Jim Delaney pops the expansion balloon

[The Funster]

Winning won't be enough in football. We'd have to dominate. we'd have to schedule strong OOC and dominate to get a spot in the playoff. Then we'd have to win a game or two. Then we have to get back. It's possible.

 

[Afroabe224]

We are talking about a 38,500 seat stadium where you get a 10k headstart with students, band and road fans.

If we can't get 28-30k people to come to games without winning 10 FBS games seriously where are we going?

Exactly why we haven't GONE anywhere in CR.

 

[whaler11]

Exactly why we haven't GONE anywhere in CR.

Yes instead people want to blame Boston College or ESPN. Because that's easier than looking in the mirror.

 

[Alum86]

Yes instead people want to blame Boston College or ESPN. Because that's easier than looking in the mirror.

Don't forget the head coach. I haven't.

 

[Afroabe224]

Yes instead people want to blame Boston College or ESPN. Because that's easier than looking in the mirror.

Couldn't agree more. I think a lot of Boneyarders are real fans but like I've said before there are too many "convenience" fans at UConn and not enough diehards. Out here in Ann Arbor they call these folk Wal Mart Wolverines. The truth is despite PP taking 2 steps back in football, if we had a demand for 45/50k a game (completely regardless of wins/traditions) we'd be in the ACC at worst.

 

[Fishy]

If we averaged 40,000 fans at the Rent for the past five years, we'd be in the AAC right now.

 

[Stinger92860]

Top items IMHO are lack of fan support, short history, off campus stadium and poor perception. We all need to thank Lew Perkins for his vision.

 

[Adios]

Top items IMHO are lack of fan support, short history, off campus stadium and poor perception. We all need to thank Lew Perkins for his vision.

The "short" history and the location of the stadium are not issues. Our football program is older than some B1G programs. We also have a neat history. Perception is not much of an issue, either. Our success in NFL drafts is changing that. The biggest program is stadium size. We need to be able to accommodate larger fanbases.

 

[whaler11]

If we averaged 40,000 fans at the Rent for the past five years, we'd be in the AAC right now.

If the school had made the proper investments in the program when Edsall left and made a statement that they valued football like Louisville has the last ACC transaction may have gone down differently. UConn seemingly stood on the sidelines while Louisville took their future away from them.

Louisville made the right hire and acted in a fashion that convinced him to stay. UConn made the most ridiculous hire possible and have stood and watched the program be run into the ground.

Everything UConn does gives the impression they are attempting to squeeze every dime out of the fan base today with little consideration given to the long term implications.

The Big 10 isn't calling and the ACC will now allow themselves to be held hostage by Notre Dame so they aren't going anywhere unless there is a Big 12 miracle. So based on what I read and hear the football program is about to die a slow death because our small fickle fan base finds the AAC below them.

If they don't beat Maryland it's going to get bad fast.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The "short" history and the location of the stadium are not issues. Our football program is older than some B1G programs. We also have a neat history. Perception is not much of an issue, either. Our success in NFL drafts is changing that. The biggest program is stadium size. We need to be able to accommodate larger fanbases.

History starts when you are playing at the highest level. So our history is very short. About all we've done well before that is produce coaches for other teams. Stadium size is far from our biggest problem. Hell, I doubt anyone outside of UConn fans knows what the stadium size is or where it is. The biggest problem is that nobody realizes we play the sport at this level. Invisibility is our problem. We're like freaking Patrick Swayze in Ghost. We need to find a way to make some noise. A lot of noise.

Unique and somewhat odd helmets are a step. A more exciting and productive offense would be a step (Weis). Beating some big names would be a step. Having a real Heisman candidate would be a step. Coming up with a recognizable (and not lame or hip hop derived) song (think "Hail to the Victors") or chant (perhaps the crowd growls like an angry husky before every snap on D) would be a step . Creating a more unique game day experience would be a step (my suggestion was snow machines and huskies pulling a sled, with Jonathan in the lead). This needs to be a media and marketing blitz. It needs to be relentless and impossible to ignore.

 

[CL82]

History starts when you are playing at the highest level. So our history is very short. About all we've done well before that is produce coaches for other teams. Stadium size is far from our biggest problem. Hell, I doubt anyone outside of UConn fans knows what the stadium size is or where it is. The biggest problem is that nobody realizes we play the sport at this level. Invisibility is our problem. We're like freaking Patrick Swayze in Ghost. We need to find a way to make some noise. A lot of noise.

