Fire Warde. Fire PP. Fire Herbst.

[BlueDogs]

They all suck and have presided over or contributed to this calamity. Is there not one person in authority nor asleep at the wheel.

 

[gioff23]

Brilliant plan. Brilliant.

 

[Waquoit]

it.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Brilliant plan. Brilliant.

Actually . . . it's quite brilliant. PP is a disgrace to UConn football. Warde is standing on the sidelines refusing to get into the game (starting with firing PP). And now Herbst. . . this is all something happening on her watch

 

[Husky25]

They all suck and have presided over or contributed to this calamity. Is there not one person in authority nor asleep at the wheel.

Okay...Then what? What's the end game? What do you know for sure they are not doing that should be?

 

[freescooter]

You know, sometimes when things are falling apart, you have to make a change. Sort of the old baseball addage that you fire the manager because its easier to fire one guy than 9. I continue to believe that unless something magical happens in the next 90 days or so, Manuel is gone.

Just as a side note, I've been at 2 events recently where Susan Herbst has also been in attendance. both times the former President was also there. He took over on a temporary basis when Hogan left. Is that a sign that he's getting up to speed to step in again?

 

[WestHartHusk]

Okay...Then what? What's the end game? What do you know for sure they are not doing that should be?

Edit: Husky, this really isn't directed at you. I'm just so tired of this state, and to top it off I turned on NPR this morning and our own reporters were wondering about the future of the Catholic programs and barely a mention of the lurch our own State U is in and it has set me off.

How can you even be serious with that post? I know with my eyes and my ears. We have an epic tide of negative perception and not one, NOT ONE, single person in our administration is out there fighting it. How about talking about our successes, the crowds we have consistently sent to the Big East Tourney, the Final Four, the 15,000 fans who trecked out to Arizona - or Detroit, Notre Dame, Michigan, Birmingham? How about our record head to head with the 'football' schools? How about the increased crowds when our basketball teams roll into town or our television ratings? How about pumping our value, our access to NY and New England? Instead we get bullshit about the Big East, monitoring, and smiles.

It is amazing that we sit through continual elections and it hasn't gotten through to our leadership that you need to feed your BASE. They will carry your message but you have to energize them and make them believe it. Honestly, the first thing I would do is call every bored (sorry, i mean 'horde') reporter in and make it clear their livelihood is on the line right now - and it is. I would then tell them that they are free to write whatever the want (like this non-sense that we 'had no chance with the ACC'), but that would be accounted for when our leadership and coaches hold press conferences. They are free to have whatever back-room conversations they want (and at that point why do we even think they are?) but that will be accounted for in their access to news, coaches and players.

And Warde - the dude is making HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to do a job a hundred people on this board would line up to do for free. Why the do we hire an 'up and comer' when we are an established university? Why didn't we reach out to an experienced AD to guide our ship when we knew we were in turbulent waters? You cannot tell me that we cannot lure one AD from some shithole town in Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, or Indiana to take a job with multiple national champion basketball teams, a football team coming off a Fiesta Bowl, a looming hockey upgrade (Warde gets no credit, those wheels were in motion), a revenue producing soccer program, and no professional competition? So why did we end up with Warde? Because this state has no vision, no balls, and no passion. Everything we do is small time, passive, provincial and safe. I am so disgusted with the absolute void that is Connecticut leadership and that includes the three you listed above. But hey, we're "Still Revolutionary!" We are a state run by a bunch of people who have never taken a risk in their lives and it just permeates everything we are and it's disgusting. To turn so many advantages into an albatross is a task that only Connecticut could pull off, and it appears we have.

 

[Dooley]

No. Yes. No.

 

[UConniki]

Edit: Husky, this really isn't directed at you. I'm just so tired of this state, and to top it off I turned on NPR this morning and our own reporters were wondering about the future of the Catholic programs and barely a mention of the lurch our own State U is in and it has set me off.

How can you even be serious with that post? I know with my eyes and my ears. We have an epic tide of negative perception and not one, NOT ONE, single person in our administration is out there fighting it. How about talking about our successes, the crowds we have consistently sent to the Big East Tourney, the Final Four, the 15,000 fans who trecked out to Arizona - or Detroit, Notre Dame, Michigan, Birmingham? How about our record head to head with the 'football' schools? How about the increased crowds when our basketball teams roll into town or our television ratings? How about pumping our value, our access to NY and New England? Instead we get bull**** about the Big East, monitoring, and smiles.

