Interesting Stuff from Fat White Guy on Diaco and Alumni Relations

[BlueandOG]

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

I love it enough to commit $. I'm not wealthy, but I'd throw $1K toward the solution.

 

[Pudge]

I have a good friend who played during early Edsall years and from everything I have heard and seen, Coach Diaco reached out to alumni from those years, so I am a little surprised at Lunn's take.

I have Football Alumni friends from the late 70s and early 80s that also feel very welcome. (but probably don't come to games if the losses start piling up)

And ... I guess the interim through PP to Diaco adds to the resentment of the EDSALL kids because, truly, they took ownership of building a structure and won PLUS had a fanbase thriving.

And to dispute whaler11, I see Diaco's staff as highly experienced. Look one by one (as I have done) at the AAC peer coaching staffs. We have FAR more guys who have had major P5 jobs and top college coaching experience. The Wolthausen, Lineburg, Cummings, Verducci, Poindexter, Brown types shouldn't be Diaco guys. They are vets in this business. All simply disappointing. I do think this is all on Bob: who else have I ever seen not let a kid return punts.

 

[Excalibur]

i don't think that's true

I can confirm that it is.

 

[ktuck911]

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.

I think one of his problems is totally changing the program's culture though. I get that he's invited former players back ; HOWEVER, where he clearly lacks is his ability to personally reach out to cornerstone former players not under his watch. Sit down meet with them get an idea of what was a part of our successes as a football program for over a century, particularly, during our FBS era. When you're given a $1.7 mil Head coaching gig and have never coached at that level before you'd think some intense behind the scenes research about the program . Quite honestly does anybody here think he's done that? Not me. Seems more like he just came in and imposeday his will. Leaning on some sort of understanding of UConn football's culture fromy past players who have had and/or continues to have success can't hurt. it'd only enhance the brotherhood, comradery, effort, and desire to execute (which should be perfected in practice BEFORE a rral gsme is played) and win.

 

[FDNY99]

I think one of his problems is totally changing the program's culture though. I get that he's invited former players back ; HOWEVER, where he clearly lacks is his ability to personally reach out to cornerstone former players not under his watch. Sit down meet with them get an idea of what was a part of our successes as a football program for over a century, particularly, during our FBS era. When you're given a $1.7 mil Head coaching gig and have never coached at that level before you'd think some intense behind the scenes research about the program . Quite honestly does anybody here think he's done that? Not me. Seems more like he just came in and imposeday his will. Leaning on some sort of understanding of UConn football's culture fromy past players who have had and/or continues to have success can't hurt. it'd only enhance the brotherhood, comradery, effort, and desire to execute (which should be perfected in practice BEFORE a rral gsme is played) and win.

I'm not going to totally disagree with you BUT P ran these guys off as well as destroyed the program. I know for a fact that he did tell the kids on the team tat what they have facilities wise was bought and paid for by the former players...he did this at a practice where he invited any former players to attend. Replacing Martin with Balis didn't earn Diaco any favors with them..yet if P hadn't run them off they would have realized that Martin had been replaced by P as the main S&C coordinator. This is just a gigantic dumpster fire that Benedict probably didn't realize he was getting. I have faith that he and Beth Goetz will get this thing fixed.

 

[huskymedic]

Sit down meet with them get an idea of what was a part of our successes as a football program for over a century, particularly, during our FBS era... Quite honestly does anybody here think he's done that? Not me

I do K and I also know that discussions as you describe have occurred. I can't tell you how many people he has spoken one on one w/ in three years, but what you don't believe to have occurred, has occurred (at least in my limited direct knowledge). Relationship building is a two way street. He's got a ton of quirks (and strange ways of saying things) and I'm sure that there are players who he has turned off or not connected with on a level they think they deserve (just as Randy and Pasqualoni turned players off the past off). Don't forget he has had Andy Blalock to help build bridges where needed. I'm w/ Fishy, while important, the least of concerns at this point.

 

[Sprague03]

I do K and I also know that discussions as you describe have occurred. I can't tell you how many people he has spoken one on one w/ in three years, but what you don't believe to have occurred, has occurred (at least in my limited direct knowledge). Relationship building is a two way street. He's got a ton of quirks (and strange ways of saying things) and I'm sure that there are players who he has turned off or not connected with on a level they think they deserve (just as Randy and Pasqualoni turned players off the past off). Don't forget he has had Andy Blalock to help build bridges where needed. I'm w/ Fishy, while important, the least of concerns at this point.

Andru Creighton who helps Diaco with admin stuff also posts pictures with former UConn players and tweets to them all the time.