Can someone find a post that hasn't regressed into a diatribe on coach P?

[UConn07]

If its not, it's WM, or the fans, or the marketing, or whatever.

The negativity on this board is sucking the fun out of being a husky fan.

Sorry Marty, but us fans don't approve of mediocrity. If you are pleased with what this program has become because of these 2 guys, then good for you. No one is calling out the players, in fact we are all supporting them. But GDL and P have sucked the life blood out of everyone. If the diehards here are jumping ship, what do you think about the fans that consider doing other things besides going to The Rent? I think they would choose something else. It's going to take A LOT for them to want to come back some point down the line, especially with the schedule we are going to have in the future.

 

[cohenzone]

True. But it's also true that for every good win (i.e. Louisville '12, Pittsburgh '12, Syracuse '11, stomping Rutgers '11 to prevent their BCS game) there are at least two very ugly losses (i.e., Temple '12, NC State '12, USF '12, W. Michigan '12, Vanderbilt '11, Iowa State '11, Pitt '11, W. Mich '11)

The simple fact is that we're 10-15 under Pasqualoni. 5-7, 5-7 and 0-1 so far. This is the worst stretch of UCONN football since the 2005-2006 seasons.

It got turned around in 2007 though when we opened up the season 8-1, with the only loss a 1pt affair on the road at Virginia. It was crystal clear by the end of that season, that we were still not ready to be considered among the top in the country when we went to West Virginia and got steam rolled, but we got it turned around.

There is a long way to go in the 2013 season, and things need to get turned around. One week at a time, that's the only way I can take it now, without a doubt.

We got Maryland on Saturday.

I'm not a PP fan. I think he was a bad hire if for no other reason than he was too near retirement. But Ruskin is a being ridiculous. As I said you can't have it both ways, no credit for wins and all the blame for losses.

Beyond that, while I give RE a lot if credit for making us competive faster than I thought possible, I've been to almost every game at the Rent and we were never world beaters with the limited exception of when RE had the good luck to have Orlovsky live in CT. We had perpetual QB issues and no game breaking receivers until RE discovered he had Easley sitting on the bench. While our O has sucked under PP, he didn't miss the field goals against Temple. His 5-7s were not wildly worse than REs records. RE left him with nothing at QB. While the O line might bear some responsibility, our tail back is no Brown, Todman or Dixon. But PP us too stuck on McCombs and last year the use of the wildcat was horrible.

I think Manuel had to keep PP this year. This is really the first year "his" players hit the field and at that, they are all underclassmen. That doesn't mean I like PP. I do know that better programs than ours have lost opening games to teams from lower divisions and had decent seasons. If we have to put up with a horrible season, we are not injured forever. Pure nonsense. If that's the case, PP is gone. If we have a decent record, PP likely stays. I don't think that he is a long term plus, but I also think changing coaches a game or 3 into the season rarely helps things very much.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'm not a PP fan. I think he was a bad hire if for no other reason than he was too near retirement. But Ruskin is a being ridiculous. As I said you can't have it both ways, no credit for wins and all the blame for losses.

Beyond that, while I give RE a lot if credit for making us competive faster than I thought possible, I've been to almost every game at the Rent and we were never world beaters with the limited exception of when RE had the good luck to have Orlovsky live in CT. We had perpetual QB issues and no game breaking receivers until RE discovered he had Easley sitting on the bench. While our O has sucked under PP, he didn't miss the field goals against Temple. His 5-7s were not wildly worse than REs records. RE left him with nothing at QB. While the O line might bear some responsibility, our tail back is no Brown, Todman or Dixon. But PP us too stuck on McCombs and last year the use of the wildcat was horrible.

I think Manuel had to keep PP this year. This is really the first year "his" layers hut the field and at that, they are all underclassmen. That doesn't mean I like PP. I do know that better programs than ours have lost opening games to teams from lower divisions and had decent seasons. If we have to put up with a horrible season, we are not injured forever. Pure nonsense. If that's the case, PP is gone. If we have a decent record, PP likely stays. I don't think that Je is a long term plus, but I also think changing coaches a game or 3 into the season helps things very much.

That's a sane and rational response and approach. how dare you

I, on the other hand, am fed up, and I"ve got nothing to come back with except irrational anger, and disappointment in losing. I honestly don't know how I will respond to a loss next week. I think I will want the proverbial blood and heads on the platters. I'm actually pretty sure I will, but I'm an emotional type. I can't help it. I get fired up. I absolutely hate losing. I hate it more than anything, it ruins my days.

