JD's future.

[ZachTheZip]

We've been hearing the talk about how if JD doesn't get this team a winning record this year, he needs to go.What about the other scenario, though? What if he gets us 6-6 or better and to a bowl? Well, Pigskin Press (scroll near the bottom for analysis of MAC coaches) had an interesting thought on this. If he manages to bring success to Akron this year, he might bolt at the first oppurtunity to avoid the chance that he might screw up again. That could mean that the only way we don't open our new stadium with a new head coach is if JD has a perfectly average season: enough not to fire him, but not enough to create an oppurtunity to leave for a better scenario.What do you guys think?P.S. - They also brought up the idea of a "Zippy beanie night" where we all wear a beanie styled after our favorite kangaroo's headgear to a game.

[Quickzips]

Coaching hires are a two way street. JD can WANT to bolt for a better opportunity all he wants. Fact of the matter is some University out there has to WANT him as well. I'd imagine his stock has slipped some the last couple of years. How attractive is he going to be to a Big East, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC or heck even a CUSA team with a bigger budget when the look at one (maybe) winning season in the last 3 and an overall head coaching record that is barely around .500. Let's just say I'm not too concerned with JD voluntarily leaving.

[zipseuph]

P.S. - They also brought up the idea of a "Zippy beanie night" where we all wear a beanie styled after our favorite kangaroo's headgear to a game.

I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BORED SAYING THAT FOR YEARS!!!!!!!!

[skip-zip]

JD likely needs a great season to put himself in a position again to get attention from higher-level schools. With that said, he's likely here until we get rid of him, whenever that may be. And money is always an issue (as in, how many years are left on a contract). Some schools don't have those problems, but a school like Akron always has to look at that. We've kept coaches before due to the length of their remaining contract.

[Dr Z]

What if he gets us 6-6 or better and to a bowl? What do you guys think?

6-6 He will be in Akron next season. Here is the scenario for a young coach in the MAC. Have a great season and fans talk about you moving on, have a bad season and fans talk about you getting fired.Fans want to win, that is the bottom line. But many times a coach's record during a season is not the ultimate measuring stick. What is the goal of this team? At the end of the year are we any closer to that goal? If we are, it's likely coach stays, if we aren't, can we find somebody that can get us closer to that goal?Here is to hoping the board is full of "JD is moving on to this school and that school" posts at the end of the season.

[GoZips88]

Here is to hoping the board is full of "JD is moving on to this school and that school" posts at the end of the season.

We can HOPE we (and JD) get a better-than-.500 season but I'd like to reserve "JD is moving on to Can't State." for possible future use on the board. Will the moderators permit me to post that or do we not wish that on ANYONE?

[MDZip]

Did anyone read to the bottom of the article where it had a suggestion for a combined MAC/WAC TV network? (The (M)(W)AC network?) Since most of the schools are separated by 3 hours, you could have four games a day (two from each conference). I think that's brilliant - anyone sent this on to Rick Chryst yet?

[ZachTheZip]

Did anyone read to the bottom of the article where it had a suggestion for a combined MAC/WAC TV network? (The (M)(W)AC network?) Since most of the schools are separated by 3 hours, you could have four games a day (two from each conference). I think that's brilliant - anyone sent this on to Rick Chryst yet?

It is a great idea, and has been floated around in the past. The problem is, Rick Chryst doesn't really do anything for the MAC. The other conference guys all feel thast way about him, and I do too. He might leave for the Notre Dame Athletic Director position soon anyways.Another problem is that the WAC might consider itself above sharing a TV network with the MAC. They pull in huge gobs of $$$ these days.

[zippyrifle32]

if i was a betting person (and i'm not) i would put money down that jd is here at least 2 more seasons no matter what happens.

[ZachTheZip]

if i was a betting person (and i'm not) i would put money down that jd is here at least 2 more seasons no matter what happens.

Well, JD has proven that he can recruit the talent. What he hasn't proven is whether he can instill a winning attitude in the program. We could dominate the MAC with the talent we already have, if the mindset was actually there. That's where I am hoping that the numerous transfers from BCS schools will have the biggest impact: becoming leaders and teaching the other players what it means to have a winning attitude.

