Fagnano and Bell are out for the Wasabi Bowl | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Fagnano and Bell are out for the Wasabi Bowl

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Stinger92860 said:
I have to admit, I'm genuinely disappointed that they've chosen not to participate. I’ll view these guys differently as they move on. I probably won’t care now, not worth my time.

While I understand the modern landscape of college sports is heavily influenced by business considerations and personal finance, these players are compensated professionals, and that compensation comes with an expectation of commitment through the entire season.

It's an interesting contrast when you look at how professionals often continue to compete, even when their team's season is essentially over. See the NY Giants. That professional standard of showing up and competing for every game is what you expect when the checks are clearing. I am particularly frustrated with Fagnano, given his path to where he is today. And while I acknowledge Bell has dealt with some significant hits recently, the fact remains: they are both paid to perform.
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The thing is we dont see this happening late in the year when there are plenty of teams who have nothing left to play for. Maybe it will start to happen but for now it seems to be isolated to the bowl games.
 
Disappointed: While it will be a fun excursion as I've got my grand-kids going to their first ever bowl & away game, it won't be as enjoyable due to these circumstances. All teams have the philosophy of Next Man Up, but it hurts when two of the biggest offensive stars opt out...
 
CTBballfan243 said:
My group was on fence. Looks like we will be skipping the bowl game as well. UConn can’t expect fans to spend money on this event when the starting WB and #1 receiver don’t think the game is worth playing in. Surprising Fagano is sitting out when the game will most likely be his last game in his career.
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It’s not really UConn’s fault if the players decide not to play. A lot of it is likely due to the coaching change, although I think Bell was gonna sit out anyways.
 
Not contributing to UConn football NIL anymore until players who ask for our dollars give back on their part. UConn stood behind Joe F and now he turns his back on his supporters. Don't let the door hit you in the arse as you leave Joe.
 
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Our charitable donations contribute to their paychecks right? Our hard-earned money. How about the fans tell them whether they play or not.
 
FfldCntyFan said:
Both of these young men have given us far more than we ever could have expected or asked for.

I'm far from happy with this news but I greatly prefer remembering them for the late touchdown against Duke than for something that feels disappointing.

Next men up as the bowl game is a bonus anyway.
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Appreciate your view but personally, I couldn't disagree more.
 
Bonamassa said:
What's the point of following a team all season that has no path to the playoffs and has no interest in playing in its bowl game? What's the return for NIL? Why should anyone contribute? College football is in the toilet.
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Before too long, only the most dedicated football fans will continue to fund NIL for football players. Other mixed sport fans will divert their NIL money to basketball, baseball and other sports.
 
microfich said:
On the Dan Patrick Show, as a live-saving measure, it was suggested moving the bowls to the beginning of the season. This would seemingly solve both the players not playing and coaches not coaching issues.
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So the bowls would be played based on the previous years records or estimated rankings?

Just ditch the bowls, they make no sense now, and add an extra game or 2.
 
The announcement of the Fenway Bowl (again) was disappointing to me, but I got over that. Bought tickets and booked a hotel for the night for a buddy and me. Let's just have some fun...
If this news is accurate, it's a serious kick in the nuts. Let's go freeze and support the team that's not the same team we've supported all year. Now I know why the sparse UNC crowd we saw last year looked so miserable. Now that's us. Suckers.
 
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gtcam said:
Appreciate your view but personally, I couldn't disagree more.
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We hit 6 wins, get excited and think we're going bowling. We reach 9 wins and wait with baited breath for the final weekend to see who would fall out of bowl contention, then we anxiously wait for bowl selection. We find out we're definitely going bowling, great...except during the time from our last game we lost our HC, our DC, our OC, and several key starters who are either opting out or entering the portal. Suddenly going bowling means dack jick. What's the flippin' point now? We're not going bowling so much as we're going scrimmaging against a well disciplined and physical opponent that will use the opportunity to increase their win count. The other team will be fighting with pride, our side is fighting with mass attrition. What's our motivation (other than the school making some money per the bowl payout), certainly not winning and attaining 10 wins for the first time EVER in our football program for the opt outs. They came to the school to play, then unless they're injured, play until the last fracking game, and that includes a bowl!!! End of rant.
 
