Jeff Jacobs: How UConn football coach Jim Mora helped get CIAC championships back to Rentschler Field

[huskymedic]

Backdoor to article<<

-> Still, what shouldn’t be lost among the building accolades is that early on Mora was the catalyst for bringing half of the CIAC state football championships back to Rentschler Field on Dec. 10. The other three games will be played at Central Connecticut. “Coach Mora, when he first got here, was making the rounds to all the high school coaches,” said Paul Mounds, Gov. Lamont’s chief of staff. “Doing something the high school coaches were yearning for. “And he kept hearing the same thing: ‘We would like to be able to have our high school championship games played in our college stadiums. It would be good for the kids. He asked me at that point if there was anything he could do. I said absolutely.” <-

-> “The governor had told coach Mora anyway if he can be helpful to him and UConn football, he would be there,” Mound said. “He believes in him. And this was a big way in terms of having all these high school students being able to play at Rentschler Field or Central Connecticut.” It’s not just about attendance figures and a few thousand bucks. The athletes dress in college locker rooms, run out the tunnel, relish the atmosphere. It is something they’ll never forget. <-

-> Mounds, who played in the same defensive backfield as UConn assistant John Marinelli at Trinity, envisions a scenario where Rentschler is an annual centerpiece for the state championships. “And then there is a kind of rotation with Central, Trinity, maybe the Coast Guard, maybe the Yale Bowl for the other games,” he said. “It would be great to open these opportunities to these kids.” <-

 

[warbler1055]

Jim Mora is our man!!! Great to see Lamont involved.

 

[Husky25]

"According to the terms of the Rentschler agreement, all non-UConn events must be revenue neutral or positive. They can’t further cost a building which already has run in the red."

This is the worst clause in the history of clauses.

 

[Kolumbo]

"According to the terms of the Rentschler agreement, all non-UConn events must be revenue neutral or positive. They can’t further cost a building which already has run in the red."

This is the worst clause in the history of clauses.

Great for the high school kids!! I'm also curious to see the expense side of hosting a game. Sure, it might lose money but how much are the expenses inflated? Keep using the place if we're going to pay to keep it going.

Heinz Field always hosts high school championships. Yes, it's still Heinz

 

[warbler1055]

"According to the terms of the Rentschler agreement, all non-UConn events must be revenue neutral or positive. They can’t further cost a building which already has run in the red."

This is the worst clause in the history of clauses.

Bad clause can be changed. If Jim Mora wants the HS kids to play at the Rent, then responsible parties should oblige.

 

[Devland]

I don't know if it's changed, but when the Rent first opened, high school teams had trouble affording some of the costs in the union contracts. The state police contract had a clause that any event had to hire x number of State police. I hope this has changed because a game that draws maybe 2000 doesn't need the same security as an event that hosts 25000.

 

[huskymedic]

If Jim Mora wants the HS kids to play at the Rent, then responsible parties should oblige.

They obliged… it’s a done deal (at least this year):

Rentschler Field and CCSU to host CIAC's six football championships in 2022

CIAC football championships sites for 2022 will be Rentschler Field in East Hartford and Central Connecticut State University.

www.ctinsider.com

-> The CIAC will be returning to Rentschler Field and Central Connecticut State for its annual football championships as it begins another era of six playoff divisions, the organization announced Wednesday.

Three games will be played at each site at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on December 10, the day of the state finals. Locations for each division will be announced after the two finalists are determined. <-

 

[BlueandOG]

Backdoor to article<<

-> Still, what shouldn’t be lost among the building accolades is that early on Mora was the catalyst for bringing half of the CIAC state football championships back to Rentschler Field on Dec. 10. The other three games will be played at Central Connecticut. “Coach Mora, when he first got here, was making the rounds to all the high school coaches,” said Paul Mounds, Gov. Lamont’s chief of staff. “Doing something the high school coaches were yearning for. “And he kept hearing the same thing: ‘We would like to be able to have our high school championship games played in our college stadiums. It would be good for the kids. He asked me at that point if there was anything he could do. I said absolutely.” <-

-> “The governor had told coach Mora anyway if he can be helpful to him and UConn football, he would be there,” Mound said. “He believes in him. And this was a big way in terms of having all these high school students being able to play at Rentschler Field or Central Connecticut.” It’s not just about attendance figures and a few thousand bucks. The athletes dress in college locker rooms, run out the tunnel, relish the atmosphere. It is something they’ll never forget. <-

-> Mounds, who played in the same defensive backfield as UConn assistant John Marinelli at Trinity, envisions a scenario where Rentschler is an annual centerpiece for the state championships. “And then there is a kind of rotation with Central, Trinity, maybe the Coast Guard, maybe the Yale Bowl for the other games,” he said. “It would be great to open these opportunities to these kids.” <-

How is this not happening already? Massachusetts high school superbowls are played at Gillette Stadium.

 

[huskymedic]

How is this not happening already? Massachusetts high school superbowls are played at Gillette Stadium.

