atlanta Hawks did a promotion that basically said "if we don't make the playoffs, you will get double your money back." Do the same thing if we do not win at least 4 games.

[GP1]

A record of 2-22 speaks for itself.

This is reason enough. You could have saved yourself a lot of typing.

[K92]

A record of 2-22 speaks for itself.

This is reason enough. You could have saved yourself a lot of typing.

Ah, brevity!

Shut up, GP1.

[GoZips]

A record of 2-22 speaks for itself.

This is reason enough. You could have saved yourself a lot of typing.

GP1, you really do not get it, do you?

We are Zips fans. We want Akron to excel; including football.

Venting our spleens may seem irrational to you; to us it is a catharsis.

[ZipRoo]

+1. These past two years have been neither competitive nor entertaining. It's not about the money. It's about the time I've wasted, not enjoying myself, dragging myself to games we rarely were given chances to compete, much less win. My family and I don't need this and are not buying this horrible product in 2012 if no change is made

I have been privileged to attend many games in a friend's suite since the stadium opened. They feel that it has been a complete waste of money. Food and drink only go so far. When going to a game--in a luxury suite--is a dreaded weekly burden, something needs to change. My friends and I cannot and will not tolerate another game of Ianello-ball. So, personally speaking, I know of tens of thousands of dollars that the coach is ALREADY costing UA. Not to mention the empty stands and many other suite owners whose renewal notices will go unreturned. College football is a big business. UA better realize that and get in the game....or get out altogether. They're putting a coach and product on the field that's like milquetoaste compared to Cardinal Mooney, Chagrin Falls, Mentor, St. V. It's pathetic, Luis.

[Dave in Green]

Since Hilltopper has apparently missed the political comments in this thread, I'll just copy one of his previous posts here:

Why do you think its necessary to bring your politics into this thread?

[Doug Snyder]

+1. These past two years have been neither competitive nor entertaining. It's not about the money. It's about the time I've wasted, not enjoying myself, dragging myself to games we rarely were given chances to compete, much less win. My family and I don't need this and are not buying this horrible product in 2012 if no change is made

I have been privileged to attend many games in a friend's suite since the stadium opened. They feel that it has been a complete waste of money. Food and drink only go so far. When going to a game--in a luxury suite--is a dreaded weekly burden, something needs to change. My friends and I cannot and will not tolerate another game of Ianello-ball. So, personally speaking, I know of tens of thousands of dollars that the coach is ALREADY costing UA. Not to mention the empty stands and many other suite owners whose renewal notices will go unreturned. College football is a big business. UA better realize that and get in the game....or get out altogether. They're putting a coach and product on the field that's like milquetoaste compared to Cardinal Mooney, Chagrin Falls, Mentor, St. V. It's pathetic, Luis.

College is about EDUCATION. If football is all about big business then it should be left to those willing to take financial risk for financial reward.

You seem to be OK with others footing the bill in all things. The university to provide your entertainment and your friends to provide access to that entertainment. Your attitude is exactly what is wrong with society today. "Give me", "Provide it for me", "I/we deserve it"

[Hilltopper]

Since Hilltopper has apparently missed the political comments in this thread, I'll just copy one of his previous posts here:

Why do you think its necessary to bring your politics into this thread?

I've been busy this morning. I took my sons to the shooting range. After yesterday, we needed to get some frustration out. I agree about leaving politics out of sports. Now back to your regular programming.

[Doug Snyder]

Since Hilltopper has apparently missed the political comments in this thread, I'll just copy one of his previous posts here:

Why do you think its necessary to bring your politics into this thread?

I've been busy this morning. I took my sons to the shooting range. After yesterday, we needed to get some frustration out. I agree about leaving politics out of sports. Now back to your regular programming.

I think politics are sport now. It is just harder to keep score. And it seems no matter who wins...we lose!!!

But it is a good idea to keep those debates out of this forum.

The only good thing you can say about the football season is.. It's over. No more frustrations.