Unique and somewhat odd helmets are a step. A more exciting and productive offense would be a step (Weis). Beating some big names would be a step. Having a real Heisman candidate would be a step. Coming up with a recognizable (and not lame or hip hop derived) song (think "Hail to the Victors") or chant (perhaps the crowd growls like an angry husky before every snap on D) would be a step . Creating a more unique game day experience would be a step (my suggestion was snow machines and huskies pulling a sled, with Jonathan in the lead). This needs to be a media and marketing blitz. It needs to be relentless and impossible to ignore.

Do you mean something like this?

 

[noeynox]

If we averaged 40,000 fans at the Rent for the past five years, we'd be in the AAC right now.

No kidding. If we averaged that, we'd still be sitting here and we'd have people grasping at other straws as to why is that case. Accept that were here, and ain't going no where for at least a couple of years.

Whatever the particular bar has been at the particular time, it has always shifted to exclude UCONN. The ACC doesn't want UCONN. Assign whatever reason you want as to why, but that is,the harsh cold reality.

 

[Carl Spackler]

History starts when you are playing at the highest level. So our history is very short. About all we've done well before that is produce coaches for other teams. Stadium size is far from our biggest problem. Hell, I doubt anyone outside of UConn fans knows what the stadium size is or where it is. The biggest problem is that nobody realizes we play the sport at this level. Invisibility is our problem. We're like freaking Patrick Swayze in Ghost. We need to find a way to make some noise. A lot of noise.

Unique and somewhat odd helmets are a step. A more exciting and productive offense would be a step (Weis). Beating some big names would be a step. Having a real Heisman candidate would be a step. Coming up with a recognizable (and not lame or hip hop derived) song (think "Hail to the Victors") or chant (perhaps the crowd growls like an angry husky before every snap on D) would be a step . Creating a more unique game day experience would be a step (my suggestion was snow machines and huskies pulling a sled, with Jonathan in the lead). This needs to be a media and marketing blitz. It needs to be relentless and impossible to ignore.

History starts when somebody makes a record of something. Our history of playing football at the highest competitive level started about a decade ago. With each year that passes, the college football world will begin to realize that we aren't so new to this level anymore. The more we win, and the better players we produce that go on to the NFL, the faster it happens.

As for the gameday experience. I have only one opinion to convey. I like the music in the stadium, but that damn DJ's voice trying to pump up the crowd and yapping and pleading husky fans to get up, it's got to go. No more. Had enough. A bunch of dogs pulling a sled? I like the idea really - it good be a sled on wheels. I bet you'd get some animal rights people worked up though. It is the culture we live in.

 

[Carl Spackler]

If the school had made the proper investments in the program when Edsall left and made a statement that they valued football like Louisville has the last ACC transaction may have gone down differently. UConn seemingly stood on the sidelines while Louisville took their future away from them.

Louisville made the right hire and acted in a fashion that convinced him to stay. UConn made the most ridiculous hire possible and have stood and watched the program be run into the ground.

Everything UConn does gives the impression they are attempting to squeeze every dime out of the fan base today with little consideration given to the long term implications.

The Big 10 isn't calling and the ACC will now allow themselves to be held hostage by Notre Dame so they aren't going anywhere unless there is a Big 12 miracle. So based on what I read and hear the football program is about to die a slow death because our small fickle fan base finds the AAC below them.

If they don't beat Maryland it's going to get bad fast.

THe biggest investment that UCONN could make, is to actually buy the rentschler property and real estate from the state. The university is handcuffed with what it can do, not by the location, not by it being off campus....none of that......IMNSHO, the biggest problem is that UCONN doesn't own the stadium.

I'd much rather see UCONN working on purchasing the property, rather than raising money to expand a facility that we rent, and don't own.

That's a pretty big undertaking though, and basketball facilities have priority.

 

[kibblesnbits]

Do you mean something like this?

UConn has a great fight song. In fact, I think the end, when the big brass kicks in, is very distinctive and says "UConn's on" to a large sporting audience. Does it have the recognition of "Hail to the victors" or the USC fight song? No, but it's in the next tier. Think about it - how many schools do you know beyond a half-dozen or so that even have a clearly identifiable fight song on a national TV broadcast?

 

[upstater]

 

[Nostical]

Don't forget "Fight On Connecticut" This clip is from our bowl game v South Carolina. And speaking of that--here's also the end of Randy Edsall's talk at the pep rally attended by thousands of fans in a public square in Birmingham. That's a glimpse of what we've been missing these last two years. And anyone whose gone to one of our bowl games knows just how empty a feeling it's been for the team and all of us as fans to be sitting home missing that fantastic atmosphere.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9u2p5u69roj21q0/Untitled.m4v
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ipct6j2h4z84hp4/IMG_0285.MOV

 

[Marty Jackson]

If the school had made the proper investments in the program when Edsall left and made a statement that they valued football like Louisville has the last ACC transaction may have gone down differently. UConn seemingly stood on the sidelines while Louisville took their future away from them.

