Benedict and Mora

[Hoophound]

This is a critical point in our development. Mora might start getting better players now. The message is getting out, come to UConn, get on the field, have P4 facilities and play in an NFL style program. Take your best shot at making the league.

It will be a shame if he goes now. I think he plans on staying. His recruiting pitch in the press conference was deliberate and rehearsed. He’s also very involved locally, as is his wife. I think they like this retirement alternative. Storrs is a pretty chill, rural environment and he likes the outdoors. It’s also close to NYC where two of his kids are, which was important in him coming here in the first place.

 

[pj]

Here Mora gets to be the boss. The AD, the fans, the donors want to help him.

At bigger programs Mora would have a hundred bosses. The administration, the fanbase, the donors, all demanding to be pleased.

He can make more money elsewhere, he can have a better shot at championships elsewhere. But for a sane life and a chance to coach up some promising young athletes on your own terms, UConn will be hard to beat.

 

[coachcap]

The week that HCJM was hired, my wife & I got on a plane to Raleigh, NC to attend my niece's wedding. As we boarded, the pilot was standing at the entry & noticed my Block C golf shirt. He said "Welcome aboard, you need a new coach!" When I responded that the Huskies had hired Jim Mora, the former Falcons & UCLA coach two days earlier, he was stunned & said "Well THAT'S a start!"

 

[Palatine]

Hurley turned down the Lakers. Maybe Mora will turn down the Chiefs.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I am starting to hear rumblings from other schools alumni as to whether they should be interested in Mora. He will have options after this year for far more money and, maybe more importantly to him, a spot where he can get into the playoffs.

It will be interesting. But if he gets a more tempting offer, he will have earned it.

My hope is that Jim has made his money and wants to ride out his career in a place he can enjoy. Maybe a slim hope but it's what I've got.

 

[Windham4th]

I don't think a guy that is housing former players is really looking around for other jobs, but you never know

 

[noeynox]

Kirby Smart’s record at Georgia is 112-20. Yes it is an insane amount of money but he has an incredible record and has built Georgia into a powerhouse that always plays at a high level and recruits very well given there track record of getting players ready for the NFL.

It is nuts. But some might say what we pay Hurley is nuts. Elite level success is not cheap.

 

[huskymedic]

Win and they will come…

… expect to see more and more of this. I for one won’t lose much sleep over it. We are in a much better place now, than in the past.



-> 13. Jim Mora doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the turnaround he has engineered at UConn. A program that went 10-50 over the five seasons before Mora’s 2022 arrival is bound for its third bowl trip in four years after taking down Duke, 37-34. It’s the 7-3 Huskies’ third win against an ACC foe since last year’s Fenway Bowl against North Carolina, this one coming against a 6-4 Blue Devils team that remains tied for first in the loss column of the conference. (Not the greatest testament for the ACC that Duke went 1-3 out of conference but could still win the league.)

Mora has resurrected his career after his 2017 ouster at UCLA, where he went 46-30. Will one of the umpteen Power 4 schools with a job opening come calling in late November? <-

 

[DoctorWho85]

I am starting to hear rumblings from other schools alumni as to whether they should be interested in Mora. He will have options after this year for far more money and, maybe more importantly to him, a spot where he can get into the playoffs.

It will be interesting. But if he gets a more tempting offer, he will have earned it.

I mean I hope he stays, he's said this is his last job, but I don't blame him if a blue blood comes calling. He will leave the program in the best is has been in almost 2 decades and will have made it a fairly attractive job for some young up and comer.

 

[QDOG5]

JMU also made a great hire in Chesney from HC.

Cignetti strikes me like the next Petrino. People I spoke to at JMU were not impressed with his personal skills. The term was used a lot.
But if you win, nobody cares.

My heart would like to think Mora stays on and gets us into a P4 conference. Then retires when he leaves UConn and is the gym Calhoun of college football.

Hopefully he’s left us in a better place about what the program needs and how we can be successful with our current path. He’s certainly proven you can win at UConn with football.

Fun ride. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I’m interested in your thoughts about your comparison of Cignetti and Petrino.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I’m interested in your thoughts about your comparison of Cignetti and Petrino.

