Interesting Stuff from Fat White Guy on Diaco and Alumni Relations

[JMick]

Here's something from another great alum


Scott Lutrus at Towson University.
23 mins · Instagram ·


Very thankful for these two coaches who played a huge part in giving me an opportunity to play football @Uconn. Now if we can only find a way to get them back to Storrs... #MakeUconnGreatAgain

Not sure how to include pictures.

go back into his instagram and there are more posts referencing the state of the program with lots of comments from former players. Also comments making fun of the ConFliCt lol

 

[Fishy]

Not buying the alumni thing - have heard the opposite from too many people.

But in any event, I don't care. Alumni are about the 27,845th problem we have right now.

 

[BNich]

go back into his instagram and there are more posts referencing the state of the program with lots of comments from former players. Also comments making fun of the ConFliCt lol

I follow him on twitter. I see almost everything he posts.

 

[BNich]

It's a pic of SL, Rob Ambrose and Lyndon Johnson.

Remind me of Ambrose and Johnson? Clearly former coaches.

 

[BNich]

Not buying the alumni thing - have heard the opposite from too many people.

But in any event, I don't care. Alumni are about the 27,845th problem we have right now.

Please share your opposing views.

 

[Walker11]

go back into his instagram and there are more posts referencing the state of the program with lots of comments from former players. Also comments making fun of the ConFliCt lol

Yep. Comment from Orlovsky from just now. "I'm with it. Get "Donald Brown" on board for the buyout!"

Please Please Please guys.

 

[JMick]

I follow him on twitter. I see almost everything he posts.

I know him... barely. My family has some connections to the Brookfield football program so I met him a few times when I was a kid and he was in HS.

 

[JMick]

Yep. Comment from Orlovsky from just now. "I'm with it. Get "Donald Brown" on board for the buyout!"

Please Please Please guys.

God imagine that headline? "UConn Alumni Buy-Out Bob Diaco"

 

[BNich]

I know him... barely. My family has some connections to the Brookfield football program so I met him a few times when I was a kid and he was in HS.

Based on what I have seen, his twitter handle, he is clearly outspoken and has no problem saying what he wants to say.

 

[Walker11]

God imagine that headline? "UConn Alumni Buy-Out Bob Diaco"

Yea I mean it is a pretty ridiculous proposition but the fact that our NFL alums are joking about buying out Bobby speaks volumes.

 

[JMick]

Based on what I have seen, his twitter handle, he is clearly outspoken and has no problem saying what he wants to say.

tbh I don't follow him on social media. He wouldn't recognize me in person but he knows some of my family members by name and I have friends who are friends with him.

 

[huskymedic]

Remind me of Ambrose and Johnson? Clearly former coaches.

Bios: Towson University Athletics - 2016 Football Coaching Staff

 

[FDNY99]

Please share your opposing views.

I know for a fact that 5 alumni that played for Tom Jackson and Skip Holtz were warmly welcomed by Diaco back to the program after having no contact during the Pasqualoni years. Edsall did a lot and Diaco has done more. These guys are friends of mine so this is first hand info.

 

[BNich]

I know for a fact that 5 alumni that played for Tom Jackson and Skip Holtz were warmly welcomed by Diaco back to the program after having no contact during the Pasqualoni years. Edsall did a lot and Diaco has done more. These guys are friends of mine so this is first hand info.

So is there a disconnect somewhere? Or a lie being told? Or some being kept out as opposed to others?

 

[FDNY99]

So is there a disconnect somewhere? Or a lie being told? Or some being kept out as opposed to others?

Not sure...they were all invited to a alumni night and Diaco had them in the meeting room with the team..he made it VERY clear to the kids that the facility's they had were "bought and paid for by those you see here in this room that came before you". Pasquloni never had them on campus...Edsall did similar stuff that Diaco did. If there were ever any alumni to leave out it would be pre-Edsall guys...they all say that all they have access to go watch a practice they just call Baylock. Disco has always been gracious to them.

