Paul Winters Doesn't Want to Win at Akron

[NanNewWin]

I knew Paul Winters when he was a young coach and he never talked about winning; winning wasn’t the goal – establishing a DYNASTY was the dream (well, sorry, that implies generations, his son isn’t going to coach and Paul doesn’t want his daughters near his players, so let’s re-group… one dream ended.) Winning and dynasty are not the goals; he’ll have to settle for DOMINANCE. I recall seeing that word once on Zip Nation since this frenzy began. Hmmm. Paul will be relentless until his Zips are the dominant force in whatever conference they play. He wants the competition to come into his house believing they’re going to be the ones to finally topple the evil Zip Empire, and then whimper away. Said another way, no other coach will ever out-work or out-prepare Coach Winters, it simply will not happen in his lifetime as a coach, it’s inconceivable.

Secondly: Paul has never left NE Ohio. While working at Akron, Toledo, Wisconsin, Akron, and Wayne State – where do any of you think he was recruiting? Do you believe in your wildest dreams any of the coaches for whom he worked pulled him off his turf? That didn’t happen. He can walk into any high school in a 3-5 state region and be welcomed as a friend (yes, even Stark County, i.e. Jeff Durbin.) He’s very well respected all around. That said, believe, too that he knows every other coach on the beat. He has very good friends at all levels of college coaching. Can none of you imagine him feeding a bigger school: “Hey, just saw this guy, he’s your caliber of player, don’t want you to miss.” By the same token, picture Paul never getting a call: “Hey, I was just up at XYZ-HS – we don’t have a fit for Joe Schmoe but I bet you could use him, just wanted you to know.” If Paul’s the hire at UofA, he’s not going to skip a beat. With all respect to Wayne State & his efforts there, he’s been recruiting (evaluating talent) for Akron (if only in his mind) for decades.

More recruiting – this time being recruited by… does anybody recall how Paul got to Wisconsin? Does the name Russ Jacques mean anything to anybody? Russ & Paul recruited the same area. When Russ got the call for OC at Wisconsin under bAlvarez, he requested bA hire Paul, which eventually happened. barry fired PW after his 2nd season I believe. Does anyone know what happened next? He was hired by the Vice Chancellor of Legal Affairs as Assistant Athletic Director in charge of (wait for it…) NCAA Compliance. Why do so few people ever acknowledge Paul’s work at Wisconsin? He HATED being in the stands for the Rose Bowl, but because bA thought he wasn’t physical enough with his backs, bA moved in a different direction (read: Paul wasn’t a guy to humiliate his players by physically jerking a face-mask (although I’ve seen him control the direction in which a player is able to look) or actually kicking them in the pants (picture any number of coaches [or The 3 Stooges] 30 years ago, hopefully we’ve evolved without losing an edge.)

I have no clue if Paul will get the call from The University of Akron, but I do know nobody would do it better.

[Dr Z]

Nice second post. Thanks for taking the time.

[ZachTheZip]

The only way he will do what you said is if the rest of the MAC quit playing football and the league just gave us the title every year by default.

We can do better than Winters' mediocrity, but we're not even trying. Its deeply saddening to me.

[g-mann17]

The only way he will do what you said is if the rest of the MAC quit playing football and the league just gave us the title every year by default.

We can do better than Winters' mediocrity, but we're not even trying. Its deeply saddening to me.

I really don't get where anyone can call his performance "mediocrity". Because the team stunk when he got there and it took him time to win?

Zach if this saddens you so much, don't be a fan anymore. We all want you to be happy.

[Dr Z]

The only way he will do what you said is if the rest of the MAC quit playing football and the league just gave us the title every year by default. We can do better than Winters' mediocrity, but we're not even trying. Its deeply saddening to me.

Enough already. EVERYBODY knows you don't want PW. Stop derailing every thread. Last warning.

[GP1]

Good post WNN!!!

Get people to read with a controversial headline and unload a good post on them. I like it.

[Doug Snyder]

The only way he will do what you said is if the rest of the MAC quit playing football and the league just gave us the title every year by default. We can do better than Winters' mediocrity, but we're not even trying. Its deeply saddening to me.

Enough already. EVERYBODY knows you don't want PW. Stop derailing every thread. Last warning.

[xu9697]

I really hope, if PW is the hire, that someone asks TW why Winters was right this time but not 2 years ago. Was it just that he needed to see more of him? Was Winters #2 in 2009, but, again, he needed a better track record?

I also hope that someone asks him if PW was the favorite all along and, even with that, did you (TW) interview and speak with many candidates?

Did you talk to Tressel to find out about certain guys, or to ask more about the jump from I-AA to I-A (at the time) and compare it to DII to FBS (MAC) jump?

I know the easy answer is just to say TW does not know what he is doing. Honestly, I don't know enough about all that goes into this to say that or not. He certainly struck out on 3 pitches with the first hire.

If no one asks him this in a presser, you can bet I will be sending these to "Ask the AD".