Louisville made the right hire and acted in a fashion that convinced him to stay. UConn made the most ridiculous hire possible and have stood and watched the program be run into the ground.

Everything UConn does gives the impression they are attempting to squeeze every dime out of the fan base today with little consideration given to the long term implications.

The Big 10 isn't calling and the ACC will now allow themselves to be held hostage by Notre Dame so they aren't going anywhere unless there is a Big 12 miracle. So based on what I read and hear the football program is about to die a slow death because our small fickle fan base finds the AAC below them.

If they don't beat Maryland it's going to get bad fast.

revisionist Bull Crap... You are using past events and suggesting their outcome was a known variable to prove your point.

Louisville had Kragthorpe for 3 years and struggled mightily. Strong was no doubt a great hire but he certainly wasn't a proven commodity as a Head Coach. Jurich took a chance that paid off. Your comments suggest Jurich hired Strong knowing it would be the golden ticket in CR. Wrong.

The fact that HCPP hasn't paid off, doesn't suggest Uconn made a decision based on not valuing their FB program. PP was hired because of his ties to the state, his NFL experience, and his experience coaching at the collegiate level. He is the winningest coach in BE history. I am frustrated as anyone with the past two years. Fact is, his first year was on par with expectations. We weren't a NC contender that went 5-7. We had a walk-on QB in johnny mac. Last year was PP's first year that was below expectations.
He's made changes, addressed specific coaching concerns, and is going into the toughest schedule Uconn has probably ever had. Recruits in CT are staying home, the caliber of incoming players has gotten better, and we have a legitimate starting QB returning for a 2nd year since Orlovsky.

 

[CL82]

UConn has a great fight song. In fact, I think the end, when the big brass kicks in, is very distinctive and says "UConn's on" to a large sporting audience. Does it have the recognition of "Hail to the victors" or the USC fight song? No, but it's in the next tier. Think about it - how many schools do you know beyond a half-dozen or so that even have a clearly identifiable fight song on a national TV broadcast?

On a related note, I'd like more band and less DJ, but that 's been talked about here endlessly.

 

[huskymedic]

A bunch of dogs pulling a sled? I like the idea really - it good be a sled on wheels. I bet you'd get some animal rights people worked up though. It is the culture we live in.

Ha - no doubt! Reverse it then. Have the "cheer squad" pull the motor assisted aircraft metal grade dog sled with Jonathon on it carrying the school flag.

 

[CL82]

Don't forget "Fight On Connecticut" This clip is from our bowl game v South Carolina. And speaking of that--here's also the end of Randy Edsall's talk at the pep rally attended by thousands of fans in a public square in Birmingham. That's a glimpse of what we've been missing these last two years. And anyone whose gone to one of our bowl games knows just how empty a feeling it's been for the team and all of us as fans to be sitting home missing that fantastic atmosphere.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9u2p5u69roj21q0/Untitled.m4v
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ipct6j2h4z84hp4/IMG_0285.MOV

Everyone else has. Ask Notre Dame what it thinks our fight song is,

 

[whaler11]

revisionist Bull Crap... You are using past events and suggesting their outcome was a known variable to prove your point.

Louisville had Kragthorpe for 3 years and struggled mightily. Strong was no doubt a great hire but he certainly wasn't a proven commodity as a Head Coach. Jurich took a chance that paid off. Your comments suggest Jurich hired Strong knowing it would be the golden ticket in CR. Wrong.

The fact that HCPP hasn't paid off, doesn't suggest Uconn made a decision based on not valuing their FB program. PP was hired because of his ties to the state, his NFL experience, and his experience coaching at the collegiate level. He is the winningest coach in BE history. I am frustrated as anyone with the past two years. Fact is, his first year was on par with expectations. We weren't a NC contender that went 5-7. We had a walk-on QB in johnny mac. Last year was PP's first year that was below expectations.
He's made changes, addressed specific coaching concerns, and is going into the toughest schedule Uconn has probably ever had. Recruits in CT are staying home, the caliber of incoming players has gotten better, and we have a legitimate starting QB returning for a 2nd year since Orlovsky.

Calling PP an unmitigated disaster of a hire is not revisionist for me.
Calling P an unmitigted dis

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Top items IMHO are lack of fan support, short history, off campus stadium and poor perception. We all need to thank Lew Perkins for his vision.

