Is it Time for Dave Benedict to Find a New Job? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Is it Time for Dave Benedict to Find a New Job?

What’s your favorite sport?

Lacrosse.

You seriously can’t make this place up.

The new guy likes to swim and lifeguard. awesome.
He's obviously an incredibly bright guy but as soon as I read his bio and saw him in his sit-down interview I got a queasy feeling. His look and mannerisms are reminiscent of Eugene Levy playing a character in a Christopher Guest movie.
 
I still think a decent first step would be a formal study to map a direction on how UConn could make it into the B10 or ACC. It may need to come from the governor's office.
This. Exactly this!

The women lost in the final four for third time in three years. That is simply unacceptable. I mean MBBs basketball is in the middle of rebuild and football has been a smoldering pile of crap for years, but when the women attain only final fours and not natties, it is time to take bold decisive strokes.

What we clearly need is study/map as to how to get the B1G or the ACC. But it can't be any study. It needs to be a formal one and done by politicians. Surely when the Big Ten of ACC presidents see it's helvetica type, fine bond paper and glossy cover they will know that we are serious.

Thank you @LoyalFanCT. Thank you for your genius. I hope that we are witnessing the start of movement.
 
What’s your favorite sport?

Lacrosse.

You seriously can’t make this place up.

The new guy likes to swim and lifeguard. awesome.
Some of us were shouted down very loudly when we mentioned there were red flags with Herbst and where sports were headed. Front porch they said, Jackson Labs they said, Storrs Center they said.

Great things all i'm sure, but on her watch we saw all our athletic peers move on to greener pastures. I won't say she guided us from BCS to mid major status but others might. Now ill look out for the incoming.
 
I think it's fair to say Connecticut doesn't live and die or identify with college sports like many fans of P5 institutions.
If this was true you wouldnt have half the fan base pining for the Big East while the other half is screaming that football is our only hope for the P5. What both sides fear the most is permanent mid major status.
 
He's obviously an incredibly bright guy but as soon as I read his bio and saw him in his sit-down interview I got a queasy feeling. His look and mannerisms are reminiscent of Eugene Levy playing a character in a Christopher Guest movie.
I appreciate your skepticism but try to give him a chance. I do not recall another UConn president who has an engineering background -- not to mention he was the No. 2 guy at the nationally respected UVA and was dean of the engineering school at Duke. Perhaps, if we can somehow turn around our men's BB and FB teams -- and field hockey and women's BB can win a few more national championships -- he can use his contacts with UVA, Duke etc. to have us reconsidered for the ACC. He has made it a priority to double federal research funding, recruit top professors, has already met with state business leaders, and no doubt is aware UConn fundraising has to get better. Either he could give clear direction to Benedict what he wants to see in athletics, or he could work with someone else in the post. As fans, we have to make it clear to the new president we want a competitive football program, as well as excellence in other sports.
 
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This. Exactly this!

The women lost in the final four for third time in three years. That is simply unacceptable. I mean MBBs basketball is in the middle of rebuild and football has been a smoldering pile of crap for years, but when the women attain only final fours and not natties, it is time to take bold decisive strokes.

What we clearly need is study/map as to how to get the B1G or the ACC. But it can't be any study. It needs to be a formal one and done by politicians. Surely when the Big Ten of ACC presidents see it's helvetica type, fine bond paper and glossy cover they will know that we are serious.

Thank you @LoyalFanCT. Thank you for your genius. I hope that we are witnessing the start of movement.

