Paul Winters Doesn't Want to Win at Akron

[Lance1969]

Why would people not be impressed with PW time at Wisconsin?

Let's put a different "spin" on the story.

PW has a problem getting along with the HC who wants PW off the on the field coaching staff. A spot is found in the compliance unit for PW.

For bringing up the Rose Bowl and attaching PW to this victory I guess one could because he was working in the Badgers organization. At this time Wisconsin had natural grass do we give the Head Grounds Keeper the same amount of credit as someone working in the compliance unit?

[exit322]

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.

Very good point, but there's a *major* difference between Winters and Heath.

Winters built Wayne State from the ground up. Heath coached that team out east for one year. And that team out east had had success before Heath was there for his cup of coffee. Wayne State, really, didn't.

Not saying Winters is the right answer (though I certainly have no substantive answer as to why he isn't), but this is not a fair comparison.

[GP1]

I don't know if anyone has seen the series or read the books "Game of Thrones", but the characters from the north are always saying, "Winter is coming." I think about this when I think about PW, "Winters is coming". Sort of like the idea and play on words...maybe they can do something with it, but not many would get it....don't bother, but I still like the idea.

[Buckzip]

No to PW.

[Doug Snyder]

No to PW.

I respect your opinion. Will you support him if hired or continue negative bashing like some?? And one other question...were you a "no" when Tressell was hired at OSU from YSU?? And did you support him after he got there?? (well...technically that is 2)

[ZipperRoo44]

Cannot wait to watch this game today. When is the last time that anyone who played football at Akron was involved a national championship game? Go get'em Paul!

[Doug Snyder]

Cannot wait to watch this game today. When is the last time that anyone who played football at Akron was involved a national championship game? Go get'em Paul!

American football or International football??

[Lee Adams]

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.

I hope people are finally realizing,and this has been said by several of us,that Akron is not going to attract what some might call a more 'notable' coaching candidates until the 'atmosphere' around the football program improves. Choosing my words carefully. There have been a lot of names thrown around that would probably have never considered coming here. We now see what a guy like Fickell was at least looking for whether he gets the Pitt job or not. The Tressel thing? People will believe what they want to believe because it can't be proven or disproven. The Bowdens,Leaches,Zooks and names like that? Would they ever consider Akron? Maybe they all got phone calls. Maybe not.

The situation is at this point,Akron has to do what is POSSIBLE given the status of the program.

We are probably seeing what is possible given the entirety of the circumstances in the program.

Whats different about Winters now as opposed to 2 years ago? Maybe he is actually getting LEGITIMATE consideration this time. Maybe its the fact that Wistrcill hasn't already decided he can hire a friend with little legitimate coaching experience. Maybe it is because he has successful head coaching experience with the added experience of taking a team through the playoffs. He might not be able to drag this program from the depths. But he probably deserves a shot somewhere.

[Buckzip]

No to PW.

I respect your opinion. Will you support him if hired or continue negative bashing like some?? And one other question...were you a "no" when Tressell was hired at OSU from YSU?? And did you support him after he got there?? (well...technically that is 2)

Yes, I will support him if hired. However, when he fails I will also say I told you so.

As for Tressel, no I was happy when he was announced at OSU. He won multiple NC and had a great, great proven track record of success at a division only 1 below,not multiple levels below.

[xu9697]

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.

And that is your and his belief (or at least yours). I have no idea if he was giving "token" interviews. If that is the case, then others above TW need to be questioned as well (and yes, that includes Proenza).

[Captain Kangaroo]

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.

And that is your and his belief (or at least yours). I have no idea if he was giving "token" interviews. If that is the case, then others above TW need to be questioned as well (and yes, that includes Proenza).

If you can change the past, please do it. The past sucked.

If you can't change the past, then please move forward. There's hope for the future.

[Class of 82]

Excellent post, WNN. Personally, I think Winters is the perfect hire at this juncture. An Akron guy... through and through. If some want to say we settled, so be it.

I think the reasons for a Winters' hire boil down to two things:

1) He has proven he can coach... ie. make players better than they were when he got them.

2) He has proven he can bring good players to a perennially bad team by selling them on a vision of the future.

