P&D Pizzeria Now Open…
The axe has been dropped on the Pasqualoni and DeLeone tandem that has managed to drive many into misery. The UConn Husky universe rejoiced very jubilantly. Fans are completely reignited. Players were reported to be high-fiving and chanting during classes. Even women’s basketball fans were paying attention. Some women’s basketball fans consider a solid football program crucial in conference realignment and actually care that the football program succeeds. As many may know, based on what an ESPN analyst said after Pasqualoni’s firing, UConn is still on the ACC’s and Big Ten’s radar. From here forward, we absolutely must have success in football in what is so far a weak conference in the AAC. It is possible other schools in the AAC can improve but time shall tell. UCF could have defeated South Carolina.
Pasqualoni failed to adjust offensive schemes to the personnel on hand, thanks primarily to his very selfish offensive coordinator/offensive line coach friend, George DeLeone. Parents of players were complaining about how selfish DeLeone is. Does he care? Of course not. In his mind, he’s above all. At least when he has a job. Pasqualoni did do well on defense since he has been an expert on defense. But that’s it. Right now, the running game is ranked dead last in the FBS. Behind everyone! 46.3 yards per game. It’s somewhat ironic that is what would happen under a coach who was once a UConn student. The running game was a strength under the Edsall regime but fans still complained. At least Edsall was wise enough to scheme intelligently based on the players he had.
Pasqualoni’s tenure is the worst at UConn since 1920. Fourteen years after the forward pass was legalized. Eight years after the Titanic sank. Two years after World War I ended!
In TJ Weist, we have a fresh start and an interim coach who wants to remain the head coach. A coach who understands adjusting in accordance with players on hand, whether it’s the pro I-formation or the spread offense. Fans are excited to see what he can do. Weist will keep offensive coordinator responsibilities, Mike Foley has been reinstated as the offensive line coach and Hank Hughes is the defensive coordinator.
Weist has a very interesting history and it seems the Husky faithful have some reasons to hope he can rejuvenate the offense. He coached over 16 NFL wide receivers and was the offensive coordinator for the 2012 Belk Bowl, helping lead the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 48-34 win over the Duke Blue Devils. The Bearcats quarterback went 17 of 25 for 332 yards in that game. However, he does have doubters in the football community, citing him being mostly a wide receivers coach for most of his career. But he does have a decent amount of experience as an offensive coordinator and an assistant head coach, too. Here is Weist’s resume prior to coming to UConn.
1988-89: Alabama – Wide Receivers/Grad. Asst.
1990-93: Michigan – Wide Receivers/Vol.-Grad. Asst.
1994-95: Southern Illinois – Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
1996: Tulsa – Wide Receivers
1997-2001: Indiana – Wide Receivers
2002-2009: Western Kentucky – Receivers/Running Backs, Assistant Head Coach (2007-09), Offensive Coordinator (2003-06)
2010-12: Cincinnati – Wide Receivers
Let the festivities resume. At least now the fans are happy, with the dark clouds above UConn football gone.
During his press conference after Pasqualoni’s firing, athletic director Warde Manuel gave complete recognition to the fans and the donors and the fact we want nothing but success. That’s what Warde Manuel and TJ Weist want, too.
We are free! Finally. From George DeLeone’s ego. Hard to believe one man can put himself above the state and University of Connecticut. Hope he is happy with his place in UConn football history. Amongst the worst coaches ever. But he most likely won’t care, right? It’s hard to fathom how a coach with over 40 years of experience can be so knuckle-headed but arrogance blinds. He probably doesn’t care that he helped put his former head coach friend out of football for the first time since 1964.
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