Fagnano and Bell are out for the Wasabi Bowl

[CL82]

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.

Trying to decide whether that would be entertaining. Certainly betting opportunities abound, including the over under for hamstring pulls in the first quarter, etc.

 

[uconnfan68]

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.

Make a 64 team playoff.

 

[Deepster]

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.

 

[Kolumbo]

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.

 

[king conn]

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.

 

[FightOnCT]

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

 

[RedStickHusky]

Trying to decide whether that would be entertaining. Certainly betting opportunities abound, including the over under four hamstring pulls in the first quarter, etc.

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.

 

[Nicklo28]

Honestly, I’ve loss some respect for both players. What happened to the brotherhood they preached all season. You’ve let ur teammates down.

 

[Coult]

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

 

[RSTuthill]

Bell I understand and don't blame at all.

I thought Fangnano would play. Gonna be a thin roster.

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.

 

[uconnfan68]

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

Hoping Navy whips them pretty hard. Soften them up a bit.

 

[cohenzone]

I think the NCAA could mandate that players play in bowl games as part of their NIL contracts. I don’t see how it would meet institutional resistance. It benefits everyone except the player that doesn’t want to play. Frankly, the players have plenty now. It’s time to start worrying about the actual paying fans again.

Without those guys playing, we have no chance to win the game and we will likely have a poor fan showing too. Why play the game? Oh, because the schools and everyone associated with the bowl get a paycheck and the fans can still be guilted into wasting their money on a garbage game. I’d go if I lived in Boston, that’s about it. No point showing up to watch our second and third string get run over by Army in the cold. It just isn’t fair to the fans.

The schools lose money as I understand it even if all the players show.

 

[CTBasketball]

I’ll still be going gotta support the full team.

But the AD & the school had to have known this was a risk when the team vocalized their malcontent for the possibility of this bowl. None of this or any other opt outs should come as a surprise.

 

[Palatine]

Only works if schools collude and all agree to those types of contracts.

While there is not currently an organization representing the players. It is not collusion for a sport to have standard player contracts. This seems to be an area that will be a mess or some time to come.

 

[Jax Husky]

Just heard both players will be skipping the Fenway/Wasabi bowl game.

Who starts at quarterback, and which other players won't be suiting up?

Bell I understand, but why is Fagnano skipping? He is likely a 5th rd pick at this point, why not try to put a little more on tape and play with your brothers one more time? Fagnano out is a huge loss for this game.

 

[metsfan2323]

I have no problem with players who are about to be drafted protecting themselves when the game is completely meaningless. I guess you guys don't remember the Willis McGahee injury. We don't even have coaches.

Yes, the game will likely be ugly.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

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.

Warm weather? I can only see up to the 26th and looks like cold rainy weather, temps in upper 30's. Maybe a 60 degree thaw??

 

[gwhuskyfan]

What do people think of the G5 playoff idea that was tossed around. Given our AP Top 25 votes, I'd assume we'd be ranked in the top 12 or whatever they decided for a G5 playoff and in it. Feel like players would be more motivated by that. I know it's then saying we're not necessarily up to par with the P4, but maybe this works better?

 

[Alum86]

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.

Bell is going early in the draft and Joe will be a UDFA. That is why it would be a head scratcher for Joe F.

 

[metsfan2323]

Bell is going early in the draft and Joe will be a UDFA. That is why it would be a head scratcher for Joe F.

Joe has a shot to be a late round pick.

 

[ScottVib]

Still happy to be going to the game. If nothing else it's a preview of next season, frankly it probably gives Candle a better look at what he needs to add.

For Fagnano & Bell, I get it, both have reasonable NFL aspirations and may be in full prep or enjoying the last bit of time with family before they go heads down in full on preparation for any opportunities. For Fagnano nailing the workouts is probably even more important, which if anything would be more critical to avoid injury or any potential black marks next to his name.

 

[Wildgopher]

Bell is completely understandable.

For all we know, maybe Joe is just stepping aside to let Coach Candle get a look at our other QB's.

I don't think that those 2 guys being out of the game means Army is going to win either.

Let's see what happens.

As a fan, I have always rooted for UConn first, and the players second. I will not change no matter who the player is.

Go Huskies!

 

[UConnTrumbull]

What do people think of the G5 playoff idea that was tossed around. Given our AP Top 25 votes, I'd assume we'd be ranked in the top 12 or whatever they decided for a G5 playoff and in it. Feel like players would be more motivated by that. I know it's then saying we're not necessarily up to par with the P4, but maybe this works better?

No because it would be used as an excuse to exclude the G5 forever.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I’ll still be going gotta support the full team.

But the AD & the school had to have known this was a risk when the team vocalized their malcontent for the possibility of this bowl. None of this or any other opt outs should come as a surprise.

Any proof of that? Not saying your wrong I’m just curious.

 

[metsfan2323]

Go back to the model we had years ago: full scholarship, no NIL money, and no transfer portal without sitting out a year. Tear down this new model.

Yeah, lets go back to the model where certain schools are allowed to cheat and UConn gets sanctioned over nonsense.