Bowl Game Post Game Thread

[maple]

I’m still on cloud nine hours later. Feels unreal to be celebrating the ending of a season with a bowl win. It’s hard to believe it’s been 14 freaking years. Just a little under half my life! So many years spent watching absolute dreck and supporting a program going nowhere fast. Feels so, so good today.

Also I have to tip my hat to the UConn players who could have sat out and decided to show up and show out. Class acts. I really believe this is a product of Mora being such a fantastic coach.

Wow. What a season. I may have doubted at some points but looking back over the run (and past seasons) we are miles and miles ahead from where we started. If I ever had to look back and pinpoint an exact moment when I knew this season would be special, it would be the ending of the Temple game. A goal line stand forcing a fumble and 96 yard scoop and score.

As always, I am grateful to have spent the season chatting with all of you. Let’s enjoy this moment and then roll on to the 2025 season.

 

[Jetskies]

I’m still on cloud nine hours later. Feels unreal to be celebrating the ending of a season with a bowl win. It’s hard to believe it’s been 14 freaking years. Just a little under half my life! So many years spent watching absolute dreck and supporting a program going nowhere fast. Feels so, so good today.

Also I have to tip my hat to the UConn players who could have sat out and decided to show up and show out. Class acts. I really believe this is a product of Mora being such a fantastic coach.

Wow. What a season. I may have doubted at some points but looking back over the run (and past seasons) we are miles and miles ahead from where we started. If I ever had to look back and pinpoint an exact moment when I knew this season would be special, it would be the ending of the Temple game. A goal line stand forcing a fumble and 96 yard scoop and score.

As always, I am grateful to have spent the season chatting with all of you. Let’s enjoy this moment and then roll on to the 2025 season.

Well said Mr. Maple

 

[maple]

Well said Mr. Maple

Ms. Maple, but thank you very much.

 

[RSTuthill]

Did anyone notice those piles of snow on the sidelines? Those were obviously left there for visual effect. They would have been easy to clear away with a front end loader. Fenway didn't.

 

[AllHusky]

The legend of Joey Meatballs!! I was so hoping for this ending for that kid. Really top shelf young man. Leader of the UConn Resurrection insurrection!!

 

[UConn Dan]

Did anyone notice those piles of snow on the sidelines? Those were obviously left there for visual effect. They would have been easy to clear away with a front end loader. Fenway didn't.

The guy in front of me said the same thing. Were you the guy in front me? Lol

 

[The Viking]

Did anyone notice those piles of snow on the sidelines? Those were obviously left there for visual effect. They would have been easy to clear away with a front end loader. Fenway didn't.

I liked the visual

 

[TGW93]

Today was a great - and fun - 13 hour day.

As an fyi - the game is being rebroadcast at midnight on ESPNU if you want to record / rewatch.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Where is BL and FfCtyFan?

We were in section 14 row 4

 

[gsmooth]

In person, really amazing experience. Was dubious about fenway as a football venue, totally wrong about it. Atmosphere and crowd was great. Would recommend that we get a tie in contract with fenway going forward as I doubt we can find a better bowl spot for us.

Fully agree. I had the same sentiment being there as well. I feel like UConn will show up and show out consistently there.

 

[Alum86]

That O line? Monstrous. Totally the key to this blowout win. They blew UNC off the line all game.

 

[TGW93]

Btw - kudos to the dude who botched the field goal attempt during a tv timeout but hijacked the mike to lead a “UCONN” “HUSKIES” chant.

Been to a lot of big events but that was the single loudest cheer I’ve heard at a UConn event.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Couple of observations/thoughts:
1. Kudos to Joe Fagnano. Without him none of this was possible. If there was ever a fine point put on it it was Evers’ RPO at the 4 yard line. Just horrendous throw that was almost intercepted.
2. Rosa is a tough kid but is not in the same league as Cam. Cam has excellent vision and finds holes.
3. Yates should be a beast next year. Inspired ball. Will miss McDonalf. He is all over the field.
4. I wish Bell would stick around. He can have all success he needs right here in Storrs. But, I suppose breaking in a new QB isn’t ideal.
5. With a solid QB, next year should be a good one.
6. It’s been a long long time with a lot of pain over the last 15 years. That makes this win all sweeter. Couldn’t be prouder. The CFB can’t help but take notice.

Can’t wait for next season.

It was obvious Rosa wasn't in a groove. Ran too hard in to every hole instead of letting play develop.
Regardless, he starts the off-season #3 on RB depth chart and that's a good thing for RB depth.

 

[Kemba429]

Seriously, what can they say now? Were finally here and were here to stay. 9-4 season, and have more than enough momentum to carry a better record this year.

