Randy Edsall: “If you have to convince kids to be here, it ain’t going to work”

[hardcorehusky]

So this is a multi layered issue. Kevon Jones couldn't wait to sign. That was a UConn connection. But the last 6 years - you look at the program and look at the stands and no one is there. That doesn't excite a kid to play at old State U. I am not sure the coaches and RE are the same page and not sure he wants it anymore. They all wanted PP and sent him the second tier kids - I want the best kids here.

Regarding the convincing thing- I am in sales where the commitment is longer than 4 years. I can pump the balloon full of air and that will work for a little while, but ultimately the air goes out of the sales pitch. The client who realizes and verbalizes that they are on board are the ones that stick long term. There is a difference between recruiting and convincing. I get what RE says- as awkward as he may be.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Based on what I read above, it appears that since most CT football recruits are not coming to UConn, perhaps that UConn has left behind in CR is the main reason.

Particularly in some CT towns' and relatively successful HS football programs, even Big East-football member "UConn's not good enough for us" sentiments existed among some kids, parents, and influencing coaches. Post-conference realignment I, not being invited on the P5 island has not helped.

 

[Exit 4]

Locally step one is winning some games and getting some guys into the NFL.

But lets make no mistake, even if this program was bowling every year, we arent taking more than 3-4 CT kids per class. There simply isn't the talent locally. Plenty of FCS and DII talent, but not FBS top 75 program level - lets going bowling every year - talent.

 

[BlueMAB]

@Irishfan From the stated words, what is your inference and which facts support your reasoning?

It's easier to just say "no, that's not what I was saying"

 

[Slick]

Like... not a single CT football player decided on playing at UConn?

Not sure how anyone can conclude anything other than 1) that’s not great, and 2) Randy comments make it sound like he doesn’t seem committed to changing that.

Again- I was full on apologista for RE v1. Happy when he came back. But this is yet another thing that’s not going well this time round that people are going to make excuses for and it’s baffling.

Makes no difference. Edsall is right if kids don’t want to come to UCONN forget them. The only thing that’s important is bringing in players that can actually play. I like this class a lot. I think he is bringing in much more talent then he is losing which is important.

 

[Pudge]

1. Some are acting like Randy Edsall has not been the coach from 1998-2010. He has a history. With time ... he became comfortable with his Camp & HS development to try a bunch of kids from CT public high school. I don’t think he was there when he first arrived. He will try to work with the CT & NE football coaching community. It’s a process. Frankly.


2. At one moment early in 2019 ... we had 7 Connecticut kids on defense on the field (Harris, KJones, TJones, Herring-Wilson, Fortt, Kyle Williams, Coyle). That’s probably not gonna happen again. Nor does it happen at many flagship State U in FBS. I love that CT earned their way. But that’s the deal ... you’ve got to earn it. Beginning with both HS & year round preparations.

 

[Irishfan]

@Irishfan From the stated words, what is your inference and which facts support your reasoning?

Regardless, some CT residents absolutely do not believe UConn is good enough for them or for their progeny.

simply your comment that “some Connecticut town‘s peer pressure to not consider UConn“. And your more recent comment that some Ct. residents do not believe that UConn is good enough. I had never considered the fact that there was a feeling amongst the population in Connecticut that UConn was not an acceptable place to further your education.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Maybe class of 2020 was a down year for CT football talent

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

simply your comment that “some Connecticut town‘s peer pressure to not consider UConn“. And your more recent comment that some Ct. residents do not believe that UConn is good enough. I had never considered the fact that there was a feeling amongst the population in Connecticut that UConn was not an acceptable place to further your education.

Reasonable or otherwise, not everyone in CT’s 169 cities/towns considers UConn good enough. The same applies in the Bay State regarding UMess. In some ‘burbs with typically stronger school systems, public and parochial football programs, etc., the % is higher than in most locations. Takes all kinds to make up a state!

 

[Pudge]

When I attend parties in Rye NY or nearby (and I assumed this is true in peer cities Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan or Stamford ... or even Glastonbury or Southington or West Hartford), there’s a definite pyramid of superiority. The Elon or Richmond or Villanova gets high cred ... versus a UConn or Buffalo or Albany. The hot schools change; the concept doesn’t. The other thing ... more kids are going to Alabama or Clemson or Minnesota these days. And that wasn’t the case 10-15 years ago.

 

[The Viking]

I'd be more upset if a Canadian kid turned us down instead of a CT kid.
We are Canada's team let's keep that in mind.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Fairfield County is tough because that New England snobbery is on full display. These parents work in NYC and are wealthy, and like to say their kid goes to elite private schools. It remains status-obsessed.

When we lose a high school player -- not a prep -- from Hartford, CT or Eastern CT (like AJ Dillon) that hurts more IMO.

Seems Syracuse has slipped a lot in the pecking order here. As far as Rutgers, the kid they got was a Ball State flip. That just seems weird, but good for that player. Rutgers is an excellent academic school in the Big 10, close to home, and he will learn the meaning of perseverance playing for that football program.

How many non-P5 FBS guys ended up elsewhere? Seems there were a handful of high-level players and then people upset that he didn't reach for FCS talent.

 

[Irishfan]

Reasonable or otherwise, not everyone in CT’s 169 cities/towns considers UConn good enough. The same applies in the Bay State regarding UMess. In some ‘burbs with typically stronger school systems, public and parochial football programs, etc., the % is higher than in most locations. Takes all kinds to make up a state!

