It’s been long enough: no message from Mora

[CTSooner]

I'm an Oklahoma alum / proud Husky parent and the only coaching change that has ever come close for me personally is when Lincoln Riley tanked OU's big in-state rival game and immediately snuck off in the middle of the night on the USC jet with a good chunk of our coaching staff and top players. (Caleb Williams ring a bell?) Bob Stoops stepped down from a legacy job and handed Riley the reigns after making him heir apparent. Five seasons later the Riley family left their Christmas tree on the curb before the remaining players and coaches were even told he was leaving. This isn't quite equal, but it feels close.

Our oldest son is a senior in the UConn marching band and right before the final home game Mora came and visited a bitter cold practice to thank them. The way the rest of this has played out since is hard for our entire family to grasp with a bowl on the line.

And having grown up near Colorado - I attended college as the Big 8 was switching to the Big XII - this move doesn't make sense team-wise either. Colorado State has always been "the little brother" school, and even Air Force has dropped them down that list. A fancy new stadium / conference is never going to change that unless you have ties to CSU and wear green colored goggles. I would have said I wished Mora all the best and thanks for the memories when the announcement first broke. But with the radio silence since, and the profile changes, well it upset me enough to join a forum and see what others were feeling and saying.

 

[pepband99]

I'm a little surprised that we haven't seen anything yet.

One thing in defense though:

I think this may be the first time Mora has left anywhere major, voluntarily. It's very easy to craft something like this when you're fired. It's something entirely different when you're the one making the call.

Just a thought.

 

[UCan3]

Everyone crucified Edsall 1.0, and rightly so. Why is Mora getting a pass?

And not add fuel to fire but Edsall 1.0 waited to leave until AFTER the bowl game.

 

[Chief00]

Mora’s negotiating strength was strongest before the bowl game. Losing that game would lessen his value. So time was limited for a resolution keeping him at UConn.

 

[Hoophound]

And not add fuel to fire but Edsall 1.0 waited to leave until AFTER the bowl game.

It’s a different world now. Better for Mora to start recruiting for CSU now and better for us to get a coach and start recruiting.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

Aw, are you upset ?? Did u think parroting me would make you funny on a holiday??

If you were a coach would you come here over almost any gig in PAC or even AAC? If you say yes, you’re just kidding yourself. Nothing else matters.

We’re a basketball school. Period.

So you essentially call out somebody as a "baby" and end your own little rant with a byline meant to inflame and incense the football forum. That's a real adult take.
Thanks for your interest in UConn football.

 

[Fatroony5]

Mora’s negotiating strength was strongest before the bowl game. Losing that game would lessen his value. So time was limited for a resolution keeping him at UConn.

He left now so he can get a jump on recruiting/the portal. If the plan was to leave, I’m happy he left now so we can hire a coach in the next 2-3 weeks. Waiting around would’ve been worse for everyone. UConn will now have a coach in place a few weeks before the portal officially opens & can make sure we’re ready to hit the ground running when it does.

 

[FightOnCT]

Aw, are you upset ?? Did u think parroting me would make you funny on a holiday??

If you were a coach would you come here over almost any gig in PAC or even AAC? If you say yes, you’re just kidding yourself. Nothing else matters.

We’re a basketball school. Period.

Being nihilistic about UConn football does not make you correct

 

[UCan3]

He left now so he can get a jump on recruiting/the portal. If the plan was to leave, I’m happy he left now so we can hire a coach in the next 2-3 weeks. Waiting around would’ve been worse for everyone. UConn will not have a coach in place a few weeks before the portal officially opens & can make sure we’re ready to hit the ground running when it does.

Yes, I suppose. I think the fact that Mora had everyone sold so much on his commitment to the program. It’s just difficult when he leaves like this with no message no comments he’s just out the door.. He was a quiet quitter.

So for me, two things can be true at the same time here.

 

[Bongo Fury]

And not add fuel to fire but Edsall 1.0 waited to leave until AFTER the bowl game.

Well, he got to experience a BCS bowl game.

 

[Fatroony5]

Yes, I suppose. I think the fact that Mora had everyone sold so much on his commitment to the program. It’s just difficult when he leaves like this with no message no comments he’s just out the door.. He was a quiet quitter.

So for me, two things can be true at the same time here.

I’m glad he’s gone now, gives us the time to find the next guy. Coaches say that type of stuff all the time and he probably did mean it, until another opportunity comes up… I do think it’s incredibly weak that he didn’t say anything on the way out and having Thamel leak it in the middle of the night Thanksgiving day weekend. Very calculated on his part; he helped bring back UConn for sure, but let’s not act like we didn’t also save his career too. He should be thanking us too on the way out.

 

[SellersElbow]

I lived in Ft. Collins a couple decades ago and loved the area and the gritty, blue collar (at least relative to CU-Boulder) CSU football culture. When the news that Mora was going there, I was surprised and disappointed but wished him and CSU the best. I was planning to follow them next season.

The weird snubbing of our fan base by Mora over the last few days has changed my attitude, though. I hope some explanation comes out for it. Right now it looks like he is intentionally turning his nose up at us. If he has some beef with the school administration, fine. He should at least have the class to address the fans that were loyal to him during his years here, though.