We didnt just beat UNC, we dominated them for every part of that game but the fourth, not even close.

F all these “P5s” that most “fans” cling on to and think theyre worth more than my left shoe. Ahh, let me stop before I get carried away.. What a win, and many more to come. 14 years in the making, and were not done.

 

[CTMike]

That was one hell of a good time. Fenway sight lines actually work well for football - monstah seats were awesome, helping unfurl the huge American Flag for the anthem was a treat.

If I were to pick nits… did ANYONE find any decent bowl merch? A souvenir? Anything? Eh whatever I took lots of pics.

 

[businesslawyer]

Where is BL and FfCtyFan?

Home, tired and really happy. A really good day but six hours driving in rain makes for a long and tiring day. But a great day in so many ways. Can’t believe it was 15 years between bowl wins. I’ll do a 241 tomorrow.

 

[HuskyNan]

Sorry if already posted

 

[UConnDan97]

That was one hell of a good time. Fenway sight lines actually work well for football - monstah seats were awesome, helping unfurl the huge American Flag for the anthem was a treat.

If I were to pick nits… did ANYONE find any decent bowl merch? A souvenir? Anything? Eh whatever I took lots of pics.

Hey CTMike!!!

I've missed you, bro. Hope all is well. It's been a really great day...

 

[whiffnutmeg]

After seeing the Fenway Bowl attendance of nearly 28k blow past last year's BC/SMU game by 42%, I was curious as to how the attendance stacked up against other bowl games so far this year.

What we know:

• The 22 non-Fenway Bowl games completed between 12/14 and the current time on 12/28 that have announced attendance figures have averaged 23,172 attendees. UConn/UNC outdrew this by 17%.
• Of these 22 games, 14 featured at least one P4 conference team. These averaged 30,022 attendees, with Florida/Tulane and Oklahoma/Navy being the largest outliers at around 41k and 50k respectively. While UConn/UNC drew 7% fewer attendees than the P4 average, if you exclude Florida and Oklahoma, the remaining 12 games average 27,096 attendees, or 3% less than UConn/UNC.
• Looking more closely at the P4 bowl games that featured only ACC and/or Big 12 teams, they averaged 27,138 attendees, or 3% less than UConn/UNC.
• Of the 8 games that have featured only G5 teams, they averaged 12,040 attendees, or 57% less than UConn/UNC.

Conclusions:

• UConn outdraws average of first 23 bowl games played this season by 17%.
• UConn falls slightly below the attendee average for P4 bowl games, but excluding 2 outliers (Florida & Oklahoma), it exceeds it.
• UConn slightly exceeds average attendance for P4 bowl games featuring only ACC/Big 12 schools.
• UConn blows average attendance for games featuring only G5 teams out of the water.

Big takeaway:

• The Huskies are a sleeping giant in the northeast. P4 conferences should take notice.

Caveats:

• This is just announced attendance, and doesn't include ticket sales that no-showed, or TV/streaming numbers (which are what really matters).
• 13 bowl games (about 1/3) have yet to be played/have attendance announced.
• This doesn't include round 1 of the CFP Playoffs, which were all played at home stadiums and averaged 96,901 attendees (3 of the 4 games exceeded 100k). That's an entirely different ball game.
• This also excludes the single bowl game featuring FCS programs, the Cricket Celebration Bowl, which had 36,823 attendees.

 

[whiffnutmeg]

• Looking more closely at the P4 bowl games that featured only ACC and/or Big 12 teams, they averaged 27,138 attendees, or 3% less than UConn/UNC.

Strike that, a few Big 10/SEC teams snuck into that stat. 6 bowl games (not counting Fenway) have had an ACC/Big 12 team, but no SEC/Big 10 team, and they have averaged only 24,676 attendees. UConn beat the ACC/B12 average by 12%.

Always check your work...if it's any consolation, my degrees are not from UConn.

 

[Waquoit]

I had posted that the BCU bowl game was not on in Boston. I was misinformed, turns out it was on MeTV. My apologies to any BCU fans.

 

[uconnfan68]

Texas or Florida would be better media markets for the BIG to get into. Recruiting and future population growth.

They still trying to keep the contiguous part going. There’s really nothing between Nebraska and California.

 

[ninety-nine]

Half the Fans were about 10-15 minutes late getting into seats. But it's a timing improvement over the Rent.

Our charter bus did not arrive in time for us to get to our seats for the kickoff. At least we only missed the one drive.

 

[CJasmer]

They still trying to keep the contiguous part going. There’s really nothing between Nebraska and California.

I think the contiguous part went away when BIG grabbed USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon. What’s next grab Wyoming and Idaho.

 

[BaderBob]

Bravo… great ending to a great season. These young men should be very proud of themselves!