Battle for the 1st Southwick Jug

[Waquoit]

It’s a solution, I wouldn’t say great.

Of course you wouldn't. The best solution is still out there somewhere. Meanwhile, this thing is put to bed.

 

[Kolumbo]

I don't disagree with proper planning. They could even leave it up to both student bodies to come up with a proper name and trophy, something both university communities would appreciate. And sponsorship. Why not?! Let someone pay to present the trophy and maybe they can make it out of platinum.

 

[Kemba429]

Not often I feel bad for rivals and want better for them. What a mess.. Hope they can that AD soon.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I still think the best answer is to destroy it. Call it the 'Newtown woodchipper solution'.

 

[Patman]

I don't disagree with proper planning. They could even leave it up to both student bodies to come up with a proper name and trophy, something both university communities would appreciate. And sponsorship. Why not?! Let someone pay to present the trophy and maybe they can make it out of platinum.

That takes time. The collectives put up a decent idea but either bad comms or late timing ruined it. Other people saying it was an issue on the umass side.

Nothing wrong with proposing things like this but the schools have to be the ones to lead after the NIL or sponsor units propose something. In the end it's a the schools product and not the nils

 

[huskymedic]

Multi-post thread:

 

[Patman]

Multi-post thread:

At some level Jim Mora expected a trophy so he had some reason to know about this. How well it was discussed in this week's prep which I'm sure Benedict and Mora probably have a short meeting, who knows. But it would seem obvious that multiple parties were working on this.

Again, at some level this shouldn't have just been between ZooMass's NIL and ZooMass. This had to be a conversation with UConn but particularly UConn and UMass. I'm not blaming our own guys yet and it sounds like UMass dropped the ball all around like the UMass athletics wanted to slink away from this thing and hope everybody forgot but Benedict et al should be making sure that this trophy thing got done and where UMass was on it. It would be nice to assume the other guy has it handled but clearly they didn't.

This is almost entirely on UMass in the end. It sounds like their collective wanted it, sounds like there was rough agreement to do it, they actually went out and got the thing and then it all went south.

 

[freescooter]

My reading on this is that the UMass collective proposed this, presumably with input from the UMass AD. They, much more than UConn have been pushing this as a rivalry game. Remember last year they originally wanted it at a Fenway at one point. I think we are fine with it being billed that way for several reasons. Most notably its an hour away. No planes, just a couple of busses. Played 80 times going back to 1897, and we really don’t have a regular rivalry game. So we said, sure. Why not? Then the UMass collective and the AD had a falling out. They tried to undercut it before the game. Seems like either Mora didn’t get the email or was having some fun at their expense. And maybe he kind of likes the idea of developing a regular rivalry. Wouldn’t surprise me at all. The most recent “joint statement” seems like a try at giving the Minutemen some cover while letting us get the darned trophy.

 

[Patman]

My reading on this is that the UMass collective proposed this, presumably with input from the UMass AD. They, much more than UConn have been pushing this as a rivalry game. Remember last year they originally wanted it at a Fenway at one point. I think we are fine with it being billed that way for several reasons. Most notably its an hour away. No planes, just a couple of busses. Played 80 times going back to 1897, and we really don’t have a regular rivalry game. So we said, sure. Why not? Then the UMass collective and the AD had a falling out. They tried to undercut it before the game. Seems like either Mora didn’t get the email or was having some fun at their expense. And maybe he kind of likes the idea of developing a regular rivalry. Wouldn’t surprise me at all. The most recent “joint statement” seems like a try at giving the Minutemen some cover while letting us get the darned trophy.

from his side having a rival game, whether the rest of us really want it or not, gives his players something to key towards. I know a lot of you guys would prefer it to be syracuse or dare I say Rutgers... but we know the real hate is against Boston College... but it is something.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

There are a number of things that keep me from viewing our games against UMass as warranting a trophy.