Here is an example of a similar study. Pitt did it internally. I think CT has a culture where it would have to come from the governor's office.
Pitt Athletics unveils strategic plan for long-term growth - The Pitt News Here is another one from Oregon State. Build the Dam - Oregon State Athletics Strategic Plan
 
Here is an example of a similar study. Pitt did it internally. I think CT has a culture where it would have to come from the governor's office.
Pitt Athletics unveils strategic plan for long-term growth - The Pitt News Here is another one from Oregon State. Build the Dam - Oregon State Athletics Strategic Plan
Wow this is great stuff! Here are the six strategic goals from the Pitt study:
  • Compete at a level of athletic excellence measured by championships, ACC finishes, national rankings and the Director’s cup while maintaining program integrity.
  • Recruit, develop and retain the best student athletes, coaches and staff that embody the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion while supporting their continued growth and success.
  • Educate, retain and graduate our student-athletes with an emphasis on achieving academic excellence at a rate that compares favorably within the ACC and nationwide.
  • Strengthen our resource-base in order to facilitate championship level success across the athletic department.
  • Prioritize and allocate our resources with a focus on the growth and success of our athletic programs and infrastructure.
  • Unify our Pitt alumni and friends worldwide and inspire pride through enhanced collaboration, communication and engagement.

Genius! Try for championships? Recruit good athletes and educate them? Prioritize resources? Pure gold. We should do every one!
 
Wow this is great stuff! Here are the six strategic goals from the Pitt study:
  • Compete at a level of athletic excellence measured by championships, ACC finishes, national rankings and the Director’s cup while maintaining program integrity.
  • Recruit, develop and retain the best student athletes, coaches and staff that embody the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion while supporting their continued growth and success.
  • Educate, retain and graduate our student-athletes with an emphasis on achieving academic excellence at a rate that compares favorably within the ACC and nationwide.
  • Strengthen our resource-base in order to facilitate championship level success across the athletic department.
  • Prioritize and allocate our resources with a focus on the growth and success of our athletic programs and infrastructure.
  • Unify our Pitt alumni and friends worldwide and inspire pride through enhanced collaboration, communication and engagement.

Genius! Try for championships? Recruit good athletes and educate them? Prioritize resources? Pure gold. We should do every one!
Here are more details from the study. Highlights of Pitt's new athletics strategic plan
 
I will check into later and let you know. There is plenty of fluff. But lot of specifics. Such studies are done at colleges all over the nation. In UConn's case since there is a historical bias against decent funding of the university, if the group doing the study included business leaders, fiscal conservatives may be a little more sympathetic. I know sports is about winning, but given where UConn is right now, a study might be a needed intermediate step. Any study UConn does would have to spell out how much a recommendation would cost and practical ways to get there.
 
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UConn sports does not seem to have improved with David Benedict as athletic director. UConn football was awful last season. The once mighty UConn men's basketball team was mediocre. And UConn WM basketball just lost a heart breaker to Notre Dame. The men's hockey team struggled despite having talent. Field Hockey fell apart in OT against Maryland in the NCAAs. Baseball may become our one hope. Is it time for Benedict to find another job? Isn't he supposed to give leadership to the overall program? If we don't get better soon, UConn won't even be on the radar screen if an opening comes in a P5 conference.
Kind of a stupid comment Loyalfan. Benedict has done a great job under very difficult conditions. He found a way to get rid of Diaco which was big. It is going to take RE time to build the team up but I think he will get it done. Kevin Ollie unfortunately had many personal problems and was not getting it done. The program was rapidly going backwards into oblivion. I think Dan Hurley was a TREMENDOUS HIRE!! He is going to build us back to relevance though it is going to take some time. I think Geno had a pretty good year winning over 30 GAMES and losing to ND in the Final Four!! Give me a break, your living in fantasy world.
 