It is amazing that we sit through continual elections and it hasn't gotten through to our leadership that you need to feed your BASE. They will carry your message but you have to energize them and make them believe it. Honestly, the first thing I would do is call every bored (sorry, i mean 'horde') reporter in and make it clear their livelihood is on the line right now - and it is. I would then tell them that they are free to write whatever the want (like this non-sense that we 'had no chance with the ACC'), but that would be accounted for when our leadership and coaches hold press conferences. They are free to have whatever back-room conversations they want (and at that point why do we even think they are?) but that will be accounted for in their access to news, coaches and players.

And Warde - the dude is making HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to do a job a hundred people on this board would line up to do for free. Why the **** do we hire an 'up and comer' when we are an established university? Why didn't we reach out to an experienced AD to guide our ship when we knew we were in turbulent waters? You cannot tell me that we cannot lure one AD from some ****hole town in Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, or Indiana to take a job with multiple national champion basketball teams, a football team coming off a Fiesta Bowl, a looming hockey upgrade (Warde gets no credit, those wheels were in motion), a revenue producing soccer program, and no professional competition? So why did we end up with Warde? Because this ****ing state has no vision, no balls, and no passion. Everything we do is small time, passive, provincial and safe. I am so disgusted with the absolute void that is Connecticut leadership and that includes the three you listed above. But hey, we're "Still Revolutionary!" We are a state run by a bunch of people who have never taken a risk in their ****ing lives and it just permeates everything we are and it's disgusting. To turn so many advantages into an albatross is a task that only Connecticut could pull off, and it appears we have.

Read my mind, couldn't have said it better! Best post ever!

 

[Husky25]

Edit: Husky, this really isn't directed at you. I'm just so tired of this state, and to top it off I turned on NPR this morning and our own reporters were wondering about the future of the Catholic programs and barely a mention of the lurch our own State U is in and it has set me off.

How can you even be serious with that post? I know with my eyes and my ears. We have an epic tide of negative perception and not one, NOT ONE, single person in our administration is out there fighting it. How about talking about our successes, the crowds we have consistently sent to the Big East Tourney, the Final Four, the 15,000 fans who trecked out to Arizona - or Detroit, Notre Dame, Michigan, Birmingham? How about our record head to head with the 'football' schools? How about the increased crowds when our basketball teams roll into town or our television ratings? How about pumping our value, our access to NY and New England? Instead we get bull**** about the Big East, monitoring, and smiles.

It is amazing that we sit through continual elections and it hasn't gotten through to our leadership that you need to feed your BASE. They will carry your message but you have to energize them and make them believe it. Honestly, the first thing I would do is call every bored (sorry, i mean 'horde') reporter in and make it clear their livelihood is on the line right now - and it is. I would then tell them that they are free to write whatever the want (like this non-sense that we 'had no chance with the ACC'), but that would be accounted for when our leadership and coaches hold press conferences. They are free to have whatever back-room conversations they want (and at that point why do we even think they are?) but that will be accounted for in their access to news, coaches and players.

And Warde - the dude is making HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to do a job a hundred people on this board would line up to do for free. Why the **** do we hire an 'up and comer' when we are an established university? Why didn't we reach out to an experienced AD to guide our ship when we knew we were in turbulent waters? You cannot tell me that we cannot lure one AD from some ****hole town in Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, or Indiana to take a job with multiple national champion basketball teams, a football team coming off a Fiesta Bowl, a looming hockey upgrade (Warde gets no credit, those wheels were in motion), a revenue producing soccer program, and no professional competition? So why did we end up with Warde? Because this ****ing state has no vision, no balls, and no passion. Everything we do is small time, passive, provincial and safe. I am so disgusted with the absolute void that is Connecticut leadership and that includes the three you listed above. But hey, we're "Still Revolutionary!" We are a state run by a bunch of people who have never taken a risk in their ****ing lives and it just permeates everything we are and it's disgusting. To turn so many advantages into an albatross is a task that only Connecticut could pull off, and it appears we have.

I understand the frustration. I really do. You don't think I am frustrated as well? I hate how and to where the Big East has fallen. I hate that we have a football coach who seemingly can't catch up to the game, and I hate that a 70 year old man keeps falling off his bike. But the pragmatist in me still cannot blame UConn's position on Susan Herbst and Warde Manuel. One is former SEC Administrator (They know something about athletic programs down there), and the other is supposedly a talented up and comer with Big Ten experience and improved a MAC program by leaps and bounds. We scoff at the MAC, but our former AD did nothing but schedule MAC football opponents with a couple low level BCS school interdisbursed (I am absolutely convinced he thought we would roll UNC both times when he signed that home and home. As it turned out UNC was a top 15 team by the time we played them). Hathaway PROVED he was in over his head and he WAS an experienced AD.

