“I couldn’t want it more than anything in my life besides my family".

[BNich]

Why are folks dismissing the first five games, interim coaches do come in and win right away, just look to USC this year. That was a s#it show with Kiffin, Ed O got wins right away. I'm not suggesting the talent on this teams is like the talent in that team, but to ignore the similarities of the situations would be foolish.

I have no idea if TJ is the right man for the job, I do know that falling in love after three wins isn't the best thing to do. Interview him, see his vision for the program and see what is plan is for achieving his vision and do a comparative to the other candidates.

USC also wasn't 0-3, didn't lose to an FCS team, has much more talent on their roster and it wasn't Orgeron's first year with the program. What Weist was able to accomplish mid-season is great. After losing 5 straight the way they did after the change, hats off to the young men and coaches for not giving up and not quitting. I was proud to be a Uconn fan the past three weeks. I was pumped to see the final of Saturday's game.

 

[BNich]

Rutgers is our arch rival?? When is the next time we will be playing them??

They've been our arch rival. It was the last game of the series against them. It was an important moral victory. They are still well within our recruiting territory. If you don't think the victory means a lot then have no clue.

 

[BNich]

Here's a question, for you all.

If Warde had not fired Paul Pasqualoni, and the season had gone EXACTLY THE SAME...would you want to bring Coach P back?

I mean, in the end, maybe you'd say (we know srqhusky and mets would) "He just had to find a good QB, Cochran". Or you'd say "It took awhile, but now PP has UConn firing on all cylinders!"

No - You wouldn't (other than srq). It would be completely, utterly ridiculous.

So why won't you hold Weist to a similar standard? He's completely unproven as a HC, and we're apparently willing to overlook that because he went 3-0 against 3 bottom 20 programs. That's great, if we move to the Sun Belt conference...maybe good enough to make a bowl once in awhile.

As others have said, it goes well beyond record. The attitude changed. The kids seemed re-energized. They seemed like they loved playing football again. Many wanted Coach P gone after two 5-7 seasons. If the season finished as it did with Coach P at the helm he would ABSOLUTELY not be back. And I am pretty sure the fan base would be screaming for his head.

If you consider the teams he beat 3 bottom 20 programs with similar records, where does that put Uconn?

 

[Srqhusky]

Here's a question, for you all.

If Warde had not fired Paul Pasqualoni, and the season had gone EXACTLY THE SAME...would you want to bring Coach P back?

I mean, in the end, maybe you'd say (we know srqhusky and mets would) "He just had to find a good QB, Cochran". Or you'd say "It took awhile, but now PP has UConn firing on all cylinders!"

No - You wouldn't (other than srq). It would be completely, utterly ridiculous.

So why won't you hold Weist to a similar standard? He's completely unproven as a HC, and we're apparently willing to overlook that because he went 3-0 against 3 bottom 20 programs. That's great, if we move to the Sun Belt conference...maybe good enough to make a bowl once in awhile.

Sean it's not just the wins. It's the improvent in blocking wr play and qb play have all trended upwards.offensive Drives even against Louisville were extended we were beating ourselves Half the time Don't u think tj would have loved to prove himself against better competition. I'll bet he wishes Cincinnati was last game.


Hey most of my posts were to give the guy a chance(3 years) and he did bring in some great kids. He is gone now and I don't miss him. I would be the same for to narduzzi or who ever. If we get narduzzi let's say.... If He changes the system enough it may be a year or two to see results. We have to expect that.

 

[uconnfan68]

Here's a question, for you all.

If Warde had not fired Paul Pasqualoni, and the season had gone EXACTLY THE SAME...would you want to bring Coach P back?

I mean, in the end, maybe you'd say (we know srqhusky and mets would) "He just had to find a good QB, Cochran". Or you'd say "It took awhile, but now PP has UConn firing on all cylinders!"

No - You wouldn't (other than srq). It would be completely, utterly ridiculous.

So why won't you hold Weist to a similar standard? He's completely unproven as a HC, and we're apparently willing to overlook that because he went 3-0 against 3 bottom 20 programs. That's great, if we move to the Sun Belt conference...maybe good enough to make a bowl once in awhile.

