Can We Expect a Turnaround Next Year? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Can We Expect a Turnaround Next Year?

Skies2018 said:
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. I truly believe part of the problem is these kids are playing for nothing. The AAC killed us in its own way but independence does too.

Take the MAC. Not a great overall league but every team in there has the same goals. Win the regular season, win the conference championship, go to the tie-in bowl games, beat your conference rivals. We have absolutely none of that. So what are these kids playing for? 6 wins against random schools and a trip to a random backwater bowl? You can’t tell me that’s not a factor. There’s no consistency in scheduling and no “prizes” along the way. I think that is a significant drag on the effort and product we see on the field week over week.

Add that to decades of losing, poor hiring, and not enough investment gives you an 0-5 team.
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I see this as a weak argument. It's not like these kids didn't know the situation when they signed on to play for UConn.
 
The #Reboot… the marketing department will think of some name to give it. Flashy videos, talk about how hard our kids are working, social media posts. I will drink the Kool Aid.
 
billybud said:
NIL...for top QB's is high...

Shadeur Sanders, freshman QB at Colorado, just bought a new Rolls Royce Cullinan (starting price $350,000)...to go with his new Maybach ($200,000 +) and Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat and 2021 Corvette..His dad said.."it wasn't that way when I was in college".

Caleb Williams...$2.6 million
Arch Manning...$3.8

But Tennessee freshman QB Nico Lamaleava topped 'em when he signed an $8 million deal with the collective...

Something has to give with NIL...
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Sanders is actually an example of what the NIL was intended to be. He is not getting a bag from some booster to go to Colorado, he has deals with Beats Headphones, KFC etc. Unfortunately, the boosters have been able to form these collectives and just pay the players, rather than have companies make deals with them that are legitimate.
 
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RSTuthill said:
I guess I have just one thing to add. HCJM is the ideal HC to be talking to the major donors. He comes across as down to earth, highly analytical, a motivator of players, and a really good communicator. He relates to people really well. Which of course is why we like him so much here on the BY. I do not think UConn could get anybody better in that facet of the job.

I am hoping now that we are past the 4th game that some progress can be made like about this time last year. Rise up and beat Rice, for instance, USF too. And as frustrated as we are about last Saturday's game, there were hints that some of that improvement was already happening. Four or five wins are still within reach if the progress continues. And a goal like that is damned worth achieving.
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How about even six wins this season! It's possible.
 
huskysupporter said:
The short answer is no.

Get a new AD who is pro football and knows how to navigate NIL and the portal and now we are talking.

But that isn’t going to happen.
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Do we think our AD doesn’t know football or isn’t pro football?
I think the culture at UConn is pro basketball as that is where success has been. Benedict isn’t turning that around on his own. That is a systemic issue that UConn just can’t seem to fix, or isn’t willing to fix.
Until UConn and the folks in charge make football a priority instead of doing what they can to get by, this is what it is. Benedict can only do so much with the resources provided and the expectations of where success needs to be.

For all the debate about why we’re always left behind, this is a glaring issue. There really isn’t the same level of commitment to FB as there is with BB. I don’t even think it has to be the same. Just show something. Some sign of life.
 
uconnyankee said:
For all the debate about why we’re always left behind, this is a glaring issue. There really isn’t the same level of commitment to FB as there is with BB. I don’t even think it has to be the same. Just show something. Some sign of life.
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what constitutes a "sign of life"? we have the facilities/stadium/payroll necessary to be a solid G5 program. forget P4 or any conference affiliation right now. We literally have what we need structurally, to be a 6-6 team, consistently. That's not even an impressive record, though it feels like it to us. I honestly believe that we just need to get our football team playing respectably (not even GREAT) to get a chance at the big stage.

I don't think anything else is needed to do the following:

2023: 3-9
2024: 6-6
2025: 7-5
2026: 5-7
2027: 8-4 (flagship season to earn the conversation with the big 12 or ACC - maybe an invite)
2028: 7-5 (last season as indep.)
2029: beginning of the future :) - JM completes his wish of saving UConn; retires and hands off the reins to ________.

note, these aren't good numbers. I did that on purpose. these teams just gotta play good enough to earn a phone call/legitimate conversation and then the invite. Basketball will probably lead the way, but football has to earn the money that it will be given under the tv contracts. Thinking of a "kansas" or "duke" model. Again, i don't think anything else is needed to achieve this ^. Other than players playing and coaches coaching.
 
uconnyankee said:
Do we think our AD doesn’t know football or isn’t pro football?
I think the culture at UConn is pro basketball as that is where success has been. Benedict isn’t turning that around on his own. That is a systemic issue that UConn just can’t seem to fix, or isn’t willing to fix.
Until UConn and the folks in charge make football a priority instead of doing what they can to get by, this is what it is. Benedict can only do so much with the resources provided and the expectations of where success needs to be.

For all the debate about why we’re always left behind, this is a glaring issue. There really isn’t the same level of commitment to FB as there is with BB. I don’t even think it has to be the same. Just show something. Some sign of life.
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That’s the thing - they aren’t doing what they can to get by. They aren’t getting by. The program is a disaster.

AD Dave is overseeing this and he has not done a thing to better the program. Not one. It’s bizarre that he continues to get a pass.
 
husky429 said:
There is talent enough on this team to have 2-3 wins right now, IMO.

I think we're going to lose a lot of guys to mid and low-tier FBS teams.

Our only real shot is that this Texas QB is the real deal and we can keep him around with a decent NIL deal. If he's any good we'll only have him for 1-2 years, but it could be enough for a bowl season.
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Also, maybe just as important or more important, if he's good and UConn goes to a bowl and the offense looks good, it could help Mora and Co. land a good QB in the portal. I am not talking a former 5 star out of high school or highly touted QB in the portal where the top P4 teams are clamoring for him or anything like that.