I've noticed with all our terrible leadership, they all use the same folksy canned phrases and rah rah bulls^^t. Suzie, Diaco, and Ollie sound more like kindergarten teachers than leaders at a major state U.
It's all such childish language. It drives me up a wall. It's like they're talking about their kids Pop Warner crap
 
DB is a db
All he wants is a SEC job and go south
Please something open up - get him out and lets get someone in here whose heart and soul is into UConn and making things right
Herbst is gone - step one
DB the db is next
 
Kind of a stupid comment Loyalfan. Benedict has done a great job under very difficult conditions. He found a way to get rid of Diaco which was big. It is going to take RE time to build the team up but I think he will get it done. Kevin Ollie unfortunately had many personal problems and was not getting it done. The program was rapidly going backwards into oblivion. I think Dan Hurley was a TREMENDOUS HIRE!! He is going to build us back to relevance though it is going to take some time. I think Geno had a pretty good year winning over 30 GAMES and losing to ND in the Final Four!! Give me a break, your living in fantasy world.
You have your opinion and others have theirs
Show some tolerance and understand that there are a lot of folks who are not on the DB bandwagon
I don't agree with you but I won't call your comments stupid or a fantasy
I'm glad your happy - on the other side I feel DB was a questionable hire at best - JC set up the Dan Hurley hire and a monkey could have closed that deal
Relevance is a very broad term.......................................
 
You have your opinion and others have theirs
Show some tolerance and understand that there are a lot of folks who are not on the DB bandwagon
I don't agree with you but I won't call your comments stupid or a fantasy
I'm glad your happy - on the other side I feel DB was a questionable hire at best - JC set up the Dan Hurley hire and a monkey could have closed that deal
Relevance is a very broad term.........
Oh please. Calhoun set up the Hurley hire? I guess if you think forcing Ollie on us and knowing Manuel lacked the guts to ssay no constitutes setting up the Hurley hire...after the mess that was Kevin Ollie why would you think they turned to Calhoun to get the NEXT coach? They brought him in at the end of the process to keep the old guard from screwing it up. He didn’t set it up, except to the extent that his selection of Ollie’s was an unmitigated disaster.
 
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Oh please. Calhoun set up the Hurley hire? I guess if you think forcing Ollie on us and knowing Manuel lacked the guts to ssay no constitutes setting up the Hurley hire...after the mess that was Kevin Ollie why would you think they turned to Calhoun to get the NEXT coach? They brought him in at the end of the process to keep the old guard from screwing it up. He didn’t set it up, except to the extent that his selection of Ollie’s was an unmitigated disaster.

There isn’t a sentient being who didn’t realize Hurley was the best available coach.

They got him signed - so I will give Benedict credit for that but it’s not like the ENTIRE world didn’t know he was the best candidate.
 
That's because a lot of P5's are in the middle of nowhere and have a history of big time football. UConn never had big football, I would say Connecticut identifies with UConn basketball almost as much as any place.

What places are you comparing us to?
 
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I think this thread has gotten a bit derailed. Let's get back to the most pressing question...

@huskymedic do you have a pet raccoon?
I know someone that kind of had a pet racoon. It lived outside but it used to hang out in his garage with him. He'd be wrenching on his car at night with the door open and the racoon would just come and sit on the work bench. he'd feed it fruits sometimes and had a water bowl for him so he could wash the food.
 
I know someone that kind of had a pet racoon. It lived outside but it used to hang out in his garage with him. He'd be wrenching on his car at night with the door open and the racoon would just come and sit on the work bench. he'd feed it fruits sometimes and had a water bowl for him so he could wash the food.

I'm fascinated by this story. There is a guy in my neighborhood that my wife and I lovingly have nicknamed "Turkey Man". On account of his crouching down like Johnny Bench for 3 hours hand feeding the wild turkeys in our neighborhood. It's a sight see and I imagine your friend enjoyed experiencing that wild connection very much.
 
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i guess if you ignore what’s hes actually done you wouldnt hold him responsible for anything

but there are an amazing number of uconn fans who refuse to hold leadership responsible for anything.

Who said anything about not holding folks accountable?
 