That is one big IF. I had 0-12 written down. This team made huge strides in the last few games. That would NOT have been possible with PP/GDL.

 

[SubbaBub]

Don't assure me. Those last 3 games said a lot. Look with your eyes.

I did and draw a different conclusion. The last three (2-1/2) games said he can actually coach college FB. If you are Warde are you betting the fate of the program and your job on 10 quarters of FB against Temple, RU, and Memphis?

Of course you aren't, that's what I'm saying. The fanboys can't understand that.

If anyone was on the chat during the Temple game, they know how bad that game was despite our win. We stopped talking about FB completely because no one could bear it any longer. The rest of the game was amazement at how bad Temple was to blow the lead. RU is RU, and Memphis was a 2 win team playing out the string on the road in for them frigid temperatures. It's 3 wins, and not the panacea some are making it out to be.

 

[HuskyHawk]

That is one big IF. I had 0-12 written down. This team made huge strides in the last few games. That would NOT have been possible with PP/GDL.

Yes, but that doesn't mean much. Better than PP/GDL is not the measuring stick. You couldn't set the bar any lower than that. He was OC all year, and the offense sucked while he was in charge of it.

I like TJ, he has a bright future. But right now, I don't think he is the best option. I'll trust Warde with this. He's a Michigan man and football player. If Lembo says no, and Narduzzi says no, and every other guy on our short list says no, then I'd welcome TJ back. I'd take TJ over Ambrose for example.

My best scenario would be Narduzzi comes in, is a defensive guy and as such, has some defensive assistants he wants to bring with him, but no OC in mind. He hits it off with TJ, we bump TJ's pay to 500k and he stays as OC. Foley stays with the OL as well.

 

[thatguyed]

USC also wasn't 0-3, didn't lose to an FCS team, has much more talent on their roster and it wasn't Orgeron's first year with the program. What Weist was able to accomplish mid-season is great. After losing 5 straight the way they did after the change, hats off to the young men and coaches for not giving up and not quitting. I was proud to be a Uconn fan the past three weeks. I was pumped to see the final of Saturday's game.

I was actually proud to be a UCONN fan ALL SEASON. Being proud as a fan of the "kids" and understanding what they're up against especially when the circumstances are bad has nothing (OK, maybe very little) with winning and losing.

 

[Jimdish255]

Yes, but that doesn't mean much. Better than PP/GDL is not the measuring stick. You couldn't set the bar any lower than that. He was OC all year, and the offense sucked while he was in charge of it.

I like TJ, he has a bright future. But right now, I don't think he is the best option. I'll trust Warde with this. He's a Michigan man and football player. If Lembo says no, and Narduzzi says no, and every other guy on our short list says no, then I'd welcome TJ back. I'd take TJ over Ambrose for example.

My best scenario would be Narduzzi comes in, is a defensive guy and as such, has some defensive assistants he wants to bring with him, but no OC in mind. He hits it off with TJ, we bump TJ's pay to 500k and he stays as OC. Foley stays with the OL as well.

It continues to amaze me how this board sees so many things clearly and logically but history and convention make them seem unreasonable. Having a group of younger options 3 years ago and remembering Coach P's finish at Cuse was ignored. Letting P and GDL go midseason wasn't good protocol but it made sense. Watching the tajectory of the tam spiral in year 2 and looking for an early out unacceptable. And now this crazy idea about Narduzzi and Weist. It could be the biggest disaster since the forward pass!

 

[noeynox]

One state in TJ's favor for me. Winning three in a row. Did P ever win two in a row? I'm warming up to the idea of him as the Narduzzi drama unfolds. He won't cost two million. Work out a favorable buyout for the school in case shat goes south.

That said, I am comfortable with Warde vetting candidates to see who fits best. It is going to take a little time I guess.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It continues to amaze me how this board sees so many things clearly and logically but history and convention make them seem unreasonable. Having a group of younger options 3 years ago and remembering Coach P's finish at Cuse was ignored. Letting P and GDL go midseason wasn't good protocol but it made sense. Watching the tajectory of the tam spiral in year 2 and looking for an early out unacceptable. And now this crazy idea about Narduzzi and Weist. It could be the biggest disaster since the forward pass!