For openers, we've been playing them since the 1890's yet prior to this fall there was never any desire anywhere of this being a trophy game. If the winner should have received a trophy, one would have materialized before the great depression.

That we now have a series of games with them is far more the result of need for both parties (until UMass starts play in the MAC next year) than any connection between the schools, which given the proximity and history is an indictment on the idea of this being a rivalry. The only reason this is above the other New England flagships, who were also long time Yankee Conference foes is because UMass is the only one of them who upgraded football.

I know that some have brought up some silly, long standing trophies that other schools compete for (little brown jug was brought up, old oaken bucket was not but is a similar deal), but those have been around from before WWII and some incident led to its creation. Basically UMass' collective tried to ConnFlict us, just as nutty Bob Diaco tried to ConnFlict UCF. There needs to be some natural development of something for the trophy to not be lame as hell. There wasn't in either case where someone tried to create a trophy.

 

[Waquoit]

As long as UMass is FBS I'd like UConn to play them on the last weekend of the season. It's UConn v UMass, honestly the name of the game alone is what CFB used to be all about. If you want to take out all of the tradition and make it a purely transactional affair, it's no different than the Yard Goats to me. And if UConn and UMass are going to play on the last weekend of the season, they might as well play for a trophy.

 

[freescooter]

from his side having a rival game, whether the rest of us really want it or not, gives his players something to key towards. I know a lot of you guys would prefer it to be syracuse or dare I say Rutgers... but we know the real hate is against Boston College... but it is something.

All of those WOULD be better. And at one point all seemed to be heading that way. But when BC went to the ACC that one went away. It is still testy when we play each other but that only happens occasionally. Rutgers was blossoming then they left for the B10 and we haven’t played them since. Hard to have a rival you never play. UMass is historic, close, and we have played them consistently since 2018 with future games scheduled through 2028 I believe. UMass wants to keep us on their schedule and I suspect we want that too. In the event of changes because of conference affiliations it could move to an earlier part of the schedule.

 

[tiger paw]

Population CT = 3.6m Mass.= 7m Total =10.6m. Attendance for UC-UM game was 10k+. Was a disgrace . Not exactly sure what the rest of the people in CT+ MA do every Saturday afternoon.

 

[UConnDan97]

Population CT = 3.6m Mass.= 7m Total =10.6m. Attendance for UC-UM game was 10k+. Was a disgrace . Not exactly sure what the rest of the people in CT+ MA do every Saturday afternoon.

Thank you for your interest in UConn athletics...

 

[businesslawyer]

There are a number of things that keep me from viewing our games against UMass as warranting a trophy.

For openers, we've been playing them since the 1890's yet prior to this fall there was never any desire anywhere of this being a trophy game. If the winner should have received a trophy, one would have materialized before the great depression.

That we now have a series of games with them is far more the result of need for both parties (until UMass starts play in the MAC next year) than any connection between the schools, which given the proximity and history is an indictment on the idea of this being a rivalry. The only reason this is above the other New England flagships, who were also long time Yankee Conference foes is because UMass is the only one of them who upgraded football.

I know that some have brought up some silly, long standing trophies that other schools compete for (little brown jug was brought up, old oaken bucket was not but is a similar deal), but those have been around from before WWII and some incident led to its creation. Basically UMass' collective tried to ConnFlict us, just as nutty Bob Diaco tried to ConnFlict UCF. There needs to be some natural development of something for the trophy to not be lame as hell. There wasn't in either case where someone tried to create a trophy.

Agree in part and disagree in part. It was meaningless until we won it and they wouldn't give it to us. Now I care.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Agree in part and disagree in part. It was meaningless until we won it and they wouldn't give it to us. Now I care.

BL, you're entitled to your opinion.

Personally not only do I not want that trophy, if I had the power to wipe its existence from the consciousness of everyone on earth I would do so, right after wiping the ConnFlict trophy from everyone's consciousness.

