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FOOTBALL: A Plea to Husky Nation

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Dooley

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Only 31K tickets are sold, INCLUDING student tickets. BYU returned 2K tickets. Please read this article from our own Matt Schonvisky and come out to the Rent tomorrow night to watch what promises to be a very entertaining, close game.

EXCELLENT article from Matt today. Please please please read and spread the word.

A Plea to Husky Nation, Fill the Rent Tomorrow
August 28, 2014 Football
@MattSchonvisky

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The field is ready, the players are ready, but are the fans? Photo credit: @UConnVideo

It’s hard to believe that there are still tickets available for the kickoff of a new era of UCONN football, tomorrow night, against BYU at Rentschler Field. Per school officials, who confirmed yesterday evening, there have only been 31,000 tickets sold for the game that kicks off at 7PM, which highlights the start of college football, this Labor Day weekend.

Per the source, that number is ‘total tickets sold for BYU.’ For the die-hard fans that have been asking, this would indeed indicate that that number does include student tickets, as well as the allotment that was given to BYU, who returned 2,000 tickets to UCONN.

There is only one reaction to this and it is urgent, an ask of ALL fans of UCONN ahtletics and anyone that supports a sport that this wonderful school plays, including men’s and women’s basketball.

With the landscape of college athletics changing, there is no more important and pressing issue than the success of the UCONN football program, both real and perceived, this season. A non-sellout, on national television, against one of the top programs in the nation, who have been to nine consecutive bowl games and tout a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback, will be a black eye for this school in the minds of administrators of conferences and their member schools, who will be looking to expand, once again, in the not-so-distant future.

A sellout and rocking Rentschler Field tomorrow night, is a must. It will not only indicate to the nation that you, the fans, care about this program and this school, but it will give the players the 12th man that they need tomorrow night. An atmosphere that we all saw for Michigan last season, will go a long way in the perception of where this school stands in the grand scheme of college athletics on ESPN, the showcased game on Friday night, on opening weekend of college football.

If you are a fan of any UCONN sport, do not hold a ticket for tomorrow’s game and are not satisfied with the current conference that UCONN is in and no longer want to be a part of the problem, here is what you can do.

1. PURCHASE A TICKET

UCONN has released discounted tickets on uconnhuskies.com with the promo code: filltherent

Tickets with that code are only $20. Bring additional friends, family members and spend a nice night out tomorrow evening, rooting for the school that you all love. Bringing someone new will help expose more people to the program and build the base of Husky Nation. A positive and energetic stadium will undoubtedly make these first timers want to come back again and again.

For those that have left and not come back over the years, come see what the new coaching staff has in store. They are an energetic, fun and motivating group that has captured the hearts and minds of every single player and member of the staff. An entire buy-in has occurred and they are ready to build on the nation’s 10th longest active winning streak among the top six conference schools and independents, tomorrow night.

2. SPREAD THE WORD

You can do this in any number of ways. Copy and paste this link into an email or text message and send to all of your friends, family members and co-workers that either live in and around Connecticut, or have at any time supported UCONN athletics, including during last year’s National Championship run for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Two-hundred thousand people showed up for a parade a few months ago in Hartford to celebrate dual national championships in basketball, only 20% of you need to come to the game for it to be sold out.

Copy and paste this onto your Facebook feed. All of your friends and connections will see this. Some will pull the trigger, others will do the same, as you help spread the word to more.

3. IF YOU ARE ON THE FENCE

If you are unsure and hesitant to go, have never been to Rentschler Field before or think that last season’s 0-9 start indicates that this season will begin the same way, all that the coaches, players and fans of the program ask, is that you give them a chance.

QB Casey Cochran is coming off of a record-setting performance of 461 yards and 4 TD’s. He set the school record for most passing yards in a game that day, breaking the previous record of Dan Orlovsky.

New head coach Bob Diaco is the most energetic and innovative coach in today’s game. Come see what he and his staff are all about.

An ultimatum has clearly been given to UCONN by fellow conferences and rival schools that the UCONN athletic department has tried to extend to fans. The success of this football season and the fan support that they get is priority one in terms of future expansion for the ACC and Big Ten.