With that said, my only response, as irrational as it is, is that I think we need more of my attitude from the coaches and players. They need to establish that losing is completely unacceptable. There are just as many mistakes and things to fix and work to do when you are winning, as there are when you are losing, but I guarantee it feels a hell of a lot better to be winning than losing.

I can never accept losing, but I can live with it, when I feel that everybody has given everything they possibly can, and done everything they possibly can to get the win. When you listen to the head coach talk about a player that was in a bad mismatch for the duration of the game, and no adjustments were made, that's not something I can live with.

 

[cohenzone]

That's a sane and rational response and approach. how dare you

I, on the other hand, am fed up, and I"ve got nothing to come back with except irrational anger, and disappointment in losing. I honestly don't know how I will respond to a loss next week. I think I will want the proverbial blood and heads on the platters. I'm actually pretty sure I will, but I'm an emotional type. I can't help it. I get fired up. I absolutely hate losing. I hate it more than anything, it ruins my days.

With that said, my only response, as irrational as it is, is that I think we need more of my attitude from the coaches and players. They need to establish that losing is completely unacceptable. There are just as many mistakes and things to fix and work to do when you are winning, as there are when you are losing, but I guarantee it feels a hell of a lot better to be winning than losing.

I can never accept losing, but I can live with it, when I feel that everybody has given everything they possibly can, and done everything they possibly can to get the win. When you listen to the head coach talk about a player that was in a bad mismatch for the duration of the game, and no adjustments were made, that's not something I can live with.

We all like winning. But it is only football. Given a fairly expensive annual investment in the program, I certainly want the best possible show. As I said, PP seems not to be the one, but a lot of the season is left. If it sucks, I'll still sleep at night, and PP won't last beyond this season. Of course I think we ought to beat the Towsons of the world, but it seems they are a good team. They crushed Holy Cross last week. And it was last week, not last year. Not saying beating Cross is a major thing, but Towson killed them. We look to be killed by Michigan. Beyond that, well, we'll see.

As far as filling stands go, we totally have front running fans. We certainly are no Michigan or VTech (I'm familiar with both) where fans show up no matter what for the most part. We might never have that sort of fan base. I also think UConn does a bad marketing job. I am very friendly with someone in a position to know who thinks that the marketing and development offices might need an infusion of new blood, even though the current crew has well intentioned leadership. Those are the sorts of things the AD needs to attend to quite apart from coaching choices.

 

[Carl Spackler]

We all like winning. But it is only football. Given a fairly expensive annual investment in the program, I certainly want the best possible show. As I said, PP seems not to be the one, but a lot of the season is left. If it sucks, I'll still sleep at night, and PP won't last beyond this season. Of course I think we ought to beat the Towsons of the world, but it seems they are a good team. They crushed Holy Cross last week. And it was last week, not last year. Not saying beating Cross is a major thing, but Towson killed them. We look to be killed by Michigan. Beyond that, well, we'll see.

As far as filling stands go, we totally have front running fans. We certainly are no Michigan or VTech (I'm familiar with both) where fans show up no matter what for the most part. We might never have that sort of fan base. I also think UConn does a bad marketing job. I am very friendly with someone in a position to know who thinks that the marketing and development offices might need an infusion of new blood, even though the current crew has well intentioned leadership. Those are the sorts of things the AD needs to attend to quite apart from coaching choices.

Dagnabbit, will you stop being rational and sane? How are we supposed to get all worked up? LOL.

I completely agree on the marketing/thing. I've seen great change in the past 2 seasons, but I think the old school is too ingrained, and that kind of thing is what the AD needs to put priority on. I was at one of the regular fall fairs that happen all over CT this weekend, and just by observation, I was amazed at the amount of UCONN merchandise walking around. Even the new wolf dog t-shirts were out in force. UCONN has fantastic brand value, and it needs to be maintained, and I also agree, that we may never get a 40,000+ fan base that will show up come hell or high water, and that is most likely a cultural thing, but winning and tradition breeds the fans. It's been a few years since we had an 'official' sell out, but I recall a weekend a while back when Harvard and Yale played in the Yale Bowl, and UCONN hosted somebody at Rentschler, and the combined attendance to those two games - played at the same time, on the same day within an hour, hour and half drive of each other was in the neighborhood of 100,000.

Those are two entirely different fan bases without a doubt (Harvard/yale - UConn) but there is interest in college football in the region - but it's got to be either rich in tradition or winning. UCONN has no such tradition as Harvard and Yale, it's a joke to suggest that we do. Our biggest rival historically, is not URI, or UMass, it's Yale. And it's a rivalry much like our one sided rivalry for a short time was with West Virginia. Yale routinely whipped our tails for decades, until the tide eventually turned, for a very, very brief time, and then it was over.

