A message from Mora

[NoSpamHere]

When you move to a new job and people ask you why, your answer should focus on the positives of the new place, not the negatives of the old. When all you do is denigrate your previous employer, that implies there’s not much good about your new job but also negatively reflects on you.

 

[Bandito2025]

I don’t want him addressing the team Tuesday. What comes out of that; a recruiting pitch to come to CSU?

Trust me I’m just as mad he should have addressed them by now. I agree it probably could be a recruiting pitch but I don’t think he is that low.

 

[RioDog]

Mora gave his all to UConn over his 4 years here. He resurrected a dying football program and got fans back into the stadium. He was everything we needed in our hour of desperation. We should honor and respect his personal decisions and stop acting like jilted adolescents.

Wish I could like this X 1,000...

 

[Improviser]

It’s not Macy’s fault that the guy riding in the sleigh at the end of the parade dressed as Santa isn’t actually real — it’s the fault of people who believes he is.

Says it all.

 

[Jaydumo20]

So heartfelt. It's something

Here's what I think happened. the folks at CSU hired Mora and said we'll handle all of your social media for you. They went and painted up the photo from Pete Thamel's tweet to make it all snot green. Created a nice long letter to be shared with CSU fans. Then someone noticed Mora was getting roasted online because of the way he left, so some staffer used AI to create this warm and caring thank you. They couldn't even do a quick search for a better photo, just took it off Thamel's post. And then anemic Air Force drops 42 on them. Good.

You very well may be exactly right and it is even more terrifying that this weird internet unreality is where are we all living. I'm gonna go stare at a squirrel.

 

[giddyup]

So in other words, coaches should only leave if fired. Juvenile way of looking at a coach leaving. UConn is getting 1.5 million for him leaving as agreed upon in the contract. We need to move on and not sound like scorned exes.

No. What’s juvenile is thinking contracts are meant to be broken whenever it suits you and “everybody is doing it.” Don’t beg for a job and sign a long term contract making promises you don’t intend on keeping. The guy is a fraud in my view.

 

[Palatine]

Did you see see his CSU contract? More evidence Jim is headed into early retirement.

I have no problem how he left. Pretty SOP.

 

[Hondo 77]

At least he left the program better than he found it.

 

[noeynox]

No. What’s juvenile is thinking contracts are meant to be broken whenever it suits you and “everybody is doing it.” Don’t beg for a job and sign a long term contract making promises you don’t intend on keeping. The guy is a fraud in my view.

So when a school fires a coach are they breaking promises they don't intend to keep? Are you new to sports?

 

[The Viking]

Did you see see his CSU contract? More evidence Jim is headed into early retirement.

I have no problem how he left. Pretty SOP.

Details?

 

[Blades]

Details?

 

[Alum86]

Okay so now everybody found out a head football coach on the FBS level is not completely honest and just tells BS to get players and fans pumped up. Hopefully you will not be surprised and shocked again when the next head coach does the same thing.

This. ^^
He hit the ground running and wore the hook C cap, all rah rah. Did he like it here, really? Maybe.
He made us respectable in football. Left.
Eyes forward. Thanks Coach.

 

[cellocgg]

I think Jim had no confidence next year was going to go well for him here at UConn. Losing the main players for a record setting offense, and much more difficult schedule for 2026. Jim needed to rebuild the offense and defense via the transfer portal this off season. His plan was always to use UConn to revitalize his coaching career but he now realized he was not getting a P4 job offer and UConn was not getting a P4 invite anytime soon. Time to get out of dodge.

But this doesn't make much sense. He knew UConn had no P4 path so he seemingly turned down an actual P4 in Stanford to go to CSU?

 

[CL82]

You very well may be exactly right and it is even more terrifying that this weird internet unreality is where are we all living. I'm gonna go stare at a squirrel.

"What are you looking at jerk?"​

 

[The Viking]

But this doesn't make much sense. He knew UConn had no P4 path so he seemingly turned down an actual P4 in Stanford to go to CSU?

