Are we better off sticking to the plan, or...

[Exit 4]

We’ll be in big trouble if @UConnDan97 doesn’t predict an undefeated 2019 season.

But yes. The fun and joy of UConn Football is gone for me and that is indeed sad. I will pick spots for a few games next year but I won’t be able to convince anyone to pay full freight for season tix.

I know we aren’t shutting down football even for a bit (yet), and I know we aren’t canning Edsall. He can probably get us to be mediocre with enough time, though he hasn’t shown one bit that he can recruit for the AAC like he could for the Big East. We aren’t convincing kids to come play here - yes he’s the coach and bears responsibility but frankly a generation of suck and bad decisions has done us in moreso. We will not improve fast enough while waiting for frosh and sophs to turn in to juniors and seniors. We need that depth to compete.

Meanwhile the last breaths of the program are being squeezed out of us. Season tix will fall further. If the D improves next year, maybe what, bottom third of D1? We are breaking in a new QB. We’ll still sorely lack depth. The negativity will continue and drumbeat to drop football entirely will get louder. Not sure how we pull out of the death spiral.

Quick, someone get this man a double vodka something and a rosy spring practice report on our QB situation stat - we're losing him!

 

[RSTuthill]

haha I'm pretty sure prep schools have different academic requirements for PG's (post grads).

A lot of them do not even accept PG's. Either come for at least two years or not at all.

Full disclosure, my kids went to an academically rigorous school that competes with AOF only in some sports (and FB is not one of them). But one of their alums recently scored two touchdowns against the Huskies.

 

[crazyUCfan23]

A lot of them do not even accept PG's. Either come for at least two years or not at all.

Full disclosure, my kids went to an academically rigorous school that competes with AOF only in some sports.

the two scenarios I've seen most frequently from my playing and coaching experiences is that kids will go public for 1 year then prep and begin again as a freshman or go public for 3 years then repeat junior year at prep and stay for two years.

 

[RSTuthill]

the two scenarios I've seen most frequently from my playing and coaching experiences is that kids will go public for 1 year then prep and begin again as a freshman or go public for 3 years then repeat junior year at prep and stay for two years.

Yup, you are right on target.

 

[Scrutineer]

The look at Buffalo is merely to point out that a cold weather school with little football history can succeed from time to time. Buffalo is 43-53 vs 28-69 for UConn since Edsall 1.0 left us. Yeah, the Buffalo talk is all about their current momentum.

It'd be interesting to know how Buffalo handles admission standards because I recall their academic reputation has always been very good and it would seem they would have to live with state system requirements.

Too many people here are making statements that imply JUCO and prep school kids aren't able to do the academic work. Do I have to be the first to say there are many young people who don't apply themselves early on in their lives and have to overcome various deficiencies with junior college or prep school offering that opportunity? I can relate well to that although I didn't have to go JC or prep back in the old days at UConn.

 

[UConnDan97]

We’ll be in big trouble if @UConnDan97 doesn’t predict an undefeated 2019 season.

It's gonna be the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and I've watched "Sharknado"...

 

[RSTuthill]

It'd be interesting to know how Buffalo handles admission standards because I recall their academic reputation has always been very good and it would seem they would have to live with state system requirements.

Too many people here are making statements that imply JUCO and prep school kids aren't able to do the academic work. Do I have to be the first to say there are many young people who don't apply themselves early on in their lives and have to overcome various deficiencies with junior college or prep school offering that opportunity? I can relate well to that although I didn't have to go JC or prep back in the old days at UConn.

Most preps have much higher academic standards than the publics. But there are prep jock factories, particularly the ones who accept PG's and have big reputations for turning out D-1 athletes, that are in a different class. Important to make that distinction. And yes, I buy into the late bloomer scenario. Even in college.

 

[Dooley]

Not sure why you blame Crocker for not being allowed to coach as he saw fit. It’s all on Edsall, and if Edsall wants to keep him, nothing you can do about it.

This is a results oriented business and the defensive results were the worst of all-time. You have to hold somebody accountable. Also, makes zero sense to keep Crocker if he's not going to be allowed to coach as he sees fit.

 

[Dooley]

It's gonna be the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and I've watched "Sharknado"...

There's Oscar buzz around Sharknado 11.

 

[gioff2323]

Not starting another one of these just to rile people up... believe me I would have faught someone for suggesting it. But we are where we are and incremental changes are not going to pull us out of this death spiral.

Do we fix things faster if we pull a UAB - shut it down, clean house from AD on down, and see about rebooting it in two years? Edsall’s plan will admittedly take years to execute... to reach what sort of up side? Would we be any worse off?

Our PLAN for this decade was 5 head coaches and countless coordinators and position coaches. We sprinkled in 3 ADs and recruiting that would make Holy Cross proud. No kid had the same coordinator or position coach for more than 2 years - other than those who were treated to the styles of GDL. Yes, let's change the plan again; that has worked well for us. It'll definitely be different this time!

 

[CTBballfan243]

Not starting another one of these just to rile people up... believe me I would have faught someone for suggesting it. But we are where we are and incremental changes are not going to pull us out of this death spiral.

Do we fix things faster if we pull a UAB - shut it down, clean house from AD on down, and see about rebooting it in two years? Edsall’s plan will admittedly take years to execute... to reach what sort of up side? Would we be any worse off?

No.