[Blue & Gold]

All we need is a QB. Without one we're gonna be lousy again this year; with one we'll win the MAC.

[Quickzips]

if i was a betting person (and i'm not) i would put money down that jd is here at least 2 more seasons no matter what happens.

Well, JD has proven that he can recruit the talent. What he hasn't proven is whether he can instill a winning attitude in the program. We could dominate the MAC with the talent we already have, if the mindset was actually there. That's where I am hoping that the numerous transfers from BCS schools will have the biggest impact: becoming leaders and teaching the other players what it means to have a winning attitude.

I hate to constantly be down on our football program, but I would HARDLY call JD's recruiting "proven." Yes he's technically signed a lot of talent, but a lot of it hasn't even made it to campus. Quite a few more have been kicked off the team or transfered out. I hope he's learned his lesson and finally has this thing figured out as it appears he does, but at this point I still don't think you can call his recruiting "proven."

[ZachTheZip]

All we need is a QB. Without one we're gonna be lousy again this year; with one we'll win the MAC.

I really hope that Matt Rodgers is able to make his way to the top of the depth chart before we play Wisconsin.

[Zipsrifle]

Well, JD has proven that he can recruit the talent. What he hasn't proven is whether he can instill a winning attitude in the program. We could dominate the MAC with the talent we already have, if the mindset was actually there. That's where I am hoping that the numerous transfers from BCS schools will have the biggest impact: becoming leaders and teaching the other players what it means to have a winning attitude.

What? If I had to characterize the JD era, I would say that he has highly ranked recruiting classes that don't play. What good is that? Also, up to about a year and a half ago, we were winning when we weren't supposed to....MACC. How can we be predicted to finish LAST in the East when we had the best recruiting class several years in a row, and some damn good, and getting better facilities? Here's my take. LO put some pretty exciting offenses on the field, but we had NO Defense and there was a SERIOUS "How can we lose this one" attitude on the team. When JD stepped in, we became a "How can we win this one" type of team and he started building a Defense. I think that transitional period put a pretty good team on the field in '05 and early '06. Somehow, after the NC State win, the wheels started to come off and now we have a decent Defense with a predictable and ineffective offense. We are teetering between a "How can we win this one" (ex. Can't '07) and a "How can we lose this one" (ex. Temple '07) type of team. We have holes all over the place on the team that JD uses JUCO's and rearranges our most athletic players to plug the holes. I truely believe that he took some big risks to get in and get out of Akron. It looked like it would pay off, but the bottom fell out over the past few years and, unfortunately, right now we sit looking up at everyone. I don't know if JD can turn this program around. Our offensive strategy is "if it works in the first quarter, it has to work for the rest of the game". He hasn't shown that he knows how to make adjustments throughout the game. I believe he is, now, trying to build a quality program as his get out of Akron quick strategy didn't work. Now he's got to hunker down and do it the right way, which is hard to do in the MAC. Personally, I really believe he was trying to get out of Akron as quickly as possible, so why should we be loyal to him? If he gets another offer, he's gone, probably just like Kelly was at CMU, leaving before their bowl game....that guy couldn't wait to get out of Mt. P. 6-6, he stays, anything less, we get a new coach along with our new stadium, and unfortunately, more "building".

[Z.I.P.]

Did anyone read to the bottom of the article where it had a suggestion for a combined MAC/WAC TV network? (The (M)(W)AC network?) Since most of the schools are separated by 3 hours, you could have four games a day (two from each conference). I think that's brilliant - anyone sent this on to Rick Chryst yet?

It is a great idea, and has been floated around in the past. The problem is, Rick Chryst doesn't really do anything for the MAC. The other conference guys all feel thast way about him, and I do too. He might leave for the Notre Dame Athletic Director position soon anyways.Another problem is that the WAC might consider itself above sharing a TV network with the MAC. They pull in huge gobs of $$$ these days.

