What if...

[ZipperRoo44]

Completely agree. No coach is a great coach or a bad coach, based on whether his team won or lost any single game.

What if JT didn't get that gift pass interference call in the championship game? Think his legacy would be different?

It is always nice to see people call that play the way it was.

Among OSWho fans, maybe his legacy would have been different. They love to remind you that they won something a decade ago to cover for their more recent failures. But, to most fans outside their brainwashed umbrella, they forgot about OSWho winning a title a long, lone time ago. That answers the legacy question.

My point was in reference to whether any single game should make someone change their mind about a coach's ability.

You should judge a coach over the body of work against the potential for future growth. It's hard to apply this to a coach who has never been a head coach before. Regardless of who is selected here there is one thing for sure, this is not a quick fix and we are all going to have to be patient for real results because the only way it would happen quick (1-2 years) is if we start to cut corners and go the transfer/juco route. That is a lot tougher now than in the past with the new academic standards.

[Zipsrifle]

Yea, I have to say that I'm preparing myself for a long turn around. When RI came in "The cupboard is full". Since then, the cupboards and the kitchen have been emptied and demolished, the house was burned and the foundation filled in. We started digging a hole elsewhere on the property and now we have decided to stop.

When JD came in, something changed. I think we had pretty solid MAC players on the team from LO and from my viewpoint the attitude changed and, maybe he was a better coach, though his recruiting was riskier. RI appears to be the exact opposite which leaves us with, well, not much. I hope the state of the program is better than I think. Hopefully RI did recruit some good players and the new coach actually knows how to, well, coach! I really view our program as being in absolutely horrid shape. I get the feeling that TW is just begging coaches to come here and we will just have to take what we can get.

I will support the team whoever is the coach, but I do think my Season Ticket renewal will depend upon who is hired. I like PW, but if it is someone else, I will educate myself on this persons background and decide for myself if I think this is a good hire. I'm not doing this as a threat to the program with some illusion that it will sway the administration, rather, it is a personal decision. Last year it started becoming a chore to go to the Zips games and was no longer exciting or fun. I'll take the beating if I think things are moving in the right direction, but I'm not gonna just stand there and blindly get beat silly.

[skip-zip]

I think some people like to put a big distance between the bottom of the MAC and the top of the MAC. It's not as great as some people like to think. JD immediately had us in MAC contention his first year, and won it the 2nd year. He did this basically by adding two good impact players, a QB and RB. And I'm sure he was a better coach, although Owens certainly didn't create much of a standard to surpass, to say the least.

So, I would caution people who seem compelled to describe rising to a competitive status in the MAC as some kind of long monumental process. Becoming the next Boise State or TCU is a huge undertaking. Becoming an OU or NIU is not.

[Dave in Green]

@skip-zip, you do a really good job of presenting the optimistic viewpoint.

[Doug Snyder]

@skip-zip, you do a really good job of presenting the optimistic viewpoint.

It never ceases to amaze me how some people conveniently use facts. "iCoach set the program back 5 years". Now?? They should be able to win within a few years (or sooner!!). LOL Simply amazing.

[GP1]

He did this basically by adding two good impact players, a QB and RB.

He also brought in a future NFL offensive lineman. Transfers helped JD a great deal at the beginning. The risk worked.

The next Akron coach will have to take some risks with transfers. Maybe not next year, but the year after, we need to win 4-5 games. 11 loss seasons are killing this program in terms of recruiting and a quick turnarond is in order. I don't see how, with the current talent level, we can do it without transfers.

[skip-zip]

@skip-zip, you do a really good job of presenting the optimistic viewpoint.

]It never ceases to amaze me how some people conveniently use facts. "iCoach set the program back 5 years". Now?? They should be able to win within a few years (or sooner!!). LOL

Simply amazing.

First, I don't recall ever making that prediction. Either of them.

Secondly, what does that even have to do with my thoughts on the gap between the good and bad teams in the MAC?

You often appear to be very quick to jump on people around here without checking what you are talking about. What is your objective?

[Doug Snyder]

@skip-zip, you do a really good job of presenting the optimistic viewpoint.

]It never ceases to amaze me how some people conveniently use facts. "iCoach set the program back 5 years". Now?? They should be able to win within a few years (or sooner!!). LOL

Simply amazing.

First, I don't recall ever making that prediction. Either of them.

Secondly, what does that even have to do with my thoughts on the gap between the good and bad teams in the MAC?

You often appear to be very quick to jump on people around here without checking what you are talking about. What is your objective?

Sorry Skip. I was not targeting you...but the board in general. I should have deleted your reference on the post. I can understand why you thought I was inferring it was you who made those comments. You have my apology.

Other than your irrational hatred for OSU, I really value your posts.

[Doug Snyder]

You often appear to be very quick to jump on people around here without checking what you are talking about. What is your objective?

For over 2 years we have read how iCoach has set the program back 5 years or more. That the team has no talent and Ianello was a poor recruiter as well as a poor coach. Now...I am not defending Ianello. But if those observations are correct...then there is absolutely no reason why we would win many games next year. New head coach, new coaches, new systems...will take some time and well as the stated lack of talent. So...my objective is that we should take a deep breath and look at things rationally and GIVE THE NEW COACH SOME TIME AND PATIENCE. And more importantly...some support.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

You often appear to be very quick to jump on people around here without checking what you are talking about. What is your objective?

For over 2 years we have read how iCoach has set the program back 5 years or more. That the team has no talent and Ianello was a poor recruiter as well as a poor coach. Now...I am not defending Ianello. But if those observations are correct...then there is absolutely no reason why we would win many games next year. New head coach, new coaches, new systems...will take some time and well as the stated lack of talent. So...my objective is that we should take a deep breath and look at things rationally and GIVE THE NEW COACH SOME TIME AND PATIENCE. And more importantly...some support.

I would like to think that the new coaches can wring some goodness out of this horrid roster, that Ianello and his assemblage of idiots really were The Worst Ever. However, I agree that we're in for a long recovery here. I have absolutely no doubt that this is the numero uno worst FBS program in the country and is at its low point right now. In fact, I would argue that if the program were to sink any lower there would be no way that it could remain a FBS program at all. On a side note, it's quite an achievement to possess the worst program in the country when you have the amazing facilities we have to offer. Even with the best possible hire, kids are going to resist UA if they have other options. The new HC will have to find a couple of keystone players, kids who can be sold on potential and the ability to be "the guy who turned it all around." Then with improvements on the field and with the "vibe" of the program others should follow. That's a, what, 2, 3, 4 year process?