 

[BNich]

Not sure...they were all invited to a alumni night and Diaco had them in the meeting room with the team..he made it VERY clear to the kids that the facility's they had were "bought and paid for by those you see here in this room that came before you". Pasquloni never had them on campus...Edsall did similar stuff that Diaco did. If there were ever any alumni to leave out it would be pre-Edsall guys...they all say that all they have access to go watch a practice they just call Baylock. Disco has always been gracious to them.

Then that is very interesting. Something somewhere is not adding up.

 

[huskymedic]

Not sure...they were all invited to a alumni night and Diaco had them in the meeting room with the team..he made it VERY clear to the kids that the facility's they had were "bought and paid for by those you see here in this room that came before you". Pasquloni never had them on campus...Edsall did similar stuff that Diaco did.

From last year...

>>On strengthening ties with former UConn players:

“That’s a big deal for me. I want to regain a strong relationship with the Husky football alumni. And let them know, they’re welcome back. The doors are open. You’re part of our football family. That’s a big part of what we’re doing. “Some have a little bit of a barrier up, I’m not sure where that relationship kind of went awry. But we’re breaking them down, and guys are coming back to the complex and coming to practice. And that’s so big for the team, because now you can get that Bleed Blue mentality going. When a player is spending time with someone who wore his jersey and excelled at it, what better can you get than that?”<<

The Jerry Martin situation exacerbated some relationships as well.

 

[FDNY99]

From last year...

>>On strengthening ties with former UConn players:

“That’s a big deal for me. I want to regain a strong relationship with the Husky football alumni. And let them know, they’re welcome back. The doors are open. You’re part of our football family. That’s a big part of what we’re doing. “Some have a little bit of a barrier up, I’m not sure where that relationship kind of went awry. But we’re breaking them down, and guys are coming back to the complex and coming to practice. And that’s so big for the team, because now you can get that Bleed Blue mentality going. When a player is spending time with someone who wore his jersey and excelled at it, what better can you get than that?”<<

The Jerry Martin situation exacerbated some relationships as well.

Yes most definitely. I know with my friends it was a VERY big deal. One of them knew Warde and he made him aware of the fact that Martin had been removed as S&C coach for the football program by Pasqualoni and was replaced by Todd Devers who he brought with him from the Cowboys. I wouldn't call them Diaco fans but they have definitely been actively been made part of the program since he has been here. When Pasqualoni was here it was nonexistent.

 

[uconnkelly]

Rob Lunn has been at games throughout the years, saw him at Homecoming a few weeks ago.

After Diaco started and replaced S&C icon, the late Jerry Martin, with Matt Balis, that decision seemed to not sit well with some former players, including Lunn. Things may have festered after that.

I think we're all on the same page: something needs to change and fast. There won't be anyone for the dance cam to find in the stands during the Tulane game.

 

[FDNY99]

Rob Lunn has been at games throughout the years, saw him at Homecoming a few weeks ago.

After Diaco started and replaced S&C icon, the late Jerry Martin, with Matt Balis, that decision seemed to not sit well with some former players, including Lunn. Things may have festered after that.

I think we're all on the same page: something needs to change and fast. There won't be anyone for the dance cam to find in the stands during the Tulane game.

Martin was replaced by Pasqualoni with Todd Devers...he hadn't worked with the football program since Edsall left. He was still in charge of the S&C program but had no contact with the football team.

 

[JMick]

Martin was replaced by Pasqualoni with Todd Devers...he hadn't worked with the football program since Edsall left. He was still in charge of the S&C program but had no contact with the football team.

i don't think that's true

 

[Carl Spackler]

Pasqualoni brought in his guy for the football program, Martin stayed on at the school. He didn't only work with the football program. Pasqualoni's guy was eventually fired, and Martin took over again, and then Diaco didn't retain him and brought Balis in to run everything. All the while Martin had been battling cancer and not told a soul.

His energy levels had to have been going down, and the coaches - rightly so - had to have sensed it.

Regardless.

None of this changes the fact that Diaco is a completely out of touch with reality on the sidelines of a football game.