Why a disaster? If the HC doesn't want TJ, he's gone. Simple. But Narduzzi works for a guy who was at Cincy, and so probably has connections through the coaching grapevine, back to Weist. Otherwise I wouldn't think it possible. Now if WM tells the new HC "TJ is your OC", that is a disaster waiting to happen. He won't do that.

The protocol had to be tossed, when the team was lost. They had to at least be reminded of what it looks and feels like to play well and win. I credit TJ with that. The kids coming back will know the difference in effort, preparation and execution that comes with winning. What TJ did made the next guy's job easier.

 

[ZooCougar]

There are still some good candidates in play, but I think TJ Weist deserves to be primary candidate. I am not saying that he should get the job, I just think he ought to be given some serious consideration.

-"This is the only place that would offer him a HC gig" This might be true. TJ could leave and be a successful OC at another school, distinguish himself and land a HC job at an FBS school. I think he is good enough to make that happen. But the prejudice that he wouldn't be a candidate now could cloud our judgement.

-In less than one season, he has made a significant mark on the program. The program is better off than it was 8 games ago. If we stuck with TJ, I believe the offense will pick up where it left off and progress even further. Hire someone else, and you run a risk of this progress dying on the vine.

-A different HC will probably not retain him. It would be extraordinary to do so.

-People can diss the Rutgers win all they want. That game is always tough for both schools. How well each team is doing at the moment has always been irrelevant. We've won the game when we were at our best worst on two occasions.

-Is he a good enough coach to win and dominate the AAC? This is the first question that you have to ask. We are not looking for a 3-5 year rebuild. We need to hit the ground running next season. In this conference, I think the answer is yes. I think TJ can win lots of games as HC.

The biggest changes coaching wis will occur on the defensive side of the ball. But when you hire a whole new staff, in most cases they need a full season to congeal. There are exceptions. But there is a burden in asking the players to adjust to a third OC in three years.

 

[metsfan2323]

You just went full ret@rd.

You never go full ret@rd.

My point is that Weist would have gone bowling the previous two years and never been on the hot seat the way P was. Weist clearly has the ability to make in season and in game adjustments, and motivate a team. P was a blind, old mule.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

My point is that Weist would have gone bowling the previous two years and never been on the hot seat the way P was. Weist clearly has the ability to make in season and in game adjustments, and motivate a team. P was a blind, old mule.

Fair point. Thought you were referring to the last 8 games of this season. Not sure how that would've helped.

I take back my original quote based on that explanation.

 

[Carl Spackler]

It's not surprising that Weist would want the job and express that publicly and passionately. The question is not what Weist wants, or any other candidate, real - or imagined - wants. The question is what does Warde Manuel want in a head coach?

UConn fans, from the Pasqualoni and Edsall era's, have hopefully learned that the AD/Football HC relationship is incredibly important to the vitality of the football program ( and by extension - the other sports) in a large college athletic department. That relationship, centers really on one thing, and that's the AD's interaction with (or separation from) the HC regarding the entire football staff with regards to success and failure and meeting goals.

I honestly don't know if Manuel is going to have hands off approach and evaluation and management of expectations of staff, and leave it up to the head coach to do that, or if he will be involved in it. That's a big piece of the puzzle though I think.

Personally, I do not like Manuel's altar boy approach he's taking publicly about getting the right coach for this program. I hope that he's a been a bit more ruthless in private over the past...oh....10 weeks, than he is being in public, because college football is a dirty, cut throat business. You can keep your nose clean but you got to be willing to wade through the mud if you're going to be respected. But he's been very consistent in his approach to how he conducts the business of an athletic department. A little Machiavellian I suppose, but I hope that whatever means he is using to get our next head football coach - the results will justify the means.

 

[Husky25]

I am supporting TJW also. There maybe better options available, but I really don't want a coach who sees UConn as a place to may a quick but important update to their resume. TJW alone has proven he can win here and if successful, I think he would be here for awhile.

How do you know Coach Weist feels this way? There is just as good of a chance that Weist succeeds at UConn for 3 or 4 years and moves on to Kentucky or Iowa State for example. UConn may be a stepping stone for any coach not just a high profile one. Pete Rossomondo could come here and leave after 3 years just as easily as Narduzzi, Clawson, or Lembo.