As of now the best group of 6 team makes the CFP. He likely was aiming higher but this was the best he could get.
Regardless whether any of us believe CSU will ever be good enough to make that 12th slot, he is a believer in himself

 

[The Viking]

I really wish benedict would pivot to some kind of inpersonal zoom call for Mora next week instead of allowing him back on campus. He is a fox in a henhouse actively trying to poach kids who have already commited to UConn.

 

[jdb50]

I was at Gampel for a men's game after Jim Mora was announced as our new HC. He was in the VIP area under the sideline chairbacks and came out to sit in some lower chairbacks in the second half.. The building was not full. His wife was with him and he looked thrilled to me to have been hired. He was introduced to the fans at the next XL men's game. So fast forward to the end of last season. The turnout at the Fenway Bowl. and Mora being real happy about it. Then Mora was mad that other programs were trying to grab UConn players in the portal or before the portal. We had a good crowd for Central and then after 2 losses a decent crowd for Ball St. FIU was a lesser crowd and the after the Rice loss UAB was not good. I know it was the day after Halloween. Before the Rice game after we beat BC was when BE media day for BB was and there was only a couple reporters at the Tuesday Mora presser. He was not happy. He was real short with reporters on the Tuesday after the Rice game. Reporters took note and Dom Amore called Mora out and suggested in closing he figure out how to win close or OT games. After Duke Mora was asked about the turnout and fan noise and said he didnt really worry about it but acknowledged he did hear the fans at the end of the 4th Q. I think a few things happened this season that made Mora decide he was done with us and wanted to move on. Winning the last 4 games gave him the chance to go. The delayed statement from him showed he didn't really give a damn at the end. He just wanted out.

 

[huskymedic]

But this doesn't make much sense. He knew UConn had no P4 path so he seemingly turned down an actual P4 in Stanford to go to CSU?

Where are you seeing Mora was ever offered the Stanford job??

 

[UDann]

I was at Gampel for a men's game after Jim Mora was announced as our new HC. He was in the VIP area under the sideline chairbacks and came out to sit in some lower chairbacks in the second half.. The building was not full. His wife was with him and he looked thrilled to me to have been hired. He was introduced to the fans at the next XL men's game. So fast forward to the end of last season. The turnout at the Fenway Bowl. and Mora being real happy about it. Then Mora was mad that other programs were trying to grab UConn players in the portal or before the portal. We had a good crowd for Central and then after 2 losses a decent crowd for Ball St. FIU was a lesser crowd and the after the Rice loss UAB was not good. I know it was the day after Halloween. Before the Rice game after we beat BC was when BE media day for BB was and there was only a couple reporters at the Tuesday Mora presser. He was not happy. He was real short with reporters on the Tuesday after the Rice game. Reporters took note and Dom Amore called Mora out and suggested in closing he figure out how to win close or OT games. After Duke Mora was asked about the turnout and fan noise and said he didnt really worry about it but acknowledged he did hear the fans at the end of the 4th Q. I think a few things happened this season that made Mora decide he was done with us and wanted to move on. Winning the last 4 games gave him the chance to go. The delayed statement from him showed he didn't really give a damn at the end. He just wanted out.

Excellent observations. I do recall at the Coaches Road Show in Stamford ( just before Hurley announced he was going to LA to check out Lakers job) Mora was quite disengaged and disinterested. His wife sat up on the 2nd level seemingly even more disinterested. I remarked to my companions that his body language was just apathetic they concurred. Fast forward after 2 successful seasons he leaves. I noticed his press conferences this year lacked enthusiasm.

My take his wife never really liked it here and neither did he. We helped resurrect his coaching career and he in turn put us back on the map. A lateral move at best. I do feel he hoped we would be in the the Big 12. Good luck but his manner of departure was incredibly weak.

 

[cellocgg]

Where are you seeing Mora was ever offered the Stanford job??

There were multiple reports linking Mora to both Stanford and Oregon State

Do I know that Mora was offered the job? No. Do I think he absolutely could've gotten the job over the NFL QB coach that Stanford just named new HC? Yes

 

[Husker Husky]

I get it. Without a P-4 conference, UCONN is an NIL feeder program. He should have waited for the Colorado AD to call.

