If you think our following in Connecticut is small you haven't been around small athletic programs. Connecticut loves UConn and there is amazing growth potential for the program and the university. We've just begun tapping NYC and Fairfield County for fans and donations. The school is raising its academic profile at a lightning fast pace and soon the children of the state's wealthy will want to go to UConn in much greater numbers. UConn is becoming an elite institution under Herbst.
We still do well with fans and we are playing a schedule that is completely depressing to the fanbase. The state of Connecticut is a huge captive audience. By that, I mean that we dominate the market. UConn is everywhere. I was just in Connecticut and my wife said, "wow, UConn is on everything here." Banks, coffee cups, commercials, pizza boxes, trains, interstate signs, one shirt and hat after another on the street. That is a huge, captive audience. You don't see that when near many power schools. It isn't a Florida or Ohio state type audience but as far as college sports programs go, UConn is the best the Northeast has to offer after Penn State. Give UConn a P5 schedule and you'll see it happen. You'll never see that from Boston College. We were well on our way when Randy Edsall left.
UConn is one miracle football season and a P5 invite away from being a major player.