Delaware Post Game Meltdown

[ZooCougar]

UCONN football does not have trap games>

My take is that a trap game is when a clearly better team is playing a clearly lesser opponent and they take that team lightly because they have a game against a highly ranked opponent the next week.

UCONN is not good enough to have "trap" games.

I respectfully disagree. We’ve been doing this for 25 years and we spent a million plus in NIL. We have two coordinators in our second year.

We simply shouldn’t be losing a game like that. I expected a struggle but not a loss.

The fact that we lost is a big red flag on the leadership in my opinion.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Nah, Jeff Hathaway

Hathaway screwed it up but Perkins made me believe... That hurts worse.

 

[ktuck911]

I love Brock as our DC... Love him, the energy he brings... BUT, what's clear to me now, is we still have to learn how to trust one another on that side of the football. Way too many guys (who, yes, are vets and have experience) that are (IMO) currently playing like they are getting a 2nd chance to show what they can do, instead of settling down and focusing on how to work TOGETHER with the game on the line... Sorry, it is what it is, right now... We need each player to at some point LEAD, set an example, jump a teammates face (if you care about the guy next to you enough)... This is a violent sport, especially on the defensive side... We gotta start loving our brothers more on that side of the ball... just sayin...

And, back to our offense, our 7th yr leader needs to LEAD when we need him to...

 

[ktuck911]

To me, it doesn't look like the new QB coach has brought anything new, nor has improved Joe 1 bit. I wonder how he's doing with the rest of the QB room.

in all honesty, maybe our new QB Coach suits better with newer/younger QBs on the roster, that bring something a little different...

 

[ktuck911]

Line issues did not help us. On offense Tank came in at RT in the second half and was struggling in run and pass blocking. On D we had a redshirt soph #50 trying to play line in the second half and he was struggling to hold his own physically. We really missed Smiley. The comments about the 2 and 3 man line on D are on point. Those guys get ganged up on and wear down. D-line depth is a real issue for the rest of the season.

AND, I said this BEFORE we played them, Delaware is no sloutch... They carried a winning culture from the FCS level to this level... They know what to do out there... Just because we have more talent doesn't mean diddly squat....

IMO, we embarrassed ourselves late (again)...

 

[UCan3]

in all honesty, maybe our new QB Coach suits better with newer/younger QBs on the roster, that bring something a little different...

One thing my son said to me, which I agree his dad maybe we should start focusing on the future. If this season looks like it’s gonna be subpar why not start developing a new quarterback or start looking at ways to plan for next year.

I have no idea if Welliver was the real deal or not but I do know that you never really got the chance to show it in a game for an extended period. No one could expect him to just come off the bench and start firing away.

I think the future is all we have to deal with. I’ve often posted that players get tremendous exposure at UConn from the NFL and frankly the other division one teams. So when someone is good, they get more attention and more offers to leave. I think as well versus someone like Delaware.

But we have to start playing with the players we have and developing them and again maybe this time to try something a little bit different. What we’ve tried so far has left us losing to Delaware with prospects of a rough year next year.

 

[coachcap]

Nah, Jeff Hathaway

Having had a social relationship with Jeff Hathaway from his former incarnation as assistant A.D., I can vouch for him being a great family man & human being. Clearly he was in over his head with taking over the UConn program after "Big Lew" left. He & FHCRE butted heads, stoking the Randy to Maryland fiasco after the Fiesta Bowl. Now facing his signature hire, he went the safe route & hired Pasqualoni. I remember at the time the Fruit fans from RIVALS flooded our board, & said his hiring would be UConn's downfall in football.
I said at the time, instead of signing P.P., Hathaway should have hired the then toxic Mike Leach who had perfected the shotgun offense at Texas Tech & was available. When Leach was eventually hired at Washington State & later at Miss. State, he gave those teams credibility, something UConn lacked until the hiring of Coach Mora.
Okay, so much for the history session. Back to Husky football...

 

[ZooCougar]

One thing my son said to me, which I agree his dad maybe we should start focusing on the future. If this season looks like it’s gonna be subpar why not start developing a new quarterback or start looking at ways to plan for next year.

I have no idea if Welliver was the real deal or not but I do know that you never really got the chance to show it in a game for an extended period. No one could expect him to just come off the bench and start firing away.

I think the future is all we have to deal with. I’ve often posted that players get tremendous exposure at UConn from the NFL and frankly the other division one teams. So when someone is good, they get more attention and more offers to leave. I think as well versus someone like Delaware.