 

[Bonehead]

Season tix going to be a disaster next year.

They need to think outside the box here and not sure if doable but...

1. All season tix holders get first opportunity to all other Rent events before general public. Need to book more Rent events. Large concerts. Soccer. Other. Timberlake July 2019.
2. Have a concert after a game. Not Justin Timberlake but like Kool and the Gang or something.
3. Move the labor day weekend from thirsday to Friday and involve fireworks after game.
4. Give tickets away to local youth groups - build the relationship. We have plenty to give.
5. Charge more for tix not for season tix.

 

[RSTuthill]

3. Move the labor day weekend from thirsday to Friday and involve fireworks after game.

Half of CT goes to the shore or to the mountains on Labor Day weekend Friday night.

 

[MrHockey9]

The line from the movie Argo keeps coming back to me-“there are only bad ideas-it’s about choosing the best one.” I think that means Randy right now but I have to think there are ‘better bad ideas’ if the team gets blown out in the first two games next year.

 

[MrHockey9]

And yes, give away tickets early on. More butts on cement are far more important than counting the losses from a 12k gate.

 

[the Q]

You can't do what UAB did, except at a couple of poor academic colleges. Look at their roster. There are ~52 transfers and JUCOs. In total, they have 30 R-Srs and 5 seniors. Pulling a UAB is not an option.

On to Buffalo. Sure, Leopold looks like a really good coach, but look at the roster. There are 21 transfers/JUCOs and 4 Milford Academy kids. That is not going to happen at UConn.

Other schools total number of transfers/JUCOs/Prep: Memphis 17, UMass 18, Temple 16, SMU 18, Cincinnati 14, UCF 17

UConn has maybe 4 JUCOs/transfers/preps on the roster, which is too few given the holes in the roster.

I think the right mix for UConn right now is to bring in ~5 to 8 Grad transfers/JUCOs/preps this recruiting cycle as we wait for the younger players to develop.

Why can’t that happen at UConn? It also worked for Kansas st.

 

[Bonehead]

Half of CT goes to the shore or to the mountains on Labor Day weekend Friday night.

And half dont go cause it's a school night. And half dont go cause it's usually not a top d1 team. I would try something new. Cant hurt.

 

[uconnfan68]

This is a results oriented business and the defensive results were the worst of all-time. You have to hold somebody accountable. Also, makes zero sense to keep Crocker if he's not going to be allowed to coach as he sees fit.

Unless Edsall likes the way he teaches technique. ;^)

 

[CTMike]

Unfortunately I think we are at the point that even if season tickets were free we wouldn’t increase our base.

 

[DAC17]

Unfortunately I think we are at the point that even if season tickets were free we wouldn’t increase our base.

And, even if they were free, there's no guaranteeing people would show up.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

UAB is an anamoly , on the undergrad level it is a commuter community college.

Yup, further emphasizing my prior reference to UAB's pitifully low undergrad admissions standards versus a typical Level 1 trauma center's high standards, e.g., UAB's hospital, med school, etc. For UAB's gridiron recruiting, it's not too much of a stretch to believe not too many players will treat GSWs, perform brain or heart surgery, etc in UAB's hospital down the road.

 

[RSTuthill]

And half dont go cause it's a school night. And half dont go cause it's usually not a top d1 team. I would try something new. Cant hurt.

Tried the top D1 team this year.

 

[uconnbill]

Clearing house is governed by the NCAA not UConn. Sounds like this recruit will have an issue with every school.

No, he only has an issue with UConn. He is cleared by other schools just not up to UConn standards academically

 

[superjohn]

I can't believe I'm saying this. University of Buffalo, bucks all the excuses around why UConn can't be successful. 10-2 in the MAC, a worse conference, with worse facilities, decent academically and not a great recruiting area. It can be done, we just haven't had the right people here to right the ship.

The excuses are made by the fanbase because all the coaches do is make excuses and throw the kids under the bus. A good coach can turn things around anywhere. We've just hired incredibly bad ones.

 

[superjohn]

The easiest thing to do is just hire someone who will cheat

UConn seems like they want some sort of Ivy League image when nobody thinks they are anything like that.

 

[superjohn]

So how do you fix this mess? Give Randy a few more years to build up to 6-6?

As insane as it sounds it seems like a lot on the board want this. Five years of utter futility to hope for a chance at a 6-6 season in year 6. The fanbase is so browbeaten with disgustingly bad play they've completely lost it.

 

[Stainmaster]

As insane as it sounds it seems like a lot on the board want this. Five years of utter futility to hope for a chance at a 6-6 season in year 6. The fanbase is so browbeaten with disgustingly bad play they've completely lost it.

Where's the money coming from?

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Where's the money coming from?

I said something similar in a different thread, but you either cut funding/cut non-revenue sports now, in hopes that we can get into the P5, or we cut them later when were stuck in the American for good.

A lot easier to bring back a softball or hockey program that was cut, than it is to try and compete in the American football conference with the current regime.

 

[superjohn]

Where's the money coming from?

Edsall isn't coaching for free.

 

[superjohn]

I said something similar in a different thread, but you either cut funding/cut non-revenue sports now, in hopes that we can get into the P5, or we cut them later when were stuck in the American for good.

A lot easier to bring back a softball or hockey program that was cut, than it is to try and compete in the American football conference with the current regime.

We're spending $50 million or so on what sounds like a glorified high school hockey rink.