Have we learned nothing in 26 years?

[FfldCntyFan]

Approximately 19 months ago there were a number of sky is falling posts when we found out that Majok would not return. We no longer had enough size so wouldn’t be able to compete in the Maui. Our non conference schedule (after a loss to Wichita St would put us against Chaminade) would not help us make the NCAA tournament and we would get killed in the BE. The basic theme was that everything the two 17 year old PC posters were claiming (that our days were over, that they would become a dominant force under Keno) was accurate. The abyss we fell into (a lackluster NIT appearance one year after reaching the final four) was so deep that there was no possible return to prominence.

We now have a thread postulating if Wolf or Bradley can turn into a quality big over the next few months as (evidently) this is the only hope we have for next season.

We now have a thread asserting that immediate clarification on JC’s remaining tenure and the succession plan are necessary for the future of the program.

We have many posts in the Shaka Smart rumor thread expressing fear that the impending NCAA ruling and potential recruiting fallout if we can’t participate in the tournament next season will be more than this program can recover from.

Again: HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

If the NCAA does ban us from the 2013 tournament I wouldn’t bet against us winning it all in 2014. I also have the response prepared when an angry, frustrated and stunned NCAA has to accept the fact that JC did it again. That response will be “It’s your own damned fault. You’re the morons who went and got him mad!”.

I am not at all a gambler but I would wager heavily that JC is far tougher than anyone on this board. Even at his advanced age, after numerous bouts with cancer and his recent spinal stenosis issue, even if there really are a few 6’6” 250 posters here, if a scuffle broke out between JC and one of us my money would be on JC. Those who don’t believe he would be the last one standing likely wouldn’t believe someone would complete a charity bike race before having a few broken ribs tended to.

I vividly remember during the 2003-2004 season JC stating many times about Emeka that he hopes the fans appreciate him because his kind won’t come around very often. I absolutely hope that all UConn fans (not merely boneyarders) appreciate the time we have left with JC running the show because his kind won’t come around very often.

 

[Yonick]

Amen!!!!!!!!

 

[art4life]

Here! Here!

 

[mets1090]

Good post

 

[Palatine]

NO. We haven't learned anything in 26 years.

 

[djct1999]

I hope you are right. Because what I have also learned over the past 26 years is immortal coaches, like Calhoun, who didn't know when the right time was to walk away and instead have it end ugly and more importantly witnessed their respective programs never again reach the elite status these coaches had attained. I am not saying that Coach needs to retire, all I am saying is that the program, Coach inlcuded, needs to be proactive. To many people on here refuse to face reality and simply suggest that because Coach in the past has been able to bounce back and fight harder simply means that he will always be able to do that. Again, I hope you are right but its time to face reality. That reality is an aging coach who misses 5+ games a year, a 4 year apr that is just brutal, a potential ncaa tourney ban, 2 guys who may go pro, our captain who may transfer, a few others who may do the same, and a weaker Big East. Truth is, Coach bounced back from missed recruiting classes, disgruntled players, and transfers, but no one has bounced back from what may happen because we have never been there. There is no doubt that a younger, healthier Calhoun would take this punch square in the face and this program would come back stronger and better. That isnt todays reality. Relying on the past simply isnt good enough and if the administration is not proactive in their response, whatever that may be, UConn's future will most likely not resemble its past.

 

[Drumguy]

Agree with most but I might put my money on Fishy v JC, he's pretty cantankorous too.

 

[Waquoit]

And let's turn the barn into a theater as long as we're at it.

 

[Kitaman]

Many posters are college kids or recent grads. They would have to talk to their parents to understand your 'on-point' message.

 

[champs99and04]

I hope you are right. Because what I have also learned over the past 26 years is immortal coaches, like Calhoun, who didn't know when the right time was to walk away and instead have it end ugly and more importantly witnessed their respective programs never again reach the elite status these coaches had attained. I am not saying that Coach needs to retire, all I am saying is that the program, Coach inlcuded, needs to be proactive. To many people on here refuse to face reality and simply suggest that because Coach in the past has been able to bounce back and fight harder simply means that he will always be able to do that. Again, I hope you are right but its time to face reality. That reality is an aging coach who misses 5+ games a year, a 4 year apr that is just brutal, a potential ncaa tourney ban, 2 guys who may go pro, our captain who may transfer, a few others who may do the same, and a weaker Big East. Truth is, Coach bounced back from missed recruiting classes, disgruntled players, and transfers, but no one has bounced back from what may happen because we have never been there. There is no doubt that a younger, healthier Calhoun would take this punch square in the face and this program would come back stronger and better. That isnt todays reality. Relying on the past simply isnt good enough and if the administration is not proactive in their response, whatever that may be, UConn's future will most likely not resemble its past.