[GP1]

I really hope, if PW is the hire, that someone asks TW why Winters was right this time but not 2 years ago. Was it just that he needed to see more of him? Was Winters #2 in 2009, but, again, he needed a better track record?

I would have to say that Winters needed a better track record. Paul went 6-5 in 2009 after an eight win 2008. I can see how he looked past him.

Not sure what digging up the past will do to help anything at this point.....

[xu9697]

I really hope, if PW is the hire, that someone asks TW why Winters was right this time but not 2 years ago. Was it just that he needed to see more of him? Was Winters #2 in 2009, but, again, he needed a better track record?

I would have to say that Winters needed a better track record. Paul went 6-5 in 2009 after an eight win 2008. I can see how he looked past him.

Not sure what digging up the past will do to help anything at this point.....

Might tell us a bit more about TW and his competency.

[GP1]

I really hope, if PW is the hire, that someone asks TW why Winters was right this time but not 2 years ago. Was it just that he needed to see more of him? Was Winters #2 in 2009, but, again, he needed a better track record?

I would have to say that Winters needed a better track record. Paul went 6-5 in 2009 after an eight win 2008. I can see how he looked past him.

Not sure what digging up the past will do to help anything at this point.....

Might tell us a bit more about TW and his competency.

I think we already know about that. I'm more interested in the future than digging up the past.

[xu9697]

I really hope, if PW is the hire, that someone asks TW why Winters was right this time but not 2 years ago. Was it just that he needed to see more of him? Was Winters #2 in 2009, but, again, he needed a better track record?

I would have to say that Winters needed a better track record. Paul went 6-5 in 2009 after an eight win 2008. I can see how he looked past him.

Not sure what digging up the past will do to help anything at this point.....

Might tell us a bit more about TW and his competency.

I think we already know about that. I'm more interested in the future than digging up the past.

But I'm not 100% sure it IS about digging up the past. Maybe the question could be worded better than I originally submitted, but I want to know why he is the right guy NOW when he was not 2 years ago. What are you seeing NOW in him that you did not see before. Is it "simply" just that he has taken them to these heights this year? If it is, I'm not saying that is a bad thing. It is addressing the now while at least being cognizant of the VERY RECENT past.

[Blue & Gold]

I'm getting excited and getting my hopes up for PW. He's an offensive mastermind. He's a classy guy (man, did "Classy" Freddie Blassie ruin that word, or what?). He'll recruit the hell out of NEO. He bleeds blue and gold. He'll make both The University of and the City of Akron proud.

[edit] Great post, btw, WNN.

[skip-zip]

We can do better than Winters' mediocrity, but we're not even trying. Its deeply saddening to me.

We don't know what's happening. But, I just hope that we made an effort to get the best coach possible. If we did, and had to settle for Winters, I can live with that. IF we didn't, and we actually thought that a D-II coach with his record was our best option, and lost 3 weeks of valuable time waiting for him, I will be very dissappointed as well.

[mes102]

I'll be okay with Winters or Narduzzi...

[Captain Kangaroo]

Maybe the question could be worded better than I originally submitted, but I want to know why he is the right guy NOW when he was not 2 years ago. What are you seeing NOW in him that you did not see before.

Twitter Tom passed on every available coach in the nation when he selected Iannello. By your logic, we shouldn't consider any of those 100+ coaches because...well...we didn't select them 2 years ago.

Obviously, TT had no clue what he was doing 2 years ago and shanked his first tee shot deep into the woods. Just thank the Lord that that drive was so egregious that he was given a mulligan.

Trying to get back on topic - Nice read, WNN.

[InTheZone]

I gotta admit, when I saw the title of this thread, my blood started boiling and I was about to come in here and unload!

Nice post from the newbie. Obviously a guy who knows Coach Winters well, as everything he said is 100 percent true.

[xu9697]

Maybe the question could be worded better than I originally submitted, but I want to know why he is the right guy NOW when he was not 2 years ago. What are you seeing NOW in him that you did not see before.

Twitter Tom passed on every available coach in the nation when he selected Iannello. By your logic, we shouldn't consider any of those 100+ coaches because...well...we didn't select them 2 years ago.

Obviously, TT had no clue what he was doing 2 years ago and shanked his first tee shot deep into the woods. Just thank the Lord that that drive was so aggregious that he was given a mulligan.

What in the world are you talking about? That is not my logic at all. He didn't INTERVIEW 100 guys 2 years ago. He interviewed this guy 2 years ago. He didn't deem him good enough for the job. I would like to know why HE thinks he is good enough now.

Some guys you hit on, some guys you miss on. As an example= Gene DeFillipo at BC hit on Jeff Jagodzinski a few years ago= 2 ACC Championship appearances in 2 years. He then flies off the handle, fires that guy b/c he wants to better himself (interviewd for Jets HC job) and hires a guy that he passed over 2 years before...and the ship continues to sink at BC b/c of this hire. Not saying I think that will happen here, but that is what BC did= they went with a loyal guy, safe pick, bleed maroon and gold...and passed over MANY candidates who wanted the job (Mike London of UVA for one). He has NEVER answered the question= what made Frank Spaziani the right pick 2 years after passing over him. So, in this case, I would like to hear TW's answer.