That‘s interesting. I honestly thought UConn had a good reputation. But if the people of the state of Connecticut don’t see it as a great school, why would some kid from Florida or Georgia aspire to go there. Evidently not for the quality of the football, or the quality of the education.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I'd be more upset if a Canadian kid turned us down instead of a CT kid.
We are Canada's team let's keep that in mind.

^ post/avatar = jealous Scandinavian

 

[AndOne]

Is it easier for Randy to recruit local or out of state players? CT players see the first hand local coverage of UConn losing almost every game during their high school years and probably attended games in a stadium that is 2/3rds empty. If you're a legit CT prospect with options, what can Randy sell you on other than playing time and playing close to home? Other P5 teams can probably offer more and better on everything else. That's a tough hill to climb for Edsall.

 

[freescooter]

The places like Greenwich and Fairfield as well as the shoreline have connections and contacts that lead them to push kids, even kids with athletic ability to compete at a higher level, toward places like the Ivies, or other name institutions or even D3. My neighbor who coaches in the NESCAC says most of them get at least 1-2 kids with the ability to play at the D1 level kids a year from wealthier communities in CT or northern NJ or outside Boston. I’m sure it’s the same for similar schools in PA or upstate NY. The kids want to play football but plan to go to work in finance or med school or law school or academia, not the NFL. And they aren’t at all interested in making football a full time job in college. And they are not encouraged to seek athletic careers. But I think the attitude is that it’s better to go to the Ivy League or “Little Ivy”. That is very different that the attitude in the Midwest or south where public universities are held in higher regard in part because they were the only options for many

 

[HuskyHawk]

You are 100% correct..... here’s another excuse anyway; our long running New England elitist private school culture. In 247’s top 15 CT kids, just two were at public high schools. The private school culture in New England is that state schools are for the poors... unless that state school is a top 25 football power and/or has a campus with great landscaping in a warm climate.

Yes, Randy has done zilch to close the local disconnect. Absolutely nothing and he clearly has no plans to make an effort to narrow this divide. That said, for the time being he does seem to have a good report going with a few private school talents for the 2021 class. He might actually get one in 2021. Have to start winning though in 2020.

Edit update: of the top 18 kids kn the 247 CT ranking, only four attended public high schools and one of those four is Drew Payne at New Canaan who signed with Notre Dame; the others are Joyner (Minnesota), Rainey (Rutty) and a kid at New London; Owen George who is listed as unsigned (could be inaccurate).

That's certainly a part of it, although UConn's rep is much better now among CT high school kids and parents than it was back when he was here before.

There is a massive trend in New England area kids going to southern and midwestern public schools. I know kids near me in the Boston suburbs who had only ACC and SEC schools on their list. It's a general trend, aside from athletes.

That said: As someone who went to Kansas for law school and saw Nebraska and Oklahoma games, if I was a football player, I wouldn't go to UConn over almost any P5 school. Those places just appreciate college football to a much greater extent.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

That‘s interesting. I honestly thought UConn had a good reputation.

To further clarify, MOST CT residents and other relatively informed individuals know UConn is a good to great and well respected university. A smaller % of CT and other US residents allow societal pressures to incorrectly skew their perspectives.

Alternatively, some reasonable people may simply be ill-informed regarding UConn. Finally, other individuals may opt not to access readily-available factual information and/or enjoy rather ineffective trolling.

 

[huskeynut]

simply your comment that “some Connecticut town‘s peer pressure to not consider UConn“. And your more recent comment that some Ct. residents do not believe that UConn is good enough. I had never considered the fact that there was a feeling amongst the population in Connecticut that UConn was not an acceptable place to further your education.

I taught in CT public schools for over 30 years in an affluent Fairfield County town. 14 years on the high school level. I can say for a fact that the guidance counselors and parents looked at UConn as a safe school. Not high on the priority list.

Many families had mid-western backgrounds and Big 10 schools were the priority. As was the Iveys and Notre Dame.

 

[Irishfan]

To further clarify, <u>MOST CT residents and other relatively informed individuals</u> know UConn is a good to great and well respected university. A smaller % of CT and other US residents allow societal pressures to incorrectly skew their perspectives.

Alternatively, some reasonable people may simply be ill-informed regarding UConn. Finally, other individuals may opt not to access readily-available factual information and/or enjoy rather ineffective trolling.

in any event, it is interesting to hear that UConn has a questionable reputation with respect to its academic standing. Should make for some interesting conversation during the holidays with the UConn alumni I spend time with.

 

[Skiblets]

Randy needs to convince kids he is interested in wining. And that he can actually win.

You do enough wining for the entire state. He’s good

 

[Fairfield_1st]

in any event, it is interesting to hear that UConn has a questionable reputation with respect to its academic standing. Should make for some interesting conversation during the holidays with the UConn alumni I spend time with.

It's not a questionable reputation. As they said, it's the snobbery of the affluent near NY and along the shoreline that need a "prestigious" school for their demon seed to attend. UConn is an excellent school, but it doesn't carry the tradition of excellence that these folk desire.

 

[UcGrkFrk]

 

[SubbaBub]

Don't care if kids come from Connecticut or Kazakhstan, so long as they can play. It's not like CT is producing so many kids that not getting any is statistically significant.

The bigger danger has been getting too many kids from CT which means on average they aren't that good. I trust Randy to find any local kids that will fit the program, which is what you are all whining about anyway. Maybe their weren't any this year or the 1 or 2 that might fit the profile chose to go somewhere else.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Irishfan is trolling again.