I have to believe these two have a grander plan than what they have shown. It's like that scene in Thirteen Days (about the Cuban Missle Crisis), where the Joint Chiefs are convinced the Russians won't fire their nukes because the result would be too horrible to fathom. I have to believe there is a seat at the table for a top 21 public institution with a BCS trip, 3 National MBB titles, 7 Womens titles, and better than average olympic sports. Because if we are still sitting at the card table with a broken leg in the other room, the results for the University as a whole will be too horrific to bare watching.

I am originally from central MA and went to this school because of its reputation. But do you think I would even know about UConn without the Basketball success of the early 90's? The coach (James Caan) from The Program said it best. When was the last time 60,000 people gathered to watch a chemistry experiment. The athletic dept. is where this school's bread is buttered and football is where the Athletic deptartment gets its wheat.

So the jury remains out for me because I am convinced the moving is not done. That said...my benefit of the doubt also has a limit.

 

[BlueDogs]

Brilliant plan. Brilliant.

Thank you. I think so too. Seriously, it's time to clean house and get some competent leadership.

 

[ZooCougar]

I hate most of our reporters. They appear to react with glee at every misfortune.

Edit: Husky, this really isn't directed at you. I'm just so tired of this state, and to top it off I turned on NPR this morning and our own reporters were wondering about the future of the Catholic programs and barely a mention of the lurch our own State U is in and it has set me off.

How can you even be serious with that post? I know with my eyes and my ears. We have an epic tide of negative perception and not one, NOT ONE, single person in our administration is out there fighting it. How about talking about our successes, the crowds we have consistently sent to the Big East Tourney, the Final Four, the 15,000 fans who trecked out to Arizona - or Detroit, Notre Dame, Michigan, Birmingham? How about our record head to head with the 'football' schools? How about the increased crowds when our basketball teams roll into town or our television ratings? How about pumping our value, our access to NY and New England? Instead we get bull**** about the Big East, monitoring, and smiles.

It is amazing that we sit through continual elections and it hasn't gotten through to our leadership that you need to feed your BASE. They will carry your message but you have to energize them and make them believe it. Honestly, the first thing I would do is call every bored (sorry, i mean 'horde') reporter in and make it clear their livelihood is on the line right now - and it is. I would then tell them that they are free to write whatever the want (like this non-sense that we 'had no chance with the ACC'), but that would be accounted for when our leadership and coaches hold press conferences. They are free to have whatever back-room conversations they want (and at that point why do we even think they are?) but that will be accounted for in their access to news, coaches and players.

And Warde - the dude is making HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to do a job a hundred people on this board would line up to do for free. Why the **** do we hire an 'up and comer' when we are an established university? Why didn't we reach out to an experienced AD to guide our ship when we knew we were in turbulent waters? You cannot tell me that we cannot lure one AD from some ****hole town in Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, or Indiana to take a job with multiple national champion basketball teams, a football team coming off a Fiesta Bowl, a looming hockey upgrade (Warde gets no credit, those wheels were in motion), a revenue producing soccer program, and no professional competition? So why did we end up with Warde? Because this ****ing state has no vision, no balls, and no passion. Everything we do is small time, passive, provincial and safe. I am so disgusted with the absolute void that is Connecticut leadership and that includes the three you listed above. But hey, we're "Still Revolutionary!" We are a state run by a bunch of people who have never taken a risk in their ****ing lives and it just permeates everything we are and it's disgusting. To turn so many advantages into an albatross is a task that only Connecticut could pull off, and it appears we have.

 

[FBUCONN]

Okay...Then what? What's the end game? What do you know for sure they are not doing that should be?

Then What? Hire competent capable people to get UCONN back on to a positive track. We are floundering. Lost in space. Not an attractive alternative to other Conferences. Losing fan base. Failing on the playing field. Not landing recruits to help raise the programs level. Soon to be without a home when the BE football program falls apart. The patient is hemorrhaging and the current medical staff shows no ability to stop the bleeding!

 

[ZooCougar]

PP can't be fired soon enough. He was the wrong hire, if this were a normal situation a third year makes sense, but this isn't normal. I understand why Warde didn't can him. I don't agree with it.

The timing of Hathaway's removal was unfortunate. But I think firing the AD right now is unwise and uncalled for even if he is doing a terrible job. Hopefully he gets better, but if the environment ever stabilizes, and the department doesn't improve then he is gone.

The President. Nope. She could be at strike 2 or have no strikes. Someone needs to tell her that we are not loaded for bear in this fight. The Rockstar is not a Rockstar, and under her leadership we have been passed over by the ACC twice and the B1G once.