I'm fascinated by this story. There is a guy in my neighborhood that my wife and I lovingly have nicknamed "Turkey Man". On account of his crouching down like Johnny Bench for 3 hours hand feeding the wild turkeys in our neighborhood. It's a sight see and I imagine your friend enjoyed experiencing that wild connection very much.
he said it was really cool. it was only over the course of a summer and it didn't come back when fall started. apparently it was mostly well behaved but would open the toolbox to take tools sometimes. they really like shiny stuff
 
I still think a decent first step would be a formal study to map a direction on how UConn could make it into the B10 or ACC. It may need to come from the governor's office. Once the report is available it would give ammunition to the AD as what steps need to be taken. The study could have as its premise that UConn should be on the top levels of college sports with a strong football program. That elite level would help UConn and the state in numerous indirect and direct ways. Being an elite sports program is expensive -- no question -- but in the long run it would pay for itself. Generally, public research-intensive universities are in P5 conferences. If the AD can't deliver armed with that report, he or she has to be accountable.
Keep buying lottery tickets. Give all the winnings to UConn. That’s the only coherent path left.
 
I still think a decent first step would be a formal study to map a direction on how UConn could make it into the B10 or ACC. It may need to come from the governor's office. Once the report is available it would give ammunition to the AD as what steps need to be taken. The study could have as its premise that UConn should be on the top levels of college sports with a strong football program. That elite level would help UConn and the state in numerous indirect and direct ways. Being an elite sports program is expensive -- no question -- but in the long run it would pay for itself. Generally, public research-intensive universities are in P5 conferences. If the AD can't deliver armed with that report, he or she has to be accountable.

This is just foolish

The number One - far & away reason - we are not in the P5 & are consigned to battle in the AAC is Football. We simply started the process to advance to play the biggest best level far too late. One decade earlier? Maybe. The side corollary to this is - unlike Louisville or others - we won’t cheat. Won’t thrown $200m onto glitz up the Stadium & grab shady sponsors; nor will we buy players in any sport. Then Geography. But it’s Football.

Then. The fact that we WON 4 NCs in 20 years of MBB; that the WBB are in the FF for 12 years; that we have the best baseball in the Northeast; that we rose to a successful Hockey East slot ... UConn has done a lot right. Many P5 would be envious. We’ve hired Program building coaching. Benedict has done a fine job sustaining.

Wins? I’m not giving Jeff Hathaway credit for anything. I’m not sure he could have positioned us better for P5 - NOTE - we aren’t a state culturally that will cheat.

This denigrating of Herbst is silly. Things got done. P5 is not on her. We have a significantly different campus; we have a better faculty; we have higher consistent academic ranking; and the desirability of being a UCONN student? Up. Big ups.

Football. Look at the schedule from 1999 and tell me we are anywhere near nudging our way in.
 
This is just foolish

The number One - far & away reason - we are not in the P5 & are consigned to battle in the AAC is Football. We simply started the process to advance to play the biggest best level far too late. One decade earlier? Maybe. The side corollary to this is - unlike Louisville or others - we won’t cheat. Won’t thrown $200m onto glitz up the Stadium & grab shady sponsors; nor will we buy players in any sport. Then Geography. But it’s Football.

Then. The fact that we WON 4 NCs in 20 years of MBB; that the WBB are in the FF for 12 years; that we have the best baseball in the Northeast; that we rose to a successful Hockey East slot ... UConn has done a lot right. Many P5 would be envious. We’ve hired Program building coaching. Benedict has done a fine job sustaining.

Wins? I’m not giving Jeff Hathaway credit for anything. I’m not sure he could have positioned us better for P5 - NOTE - we aren’t a state culturally that will cheat.

This denigrating of Herbst is silly. Things got done. P5 is not on her. We have a significantly different campus; we have a better faculty; we have higher consistent academic ranking; and the desirability of being a UCONN student? Up. Big ups.

Football. Look at the schedule from 1999 and tell me we are anywhere near nudging our way in.

So you agree we got what we deserved. You just care that UConn students are marginally better than ten years ago and don’t want to admit it’s going to slide backwards as the state eliminates funding and Herbst built nothing sustainable.

Cool.
 
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