Done deal with Edsall

[Redding Husky]

If true, this makes us look desperate (which we are).

It's like we could only get one girl to go with us to the junior prom, and then (a year later) she's the only one who will go with us to the senior prom.

 

[polycom]

So, Burton really did sign the check "Must hire Edsall" well it's better than BD. Is he a long term solution? Doubt it. Is he good for the next 4 years? Absolutely he's proven he knows how to coach.

 

[amory]

I don't agree with this at all. I am frigging tired of this dismissive attitude. This conference has great football ... and it pays really damn well. We could get a solid hot coach. But fit? I am weighing the Les Miles v Randy equation. In the near term, no Miles is going to know the equation to get us far better quicker than Edsall. And then in 3 years, you have a 67 year old Miles. Or a Coordinator that you don't know if they can coach. Without a Wilder or Houston or MAC guy, none without risk, this has some path to success.

Not my favourite path. Far better than 2017 Diaco

I'm saying that we're garbage because we're 24-49 in the last 6 years. You could do a lot worse than the job itself, but on the field we've been horrible.

The idea that we could have a "solid hot coach" probably isn't realistic. I'm sure DB explored his options.

 

[JSM1970]

The Fiesta Bowl thing is really an anomaly and a joke

The league was awful, it was guaranteed a spot. The national media thought it was a joke and that UConn was too. UConn got embarrassed 48-20 and confirmed their assumptions

In that same year UConn lost to 'Ville 27-0, Mich 30-10 and Temple 30-16

Edsall leveraged that to get his "dream job" and was a total ah*le when he left, especially to his players

People are going to hate Edsall.

WHen he took UConn to the Fiesta bowl, people wanted him fired because "we couldn't do any worse"

 

[sdhusky]

As someone said on the 26th, the money to buy out HCBD might have been "pro Edsall" money. And I have zero doubt that if the choice was Diacco or Edsall he made the right choice. Our program could not have taken another year of Diacco.

This should be the end to all discussion on the boneyard.

But I don't think it will.

 

[businesslawyer]

This has the potential to rip the boneyard apart. This is worse than Clinton/Trump.

LOL. The program will survive the Boneyard being ripped apart if we start getting better.

 

[businesslawyer]

If true, this makes us look desperate (which we are).

It's like we could only get one girl to go with us to the junior prom, and then (a year later) she's the only one who will go with us to the senior prom.

Why shouldn't that be? We were far more appealing during the Jr. Prom, dancing with Edsall, than we became our senior year dating only total losers.

 

[JSM1970]

get Diaco and when the buyout drops to $1.7M next year make the move and hire a more dynamic coach the fans can get excited about. This move is zero sum at this point

So, Burton really did sign the check "Must hire Edsall" well it's better than BD. Is he a long term solution? Doubt it. Is he good for the next 4 years? Absolutely he's proven he knows how to coach.

 

[sdhusky]

The Fiesta Bowl thing is really an anomaly and a joke

Fun fact - UConn had more NFL players drafter on the field than OK.

Weird, eh?

HCRE won the BE twice in his final 5 or so seasons.

I think RE2.0 can do better in the AAC

 

[mac66]

Seems like Caldwell addressing him being in mix rather than a hire.

 

[Exit 4]

Does any else feel the sudden compulsion to get a blackberry and a buzz cut? The 00

Despite what many think, I didn't follow him closely enough at Maryland to understand what went wrong and what, if anything, he might have learned from it. We will have to see.

As I've made clear, this is not where I would have gone. But two thoughts:

1. Many on our wish list may have simply been unobtainable for us. See, e.g., Miles, Morehead, Fleck and even possibly Schiano. It may have been that the alternatives Benedict had to Edsall were coordinators never proven as a head coach and Houston, and while I might have gone for Houston the truth is I know nothing about him beyond what he accomplished at JMU and have no idea if that really would have worked.

2. Before DB gets trashed, he might not have had a choice here, other than keeping Diaco. As someone said on the 26th, the money to buy out HCBD might have been "pro Edsall" money. And I have zero doubt that if the choice was Diacco or Edsall he made the right choice. Our program could not have taken another year of Diacco.

Bingo - bingo - bingo. Miles, Moorhead, Fleck, Schiano would have passed unless we dumped a truckload of cash and even then, doubtful. We are not an attractive place to be at this juncture for any HC unless you are an untested coordinator or a sub MAC HC (yes, that's right, MAC coaches would pass on us). My fear with a guy like Houston is that he's going to have two good years and than takes his dream job at NC State or some equivalent.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

This does explain the comment about DB having to do a lot of selling. I am sure UConn leadership had to be sold on this idea.

