Gerry Faust Story

[Kangaroo Craig]

I met Jerry a few times. Although his coaching record at the collegiate level isn't all that great, He's a good, decent Christian man who cares deeply for his players, family, and friends.

[Kangaroo Craig]

I met Jerry a few times. Although his coaching record at the collegiate level isn't all that great, He's a good, decent Christian man who cares deeply for his players, family, and friends.

[Dr Z]

Mr. Faust has given many more years to UA then Mr Columbus.

If Mr C. accumulates the years that Jerry has at UA, I'll eat my hat.

Apples and oranges.

[Zipmeister]

I met Jerry a few times. Although his coaching record at the collegiate level isn't all that great, He's a good, decent Christian man who cares deeply for his players, family, and friends.

A testament to the old saying concerning where nice guys finish.

[Dave in Green]

I see Gerry Faust at almost every Zips home basketball game. He has a bounce in his step that belies his age. I've never seen anyone at the JAR who's more positive and outgoing. He always has a big smile on his face, shaking hands, talking with adults and children, kissing babies. I understand he's on campus almost every day trying to do something positive to help advance UA. As far as I'm concerned, his Zips credentials are golden.

[UAZipster0305]

I met Jerry a few times. Although his coaching record at the collegiate level isn't all that great, He's a good, decent Christian man who cares deeply for his players, family, and friends.

I don't know why this is always used as a badge of virtue. While I trust that your testimony about GF caring about the people around him is accurate, I am always skeptical about a religious label being used as a means of promoting someone. He's Christian...fine, I don't have a problem with that, but I also don't need to know about his belief system because that is part of his personal life.

There are plenty of virtuous non-believers and there is also no shortage of believers who are horrible people. The opposite can just as accurately be stated.

[akzipper]

Help with what? The Indians? Is that what we are paying him $200k a year to do?

Maybe the guy hasn't done much for UA, but you have no right to criticize a guy for what he does in his FREE time. Do you spend 24/7 at your place of employment?

Same people who were criticizing Tree and Harney because they were tweeting about playing Halo, when idiots say "Well good thing they aren't practicing!"

[Zips Win!]

I see Gerry Faust at almost every Zips home basketball game. He has a bounce in his step that belies his age. I've never seen anyone at the JAR who's more positive and outgoing. He always has a big smile on his face, shaking hands, talking with adults and children, kissing babies. I understand he's on campus almost every day trying to do something positive to help advance UA. As far as I'm concerned, his Zips credentials are golden.

- 1,000,000,000.

He gets in for free...

His credentials are:

43-53-3

[GP1]

- 1,000,000,000.

He gets in for free...

His credentials are:

43-53-3

I agree. Trying to help the University isn't enough. Positive energy isn't enough. It isn't a high school. It's a major university in a large state and too many people see it as the high school that if there were just enough volunteers it could really go places. The professionals need to get the job done, not the volunteers.

Gerry tried to help the University years ago and failed as a football coach. In a sane world, the guy gets fired and moves on and away from the University they work for. In the UofA world, this guy is given a job outside of his ability, a key to an office with free office supplies and a free pass to as many sporting events as he would like for the rest of his life. Gerry Faust is an ongoing reminder of failure for everyone who sees him at University events. Is the a positive guy? Yes...he is also one of the biggest mooches in history.

The University and alumni at UofA need more results and less holding hands and singing "We Are The World".

[GP1]

Mr. Faust has given many more years to UA then Mr Columbus.

If Mr C. accumulates the years that Jerry has at UA, I'll eat my hat.

Apples and oranges.

You have a hat made out of apples and oranges? Did NE Ohio turn into Havana since I left?

[Dr Z]

[Lee Adams]

I agree. Trying to help the University isn't enough. Positive energy isn't enough. It isn't a high school. It's a major university in a large state and too many people see it as the high school that if there were just enough volunteers it could really go places. The professionals need to get the job done, not the volunteers.

Gerry tried to help the University years ago and failed as a football coach. In a sane world, the guy gets fired and moves on and away from the University they work for. In the UofA world, this guy is given a job outside of his ability, a key to an office with free office supplies and a free pass to as many sporting events as he would like for the rest of his life. Gerry Faust is an ongoing reminder of failure for everyone who sees him at University events. Is the a positive guy? Yes...he is also one of the biggest mooches in history.

The University and alumni at UofA need more results and less holding hands and singing "We Are The World".

Maybe this is one of the problems here. There is no reason to continue to try to defend what was not accomplished over the past30 years years or so. A lot of people on this board don't like to be reminded or don't know that both the football and basketbaball programs wer successful before the disatarous decision was made to go to D-I. The basketball program is stuck and the football program has never really been consistently competetive.I'll keep buying season tickets. But,please don't denigrate fans who question the direction of this administration when the record of the football program deserves nothing more.

[InTheZone]

I don't know why this is always used as a badge of virtue. While I trust that your testimony about GF caring about the people around him is accurate, I am always skeptical about a religious label being used as a means of promoting someone. He's Christian...fine, I don't have a problem with that, but I also don't need to know about his belief system because that is part of his personal life.

There are plenty of virtuous non-believers and there is also no shortage of believers who are horrible people. The opposite can just as accurately be stated.

Hyper-sensitive much?

[UAZipster0305]

Hyper-sensitive much?

Not at all actually. Just making a point, and I think I did so in a fair and constructive manner.

[skip-zip]

His credentials are:

43-53-3

Correct. Which makes him the most successful coach in Akron's D-1A era. And he also still holds the record for the most successful single season mark in our D-1A era. And he did it with far less resources than anyone else who's coached us in our D-1A era.