But we have to start playing with the players we have and developing them and again maybe this time to try something a little bit different. What we’ve tried so far has left us losing to Delaware with prospects of a rough year next year.

It’s way too soon to give up the season.

In the modern game you play the QB who gives you the best chance to win.

 

[BlueWolf25]

Having had a social relationship with Jeff Hathaway from his former incarnation as assistant A.D., I can vouch for him being a great family man & human being. Clearly he was in over his head with taking over the UConn program after "Big Lew" left. He & FHCRE butted heads, stoking the Randy to Maryland fiasco after the Fiesta Bowl. Now facing his signature hire, he went the safe route & hired Pasqualoni. I remember at the time the Fruit fans from RIVALS flooded our board, & said his hiring would be UConn's downfall in football.
I said at the time, instead of signing P.P., Hathaway should have hired the then toxic Mike Leach who had perfected the shotgun offense at Texas Tech & was available. When Leach was eventually hired at Washington State & later at Miss. State, he gave those teams credibility, something UConn lacked until the hiring of Coach Mora.
Okay, so much for the history session. Back to Husky football...

What could’ve been if we had gone after Leach

 

[ZooCougar]

What could’ve been if we had gone after Leach

What was sad was that Leach was “Toxic” for reasons that later proved to be unfounded. And these days Craig James and company are radioactive.

 

[coachcap]

One thing my son said to me, which I agree his dad maybe we should start focusing on the future. If this season looks like it’s gonna be subpar why not start developing a new quarterback or start looking at ways to plan for next year.

I have no idea if Welliver was the real deal or not but I do know that you never really got the chance to show it in a game for an extended period. No one could expect him to just come off the bench and start firing away.

I think the future is all we have to deal with. I’ve often posted that players get tremendous exposure at UConn from the NFL and frankly the other division one teams. So when someone is good, they get more attention and more offers to leave. I think as well versus someone like Delaware.

But we have to start playing with the players we have and developing them and again maybe this time to try something a little bit different. What we’ve tried so far has left us losing to Delaware with prospects of a rough year next year.

I agree about developing players, but the era of NIL has created an additional hurdle for teams like UConn. Once a player is developed, opposing teams throw boatloads of cash at them to transfer. If a Power-4 team comes calling & the money is too good to pass up, sayonara. UConn developed Justin Joly at TE, & he left for NC State. Coach Mora signed Durrell Robinson before last season with NIL, & he left after only playing one year with the Huskies.
This situation will only get worse until UConn gets into a conference, gets some big time donors to contribute to NIL, & has consistent winning seasons. It's Catch-22 in real life.

 

[tiger paw]

Football is a glorified mid-major. Closer to MAC level than P4. Delaware is able to get players every good as what we have in their 1st FBS season. How can that be ?

 

[UCan3]

It’s way too soon to give up the season.

In the modern game you play the QB who gives you the best chance to win.

I know some have that opinion which I respect but when was the last time we tried giving reps to a QB that we thought might take over the helm someday.

We just don’t do that.

And our formula, whatever it is, just doesn’t seem to be working.

Time to mix it up!

 

[TouchdownHusky]

What could’ve been if we had gone after Leach

Always felt that Leach would have done well at UConn.

 

[hardcorehusky]

If someone had CFP thoughts for this team, the season is done. Move on to a new goal.
If someone had thoughts this team could be in a good bowl, the season isn't done. Need to pick up a win we didn't expect along the way.
If you only care about making a bowl, this season isn't done.
If you care about being above .500, the season isn't done.

The Fenway bowl gave us a bounce. We are light years ahead of where we are and light years behind where we need and want to be. Not every road is paved smoothly.

It was a bad loss for the expectations we have as a fan base. The season so far doesn't bring us any closer to a P4 invite nor does it move us behind anyone.

I will enjoy my tailgate and watching us crush Ball State.

 

[ZooCougar]

I know some have that opinion which I respect but when was the last time we tried giving reps to a QB that we thought might take over the helm someday.

We just don’t do that.

And our formula, whatever it is, just doesn’t seem to be working.

Time to mix it up!

The process isn’t the problem.

We have a perfectly fine QB this season. It’s unbelievably stupid to think that making a change will better our situation.

 

[BlueWolf25]

I know some have that opinion which I respect but when was the last time we tried giving reps to a QB that we thought might take over the helm someday.

