Independent Scheduling | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Independent Scheduling

Status
Not open for further replies.
Going to be tough to get anything that looks like an "exciting" schedule for a good 2 - 3 years. Teams have scheduled out pretty far with home and homes of some sort and it will take creativity to get games changed or moved. But if other AD's are looking at future schedules that for some reason seem disadvantageous or unproductive from a fan, media or travel standpoint we could be one of the easiest/top options to slot in. Have to hope that all of the scheduling calls aren't outgoing and we can get some of those rescheduling requests incoming. We're going to need a bunch for the next few years. Playing UAB (as was mentioned) doesn't thrill me because it would likely be home and home. If we do that might as well schedule Tulane.
 
I'm going with cautious optimism and suppressing any feelings of inevitable doom for the Independent era of UConn Football.

So . . . yay us!!
 
I don't know why we can't get Army on the schedule every year as soon as they have openings. I've said it in a different thread, but a annual home and home would be great because a road trip to West Point is one of the best away games one can attend. The pregame activities are obviously amazing but the stadium has a gorgeous view of the Hudson.

Plus, it's just over a 2 hour trip.

Would love to see them on the schedule over a team like NMSU, Liberty, or any of those low level schools.
 
We aren’t good enough to play five P5 games in 2020 ... and at 1-11, we aren’t entitled to call anyone schlock

I’m not gonna make suggested alterations. But Liberty & Old Dominion are my view of a new start. And trying to get near .500.
 
.-.
UCFBfan said:
I don't know why we can't get Army on the schedule every year as soon as they have openings. I've said it in a different thread, but a annual home and home would be great because a road trip to West Point is one of the best away games one can attend. The pregame activities are obviously amazing but the stadium has a gorgeous view of the Hudson.

Plus, it's just over a 2 hour trip.

Would love to see them on the schedule over a team like NMSU, Liberty, or any of those low level schools.
Expand ...


Army is a national program. They schedule not only Navy and Air Force every years, they also get ND most years. They are a relatively easy win for most P5 programs who are incentivized to schedule them because Army veterans/bases are all over the country. Since they are funded by taxpayers, close road games don't do much for them.

We will be able to get them often because they are a fellow independent and we can be flexible on dates, but it's misguided to think we will have them on the schedule every year.
 
Pudge said:
We aren’t good enough to play five P5 games in 2020 ... and at 1-11, we aren’t entitled to call anyone schlock

I’m not gonna make suggested alterations. But Liberty & Old Dominion are my view of a new start. And trying to get near .500.
Expand ...


It was a general statement on branding/game attractiveness. Like the old line, we can get better at FB, these other teams will always be "Who 'dis?" programs.
 
As for Army, throw in a hockey series to sweeten the deal. A Hockey East vs Atlantic Hockey OOC series. Offer to play a weekend in NY. Heck, have the football and hockey games the same wknd!
 
SubbaBub said:
Army is a national program. They schedule not only Navy and Air Force every years, they also get ND most years. They are a relatively easy win for most P5 programs who are incentivized to schedule them because Army veterans/bases are all over the country. Since they are funded by taxpayers, close road games don't do much for them.

We will be able to get them often because they are a fellow independent and we can be flexible on dates, but it's misguided to think we will have them on the schedule every year.
Expand ...

Yeah but ...

Occasionally, they like to play a short distance from West Point to allow cadets to go to games in numbers. So you can sometimes see that.
 
Da_Aisijimo_Gou said:
Cough, cough ... recruiting, drivable, etc
Expand ...

Plus, ODU razed Foreman field after last season and will have a new stadium starting this fall. ODU's new stadium will be at least as nice as Tulane's stadium.

Hampton Roads in the fall is good weather and definitely driveable. And yes, it's a recruiting rich area which UConn can legitimately pursue.
 
.-.
As a UMass fan, like the idea of moving the 9/3 game to 12/5. This will open up the schedule for both teams to have a season opener at home.
 
Steve1981 said:
As a UMass fan, like the idea of moving the 9/3 game to 12/5. This will open up the schedule for both teams to have a season opener at home.
Expand ...

I think it would be advantageous to play an annual UConn/UMass series towards the end of the season. Fills a hole in the end of season schedule for both teams and hopefully would have some juice.

