If any of you heard the ex. Gov. Rowland's commentary on WTIC talk radio during the week he gave accolades to RE not just as a coach but as a teacher. John suggested he had many conversations with RE during his stay at UConn, and RE basically told him (my paraphrase) "Look.....I don't see my job as preparing the players for the NFL. More important to me is developing them to be better individuals who is leans how to develop teams player skills, get an education, get a degree, and be better prepared to contribute to a work force post UConn experience. Very few of the players we're bringing to UConn will have the skills to play at the next level"
Now I'm not criticizing RE for his approach because he "recognized and understood" that his players were not the most highly skilled BCS college level players (under the radar scenario) and did not give them false impressions of their athletic abilities. More importantly he emphasized preparing them for life after UConn, sans the NFL.
As a coach, I was not a huge RE fan ...... he did ok with what he had to start with, but was not going to get UConn to the next level. But as a person, I give him 5 's.
Last night there was a huge discrepancy in talent. Next week there will be even more. As much as we all wish the program to excel, no matter who the next coach is.......it may be a very prominent college coach (huge assumption), but the talent he is able to work with is not going to be much above the "rankings" of previous classes.
Yes , UConn may get a few kids as RE suggested, but you need a heck of a lot more to compete at the highest level of BCS play.