Dom Amore: Jim Mora has uplifted UConn football. His players returned the favor after his 100th win

[huskymedic]

-> “I joke around and say he’s old,” said Reymello Murphy, who caught three passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. “But he’s legendary. He’s been around football all his life. To be around somebody like that, a football genius, essentially, it’s once in a lifetime. You’ve got to soak it in, give him his flowers, it’s pretty cool to be around. He tells us, he embraces the hard stuff, he loves adversity, he loves going against the grain. He’s somebody that doesn’t back down from any challenge.” <-

-> “They know I have their best interests at heart,” Mora said. … And every great coach at UConn, past and present, will tell you that’s what allows you to coach players hard.

Mora’s 22 wins in 3 1/2 seasons at UConn, where so many said even this much couldn’t be done, have risen from those relationships, from gestures like the one in the waning minutes on Saturday, allowing Soren Rief to look skyward and tell his mom he made it, he’s a Husky with stats to prove it.

“‘Actions over words,’ that’s really what we’re all about here,” Rief said. “My whole life, I’ve been going to UConn games. To be able to come and play here, it means the world to me. <-

 

[huskymedic]

-> After all, the 22 wins mark one more than the previous nine seasons combined before his arrival in Storrs.

“He's meant a lot, both on the field and off,” said UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano. “I mean, obviously, a head football coach helps a ton on the field, but it's off-the-field things that are big. There’s not something he hasn’t gone through in life, or an experience he’s had that he doesn’t share with you to help you along. I’m super happy for him to get 100, it’s a pretty hard accomplishment to get. I’m just lucky enough to be a part of it.” <-

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

One of the things that always impressed me about Mora…is that he never left a school/team for a bigger job. Even though he had many opportunities to do so…including going to his alma mater. When he left a school/team…it was by their choice..not his.

That to me shows a commitment to his players and his team/school. That’s walking the talk. As opposed to other coaches who jump for their next buck…or “dream school”.

He is a great role model for his team.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ZooCougar]

I love that someone thought to do this. It's little things like this that add up fast.

I can't believe he's already won 22 games here. I remember when it was a struggle to beat an FBS opponent.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[BlueandOG]

Love Coach Mora. He is the perfect person to lead UConn football. He's a man of character who loves football and invests in his players and coaches. Perfect fit for UConn.

Three cheers for AD Dave. The athletic department has come a long way under his leadership.

 

[UConnDan97]

Love Coach Mora. He is the perfect person to lead UConn football. He's a man of character who loves football and invests in his players and coaches. Perfect fit for UConn.

Three cheers for AD Dave. The athletic department has come a long way under his leadership.

I second this!

Every (or almost every) program in the department is doing awesome. Men's bball, women's bball, men's hockey, women's hockey, baseball, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, etc, etc, etc. And football is on pace to make it's 3rd bowl game in 4 years.

AD Dave deserves a heck of a lot of credit and a heck of a lot of thanks...

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Love Coach Mora. He is the perfect person to lead UConn football. He's a man of character who loves football and invests in his players and coaches. Perfect fit for UConn.

Three cheers for AD Dave. The athletic department has come a long way under his leadership.

Think back to when Mora was hired. I think most of us were surprised and skeptical. Especially since he had been out of the sport and we were thinking we needed someone young and upcoming to deal with the changes in college football.

Gotta give DB credit for having the vision to see how Mora was the right guy for the program.

 

[Kolumbo]

-> “I joke around and say he’s old,” said Reymello Murphy, who caught three passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. “But he’s legendary. He’s been around football all his life. To be around somebody like that, a football genius, essentially, it’s once in a lifetime. You’ve got to soak it in, give him his flowers, it’s pretty cool to be around. He tells us, he embraces the hard stuff, he loves adversity, he loves going against the grain. He’s somebody that doesn’t back down from any challenge.” <-

-> “They know I have their best interests at heart,” Mora said. … And every great coach at UConn, past and present, will tell you that’s what allows you to coach players hard.

Mora’s 22 wins in 3 1/2 seasons at UConn, where so many said even this much couldn’t be done, have risen from those relationships, from gestures like the one in the waning minutes on Saturday, allowing Soren Rief to look skyward and tell his mom he made it, he’s a Husky with stats to prove it.

“‘Actions over words,’ that’s really what we’re all about here,” Rief said. “My whole life, I’ve been going to UConn games. To be able to come and play here, it means the world to me. <-

I thought another clip was posted somewhere but couldn't find it

 

[Jetskies]

this is a very nice thread lol

sometimes with the frustration of independence and the seeming collusion against uconn, I forget to smell the flowers of what uconn HAS done in this time, both in football and the athletic dept overall.

maybe i'm wrong, but one good thing about not being a P4 is that we seem to still show ourselves to be invested in the STUDENT-ATHLETE experience, even in football. I know graduating players and making functioning contributors to society, isn't part of the CFB equation, but it still is to me, and I'm happy that we aren't strictly a talent factory that says all the right things, but shows that we don't care about players as humans, only as production; a means toward our next basket of money.

again, i could be wrong... but i don't get that sense from an alabama, mississippi state, or a texas tech.

 

[LetsGoUC]

Jim Mora is the absolute man.

 

[husky429]

this is a very nice thread lol

sometimes with the frustration of independence and the seeming collusion against uconn, I forget to smell the flowers of what uconn HAS done in this time, both in football and the athletic dept overall.

maybe i'm wrong, but one good thing about not being a P4 is that we seem to still show ourselves to be invested in the STUDENT-ATHLETE experience, even in football. I know graduating players and making functioning contributors to society, isn't part of the CFB equation, but it still is to me, and I'm happy that we aren't strictly a talent factory that says all the right things, but shows that we don't care about players as humans, only as production; a means toward our next basket of money.

again, i could be wrong... but i don't get that sense from an alabama, mississippi state, or a texas tech.

We are able to recruit for character more than other schools--especially the basketball programs. But let's not kid ourselves into thinking the average football or basketball player on campus gives a rats a÷$ about classes.

 

[Kolumbo]

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with you there. times have certainly changed, probably at most schools. Not everyone is Alex Karaban or Emeka Okafor, but they are doing well in the classroom. One doesn't get a 3.0 by accident, trust me. Football may be a little under represented but it doesn't mean they're not trying