Both coaches last names have three syllables.
Both last names have a vowel for the second letter.
Both last names have a vowel as the last letter.
Both coaches have the letter "T" in the second syllable.
Both coach at schools whose primary colors are red and white. For nuance, yes, Indiana calls it "cream", but it's white.

Need we dive any deeper to see the similarities?

 

[ZooCougar]

If the season finishes with a successful win against a quality opponent, I think expansion opportunities will be discussed.

It that happens, I think Mora would be content to stick around and be willing to defer higher compensation down the road. Just a hunch

With who?

The problem the ACC right now is that they have too many teams.

The Big 12 is not interested.

 

[QDOG5]

@Chin Diesel always appreciate your contributions😀 I was asking @uconnyankee about the cignetti/petrino comment because while Cignetti may be a hard pita, he has zero baggage like petrino has. He has never had losing season and an overall record of 140-37. He’s married with three kids. He doesn’t own motorcycle. So, he’s not warm and cuddly. I know a few UConn coaches who could be described thay way too. The comment strikes me as BS.

 

[uconnfan68]

This is a critical point in our development. Mora might start getting better players now. The message is getting out, come to UConn, get on the field, have P4 facilities and play in an NFL style program. Take your best shot at making the league.

It will be a shame if he goes now. I think he plans on staying. His recruiting pitch in the press conference was deliberate and rehearsed. He’s also very involved locally, as is his wife. I think they like this retirement alternative. Storrs is a pretty chill, rural environment and he likes the outdoors. It’s also close to NYC where two of his kids are, which was important in him coming here in the first place.

^^^ yeah, that!

 

[superjohn]

@Chin Diesel always appreciate your contributions😀 I was asking @uconnyankee about the cignetti/petrino comment because while Cignetti may be a hard he has zero baggage like petrino has. He has never had losing season and an overall record of 140-37. He’s married with three kids. He doesn’t own motorcycle. So, he’s not warm and cuddly. I know a few UConn coaches who could be described thay way too. The comment strikes me as BS.

Cignetti is awesome...

 

[freescooter]

Hopefully Jim Mora decides to make UConn his final stop...

...but just in case, let me be the first to say Pete Lembo has a great track record of doing a lot with very little. Heck, we only beat Buffalo by 3 points this year and we have much more talent than Buffalo.

I agree on Lembo. I wanted him when we hired Diaco and Edsall 2. Hope Mora stays but if not Pete would be a solid choice I think.

 

[Exit 4]

I agree on Lembo. I wanted him when we hired Diaco and Edsall 2. Hope Mora stays but if not Pete would be a solid choice I think.

I haven't heard a better name yet then Lembo if we have to do the next thing.

 

[CL82]

The problem the ACC right now is that they have too many teams.

That problem will likely self correct in 5 to 10 years.

 

[noeynox]

I mean I hope he stays, he's said this is his last job, but I don't blame him if a blue blood comes calling. He will leave the program in the best is has been in almost 2 decades and will have made it a fairly attractive job for some young up and comer.

Pitino said Iona was his last job. I don't think Mora is like Pitino. I also wouldn't be mad if he left to cash in one final time. He showed the blue print for getting it done here without BCS affiliation. Never again should they bring in a guy who comes in making excuses the day he walks in the door. The previous 3 guys all talked about empty cupboards. This guy came in did the best he could with what was here using a true freshman QB that hasn't started anywhere since and took em to a minor bowl.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Pitino said Iona was his last job. I don't think Mora is like Pitino. I also wouldn't be mad if he left to cash in one final time. He showed the blue print for getting it done here without BCS affiliation. Never again should they bring in a guy who comes in making excuses the day he walks in the door. The previous 3 guys all talked about empty cupboards. This guy came in did the best he could with what was here using a true freshman QB that hasn't started anywhere since and took em to a minor bowl.

The tricky part about replacing Mora, is that the Mora name overcame a lot of recruiting obstacles.