Oh well, I'm just rambling now. I confess, that it really does bother me when we lose. I get really worked up about it, and it affects me. It's what makes me the fan I am. I've always had the same attitude, whatever it is I'm engaging in. I am competitive by nature, and I want to win and I get upset when I don't. I don't care if I'm bowling against a 12 year old, or a game of monopoly or what. It's often a source of comedy for my family. They love it when I'm losing at something because they know they can press buttons and set me off.

 

[Waquoit]

As far as filling stands go, we totally have front running fans.

I guess that's why all the Preferred seats sold out the minute they went on sale 10 years ago. This program has had the worst marketing from the start. Now that they have lousy marketing and a horrible coach you point to the fans?

 

[Carl Spackler]

I guess that's why all the Preferred seats sold out the minute they went on sale 10 years ago. This program has had the worst marketing from the start. Now that they have lousy marketing and a horrible coach you point to the fans?

That's not really what he did at all. My interpretation is that he pointed out that even with the changes and effort in promotions/marketing, etc... there may be an underlying attitude, that even deeper fundamental change needs to happen to get it right, and he pointed out that in our cultural environment, we may never have the type of fan base that is a guaranteed sellout when times are rough and we aren't winning. I happen to agree with those points. If you do not, then please say why.

 

[ruskin]

IWhile our O has sucked under PP, he didn't miss the field goals against Temple. His 5-7s were not wildly worse than REs records. RE left him with nothing at QB.

OK, since we're going to rehash last season, lets put all those things in full context.

The Temple game should have never come down to field goals. UConn had a 14-0 lead at home after the first quarter, and GDL/PP went into their signature play-it-safe "turtle" mode, two weeks after they did the same exact thing against Buffalo and almost handed away that game (those two games were separated by the wonderful display of play calling and time management at Rutgers)

On paper, 5-7 is not "wildly worse" than 8-5. But with Edsall, for all his warts, you were fairly confident that when you pulled into the Rent the team would be fairly competitive no matter the opponent, and they were 90 percent of the time.

Edsall Rentschler Field record: 40-11. PP: 6-7. Yeah, I'd say that's wildly different.

 

[ctchamps]

If its not, it's WM, or the fans, or the marketing, or whatever.

The negativity on this board is sucking the fun out of being a husky fan.

There is not one UConn fan that felt good after the Towson game! That's a given.
Some people can move on, some can't.
And some of those that can't move on find the need to make sure no else moves on. The lesson isn't about convincing one another to change who we are but to realize that this is the nature of the world. Therefore the only solution for those who want to avoid negativity is to strengthen our resolve in spite of these people.

 

[Carl Spackler]

OK, since we're going to rehash last season, lets put all those things in full context.

The Temple game should have never come down to field goals. UConn had a 14-0 lead at home after the first quarter, and GDL/PP went into their signature play-it-safe "turtle" mode, two weeks after they did the same exact thing against Buffalo and almost handed away that game (those two games were separated by the wonderful display of play calling and time management at Rutgers)

On paper, 5-7 is not "wildly worse" than 8-5. But with Edsall, for all his warts, you were fairly confident that when you pulled into the Rent the team would be fairly competitive no matter the opponent, and they were 90 percent of the time.

Edsall home record: 43-15. PP: 3-4. Yeah, I'd say that's wildly different.

Well to be fair, you got to back further. Edsall was 9-24 in his first three seasons, and if he doesn't land a QB of Orlovsky's ability and play him as a freshmen? Who knows - but he did get Orlovsky and put him in as a frosh. Edsall established a program in BCS level competition in the Big East conference, that was consistent in what it's identity was, and it wasn't going to change for anybody or anything, and was good at it, and we were able for the most part, to be competitive with pretty much 90% of our opponents, except when we went up against teams that had top quality offensive skill and speed. He did not build a balanced offensive attack, and it put a cap on what we were able to accomplish as a program. Edsall also had his own share of head scratching game time decisions and calls.

I think Pasqualoni greatly underestimated the importance to this program, of winning at home. Edsall established that at Rentschler field, and we need to get it back, or it will probably cost Pasqualoni his job IMNSHO. If not mistaken, 2006 was the only season under Edsall at Rentschler field where we had a losing record at home. Had he not landed Orlovsky, I have to wonder if that would be the case, but the fact is he did, so it's moot.

THe fanbase in CT - as I have touched on with another here today, is either going to follow programs with rich, long traditions, or they're going to follow winners. It's our cultural environment, and the existence of the Big EAst conference, it's evolution and then demise, and UCONN's role in it, has left us with no tradition for fans of UCONN football aside from a handful of old timers.