[scottditzen]

Got this text yesterday...

so where do we tailgate now that AKRON IS DEAD TO ME?

sent from iPod

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

+1. These past two years have been neither competitive nor entertaining. It's not about the money. It's about the time I've wasted, not enjoying myself, dragging myself to games we rarely were given chances to compete, much less win. My family and I don't need this and are not buying this horrible product in 2012 if no change is made

I have been privileged to attend many games in a friend's suite since the stadium opened. They feel that it has been a complete waste of money. Food and drink only go so far. When going to a game--in a luxury suite--is a dreaded weekly burden, something needs to change. My friends and I cannot and will not tolerate another game of Ianello-ball. So, personally speaking, I know of tens of thousands of dollars that the coach is ALREADY costing UA. Not to mention the empty stands and many other suite owners whose renewal notices will go unreturned. College football is a big business. UA better realize that and get in the game....or get out altogether. They're putting a coach and product on the field that's like milquetoaste compared to Cardinal Mooney, Chagrin Falls, Mentor, St. V. It's pathetic, Luis.

College is about EDUCATION. If football is all about big business then it should be left to those willing to take financial risk for financial reward.

You seem to be OK with others footing the bill in all things. The university to provide your entertainment and your friends to provide access that entertainment. Your attitude is exactly what is wrong with society today. "Give me", "Provide it for me", "I/we deserve it"

Ridiculous post. You missed the entire point. How much revenue is UA going to lose holding onto The Grim Reaper as head coach? College may be about education, but college football has nothing to do with education and everything to do with entertainment and revenue generation. I simply don't understand how UA puts ANY butts in the seats other than parents/family anymore. You talk about financial risk. How about the financial risk of building a 68 million dollar football stadium without the ability to sell any tickets to events held there? You're OK with that? You're OK with suite/box subscribers walking away?

[hiroad1]

+1. These past two years have been neither competitive nor entertaining. It's not about the money. It's about the time I've wasted, not enjoying myself, dragging myself to games we rarely were given chances to compete, much less win. My family and I don't need this and are not buying this horrible product in 2012 if no change is made

I have been privileged to attend many games in a friend's suite since the stadium opened. They feel that it has been a complete waste of money. Food and drink only go so far. When going to a game--in a luxury suite--is a dreaded weekly burden, something needs to change. My friends and I cannot and will not tolerate another game of Ianello-ball. So, personally speaking, I know of tens of thousands of dollars that the coach is ALREADY costing UA. Not to mention the empty stands and many other suite owners whose renewal notices will go unreturned. College football is a big business. UA better realize that and get in the game....or get out altogether. They're putting a coach and product on the field that's like milquetoaste compared to Cardinal Mooney, Chagrin Falls, Mentor, St. V. It's pathetic, Luis.

College is about EDUCATION. If football is all about big business then it should be left to those willing to take financial risk for financial reward.

You seem to be OK with others footing the bill in all things. The university to provide your entertainment and your friends to provide access that entertainment. Your attitude is exactly what is wrong with society today. "Give me", "Provide it for me", "I/we deserve it"

Ridiculous post. You missed the entire point. How much revenue is UA going to lose holding onto The Grim Reaper as head coach? College may be about education, but college football has nothing to do with education and everything to do with entertainment and revenue generation. I simply don't understand how UA puts ANY butts in the seats other than parents/family anymore. You talk about financial risk. How about the financial risk of building a 68 million dollar football stadium without the ability to sell any tickets to events held there? You're OK with that? You're OK with suite/box subscribers walking away?

+1

Unlike other sports, D1 football is a public relations vehicle and renvenue generation source for the university. The board didn't decide to build the new stadium on campus just to make it easier for students to attend games. They did it to enhance and sell the campus to potential students and to facilitate other university expansion plans, including the development of retail around the univesity.

Focusing only on the cost of getting rid of the coach fails to measure the cost of lost revenues and missed public relations (advertising value) if he stays another year.

[Doug Snyder]

+1. These past two years have been neither competitive nor entertaining. It's not about the money. It's about the time I've wasted, not enjoying myself, dragging myself to games we rarely were given chances to compete, much less win. My family and I don't need this and are not buying this horrible product in 2012 if no change is made

I have been privileged to attend many games in a friend's suite since the stadium opened. They feel that it has been a complete waste of money. Food and drink only go so far. When going to a game--in a luxury suite--is a dreaded weekly burden, something needs to change. My friends and I cannot and will not tolerate another game of Ianello-ball. So, personally speaking, I know of tens of thousands of dollars that the coach is ALREADY costing UA. Not to mention the empty stands and many other suite owners whose renewal notices will go unreturned. College football is a big business. UA better realize that and get in the game....or get out altogether. They're putting a coach and product on the field that's like milquetoaste compared to Cardinal Mooney, Chagrin Falls, Mentor, St. V. It's pathetic, Luis.