 

[WestHartHusk]

He took a payout?

 

[ZooCougar]

There were multiple reports linking Mora to both Stanford and Oregon State

Do I know that Mora was offered the job? No. Do I think he absolutely could've gotten the job over the NFL QB coach that Stanford just named new HC? Yes

You mean the one that was teammates with Andrew Luck in college? Fat chance buddy.

The outcome was predetermined.

 

[JwittersPAC]

But this doesn't make much sense. He knew UConn had no P4 path so he seemingly turned down an actual P4 in Stanford to go to CSU?

Jim Mora was not getting the Stanford job. Only job he was offered was Colorado State. He could not even get the Oregon State nor Washington State jobs he applied for. It is pretty obvious he wanted out of UConn before he thought his coaching creds would take a nosedive based on next season results.

 

[JwittersPAC]

I really wish benedict would pivot to some kind of inpersonal zoom call for Mora next week instead of allowing him back on campus. He is a fox in a henhouse actively trying to poach kids who have already commited to UConn.

College players at all FBS schools are just rentals. I was going to say seasonal rentals but that is not even true since some players will shut down after 4 games to reserve their redshirt year. Lol

 

[Waquoit]

Excellent observations. I do recall at the Coaches Road Show in Stamford ( just before Hurley announced he was going to LA to check out Lakers job) Mora was quite disengaged and disinterested. His wife sat up on the 2nd level seemingly even more disinterested. I remarked to my companions that his body language was just apathetic they concurred. Fast forward after 2 successful seasons he leaves. I noticed his press conferences this year lacked enthusiasm.

My take his wife never really liked it here and neither did he. We helped resurrect his coaching career and he in turn put us back on the map. A lateral move at best. I do feel he hoped we would be in the the Big 12. Good luck but his manner of departure was incredibly weak.

I went to the Road Show when he first got here. Completely opposite, both of them. Sounds like he was done here then. Again, he thought the B12 thing was going to happen and when it fell through he was on to Plan B.

 

[UDann]

I went to the Road Show when he first got here. Completely opposite, both of them. Sounds like he was done here then. Again, he thought the B12 thing was going to happen and when it fell through he was on to Plan B.

Agreed I was also at one in Southington after his first year. Big XII flags were flying in the parking lot. He was jabbering with alumni by the bar. He wasn’t one of the coaches on stage but he was present. When the Big 12 opportunity disappeared he probably began thinking about his exit plans. We benefited by his success. Admittedly it was fun again to go to UConn football games.

Disappointed how he left but not surprised.

 

[kemba]

He’s been pretty consistent in his message that being independent is a big disadvantage. Competing for conference championships and potentially a playoff berth matters. His stock realistically isn’t getting any higher than it is right now so he may have decided it’s the time to make a move even if it’s not as good of a job as he was hoping for

 

[uconnric]

Pretty clear this decision was to get back to his and his wife's home area while he still had the chance. Probably wouldn't have the same option next year. So he makes a decision based on family considerations and left this program much better than when he found it. Don't understand why there are folks who want to vilify him on this board. But hey, it's the Boneyard.

 

[Improviser]

Jim Mora was not getting the Stanford job. Only job he was offered was Colorado State. He could not even get the Oregon State nor Washington State jobs he applied for. It is pretty obvious he wanted out of UConn before he thought his coaching creds would take a

His stock realistically isn’t getting any higher than it is right now so he may have decided it’s the time to make a move even if it’s not as good of a job as he was hoping for

nosedive based on next season results.

Happens all the time with coaches in basketball and in football, or in any high profile college sport. Bolt when your team hits its peak with a likely talent dropoff the next year and the loss of coaching cred and future job opportunities. Pitino did team switching over the years after his teams peaked. So did Beilein, and way back when, Shabel probably did it and Burr Carlson got the leftovers(5-19 in his second and last year in 1969). Fortunately, Dee Rowe resurrected the program and upgraded the recruiting. And the rest is history.