Don't patronize me Susan

[Adios]

I don't think she really knows much about it and I don't think she cares that much either.

It's already been made clear she thinks of athletics as a "front porch" for a university... Do you ever look beyond your own wishful thinking?

 

[RMoore1999]

Not really the right philosophy to take if you're the UConn athletic department - the idea when marketing a product for more successful gains/position is to understand what is required to get the passive fan over the line, to introduce new fans. You need a better product. I could care less if the "true fans" stick by - I am sucked into a program/franchise/sport when there is a buzz surrounding it. If Uconn trends towards irrelevance, like it's going backwards and it feels like the administration is doing nothing about it, then it will be d@mn hard to stay engaged despite whether you're a "true fan" or not. That inertia can be tough to reverse and revenue will correspond. So while it's great seeing the true fan remain loyal, that approach will result in a mid major. It's like Kellogs realizing raisin bran's old packaging will hold the true consumer, who is probably closer to dying off, rather than evolve.

Football feels stale as h#ll right now - losing undynamic football. I'm not going to a football game just because it's Uconn, I'm going to watch something that's entertaining to watch that has some buzz around it. And I'm likely in the masses.

The hardest part for Uconn marketing is that if the programs don't feel relevant, there are so many other options locally(pro sports, etc). You can become an afterthought quickly. When you live in Lincoln, Nebraska, you are limited. And the fact that Uconn programs have been on the upswing for so long now - now that it's all going in reverse, the spoiled effect is hard fend off.

"Mid Major". That about captures everything about Connecticut's athletic situation, including its President and AD.

 

[upstater]

Not really the right philosophy to take if you're the UConn athletic department - the idea when marketing a product for more successful gains/position is to understand what is required to get the passive fan over the line, to introduce new fans. You need a better product. I could care less if the "true fans" stick by - I am sucked into a program/franchise/sport when there is a buzz surrounding it. If Uconn trends towards irrelevance, like it's going backwards and it feels like the administration is doing nothing about it, then it will be d@mn hard to stay engaged despite whether you're a "true fan" or not. That inertia can be tough to reverse and revenue will correspond. So while it's great seeing the true fan remain loyal, that approach will result in a mid major. It's like Kellogs realizing raisin bran's old packaging will hold the true consumer, who is probably closer to dying off, rather than evolve.

Football feels stale as h#ll right now - losing undynamic football. I'm not going to a football game just because it's Uconn, I'm going to watch something that's entertaining to watch that has some buzz around it. And I'm likely in the masses.

The hardest part for Uconn marketing is that if the programs don't feel relevant, there are so many other options locally(pro sports, etc). You can become an afterthought quickly. When you live in Lincoln, Nebraska, you are limited. And the fact that Uconn programs have been on the upswing for so long now - now that it's all going in reverse, the spoiled effect is hard fend off.

UConn is in limbo. If fans are demanding more ("Do your best to get is in the ACC! Pronto! Or join the CYO7! Or else!) they will be invariably disappointed. She's basically saying, stick with UConn. Or else. Because there is no other option. If the fans abandon UConn now, then UConn will be abandoned. It's as simple as that.

 

[freescooter]

It's already been made clear she thinks of athletics as a "front porch" for a university... Do you ever look beyond your own wishful thinking?

That's just the same meaningless blather that she spewed last night. She should just be quiet. she clearly was not in a position to sell the new conference so why go on the radio and sound foolish with the statements she made? Simple as that.

 

[huskymedic]

Why is this concept so difficult for some here to fathom?

Because they don't agree??

 

[upstater]

That's just the same meaningless blather that she spewed last night. She should just be quiet. she clearly was not in a position to sell the new conference so why go on the radio and sound foolish with the statements she made? Simple as that.

So how do you explain her push to water down academic standards for athletes?

 

[freescooter]

So how do you explain her push to water down academic standards for athletes?

What does that have to do with her ability or lack of same to sell the future of UConn athletics? And that was damage control, to the extent that it did in fact lower any standards.