Ask yourself this question if you have never been to a game at Rentschler Field, but enjoy men’s basketball. Would you rather see Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue and Indiana coming to Gampel and the XL Center in the coming years for conference games, or do you want to watch 5,000 people show up for a conference game against Tulane in a non-energetic XL?

The future of this school, both athletically and academically, at some level, rests on the success of the UCONN football program. While fellow schools like Rutgers, Michigan, Maryland and others collect pay check after pay check from the lucrative television contracts with ESPN and the Big Ten Network, UCONN will be stuck making pennies on the dollar, in comparison. Funding will dwindle and with it the reputation of the school and athletic programs, across America.

That is a doomsday scenario, but one that could become a reality.

With no professional sports residing in this state, UCONN is the closest thing you have. If you have read this and have any connection to UCONN, follow the instructions above and do everything you can to help make tomorrow night’s game a sellout, otherwise no longer complain about the current conference situation we are in because you will then just be a part of the problem.

For a reminder of where this program has been and where Bob Diaco, his staff and the players are bringing it back to:

 

Dooley

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I'm giving away 2 free tickets to the game tomorrow night. If you don't have tickets already, DM me. Section 204. Electronic tickets that I will forward to the first person to DM me.
 

Dooley

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FILLTHERENT promo now open to everyone (not just season ticket holders or donors), thanks to Webster Bank.

UConn Huskies ‏@UConnHuskies 3m
One. More. Day. Let's "Fill The Rent" Tix promo courtesy of @WebsterBank. Tixs just $20! http://Post original url/FillTheRent
 

CTBasketball

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Yep wish I knew about this earlier. I'll be in 204.
 

Bonehead

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Call the ticket office - plenty of Lower Level tickets availabe over phone that are NOT showing on the UConn ticket website.

Ask for Kyle!!
 

Dooley

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I'm giving away 2 free tickets to the game tomorrow night. If you don't have tickets already, DM me. Section 204. Electronic tickets that I will forward to the first person to DM me.

My tickets are spoken for. But you can still buy $20 tickets to any available seat in the stadium using the FILLTHERENT promo code! Go Huskies!
 
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I'm curious. Are there many BB season ticket holders that have jumped on the new FB bandwagon? I know a lot of BB fans aren't happy with the conference affiliation. Putting fannies in the seats is imperative if there is going to be an invite from a P5 conference.

With 200K at the parade there is no reason we can't sell out the Rent. I guess most people don't realize how important FB is to our collective athletic department future.
 

junglehusky

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I'm curious. Are there many BB season ticket holders that have jumped on the new FB bandwagon? I know a lot of BB fans aren't happy with the conference affiliation. Putting fannies in the seats is imperative if there is going to be an invite from a P5 conference.

With 200K at the parade there is no reason we can't sell out the Rent. I guess most people don't realize how important FB is to our collective athletic department future.
This. I'm seeing frustration on twitter about the AAC basketball schedule, and it's understandable. As good as our conference mates like SMU and Temple might become in basketball, it just can't compare to the Big East. For now it appears there's going to be a period of several years before the next round of realignment to occur, but if UConn bball fans want to see us playing in a conference with the likes of Cuse and UNC, or Michigan State and Ohio State, the sooner fans start filling the football stadium, the better it is for UConn's realignment profile. If you want a bright future for UConn basketball, the best way to ensure that is the football fanbase shows it can step up a level or two.
 

CTBasketball

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This. I'm seeing frustration on twitter about the AAC basketball schedule, and it's understandable. As good as our conference mates like SMU and Temple might become in basketball, it just can't compare to the Big East. For now it appears there's going to be a period of several years before the next round of realignment to occur, but if UConn bball fans want to see us playing in a conference with the likes of Cuse and UNC, or Michigan State and Ohio State, the sooner fans start filling the football stadium, the better it is for UConn's realignment profile. If you want a bright future for UConn basketball, the best way to ensure that is the football fanbase shows it can step up a level or two.
Gotta win games to draw fans. The casual fan doesn't want to drive all the way to East Hartford and root for a losing product - unless you're crazy. And if you're crazy you're likely posting on the Yard.
 

junglehusky

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Gotta win games to draw fans. The casual fan doesn't want to drive all the way to East Hartford and root for a losing product - unless you're crazy. And if you're crazy you're likely posting on the Yard.
Remember that Seal song from the '90's... we're never gonna survive, unless we get a little crazy :confused:
 
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I'm curious. Are there many BB season ticket holders that have jumped on the new FB bandwagon? I know a lot of BB fans aren't happy with the conference affiliation. Putting fannies in the seats is imperative if there is going to be an invite from a P5 conference.

