ACC

[Carl Spackler]

I'm perfectly fine with discussing history, I had almost as much fun going to URI or UMass than I did going to Atlanta or Raleigh or Charlotte.

I disagree with your assertion that people are ignorant. People know UConn had a football team, they just don't much care. I don't understand why and Butchy take it so personally and feel to the need to lash out about unrelated things like Kevin Dineen or how bad the Whalers stunk.

I am interested in the history of sports, and read everything I can on subjects like 19th century baseball. I also follow NEC basketball, but since I know 99.9% of people don't care I don't let it bother me. I don't fool myself into thinking if only people knew about the 1899 Cleveland Spiders it would enrich their enjoyment of the met Yankees-Red Sox series.

See, I knew there was something fair and reasonable in all of this. Thanks. I still don't understand how you've got a piece of turf hanging vertically on the wall for a decade. Defies the laws of gravity.....but Memorial was a magical place.......LOL.

We'll have to agree to disagree that "people" are ignorant. Ignorance of your surroundings and your past is something that is all to pervasive today and I battle it on a daily basis. I think there are thousands of people that have read this thing that probably had and still have no clue as to how a supreme court decision in 1984 around college football television contracts and broadcasting is really what all of this conference realignment mess we've got right now is about, and that the ACC is looking to strengthen it's basketball presence on the east coast through the movement of college football programs in the past 25 years.

As for UConn football, I think it's a shame that so few people really appreciate what came before 2003 in UConn football. Sorry for dumping on Kevin Dineen. He wasn't my favorite player though. Krygier is. Go figure.

But what is definitely most important, is that the players on the field in 2012 and beyond, go out and kick ass. The one historical record that I'm most embarrassed about is that 1998 is the lone season in history so far with double digit wins.

Let's go out and change that - THIS year.

 

[whaler11]

Its in a framed display case with ticket stubs and a roster insert from some newspaper that day

 

[Marty Jackson]

End of any history talk on my part in this thread. When you're an alum who cared to follow the football program before they "upgraded" to FBS, it's not an issue of "who's a better fan". It's part of your upbringing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to Memorial Stadium to get some grass to smoke.[/quote]
While you're at it, maybe grab some for a fellow boneyarder...

 

[uconnfan68]

End of any history talk on my part in this thread. When you're an alum who cared to follow the football program before they "upgraded" to FBS, it's not an issue of "who's a better fan". It's part of your upbringing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to Memorial Stadium to get some grass to smoke.

While you're at it, maybe grab some for a fellow boneyarder...[/quote]
So I guess my memories of finally beating Yale should be dismissed? ;^)

 

[Adios]

So I guess my memories of finally beating Yale should be dismissed? ;^)

I would love to see Yale go back to the top tier. Certainly would give UConn competition, but what a great rivalry that would be.

 

[noeynox]

If you're a CT sports fan, I think you can have fond memories of Dave Babych, Mike Liut and Co., and Troy Ashley, and Kevin Wesley at the same time. Why on the Whalers or UConn's FBS history? I do understand that Carl's repeated alluding to our "history" can get annoying, since the board is full of die hards who know it or some of it depending on our age. At the same time I MISS THE FLUGGING WHALERS!!!!

 

[Waquoit]

uconn has some great bball history pre JC/Geno ...

Actually, UConn only has some pretty good but not great history pre-JC. They won a couple of good games. But they didn't produce any pro players of note, unless you count Toby Kimball having the largest fan club of any NBA player for a brief time. Before 1999, they held the record for most trips to the Big Dance without a Final Four appearance. That screams good but not great to me. I went to FB games as a kid, and while at UConn I was taking a whiz at Rapp's when the QB came in and started going in the sink so I have a bit of UConn FB fan cred. To say that big-time FB at UConn really started 10 years ago seems fair.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Actually, UConn only has some pretty good but not great history pre-JC. They won a couple of good games. But they didn't produce any pro players of note, unless you count Toby Kimball having the largest fan club of any NBA player for a brief time. Before 1999, they held the record for most trips to the Big Dance without a Final Four appearance. That screams good but not great to me. I went to FB games as a kid, and while at UConn I was taking a whiz at Rapp's when the QB came in and started going in the sink so I have a bit of UConn FB fan cred. To say that big-time FB at UConn really started 10 years ago seems fair.