College is about EDUCATION. If football is all about big business then it should be left to those willing to take financial risk for financial reward.

You seem to be OK with others footing the bill in all things. The university to provide your entertainment and your friends to provide access that entertainment. Your attitude is exactly what is wrong with society today. "Give me", "Provide it for me", "I/we deserve it"

Ridiculous post. You missed the entire point. How much revenue is UA going to lose holding onto The Grim Reaper as head coach? College may be about education, but college football has nothing to do with education and everything to do with entertainment and revenue generation. I simply don't understand how UA puts ANY butts in the seats other than parents/family anymore. You talk about financial risk. How about the financial risk of building a 68 million dollar football stadium without the ability to sell any tickets to events held there? You're OK with that? You're OK with suite/box subscribers walking away?

Football in the MAC generates REVENUE but not INCOME. YES...I am OK suite/box subscribers walking away rather than asking students to subsidize their entertainment. College football is just not that important. Colleges should NOT be in business to provide entertainment. Sorry...you just don't get it. Sports are intended to enhance the student experience. But not at any cost. Mount Union, Xavier, Dayton and other schools have great student experience and don’t ask its students to subsidize football for the entertainment of a few fans.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

+1. These past two years have been neither competitive nor entertaining. It's not about the money. It's about the time I've wasted, not enjoying myself, dragging myself to games we rarely were given chances to compete, much less win. My family and I don't need this and are not buying this horrible product in 2012 if no change is made

I have been privileged to attend many games in a friend's suite since the stadium opened. They feel that it has been a complete waste of money. Food and drink only go so far. When going to a game--in a luxury suite--is a dreaded weekly burden, something needs to change. My friends and I cannot and will not tolerate another game of Ianello-ball. So, personally speaking, I know of tens of thousands of dollars that the coach is ALREADY costing UA. Not to mention the empty stands and many other suite owners whose renewal notices will go unreturned. College football is a big business. UA better realize that and get in the game....or get out altogether. They're putting a coach and product on the field that's like milquetoaste compared to Cardinal Mooney, Chagrin Falls, Mentor, St. V. It's pathetic, Luis.

College is about EDUCATION. If football is all about big business then it should be left to those willing to take financial risk for financial reward.

You seem to be OK with others footing the bill in all things. The university to provide your entertainment and your friends to provide access that entertainment. Your attitude is exactly what is wrong with society today. "Give me", "Provide it for me", "I/we deserve it"

Ridiculous post. You missed the entire point. How much revenue is UA going to lose holding onto The Grim Reaper as head coach? College may be about education, but college football has nothing to do with education and everything to do with entertainment and revenue generation. I simply don't understand how UA puts ANY butts in the seats other than parents/family anymore. You talk about financial risk. How about the financial risk of building a 68 million dollar football stadium without the ability to sell any tickets to events held there? You're OK with that? You're OK with suite/box subscribers walking away?

Football in the MAC generates REVENUE but not INCOME. YES...I am OK suite/box subscribers walking away rather than asking students to subsidize their entertainment. College football is just not that important. Colleges should NOT be in business to provide entertainment. Sorry...you just don't get it. Sports are intended to enhance the student experience. But not at any cost. Mount Union, Xavier, Dayton and other schools have great student experience and don’t ask its students to subsidize football for the entertainment of a few fans.

The ship you wish for sailed long ago. FBS college football is almost entirely about revenue generation. While I would agree that maybe it shouldn't be so, this is a FBS program operating in a FBS league. You can advocate that UA should perhaps go small-time in football (aren't we there already?) but UA obviously hasn't figured out what it wants to be. They have spent money on facilities as if they would like to be a larger FBS program and have yet failed to do ANYTHING which would allow for additional revenue generation to support those moves. What exactly is the point of a 68 million dollar stadium? How do you pay for that facility? Do you believe that the advocates for its creation pointed to "enhanced student experience" alone as justification? How much "additional revenue" was anticipated through luxury box sales, catering, team shop sales, tickets, etc? If the Doug Snyder vision were uniformly applied the team would be FCS or smaller, it would play in a stadium seating 10K and would just be a nice little adjunct to Fall weekends. Come to think of it, that would actually be a gigantic improvement over where the program is right now, but still, that's not what UA appeared to be going for when the whole Infocision thing started. Now that the facilities are built and as long as UA is FBS, they must generate revenue. You wish it weren't so, but someone has to pay, and "revenue generators" sure as hell aren't lining up right now are they?