"The reality is that UConn will never become a National powerhosue in basketball"--djct1999...1986

 

[willie99]

here's the irony, the fans that are here because of this program's success are the fans that tend to moan the most about any failures

Jim Calhoun made people UConn fans, and those are the people calling for his head. It's all so surreal

the Louisville board was begging for Patino to be fired earlier this year. Not so much anymore

sometimes I think the internet $ucks

 

[FfldCntyFan]

“I hope you are right. Because what I have also learned over the past 26 years is immortal coaches, like Calhoun, who didn't know when the right time was to walk away and instead have it end ugly and more importantly witnessed their respective programs never again reach the elite status these coaches had attained.”

I understand your concern but personally believe that this will not apply to JC. Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno did need to be forced out of their respective jobs. Neither of them was willing to respond to the question of when (or if) retirement was in their plans was asked. JC has spoken, often at length (on occasion, at too great of a length) that the day he will hang it up is approaching. While I personally would prefer he hang on one year too long, I am pretty much convinced that he will leave while he still has some hair on his fastball. I have believed for a while that his end will be somewhat similar to Ted Williams. After finishing the season batting below .300 for the first time in his career (and hearing whispers that he was done), Williams came back, again hit over .300 and in the last game of the season ended the year with a home run and told the world that it was his last at bat. I’m pretty confident that JC will hang it up showing the world he can still do it. I also am very confident that he views the program as one of his offspring and will not be willing to let it flounder. I don’t believe that there is a shot in hell that JC would prefer one of his former players/assistants running the program to a better candidate.

“Relying on the past simply isnt good enough and if the administration is not proactive in their response, whatever that may be, UConn's future will most likely not resemble its past.”

The manner in which we replaced Lew Perkins (and to a smaller extent, the manner in which JH made in his first significant hire when he brought in our current football coach) could give cause to believe that we would take the path of least resistance and grab the most obvious, convenient candidate. I have seen nothing of Susan Herbst or Warde Manuel that would lead me to believe either would not perform complete and thorough due diligence before making a decision as critical as replacing JC.

If there is one fact that can be derived by the Shaka Smart rumor thread it is that whether Smart is or is not targeting UConn as his destination job, there likely is a bevy of bright, young coaches who already are attempting to position themselves onto the list of candidates.

The program will not die once JC retires and it will not be at risk if JC is allowed to retire on his terms.

 

[husky8273]

"coaches, like Calhoun, who didn't know when the right time was to walk away and instead have it end ugly and more importantly witnessed their respective programs never again reach the elite status these coaches had attained"

- please name a few

 

[djct1999]

here's the irony, the fans that are here because of this program's success are the fans that tend to moan the most about any failures

Jim Calhoun made people UConn fans, and those are the people calling for his head. It's all so surreal

the Louisville board was begging for Patino to be fired earlier this year. Not so much anymore

sometimes I think the internet $ucks

Who is calling for Calhoun's head? All I said, was Coach and the administration need to be proactive. If Coach feels he is healthy enough to coach through his contract and groom Ollie, great. He needs to come out and say it.

 

[djct1999]

"The reality is that UConn will never become a National powerhosue in basketball"--djct1999...1986

Get real. Its absolutely foolish to not realize that this program is at a crossroads. I assume you are one of the posters who was outraged when doris burke said we were on fragile ground. WE ARE!!! Anyone who knows anything about college sports will say that Jim Calhoun has done the best job anywhere, any sport in building a program. To merely think that will be sustainable without him, without being proactive and making wise, difficult decisions, then I dont feel you are being realistic.

 

[willie99]

Who is calling for Calhoun's head? All I said, was Coach and the administration need to be proactive. If Coach feels he is healthy enough to coach through his contract and groom Ollie, great. He needs to come out and say it.

I wasn't addressing you. What made you think I was?

 

[djct1999]

"coaches, like Calhoun, who didn't know when the right time was to walk away and instead have it end ugly and more importantly witnessed their respective programs never again reach the elite status these coaches had attained"

- please name a few

Coach Paterno, Coach Bowden.