 

[husky429]

Pitino said Iona was his last job. I don't think Mora is like Pitino. I also wouldn't be mad if he left to cash in one final time. He showed the blue print for getting it done here without BCS affiliation. Never again should they bring in a guy who comes in making excuses the day he walks in the door. The previous 3 guys all talked about empty cupboards. This guy came in did the best he could with what was here using a true freshman QB that hasn't started anywhere since and took em to a minor bowl.

Mora could quit this program at 3pm today and he wouldn't be a fraction of the POS Pitino is

 

[giddyup]

My take:

1. Both UConn and Mora were in need of each other when this started.
2. Mora said he wanted to do something special and asked for the chance and it was given.
3. Mora appears to be a man of good character and I can’t imagine him leaving if he is treated right. Just not his style or ethics.
4. Big money can ruin the most principled person.
5. Character test ahead for Jim.

 

[gsmooth]

The tricky part about replacing Mora, is that the Mora name overcame a lot of recruiting obstacles.

Very true. The Mora name is so well known in football circles. Just having him as a coach in and of itself lends a certain credibility to UConn Football. For example, look at the game in Ann Arbor a few years ago where Michigan blew out UConn 59-3. Michigan was clearly head and shoulders above UConn in any way you look at it, but what I remember is the long conversation Jim Harbaugh and Jim Mora had and you could see the mutual respect. I don't know what was said in their conversation, but if I could guess, the topic was probably around the mutual understanding of how to build a football program and Harbaugh knowing the difficulty of the job of rebuilding UConn Football.

 

[cellocgg]

I don't think JM is on the short list for any P5. And if he was, we would know by now.

I'm not even finding his name on coaching candidate fan articles for programs currently in the search

 

[Coult]

I don't think JM is on the short list for any P5. And if he was, we would know by now.

I'm not even finding his name on coaching candidate fan articles for programs currently in the search

Feels like his name comes up more for jobs that would open up if their coach is hired away to a bigger job. I still think/hope Mora is here for at least a couple more years.

 

[ZooCougar]

That problem will likely self correct in 5 to 10 years.

We know but we are talking about the here and now.

Right now they are struggling to get a team into the playoffs.

 

[CL82]

We know but we are talking about the here and now.

Right now they are struggling to get a team into the playoffs.

You hate to see it

 

[UConn2SF]

Unfiltered Takes after Week 11: Texas Tech, Indiana, Georgia, Fernando Mendoza and much more

There is a lot to keep up with on a college football Saturday. Here are some takes to keep you up with what happened over the weekend.

www.on3.com

14. Jim Mora: Want to hear a wild stat that was floating around social media Saturday? UConn has more wins over ACC teams (3) than Florida State (2) the last two seasons. That isn’t just piling on Norvell more. It’s a way to compliment UConn coach Jim Mora, who led the Huskies to a win over Duke on Saturday. UConn was 10-50 the previous five seasons before Mora took over in 2022, a laughingstock of a program. Now the Huskies, 7-3, are 25-23 under Mora’s leadership. Does that turnaround get the former UCLA head coach some looks during the coaching carousel? What he has done there is tremendous and it’s time we start showing appreciation of a job well done.

 

[spsct]

Man, if JM keeps it up we may need to start thinking about a statue of him in front of the Rent...

 

[uconnyankee]

This is a critical point in our development. Mora might start getting better players now. The message is getting out, come to UConn, get on the field, have P4 facilities and play in an NFL style program. Take your best shot at making the league.

It will be a shame if he goes now. I think he plans on staying. His recruiting pitch in the press conference was deliberate and rehearsed. He’s also very involved locally, as is his wife. I think they like this retirement alternative. Storrs is a pretty chill, rural environment and he likes the outdoors. It’s also close to NYC where two of his kids are, which was important in him coming here in the first place.

Agree 100%…
Im starting to see a lot of snips and comments from the pundits giving UConn some much deserved props. And they all seem to follow that with, “Mora’s success will most assuredly get him noticed for bigger opportunities”….
It’s like they want to will it to happen by constantly reporting it.

Mora wouldn’t be first coach at UConn to come from somewhere else and fall in love with UConn and CT. I hope he stays, but if people throw money at him that UConn can’t cover, you never know.