 

[FDNY99]

i don't think that's true

Well if you don't think that's true then Jerry Martin suddenly forgot how to train football players because the S&C numbers became extremely pathetic in less than 3 seasons. No way Jerry Martin trained linemen put up bench numbers that were put up in the pro day by Bennett and Greene
NFL Hopefuls At UConn Pro Day In Storrs

 

[huskymedic]

Martin was replaced by Pasqualoni with Todd Devers...he hadn't worked with the football program since Edsall left. He was still in charge of the S&C program but had no contact with the football team.

i don't think that's true

Pasqualoni brought in his guy for the football program, Martin stayed on at the school. He didn't only work with the football program

2011 under Pasqualoni:

Jerry Martin Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Jerry Martin is in his 22nd year at the University of Connecticut. He coordinates workout activities for all of UConn’s 24 varsity teams, including the immediate direction of the strength and conditioning program for the Husky football team.

Todd Devers Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Todd Devers, who was a member of the Dallas Cowboys strength and conditioning staff from 2007- 2011, is in his first year as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Connecticut with primary responsibilities of working with the football team.

 

[uconnkelly]

From Jim Fuller, January 11, 2014:

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Martin's departure from UConn raises some eyebrows

It was a given that new football coach Bob Diaco was going to do a little housecleaning after being hired to breathe some life into the program.

Offensive line coach Mike Foley was the only assistant coach retained. Diaco also brought in a Player Personnel Director (Michael Painter) and will be hiring a Director of Football Operations. Nobody's departure has generated more backlash and reaction than the firing of Strength and Conditioning coach Jerry Martin. Former players have taken to social media to express their shock at seeing Martin, an award-winning strength coach, sent packing after 24 years.

 

[ktuck911]

Yeah I'm pretty disappointed to hear he basically shut down alumni involvement. He obviously thought he could start tradition here from scratch. What a dope.

This makes absolute ZERO sense. Straps us of out identity completely which means what we ever accomplished at the FBS level is non-existent to the powers that be. so, basically F@!K the fanbase and alumni. It was a corporate takeover all along. Welcome to the real Connecticut. Always business never personal.

They got it wrong. big time.

 

[FDNY99]

From Jim Fuller, January 11, 2014:

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Martin's departure from UConn raises some eyebrows

It was a given that new football coach Bob Diaco was going to do a little housecleaning after being hired to breathe some life into the program.

Offensive line coach Mike Foley was the only assistant coach retained. Diaco also brought in a Player Personnel Director (Michael Painter) and will be hiring a Director of Football Operations. Nobody's departure has generated more backlash and reaction than the firing of Strength and Conditioning coach Jerry Martin. Former players have taken to social media to express their shock at seeing Martin, an award-winning strength coach, sent packing after 24 years.

The guys I know that played there never realized Pasqualoni had him stop working with the team until one inquired with Warde after he was let go. When they looked back and realized how bad S&C numbers had dropped like in article I linked above that's when they put 2 and 2 together. Not that it was any better in how it happened. I'm just telling you what I hear from 5 alumni nothing more.

 

[FDNY99]

This makes absolute ZERO sense. Straps us of out identity completely which means what we ever accomplished at the FBS level is non-existent to the powers that be. so, basically F@!K the fanbase and alumni. It was a corporate takeover all along. Welcome to the real Connecticut. Always business never personal.

They got it wrong. big time.

Ktuck he has reached out to the alumni...actually does it as much as Edsall did. See my above posts. I'm just putting info out that I know first hand from 5 alumni.

 

[jackl]

Yea I mean it is a pretty ridiculous proposition but the fact that our NFL alums are joking about buying out Bobby speaks volumes.

God imagine that headline? "UConn Alumni Buy-Out Bob Diaco"

What about "Football Alumni and UCONN Football Bone Yarders Help to buy out Diaco". I didn't get season tickets this year after 13 years in a row but I would donate to this cause. I am tired of reading this negativity crap on the Boneyard.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

But we don't have any tradition, according to Bob.

Just like we can't throw the ball, can't put up big scores, can't play tighter coverage, can't get elite athletes, can't get faster players.

In Bob Diaco's mind, its always about what UConn can't do.

That's true... we had a kid who should have been a FB at NC State at QB, and a fake "rivalry" with a school we only played twice and who didn't even want to be a part of it... What a mess.