 

[businesslawyer]

BL, you're entitled to your opinion.

Personally not only do I not want that trophy, if I had the power to wipe its existence from the consciousness of everyone on earth I would do so, right after wiping the ConnFlict trophy from everyone's consciousness.

I'm sorry -- after wiping what from everyone's consciousness?

I view the Southfield Jug as the mediocre looking girl who you're not interested in in high school, until the moment someone points out you can't have her anyway.

 

[J187Money]

If it were something that resembled a real trophy, maybe, but that thing looks like a spitoon that a third grader made in arts & crafts at summer camp.

It is still nicer than the Civil ConFLiCT trophy LMAO

 

[J187Money]

I didn't even drink during the game and just found out this was a thing today. This is high quality entertainment.

 

[gsmooth]

I'm sorry -- after wiping what from everyone's consciousness?

I view the Southfield Jug as the mediocre looking girl who you're not interested in in high school, until the moment someone points out you can't have her anyway.

Well, when you put it like that, give me the Southwick Jug

 

[Waquoit]

Who are these people saying no to jugs?

 

[Patman]

Thank you for your interest in UConn athletics...

Here's the thing. I kind of agree. UConn should have sent out a mailer on info about how to get tickets and a uconn reception at the game.

UMass is an hour from Hartford or so. I think getting at least 5k up there shouldn't be hard. Maybe the holiday makes it tough

 

[Patman]

I'm sorry -- after wiping what from everyone's consciousness?

I view the Southfield Jug as the mediocre looking girl who you're not interested in in high school, until the moment someone points out you can't have her anyway.

Oof. Right in the feels.

That being said, id rather not have a trophy for this because I think it sanctifies UMass's poor choices but if you're doing to do something then do it well.

 

[NowInStorrs]

Here's the thing. I kind of agree. UConn should have sent out a mailer on info about how to get tickets and a uconn reception at the game.

UMass is an hour from Hartford or so. I think getting at least 5k up there shouldn't be hard. Maybe the holiday makes it tough

Do they really need to send out mail to say buy tickets? Normal fanbases just go to nearby away/neutral games. Unless they can do something to get a bunch of discounted tickets for UConn fans. Then let us know.

 

[UConnDan97]

Here's the thing. I kind of agree. UConn should have sent out a mailer on info about how to get tickets and a uconn reception at the game.

UMass is an hour from Hartford or so. I think getting at least 5k up there shouldn't be hard. Maybe the holiday makes it tough

It's hard when you consider that the game time temperature was around 40 F, if I recall correctly. Furthermore, the other poster is just a troll. Don't feed him...

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm sorry -- after wiping what from everyone's consciousness?

I view the Southfield Jug as the mediocre looking girl who you're not interested in in high school, until the moment someone points out you can't have her anyway.

When I was an undergrad (in part during the Jimmy Carter years to show my age) a buddy (more of an acquaintance) felt that if we were out at a bar, no matter what, he had to end up with someone. It provided quite a bit of amusement at times but for the life of me I never understood it. There should be some standards.

 

[Chin Diesel]

The solution is simple. There are pictures out there of this jug.

Have someone from UConn make an exact replica and then have a video crew go to Amherst with UConn "stealing" the original and leaving behind the fake. But in reality UConn keeps the fake to avoid committing any sort of crime. Then deny, deny, deny and tell everyone UConn has the real one and UMess has the fake. And then bring the UConn-held trophy to the next game between the two.

 

[jostar1]

Is this going to go the way of the conflict trophy?

Yes.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I love a trophy or something. I like playing UMass in football.

 

[businesslawyer]

When I was an undergrad (in part during the Jimmy Carter years to show my age) a buddy (more of an acquaintance) felt that if we were out at a bar, no matter what, he had to end up with someone. It provided quite a bit of amusement at times but for the life of me I never understood it. There should be some standards.

Thank goodness my wife didn’t believe in standards.