 

[weyuo]

The basketball programs got what they wanted, back into the Big East and they won't give that up to join the ACC or Big 12 so the football program is screwed. Unless A) they work their way in as a football only entity or B) they turn into Notre Dame part 2, having 10+ win seasons, an undefeated season or two and being regularly ranked in the top 25. Then and only then will they be able to attract and most importantly keep coaches like Mora. Mora was the best coach the football team has had and keeping guys like him from conference hunting requires top 25 rankings and increased strength of schedule which at least gives UConn the same shot at a playoff berth that ND has.
So you can't blame Mora for leaving, just blame him for the sleazy way he's going about it ala Edsall. Even if Mora had a falling out with the high command the fans don't deserve the cold shoulder.

 

[temery]

The fact that Mora hasn’t thanked the university and fanbase is a bit telling. Especially during the Thanksgiving season. Can’t imagine what caused him to have such disdain for this university and fanbase. Yes, he saved UConn football but we also gave him the opportunity when no one else would. All I’m saying is, it’s weird.

If he had a bad last couple of years, neither the fan base nor the school would have shown him any loyalty.

Next year isn't looking too good, and he was offered a job closer to home. I don't like it, but I can't blame him for leaving.

Hire someone young, and maybe we'll get lucky. But UConn will NEVER be a destination job for any established D1 FB coach.

 

[Scoe]

If he had a bad last couple of years, neither the fan base nor the school would have shown him any loyalty.

Next year isn't looking too good, and he was offered a job closer to home. I don't like it, but I can't blame him for leaving.

Hire someone young, and maybe we'll get lucky. But UConn will NEVER be a destination job for any established D1 FB coach.

We're a destination stepping stone program now so it is what is. So if a coach is coming here to move up another level then UConn is winning. Look what programs like Cincinnati, Memphis and BYU have done it's a process.

I'm waiting till Monday-Tuesday before I jump to conclusions on Mora's departure, I cut him some slack since it was a holiday week with the players being off this week.

 

[jdb50]

Mora is a very good communicator. His press conferences were informative and not loaded with BS. To have the only statement on this move come from Dave Benedict is very out of character from past experience for all of us fans. And at this point is he just going to address the team via a conference call? Or tweet? It's a cold business and other fanbases get hit with the coach leaving to move up. This is our second time and neither have been handled well. Edsall making Todman address the team and say he was leaving to go pro and then not doing the same was hard to top. I still would like to know if CS made a push to get Mora or he called them.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

All these people here trying to make excuses for Mora. Good lord.

This guy has been in the game for decades. He’s no naive rookie.

The middle of the night announcement. The switching of social media to CSU. Absolutely classless.

CT has never been a “totally crazy for college football” state like the SEC/B10/B12 states. Even during RE1.0. But Mora got enough people into/back into UConn FB to pack the Rent for our biggest game of the year. He made us feel at least somewhat relevant in CFB.

To leave in the middle of the night and not even give a 1-2 sentence “thanks” to UConn, the players, the people of the state with a social media post is about as bush league as it gets.

Even if you leave on bad terms. Sad. Inexcusable.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Mora is a very good communicator. His press conferences were informative and not loaded with BS. To have the only statement on this move come from Dave Benedict is very out of character from past experience for all of us fans. And at this point is he just going to address the team via a conference call? Or tweet? It's a cold business and other fanbases get hit with the coach leaving to move up. This is our second time and neither have been handled well. Edsall making Todman address the team and say he was leaving to go pro and then not doing the same was hard to top. I still would like to know if CS made a push to get Mora or he called them.

If you read his IG statement, Sounds like he had already visited their campus, at least once as part of the interviewing process… When he found time to do this, not quite sure, but seems like it would have been relatively recently in the middle of our season. Gross.

 

[scdono]

College Football is cut-throat. Mora did an excellent job for us. When coaches leave, they are looking forward immediately. I'm certain he addressed his players. How many big time coaches leave and don't give a public statement about the job their leaving? I'm sure it happens all the time.
I wish Mora well and glad he left before the Bowl Game. We need to hit the coaching search running and not wait around moping about spilt milk.

 

[huskyblooz]

I heard he's meeting with the team on Tuesday.

 

[UConnJim]

What do I do with this?

 

[RioDog]

Do coaches who leave a school normally make a statement to the fans of the school he’s leaving?

I really don’t care. The hire is far more important at this point.

Sometimes I guess. Honestly I don't pay that close attention. Frankly I don't care either. CFB teams are now pro franchises. Services paid, services rendered, thanks and have a nice day. While kind words are nice to hear, in this new paradigm they're largely window dressing. Hence my previous post.

 

[RioDog]

We're a destination stepping stone program now so it is what is. So if a coach is coming here to move up another level then UConn is winning. Look what programs like Cincinnati, Memphis and BYU have done it's a process.

I'm waiting till Monday-Tuesday before I jump to conclusions on Mora's departure, I cut him some slack since it was a holiday week with the players being off this week.

Way too rational a take for this thread...

 

[HCCForever]

What do I do with this?

View attachment 113936

You keep it even though emotions are high now. Hopefully in the future this will mark a step in our bright football journey. Need to be optimistic. It’s always darkest before the dawn.

 

[Samoo]

College Football is cut-throat. Mora did an excellent job for us. When coaches leave, they are looking forward immediately. I'm certain he addressed his players. How many big time coaches leave and don't give a public statement about the job their leaving? I'm sure it happens all the time.
I wish Mora well and glad he left before the Bowl Game. We need to hit the coaching search running and not wait around moping about spilt milk.

If he addressed the players I'm pretty sure we would have heard about it from one of the 80+ young men who theoretically were in the room or received the email.

While disappointed, I don't dislike him for leaving but I find his lack of any communication with the UConn community a pretty classless move. It would take 10 minutes to put together something himself, or just ask his agent to do it.