 

[CL82]

So how do you explain her push to water down academic standards for athletes?

Details?

 

[upstater]

Details?

Mandatory 3 intersession courses in august, 1 one-week intersession course over Xmas.

 

[upstater]

What does that have to do with her ability or lack of same to sell the future of UConn athletics? And that was damage control, to the extent that it did in fact lower any standards.

You wrote she doesn't care about athletics. If she were worried about academics, she would have raised standards, not lowered them.

 

[Fishy]

UConn is in limbo. If fans are demanding more ("Do your best to get is in the ACC! Pronto! Or join the CYO7! Or else!) they will be invariably disappointed. She's basically saying, stick with UConn. Or else. Because there is no other option. If the fans abandon UConn now, then UConn will be abandoned. It's as simple as that.

Thank you.

 

[RMoore1999]

Because they don't agree??

If people can't see that promoting Memphis and the new Big East is bad strategy, then I don't know what else to say. Of all the issues debated on this board where reasonable minds can differ, I'm shocked that the intelligence (or lack thereof) of Herbst's statements on realignment has become one of them.

 

[Adios]

If people can't see that promoting Memphis and the new Big East is bad strategy, then I don't know what else to say. Of all the issues debated on this board where reasonable minds can differ, I'm shocked that the intelligence (or lack thereof) of Herbst's statements on realignment has become one of them.

She has to make the Big East look as good as she can so that she can maximize revenues for the athletic department. This is Sports Marketing 101. I am sure she would be more than happy to go to the ACC or wherever else if the opportunity arises. Calm down.

 

[freescooter]

You wrote she doesn't care about athletics. If she were worried about academics, she would have raised standards, not lowered them.

Look she did damage control. She had to take some action to overcome the APR stuff and like this conference situation she came up with bogus solutions (Oh Look, now we're making the boys take classes over the summer). It was a pr move to counter the image problem from the negative APR stuff. And it was done to try and convince the NCAA to let us into the post season.

 

[RMoore1999]

She has to make the Big East look as good as she can so that she can maximize revenues for the athletic department. This is Sports Marketing 101. I am sure she would be more than happy to go to the ACC or wherever else if the opportunity arises. Calm down.

This defense of Susan was raised the last time she spoke up. Count me in the camp of those who don't believe that the propaganda from a president of a school left behind in a diminished to dying league is going to impact the negotiations for that "league's" TV contract. Or maybe I just failed Sports Marketing 101.

FWIW, I'm calm, though I am admittedly frustrated and disappointed in the leadership of our university as it relates to athletics.

 

[Adios]

This defense of Susan was raised the last time she spoke up. Count me in the camp of those who don't believe that the propaganda from a president of a school left behind in a diminished to dying league is going to impact the negotiations for that "league's" TV contract. Or maybe I just failed Sports Marketing 101.

FWIW, I'm calm, though I am admittedly frustrated and disappointed in the leadership of our university as it relates to athletics.

I had my friends in college tell me I should have majored in sports marketing. She has to make what we have look as appealing as possible. We are where we are. The owners of the WWE (Vince McMahon and his wife) are ECU grads. They are probably excited. There is money behind the schools coming into the new incarnation of the Big East. Personally, I'd rather be in the ACC or B1G, of course. But that will require patience. Promoting is part of her job. If she trashes it, you think that'll help sell tickets or bring in more donations? We should be fine in the end. As long as our fans don't give up on what we have. We are key to keep what we have going.

 

[upstater]

If people can't see that promoting Memphis and the new Big East is bad strategy, then I don't know what else to say. Of all the issues debated on this board where reasonable minds can differ, I'm shocked that the intelligence (or lack thereof) of Herbst's statements on realignment has become one of them.

I'm thrilled with the prospect of taking on Memphis, Temple and Cincy in basketball twice a year over the next 2 years at least.