A couple of thoughts on this:

1. UConn should have constructed an on-campus stadium. This isn't pro football, it's a university. Getting alumni, families and friends back on campus to "relive" the glory years is a big part of the marketing of college sports. An on-campus stadium is a must see (sometimes the only thing people want to see) at many big time universities (see Florida, see Oklahoma, see Penn State, see Michigan State, etc).

2. Having failed on the above first point, Rentschler should have (and still should be) a 60K plus stadium. Let's not aspire to be the United States's tallest midget.

3. The short history is getting old. In UConn's ten year run they have accomplish a great deal. They have fast forwarded the process of moving to D1 faster than anyone could have hoped for.

4. The lack of fan support in my opinion stems from a variety of factors: failure to gain more attractive kickoff times (or even dates) and the consistent willingness not to insist on fewer home games (the weekend of Thanksgiving and the weekend after) during unseasonable weather and more like this season coming where 4 games are played before Columbus Day.

5. A lackluster hire of Paul Pasqualoni. Edsall took the program as far as he could (maybe farther than could be expected) and once he left it was time for a splashy hire. They needed someone who was gonna make the games (make every possession) exciting. In that regard they failed miserably.

6. The State of Connecticut needed to exert relentless political pressure on ESPN to make sure that UConn got every possible advantage starting out and that ultimately they had a seat at one of the big boy tables.

 

[Nostical]

Everyone else has. Ask Notre Dame what it thinks our fight song is

Of course UConn Husky is our fight song. I was pointing out we have other cool traditions like "Fight On Connecticut" played with the Block C marching up the field. It's really cool before each game. The problem is, unlike pre-game at other major programs, there are very few fans there to watch it. It's embarrassing. Imagine if Delaney stopped by early to see what the Husky Rentschler Field experience was like. Think he'd be saying--"wow I can't wait to invite these guys"?

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1156444

 

[WestHartHusk]

Of course UConn Husky is our fight song. I was pointing out we have other cool traditions like "Fight On Connecticut" played with the Block C marching up the field. It's really cool before each game. The problem is, unlike pre-game at other major programs, there are very few fans there to watch it. It's embarrassing. Imagine if Delaney stopped by early to see what the Husky Rentschler Field experience was like. Think he'd be saying--"wow I can't wait to invite these guys"?

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1156444

Why not, he invited this hot mess...

 

[Durks07]

Why not, he invited this hot mess...

Don't forget Rutgers!

 

[Adios]

History starts when somebody makes a record of something. Our history of playing football at the highest competitive level started about a decade ago. With each year that passes, the college football world will begin to realize that we aren't so new to this level anymore. The more we win, and the better players we produce that go on to the NFL, the faster it happens.

The school records football going back to 1896.

People saying we have no history (our own fans out of all people...) sure are not helping us in marketing our football program. Our players sing a fight song that predates the FBS era. Saying there's no history is neglecting all those who made it possible for UConn to have a complete athletic department and all those who supported prior to the bandwagon era. In the early 20th century, coaches didn't just coach one sport. Many coached football, basketball AND baseball.

When I went to the school, we sure weren't playing at the FBS level. Did that mean I would say we have no football team? Absolutely not. Big Ten administrators (and others) never mention us having "no history". They know we have potential and have a past that can sell and led to the present. Times have changed and public higher education is now the norm. Connecticut probably has the most football history out of all states. Rutgers and Princeton played the first college soccer game. Harvard and McGill played the first college gridiron game in 1874.

People can hate Syracuse, Pitt and BC all they want. The truth is they helped us grow through the Big East. Thanks for helping us kick your behinds!

 

[Durks07]

The school records football going back to 1896.

People saying we have no history (our own fans out of all people...) sure are not helping us in marketing our football program. Our players sing a fight song that predates the FBS era. Saying there's no history is neglecting all those who made it possible for UConn to have a complete athletic department and all those who supported prior to the bandwagon era. In the early 20th century, coaches didn't just coach one sport. Many coached football, basketball AND baseball.

When I went to the school, we sure weren't playing at the FBS level. Did that mean I would say we have no football team? Absolutely not. Big Ten administrators (and others) never mention us having "no history". They know we have potential and have a past that can sell and led to the present. Times have changed and public higher education is now the norm. Connecticut probably has the most football history out of all states. Rutgers and Princeton played the first college soccer game. Harvard and McGill played the first college gridiron game in 1874.

People can hate Syracuse, Pitt and BC all they want. The truth is they helped us grow through the Big East. Thanks for helping us kick your behinds!

I don't want to sound like I am taking a dump on your history argument. I feel that UConn and its fans should appreciate that fact that our history brought us to this point in our athletic program's history. However, that history does not matter to anyone outside of this state. It is just a fact, and there is no getting around it.