With 200K at the parade there is no reason we can't sell out the Rent. I guess most people don't realize how important FB is to our collective athletic department future.

Either that or the program has been so bad for the last 4 years that the casual fan isn't going to buy tickets unless they see some sign of life.
 

Dooley

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Here's the rub: with all of BYU's suspensions coupled with UCONN's improvements (firing Pasqualoni was a HUGE improvement), a Win is absolutely, positively on the table Friday night. Beat Stony Brook and we're looking at a possible 2-0 start to welcome Boise State to Connecticut. Mark my words: we will be in a bowl game THIS SEASON.

#HUSKYUP
 

c29328

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Got too in the deep back. Live in Oregon so can't go but at least its two more.
 
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Just bought two tickets to my first UConn football game thanks to the persistence of @Dooley . I was actually thinking about going earlier in the week, but the tickets were a little too expensive for my tastes. Going from 40 to 20 makes a huge difference, and had I not known about the promo code I probably would have been watching at home.

As a casual UConn football fan, I really know very little about the team. I know we were bad last year, but I was still surprised to see the spread that high. If anybody cares to briefly breakdown the teams expected strengths/weaknesses, I would appreciate it. Looking forward to the experience.
 

Dooley

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Just bought two tickets to my first UConn football game thanks to the persistence of @Dooley . I was actually thinking about going earlier in the week, but the tickets were a little too expensive for my tastes. Going from 40 to 20 makes a huge difference, and had I not known about the promo code I probably would have been watching at home.

As a casual UConn football fan, I really know very little about the team. I know we were bad last year, but I was still surprised to see the spread that high. If anybody cares to briefly breakdown the teams expected strengths/weaknesses, I would appreciate it. Looking forward to the experience.

Nicely done champs! Good job #HuskyingUp! Enjoy the game...gates open at 3pm and kickoff is at 7pm. There honestly isn't a bad seat in the house. Every sightline is very good for football.

The spread is WAY too high. BYU will be missing their starting running back, 2 wide receivers, and both starting corner backs. In addition their all-Indepedent DL will be missing the game. Then when you consider that BYU is traveling a LONG way for the game and UCONN typically plays well at home (we were 4-1 against the spread as home underdogs last year...a testament to UCONN's ability to keep games close at home), 17 points is ridiculously high. UCONN has a VERY good chance at not only covering, but winning the game outright.

BYU is an incredibly fast-paced, uptempo offense. They led the nation last year in plays run per game on offense (besting other fast offensive teams like Oregon and Clemson). Their QB (Taysom Hill) is very athletic and will be one of the best QBs that we face all season. A sold-out and loud Rent would DEFINITELY help our defense against their offense, given the amount of subs they will be playing with. Defensively, they lost their best player to graduation (Van Noy) but always adopt a tough, physical style after their head coach. I think it's because his name is Bronco.

As for your hometown Huskies, our strengths heading into the season are WRs (Geremy Davis #85 might be the best WR in our conference) and defensive secondary (focus on #16 Byron Jones and #20 Obi Melifonwu...very athletic playmakers). The roster is full of Connecticut kids, from our starting QB to LB to RB...lots of state pride. I think our strength this year will be the defense but I do expect the offense to improve. Last season, our offensive line play was very suspect so that's the one area that will be watched closely. Our kicking game is also an "opportunity for improvement".

All in all, I expect a fun, fast paced and very close game tomorrow night. Given the amount of BYU suspensions, I think we can pull it out. The guys are going to need the crowd support when BYU is on offense. If the crowd is jacked up like in years past (or the Michigan game), then a W is absolutely on the table!