 

[Adios]

I'm thrilled with the prospect of taking on Memphis, Temple and Cincy in basketball twice a year over the next 2 years at least.

I look forward to Larry Brown and SMU too.

 

[upstater]

Look she did damage control. She had to take some action to overcome the APR stuff and like this conference situation she came up with bogus solutions (Oh Look, now we're making the boys take classes over the summer). It was a pr move to counter the image problem from the negative APR stuff. And it was done to try and convince the NCAA to let us into the post season.

It was done to bolster athletics. Call it a PR move, but have no doubt: it will increase APRs.

She could have easily taken the Harvard route (i.e. increased admission standards), but as well know, the Harvard route may place more emphasis on academics, but it does NOT increase APRs (Harvard was below the APR threshold last year).

Why did she lower academic standards then when she could have made an even bolder PR statement by upping admissions standards?

 

[freescooter]

Butch, you keep saying that people want her to trash the new Big East but nobody is calling for her to do that. Her performance was abysmal and it was clear that she didn't have a clue about some of the things she said. Merely repeating talking points someone else prepared for her and not doing it particularly well. Nobody, least of all the University of Connectucut's President, believes that Memphis, Temple and Houston (and ECU) are our peer institutions. No need to try and convince us otherwise. There was absolutely no need for the president of the University to appear on Sportstalk, especially when she had nothing to say, and given her lack of in depth knowledge on the subject, neither was she the best person to be "promoting" the new league. Sometimes it is better to do nothing than to do something badly. That's all. Leave the promoting stuff to others. her next public appearance on anything to do with athletics should be accepting another NCAA title, announcing a new head coach or our entrance into a new conference. Otherwise, just stay home.

 

[freescooter]

It was done to bolster athletics. Call it a PR move, but have no doubt: it will increase APRs.

She could have easily taken the Harvard route (i.e. increased admission standards), but as well know, the Harvard route may place more emphasis on academics, but it does NOT increase APRs (Harvard was below the APR threshold last year).

Why did she lower academic standards then when she could have made an even bolder PR statement by upping admissions standards?

In fact she did both. One of the things they bragged about in the NCAA appeal was exactly that. How the average SAT scores and so on were much higher than those of the teams that had the poor APR scores. And how they are using higher standards now.

 

[Adios]

Butch, you keep saying that people want her to trash the new Big East but nobody is calling for her to do that. Her performance was abysmal and it was clear that she didn't have a clue about some of the things she said. Merely repeating talking points someone else prepared for her and not doing it particularly well. Nobody, least of all the University of Connectucut's President, believes that Memphis, Temple and Houston (and ECU) are our peer institutions. No need to try and convince us otherwise. There was absolutely no need for the president of the University to appear on Sportstalk, especially when she had nothing to say, and given her lack of in depth knowledge on the subject, neither was she the best person to be "promoting" the new league. Sometimes it is better to do nothing than to do something badly. That's all. Leave the promoting stuff to others. her next public appearance on anything to do with athletics should be accepting another NCAA title, announcing a new head coach or our entrance into a new conference. Otherwise, just stay home.

What she is essentially doing is subliminally telling people like you to shut up and just go to games. There's no way around where we are right now. She knows how schools are run, academically and athletically. Her brother runs Colgate University. All these ****ing posts clarifying that and you still don't get it?

 

[upstater]

In fact she did both. One of the things they bragged about in the NCAA appeal was exactly that. How the average SAT scores and so on were much higher than those of the teams that had the poor APR scores. And how they are using higher standards now.

I never read anything from her on SAT scores. She only mentioned the APR scores and the mandatory intersessions.

Regardless, why are you avoiding the question? Clearly, she dropped academic standards to bolster athletics.

 

[WestHartHusk]

I'm thrilled with the prospect of taking on Memphis, Temple and Cincy in basketball twice a year over the next 2 years at least.

