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Message: [QUOTE="uconnyankee, post: 3306427, member: 2041"] I think rival games are over-rated. When Uconn BB is at the top, nobody cares about playing Umass or URI. It's about playing meaningful games against meaningful opponents. Maybe this is a sign of where the program is and beating Umass, Buffalo, or Central CT is HUGE, but I don't get it. Unless this is a baby-step mentality. Bottom line, the AAC had some cache for FB. Had Uconn had an inkling of success, everything would be fine. With mens BB in the drain, FB in the sewer, and even womens BB showing signs of fatigue not having won a NC in two years, a change of course was needed. But, don't tell me had Uconn FB been beating UCF, Houston, Temple, or Memphis things would be the same. Hell, even just staying within 5 touchdowns of them the past 3-4 seasons, things would be very different. If Uconn were playing Memphis for a likely spot in a NY6 Bowl, I think fans would show up. Had Uconn been playing for a spot in the AAC Championship against Houston or SMU, fans would show up. If Uconn were 5-3, playing ECU for a chance to go bowling, I think fans would show up. Playing those games when you're 1-9 and throwing out the worst recorded defense ever? Yeh, fans might take a flyer. I don't care about Liberty, Buffalo, Stoneybrook, or even Umass. Sure, play them once in a while but the games I want to see have implications. Currently, yes Umass has implications. Imagine if we lose by 3-4 touchdowns? Edsell shouldn't bother getting on bus back to Storrs. Big picture, if people are rooting for Uconn to return to it's days of playing Yankee conference foes, I can assure you, myself and lots of others sold on big time football are out. Call me casual or whatever. But you aren't getting 40,000 people to a game to see Bryant, CCSU, or Wagner every week. Give me a fighter's chance against Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Penn State, MD, ND, Temple, Navy, Army, WV, and I'm there. Sprinkle a few other P5 games, start to win your fair share, and fans will return. Today, beating Umass is the goal. If that's the goal in 3-5 years, sorry, not interested. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach