Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[upstater]

The MAC has a nice little compact traveling schedule. They'd be fools to leave.

 

[ZooCougar]

They are paying Hawaii 5%. What are they going to pay NIU and Toledo in? Rocky Mountain Oysters?

 

[Kolumbo]

Wtf is Dave doing on Zanetto? Don't give that ass hat any credibility

Zanetto must have some cred to get that much time with Benedict. Starting at 14:50 DB talks about the facilities and The Rent. He's a very reassuring presence.

 

[UConn Dan]

Debated where to drop this but since it has AD Dave talking - this spot will do:



-> UConn Huskies' Strategic Moves in Conference Realignment: What Lies Ahead? The UConn Huskies, with their formidable basketball brand and prime media market position, are poised for significant shifts as conferences realign. Athletic Director David Benedict is steering the team towards both immediate success and future stability.

Explore how NIL and revenue sharing are transforming UConn's recruitment strategies, allowing them to compete with Power 5 schools, especially in football. The episode delves into UConn's brand evolution, highlighting their national recognition and competitive facilities. While an on-campus football stadium isn't on the horizon, the focus remains on leveraging Rentschler Field. Challenges in supporting non-revenue sports are addressed, with UConn's commitment to maintaining competitiveness across all sports.

Join us for an engaging discussion on UConn Huskies' path to success and the strategic decisions shaping their future. Listen now for exclusive insights and expert analysis. <-

Very much key. Sounded to me like AD Dave is confident we’ll eventually got a spot in a P4 conference.

Was interesting to me that he mentioned that there people touring the facilities recently saying that we had top third facilities in the country of the power conference schools. I wonder if this was Big 12 folks or endeavor or someone else.

 

[WrenchFan69]

 

[Fishy]

lol…the MAC is like the one all-sports conference left that still makes any sense.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Interesting the MW is seemingly the more aggressive party so far

 

[CL82]

Zanetto must have some cred to get that much time with Benedict. Starting at 14:50 DB talks about the facilities and The Rent. He's a very reassuring presence.

Ugh, don't make me watch it.

 

[BugsyCT]

I can't with this circus of crap anymore.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Someone should tell Dave Benedict not to even mention Horsebarn Hill as an option for a football stadium on campus. There could be a massive protest by those who want to keep it pristine. There are so many other locations if the go-ahead is given.

 

[CL82]

Someone should tell Dave Benedict not to even mention Horsebarn Hill as an option for a football stadium on campus. There could be a massive protest by those who want to keep it pristine. There are so many other locations if the go-ahead is given.

I was surprised to hear him throw that out there. It was unsolicited.

 

[huskymedic]

I was surprised to hear him throw that out there. It was unsolicited.

My sense is he has a pretty good finger on the pulse of what this fanbase banters around - either firsthand or shared.

Just type “Horsebarn” in the search bar above.

 

[Forte]

My sense is he has a pretty good finger on the pulse of what this fanbase banters around - either firsthand or shared.

Just type “Horsebarn” in the search bar above.

I'm sure many already know this.. but he reads the boneyard ... which is a good thing since it shows he is proactive and cares about the fanbase.

 

[uconndogs]

I'm sure many already know this.. but he reads the boneyard ... which is a good thing since it shows he is proactive and cares about the fanbase.

Let's hope he takes NONE of the advice offered in this august forum.

 

[MKH2317]

I'm sure many already know this.. but he reads the boneyard ... which is a good thing since it shows he is proactive and cares about the fanbase.

How do you know he reads The Yard? I believe you by the way, I’m just curious. If I was the AD I’d have a covert username

 

[CL82]

My sense is he has a pretty good finger on the pulse of what this fanbase banters around - either firsthand or shared.

Just type “Horsebarn” in the search bar above.

No doubt, thus the fact that he chose the site of the three possible on campus that is the most problematic is interesting. It could be that he randomly picked one of the three locations. It could be that the university has considered the Horsebarn Hill site as a tentative location for a new stadium. or, it could be that he chose the the most controversial site to support the notion that building on campus would be divisive.

I know that there's a whole lot of "tea leaf reading" going on in the previous paragraph, that's why I just indicated it was "interesting."

For what it's worth Dave does use red herrings from time to time. In one Twitter conversation, he indicated that the court at Gampel Pavilion could not be named "Hall of Fame Court" with the names and signatures of all the people associated with Connecticut basketball, who are members of the Naismith Hall of Fame on it because it is currently named "alumni court" and changing that would alienate all the schools alumni. Kind of a silly point.

I did end up watching the Zenetto video. Dave echo the point that we see posted here pretty frequently that being that unless and until we are selling out or close to selling out all our football games, trying to get a stadium on campus is logistically unlikely. I think that's right, but it's also a very intelligent point to make. If you are an advocate of keeping the stadium in East Hartford, well then go there and fill it up. If you are an advocate of building a new stadium on campus, well, go to East Hartford and fill up the Rent.

 

[CL82]

How do you know he reads The Yard? I believe you by the way, I’m just curious. If I was the AD I’d have a covert username

Chief00 ?

 

[Rufus]

Northern Illinois and Toledo would be fools to join MW as football-only. What of their other sports? The MAC isn't going to let them keep everything else parked in the MAC. It's all or nothing, which is why UMass was initially booted as football-only, only to come back a few years later as all-sport members.

Although, this could be good news for Western Kentucky, who has wanted MAC membership for years now.

 

[JMick]

I was surprised to hear him throw that out there. It was unsolicited.

From a pure football experience standpoint, horsebarn hill would be awesome. It would really show off the university to traveling teams/fans and recruits.

I still don't know if id totally be behind the idea. As a student horsebarn hill was pretty cool and it's nice to have the open land there.

 

[UConnJim]

Northern Illinois and Toledo would be fools to join MW as football-only. What of their other sports? The MAC isn't going to let them keep everything else parked in the MAC. It's all or nothing, which is why UMass was initially booted as football-only, only to come back a few years later as all-sport members.

Although, this could be good news for Western Kentucky, who has wanted MAC membership for years now.

They could go to the Horizon League for the rest of their sports. Similar to the MAC and probably less travel.

 

[Rufus]

 

[WrenchFan69]

That was some website mistake. They're not going back up to FBS

 

[Travelman6]

How do you know he reads The Yard? I believe you by the way, I’m just curious. If I was the AD I’d have a covert username

Ya the boneyard would never be able to guess

 

[dayooper]

Northern Illinois and Toledo would be fools to join MW as football-only. What of their other sports? The MAC isn't going to let them keep everything else parked in the MAC. It's all or nothing, which is why UMass was initially booted as football-only, only to come back a few years later as all-sport members.

Although, this could be good news for Western Kentucky, who has wanted MAC membership for years now.

Can they go football only? I thought if the league you were in sponsors a sport, you were required to play that sport in your conference. Since The MAC sponsors D1 football, they were required to play football in there. It’s all or nothing.

It could have changed on the last few years but I don’t remember if it did.

 

[Patman]

Can they go football only? I thought if the league you were in sponsors a sport, you were required to play that sport in your conference. Since The MAC sponsors D1 football, they were required to play football in there. It’s all or nothing.

It could have changed on the last few years but I don’t remember if it did.

No. The pac is desperate