The history that matters is made playing at the highest levels. UConn was not playing at this level until they started playing FBS football. Whether we like it or not, that is just the fact. No one who visits this board from time to time says anything but "you are a young program." They are right. In the eyes of the schools who played at this level, we are a young program and there is no getting around it. Our storied history with local colleges whom we have surpassed in stature and athletic success is only a reminder of how far we have come, but not one that is going to scream "we've arrived" (I know, Rutger's history is little more than a cruel joke, but they have the good fortune of being close to NYC apparently).

History, the history that matters that is, is made by the teams that have been competing and growing in the national conscience for a century. The history that matters is the history Ohio State, PSU, Bama, and a host of others have. The kind that builds tradition and success at the highest level and inspires 100,000 people in attendance followings. The kind of tradition that inspires people to tailgate three days before gameday, and never leave the stands before the final whistle. Our basketball teams growing into national powers in the late 80's into the 90's and today is a good example of the history that matters.

Our "history" began in 2002 and it is on us now to build this history, to kick ass and take names, and for the fans to call for wholesale firings in the athletic department when UConn doesn't beat a MAC school by 49, so when color video highlights are viewed as "grainy black and white footage" relics we have a whole host of it to show at a Rentscheler field holding 80,000. That kind of history is what will make the rest of the nation take notice.

 

[Adios]

I don't want to sound like I am taking a dump on your history argument. I feel that UConn and its fans should appreciate that fact that our history brought us to this point in our athletic program's history. However, that history does not matter to anyone outside of this state. It is just a fact, and there is no getting around it.

The history that matters is made playing at the highest levels. UConn was not playing at this level until they started playing FBS football. Whether we like it or not, that is just the fact. No one who visits this board from time to time says anything but "you are a young program." They are right. In the eyes of the schools who played at this level, we are a young program and there is no getting around it. Our storied history with local colleges whom we have surpassed in stature and athletic success is only a reminder of how far we have come, but not one that is going to scream "we've arrived" (I know, Rutger's history is little more than a cruel joke, but they have the good fortune of being close to NYC apparently).

History, the history that matters that is, is made by the teams that have been competing and growing in the national conscience for a century. The history that matters is the history Ohio State, PSU, Bama, and a host of others have. The kind that builds tradition and success at the highest level and inspires 100,000 people in attendance followings. The kind of tradition that inspires people to tailgate three days before gameday, and never leave the stands before the final whistle. Our basketball teams growing into national powers in the late 80's into the 90's and today is a good example of the history that matters.

Our "history" began in 2002 and it is on us now to build this history, to kick ass and take names, and for the fans to call for wholesale firings in the athletic department when UConn doesn't beat a MAC school by 49, so when color video highlights are viewed as "grainy black and white footage" relics we have a whole host of it to show at a Rentscheler field holding 80,000. That kind of history is what will make the rest of the nation take notice.

You are correct about perception from the "obvious" point of view but look where dwelling upon the past got Rutgers. They've been lousy at just about every sport for all these years. It was not just their proximity to NYC but also the fact they'd constantly claim they invented gridiron football. That mythological claim added mystique to their program. For their fans and recruits...and the B1G.

Saying we have a football program older than some B1G schools would help in marketing with and against them. The B1G and their markets are hellbent on tradition and history. And so is the ACC, apparently. If they did not take Louisville, the ACC schools might have never signed the GOR they signed recently. They had less room to take on more recent upgrades. If we are going to hang with the "big boys", we have to promote our ancient history. Unless you want to be stuck with USF and UCF, who are actually schools with no real worthwhile history. One reason Cincinnati has an upper-hand on them in expansion is because the Bearcats also have an old program, a history to promote, stories to tell. Syracuse fans use their one championship in 1959 to try to look down on us. The people in Storrs try to promote our football history from the pre-FBS era. It's nothing to be ashamed about. University administrators in general know about the state of Connecticut's place in football history. If it wasn't for Walter Camp and friends, many people here (and around the country) would be soccer or rugby fans instead. Let' say we do end up in the B1G. Do you think they'll put in media guides that UConn football was created in 1999 or 2002? No, they're going to say 1896. Just like our media guides.

Any chance the Ivies might go back to the top-tier level? I'd welcome it!

 

[Fishy]

Saying we have a football program older than some Big Ten teams in an invitation to ridicule, not a marketing strategy.

I'm not even going to comment on the idea that Rutgers' football has a 'mystique' about it other than to say that your internet service should be terminated and that you should be caned in front of your neighbors.

Insanity is the new normal here.