FAU Head Coach Tom Herman Comments On UConn Program

[UConnDan97]

Is it though? We as fans may think that but actually it is only worth what the media is willing to pay for it. We are only getting ~ $500K per year for football from CBS. Just to level set, MAC schools are getting ~ $2.5 million per school in their media deal - all sports, I know, but the majority of that is football.

But that's my point.

The reason CBS got us on the cheap is because we are a single independent entity right now. However, our average attendance over the last 3 years is on par with many of the lower-tier P4 teams (WASU, Oregon State, Wake, Northwestern, etc). Furthermore, we are in the #30 ranked DMA from a TV standpoint. And that's with a team that has really really struggled, and has been on an uneven playing field financially.

Now, place that same demographic and that same fan base in a conference with a higher revenue stream. We will increase ticket sales about 30% - 40% (we know this is true because of the Big East days), and the TV viewership will increase because of more attractive matchups.

So... yes. I believe we are much more valuable than most think currently. Much much more. But don't just take my word for it. Yormark and Endeavor believe it too...

 

[Marbles90]

But that's my point.

The reason CBS got us on the cheap is because we are a single independent entity right now. However, our average attendance over the last 3 years is on par with many of the lower-tier P4 teams (WASU, Oregon State, Wake, Northwestern, etc). Furthermore, we are in the #30 ranked DMA from a TV standpoint. And that's with a team that has really really struggled, and has been on an uneven playing field financially.

Now, place that same demographic and that same fan base in a conference with a higher revenue stream. We will increase ticket sales about 30% - 40% (we know this is true because of the Big East days), and the TV viewership will increase because of more attractive matchups.

So... yes. I believe we are much more valuable than most think currently. Much much more. But don't just take my word for it. Yormark and Endeavor believe it too...

You are putting the cart in front of the horse. You can’t say if we were in a p4 conference, we would be worth more. You could say the same thing about Northern Illinois. And you said football was worth more. Nothing about basketball. Yormark just wants our basketball. That I agree with. The fact that even with the best basketball program in the world - men and women, we can’t get into the Big12 just proves the point that - right now, football is not worth more than people think. We all hope that changes.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Is it though? We as fans may think that but actually it is only worth what the media is willing to pay for it. We are only getting ~ $500K per year for football from CBS. Just to level set, MAC schools are getting ~ $2.5 million per school in their media deal - all sports, I know, but the majority of that is football.

Using that logic, FSU worth less as a football product than Rutgers, Indiana and Vanderbilt.

 

[UConnDan97]

You are putting the cart in front of the horse. You can’t say if we were in a p4 conference, we would be worth more. You could say the same thing about Northern Illinois. And you said football was worth more. Nothing about basketball. Yormark just wants our basketball. That I agree with. The fact that even with the best basketball program in the world - men and women, we can’t get into the Big12 just proves the point that - right now, football is not worth more than people think. We all hope that changes.

You can't say the same thing about NIU. And Yormark didn't. And Endeavor didn't. Of course they want the basketball! But they are adding a program. And if they believed that our football was only with 500K, they would be losing money in the deal. That's why I know the football is worth more than you think...

 

[AllHusky]

You are putting the cart in front of the horse. You can’t say if we were in a p4 conference, we would be worth more. You could say the same thing about Northern Illinois. And you said football was worth more. Nothing about basketball. Yormark just wants our basketball. That I agree with. The fact that even with the best basketball program in the world - men and women, we can’t get into the Big12 just proves the point that - right now, football is not worth more than people think. We all hope that changes.

Sorry Marbles, UConn FB was already at the altar, a serious of unfortunate events(not the Lemony Snicket books) degraded and denalued our program. It will take another 6-8 years of throwing money at the program, maybe another good HC hire, and we might have a shot again. Don’t equate us with NIU, they are a nice program, but UConn has a higher floor and much higher ceiling. We just need to stay the course.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Value is in the eye of the beholder. The new Pac-12 may value some games on the East coast and some early time slots.

 

[Patman]

You are putting the cart in front of the horse. You can’t say if we were in a p4 conference, we would be worth more. You could say the same thing about Northern Illinois. And you said football was worth more. Nothing about basketball. Yormark just wants our basketball. That I agree with. The fact that even with the best basketball program in the world - men and women, we can’t get into the Big12 just proves the point that - right now, football is not worth more than people think. We all hope that changes.

