Jim Mora Expected to be Named HC

[ZooCougar]

Was hot knocking him. I was, however, laughing at someone praising the hire because unlike P and Edsall he wasn’t fired from his last job

It ought to be permissible to dislike stupidity without taking a position on the hire itself.

I know you weren’t. Unless you are like one of five FBS head coaches getting fired is a thing that can happen almost at the drop of a hat.

UCLA has been garbage since he left. And If we are judging guys by whether or not they got fired then the candidate pool with HC experience will be non existent.

Sure Al Golden was fired, but so was Moorhead. Apparently neither of those guys were all that interested.

The reasoning in this place has become absurd.

 

[ZooCougar]

Does anyone know who else was being considered? Very curious about the short list.

This hire shows a commitment to football. Good message to the fans. I expect season tickets to sky rocket

There is talk that Golden was the other target.

 

[ZooCougar]

It’s great that no one , I mean no one saw this coming. The so called insiders both in the media and elsewhere. The non casual fan. No one. AD Dave gets an A both for the hire and the the process

At least it wasn’t Eric Mangini.

 

[BigFanCT]

Not true. Not true at all. We’re hemorrhaging money in the Athetic Department. You don’t think the University isn’t judging him on getting paying fannies back in their seats at the Rent?

If the basketball team performs well, Benedict performs well. We gave up on football and butts in seats when we moved back to the BE.

Anything the football team can provide would be an added bonus and sure, I’m sure DB has his eyes on other jobs- if football works out, that is what he will get hired somewhere else for.

But we dug our heels all in on basketball. If we cared about hemorrhaging money, we would have stayed in the AAC until the next conference realightment - which just so happened to be shortly after we left.

All my opinion of course. I just think it’s all now tied to basketball success and getting back UConn’s basketball image to what it once was.

 

[Blades]

and HE did it the week we walk into Clemson with National attention.

Yep .....Uconn FB on the front page ???

 

[ZooCougar]

If the basketball team performs well, Benedict performs well. We gave up on football and butts in seats when we moved back to the BE.

Anything the football team can provide would be an added bonus and sure, I’m sure DB has his eyes on other jobs- if football works out, that is what he will get hired somewhere else for.

But we dug our heels all in on basketball. If we cared about hemorrhaging money, we would have stayed in the AAC until the next conference realightment - which just so happened to be shortly after we left.

All my opinion of course. I just think it’s all now tied to basketball success and getting back UConn’s basketball image to what it once was.

At this point the only good reason to be in the AAC is to collect exit fees. We are so much better off.

If the team becomes respectable again we will have better attendance because we play more attractive opponents.

 

[freescooter]

I like lots of things about this hire. He was a winner at UCLA which isn’t exactly simple to do. He seems serious. Student of the game. I think we will see some significant progress next year. I think he will be a solid recruiter, too. He knows what the NFL looks for so if you are a kid with that dream he is a guy who can really help.

 

[huskyinfl]

I was just running some errands and the thought came across my mind that maybe Dave B was the house guest from hell and Mora was too nice a guy to kick him out so he eventually took the job just to get Dave B to leave.

I think there's actually a real low brow, easy $$$$ comedy to be made from that plot.

Curb your enthusiasm type plot

 

[Scoe]

Definitely wasn’t expecting this, best hire we could’ve made given the current state our program is in, good to get him in now.

 

[kemba]

Love it. I mean most of the debate on here in the past has been do we go for a guy who was a good p5 coordinator with no head coaching experience or do we go down to fcs or lower for head coaching experience. We got a guy instead who had p5 head coaching success and has coached in the nfl.

Also not the highest priority, but good to get someone now while the season is still going on to get a head start and potentially have some continuity with the staff if he decides spanos and/or Mazzone are the right fits.

 

[businesslawyer]

If the basketball team performs well, Benedict performs well. We gave up on football and butts in seats when we moved back to the BE.

Anything the football team can provide would be an added bonus and sure, I’m sure DB has his eyes on other jobs- if football works out, that is what he will get hired somewhere else for.

But we dug our heels all in on basketball. If we cared about hemorrhaging money, we would have stayed in the AAC until the next conference realightment - which just so happened to be shortly after we left.

All my opinion of course. I just think it’s all now tied to basketball success and getting back UConn’s basketball image to what it once was.

Did we PRIORITIZE basketball over football? Absolutely. But having said that, (i) there is not an organization on the planet that doesn’t care about the amount of money it is losing, even in areas that are not its top priority, and (I) we were hemorrhaging money before we left the AAC.