[InTheZone]

I really don't see how you're not getting Captain's logic here. TW DIDN'T pass on Winters two years ago. He didn't pass on anyone. He had his guy from the start, gave token interviews to make it look like there was a process, and hired his buddy. End of story.

[InTheZone]

Plus, Winters resume in 2011 coming off at least a national runner-up season looks a lot better than in 2009 coming off 6-5. He was in the middle of rebuilding in '09. We knew he could take an awful team to middle of the pack then. He showed he knows how to complete the process in '11. He took a team from nothing to national champion (or at at the very least, almost national champion). The last piece of the puzzle was put in place.

[Doug Snyder]

Maybe the question could be worded better than I originally submitted, but I want to know why he is the right guy NOW when he was not 2 years ago. What are you seeing NOW in him that you did not see before.

Twitter Tom passed on every available coach in the nation when he selected Iannello. By your logic, we shouldn't consider any of those 100+ coaches because...well...we didn't select them 2 years ago.

Obviously, TT had no clue what he was doing 2 years ago and shanked his first tee shot deep into the woods. Just thank the Lord that that drive was so aggregious that he was given a mulligan.

What in the world are you talking about? That is not my logic at all. He didn't INTERVIEW 100 guys 2 years ago. He interviewed this guy 2 years ago. He didn't deem him good enough for the job. I would like to know why HE thinks he is good enough now.

Some guys you hit on, some guys you miss on. As an example= Gene DeFillipo at BC hit on Jeff Jagodzinski a few years ago= 2 ACC Championship appearances in 2 years. He then flies off the handle, fires that guy b/c he wants to better himself (interviewd for Jets HC job) and hires a guy that he passed over 2 years before...and the ship continues to sink at BC b/c of this hire. Not saying I think that will happen here, but that is what BC did= they went with a loyal guy, safe pick, bleed maroon and gold...and passed over MANY candidates who wanted the job (Mike London of UVA for one). He has NEVER answered the question= what made Frank Spaziani the right pick 2 years after passing over him. So, in this case, I would like to hear TW's answer.

The problem is...you are asking at the wrong time. PW has not been named coach. I think it is a very fair question AFTER PW is announced (assuming he is).

It will be interesting to hear the answer. Unlike many here...I do not believe TW and Ianello were buddies prior to UofA. I do believe he was acquainted with him and knew his work habits. I think he was greatly affected and influenced by the success of the Wisconsin model built by Barry Alverez and his recommendation. Now...if he hires Winters, he will be hiring a guy that was fired by Barry (per the author of this thread). I think Tressel would give Winters a strong recommendation...so maybe TW learned a lesson?? So...yea...I think it would be a great question.

[NanNewWin]

I really hope, if PW is the hire, that someone asks TW why Winters was right this time but not 2 years ago. Was it just that he needed to see more of him? Was Winters #2 in 2009, but, again, he needed a better track record?

I also hope that someone asks him if PW was the favorite all along and, even with that, did you (TW) interview and speak with many candidates?

Did you talk to Tressel to find out about certain guys, or to ask more about the jump from I-AA to I-A (at the time) and compare it to DII to FBS (MAC) jump?

I know the easy answer is just to say TW does not know what he is doing. Honestly, I don't know enough about all that goes into this to say that or not. He certainly struck out on 3 pitches with the first hire.

If no one asks him this in a presser, you can bet I will be sending these to "Ask the AD".

IMHO I would let "last time" go - I can see reasons why each side, the UofA and PW were not ready for each other. I don't think you'll get a more honest answer than that, no matter who you ask. Things happen, people change, what's right now may not have fit then. This should be the time; this should be the call: "WINTERS IN FALL!"

[NanNewWin]

I gotta admit, when I saw the title of this thread, my blood started boiling and I was about to come in here and unload!

Nice post from the newbie. Obviously a guy who knows Coach Winters well, as everything he said is 100 percent true.

Mission accomplished, except for one glaring mistake that we may be able to (hopefully) laugh about someday.

[skip-zip]

I'm not really understanding why an AD would be interested in someone after a good season, but not be interested in them after a bad season. With Winters, we're talking about a guy who's in his mid-50s, right? He's been coaching a long, long time. He didn't just suddenly become a terrible coach a few years ago because he had a 2-8 season, or vice versa. During the course of his time at Wayne, his conference standing has bounced dramatically up and down. I'm quite certain that his ability to coach isn't changing that dramatically from year to year.

Ask Arkansas basketball fans how they feel about using the "just had a good season" logic to hire Heath a few years back.

[Dr Z]

IMHO I would let "last time" go - I can see reasons why each side, the UofA and PW were not ready for each other. I don't think you'll get a more honest answer than that, no matter who you ask. Things happen, people change, what's right now may not have fit then.