Garrett Schrader, the Syracuse, always stood out in my head after Syracuse crushed UConn last year. Why? Because he looked a solid QB who has demonstrated good passing skills but is not elite, in other words someone that could be realistically obtainable by UConn.
 
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huskysupporter said:
AD Dave is overseeing this and he has not done a thing to better the program. Not one. It’s bizarre that he continues to get a pass.
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What is he supposed to do? Only thing I can think of is go down to the state house in Hartford and meet with legislators one by one.

I hear a lot of "hasn't done nothing" but then I hear nothing about what he was supposed to do.

Would it satiate that itch if he went down to the library and got a loud speaker and announced charlton's firing?

What is he supposed to do?
 
LBird33 said:
If we win games we will get better.
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Um, it might just be me but we have to get better to win games. ;)
ZooCougar said:
I enjoy the season more than the offseason, like most normal people.
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Just what have you enjoyed this season? The victories or the full house crowds? No attack but our party has found the tailgates the most enjoyable part of the games this season. We actually enjoy and missed the band for a game.
Normal has a wide definitional meaning depending on who considers themselves normal. On a real note I am glad you are enjoying the season so far. :confused:
 
Would like to have some positive momentum going into the off-season would like to get some wins.
 
Woof 101 said:
Um, it might just be me but we have to get better to win games. ;)

Just what have you enjoyed this season? The victories or the full house crowds? No attack but our party has found the tailgates the most enjoyable part of the games this season. We actually enjoy and missed the band for a game.
Normal has a wide definitional meaning depending on who considers themselves normal. On a real note I am glad you are enjoying the season so far. :confused:
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You poor thing.
 
I'm not worried about NIL or collectives because a bigger problem is coming: Congress/the Supreme Court will likely rule that all Division 1 revenue athletes (m/w basketball, football, some baseball or hockey) are employees and deem them to at least make minimum wage. NIL will go back to its original purpose: advertising sponsorships for the top .1% of college athletes. Everything will need to be on the books when revenue athletes are considered employees. The battle (if there is no salary cap) will be who has the most money to spend on football and basketball players. I feel like it is going to be a lot like European soccer or MLB. The biggest brands will have the most money and pay the most.
 
Woof 101 said:
Um, it might just be me but we have to get better to win games. ;)

Just what have you enjoyed this season? The victories or the full house crowds? No attack but our party has found the tailgates the most enjoyable part of the games this season. We actually enjoy and missed the band for a game.
Normal has a wide definitional meaning depending on who considers themselves normal. On a real note I am glad you are enjoying the season so far. :confused:
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Woof 101. It’s called humor.
 
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Patman said:
What is he supposed to do? Only thing I can think of is go down to the state house in Hartford and meet with legislators one by one.

I hear a lot of "hasn't done nothing" but then I hear nothing about what he was supposed to do.

Would it satiate that itch if he went down to the library and got a loud speaker and announced charlton's firing?

What is he supposed to do?
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Part of it is just working with the state in a better fashion generally. The way we pay for the Rent and XL is absurd. But specifically for football, somehow someway he needs to get the hiring right. We’ve failed miserably at that for 15 years and it’s inexcusable. Plenty of other schools do more with less and yet time and time again we run up our deficit hiring awful coaches. Mora was a great find but he needs a competent supporting cast yesterday.
 
Patman said:
What is he supposed to do? Only thing I can think of is go down to the state house in Hartford and meet with legislators one by one.

I hear a lot of "hasn't done nothing" but then I hear nothing about what he was supposed to do.

Would it satiate that itch if he went down to the library and got a loud speaker and announced charlton's firing?

What is he supposed to do?
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I’m curious - what do you think he is supposed to do?
 
There seems to now be a well defined pattern to UConn FB:
Last year was a turn around from 2021;
This year appears to be a turn around from 2022; so yes
2024 should be another turn around year.
 
Patman said:
What is he supposed to do? Only thing I can think of is go down to the state house in Hartford and meet with legislators one by one.

I hear a lot of "hasn't done nothing" but then I hear nothing about what he was supposed to do.

Would it satiate that itch if he went down to the library and got a loud speaker and announced charlton's firing?

What is he supposed to do?
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For starters, win some games, then get over 500, and get invited to a bowl.

If not, then beat UMass and SHU, and maybe one other team.
 
husky429 said:
There are teams out there doing better with less resources and talent. So yes, we could do better.

Can we expect it? Absolutely not.

We're going to be brutalized by the portal.
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How are we gonna be brutalized? Who outside of Rosa would teams be willing to take?
 
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I think if we can get in the MAC with umass for football only… we jump at that opportunity
 
Beachview said:
I think if we can get in the MAC with umass for football only… we jump at that opportunity
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Intriguing but ultimately I don't think there's enough positives for us to do that. Keep in mind that the MAC tv deal has alot of midweek games during the second half of the season. Not great for attendance or tailgating.
 
huskysupporter said:
I’m curious - what do you think he is supposed to do?
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You're the one who has claiming he hasn't done anything to make the program better. In that it presumes you know what he should be doing.

----

But if you're being honest in this the thing I'd do is go out and press the flesh on gamedays and talk to people and see where they are on things. Sure a lot of people, just like us, are cranks but a few people will see an insight others aren't seeing and press forward on that. Sure, you gotta be with the money people during the game but I'd roll on down 8AM on a noon start and work the parking lot.

I take the position that you can deal with the big things but you'll often miss the little stuff that matters that requires a bit of hustle and a bit of open thinking.
 
LBird33 said:
Woof 101. It’s called humor.
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There is good and bad humor. Nothing is funny for what diehard fans are experiencing this year. No attack just the fact.
 
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