We just don’t do that.

And our formula, whatever it is, just doesn’t seem to be working.

Time to mix it up!

Thing is, our backup QBs haven’t had much success at their new schools. Zion Turner, Roberson, Welliver, all have had little to no success or been buried on other depth charts.

It would also be horrible to Joe if we benched him after he comes back for a 7th season, in a year where our passing offense is currently 12th in the country

 

[UCan3]

Thing is, our backup QBs haven’t had much success at their new schools. Zion Turner, Roberson, Welliver, all have had little to no success or been buried on other depth charts.

It would also be horrible to Joe if we benched him after he comes back for a 7th season, in a year where our passing offense is currently 12th in the country

I would never bench joe.

Only be more creative as the situation calls for whether it be w/ Evers or letting another QB take some snaps with game in hand etc.

 

[ZooCougar]

I would never bench joe.

Only be more creative as the situation calls for whether it be w/ Evers or letting another QB take some snaps with game in hand etc.

Two QB systems are dumb.

 

[ktuck911]

Having had a social relationship with Jeff Hathaway from his former incarnation as assistant A.D., I can vouch for him being a great family man & human being. Clearly he was in over his head with taking over the UConn program after "Big Lew" left. He & FHCRE butted heads, stoking the Randy to Maryland fiasco after the Fiesta Bowl. Now facing his signature hire, he went the safe route & hired Pasqualoni. I remember at the time the Fruit fans from RIVALS flooded our board, & said his hiring would be UConn's downfall in football.
I said at the time, instead of signing P.P., Hathaway should have hired the then toxic Mike Leach who had perfected the shotgun offense at Texas Tech & was available. When Leach was eventually hired at Washington State & later at Miss. State, he gave those teams credibility, something UConn lacked until the hiring of Coach Mora.
Okay, so much for the history session. Back to Husky football...

Interesting

 

[ktuck911]

Just wanted to provide a little clarity on some of my statements (out of frustration, because, you can see we have enough to win a lot this year... but we can't waste too much more time figuring this out during the season... It's here now... can't give stuff away)...

I really like what we have... Fagnano is the real deal. It's just that he has no excuses for not executing what appears to be QB 101 throws. Can't do it... Gotta show the poise we've seen in the past (2024)

The defense has the pieces too. The best is yet to come...

Bottom line: we've got to gel now... so we can play a full game and not let it get away at the end... finish strong...

 

[ktuck911]

I agree about developing players, but the era of NIL has created an additional hurdle for teams like UConn. Once a player is developed, opposing teams throw boatloads of cash at them to transfer. If a Power-4 team comes calling & the money is too good to pass up, sayonara. UConn developed Justin Joly at TE, & he left for NC State. Coach Mora signed Durrell Robinson before last season with NIL, & he left after only playing one year with the Huskies.
This situation will only get worse until UConn gets into a conference, gets some big time donors to contribute to NIL, & has consistent winning seasons. It's Catch-22 in real life.

Or, how about "just win baby!" ... No, seriously, we win the games we're supposed to win... Arguably (hypothetical now as well) we could get to maybe 10 wins... we win, it may solve a lot of issues... We shock the world then we'll be a program that attracts higher level talent instead one on the fringe that end up losing talent...

 

[Chin Diesel]

The fact that we lost is a big red flag on the leadership in my opinion.

And having lost both games the same way with the offense not closing out the game in the 4th and then the defense giving up a late score in the 4th.

Add in not scoring a TD in either OT session.

 

[ScottVib]

Only be more creative as the situation calls for whether it be w/ Evers or letting another QB take some snaps with game in hand etc.

They did this... against CCSU both Evers and McDonald got reps. That's the only game where the situation called for it.

 

[psilotic]

I know the O wasn't THE key problem today, but I still think Gordo is in over his head. Very little creativity, and I don't mean trick plays. At this point I'd even take a draw play. Few if any passes over the middle. Designed QB runs. Would a little misdirection kill us?
With that said, the D blew this game for all the reasons people mentioned. Bad penalties, bad tackling, etc.

The steady dose of Cam short side runs even after it became painfully obvious that it wasn't working was maddening. GS has come up with some misdirection off that. Would like to see more bubble screens.
Big picture, it continues to boggle my mind there's people here (who love coming out of the woodwork after a bad loss like this) who think that UConn can remain nationally relevant in basketball without a football program.