I’d love to know how Candle so easily recruited 4* players to Toledo

[Hoophound]

I’d love to know how Candle so easily recruited 4* players to Toledo. I was wondering if because there’s a lot of talent in Ohio, it was easier. However, his recruits are from all over the place.

You’d think most 4* guys expect to play in the NFL. It seems like convincing them Toledo is the best place to prepare them would be difficult, to say the least.

 

[noeynox]

I’d love to know how Candle so easily recruited 4* players to Toledo. I was wondering if because there’s a lot of talent in Ohio, it was easier. However, his recruits are from all over the place.

You’d think most 4* guys expect to play in the NFL. It seems like convincing them Toledo is the best place to prepare them would be difficult to say the least.

Well top teams are shopping cream of the crop in the portal and 5 star high 4 start these days. That is inevitably going to push some 4 star kids down to other schools. If you have a top recruiter like Candle appears to be, he's gonna land some. I'd put Fran Brown in there also.

 

[AllHusky]

Your question is a good one. Always curious about academic and character background of recruits that don’t follow accepted recruiting “norms”. Quite often have to balance talent with “RKG”. Willing to take chances with a kid whose talent level is above what you can reasonably expect to recruit. Case in point, Skip Holtz and Dean Holliday.

 

[Bongo Fury]

People from that region may actually like to be in that region much like some people in CT might like to live in CT. If Candle is successful here, wouldn’t be surprised to see him go back to Midwest like to MSU.

 

[tiger paw]

Just wondering . How many 4-5 star players are there every year ? During the Peach Bowl they said Oregan had 44 and Indiana had 8. Indiana 13 of 26 inbound transfers came from James Madison. It looks like what Candle is doing for UC with Toledo.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Just wondering . How many 4-5 star players are there every year ? During the Peach Bowl they said Oregan had 44 and Indiana had 8. Indiana 13 of 26 inbound transfers came from James Madison. It looks like what Candle is doing for UC with Toledo.

Indiana showed what is possible with the right coaching staff. Let's hope Candle can do something similar at UConn with more resources than Toledo.

 

[jskwrite]

I see a strange number of comparisons on here and twitter between UConn and Indiana. People tend to forget Indiana technically won the Big 10 in 2020 (but the league changed the rules to put Ohio State in the playoff) and has been ranked in the Top 25 at least parts of 5 of the last 7 seasons. Indiana also has a huge advantage now because a bunch of typical Big 10 powers (Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan State) have fallen off a cliff recently and now Penn State and Michigan have had some coaching issues. I don't think we have any of those advantages at UConn. I think a better model for UConn is building a BYU pre-Big 12 or Memphis type program. Those are programs that are ranked even in down years at some point.

Also, to address the other part of the twitter argument, what Curt did at Indiana is great but is not even close to what either Jim or Geno did at UConn as far as program building and success from "nothing".

 

[hardcorehusky]

The star system is flawed. Usually based off subscriptions of the school. We have 2 stars like Darius Butler succeed in the NFL. We have had 2 stars flip to Ohio State that became 4 stars overnight.

 

[FightOnCT]

People from that region may actually like to be in that region much like some people in CT might like to live in CT. If Candle is successful here, wouldn’t be surprised to see him go back to Midwest like to MSU.

Let’s not go there right now

 

[DoctorWho85]

People from that region may actually like to be in that region much like some people in CT might like to live in CT. If Candle is successful here, wouldn’t be surprised to see him go back to Midwest like to MSU.

So you're saying we're a pipeline for players and coaches for MSU now? LMAO

 

[Waquoit]

So you're saying we're a pipeline for players and coaches for MSU now? LMAO

Once we were a pipeline for Big 10 presidents

 

[UCan3]

I’d love to know how Candle so easily recruited 4* players to Toledo. I was wondering if because there’s a lot of talent in Ohio, it was easier. However, his recruits are from all over the place.

You’d think most 4* guys expect to play in the NFL. It seems like convincing them Toledo is the best place to prepare them would be difficult, to say the least.

this is why I think he's the perfect fit for a program

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I wish some of the posters here would stop with the self hatred.

 

[AllHusky]

Don't know how anybody could feel crappy about UConn Athletics in general, FB in particular. From the early 80's until today, don't think anybody in the country has made more progress with Athletics, and you might be able to make a case for FB, especially considering the hand we were dealt with by Realignment. Self haters need help!!

 

[Jetskies]

People from that region may actually like to be in that region much like some people in CT might like to live in CT. If Candle is successful here, wouldn’t be surprised to see him go back to Midwest like to MSU.

this got thumb'd down but unfortunately you're (probably) right. This (probably) isn't the dream for Candle, and if/when he kicks *** here, he'll jump to a Michigan State or Purdue, mid-tier B1G school, is my guess.

but we'll save that sadness for another day.

 

[businesslawyer]

I wish some of the posters here would stop with the self hatred.

So you feel like we should go back to the American?

(I don’t see why my comment is relevant myself, but it seems like whenever someone is accused of self-hatred the “go back to the American” comment is supposed to follow.)

 

[AllHusky]

Biz, you ok?

 

[Hoophound]

So you feel like we should go back to the American?

(I don’t see why my comment is relevant myself, but it seems like whenever someone is accused of self-hatred the “go back to the American” comment is supposed to follow.)

This was a good one. Lol.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Once we were a pipeline for Big 10 presidents

And AD's for Michigan. Man they hate Warde.

 

[AllHusky]

And AD's for Michigan. Man they hate Warde.

You on their Board? It's bad, huh?

 

[B1GEast]

Geography. Ohio has long been regarded as a strong recruiting state.

That strength overflows into a lot of schools in the area

 

[Waquoit]

And AD's for Michigan. Man they hate Warde.

