Embattled UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel should be earning the ire of President Herbst

[junglehusky]

Warde has done more than his fair share of stumbling and bumbling, but Susan is not well liked in her peer group. At least there is a chance he could improve - it is extremely doubtful Susan can change the impression her peers have of her since she made such a poor initial impression and subsequent actions have only doubled down on that. How she is viewed in CT by some who have no direct contact with her is irrelevant when it comes to conference realignment. How the fellow Presidents view her will continue to keep UConn on the outside looking in as other less qualify schools get accepted to major conferences. It is not a male/female thing - the President of South FL is well liked and respected.

I know this is your story and you're gonna stick to it, but maybe you should not rely on your one "source" as the be-all-and-end-all of what's going on with university presidents. Everything I've read about Herbst in the papers contradicts what your "source" seems to think. My guess is Herbst has an aggressive style and your "source" does not dealing with aggressive leaders.

 

[CTBasketball]

As a UConn fan the Towson loss was a big gut punch for those of us who were trying to be optimistic about 2013, though it only confirmed what we already thought about PP. But the Towson game will have no effect on UConn's realignment chances. Other conferences will look at UConn's record over the course of several seasons, not individual seasons or individual games. We have to get bowling again and winning against good teams. We just have to live with the reality that's going to be two years, minimum before we can expect to have some successes to point to. And firing PP now doesn't move that timeline up... we're better off cleaning house at the end of the year. Louisville had Kragthorpe for 3 years, went out and got Strong, he turned them around, they got in the ACC and managed to keep Strong for a year.

That's what the near-term (3-4 year) model for UConn should be, along with shooting for another men's final 4, another women's championship, and getting the hockey program to be competitive in Hockey East, plus moving towards AAU on the research side and continuing the improvement in undergrad applications and faculty hires.

I disagree with keeping Pasqualoni and our chances on realignment. That game was a major blow. We were/have been on the bubble for a while now and people want to see our best. Getting smacked around by Towson made us the laughing stock of college football and realignment.

And for PP, everyone knows he's gone at the end of the year. The only way he stays is if he goes 8-4 or better and wins a bowl game; which isn't gonna happen. So this is like keeping a brain-dead patient on life support? Why are we prolonging the inevitable? Everyday he is associated with this university, the university and the football program suffers.

 

[Chief00]

I know this is your story and you're gonna stick to it, but maybe you should not rely on your one "source" as the be-all-and-end-all of what's going on with university presidents. Everything I've read about Herbst in the papers contradicts what your "source" seems to think. My guess is Herbst has an aggressive style and your "source" does not dealing with aggressive leaders.

I have two sources from other Big East schools. She lectured other Presidents at her first Big East Meeting and made veiled threats UConn would leave the conference if her peers did not agree with her and went after the ND President on football issues. Unfortunately, these Presidents are in the very conference UConn is trying to enter.
In any business at your first meeting start with being a good listener and courteous.

 

[junglehusky]

I have two sources from other Big East schools. She lectured other Presidents at her first Big East Meeting and made veiled threats UConn would leave the conference if her peers did not agree with her and went after the ND President on football issues. Unfortunately, these Presidents are in the very conference UConn is trying to enter.
In any business at your first meeting start with being a good listener and courteous.

So - she was aggressive and not passive. I think that's what many people on this board were clamoring for. Good for her.

Keep this in mind - every time you mention this story, you are giving Syracuse's (or whoever) side of the story. If you are a Cuse (or whever) fan, then you would be entitled to do that. When on a UConn board, while it may be good to have outside perspective but you should be clear that this is where this information is coming from.

 

[CTBasketball]

So - she was aggressive and not passive. I think that's what many peapople on this board were clamoring for. Good for her.

Keep this in mind - every time you mention this story, you are giving Syracuse's (or whoever) side of the story. If you are a Cuse (or whever) fan, then you would be entitled to do that. When on a UConn board, while it may be good to have outside perspective but you should be clear that this is where this information is coming from.

I think overly-aggressive, borderline threatening was the term he used.

Regardless, what happened happened.

 

[Rumrunner]

The problem as I see it, is when is it appropriate to point a finger and say the buck stops here?