 

[Doggie Style]

Edit: Husky, this really isn't directed at you. I'm just so tired of this state, and to top it off I turned on NPR this morning and our own reporters were wondering about the future of the Catholic programs and barely a mention of the lurch our own State U is in and it has set me off.

How can you even be serious with that post? I know with my eyes and my ears. We have an epic tide of negative perception and not one, NOT ONE, single person in our administration is
out there fighting it. How about talking about our successes, the crowds we have consistently
sent to the Big East Tourney, the Final Four, the 15,000 fans who trecked out to Arizona - or Detroit, Notre Dame, Michigan, Birmingham? How about our record head to head with the 'football' schools? How about the increased crowds when our basketball teams roll into town or our television ratings? How about pumping our value, our access to NY and New England? Instead we get bull**** about the Big East, monitoring, and smiles.

It is amazing that we sit through continual elections and it hasn't gotten through to our leadership that you need to feed your BASE. They will carry your message but you have to energize them and make them believe it. Honestly, the first thing I would do is call every bored (sorry, i mean 'horde') reporter in and make it clear their livelihood is on the line right now - and it is. I would then tell them that they are free to write whatever the want (like this non-sense that we 'had no chance with the ACC'), but that would be accounted for when our leadership and coaches hold press conferences. They are free to have whatever back-room conversations they want (and at that point why do we even think they are?) but that will be accounted for in their access to news, coaches and players.

And Warde - the dude is making HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to do a job a hundred people on this board would line up to do for free. Why the **** do we hire an 'up and comer' when we are an established university? Why didn't we reach out to an experienced AD to guide our ship when we knew we were in turbulent waters? You cannot tell me that we cannot lure one AD from some ****hole town in Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, or Indiana to take a job with multiple national champion basketball teams, a football team coming off a Fiesta Bowl, a looming hockey upgrade (Warde gets no credit, those wheels were in motion), a revenue producing soccer program, and no professional competition? So why did we end up with Warde? Because this ****ing state has no vision, no balls, and no passion. Everything we do is small time, passive, provincial and safe. I am so disgusted with the absolute void that is Connecticut leadership and that includes the three you listed above. But hey, we're "Still Revolutionary!" We are a state run by a bunch of people who have never taken a risk in their ****ing lives and it just permeates everything we are and it's disgusting. To turn so many advantages into an albatross is a task that only Connecticut could pull off, and it appears we have.

With this passion, clearly you must be a Conard guy!

 

[zls44]

With this passion, clearly you must be a Conard guy!

BOOOOOOOO

 

[Doggie Style]

BOOOOOOOO

Oh God, not a Hall guy...........

 

[NHUConnfan]

Yes. Yes. No.

 

[WestHartHusk]

With this passion, clearly you must be a Conard guy!

I am actually not from west hartford, just liked the name for a message board. Is there a preference between Conard and Hall (not to start a civil war on the topic, i'm really not familiar)?

 

[zls44]

Is there a preference between Conard and Hall (not to start a civil war on the topic, i'm really not familiar)?

Hall grads design and build the computers you use to post.
Conard grads are the one that sell them to you at Best Buy.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I am actually not from west hartford, just liked the name for a message board.

WestHartHusk, I like your style.

Signed, ConnHuskBask

 

[TouchdownHusky]

And Warde - the dude is making HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to do a job a hundred people on this board would line up to do for free. Why the **** do we hire an 'up and comer' when we are an established university? Why didn't we reach out to an experienced AD to guide our ship when we knew we were in turbulent waters? You cannot tell me that we cannot lure one AD from some ****hole town in Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, or Indiana to take a job with multiple national champion basketball teams, a football team coming off a Fiesta Bowl, a looming hockey upgrade (Warde gets no credit, those wheels were in motion), a revenue producing soccer program, and no professional competition? So why did we end up with Warde? Because this ****ing state has no vision, no balls, and no passion. Everything we do is small time, passive, provincial and safe. I am so disgusted with the absolute void that is Connecticut leadership and that includes the three you listed above. But hey, we're "Still Revolutionary!" We are a state run by a bunch of people who have never taken a risk in their ****ing lives and it just permeates everything we are and it's disgusting. To turn so many advantages into an albatross is a task that only Connecticut could pull off, and it appears we have.

A very astute observation. We build a new basketball arena and it's tiny (9.4K originally). We consider plans at Adrien' Landing that include a basketbal arena, but why bother, we've got the antiquated, run-down XL Center. We build a new football stadium and it's tiny. Baseball? Hardly worthy of the direction that program was headed in? Small time Connecticut. At least the Indians got it right with the casinos - the entire complexes were built first class, designed to be palaces. Everything else is fitting for the "Land of Inferior Habits".