 

[Buffett10]

I don't care who I am talking to. It was well documented at the time.

1st off learn to read... and Secondly well documented huh

 

[Skiblets]

He’s got a little Marky Mark Wahlberg look to him. Just hoping for some ‘good vibrations’

 

[Yup!]

There is talk that Golden was the other target.

Moorhead, Chesney and Campanile as well

 

[ASweet3781]

I may be in the minority, but I think Edsall did a decent job in getting more talent on the roster than what Diaco left.

Are we slow/small in a few spots, sure but I haven't been seeing a talent gap like we saw in 18 and 19. I think RE's big problem, ironically, was he couldn't teach these guys how to play correctly, consistently. That and the play calling was horrendous.

We are 1-8 this year more because of coaching than talent, IMO.

They have lost to holy cross and umass. Nearly lost to Yale. Yes coaching sucked. But not a talent problem? Insanity.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Curb your enthusiasm type plot

Turns out i'm not that creative. AD DAVID Benedict alluded to be a house guest from hell in their press conference.

 

[HomeKing93]

I like the hire for all the reasons previously stated. Again, I would have preferred a coach with a recent track record of running great offenses but let's be real - none of them were coming here for various reasons. If Mora picks Mazzone or someone who is not the next GDL/Verducci at OC we should be OK.

 

[businesslawyer]

Thought this was good.

It makes for a nice tweet. But while it's obviously incredibly prestigious to be a head coach in the NFL, I'm not at all sure that NFL coaching is nearly as good a preparation for college coaching as college coaching is.

Again, not saying anything good or bad about the hire yet.

 

[UConnJim]

I think Edsall brought in some good young talent and I don't think this is a major rebuild. I think offensive coaching has really held the team back and UConn did not have an experienced OC this year and it showed.

This year, UConn should have won 4 to 6 games given the schedule: Holy Cross, Wyoming, Vanderbilt, UMass, Yale, Middle Tennessee.

I think Benedict is thinking this way as well and he doesn't want to see the program torn down and rebuilt over 3 to 4 years. It may take a few years to get to a 7 or 8 win season, but it shouldn't take long to get to being consistently competitive. Bring in some key talent from the portal and hire a competent offensive coaching staff and I think the program is stabilized. And, I think bringing in Mora now will help prevent players from leaving as Mora is a well respected coach with an NFL pedigree.

I think you will see some of the coaches stay, but just because they are staying doesn't mean they won't be evaluated next year. Some of the assistants that could stay: Spanos, Dottin-Carter, and maybe Corey Edsall (recruiting) as well as some of the off the field staff that are involved in recruiting.

 

[DoctorWho85]

They have lost to holy cross and umass. Nearly lost to Yale. Yes coaching sucked. But not a talent problem? Insanity.

I don't think it's a talent problem as much as a depth problem. Which I guess goes hand in hand, but we have the playmakers on the offense to be pretty good. Look how well the team played with Tyler and Mazzone's offense. There are pieces there for success, but the problem lied in terrible coaching, play calling Stevie Wonder could see coming and lack of depth. I fully believe we can put up some numbers with the right OC calling the plays

 

[hardcorehusky]

The only thing I didn't like about Mora's press conference was not talking about winning right away. On film it looks bad, and in person maybe worse. But there are some really good skill players here who with better coaching can do some things. However, nothing against TP, we need 2 portal/juco qb's in here asap. He might not be ready for September and we need the depth anyway. Get a good QB in the saddle and between Carter, Marion and Ross, there are some really good tools to work with.

 

[uchusky32]

What can go wrong with a football HC at a frat or sorority party in 2021 with everyone having mobile devices?

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

They have lost to holy cross and umass. Nearly lost to Yale. Yes coaching sucked. But not a talent problem? Insanity.

Having gone to all the home games for the past 20 years and watched all the road games over the same period, I view it as the current roster/2-deep is young and talented (as compared to many of the previous rosters of UConn talent). They don't have the skill and experience yet to make W's happen. The coaching has been weak for the past 5 years. I think we'll see these players rise over the next few years (assuming better coaching coming in) and the win total will rise accordingly.