Good coaches are good coaches at virtually every level, but let's face it, recruiting is something else entirely. Just because you can recruit at Notre Dame or Ohio State or Florida does not mean you can do it at a place like Wayne State or Akron. It's far more complicated and difficult at schools with no winning reputation, even when you have facilities like ours are now. Our next coach has to be a great salesman who believes in what he's selling and can get kids and parents to buy into something yet to be built and feel good about their choice to do so. Objectively and regrettably, I'd have to say Akron football is a pretty hard sell these days. So was Wayne State before Winters got there.

FWIW, I say, let's just get his butt in here.

Peace. Out.

[johnnyzip84]

Excellent post, WNN. Personally, I think Winters is the perfect hire at this juncture. An Akron guy... through and through. If some want to say we settled, so be it.

I think the reasons for a Winters' hire boil down to two things:

1) He has proven he can coach... ie. make players better than they were when he got them.

2) He has proven he can bring good players to a perennially bad team by selling them on a vision of the future.

Good coaches are good coaches at virtually every level, but let's face it, recruiting is something else entirely. Just because you can recruit at Notre Dame or Ohio State or Florida does not mean you can do it at a place like Wayne State or Akron. It's far more complicated and difficult at schools with no winning reputation, even when you have facilities like ours are now. Our next coach has to be a great salesman who believes in what he's selling and can get kids and parents to buy into something yet to be built and feel good about their choice to do so. Objectively and regrettably, I'd have to say Akron football is a pretty hard sell these days. So was Wayne State before Winters got there.

FWIW, I say, let's just get his butt in here.

Peace. Out.

Nice post! I think you summarized much of why I think Winters is a good fit at this time.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

Excellent post, WNN. Personally, I think Winters is the perfect hire at this juncture. An Akron guy... through and through. If some want to say we settled, so be it.

I think the reasons for a Winters' hire boil down to two things:

1) He has proven he can coach... ie. make players better than they were when he got them.

2) He has proven he can bring good players to a perennially bad team by selling them on a vision of the future.

Good coaches are good coaches at virtually every level, but let's face it, recruiting is something else entirely. Just because you can recruit at Notre Dame or Ohio State or Florida does not mean you can do it at a place like Wayne State or Akron. It's far more complicated and difficult at schools with no winning reputation, even when you have facilities like ours are now. Our next coach has to be a great salesman who believes in what he's selling and can get kids and parents to buy into something yet to be built and feel good about their choice to do so. Objectively and regrettably, I'd have to say Akron football is a pretty hard sell these days. So was Wayne State before Winters got there.

FWIW, I say, let's just get his butt in here.

Peace. Out.

Agreed entirely. Few know the uphill battle they'll be taking on at UA better than Paul Winters. This is the worst program in the county and one that players don't want to join right now. He will come in with a clear knowledge of the challenges, having just dealt successfully with a smaller version of the same at Wayne State. If he can recruit, especially locally, things will get better for Akron, and fast. It appears, from what I've heard from other posters here, that his offensive coaching is a known commodity, and a plus. If he can find a DC to improve the defense, and recruit, the program should be on the upswing soon. Hiring PW is a win if they can get him to sign.

[johnnyzip84]

Detroit News article.

Family remains in Akron, and a big piece of Winters' heart is there, as well.

"It would be very difficult to say no," Winters said. "But also very difficult to say goodbye to these people that have become family for me."

Akron might not win

Luring him from Wayne State won't be easy. This program has Winters' fingerprints all over it, including the no-hats policy in the dressing room.

Akron is home to Paul Winters, but so is Detroit.

"Yeah, I will talk, but that doesn't mean I will go," Winters said. "It is common courtesy."

Akron spoke informally to Winters a few years back. He applied for the job before but did not get a call back.

"I don't have an interview set up and I'm not sure I will," Winters said. "I don't know what they need to know about me that they don't know. In my mind I'm trying to figure out why they would want to talk to me. I love my alma mater and I love my hometown, but I have some serious issues (about Akron)."

Fournier, who hired Winters eight years ago, said he has not talked to Winters about Akron.

"I want to make sure we are not totally out of the picture on any offer that he has," Fournier said. "One of the challenges for him is, 'If I go to this job, do I have the right means to be successful?' He has put eight years of his life into building us into what it is."

