It’s Once Again, What Have You Done for Me Lately

@MattSchonvisky

Coming off of a 37-29 victory over UCF one week ago, handing the Knights their first ever loss in the American Athletic Conference, UConn fans’ expectations for the remainder of the season, were perhaps a little too high, for reality.

So when UConn fell 35-21 Saturday at Yankee Stadium, those fans were miffed. They wanted and still want to complain about coaching, timeout utilization, the quarterback’s decision making and the play of the defense.

Heading into Army, it was duly noted by Diaco that going against a service academy and an offense that featured the triple option, was a difficult task. This was especially so, for a young team that had not seen this type of style previously. What we saw on Saturday, was indicative of Diaco’s prediction.

Following the game, WR Deshon Foxx probably said it the best, when asked about the lack of opportunities on offense, due to the time of possession dominance by the Black Knights.

“It was very frustrating,” he said. “You’re just on the sidelines and there’s not really much you can do. That was a tough task for our defense. They had never really played an offense like that.”

Husky fans are obviously disappointed that the fourth consecutive season has gone by, without a bowl game. It would be remiss to say that progress has not been made, however. From the start of the year, until now, improvement has been implemented across the board.

I asked Diaco on yesterday’s conference call with the local media, if anything changes, now that the Huskies have  been eliminated from bowl contention. His response was short, but to the point.

“I’m focused on today, that’s it,” he said. “Just like everything I’ve ever said. We are going to get better today, we are going to get better everyday.”

Nothing changes according to the head coach because this entire year has been about getting better, every single day. That mentality will not change as we move from season to season, with Diaco at the helm. It’s what makes good teams better and keeps great teams great. He’s learned this throughout the many years in the profession.

If anyone questions whether this process works, look an hour to the northeast at Foxboro, MA and you’ll find exhibit A. Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Bob Diaco’s process is not going to waver, now that seven games have been lost and a bowl game cannot be accomplished.

Why?

Because his mindset of how things should be done, how teams should operate on a daily basis, is firm. He is not going to change that. Listening back to the first Roadshow leading into the BYU game, which highlighted Diaco’s introductory press conference, he mentioned that this is not a rebuilding job.

Diaco made the comment prior to analyzing and assessing everything that was here at the school. It may have come a little too early, for, if you remember, shortly thereafter, he was quoted as saying he did not realize things were as bad as they were.

Since that time, he has been up front and completely honest when communicating his thoughts on the team, almost to a fault. Predictions were never given and a bowl game was never promised this season. When asked to assess his team, he has always given a truthful measure. It may have been interpreted as coach speak, but he has harped on getting better in all phases, every single day and that is what this program is committed to.

During yesterday’s conference call with the AAC, he noted once again, that things were bad when he first arrived.

“We’re a bad football team, we are just way less bad than we were when I got here in December,” Diaco stressed. “It was a giant mess, colossal and now it’s still a mess, but it’s less of a mess, a much smaller mess.”

This was not a team coming off of a 2007-10 stretch, that had been to 4 consecutive bowl games. This was a team coming off of two 5-7 seasons, followed by a record that was 3-9. It was not the same situation that Paul Pasqualoni walked into, when he took over the program that was fresh off of a Fiesta Bowl appearance against Oklahoma, in Randy Edsall’s final season.

Things needed to be learned, how to win not just games, but how to win in life, how to win in the classroom and how to win for yourself and the decisions that you make on a daily basis. Certain players that were here, could not adapt. There were injury losses like S Tymeer Brown. Shortly thereafter, WR Shakim Phillips also left the team and before camp, RB Lyle McCombs, a three-year starter entering his senior season, was dismissed. Diaco cited his resumé as reason.

What the staff has done since they first took over, has absolutely transformed every single aspect not only in the program, but the everyday life of the athletes within it. A transformation cannot occur overnight. Habits need to be learned, tendencies adopted and a will to win, needs to take hold.

Heading into the season, while the team was completely on board, they were not yet tested. In the nine games through 2014, the team has proven that they have changed, that the will of the staff, has taken hold. There has only been one game where they have not competed down the stretch, which was Temple at The Rent. Last season was a completely different story, see UCF and see Syracuse, the year prior. The players, while not coming out on top, are going through an experience where they are learning, by doing.

As far as the coaching goes, this is Bob Diaco’s first year at the helm and while he should not be exempt from criticism, he is learning everyday and most importantly, he is doing things the right way, the way he sees fit.  There has not been one off the field incident that has been noted since his arrival. You can talk about the quirkiness, the sayings, the Belichick type injury reports, but he’s doing things that build a football program, that develop a foundation.

While UConn fans are acting like fans, with a typical overreaction following a loss, the Huskies are in a good place for the future. With all the young players in the program, which has been noted ad nauseam, the players have been gaining valuable experience, which will only help moving forward. Playing in tough situations, against good teams and in great venues like the atmosphere that was seen on Saturday, will only prepare them for the games out in BYU and Missouri, next season.

While the team fell this past weekend, to what is perceived as a weaker opponent, keep things in perspective. This team beat the reigning conference champions, just one week ago and fans were excited about the possibility of reaching a bowl for the first time since 2010 and the future was bright.

Now?

The staff and players are doing everything wrong, in a typical northeastern overreaction by the fanbase, who is stuck in the ever so popular ‘what have you done for me lately’ mentality. While patience is hard to talk about at this point, bear with them, it is going to pay off in the long run.

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