Hypothetical, but UConn/UMass are both playing to the tune of above .500 ball and there is some excitement, would/could UMass move the annual game back to Gillette?
 
fbschedules.com

UConn Huskies to begin play as an FBS Independent in 2020

The University of Connecticut has made it official. The Huskies will begin play as an FBS Independent starting with the 2020 season.
fbschedules.com
>>So just which schools should Benedict be on the phone with? Here’s a list of schools (excluding AAC programs) that still have holes remaining in their 2020 schedules:

Florida State (1)
Virginia Tech (1)
TCU (2)
Arkansas (2)
South Carolina (1)
Florida International (2)
Louisiana Tech (1)
Old Dominion (1)
Southern Miss (1)
UAB (1)
Army (1)
Air Force (1)
Coastal Carolina (1)
Louisiana (1)
Louisiana-Monroe (2)

Filling out their 2020 schedule, even with this many teams still having holes to fill, isn’t going to be easy.

The most difficult thing for UConn is going to be getting home games. Most of the teams with one opening in their non-conference schedules are already playing at least one game away from home and won’t be looking to add another. Also, many of those holes are likely to be filled with home games against FCS teams, if they aren’t already. That means going after teams with two spots left to fill would be smart.<<
 
I wouldn’t move it to Gillette. Too big. Unless both are very good it isn’t drawing enough. Even 30000 40000 in a 70000 seat stadiumI looks like nobody. I still like Fenway. Not as a football venue but as an event revenue. And if we get a few good games it boosts the whole thing. Plus weekend in Boston at the holidays. Historic venue. If done correctly it would potentially be a great event
 
ConnHuskBask said:
I think it would be advantageous to play an annual UConn/UMass series towards the end of the season. Fills a hole in the end of season schedule for both teams and hopefully would have some juice.

Hypothetical, but UConn/UMass are both playing to the tune of above .500 ball and there is some excitement, would/could UMass move the annual game back to Gillette?
Expand ...

Great job with the research on open dates Medic. That will be supplemented by some late shuffling we hope.

Not referring specifically to UMass but one of our main long term advantages should be flexibility. I know the mindset is a bit of desperation right now, but we need to strike a balance between the security long-term series scheduling offers and the opportunities our independence may afford. It's tricky but we should proceed with caution as to whether certain schools put us on the correct path. I'm sure they will be considering this but right now are probably making a lot of contacts and evaluating the landscape and what those opportunities might be moving forward. In a year or two the trajectory should become clearer.
 
Jimdish255 said:
Great job with the research on open dates Medic. That will be supplemented by some late shuffling we hope.
Expand ...

Thx but no research on my part - I just copied and pasted from the article that popped into my timeline this morning by fbsschedules.com.
 
.-.
huskymedic said:
fbschedules.com

UConn Huskies to begin play as an FBS Independent in 2020

The University of Connecticut has made it official. The Huskies will begin play as an FBS Independent starting with the 2020 season.
fbschedules.com
>>So just which schools should Benedict be on the phone with? Here’s a list of schools (excluding AAC programs) that still have holes remaining in their 2020 schedules:

Florida State (1)
Virginia Tech (1)
TCU (2)
Arkansas (2)
South Carolina (1)
Florida International (2)
Louisiana Tech (1)
Old Dominion (1)
Southern Miss (1)
UAB (1)
Army (1)
Air Force (1)
Coastal Carolina (1)
Louisiana (1)
Louisiana-Monroe (2)

Filling out their 2020 schedule, even with this many teams still having holes to fill, isn’t going to be easy.

The most difficult thing for UConn is going to be getting home games. Most of the teams with one opening in their non-conference schedules are already playing at least one game away from home and won’t be looking to add another. Also, many of those holes are likely to be filled with home games against FCS teams, if they aren’t already. That means going after teams with two spots left to fill would be smart.<<
Expand ...

I believe the most difficult thing for UConn will be getting late season games. How many of those open dates are late October and November?
 
It’s also worth noting that Liberty has 2 FCS games, one of which could be moved to a future year. NMSU has the Hawaii exception because they are @ Hawaii, as do all of the schools in the MWC that play @ Hawaii and UCLA. NMSU only has 5 home games in 2020 so a longer term series with the Aggies beginning in 2020 in Las Cruces on 11/28 may make sense for both parties
 
Like this scheduling idea from Michael Traini, who runs the Fight Massachusetts site on 247 sports.