They didn't when they won the title.

 

[Scrutineer]

I see a strange number of comparisons on here and twitter between UConn and Indiana. People tend to forget Indiana technically won the Big 10 in 2020 (but the league changed the rules to put Ohio State in the playoff) and has been ranked in the Top 25 at least parts of 5 of the last 7 seasons. Indiana also has a huge advantage now because a bunch of typical Big 10 powers (Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan State) have fallen off a cliff recently and now Penn State and Michigan have had some coaching issues. I don't think we have any of those advantages at UConn. I think a better model for UConn is building a BYU pre-Big 12 or Memphis type program. Those are programs that are ranked even in down years at some point.

Also, to address the other part of the twitter argument, what Curt did at Indiana is great but is not even close to what either Jim or Geno did at UConn as far as program building and success from "nothing"

I have to take issue with a couple of your assertions. First, you said they've been ranked in the top 25 in at least part of 5 of the past 7 seasons. The last two are easy to verify, with Cignetti as Head Coach, but that would mean they were ranked in 3 of the previous 5 seasons. I guess it's possible, but with records of 8-5, 6-2 (covid year), 2-10, 4-8 and 3-9, it would seem they would at most have been ranked in the 8-5 and 6-2 years when they went to and lost the Gator and Outback Bowls. Maybe they were preseason ranked in the 2-10 year because they were coming off the 6-2 year?

As to what Cignetti has accomplished versus JC and GA, I've always thought JC was the master builder because of how many good basketball schools there are in men's basketball versus women's, but I think there's general agreement that it is much harder to build a great program in football than basketball because of the number of players you need to turn a team around. But, to take another coach's 3-9 team to 11-2 in his first year, in a league like the B1G, and then go 15-0 in his second year is remarkable and probably more unlikely than JC winning the championship in his 13th year and GA winning it in his 10th.

I hope Jason Candle pays attention to what Cignetti did and how he did it so we can one day revel in his reflected glory!

 

[JohnFSilver]

The star system is flawed. Usually based off subscriptions of the school. We have 2 stars like Darius Butler succeed in the NFL. We have had 2 stars flip to Ohio State that became 4 stars overnight.

They didn’t become 4 stars overnight. Ohio State only recruits 4-star recruits, so, clearly the kid was a 4-star but we didn’t know it yet.

LOL. The star system in football is a joke. The recruiting comes before the the stars.

 

[CCSUblue]

I’d love to know how Candle so easily recruited 4* players to Toledo. I was wondering if because there’s a lot of talent in Ohio, it was easier. However, his recruits are from all over the place.

You’d think most 4* guys expect to play in the NFL. It seems like convincing them Toledo is the best place to prepare them would be difficult, to say the least.

I think he just promised them swords.

 

[Woof 101]

but we'll save that sadness for another day.

Yes from a well seasoned Jets fan ; )

And AD's for Michigan. Man they hate Warde.

Not a favorite here either after him and Susie dumped our (my favorite) mascot. Went out of touch during conference realignment.
Then the frosting on the cake he had no list of who next to lead the football team. He bought in to fishcakes banter and fed us Diaco.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

this got thumb'd down but unfortunately you're (probably) right. This (probably) isn't the dream for Candle, and if/when he kicks *** here, he'll jump to a Michigan State or Purdue, mid-tier B1G school, is my guess.

but we'll save that sadness for another day.

Counterpoint- he kills it here, likes raising his young kids in CT, basketball programs are still crushing it and we have P4 conferences at our doorsteps fighting for us in the next wave of realignment and he ushers us into power conference football.

 

[giddyup]

Counterpoint- he kills it here, likes raising his young kids in CT, basketball programs are still crushing it and we have P4 conferences at our doorsteps fighting for us in the next wave of realignment and he ushers us into power conference football.

This is his dream school. Seriously, the guy stuck around Toledo, Ohio…I’m mean that says something. We need a guy who can stick around for ten years and build on what’s been done.

 

[Kolumbo]

This is his dream school. Seriously, the guy stuck around Toledo, Ohio…I’m mean that says something. We need a guy who can stick around for ten years and build on what’s been done.

I have to agree. He has young children. He must really like the opportunity at UConn and has chosen to continue to raise his family in CT/New England. I don't know him but everyone talks about loyalty and he doesn't seem like a guy who is going to want to move his family around. I think he succeeds here and sticks around for a long time.

 

[Jetskies]

I have to agree. He has young children. He must really like the opportunity at UConn and has chosen to continue to raise his family in CT/New England. I don't know him but everyone talks about loyalty and he doesn't seem like a guy who is going to want to move his family around. I think he succeeds here and sticks around for a long time.

This is his dream school. Seriously, the guy stuck around Toledo, Ohio…I’m mean that says something. We need a guy who can stick around for ten years and build on what’s been done.

Counterpoint- he kills it here, likes raising his young kids in CT, basketball programs are still crushing it and we have P4 conferences at our doorsteps fighting for us in the next wave of realignment and he ushers us into power conference football.

you guys are more optimistic than me, about the motivations of up-and-coming coaches in this NIL/revshare era, who choose to make a pit stop at UConn. I see Candle as a Bob Chesney type. starting small (chensey was at Johns Hopkins, Candle at Mount Union), taking his time and building his resume right, taking a better job (us) along the way, and if that trajectory goes well, he speeds up his job switches (a-la chesney) till he lands a B1G gig.

Though, I will concede that he spent 2009-2025 at Toledo, including all his smaller roles. That is INSANELY long at one place.

first things first, I hope he does AMAZING here and one of these years soon we get into the CFP conversation (one can dream).

If he ends up sucking, none of this debate matters, we'll all want him gone.