Conversation with Benedict

[RSTuthill]

I chatted up Benedict last night at the basketball game. He made it clear that Diaco is going to be coming back. And in plain talk he made it clear that the reason he was coming back was that you cannot fire a coach after 2.5 years and the next one after three years and expect to have anyone worthwhile come coach your program. He very freely talked about Diaco's game management issues. I asked him if he was aware of the recruits father who had posted to the boneyard. He stopped me dead in my tracks and said that remember that the things you read on the internet aren't necessarily true and that there are two sides to every story. He was emphatic that Diaco cares for each and everyone of those kids like he was their own. If you guys see him at games chat him up yourselves. When he left it was because I let him out of the conversation. He was clearly willing to talk and answer questions as long as I had them. I don't have any kind of insider access to him I'm just a random guy in the stands asking him tough questions. I made it clear I was skeptical about the situation. He was gracious and easy to talk to.

This may not be Benedict's last word. The article in the Journal Inquirer tonight paints a picture of recruiting chaos and inaction while everyone waits to see who gets canned. Not pretty. The de-commit was one of only two three stars in the fold which is half the size of the next smallest recruiting class in the AAC, Cincinnati. I think the fact that Benedict or someone else has not spoken publicly really means they are still hard at work fundraising to buy out HCBD. The excuse for not firing him does not seem valid in light of events. This happens all the time in college football after three years of abject failure.

 

[gioff23]

Can we not get a few players to say they were mistreated and fire big bob like IU just did to a guy who took them to consecutive bowls for the first time in 25 years?

Oh wait, while he was renewed this year, his buyout is 1/2 of BD's - that makes sense. At some point someone needs to question the powers that be in Storrs because there is an ever increasing trail of incompetence, bad decisions, and missed opportunities.

 

[gioff23]

This may not be Benedict's last word. The article in the Journal Inquirer tonight paints a picture of recruiting chaos and inaction while everyone waits to see who gets canned. Not pretty. The de-commit was one of only two three stars in the fold which is half the size of the next smallest recruiting class in the AAC, Cincinnati. I think the fact that Benedict or someone else has not spoken publicly really means they are still hard at work fundraising to buy out HCBD. The excuse for not firing him does not seem valid in light of events. This happens all the time in college football after three years of abject failure.

To be fair, a guy decommits because of HC uncertainty and commits to a school where the HC will very likely be gone soon? Look, I am frankly embarrassed as hell that Temple is perceived as better than us (they, like Rutgers, were considered tier 1 goals to beat 15 years ago, then once we did that, we moved on to the bigger boys in the BE as well as other P6 programs), but do you really believe Rhule will still be there in 2018? I think he has a good chance to get a gig for 17, but his stay at Temple is coming to a quick close (for very good reasons, and the opposite of what we now have to presume is Keystone Cop U.

 

[psilotic]

And in plain talk he made it clear that the reason he was coming back was that you cannot fire a coach after 2.5 years and the next one after three years and expect to have anyone worthwhile come coach your program.

He was emphatic that Diaco cares for each and everyone of those kids like he was their own.

and another two things. What 'worthwhile' offensive coordinator is going to come here to work for a dead crazy man/program walking?

Ask Bryant Sherriffs and his family about the 'care' he has for each of these 'kids'. Based on the last six games, seems like the 'care' thing isn't really going both ways.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Compare Diaco's comment about scaring away potential coaches after the coach fails to this quote by the probable incoming Secretary of Defense.

General Mattis- "I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.”

That's the mind set of a successful coach. If I were interviewing a candidate and the discussion ever led to how the AD and coach would approach the direction of the program, I'd instantly move on to the next candidate.

Similarly what coach would ever bring up to the AD how they should handle the path forward after 3 straight losing seasons?

 

[huskyinfl]

Can we not get a few players to say they were mistreated and fire big bob like IU just did to a guy who took them to consecutive bowls for the first time in 25 years?

Mike Leach got in so much trouble for making Craig James concussed son sit in a tool shed for 3 hours. Diaco's QB's play concussed every game & every play. Whitmer, Casey, BS have had massive brain damage and continued to play. They would have been in ecstasy for 3 hours in a shed.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

So we still believe this conversation actually happened?

Ask him yourself. I'm telling you. He's very approachable. Besides what do I have to gain by making it up? I've been around here for a while, @BrassBonanza and I don't care for the insinuation that I'm lying. I support him so far. I appreciate him not blowing smoke.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

Nice that he issued this statement that Diaco is coming back to one person. Has he heard of the mass media?

If Benedict is really sticking by this guy he ought to show some guts and issue a public statement to that effect.

I guess he really doesn't think, or care, that the Tulane crowd is going to be the norm next year.