 

[jbdphi]

1) Hard to imagine someone with a better resume in terms of football knowledge and head coaching experience
2) I don't know how important the Head Coach is in the recruiting process, but I have to imagine that recruiting to UCLA (then) and to UConn (now) are very very different things - does he have the ability to identify and attract talent that wants to come here? Recruiting to a turnaround can't be the same as what he did at UCLA (where he said himself they had talent) and I'm worried he doesn't have that experience (like an Al Golden would have)
3) OC hire is going to be so so important
4) Timing of the hire is great - allows him to get to know the roster, start the recruiting pitch and retaining important talent - we never could have done this with someone else who was currently on a staff (either as a HC or Assistant)
5) The reactions of this board is certainly more positive than I would have thought - my very immediate reaction was "retread" but you're all pulling me to think more optimistically
6) Hope he's immensely successful

 

[huskymedic]

-> "I'm looking forward to the next three weeks where I can do some evaluation of our players, of our staff, of our program in general, and get a feel in person for the level of talent," Mora said. "What I've seen when I've watched games on television is a team that's going through a really difficult transition and yet they're continuing to fight for each other, continuing to play hard, continuing to demonstrate effort and a good attitude. I think those are things that we can absolutely build on." <-

 

[JohnFSilver]

Agreed; maybe hiring someone like Chesney or Moorhead might’ve turned out to be a home run, or they might’ve been spectacular failures like Diaco. Hiring Mora was a smart, safe call, like kicking the chip shot FG rather than going for the TD on 4th and goal.

Agreed; maybe hiring someone like Chesney or Moorhead might’ve turned out to be a home run, or they might’ve been spectacular failures like Diaco. Hiring Mora was a smart, safe call, like kicking the chip shot FG rather than going for the TD on 4th and goal.

I like Morehead. That is who I wanted. But let’s not act like a 60 year football coach is old and that this was a reach.

I don’t know if it will work from a recruiting standpoint. But, from a football coach ability standpoint… His resume annihilates any other guy who was speculated for the job.

 

[Coach J]

1) Hard to imagine someone with a better resume in terms of football knowledge and head coaching experience
2) I don't know how important the Head Coach is in the recruiting process, but I have to imagine that recruiting to UCLA (then) and to UConn (now) are very very different things - does he have the ability to identify and attract talent that wants to come here? Recruiting to a turnaround can't be the same as what he did at UCLA (where he said himself they had talent) and I'm worried he doesn't have that experience (like an Al Golden would have)
3) OC hire is going to be so so important
4) Timing of the hire is great - allows him to get to know the roster, start the recruiting pitch and retaining important talent - we never could have done this with someone else who was currently on a staff (either as a HC or Assistant)
5) The reactions of this board is certainly more positive than I would have thought - my very immediate reaction was "retread" but you're all pulling me to think more optimistically
6) Hope he's immensely successful

Love the hire for all these reasons, I liked how or offense immediately showed signs of life with the Mazzone hire and I think he would be a great to keep as OC.

I really loved how he talked of hitting the portal to immediately augment our recruiting.

We basically had 2 senior starters on offense and a ton of talented youth - with the connections he has to bring in staff who have the ability to grab 7 or 8 impact guys from the transfer portal (say 2 or 3 OL guys, a QB, some CBs and pass rushers) we can become competitive quicker then any normal rebuild, and that is what excites me the most.

I also hope Corey Edsall gets a shot to stick around, he has done an awesome job recruiting and his presence probably keeps some of our top recruits - with a an improving program his ability to recruit should only get better.

 

[Bongo Fury]

I like Morehead. That is who I wanted. But let’s not act like a 60 year football coach is old and that this was a reach.

I don’t know if it will work from a recruiting standpoint. But, from a football coach ability standpoint… His resume annihilates any other guy who was speculated for the job.

Jim Mora is physically healthier than Joe Moorhead. Sometimes you are only as old as you feel and Mora is a physically active person

 

[CL82]

I was just running some errands and the thought came across my mind that maybe Dave B was the house guest from hell and Mora was too nice a guy to kick him out so he eventually took the job just to get Dave B to leave.

I think there's actually a real low brow, easy $$$$ comedy to be made from that plot.

Or maybe Benedict like broke something or something and Mora took him to court and the judge sentenced Benedict to be Mora’s butler…

 

[UConnJim]

If Mora hires the right Offensive Coordinator, I think the hire will go well.

PP could have succeeded at UConn, but he made one critical mistake in hiring GDL as OC and OL coach when he had Joe Moorhead as OC and Mike Foley as OL coach already on staff and he didn't quickly evaluate the roster which resulted in using a walk-on QB his first year. PP brought in better QB talent than Diaco or Edsall 2.0: 2011: Nebrich (although Edsall recruit), 2012: Chandler Whitmer (JUCO) and Casey Cochran, 2013: Tim Boyle and Richard Lagow (who soon left), but GDL was such a disaster that it ruined PP's chance for success.