Therefore it's going to take winning to get sell outs. The initial excitement and sales at Rentschler, were fumbled away before it could be capitalized on, but that time is gone, and won't be back, so it's no use mulling over it.

 

[Carl Spackler]

There is not one UConn fan that felt good after the Towson game! That's a given.
Some people can move on, some can't.
And some of those that can't move on find the need to make sure no else moves on. The lesson isn't about convincing one another to change who we are but to realize that this is the nature of the world. Therefore the only solution for those who want to avoid negativity is to strengthen our resolve in spite of these people.

It's much easier to draw attention and feeders off negative energy, than it is to generate and sustain positive energy. It's much harder to generate and sustain positive energy when there is limited external frame of reference from which to draw positive energy on a topic of discussion. I think that the anonymous internet messaging board world, magnifies this kind of aspect of human nature 100 fold.

 

[ctchamps]

It's much easier to draw attention and feeders off negative energy, than it is to generate and sustain positive energy. It's much harder to generate and sustain positive energy when there is limited external frame of reference from which to draw positive energy on a topic of discussion. I think that the anonymous internet messaging board world, magnifies this kind of aspect of human nature 100 fold.

It certainly is easier to behave a certain way when our identities are anonymous. I prefer analysis, civil debate, excitement, and positivity. But sometimes circumstances prevent this from happening. Currently the football forum has lost most of the things I prefer.

I understand the frustration of these fans. I understand the need to vent and it gives us a feeling of empowerment when we complain. There is some truth that those who complain the loudest or most frequently get results. And there are situations which this becomes necessary. Which situations will depend on who we are and what is going on in our lives.

I still love these forums. I've learned to not let the negativity impact me very much if at all. It took a lot of effort to get to this place but the only other choice is just to tune out of life or find utopia.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I also enjoy these forums, and I freely vent when I feel the need to, and prefer civil debate and positivity in discussion. (I can do with some violence and controlled rage and aggression on a football field though) and I even created my own cyberspace tool to combat those that I feel are pursuing the negative energy feedback cycles. It's called a Debbie Stick ™. It looks like this: (any resemblance to a Louisville Slugger ™ is purely coincidental)

 

[FfldCntyFan]

If its not, it's WM, or the fans, or the marketing, or whatever.

The negativity on this board is sucking the fun out of being a husky fan.

With a title like what you gave this thread you are complaining about other posters' negativity?

The way I see it, most posts have evolved into a diatribe on coach P!

 

[FfldCntyFan]

That's the issue. If you post something on here that doesn't snipe at pp or WM it's viewed as accepting the situation. Sadly, there are a lot of fans that really don't want PP to win, and would have conflicts if he did.

No, there are many who don't want P to return. That is what is at issue here and I do not understand how it is that you cannot see this.

In my humble opinion I believe that the worst thing that could happen here (which considering our schedule after the Michigan game should be a possibility) is that we end up around seven wins, giving McHugh what he sees as sufficient ammunition to pull rank on Manuel (possibly for the second time) and force year four on us.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I also enjoy these forums, and I freely vent when I feel the need to, and prefer civil debate and positivity in discussion. (I can do with some violence and controlled rage and aggression on a football field though) and I even created my own cyberspace tool to combat those that I feel are pursuing the negative energy feedback cycles. It's called a Debbie Stick ™. It looks like this: (any resemblance to a Louisville Slugger ™ is purely coincidental)

I like the debbie stick. It kind of reminds me of something I had last year to demonstrate teamwork to GDL!

 

[FAIRTIDES]

If its not, it's WM, or the fans, or the marketing, or whatever.

The negativity on this board is sucking the fun out of being a husky fan.

Je%$# H. F@#$*&^ C&$@* !!!!! There is not one person on this board that would not revel, hell, luxuriate in a piece of positive news. A "good news" thread would, in fact, "hijack" this board.

So, in the interest of ensuring equal time to "good/positive news," this space is available. Marty, you go first.

 

[Carl Spackler]

No, there are many who don't want P to return. That is what is at issue here and I do not understand how it is that you cannot see this.

In my humble opinion I believe that the worst thing that could happen here (which considering our schedule after the Michigan game should be a possibility) is that we end up around seven wins, giving McHugh what he sees as sufficient ammunition to pull rank on Manuel (possibly for the second time) and force year four on us.

Here is a difference between you and I (and therefore, by extension I suppose others). I honestly don't care if Pasqualoni stays or goes, I just want to win, and I want clear stated goals as to what we are after in football, and I want to be able to measure progress toward such goals. None of that has anything to do with what the name of the head coach is.