We're looking for accountability, not for retributive reasons, but to ensure that past mistakes aren't repeated and we don't continue to endure the same bad things over and over.

In CR and football, for the past two years, now stretching into 3 football seasons, we have been experiencing the same bad things. Over and over. It's quite remarkable how CR and football have performed equally dismally, catastrophically, even. It's been deja vu meets groundhog day starring John Cleese.

The head coach is responsible-without excuses-for the performance of his team. The Athletic Director for the performance of his coaches. The President for the performance of her DIRECTOR of Athletics.

There's no question that Manuel is at the head of the athletic ship.

At what point do excuses become intolerable?

On the university as a whole front, within the past 6 months Herbst got nextgen passed (her STEM initiative is visionary, transformative as someone is wont to say) and plucked the Emory fundraiser.

While Manuel did not pick Pasqualoni and Herbst did pick Manuel, that buck right now is sitting on Manuel's desk, the eye of horus looking up at him. I'm sure financial reasons more than love of sport influence Herbst's perception of the athletic department, and at some point a whole lot of eye's of horus are going to be sitting at Herbst's desk, and I guarantee you that isn't wanted.

In CR, we're told there's nothing UConn could do. We have to wait for the godot of notre dame. Wait for the big 12 to get to its namesake. Wait for cable negotiations in new york. Wait wait wait.

Well we don't have to wait to take action over something solely and exclusively within the jurisdiction of UConn, and that's the fate of its head of football. And there the buck sits.

 

[buddy]

Warde's new, just a babe. Pasqualoni, at his best, is bath water. And you've just made the best case I've ever seen for throwing the baby out with the bath water.

This is one of the best arguments I have read. Both the AD and HC must go. Perhaps they could get Rutger's ex AD. He was fired for political reasons only and would be a great asset for UConn. I have previously railed against the lack of progress made by our AD and was told by other boneyarders to see a shrink. Now, who needs a shrink!

 

[jostar1]

The title of this thread refers to "Embattled UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel". Who knows if he is "embattled"? Is he being pressured by Herbst, the trustees, Burton?
We WANT him to be embattled, but we don't know if he is.

 

[Waquoit]

I don't trust Manuel with this hire. And I don't trust the BoT, the crew that brought in P. Who is going to give us hope?

 

[metsfan2323]

I don't trust Manuel with this hire. And I don't trust the BoT, the crew that brought in P. Who is going to give us hope?

If only we could get JC to lead the search committee.

 

[freescooter]

I think rumrunner nailed it in his initial post. There is no direction coming from the athletic department. Just excuses. He was brought in as a rockstar, but he has been more like a backup member of a house band. From his dealings with Calhoun where he lacked the intestinal fortitude to get him to make a decision on returning until it was too late, to his decision on Ollie where he essentially took out his anger and embarrassment with Calhoun on Ollie (and this from someone who didn't want Kevin as head Coach. The way he was treated was juvenile) to his failure on conference realignment, to his failure to make a move on Pasqualoni last season. In myview he even mis-handled the hockey coach search, picking a career assistant who was passed over for head coaching assignments at Ohio State, UMass where they were ready to hire the Mullins Center janitor so many folks turned the job down, and was known not to be York's choice to replace him at BC. But, and if you've heard this one before raise your hand, he can recruit Connecticut, to his failure to schedule a P5 team so far...Guy has been a disaster who will leave UConn Athletics in shambles when he finally gets replaced. He is here for a single reason and a single reason only. His program to turn Buffalo's APR around. No APR problem in basketball and Manuel is nowhere near Storrs Connecticut. As far as Herbst goes, I don't think she is particularly well liked in the world of Presidents. I've heard some things similar to what Chief reports. But she is a very good politician and out politics the Hartford pols, which has been and will continue to be good for UConn at least in the short term. A Republican Governor, or god forbid a GOP dominated General Assembly and she'll be under fire. She has few defenders in some of the schools that make up UConn. Others like her. But athletics is neither her area of interest nor something she wants to spend her time on. Problem is she hired a cipher to run it. Though he did manage to follow his Buffalo script and update the logo.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

As many people were in denial a week ago about whether we could actually succeed this season with P as HC I may be in denial here but considering the positions they hold, what we hear (or don't hear) may not necessarily be how those in charge feel or provide any true picture on how they will act when the time comes.