Sure. These are not impressive numbers. But, I have to keep pointing this out to the detractors who hammer on Faust without realizing that these were the most successful years of the last nearly 30 years of Zips football.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

Correct. Which makes him the most successful coach in Akron's D-1A era. And he also still holds the record for the most successful single season mark in our D-1A era. And he did it with far less resources than anyone else who's coached us in our D-1A era.

Sure. These are not impressive numbers. But, I have to keep pointing this out to the detractors who hammer on Faust without realizing that these were the most successful years of the last nearly 30 years of Zips football.

What conclusions can be drawn from the above? How is it that Faust, with the Rubber Bowl, older campus that served primarily commuters, no practice facility and starting from the old OVC, won as many games as the later coaching staffs?

[K-Roo]

Gerry's three winning seasons were 1986 when we were still 1AA and in the OVC and 1992 when he went 7-3-1.

He only had one other winning season .. 1989 (6-4-1)

Zips Football stats

1994 MAC 1-10

1993 MAC 5-6

1992 MAC 7-3-1

1991 Independent 5-6

1990 Independent 3-7-1

1989 Independent 6-4-1

1988 Independent 5-6

1987 Independent 4-7

1986 Ohio Valley 7-4

Lee Owens best seasons were 2003 (7-5), 2000 (6-5), 1999 (7-4)

Brookhart had two winning seasons 2004 (6-5), 2005 (7-6)

[skip-zip]

What conclusions can be drawn from the above? How is it that Faust, with the Rubber Bowl, older campus that served primarily commuters, no practice facility and starting from the old OVC, won as many games as the later coaching staffs?

Exactly. That's why I can't understand the hammering on Faust.

But, let me correct you on one thing. He didn't win "as many" games. He has a better winning percentage than anyone, including Brookhart. And WAY better than Owens.

[zipsfan33]

Gerry's three winning seasons were 1986 when we were still 1AA and in the OVC and 1992 when he went 7-3-1.

He only had one other winning season .. 1989 (6-4-1)

Zips Football stats

Im not sure that you can quote a credible source that has this in the first section before any stats are shown:

Akron Overall Record: 212-238-7 (.646)

I am no math genius but I know that a losing record is NOT over .600

[UAZipster0305]

Im not sure that you can quote a credible source that has this in the first section before any stats are shown:

Akron Overall Record: 212-238-7 (.646)

I am no math genius but I know that a losing record is NOT over .600

With more losses than wins, it's impossible for the winning percentage to be over .500.

I calculated it myself, and it came out to 0.464.

[Zips Win!]

Exactly. That's why I can't understand the hammering on Faust.

But, let me correct you on one thing. He didn't win "as many" games. He has a better winning percentage than anyone, including Brookhart. And WAY better than Owens.

GP1 already answered this. The hammering continues because "Gerry Faust is an ongoing reminder of failure for everyone who sees him at University events."

Again, dude was 43-53-3. Because the coaches that followed him sucked more than he did, this cannot validate him as any kind of successful coach. Sorry!

[skip-zip]

GP1 already answered this. The hammering continues because "Gerry Faust is an ongoing reminder of failure for everyone who sees him at University events."

Again, dude was 43-53-3. Because the coaches that followed him sucked more than he did, this cannot validate him as any kind of successful coach. Sorry!

I give you credit for at least acknowledging that he was the best. And please note that my comments are mostly directed at those who put this "worst ever" label on the guy. Are you kidding? You don't have to leave this area to find some really bad D-1A coaches over the last few decades, just at Akron and Ken+ alone.

How soon we forget. We were the first program......ever.....to try to jump from I-AA to 1-A. Why don't you tell us how successful we were supposed to be? Gerry came here to take on the challenge with a roster of I-AA players, no facilities, no money, and the years it took for us to be allowed to catch up to the full I-A scholarship amounts of the teams we were competing against. And even with all of those deficiencies, he's been more successful than everyone who's followed him.

Beyond that, Gerry did a lot for Akron with his name recognition and image. He's also is still probably the most famous and most successful high school coach in Ohio history. Is allowing him a few perks at basketball and football games really such a big problem for you?

[GP1]

Beyond that, Gerry did a lot for Akron with his name recognition and image. He's also is still probably the most famous and most successful high school coach in Ohio history. Is allowing him a few perks at basketball and football games really such a big problem for you?

He gave name recognition for about two years. Perks are earned. We are giving him perks he hasn't earned and he is an ongoing reminder of failure. I have a problem with it and in a sane world, the University would as well.

[GoZips]

He gave name recognition for about two years. Perks are earned. We are giving him perks he hasn't earned and he is an ongoing reminder of failure. I have a problem with it and in a sane world, the University would as well.

And just what have YOU ever done for the University?

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

I give you credit for at least acknowledging that he was the best. And please note that my comments are mostly directed at those who put this "worst ever" label on the guy. Are you kidding? You don't have to leave this area to find some really bad D-1A coaches over the last few decades, just at Akron and Ken+ alone.

How soon we forget. We were the first program......ever.....to try to jump from I-AA to 1-A. Why don't you tell us how successful we were supposed to be? Gerry came here to take on the challenge with a roster of I-AA players, no facilities, no money, and the years it took for us to be allowed to catch up to the full I-A scholarship amounts of the teams we were competing against. And even with all of those deficiencies, he's been more successful than everyone who's followed him.

Beyond that, Gerry did a lot for Akron with his name recognition and image. He's also is still probably the most famous and most successful high school coach in Ohio history. Is allowing him a few perks at basketball and football games really such a big problem for you?

+1. I don't understand the venom for Gerry. Sometimes in life we don't give enough credit to people who are simply decent human beings.