Balance? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Balance?

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Uconngal, I applaud you. That's a rational and healthy assessment of UConn football. Having been at several SEC games and three Texas high school Friday Night Lights games, there is simply Zero comparison in the passion and commitment for those programs. We have a long, long way to go, and frankly will probably never get there (and I accept that we may not ever want to) but I'd be very delighted with baby steps. Like caring enough on game day once comfortably on site to be in your seat by kickoff. In the world of big boy football that in itself is a very minor concern (and in some venues unthinkable not to). Yet just think what a massively huge step forward it would be for us---and how freaking difficult it is to even get folks to concur that it matters at all.
As you said so well, "I for one will continue to support this program and hope that we can find some consistent success as we continue to grow and evolve." So will I.
 
whaler11 said:
Um nobody is disagreeing that finding that coach would be huge. We are pointing out it's difficult.

Maybe we pay attention because we like it? That it can be satisfying to be a fan even when you don't win a National Championship? That it's fun to watch, argue about, tailgate....

If you are following UConn because you think they are going to win National Championships? You will most likely end up like the fans of dozens of BCS programs that will never get there.
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I completely get that. If I wasn't clear then I apologize. I was saying "relevant". Top 25 consistently. Able to compete. I think it's entirely possible and honestly took the replies to mean these people don't think it's possible. That is ludicrous to me.
 
UConngal hit on a lot of facts.

The reality is that it's much more difficult to build tradition in this century than it was when most of the powers built their fanbases. They didn't have as much competition and were able to make their programs a way of life that has endured.

Just look at the basketball programs. The men's team has a deep heritage and has great success. They will play to a half empty XL center most of the year. The women win more than realistically possible and they can't give tickets away.

To truly build the fanbase UConn has to make the game dat experience compelling to casual fans. It pains me to say that - but they aren't going to survive with the 20k diehards. I don't know how to do it and I'm not even sure it can be done - but it has to be the goal.
 
CodyJ. said:
I completely get that. If I wasn't clear then I apologize. I was saying "relevant". Top 25 consistently. Able to compete. I think it's entirely possible and honestly took the replies to mean these people don't think it's possible. That is ludicrous to me.
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There is not a single poster on this board who thinks having a team that is consistently in the Top 25 isn't a realistic goal.
 
whaler11 said:
UConngal hit on a lot of facts.

The reality is that it's much more difficult to build tradition in this century than it was when most of the powers built their fanbases. They didn't have as much competition and were able to make their programs a way of life that has endured.

Just look at the basketball programs. The men's team has a deep heritage and has great success. They will play to a half empty XL center most of the year. The women win more than realistically possible and they can't give tickets away.

To truly build the fanbase UConn has to make the game dat experience compelling to casual fans. It pains me to say that - but they aren't going to survive with the 20k diehards. I don't know how to do it and I'm not even sure it can be done - but it has to be the goal.
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^^^^^ This ^^^^^^ and I'm not being patronizing. First sentence is so on point.
 
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whaler11 said:
UConngal hit on a lot of facts.

The reality is that it's much more difficult to build tradition in this century than it was when most of the powers built their fanbases. They didn't have as much competition and were able to make their programs a way of life that has endured.

Just look at the basketball programs. The men's team has a deep heritage and has great success. They will play to a half empty XL center most of the year. The women win more than realistically possible and they can't give tickets away.

To truly build the fanbase UConn has to make the game dat experience compelling to casual fans. It pains me to say that - but they aren't going to survive with the 20k diehards. I don't know how to do it and I'm not even sure it can be done - but it has to be the goal.
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We face two issues. Building an appealing identity in football and getting people to games in a highly competitive environment. This isn't rural Kansas or Oklahoma. We can't move the Rent and 50k in fans to the moon, but we can forge an identity and fill the place for the big games that people really think count.

This goes against my every instinct as follower of football for nearly all my short life, but here it is.

We need a HC with an offense first mentality. The team needs excitment and scoring and an identity. Building a team around a strong defense isn't bad, but it isn't filling the stadium.

If we were a program that already had tradition, identity and 50k fans that love the program unconditionally, then yeah defense and ball control offense would be the ticket.

You look at how some of these other great teams pulled themselves up from the bootstraps, Boise, Virginia Tech, even Texas Tech, or Louisville. They built solid followings by putting great offenses on the field or with star players that were transcendant and thrilled the crowds at home with lots of TDs and wins.

UConn football under Edsall and now Pasqualoni too often has been a kick in the nuts or almost like taking a bitter pill.
 
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