Ha. That's funny. I think it's more than fair to say that big time football started at UConn 10 years ago. It's dead on. BUT: here's that point....that's a lot different than saying that football prior to 10 years ago doesn't matter.

 

[Adios]

If you're a CT sports fan, I think you can have fond memories of Dave Babych, Mike Liut and Co., and Troy Ashley, and Kevin Wesley at the same time. Why on the Whalers or UConn's FBS history? I do understand that Carl's repeated alluding to our "history" can get annoying, since the board is full of die hards who know it or some of it depending on our age. At the same time I MISS THE FLUGGING WHALERS!!!!

No one is sh!tting on the Whalers, dude. Calm down. We all miss the Whalers. I called them the Failures sarcastically. Better question to ask is why are people sh!tting on UConn football's history before we went "big-time". USF fans are proud of their history before they joined the Big East. I made fun of this old logo of theirs and got attacked:

 

[Danzz]

Insider,

What is your opinion on UConn joining Hockey East? Also can we ever hope to become a participant in the Beanpot Tournament?

How much value does ECU have?

Uconn offers no scholarships for hockey. Until they change that, forget Hockey East, the Beanpot Tournament or any major hockey tournament.

 

[whaler11]

No one is sh!tting on the Whalers, dude. Calm down. We all miss the Whalers. I called them the Failures sarcastically. Better question to ask is why are people sh!tting on UConn football's history before we went "big-time". USF fans are proud of their history before they joined the Big East. I made fun of this old logo of theirs and got attacked:

That's a completely sane comparison. I'm sure in 2050 whatever replaces the internet will be ablaze with USF fans talking about the time they beat some CUSA team in the Beef O Brady's Bowl.

 

[MattMang23]

Uconn offers no scholarships for hockey. Until they change that, forget Hockey East, the Beanpot Tournament or any major hockey tournament.

I was just at the NCAA hockey regionals in BPT tonight. Union College is the 1 seed in that region and they beat Michigan State 3-1 in the first game. Union has the fewest losses in the NCAA this year and they are ranked second or third in the country. They also don't offer hockey schollies. I don't understand UConn's hockey inefficiencies when faced with those facts regarding Union College.

 

[kingdobbs]

I don't understand UConn's hockey inefficiencies when faced with those facts regarding Union College.

The simple answer is that the school does not, and for a long time has not, given a about hockey.

 

[Adios]

The simple answer is that the school does not, and for a long time has not, given a **** about hockey.

When I went there, one of their players was shorter than me. And I was 5'8".

 

[epark88]

When I went there, one of their players was shorter than me. And I was 5'8".

And when I went there, they had this dude named Todd Krygier. He was kinda decent, and so was the team. He wasn't on scholarship either, I believe.

If UConn wants to win in hockey, it will win in hockey - schollies or not. Although it would be really nice to see them do it at a HE level one day...

 

[Adios]

There's at least one Krygier Whalers game-worn jersey floating around out there somewhere...

 

[MattMang23]

If UConn wants to win in hockey, it will win in hockey - schollies or not. Although it would be really nice to see them do it at a HE level one day...

Exactly. Which is why, with neither school offering schollies, it's so frustrating to see Union having so much success while UConn is floundering.

 

[UConnDan97]

Exactly. Which is why, with neither school offering schollies, it's so frustrating to see Union having so much success while UConn is floundering.

You guys have to understand that a big part of the reason why schools like Union, Denver, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Rochester, Clarkson, etc., have a fair amount of success in hockey is because they have success in NO OTHER SPORT!! Hockey has become their identity. Therefore, the student body has rallied around it as their source of pride.

We just happen to be very fortunate to be UConn Huskies fans, where seemingly EVERY SPORT is our source of pride and identity. Seriously; I can say with great pride that we have an awesome field hockey team, a playoff-caliber baseball team, solid men's and women's soccer teams, the basketball teams speak for themselves, football has been to a BCS game, and our polo team has been national champions for God knows how many years. I even think that our track team won New England last year, if I'm not mistaken. So it cracks me up that everyone is bent out of shape that our hockey is "middle of the road", especially after playing in a hut for a long time.