If you refuse to see what is before you that cannot be helped. UConn is not as pathetic as people seem to think we are and that includes our own fans. You were just told why it works. You were just told that despite poor play that we get more people to attend than say Duke.

If you want to believe otherwise, have at it.

There is a reason why people laugh at us in a way they don't laugh at UMass. UMass cannot succeed. UConn has before and can again.

 

[uconnyankee]

This is great but I’m not celebrating yet. We got humiliated by Maryland and lost to Duke. A team deserving that kind of praise beats Duke and beats or keeps it competitive with MD. I want to see more dominating performances. As of now, it could be that we played great and FAU is a dumpster fire.

I also don’t like hearing that it’s a hard place to recruit to. If the NIL is in place, it shouldn’t be hard to recruit 1-3* players and good transfers to a big school with a big brand, awesome facilities and a pro coach. We need to stop allowing that narrative.

I agree but the guy is recruiting to FL. Little easier sell than CT to a kid from the south.

 

[UCan3]

While I like the attention we’ve been getting, our program needs a signature win.

Tomorrow is the day and then let the hype train begin!

 

[RedStickHusky]

While I like the attention we’ve been getting, our program needs a signature win.

Tomorrow is the day and then let the hype train begin!

I have to admit, these "we've arrived" opportunity games scare the beejeezus out of me. They tend to hurt a lot more when they don't happen.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Coach Talk.
Dont take it too seriously.
In private, he's saying that they just beat NIU which went into SB and beat ND and can easily go into Storrs and beat UCONN. At least thats what he's telling his players.
Hopefully, UCONN lays the smack down on his Buffalo squad.

I know coach talk. This was amazing coach talk. The battle of France? Lol.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Pretty freakin ringing endorsement:

That's a coach who wants to win.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I think the thing with Herman is he looks at our team, and players talk, I bet he lost recruits to UConn.

The transfer portal + NIL is what we have to do. Go to a big school, get some NIL, don't play, get great education.

Or. Get more NIL, play a lot, get a great education.

UConn won't beat a big nil school from wanting our player. But it will take the depth off those big schools for a year or 2 imo.

 

[ZooCougar]

You are putting the cart in front of the horse. You can’t say if we were in a p4 conference, we would be worth more. You could say the same thing about Northern Illinois. And you said football was worth more. Nothing about basketball. Yormark just wants our basketball. That I agree with. The fact that even with the best basketball program in the world - men and women, we can’t get into the Big12 just proves the point that - right now, football is not worth more than people think. We all hope that changes.

You’re dead wrong. NIU and company can’t schedule like we do and they are in a conference.

If you want to get a hint of our value, compare our schedules to say UMass’s Indy schedules. We’ve done really well in scheduling with many P4s coming to our place.

There really aren’t many if any G5s who could schedule like us if they went Indy.

And very few would get a TV deal with CBSsn. They would be on ESPN+ or FLO Sports because their schedule would be so bad.

 

[Marbles90]

I guess I still believe we are worth what someone is willing to pay. And we will find out if we are indeed worth more if we ever get that elusive B12 invite or even a MW/PAC invite for football only. I hope we do!!

And I only used NIU as $$ comparison. I know there are other variables. And yes, I (and pretty much everyone) think we are above UMass. If you want an alternative G5 comparison, maybe look at BYU's schedule before they were called up. And they were getting about $6 million as an indy. Probably not a great comparison either because they had decades of tradition compared to us at this level. So again, variables.

Hopefully, we are about to find out you guys are all correct and we are indeed worth way more than $500K.

As for the coach speak, none of it means anything if we lay an egg against Buffalo and/or Temple. Need to be 4-2 going into the Wake game.

And yes, I will be there in person tomorrow and next week to support the team. Go Huskies!!

 

[RedStickHusky]

Need to be 4-2 going into the Wake game.

Hard truth but, as others have said, I'm sure the players are focused on being 1-0 this week.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

While I like the attention we’ve been getting, our program needs a signature win.

Tomorrow is the day and then let the hype train begin!