[Class of 82]

Luring him from Wayne State won't be easy. This program has Winters' fingerprints all over it, including the no-hats policy in the dressing room.

Akron is home to Paul Winters, but so is Detroit.

"Yeah, I will talk, but that doesn't mean I will go," Winters said. "It is common courtesy."

Akron spoke informally to Winters a few years back. He applied for the job before but did not get a call back.

"I don't have an interview set up and I'm not sure I will," Winters said. "I don't know what they need to know about me that they don't know. In my mind I'm trying to figure out why they would want to talk to me. I love my alma mater and I love my hometown, but I have some serious issues (about Akron)."

Well, I'm not happy to acknowledge it, but I think UA administrators deserve that not-so-veiled dig at what has been some arrogance over the past few years. Are they humble enough not to take what I believe is valid and fair criticism and hire the guy anyway. I hope so, but I'm not optimistic. If UA had not already indicated that he's not their guy, my guess is that Winters effectively pulled the plug on his coming here with those public comments. Sad.

[ZipperRoo44]

Luring him from Wayne State won't be easy. This program has Winters' fingerprints all over it, including the no-hats policy in the dressing room.

Akron is home to Paul Winters, but so is Detroit.

"Yeah, I will talk, but that doesn't mean I will go," Winters said. "It is common courtesy."

Akron spoke informally to Winters a few years back. He applied for the job before but did not get a call back.

"I don't have an interview set up and I'm not sure I will," Winters said. "I don't know what they need to know about me that they don't know. In my mind I'm trying to figure out why they would want to talk to me. I love my alma mater and I love my hometown, but I have some serious issues (about Akron)."

Well, I'm not happy to acknowledge it, but I think UA administrators deserve that not-so-veiled dig at what has been some arrogance over the past few years. Are they humble enough not to take what I believe is valid and fair criticism and hire the guy anyway. I hope so, but I'm not optimistic. If UA had not already indicated that he's not their guy, my guess is that Winters effectively pulled the plug on his coming here with those public comments. Sad.

PW's issues are that he was fired when Faust was brought in, was fired when Owens was let go and was not retained by Brookhart or interviewed for the job, and was passed over when iCoach was hired. Who would not be pissed if they were passed over for iCoach.

To me he should have swallowed it and taken the brass ring. Maybe he still will. I am disappointed that he aired his feelings publicly an talked down about the job. It's a human reaction and was probably preparing himself for the worst possible outcome. Trouble is these types of media bursts do not win friends with people making the hire.

[Class of 82]

To me he should have swallowed it and taken the brass ring. Maybe he still will. I am disappointed that he aired his feelings publicly an talked down about the job. It's a human reaction and was probably preparing himself for the worst possible outcome. Trouble is these types of media bursts do not win friends with people making the hire.

Exactly. But sometimes leaders have to make choices they'd rather not make. Sometimes, they have to find a way to re-motivate and recapture the enthusiasm of the people they need on their side, even if it means they have acknowledge their own mistakes. If PW is the right guy... and he is, in my view... then they should get him in here, address his concerns as best they can, lay out their own expectations of PW, and make this happen. However, I am virtually certain they will not.

This is not really a Wistrill issue in my view. It's a Proenza one. The one Achilles heel of the Proenza tenure at UA has been an unfortunate propensity for never, ever, ever, ever, allowing for any chink to be shown in the president's image as the faultless leader who must be idolized. He can never be wrong. He can never be expected to say he made a mistake. It is not only irritating (to me, anyway); in the long run, it's counterproductive. And I say this as someone who admires the guy and appreciates the tremendous contributions he has made to our university. He has a thousand fine qualities, and is the greatest UA leader since Auburn. Humility, however, is not our president's strong suit.

[xu9697]

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.

And that is your and his belief (or at least yours). I have no idea if he was giving "token" interviews. If that is the case, then others above TW need to be questioned as well (and yes, that includes Proenza).

If you can change the past, please do it. The past sucked.

If you can't change the past, then please move forward. There's hope for the future.

Unfortunatley, I can't change the past. I am NOT the NCAA!!!