Several years ago I suggested to WAC Commissioner Carl Benson, the creation of a WAC-MAC Challenge basketball tournament. The only way to describe the look on his face is with the word "aghast". Aghast, not avast, matey.Regarding the future of JD, I suspect you all ascribe far too much power to yourselves, as the Zips mainstays. I fear that no matter how low this coach and team fall, the current admin will be afraid to change anything. Wait and see.

[johnnyzip84]

10-2 or better he leaves on his own.6-6 to 9-3 he stays.5-7 (and this is the most likely in my opinion) is right on the border (too close to call).4-8 or lower he is let go.

[Dr Z]

10 percent chance of JD leaving for another job at the end of the year.10 percent chance of JD getting fired at the end of the year.80 percent chance he is the coach that opens the new stadium.100 percent chance of somebody starting a thread entitled "Fire JD, JD's Leaving or JD's Future" by the end of this year.

[g-mann17]

10 percent chance of JD leaving for another job at the end of the year.10 percent chance of JD getting fired at the end of the year.80 percent chance he is the coach that opens the new stadium.100 percent chance of somebody starting a thread entitled "Fire JD, JD's Leaving or JD's Future" by the end of this year.

LOL Nice!

[Lee Adams]

if JD wins the MAC East he stays...actually he would only have to be around .500 to do that...look nobody really cares if you beat Syracuse...if he beats Can't,bg,buffalo,ou and steals another one he can get to the MAC champeenship and be under .500...I'd sure as hell enjoy a game ar Ford Field in December a hell of a lot more than I am going to enjoy the game in the Carrier Dome in September...the ZIPS will either be REAL good..they are on paper...or they will fall off the edge of the earth and JD is back to selling insurance...GO ZIPS

[Blue & Gold]

if JD wins the MAC East he stays...actually he would only have to be around .500 to do that...look nobody really cares if you beat Syracuse...if he beats Can't,bg,buffalo,ou and steals another one he can get to the MAC champeenship and be under .500...I'd sure as hell enjoy a game ar Ford Field in December a hell of a lot more than I am going to enjoy the game in the Carrier Dome in September...the ZIPS will either be REAL good..they are on paper...or they will fall off the edge of the earth and JD is back to selling insurance...GO ZIPS

Yup. If we get good QB play we win the MAC. If we get poor QB play we'll be lucky to get to .500. Easy as that.

[72 Roo]

if JD wins the MAC East he stays...actually he would only have to be around .500 to do that...look nobody really cares if you beat Syracuse...if he beats Can't,bg,buffalo,ou and steals another one he can get to the MAC champeenship and be under .500...I'd sure as hell enjoy a game ar Ford Field in December a hell of a lot more than I am going to enjoy the game in the Carrier Dome in September...the ZIPS will either be REAL good..they are on paper...or they will fall off the edge of the earth and JD is back to selling insurance...GO ZIPS

Yup. If we get good QB play we win the MAC. If we get poor QB play we'll be lucky to get to .500. Easy as that.

I agree quarterbacking is critical and have said so many times on this board. There is another element that is equally important, coaching. J.D. did a great job withthe special teams, but hos coordinators were lousy and, frankly, even below MAC standards. Let's hope J.D. is prepared to rectify the situations on either side of the ball. If he does I think we go 6-6 or 7-5, at best, and set ourselves up for a great run in 2009.

[RACER]

jd needs to finish .500 this year.i don't think it's asking alott og finish .500 in one of the worst football conferences.cinni,cuse,and army are all winnable games.the only game where will have our hands ful is whiskey.cinnci will be a tuff game but we have them at home.having said that our offense was not very good last year.i just don't see how cj will make this team much better than last year.i think the defense and special teams will be fine.the big question is the offense production.i just saw to many times last year where the defense was on the field way to long becuase the offense was doing the 123 kick 123 kick dance.hopefully johnson can be the game breaking back williams was last year.we still need better play from our qb,but we have no proven guys to catch the ball.hopefully the new guys at wr,and a qb to throw it to them.i just dont thinkthere alott of difference in any team in the from the top teams.