(Poll) Top Ten Biggest Zips Busts

[RootforRoo44]

I know that ZW isn't a huge fan of this list but it's been a big hit with most everyone else. So much so that I've even received messages asking about part 2 on my ZN.o account. That being said, the conclusion is finally up.

I also figured it deserved it's own thread if only because it's an interesting topic. While I don't think anyone would argue that Ianello should be on top, what does everyone else think about the rest of the list?

Top Ten Biggest Zips Busts of the Past 10 Years: Pt1

Top Ten Biggest Zips Busts of the Past 10 Years: Pt2

The poll is on the home page and at the bottom of part 2.

[Dr Z]

Good topic, nice list. I'm not sure how one define "busts." Expectations vs production?

One issue I would have, would be the name David Harvey. (click through this SI list to see how many landed in the NFL including Tebow).

He led the team in catches and TDs his freshman year!?!? My gawd that kid had talent, and it showed on the field.

His off field issues ultimately ended up making his talents useless, but the dude had skills.

The other guys on your list never showed much or anything on an Akron court/field, so that's what makes DH different.

I probably wouldn't have Ianello #1, he's on the list for sure, but the biggest bust? Worst hire, yes.

I never even heard of the dude when we hired him. I'll never understand that hire till the day I die.

I would move Bain and Euton up on the list, and Conyers down. At least Conyers had one good year, but I agree with you,

he should be on the list. You'll probably get a lot of others who disagree. Shane & Walt are probably deserving.

Igor should have made the top ten. I think JD told the story of how PSU wanted him, but he said Akron offered first.

I would disagree with Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, and Jeremiah Wood. I think they played to their potential.

I don't think it was any of their faults they didn't succeed more than they did.

Fun topic.

[Blue & Gold]

Hilarious quote concerning Ianello:

"Only weeks later he would be replaced by the great Terry Bowden, who has already surpassed Ianello on the all-time Akron coaching list (coming soon) without ever coaching a game!Though Rob Ianello might not fit in with the others on this list due to never having much high hope to begin with, he somehow managed to fall far below even the lowest of expectations. Going 2-22 and single-handedly demolishing a D1 program – with top-notch facilities nonetheless – surely earns Ianello the top spot on this list, if not the top spot all time on the list of Biggest Zips Busts."

And I wouldn't have the Big 3 on the list either. They played very well and laid the foundation for UA's basketball upswing.

[RootforRoo44]

Good topic, nice list. I'm not sure how one define "busts." Expectations vs production?

One issue I would have, would be the name David Harvey. (click through this SI list to see how many landed in the NFL including Tebow).

He led the team in catches and TDs his freshman year!?!? My gawd that kid had talent, and it showed on the field.

His off field issues ultimately ended up making his talents useless, but the dude had skills.

The other guys on your list never showed much or anything on an Akron court/field, so that's what makes DH different.

I probably wouldn't have Ianello #1, he's on the list for sure, but the biggest bust? Worst hire, yes.

I never even heard of the dude when we hired him. I'll never understand that hire till the day I die.

I would move Bain and Euton up on the list, and Conyers down. At least Conyers had one good year, but I agree with you,

he should be on the list. You'll probably get a lot of others who disagree. Shane & Walt are probably deserving.

Igor should have made the top ten. I think JD told the story of how PSU wanted him, but he said Akron offered first.

I would disagree with Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, and Jeremiah Wood. I think they played to their potential.

I don't think it was any of their faults they didn't succeed more than they did.

Fun topic.

- Busts in my mind were anyone that either A) Never met expectations or Screwed up in someway that cut short their time and ability to contribute to the team.

Obviously someone like Rydell Brooks was never even truly on the team, yet expectations were somewhat high for him after his freshman season at Niagra and he never played a minute due to incredibly bad decision making. As far as Harvey goes, he had an amazing freshman season but he made awful decisions himself, and as a student-athlete, his schooling was equally (if not more) important than his on-field performances.

- As B&G quoted me perfectly above, I'll direct you to that. But to put it simply, while not much was expected of Ianello, his blunders were so massive that no reasonable person could have predicted him failing THAT badly. For that I consider him a massive "bust".

-Bain was tough, because he was part bad off the field decision-making and part bad luck. Combined with what talent he had and the high expectations, he definitely flopped big time. It was tough putting him so low, and my first instinct would have been to put him ahead of Conyers and Harris/Mont. but after reading old posts on here and looking at the hype from newspapers as they came in, it's hard to see him that high. Remember Bain plays a game where he's just one out of two-dozen or so positions, while Conyers is one out of five. In basketball it's far easier for one player to change a game entirely, and Conyers was hyped, if not almost expected to do just that. Also, Harris and Montgomery both had strong resumes coming in and we were expecting fairly big things for the football program. Of course 2009 never panned out and even if it wasn't entirely their fault, they never amounted to anything on the Zips staff.

[Zip_ME87]

This will probably be controversial with some, but I would suggest adding Coach it can't be done at Akron Ken Lolla to the list, especially given that he has been proven wrong.

[johnnyzip84]

I can't see Dru, Romeo or Wood being on this list, but a lot has to do with my definition of "bust". Mine is more in line with Dr Z's (much hype with little results).

Bain is certainly one that stands out. I'd also put Nate Robinson under D-lineman who were supposed to be all-world. He has to be the only Zip football player ever who was originally a 5-star recruit (BEST DL in nation according to one of the services). Frenchy even got caught up in the hype. I heard him predict at least one MAC defensive POY award for Nate. And while Frenchy is defintitely a "homer", he generally doesn't get caught up too much in speculation either. Nate wound up being a DECENT MAC player, but not much else.

I'm surprised GP1 hasn't brought up the Canadian RB Thomas Plummer?

[tbozeglav]

This will probably be controversial with some, but I would suggest adding Coach it can't be done at Akron Ken Lolla to the list, especially given that he has been proven wrong.

Thats an interesting proposition. Its hard to call him a bust by definition, though. He had a 160–68–25 record, 8 MAC championships, and went to the tourney 5 times. However, I see where you're coming from in the sense that he didnt think it could be done here. I'd call him more of a deserter than a bust. The guy was successful here... he just didn't have the fire porter does to take us to the next level.

[Zip_ME87]

Thats an interesting proposition. Its hard to call him a bust by definition, though. He had a 160–68–25 record, 8 MAC championships, and went to the tourney 5 times. However, I see where you're coming from in the sense that he didnt think it could be done here. I'd call him more of a deserter than a bust. The guy was successful here... he just didn't have the fire porter does to take us to the next level.

I would agree with you. However, if RootforRoo44 is going to include Romeo, Dru, and Jeremiah Wood on the list for not quite living up to expectations, then Ken Lolla should also be on the list for the same reason, in my opinion.

[zipsbandman]

Ryan Bain

[Hilltopper]

I sure was disappointed when I opened this thread and didn't find this;

[Zipmeister]

None of the candidates so far has Monster hands!!