I have often stated a public stance that I did not take (nor believe) for the long term good, which may well be similar to what WM was doing when he spoke of the importance of continuity last winter. All we see is the public spin. SH and WM could well have worked out an action plan (which was postponed for any of many reasons, including the possibility that McHugh begged for one additional season of P).

Again, I could well be in denial but I still believe that there is the possibility that SH & WM can do what is necessary to get the football program fixed. I don't see either as the type who would settle for dropping down to some second level because it is an easier path.

 

[J187Money]

I have two sources from other Big East schools. She lectured other Presidents at her first Big East Meeting and made veiled threats UConn would leave the conference if her peers did not agree with her and went after the ND President on football issues. Unfortunately, these Presidents are in the very conference UConn is trying to enter.
In any business at your first meeting start with being a good listener and courteous.

And then she'd be accused of sitting on the sidelines and monitoring. Can't win.

 

[J187Money]

Whether athletics is her passion or not she certainly gets it. I'm in her suite for the Maryland game so we will see what she has to say given the likely outcome on the field.

 

[Bezzz]

Whether athletics is her passion or not she certainly gets it. I'm in her suite for the Maryland game so we will see what she has to say given the likely outcome on the field.

Whoa, I'd say that's insider info. Keep you Boneyard membership a secret.

 

[SubbaBub]

The P hire was led by people no longer at the University. Even Warde for whatever missteps you assign him has ultimately listened to what the supporters were saying about KO and the gameday experience. There have been upgrades. Just not on the field.

He can't not see what the rest of us see. The ? is how to go about doing something about it.

Personally, I'd lining up support to spend the $ to fire P/GDL and eventually pay the next guy. Being a holiday wkend, that may be tough to do until midweek, but I'd be making calls today.

Next, I'd appoint TJ as head coach, Foley OL/TE by Wednesday. Then, I'd get to work looking for the next guy.

Get busy living or get busy dying.

 

[ctchamps]

Whether athletics is her passion or not she certainly gets it. I'm in her suite for the Maryland game so we will see what she has to say given the likely outcome on the field.

Don't go there. Not with this group of vigilantes who will hear only what they want to hear. If a guy jumped off a twenty story building some of these posters would insist the problem was with the ground.

 

[junglehusky]

And then she'd be accused of sitting on the sidelines and monitoring. Can't win.

Exactly.

 

[Pudge]

Helloooo

This thread is just littered with inaccuracies and pretentious posturing. From the Usual Suspects.

Warde Manual has been an upgrade and has made some crucial steps in his short tenure. Firing PP in December (which is what I wanted) was the bold move ... but not one that would have put us in good stead going forward. We are now the first Program in the job market. This next hire is everything. Has to be charismatic gifted and program building. While some may already be doubting Manual's capacity to pull this off; I see enough to think this could be an interesting selection to leap forward. An NFL youth; a rising guy; a guy who fits. Which makes the Whipple or Pasqualoni choice pure blasphemy.

If you don't see the quality of Herbst, I can't help you. But, she deserves NO credit for Storrs Center. The Developer won the RFP in 2003 & just struggled with that town & the capital markets. Herbst, I believe, has galvanized the legislature & the powers she needs to lead this University forward. That is the ONLY way we are getting onto the next level. Not by sweet words lobbying. The timing of PP was awful. See what Charlie Strong does at a UL. But the next round is coming - we're not leaking oil yet.

Kevin Ollie is the best move forward (free scooter). I think he'll be the best transition of a CBB program from a Legend ever. 15 years - I believe. From there, we need to grab this Football program back & move. I believe we are in great danger if we don't make this next move great. For all your bluster, we need Manual to be great here. At least, I'm hopeful that he's got it in him. The rest seems to be typical Connection.

 

[gtcam]

Bottom Line: put Larry McHugh as Head Football Coach and name Jim Calhoun as AD

 

[Chief00]

Put Calhoun in as coach and see if it takes him 3 seconds or 3 years to get a sense of urgency.