Don't worry; that's all going to change soon. Like every other sport, UConn is investigating an upgrade in hockey too. And there is no doubt that we will be very good in the sport in no time at all. But comparison to schools like Union.....seriously??

 

[MattMang23]

You guys have to understand that a big part of the reason why schools like Union, Denver, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Rochester, Clarkson, etc., have a fair amount of success in hockey is because they have success in NO OTHER SPORT!! Hockey has become their identity. Therefore, the student body has rallied around it as their source of pride.

We just happen to be very fortunate to be UConn Huskies fans, where seemingly EVERY SPORT is our source of pride and identity. Seriously; I can say with great pride that we have an awesome field hockey team, a playoff-caliber baseball team, solid men's and women's soccer teams, the basketball teams speak for themselves, football has been to a BCS game, and our polo team has been national champions for God knows how many years. I even think that our track team won New England last year, if I'm not mistaken. So it cracks me up that everyone is bent out of shape that our hockey is "middle of the road", especially after playing in a hut for a long time.

Don't worry; that's all going to change soon. Like every other sport, UConn is investigating an upgrade in hockey too. And there is no doubt that we will be very good in the sport in no time at all. But comparison to schools like Union.....seriously??

Yes, seriously. While I certainly realize that many schools, like Union, have nothing else and hockey is king, that circumstance alone shouldn't preclude UConn from becoming better in the sport.

We have numerous advantages over these one-trick-pony schools: namely our athletics dept makes a ton more money than them every year. Profits from football individually and both basketball programs individually probably trump Union's entire athletics budget three-fold. I don't know how UConn is spending their money, obviously, but it doesn't seem to be funding hockey when you'd think there'd be enough to go around. (note: We are obviously strong in most of our other sports so apparently other sports are receiving their share of funding. This is great and I am proud of our healthy athletic dept, I'm just making an argument out of emotion more than anything else. Having grown up a hockey player I just wish my alma mater was stronger in the sport I played as a kid)

Also, for every small school at which hockey is the cash cow, I can name a Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, BCU, Wisconsin, Minnesota etc. at which hockey is not king, but is no doubt prioritized to some degree. I'm not even asking UConn to get to this level. I am just pointing out that if a small school of few advantages, that doesn't even offer schollies can be as successful as Union was this year, what's UConn's excuse when we also don't offer schollies?

Edit: and for the record, I am not complaining that UConn is middle of the road, because I'd take UConn being middle of the road, if that were even true. But we aren't. We are the WORST program in D1. The ABSOLUTE WORST.

 

[nadav]

You guys have to understand that a big part of the reason why schools like Union, Denver, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Rochester, Clarkson, etc., have a fair amount of success in hockey is because they have success in NO OTHER SPORT!!

you forgot Boston College.

 

[huskypantz]

When I went there, one of their players was shorter than me. And I was 5'8".

Theo Fleury is 5'6". There are a decent number of quality NHL players who are short.

 

[UConnDan97]

I'm just making an argument out of emotion more than anything else. Having grown up a hockey player I just wish my alma mater was stronger in the sport I played as a kid)

Also, for every small school at which hockey is the cash cow, I can name a Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, BCU, Wisconsin, Minnesota etc. at which hockey is not king, but is no doubt prioritized to some degree. .

First, I understand the emotion, because I want UConn to be great at everything, including math team, chess team, debate team, badminton, and table tennis. And I wholeheartedly believe that UConn's hockey team will be a much different team in 10 years than it is now, since they have made the conscious and public decision to advance the program.

Second, the Big 10 has had a HUGE hockey presence for quite some time!! You are naming primarily Big10 schools in your "big school" assessment.

Third, don't be so over-dramatic by saying we are the absolute worst team in D-1, because there are at least FOUR teams worse than us in our own division, much less all of D-1!! http://www.uscho.com/standings/division-i-men/2011-2012/

MattMang23, I'm with you on wanting to see us get really good in hockey. We'll get there, paisan! Keep the faith...

 

[progrocks]

What the hell is this thread about again? Is it now just a general catch all for any conversation?

 

[UConnDan97]

What the hell is this thread about again? Is it now just a general catch all for any conversation?

After my latest post pertaining to the state of UConn hockey, I had the same thought...

 

[Dann]

fruck union. my eyes are on schools like michigan , unc and uva as schools i think uconn can be like ad wise.