Another option, UMass could also swap the dates with FIU in 2020, so they would host the Panthers on 9/3 and then travel to UConn on 10/24. A late-October home game for UConn works better for them and UMass' sked is largely unchanged. UMass actually would end up hosting three in a row to start the season.
There's a lot of options and flexibility with an Indy sked, but when you're in UMass' shoes with 2020, i.e. the sked is complete, you don't want to get too fancy.
Expand ...

Future UMass Football Schedules | FBSchedules.com
 
HartfordHank said:
I believe the most difficult thing for UConn will be getting late season games. How many of those open dates are late October and November?
Expand ...
More than you think. Peruse website. It’s October games that are difficult.
 
HartfordHank said:
I believe the most difficult thing for UConn will be getting late season games. How many of those open dates are late October and November?
Expand ...
Well there's UMass, play them twice if we have to, BYU, NM St, Army, then see if Cincinnati, Houston, or Navy have any openings late season. I think Gladchuck would go out of his way to help out Benedict. For tough FCS I'd look at JMU, maybe North Dakota State. That being said, according to Mike Anthony we should not be worrying about the schedule. On the coaching front Edsall should be pulling out all the stops to lure Joe Harasymiak away from Minnesota.
 
huskyrob1 said:
I think Gladchuck would go out of his way to help out Benedict.
Expand ...
Why? Gladchuck is USNA grad. He has a full conference schedule plus Army, Air Force and ND (most years). Game 12 can go to almost any other team in the country.
 
.-.
huskyrob1 said:
Well there's UMass, play them twice if we have to,
Expand ...

Would the NCAA count both games toward bowl eligibility? If they would its not a crazy idea to have a home and home with UMASS every year. It would certainly save on travel expenses. Teams often meet a second time for the conference playoff game. It's almost dumb not to do it while both teams are independent.
 
Last edited:
metsfan2323 said:
Would the NCAA count both games toward bowl eligibility? If they would its not a crazy idea to have a home and home with UMASS every year. It would certainly save on travel expenses. Teams often meet a second time for the conference playoff game. It's almost dumb not to do it while both teams are independent.
Expand ...

Yes since both are D1/FBS schools. Not the case in this scenario but you can only count one game against FCS opponents if you play two games against FCS schools in a season.
 
Heard some talk (I don't usually get football info) that one thing Benedict may do to get teams to play us initially is play one Yankee Stadium/Fenway game a year as a "home game." With the flexibility of being independent, we can work with both stadiums on filling dates once baseball season is over. I know Fenway is very interested, and Yankee Stadium seems amendable as well.
 
Last edited:
BFieldHusky said:
Heard some talk (I don't usually get football info) that one thing Benedict may do to get teams to play us initially is play one Yankee Stadium/Fenway game a year as a "home game." With the flexibility of being independent, we can work with both stadiums on filling dates once baseball season is over. I know Fenway is very interested, and Yankee Stadium seems amendable as well.
Expand ...

I guess as Independent you have to do what you have to do, but football in baseball stadiums sucks.
 
BFieldHusky said:
Heard some talk (I don't usually get football info) that one thing Benedict may do to get teams to play us initially is play one Yankee Stadium/Fenway game a year as a "home game." With the flexibility of being independent, we can work with both stadiums on filling dates once baseball season is over. I know Fenway is very interested, and Yankee Stadium seems amendable as well.
Expand ...

I think it's great idea and am all for building a regional brand. Plenty of schools do these one off games at "neutral" sites.d

Wasn't the genesis if the 10 game NDU series that UConn is required to play home games at the Rent?

I know UConn played as "home" team at Fenway but does UConn need 6 games at Rent and anything else a freebie as far as location?
 
Chin Diesel said:
I think it's great idea and am all for building a regional brand. Plenty of schools do these one off games at "neutral" sites.d

Wasn't the genesis if the 10 game NDU series that UConn is required to play home games at the Rent?

I know UConn played as "home" team at Fenway but does UConn need 6 games at Rent and anything else a freebie as far as location?
Expand ...

It was on the old board, but there was a huge debate between the proponents of the ND series with our home games being played Giants Stadium. I for one, was for that move given that it was ND and the game would be in an actual football stadium that between us and ND we'd fill up.

If you're talking ND or Michigan at YS or Fenway, sure.

Pitt or Cuse? No thanks.
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,305
Messages
4,562,314
Members
10,457
Latest member
caw2


Top Bottom