 

[Rumrunner]

September 2012 Nothing up to this point would make me want to pull out Paul's contract and take a look at it. My goal is to support Paul, support the other head coaches. And at the appropriate time, if it comes that way, at some point he will be the first to know. But nothing up to this point, what I've seen, would cause me to want to take a look at Paul's contract." UConn had just lost to Western Michigan of the MAC

October 2012 Our fans, I know they are frustrated, I am frustrated, Paul and the team is frustrated but stick with us, this team is working at it. The plan is to go to South Florida and make some adjustments and play harder, play smarter, play for 60 minutes and we will see what the outcome is. The plan is to win; we don't plan on going in there to lose. We don't accept losing and I am not a very good loser at all...

November 2012 UConn athletic director Warde Manuel called it "a conversation." Other team and campus sources say it was a monologue, not a dialogue, complete with Manuel in full throat, rattling the walls.

This much we know: Manuel addressed the UConn football players not long after the season ended and let them know, loudly and clearly, that the season that had just transpired would never, ever happen again.

December 2012 I hear our fans and I understand their disappointment, but we're going to make the adjustments to have a better performance on the field than we had this year

August 2013 We're going to go into every game with a game plan to win knowing that we're going to give our all and success for them looks the same for me, that at the end of the game, we're ahead and the other team has scored less points than we've scored. The expectations are going to be high for what this team could do.

August 29, 2013 Watching Manuel march down the hall and out the door, you didn't have to be an expert in the art of body language to see that Manuel was upset. If one had looked closely enough, one might have actually seen smoke coming from Manuel's ears as he pushed open the door and disappeared into the night.

 

[Road Dog]

Weren't these two bozos (Warde and Herbst) travelling on some sunny island resort as Louisville was pushing to get into the ACC? That's enough to get them both fired.

 

[whaler11]

Manuel owns 2013 because he didn't do the right thing at the end of 2012. End of discussion: any defense of him that ignores this simple fact is worthless. It was not a bold move. It was the only move and it was obvious to anyone with even a modicum of sense.

 

[Rumrunner]

I don't think anyone is disputing that at this juncture Pasqualoni is Manuel's coach. Retaining him after witnessing first-hand Pasqualoni in action is even more egregious than hiring him. Manuel is paid to make hard choices. He chose meekly and chose wrong; now UConn is suffering because of it.

Manuel owns 2013 because he didn't do the right thing at the end of 2012. End of discussion: any defense of him that ignores this simple fact is worthless. It was not a bold move. It was the only move and it was obvious to anyone with even a modicum of sense.

 

[Chief00]

Some definition of "embattled", a 5% raise.

 

[uconnbill]

One thing all of you forget is the buyout for coach P and then to pony up the money to hire a top notch coach. So unless donors want to pony up to buyout the contract, nothing will happen yet. I wish it were different but its not.

 

[BlueDogs]

One thing all of you forget is the buyout for coach P and then to pony up the money to hire a top notch coach. So unless donors want to pony up to buyout the contract, nothing will happen yet. I wish it were different but its not.

And thus, it all turns on priorities...believe me there is plenty of money available if the desire is there. There is not. What there is is plenty of lip service, handwringing and nea culpas, but no real intent to fix. Warde's sole dream is to get his next big AD job by being marginally competitent and not making a hard decision.

 

[Jimdish255]

And thus, it all turns on priorities...believe me there is plenty of money available if the desire is there. There is not. What there is is plenty of lip service, handwringing and nea culpas, but no real intent to fix. Warde's sole dream is to get his next big AD job by being marginally competitent and not making a hard decision.

Let's say (for the sake of argument) a financial decision was made for year three retention. What financial implications would it take to revisit that (shortsighted imo) analysis? JMoney keep your antennae up after innocently broaching the subject with someone within earshot of the Pres.

 

[uconnbill]

And thus, it all turns on priorities...believe me there is plenty of money available if the desire is there. There is not. What there is is plenty of lip service, handwringing and nea culpas, but no real intent to fix. Warde's sole dream is to get his next big AD job by being marginally competitent and not making a hard decision.

'
I disagree. I think Manuel was going to fire coach Paqualoni at the game but didn't. I think the leash is short for this coaching staff and if things don't improve quickly the boot will be coming.