 

[willie99]

Get real. Its absolutely foolish to not realize that this program is at a crossroads. I assume you are one of the posters who was outraged when doris burke said we were on fragile ground. WE ARE!!! Anyone who knows anything about college sports will say that Jim Calhoun has done the best job anywhere, any sport in building a program. To merely think that will be sustainable without him, without being proactive and making wise, difficult decisions, then I dont feel you are being realistic.

Now I am addressing you. We've heard that type of nonsense of some variation of it ever since 1990/91, the year following the dream season. So far your ilk is batting .000, but y'all never stop trying.

 

[willie99]

Coach Paterno, Coach Bowden.

seriously? did they win a national championship recently? or any time in their last 10 years? did they reach the pinnacle of their profession 2 out of the last 4 times before they retired? (or even once in their last 9 years, when JC has been there 3 times?)

the silliness on this board is astonishing

 

[djct1999]

Now I am addressing you. We've heard that type of nonsense of some variation of it ever since 1990/91, the year following the dream season. So far your ilk is batting .000, but y'all never stop trying.

My ilk? Whats that? I have always been a supporter of Coach and will argue to my death he is one of the best all time. That isnt whats going on here. To think this is anything like 1991 or any other time "my ilk" made some variation of this chatter, is just being blind to what is real. I will post it again.......Name one other time in 26+ years in our program where our coach was 70 years old, has missed countless games the past few seasons for health reasons which he admits affected recruiting, a potential 2013 tournament ban, 2 lost scholarships, 2 of our starting 5 maybe going pro, 1 transfering that we know of, etc. etc.etc. This is not 1991 or any other time in the programs history. Maybe once you recognize that, you will see that using past references to help support the future of this program holds little weight.

 

[djct1999]

seriously? did they win a national championship recently? or any time in their last 10 years? did they reach the pinnacle of their profession 2 out of the last 4 times before they retired? (or even once in their last 9 years, when JC has been there 3 times?)

the silliness on this board is astonishing

those programs also havent won one since bowden has left or when paterno should have. and look at the state of each now. you are right about one thing, the silliness on this board is astonishing.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Coach Paterno, Coach Bowden.

I'm glad that I mentioned these two in my response to your initial post prior to you bringing them up.

Starting a bit more than a decade ago each of the above two was asked by the occasional journalist about retirement and the response was always a brush off. Neither of those legendary coaches was willing to acknowledge the possibility that the day could arrive where they were no longer coaching.

JC has brought up post JC UConn for a number of years now. He has let everyone know that retirement is in his not too distant future and that plans need to be in place for this in order for the program to continue at the level he believes it belongs. JC will not be hanging around when everyone in the world other than he is fully aware that he should have retired already.

As far as proactivity is concerned, those involved here (Calhoun, Herbst, Manuel) all have reached exceptionally high levels of career success (seriously, assess where each is in their respective fields and rate that within not only the entire population of the general workforce but also the population of their specific fields). This does not happen by accident and it does not happen without exceptional foresight, attention to detail and continual proactive thought. I would be stunned if there haven't already been discussions on a succession plan and I fully expect that when it happens it will be performed at a level of quality and commitment above and beyond anything that most of us could consider if it were one of us given the task.

One thing that you will need to accept is that just because you haven't been informed of what is being planned to continue the program once JC does hang it up does not mean that nothing is being planned. That the world does not know when or how we will move on after JC is not necessarily evidence that there is no plan, it is likely a conscious decision by those in charge that it is better that nothing gets announced until it becomes necessary and that in their eyes it is not necessary at this moment.

 

[7774]

those programs also havent won one since bowden has left or when paterno should have. and look at the state of each now. you are right about one thing, the silliness on this board is astonishing.

Bowden retired 2 years ago. You're acting like it was 20. And according to Scout FSU had the #9 ranked recruiting class in 2010, the #1 class in 2011, and the #15 class in 2012. They were ranked #8 in the first preseason poll I looked at for the upcoming season.

Yeah, what a trainwreck that program is.

 

[djct1999]

Bowden retired 2 years ago. You're acting like it was 20. And according to Scout FSU had the #9 ranked recruiting class in 2010, the #1 class in 2011, and the #15 class in 2012. They were ranked #8 in the first preseason poll I looked at for the upcoming season.

Yeah, what a trainwreck that program is.

and they were ranked 5th last year and finished unranked.....and when was the last time they went to a bcs game?

 

[7774]

and they were ranked 5th last year and finished unranked.....and when was the last time they went to a bcs game?

So in your opinion the state of the FSU football program is poor right now? They haven't positioned themselves well to have success going forward?