Enjoy the game! #BleedBlue #HuskyUp
 

Dooley

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2 free tickets to any basketball fan who will show up on time, support the team and give football a chance....send me a message!

Good work Pags!
 

junglehusky

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Just bought two tickets to my first UConn football game thanks to the persistence of @Dooley . I was actually thinking about going earlier in the week, but the tickets were a little too expensive for my tastes. Going from 40 to 20 makes a huge difference, and had I not known about the promo code I probably would have been watching at home.

As a casual UConn football fan, I really know very little about the team. I know we were bad last year, but I was still surprised to see the spread that high. If anybody cares to briefly breakdown the teams expected strengths/weaknesses, I would appreciate it. Looking forward to the experience.
A few bullet points:
  • Our defense will likely be the strength of the team again, led by the secondary. Byron Jones and Obi Melinfonwu should be in the mix for all-conference and have the potential to climb up the draft boards
  • Diaco is a 3-4 guy, the defense will be in year one of a switch from 4-3 but expect a gradual transition. Edsall / Hank hughes defenses had size, relied on physicality, but Diaco's defenses will likely emphasize speed more. Linebackers had an anonymous season last year, perhaps Diaco's system will help that unit
  • Unlike UConn teams from the Edsall era, WR corps will be the strongest unit from the offensive side. We have more depth and experience at WR than any time in our history, I think. Geramy Davis is the leader but we have plenty of young guys who should be ready to step up.
  • Also uncharacteristically for UConn, the OL will likely be the weakest unit. Last year was probably the worst year for the OL since the upgrade from I-AA, thanks to former O-coordinator George DeLeone who was the only assistant that Warde fired on the same day as Pasqualoni. Diaco has said that two true freshmen will likely be rotating in at least a few plays. One of Pasqualoni's hidden gems, Andreas Knappe from Denmark, is a physical freak (and is being moved back to OL after a stint on the defensive side) but he has an injury and likely won't play vs. BYU.
  • Strength and conditioning was a big focus for Diaco. He hired Matt Balis from Mississippi State and the players have been raving about the difference from last year. Pasqualoni liked to talk about "prototype" measurables in his recruits but the chatter from the new staff was that those guys didn't bigger/stronger under the old regime. If 9 months is enough time for conditioning to have an effect, it could help get UConn closer to bowl eligibility.
  • As far as QBs, Diaco had what the press thought was a strange press conference where he had all the QBs sitting at a table (instead of allowing the reporters to mingle with the players individually after the press conference). But the bottom line is both Cochran and Whitmer will play. CFB fans don't like having 2 guys play, but to me that sounds like Cochran is ahead in the competition but still not up to the standard that Diaco wants. So if either one can take the reins and be consistently successful, the other will likely go into a backup role. Cochran played well in the last 3 games but that was against inferior level defenses. Whitmer has had a higher risk factor (INTs). Tim Boyle will redshirt this year if possible, he is taller and more of a classic QB but he probably needs more time studying film.
  • Still, a lot of unknowns about this team. The staff has characterized them as good kids who were mentally beaten down by losing. If Pasqualoni did a better job of recruiting than Edsall's last few years of lean recruiting (and the only time to judge football recruit classes is after they've been playing 2-3 years), it might be possible for a new staff to come in and have moderate success in year one. But as in any other sport if you have weaknesses, or confusion over the gameplan coming from a new coach, your opponents will exploit that. So I think the football fanbase would not be shocked by a 4-5 win season, but at the same time 7+ wins might be entirely possible too. (We also don't know much about our new conference mates like Tulane). If UConn can close out games they're winning, something lacking under Pasqualoni, and eke out a WTF win here and there, it could be a good year one.
 
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Still have 2 tickets available for FREE...sorry I don't pay for parking or gas!
 

CAHUSKY

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Remember that Seal song from the '90's... we're never gonna survive, unless we get a little crazy :confused:
My roommate played that CD non-stop. That and nirvana. Throw in OPP and you've got my 2.5 years at uconn covered. Maybe throw in a little Black Sheep too. 1990 rules.
 
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