 

[BlueDogs]

how about now? Or, do we wait until we're left with a intramural flag football program? ongoing incompetence, lack of action, lack of vision, lack of leaership is stunning.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Edit: Husky, this really isn't directed at you. I'm just so tired of this state, and to top it off I turned on NPR this morning and our own reporters were wondering about the future of the Catholic programs and barely a mention of the lurch our own State U is in and it has set me off.

How can you even be serious with that post? I know with my eyes and my ears. We have an epic tide of negative perception and not one, NOT ONE, single person in our administration is out there fighting it. How about talking about our successes, the crowds we have consistently sent to the Big East Tourney, the Final Four, the 15,000 fans who trecked out to Arizona - or Detroit, Notre Dame, Michigan, Birmingham? How about our record head to head with the 'football' schools? How about the increased crowds when our basketball teams roll into town or our television ratings? How about pumping our value, our access to NY and New England? Instead we get bull**** about the Big East, monitoring, and smiles.

It is amazing that we sit through continual elections and it hasn't gotten through to our leadership that you need to feed your BASE. They will carry your message but you have to energize them and make them believe it. Honestly, the first thing I would do is call every bored (sorry, i mean 'horde') reporter in and make it clear their livelihood is on the line right now - and it is. I would then tell them that they are free to write whatever the want (like this non-sense that we 'had no chance with the ACC'), but that would be accounted for when our leadership and coaches hold press conferences. They are free to have whatever back-room conversations they want (and at that point why do we even think they are?) but that will be accounted for in their access to news, coaches and players.

And Warde - the dude is making HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to do a job a hundred people on this board would line up to do for free. Why the **** do we hire an 'up and comer' when we are an established university? Why didn't we reach out to an experienced AD to guide our ship when we knew we were in turbulent waters? You cannot tell me that we cannot lure one AD from some ****hole town in Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, or Indiana to take a job with multiple national champion basketball teams, a football team coming off a Fiesta Bowl, a looming hockey upgrade (Warde gets no credit, those wheels were in motion), a revenue producing soccer program, and no professional competition? So why did we end up with Warde? Because this ****ing state has no vision, no balls, and no passion. Everything we do is small time, passive, provincial and safe. I am so disgusted with the absolute void that is Connecticut leadership and that includes the three you listed above. But hey, we're "Still Revolutionary!" We are a state run by a bunch of people who have never taken a risk in their ****ing lives and it just permeates everything we are and it's disgusting. To turn so many advantages into an albatross is a task that only Connecticut could pull off, and it appears we have.

I wish, in any evaluation of SH and WM, that a more reasonable valuation could be applied to the Athletic Dept. they inherited.

First, the givens. You are correct about the strength of WBB. Unfortunately, in the club UCONN is trying to join, the reaction to WBB is "who cares," "so what," and "doesn't count." I think you're correct about PP. While I am incompetent to rate his players, I do see two yrs of losing and an itchy fan base. Worse than that however, is the way he comes across; bland, colorless and boring. And the team? Also boring and uninteresting; two cardinal sins in this day and age. Firing PP, however, probably brings up other issues. How do we know WM and SH haven't already tried to fire PP? How do we know that firing PP is a non-starter because of money controlled by people with a higher pay grade? Just a thought. As to the strong other and Olympic sports? See WBB, above.

You are factually correct in stating that FB was a growing program that had just earned a BCS birth when SH and WM walked through the door. What tends to be forgotten is the harm qualifying and playing in the BCS game caused the Program. We went from a feel-good story Program that was beating ND, on the road, and an SEC team in a bowl game played in the heart of SEC country to a national joke and a symbol of everything that was wrong about everything. And that was before the game. Losing money, not traveling well, coach leaving, etc. only added to the fun people were having at our expense. Whether we want to believe it or not, the FB program lost perceived value within seconds of the field goal that beat SFla.

As to MBB, the program inherited was, and is not the program that had just won a National Championship. The program inherited was in shambles with lost scholarships and NCAA probation and punishments handed down because of Nate Miles, embarrassingly low APR's, an 11.0% graduation rate, plus the NCAA's ex-post-fact o application of a new rule which ruled the program out of the NCAA and BE tournaments. Oh, and a revered coach that waited to the absolute last minute to retire; putting WM in a horrible position.

I don't know how well SH and WM do their jobs. None of us do. We have what we perceive as being results and apply those, and our own biases. That's the nature of the WWW. But to start at a place that has the two individuals walking in to a land of milk and honey is probably inappropriate. And I haven't even mentioned the half-assed mismanagement at the UCONN and BE level that pre-dated their arrival.