Yeah I was pretty surprised he was willing to say that to me without a very public statement prior to. I suppose he didn't feel he had to. Fairly obvious that he is coming back. You don't announce the OC os being fired if you're going to fire the HC in a month. If you're firing your HC, why on earth would you make a big deal about firing a guy that's going to be gone in a month anyway. I get holding out hope, but wake up a bit

 

[RedStickHusky]

No reason to throw shade at Jarhead but the comment on Diaco sounds like a contingency talking point in case you get asked.... he's here until he's gone is the bottom line. It's not like calling a press conference to give him a vote of confidence which you might do if you wanted to reassure recruits. I kind of feel the same as UConnNick about him trashing the Fiesta Bowl team though.... that's just not right.

 

[J187Money]

Hmm. Maybe my son can walk on next year if we don't recruit anyone this year.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

No reason to throw shade at Jarhead but the comment on Diaco sounds like a contingency talking point in case you get asked.... he's here until he's gone is the bottom line. It's not like calling a press conference to give him a vote of confidence which you might do if you wanted to reassure recruits. I kind of feel the same as UConnNick about him trashing the Fiesta Bowl team though.... that's just not right.

It did not sit well with me. I was shocked to not hear happy go lucky everything is going to be great and we are the greatest ever baloney. Bottom line I'm not sure how to feel overall.

 

[UConnNick]

Compare Diaco's comment about scaring away potential coaches after the coach fails to this quote by the probable incoming Secretary of Defense.

General Mattis- "I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.”

That's the mind set of a successful coach. If I were interviewing a candidate and the discussion ever led to how the AD and coach would approach the direction of the program, I'd instantly move on to the next candidate.

Similarly what coach would ever bring up to the AD how they should handle the path forward after 3 straight losing seasons?

I think you meant Benedict, but I cannot like your post enough. A prospective coach that's worried about what's going to happen to him if he miserably fails into his third season isn't worth worrying about. Winners don't contemplate what's going to happen if they fail because in their minds they're not going to fail, so that eventuality isn't any bit of concern for them. If a prospective coach expresses any concern about the commitment of the administration to them, based on prior experiences with PP and BD, I'd send them packing if I were the UCONN AD.

 

[whaler11]

Well UConn has more verbals than Baylor!

 

[Fishy]

Yeah I'm full of good news. I pointed out that we are spoiled as UConn fans. We went to the fiesta bowl for cripes sake! He threw the usual wet blanket on us about backing our way in. That was annoying. My initial reaction was like screw you! You're supposed to give me the party line and tell me we will get back there! Alas, he's right. No any time soon. I suppose even though I didn't like it that at least he didn't give me rah rah baloney like someone else we know.

In the future, if you talk to him again.....START A NEW GD THREAD SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO DUMPSTER DIVING TO FIND IT!

Beyond that, thanks - good stuff, even if it means we're stuck with cranberry pants for another year.

 

[BNich]

Mike Leach got in so much trouble for making Craig James concussed son sit in a tool shed for 3 hours. Diaco's QB's play concussed every game & every play. Whitmer, Casey, BS have had massive brain damage and continued to play. They would have been in ecstasy for 3 hours in a shed.

Whitmer and Cochran never played for BD. And It's never been reported that BS played with a concussion. Messed up ribs yes, but he sat out after concussions.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

If he is going to keep Diaco, I guess the "we don't want to be the school who fires coaches quickly" is as good as any excuse. He would never say we know we have the wrong coach but we don't have the money to fix this.

If he does keep BD, I don't think it is because of what DB told Jarhead.

 

[Chief00]

I thought the same thing after PP.

I can't see how a person who wants to be a successful head coach worries about whether or not they will get canned after 3 losing seasons. That's not how successful people think.

Successful candidates don't ask about how much of a leash they will get if they fail three years in a row.

All their energy is on successful results.

Agree - is a year of additional Hell worth being able to say we fired Diaco after 4 years vs 3 years. Will that make us better perceived.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Whitmer and Cochran never played for BD. And It's never been reported that BS played with a concussion. Messed up ribs yes, but he sat out after concussions.

yeah - that's an important clarification. gotta be careful with accusations about risking player safety.

 

[Skiblets]

Ask him yourself. I'm telling you. He's very approachable. Besides what do I have to gain by making it up? I've been around here for a while, @BrassBonanza and I don't care for the insinuation that I'm lying. I support him so far. I appreciate him not blowing smoke.

Jim is as legit as they come on this board. No need to question his motives or veracity

 

[BNich]

yeah - that's an important clarification. gotta be careful with accusations about risking player safety.

On another note, as an athlete, I know what athletes go through not wanting to sit out or miss time. Unless its really apparent (a player is knocked out cold) anyone on the outside has no idea if a concussion has happened. A lot of these "injuries or head injuries" need to be called by the players on themselves. My head has hit the hardwood on a basketball court more than a handful of times. Knocked me silly, but I bounced back up to continue. A competitive athlete not wanting to sit would never call a concussion on themselves if it meant missing time. Sure some responsibility lies on the coaching and medical staff, but a lot lies on the athlete for the more non obvious concussions.