 

[Waquoit]

That's not really what he did at all. My interpretation is that he pointed out that even with the changes and effort in promotions/marketing, etc... there may be an underlying attitude, that even deeper fundamental change needs to happen to get it right, and he pointed out that in our cultural environment, we may never have the type of fan base that is a guaranteed sellout when times are rough and we aren't winning. I happen to agree with those points. If you do not, then please say why.

My interpretation of him saying we have front-running fans meant that our fans are front runners. I don't know what you are saying. You lose me after your 2nd sentence most times.

 

[Carl Spackler]

My interpretation of him saying we have front-running fans meant that our fans are front runners. I don't know what you are saying. You lose me after your 2nd sentence most times.

Perhaps the context was misinterpreted. It's possible that context can be completely ignored as well. I can begin my paragraph structure with loosely related subject sentences. Such sentences can string together an idea. Then in closing of the paragraph, I can use the technique of placing the topic sentence last. This is a less common paragraph construction method than placing the topic sentence at the start of the paragraph. It is effective though. I will work harder to keep your attention span at a higher rate and frequency. Did you get this far or have I lost you?

 

[FAIRTIDES]

I guess that's why all the Preferred seats sold out the minute they went on sale 10 years ago. This program has had the worst marketing from the start. Now that they have lousy marketing and a horrible coach you point to the fans?

Bingo!

The Northeastern sports' markets are very delicate. Above, it was pointed out that the Red Sox consecutive sellout streak was broken. Same with the Phillies. Yankee attendance is down, as are ratings. Same with the Mets. Three years ago, the Jets had a multi-year waiting list for season tickets. According to press reports, that is no longer the case. Even the Giants' list as dropped in size. The term "no-show" was invented to describe Giants' season ticket holders that stopped coming to watch bad teams. The reason? Declining condition of the product on the field. People in our part of the country will not buy crap, period. They do, however, return as soon as team management (or AD's) get the message.

But, while a fan base waits for improvement, it bitches, moans, screams and yells. Once it was limited to bars. Later, and into the present, Talk Radio. More recently, the net.

So, we vent. It's harmless, doesn't hurt anyone. Most of all, it's not required reading.

 

[John]

If its not, it's WM, or the fans, or the marketing, or whatever.

The negativity on this board is sucking the fun out of being a husky fan.

my "Blew a .341 in jail" thread had no PP-bashing.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Bingo!

The Northeastern sports' markets are very delicate. Above, it was pointed out that the Red Sox consecutive sellout streak was broken. Same with the Phillies. Yankee attendance is down, as are ratings. Same with the Mets. Three years ago, the Jets had a multi-year waiting list for season tickets. According to press reports, that is no longer the case. Even the Giants' list as dropped in size. The term "no-show" was invented to describe Giants' season ticket holders that stopped coming to watch bad teams. The reason? Declining condition of the product on the field. People in our part of the country will not buy crap, period. They do, however, return as soon as team management (or AD's) get the message.

But, while a fan base waits for improvement, it bitches, moans, screams and yells. Once it was limited to bars. Later, and into the present, Talk Radio. More recently, the net.

So, we vent. It's harmless, doesn't hurt anyone. Most of all, it's not required reading.

I'm not sure if the word 'delicate' is accurate. The next word that comes to my mind is 'saturated', but I don't think that is accurate either and probably farther from the mark than 'delicate'. But I do think you've hit upon something important with this. Not sure what it is, but I'm pretty sure it's important.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

I'm not sure if the word 'delicate' is accurate. The next word that comes to my mind is 'saturated', but I don't think that is accurate either and probably farther from the mark than 'delicate'. But I do think you've hit upon something important with this. Not sure what it is, but I'm pretty sure it's important.

"Delicate" in terms of how little it takes to change the course of fandom.

 

[Carl Spackler]

"Delicate" in terms of how little it takes to change the course of fandom.

See I don't really agree with that at all either. I think you hit on something, but I'm finding trouble putting it to words , simply. It's as much a socio-economic thing as it is a cultural thing. I don't see any Yankees fans running out the door on their "fandom" because we're losing the race to Boston this year, and haven't really done much of anything lately, but they aren't going to be quiet about not wanting to pay through the noses to go to the stadium, and they will stay home instead. I certainly don't see Boston Red Sox fans wavering in the "fandom". Giants? Patriots? Jets? Mets? Rangers? Bruins fans wavering? Celtics? Knicks? I guess it all depends on what you define as "fandom".