Psst… read the article

(And if I’m not mistaken - Kraft donates the use of Gillette)

 

[Husky25]

How is this not happening already? Massachusetts high school superbowls are played at Gillette Stadium.

The Central MA Superbowls used to be played at WPI.

 

[Husky25]

Bad clause can be changed. If Jim Mora wants the HS kids to play at the Rent, then responsible parties should oblige.

It's been in effect for 10 years or more. If responsible parties wanted to oblige before now, they would have.

 

[freescooter]

I think it is great. Only thing I will say if if one player’s parent complains about the State spending money on something he or she should be required to stand at midfield in a pink tutu and sing Tom Paxton’s “I’m Changing My Name to Chrysler “ at each game.

 

[Kolumbo]

I just learned that UCONN is hosting the Final 4 Field Hockey Championship. Right now.

NCAA College Field Hockey Scores, Schedule | NCAA.com

Live Field Hockey DI scores and schedules, searchable by date and conference.

www.ncaa.com

 

[Chin Diesel]

Again added benefit of getting interest and traction with players, parents and coaches of seeing and playing football at the Rent. This can only help with recruiting and with building the fan base.

 

[huskymedic]

I just learned that UCONN is hosting the Final 4 Field Hockey Championship. Right now.

NCAA College Field Hockey Scores, Schedule | NCAA.com

Live Field Hockey DI scores and schedules, searchable by date and conference.

www.ncaa.com

On campus…

 

[Alum1620]

On campus…

It’s helpful but won’t effect football

 

[Get a Job]

It’s helpful but won’t effect football

Hoard Updates

the-boneyard.com

 

[huskymedic]

It’s helpful but won’t effect football

I couldn’t figure out the thread connection myself other than they thought the FHOC Championship was @ the Rent.

 

[Alum1620]

I couldn’t figure out the thread connection myself other than they thought the FHOC Championship was @ the Rent.

It would make more sense if it was about men’s lacrosse as that was held at the Rent

 

[Hamms30]

I just learned that UCONN is hosting the Final 4 Field Hockey Championship. Right now.

NCAA College Field Hockey Scores, Schedule | NCAA.com

Live Field Hockey DI scores and schedules, searchable by date and conference.

www.ncaa.com

Is the video clip of Irish hurling part of the field hockey link? Or added separately?

 

[Austin316]

I love this. The Rent is perfect for LL, L, MM… CCSU to be used for M, SS, S…

Not gunna lie I think the atmosphere at Arute will be great. It’s a nice little stadium and they’ve done some nice things to the campus in recent years.

Great exposure for the athletes, students, and parents!

 

[Kolumbo]

Is the video clip of Irish hurling part of the field hockey link? Or added separately?

I added it separately, for effect. Field Hockey was in Stores but I mentioned it because it could have been at the Rent. Probably better in Stores though.

 

[Alum86]

I added it separately, for effect. Field Hockey was in Stores but I mentioned it because it could have been at the Rent. Probably better in Stores though.

Watch out in the lamp section in those stores.

 

[dvegas]

I'm all for this but feel sorry for a team that makes a championship game at the Rent after possibly not playing a game on grass all year. Most CT high schools have artificial turf these days, for maintenance, cost and use issues.

 

[Husky25]

I'm all for this but feel sorry for a team that makes a championship game at the Rent after possibly not playing a game on grass all year. Most CT high schools have artificial turf these days, for maintenance, cost and use issues.

They ran on grass for 14 years prior to their high school days. Their body will remember.

 

[dvegas]

They ran on grass for 14 years prior to their high school days. Their body will remember.

Not true. A lot of the towns near me (Norwalk) have had exclusively turf field for football for many years. They allow for much more/multi sport use. Not a fan of the trend but I understand, the turf fields help with the demand issue.

 

[freescooter]

I love this. The Rent is perfect for LL, L, MM… CCSU to be used for M, SS, S…

Not gunna lie I think the atmosphere at Arute will be great. It’s a nice little stadium and they’ve done some nice things to the campus in recent years.

Great exposure for the athletes, students, and parents!

How many divisions do they have? Aren’t there under 100 teams? Every team get to be in its own division? I figured there were maybe 4.

 

[Platt81]

How many divisions do they have? Aren’t there under 100 teams? Every team get to be in its own division? I figured there were maybe 4.

There were 4 up until this year and they expanded it back to 6. There’s about 140 teams across CT

 

[huskyblooz]

My picks are:
LL - Greenwich
L - New Canaan
MM - Killingly
M - ND-WH
SS - Barlow
S - Ansonia

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Great for the high school kids!! I'm also curious to see the expense side of hosting a game. Sure, it might lose money but how much are the expenses inflated? Keep using the place if we're going to pay to keep it going.

Heinz Field always hosts high school championships. Yes, it's still Heinz

Great for Jim Mora and his staff too. They don’t have to drive as far to check out the in state cream of the crop. Recruiting!!!