For instance, how does Cochran sustain 12 concussions in his career and no one made a deal about it? 12 concussions. And it seems he was never out of harms way for more than a game. 4 years of HS and 3 years of college and he had 12 concussions. How many do you think his coaches even knew about?! To me, that's scary. Athletes are putting themselves in harms way and their brains in jeopardy. How can anyone else be held reliable unless they were certain something was wrong?

 

[RedStickHusky]

On another note, as an athlete, I know what athletes go through not wanting to sit out or miss time. Unless its really apparent (a player is knocked out cold) anyone on the outside has no idea if a concussion has happened. A lot of these "injuries or head injuries" need to be called by the players on themselves. My head has hit the hardwood on a basketball court more than a handful of times. Knocked me silly, but I bounced back up to continue. A competitive athlete not wanting to sit would never call a concussion on themselves if it meant missing time. Sure some responsibility lies on the coaching and medical staff, but a lot lies on the athlete for the more non obvious concussions.

For instance, how does Cochran sustain 12 concussions in his career and no one made a deal about it? 12 concussions. And it seems he was never out of harms way for more than a game. 4 years of HS and 3 years of college and he had 12 concussions. How many do you think his coaches even knew about?! To me, that's scary. Athletes are putting themselves in harms way and their brains in jeopardy. How can anyone else be held reliable unless they were certain something was wrong?

I've been thinking (hoping?) that kids (and coaches) today are a little smarter than they were in my day (the 70s). "Play through it", "Rub some dirt on it", "don't give the guy wanting your spot a chance to see the field" that was football culture - with a lot of deferred consequences later in life... We were also taught that tackling involved planting your face in a ball carriers chest -- shoulder tackles would get you benched.

 

[jdb50]

Whitmer and Cochran never played for BD. And It's never been reported that BS played with a concussion. Messed up ribs yes, but he sat out after concussions.

Casey got his last football concussion playing for Diaco in the opener of 2014 against BYU. Chandler played his last snaps against Army that same year.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Casey got his last football concussion playing for Diaco in the opener of 2014 against BYU. Chandler played his last snaps against Army that same year.

So his last pass was that 100 yard pick six? Ouch.

 

[jdb50]

Yes tough way to end his career.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Ask him yourself. I'm telling you. He's very approachable. Besides what do I have to gain by making it up? I've been around here for a while, @BrassBonanza and I don't care for the insinuation that I'm lying. I support him so far. I appreciate him not blowing smoke.

I don't mean to call you a liar, but you can see where my skepticism lies in that not a single journalist in the state can get a quote out of DB that Diaco is returning, but a random fan can walk up to him at a basketball game and get that info?

 

[BNich]

I've been thinking (hoping?) that kids (and coaches) today are a little smarter than they were in my day (the 70s). "Play through it", "Rub some dirt on it", "don't give the guy wanting your spot a chance to see the field" that was football culture - with a lot of deferred consequences later in life... We were also taught that tackling involved planting your face in a ball carriers chest -- shoulder tackles would get you benched.

I ask all of the past football players from decades past ( I say this as kindly as I can) please share your thoughts about your own head injury concerns or instances. How did you feel and what did you do?

 

[BNich]

Casey got his last football concussion playing for Diaco in the opener of 2014 against BYU. Chandler played his last snaps against Army that same year.

That wasn't my point. It's those that hide head injuries wanting to continue to play instead of missing time.

 

[Chief00]

I'll say this... It's always refreshing when Jarhead posts on this board (avatar is the best by far)...

But I think the toughest part about all of this as fans is being THE WORST out of all FBS schools at something. THE WORST... when 5/6 years ago we were in a bowl game vs. OU in the Fiesta Bowl... How could this happen? We were bowling pretty much every year and, although our passing game wasn't too good, we were aggressive, physical on both sides of the ball and we produced... This year, once the UCF game happened, it seemed all the momentum to succeed died on the field of play. We're 3 years in with recruits under him too. Tough tough pill to swallow being a laughing stock... Right now guys like funny looking Paul Finebaum, used to be chubby man Mark May, bad knees Robert Smith are tickled to death that we suck because that's what they thought all along... That I hate....

Fact: Diaco is here for another season at least. Hopefully, some soul searching will allow him to not let his ego get in the way of putting this team back on the winning track... The stuff he's doing doesn't work, at all. Not on the field of play at least....

The problem is now he has lost the team off the field and that was his one strength.

 

[Chief00]

Do you really believe that if the truth was "he would have been fired on Halloween if the board approved my incurring the $5 million cost" he would have said that instead of some boiler plate answer for this situation?

Thank you - glad you came around to my thinking on Susan Herbst.

 

[Stainmaster]

The problem is now he has lost the team off the field and that was his one strength.

What you're saying contradicts my eyes and ears inside practice.