So…I guess all of the values the players talked about all year…team first…hard work…were only valid when Mora was there as coach. Mora leaves, and it’s every man for themselves.

Disappointing that they want to taint an otherwise great season because they don’t want to play in the same bowl game again…and they don’t like that Mora is gone.

I hope other players decide to finish what they started, and Bell and Fagnano reconsider their decision. They owe it to the fans and their legacy.
 
Yeah it sucks and I'm a bit disappointed, but makes sense because both are most likely going to get invite to the combine and mid to late draft picks so they don't want to injure themselves.
 
There are 47 non-playoff fbs bowl games. My understanding is that each of them has an organizing committee whose members are salaried... Maybe just suit up the committee members and let them pound on each other for a couple hours.
 
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RedStickHusky said:
There are 47 non-playoff fbs bowl games. My understanding is that each of them has an organizing committee whose members are salaried... Maybe just suit up the committee members and let them pound on each other for a couple hours.
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Trying to decide whether that would be entertaining. Certainly betting opportunities abound, including the over under for hamstring pulls in the first quarter, etc.
 
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Obviously everyone wants both of them playing.

That said, it was a great season, the team played hard and those who are playing deserve the support. Last year, we tailgated at the Riverside T station along with tons of other Husky fans and that was a blast, along with the ride on in. That was a noon game (I believe) and this is a 2 pm start so that whole scene should be even better.

I'm not going to watch Skyler Bell. I'm going to send the team off in proper fashion after a fun year as a fan.
 
We all need to remember this is happening to every program so we shouldn't be too hard on our players. Some programs are outright skipping bowls. Some programs have players opting out. Some programs lose their coaches and players and opting out and it's a mess. It sucks, it hurts bowls and attendance, that's what they have created. Army and the academies don't have to deal with all the portal issues (perhaps to a very small degree) so this could very likely be a rout. Last year we skipped a family party to go and we probably weren't going to skip it this year. Looks like we are opting out of Fenway.
 
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Cry me a river

2 players opt out, one it is totally understandable, and it's the end of the freaking world. What if 5 or 10 opt out? If you are a true Uconn fan, you would look at this as an opportunity to see what we have for next year. A preview perhaps. Or see where we need to attack the portal.
I'll tell you what, our new coach would much rather see this than watch 2 guys who will never spend a second under his regime.

I for one would love to see if we have the potential QB for next year on the roster or not.
 
Hate this whole situation because fans have a right to be upset but it also inadvertently hurts the football program which at this point has done nothing wrong. And on top of that, our opponent happens to be one of the few programs that never turns their rosters over, meaning they’re playing at full strength
 
CL82 said:
Trying to decide whether that would be entertaining. Certainly betting opportunities abound, including the over under four hamstring pulls in the first quarter, etc.
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Yeah, on second thought.... Getting to the point where those paid committee members are the sole beneficiaries of these J.V. games. Probably another argument for player employee status and a CNA.
 
I understand everyone being bummed if this is true, but I still have not seen this stated anywhere other than this board post? Not even a tweet from some burner as a source? Also if it is true I am interested to see what Evers has to offer, curious on his development over the past year with QB Coach Tracy
 
JMick said:
Bell I understand and don't blame at all.

I thought Fangnano would play. Gonna be a thin roster.
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On the bright side we are gonna see if Nick has progressed and Army are going to have to deal with yet another talented runner. If Cam is gonna play, I assume so will Mel? Is that right? If so, there will be weapons. And the weather is gonna be warm. My concern is some of the lesser names. How many of those are going AWOL, so to speak? And the other QB's will be ready. The tiny bit we saw them in, I forget which blowout win, gave us just enough to make us want to see more. The game is meaningless by now. So lets see what these other guys have got. They know that Coach Candle will be watching.

I liked the point about the Giants and other bottom feeders doing a lot more than going through the motions. Kinda like running out a ground ball to first. It is just something you do if for no other reason than respect for the game.

We could use a list of who's out and who's in. I want to see a list of the Coalition of the Willing.
 
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