 

[huskymedic]

Boneyard when Diaco was fired and then came the Edsall rumors...

 

[sdhusky]

get Diaco and when the buyout drops to $1.7M next year make the move and hire a more dynamic coach the fans can get excited about. This move is zero sum at this point

I'm not sure you know what zero sum means.

(Hint, it doesn't mean you win 3x as much)

 

[31GuardTrap]

Geezzus......instead of ...here's a check...go find the best coach you can get here that will get us an AAC Championship and Playoff birth, it's....here's a check..I want my buddy back.

I need to win powerball more than ever now.

 

[uconNYC]

I'm actually okay with this. He's a "safe" hire in my opinion.

HCPP was also a "safe hire"!!!

Circumstances are totally different now. We are not in the Big East...college offenses have changed...Edsall's reputation has diminished...we are no longer a new program...

 

[Jarhead_1775]

I'd assume this time around, Edsall would not handcuff the OC. Whatever.

Pass the ganja.

 

[UChusky916]

For those saying Edsall is a 'safe' hire... that's not the case and here's why:

1. This hire polarizes the fan base
2. Edsall is not a 'safe' hire if he hasn't coached in over a year. Let's remember he was fired and NOT picked up by another school/opportunity, which is why he landed with a low-level job on the Lions. It's a fair question to ask if he can still recruit and coach.
3. People called PP a 'safe' hire -- how did that work out?

Chatting with a few alumni from my class who were around when Edsall was, I was expecting a mixed bag of support for him (like on this board). But, I'm surprised to hear none are in favor of the hire, including myself.

I'm pretty disappointed to be honest. At the very least, he needs to immediately make a statement to make amends for his rough exit.

 

[gwhuskyfan]

Courant now willing to put their name on Blaudschun's report, so my guess is it's happening:

Report: Randy Edsall Will Return As Head Coach Of UConn Football Team In 2017

 

[superjohn]

When I first heard the Edsall whispers I honestly thought it was a joke. If this is true, man we are a laughingstock.

 

[UConnfan8]

I don't agree with this at all. I am frigging tired of this dismissive attitude. This conference has great football ... and it pays really damn well. We could get a solid hot coach. But fit? I am weighing the Les Miles v Randy equation. In the near term, no Miles is going to know the equation to get us far better quicker than Edsall. And then in 3 years, you have a 67 year old Miles. Or a Coordinator that you don't know if they can coach. Without a Wilder or Houston or MAC guy, none without risk, this has some path to success.

Not my favourite path. Far better than 2017 Diaco

Why are you so insistent that Miles would even take a phone call from Benedict?? He wouldn't. In fact, he would probably hit the ignore button. UConn is NOWHERE near Miles radar.

 

[sdhusky]

When I first heard the Edsall whispers I honestly thought it was a joke. If this is true, man we are a laughingstock.

Until RE2.0 starts winning.

 

[UChusky916]

 

[UChusky916]

 

[Jarhead_1775]

I have talked to one guy that is full on board with Edsall. He's a complete moron. Hi Pelow.

 

[Redding Husky]

Why shouldn't that be? We were far more appealing during the Jr. Prom, dancing with Edsall, than we became our senior year dating only total losers.

I hope it all works out. He's the best coach we ever had. But he's 58, a defensive coach, and he's burned us once. Does he have any more "dream jobs" out there?

 

[businesslawyer]

When I first heard the Edsall whispers I honestly thought it was a joke. If this is true, man we are a laughingstock.

Another great post. We may be a laughingstock, but if we are it's because of how we played the second half of this year, not because of an unannounced as of yet coaching hire.

 

[superjohn]

Until RE2.0 starts winning.

Good luck with that.

 

[Waquoit]

This has the potential to rip the boneyard apart. This is worse than Clinton/Trump.

Not even close. I hate this hire but I'll fall in line in time.

 

[businesslawyer]

Good luck with that.

Why do you hate UConn's football players.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Love hearing these buzzwords like invigorate a fanbase, sell the program, etc.

How long did that last under Diaco until the smart fans called out his bullcrap 1 game in vs BYU?

The Tulane game sure was invigor aged this season.

If Edsall wins, people will be back. If they don't come back when we are winning? Chances are the damage had been done and they were never returning anyways.