Please don't take this the wrong way but if a home win against Buffalo is a signature win, we need to spend a lot of time working on improving our signature.

 

[UCan3]

Please don't take this the wrong way but if a home win against Buffalo is a signature win, we need to spend a lot of time working on improving our signature.

Fair point but sorry after last year this is a signature lol Merrimack and FAU are not gonna cut it

 

[cellocgg]

Is it though? We as fans may think that but actually it is only worth what the media is willing to pay for it. We are only getting ~ $500K per year for football from CBS. Just to level set, MAC schools are getting ~ $2.5 million per school in their media deal - all sports, I know, but the majority of that is football.

Hawaii was getting around 700,000 for being a FB MW affiliate but given the relatively poor performance of our team and Indy status it seems like we are making more than what we technically should be getting

 

[WestCoastHusky]

We need to beat Buffalo. Hopefully, we will run them off the field like we did to FAU. No one nationally will give us much credit for pounding Buffalo, but to true UCONN FB fans, it will be amazing progress.

 

[ZooCougar]

I guess I still believe we are worth what someone is willing to pay. And we will find out if we are indeed worth more if we ever get that elusive B12 invite or even a MW/PAC invite for football only. I hope we do!!

And I only used NIU as $$ comparison. I know there are other variables. And yes, I (and pretty much everyone) think we are above UMass. If you want an alternative G5 comparison, maybe look at BYU's schedule before they were called up. And they were getting about $6 million as an indy. Probably not a great comparison either because they had decades of tradition compared to us at this level. So again, variables.

Hopefully, we are about to find out you guys are all correct and we are indeed worth way more than $500K.

As for the coach speak, none of it means anything if we lay an egg against Buffalo and/or Temple. Need to be 4-2 going into the Wake game.

And yes, I will be there in person tomorrow and next week to support the team. Go Huskies!!

Yeah but this isn’t binary or absolute.

It’s not either you are worth B12 spot for football outright or you are worthless.

This is what you are saying.

 

[UConnDan97]

You’re dead wrong. NIU and company can’t schedule like we do and they are in a conference.

If you want to get a hint of our value, compare our schedules to say UMass’s Indy schedules. We’ve done really well in scheduling with many P4s coming to our place.

There really aren’t many if any G5s who could schedule like us if they went Indy.

And very few would get a TV deal with CBSsn. They would be on ESPN+ or FLO Sports because their schedule would be so bad.

^^^THIS!!!!

 

[Jetskies]

Please don't take this the wrong way but if a home win against Buffalo is a signature win, we need to spend a lot of time working on improving our signature.

yeah..i get the intent of the comment but "signature" is UConn Notre Dame 2009. It's a highhhhh bar.

 

[AllHusky]

Act like we’ve been there. We have, the players haven’t. This is the same game as FAU. Pick’em. We came up big against FAU. Felt like an awfully big win to me. Signature? define it. The kids were really excited, the fans were thrilled. Great win, good enough for now, fo sho.

Is Rutgers Washington a potential signature? Maybe. It’s a big one for sure.

Beat Buffalo!

 

[jostar1]

 

[ZOOCONN]

Please don't take this the wrong way but if a home win against Buffalo is a signature win, we need to spend a lot of time working on improving our signature.

My thoughts as well, beating a 3-1 team is good but depending on how the rest of the season goes I’d be more confident saying the wake or fruit U game would be more of a signature win

 

[RedStickHusky]

We need to beat Buffalo. Hopefully, we will run them off the field like we did to FAU. No one nationally will give us much credit for pounding Buffalo, but to true UCONN FB fans, it will be amazing progress.

Get to 6 ,7, 8 or 9 wins and it won't much matter who they were against.

 

[huskymedic]

Radio Pre-Game Show Convo:

 

[ddent68]

I think our schedule is fine. Appropriate even. A few tougher opponents some toss ups and some should win games. Last year we could barely score a touchdown. That’s not even an exaggeration. It feels like we have bottomed out and have started on an upward trajectory. As we continue to improve so will our opponents and God forbid maybe someday we get a real football conference invite. In the meantime winning is way more fun than losing so I don’t really care to see Alabama on the schedule anytime soon.