Interesting Article on Idaho Program

bobcatbob · Post by **bobcatbob** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:08 pm

Wow-we thought we had problems:
Murphy: Akey doing right thing, but it's still going to hurt
- Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 06/22/07

Next month, Idaho football coach Robb Akey will head to Wallowa Lake in Joseph, Ore., for an annual fly-fishing getaway with friends.
If anyone deserves such a vacation, it's Akey.

Hired in December to rebuild the Vandals — and provide stability to a program that has had four head coaches since 2003 — Akey has instead spent more time handing out punishment than scheming Xs and Os.

Seventeen players have been removed from the roster in Akey's short tenure for a variety of reasons — family obligations, academics, stealing textbooks, dealing drugs, violation of team rules and just plain quitting.

Some Vandals have a longer rap sheet than Pacman Jones and Lindsay Lohan.

Combined.

"I didn't anticipate this many disciplinary issues," said Akey, his normally enthusiastic voice dipping slightly.

"When you tell people things are going to be done one way, it needs to be backed up. That's not why I signed on to be a football coach. Being the principal isn't the job I wanted. But it's my responsibility to make sure that things are done that way."

In setting the tone for his program, the first-time head coach believes he has made the Vandals better on the day that matters most — Saturday afternoons.

"We've increased the character of our football team. We've increased the strength and base we're going to build from," Akey said. "If we've got guys doing the wrong things in the community, it makes it tough on everybody and we get looked at in the wrong light."

Athletic director Rob Spear is selling sunshine as well.

"We have a solid foundation now. And I think the message has been sent and there is a way we're going to do things and a way these student-athletes are expected to do things," he said.

"I'm not going to predict we'll never have another problem, but I do think we have a solid foundation and are moving in the right direction."

Akey, Spear and the rest of the Idaho athletic department can spin this as positively as they want.

I'm not buying it.

Nor do I think Vandal fans should.

I'm not buying that having to dismiss roughly 15 percent of your football team for disciplinary reasons is a positive.

If Akey's efforts are to be applauded — and I believe they are — then it also raises alarming questions about the state of the program.

If it's a testament to Akey's character — and I believe it is — it's also an indictment of the previous regimes and, in many ways, the leadership in the athletic department overall.

"The instability with the head coaching position has had an impact. I do think we were in a rush to fix things quickly rather than doing it over a long period of time," Spear said. "I'm not going to be critical of coach (Dennis) Erickson and coach (Nick) Holt."

Why not?

If character is so important to building a winning program, then why weren't the former coaches held to such a standard? And the quick-fix argument doesn't hold much sway.

After all, Idaho is 20-61 since 2000. The Vandals went 9-27 under Holt and Erickson.

If the problem requires this drastic of a solution, how come it wasn't uncovered sooner? And would these problems have come to light if Erickson — not exactly noted for his devotion to discipline — were still the coach?

Spear said he told coaching candidates that they would have to carefully evaluate the personnel on the team. He knew there were some problems, but did not realize they ran so deep.

"There were enough things happening that I was concerned about, which is why I was up front with the coaches we interviewed," Spear said.

And if tearing down is the only way for Akey to build the type of program he and Vandal fans can be proud of on and off the field — and again, I believe it is — then why weren't others tasked with the same objective?

It simply sounds too convenient.

Yes, it's great that Akey is cleaning up the program, but that doesn't mean you ignore the fact that it needed such a drastic cleaning in the first place.

The actions of this spring will not go away soon. Idaho will feel the effect in future NCAA Academic Progress Reports, which could lead to a loss of scholarships.

"We're making a conscious decision. We will sacrifice an APR score for good character," Spear said.

And they will be felt on the field this fall. Akey is likely to shift to a 3-4 defensive alignment because of the number of defections along the defensive line. Depth will be a huge issue at several positions.

"We've improved our football team by doing this," he said. "Sure, it'd be nice if the guys you got rid of were slow and not good football players, but it's not that way."

Akey better enjoy that fishing vacation. Something tells me this fall will be even more difficult than the spring.

bmurphy@idahostatesman.com

377-6444

GFCAT · Post by **GFCAT** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:24 pm

I personally know Coach Akey, as we worked together at Weber. Rob is a man of honesty and integrity. I can only imagine what he is going trough with the 17 dismissed studen athletes. I know he will make the right decisions and make there program back into a winner. I think he is very similar to Coach Ash is this aspect. Hopefully both of these fine men and coaches succeed and bring their respective programs to prominenece and integrity.

Go CATS!!! Go VANDALS!!!

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:48 pm

Maybe Kramer backing out was reality........................, why jump into a bigger mess.

Cat_gld · Post by **Cat_gld** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:58 am

GOKATS wrote:Maybe Kramer backing out was reality........................, why jump into a bigger mess.

Or, was it hesitation on the part of Idaho? Why assume Kramer can clean up the mess at Idaho when he would be leaving behind a big mess at MSU.....one that he had to claim some responsibility for? It didn't seem quite so clear at the time. Everyone's focus was on Erickson just having shafted Idaho, and the success that Kramer did have at MSU might carry over to the Vandal program. It's amazing how things seemingly take shape when we have time to step back and look at the larger picture.

bobcatbob · Post by **bobcatbob** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:50 pm

Looks like Idaho was in much worse shape than us. Sounds like a real mess. It's no wonder Mike K didn't get this job. Maybe he was fortunate he didn't get it!

tetoncat · Post by **tetoncat** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:00 am

Notice how they say they may sacrifice the APR for cleaning up the program. this is the biggest issue I have with APR. Yes, we want coaches to recruit good kids, but they can make mistakes, or you get someone with a win at all cost mentality. Even if the administration catches that and makes a change you get punished for trying to clean the program up.

This really shows the mess MSU is in as well in trying to clean up our APR and how tough it will really be.

homeytennis · Post by **homeytennis** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:52 am

In Boise Sports Talk Radio's show was devoted to Murphy's article. The gist was that Holt and Erickson had brought in some questionable character kids. They were talented athletically, but not necessarily ready to follow all the rules. There have been quite a few booted since spring practice ended, so next year could be rough on wins and losses. Coach Akey has been around the block a time or two as has Coach Axman and it sounds like they just couldn't stand some of those kids.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:00 am

This can't be good for their APR.

homeytennis · Post by **homeytennis** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:37 am

Coach Akey admitted that they would lose some scholarships down the line but that amputation was necessary to save the patient.