This is so depressing it is beyond comprehension. Cincy has typically been part of the low point of the schedule for me, and I can't think of any activity I would give up to see UConn play either Temple of Memphis. And I don't care if they are ranked, and I don't care if they have history, I just don't care about either school. Add to this the fact that this is the best 6 games on our schedule and we may be on course to removing the corner seats at Gampel.

The samurai have a saying: "when it comes to death, there is only the quick choice of death." I don't know how many years our AD is planning on trodding out shit schedules against dreg schools, but at some point I would just assume they end it all, focus on academics, and dust the banners.

Is this defeatist? Yup.

 

[freescooter]

I never read anything from her on SAT scores. She only mentioned the APR scores and the mandatory intersessions.

Regardless, why are you avoiding the question? Clearly, she dropped academic standards to bolster athletics.

Well they did increase admission standards for basketball. The Average SAT scores went from mid-800s in 2008 to mid-900s on the current roster. I couldn't find the document to link it, kept getting sent to the main page, but its there somewhere. and I think the "dropping academic standards" is inside baseball for you academic types. To the general public she was cracking down and "making the players go to summer school." It was all pr.

 

[upstater]

Well they did increase admission standards for basketball. The Average SAT scores went from mid-800s in 2008 to mid-900s on the current roster. I couldn't find the document to link it, kept getting sent to the main page, but its there somewhere. and I think the "dropping academic standards" is inside baseball for you academic types. To the general public she was cracking down and "making the players go to summer school." It was all pr.

When there are about 10 guys on a basketball team, SATs will fluctuate. If anyone is boasting about that, I'd like to see it. Because what comes up must come down.

It's inside baseball? Really? No Boneyarder has taken an intersession course before? These classes are universally regarded as not quite up to snuff. And that's why there are few if any upper-level courses ever offered during intersessions.

 

[RMoore1999]

I had my friends in college tell me I should have majored in sports marketing. She has to make what we have look as appealing as possible. We are where we are. The owners of the WWE (Vince McMahon and his wife) are ECU grads. They are probably excited. There is money behind the schools coming into the new incarnation of the Big East. Personally, I'd rather be in the ACC or B1G, of course. But that will require patience. Promoting is part of her job. If she trashes it, you think that'll help sell tickets or bring in more donations? We should be fine in the end. As long as our fans don't give up on what we have. We are key to keep what we have going.

I get all that. I'm not saying she should trash it, just don't say anything at all...

 

[upstater]

This is so depressing it is beyond comprehension. Cincy has typically been part of the low point of the schedule for me, and I can't think of any activity I would give up to see UConn play either Temple of Memphis. And I don't care if they are ranked, and I don't care if they have history, I just don't care about either school. Add to this the fact that this is the best 6 games on our schedule and we may be on course to removing the corner seats at Gampel.

The samurai have a saying: "when it comes to death, there is only the quick choice of death." I don't know how many years our AD is planning on trodding out schedules against dreg schools, but at some point I would just assume they end it all, focus on academics, and dust the banners.

Is this defeatist? Yup.

So what are you trying to prove, really? I want to see UConn play these teams. You don't. I mean, there are people here who are honestly touting the CYO's over Cincy? Not me. But you're free to prefer those. I don't. Not to mention that Cincy is pretty damn good in football.

 

[RMoore1999]

I'm thrilled with the prospect of taking on Memphis, Temple and Cincy in basketball twice a year over the next 2 years at least.

I'm looking forward to those matchups as well (though that doesn't mean I'm prepared to relax and accept mediocrity), but I'm a season ticket holder for football too. I take it you don't care about football.

 

[ctchamps]

I get all that. I'm not saying she should trash it, just don't say anything at all...

That would satisfy you but a whole lot of other people, needing to find fault with leadership over current circumstances, would criticize her for not saying anything.

I don't say leadership is totally blameless. But the supporters of the program aren't much of a bargain either. The only evidence I see is people needing to complain and blame. Suggestions are great, but we all act like we would have solved things by now if we were running things. That is a conceit I find humorous.