Looks like Cinci continues to out maneuver us......

[rich1122]

Yes.

The fact that we suck in football right now is why we were passed over for Ville. It was all about football and the past 2 seasons have been enough for the entire nation to forget all the good that came before. If we were winning and had gone bowling the past 2 seasons we would be in the ACC today.

Rock you are wrong. Even if we were 0-10 every year, BUT we filled the stadium with 60K per game we would be in the ACC.

But the reality is, even if are were 12-0 there would still be empty seats and people leaving early. People don't care. On Senior Day they are still in the the Parking Lot at the beginning of the game. It's a travesty, but nothing will change that mentality I am afraid.

I have been to every game - never missed. We just never embraced the whole thing as a real college game day experience. PP and GDL or the record have very little to do with the demise. People never bought into it wholeheartedly.

This is a Whalers repeat. Not good enough for the big time.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

What about Pitt, Cuse, and Rutgers? Do they get their invites without their multiple BCS bowl bids?

You seem to suffer from a need to make sense. That won't work on a message board.

 

[NutmegState]

Rock you are wrong. Even if we were 0-10 every year, BUT we filled the stadium with 60K per game we would be in the ACC.

But the reality is, even if are were 12-0 there would still be empty seats and people leaving early. People don't care. On Senior Day they are still in the the Parking Lot at the beginning of the game. It's a travesty, but nothing will change that mentality I am afraid.

I have been to every game - never missed. We just never embraced the whole thing as a real college game day experience. PP and GDL or the record have very little to do with the demise. People never bought into it wholeheartedly.

This is a Whalers repeat. Not good enough for the big time.

If you've been to every game, then you know that what you have written is mostly bullshit. I've been to some special games, with special experiences. Vs Duke with Danny O. Vs Louisville (LT game). Vs USF. Vs UVA. Vs Baylor. Vs WVU. Vs RU 07, vs RU following the Howard tragedy. Here's the obvious point. Some of our best crowds and best experiences were in 2007. We were winning against quality opponents. The place was packed. In the wind and rain.

We had momentum, we were building, our trajectory was beautiful, then we plateaud, then our coach left, and now our trajectory is pathetic.

We need a Bobby P type. We need to re-energize the fan base. Warde Manuel is a buffoon for giving Pasqualoni year 3. A buffoon. Especially with an offer from some boosters to pay his buyout.

Don't blame the fans. The fans were there in droves, early and often. The leadership of this program failed to capitalize and build off of that momentum. Paul Pasqualoni, are you kidding me?

He makes more than Rich Rod for fucks sake!!!!

 

[mattp]

Amazing how some dont have the ability to understand this point, just amazing!!!!!!

Maybe that's because if you actually look at the teams that have been chosen in expansion, winning games, coach, and every other anecdotal reason you have is bull. You say we aren't being selected because we're sticking with a loser coach but then you disregard the fact that Maryland has been MUCH worse than us the last two seasons. You say it's about winning games, but then Cuse and Pitt, who have been unquestionably among the two worst teams of the NBE are selected before WVU. You say it's about having a good AD, but Rutgers and Maryland are among the BCS leaders in losing money and futility on the field/court. We just beat Louisville while we're at the worst we've been in about 8 years and they're at among their best.

The only thing that's under our control that is affecting our selection is stadium size, but if stadium size was that important would the ACC have selected BC ten years ago, and Cuse now? Their stadiums aren't much bigger than ours. Cinci has had 3 home run hires at HC lately (personally I don't think much of Tuberville, but if you want to assume he'll be great, it's 4) and they're still sitting in this mess with us, and Maryland just hired our "small time" coach away from us, but their in the B1G.

We don't understand this point because it's contrary to reality. How are you going to look at the teams that have actually been taken and try to support you assertion? Some of you seem to think conferences are selecting teams based on the recommendations of Dennis Dodd and Pete Thamel.

 

[concerned143]

Debbie Downer moved to Connecticut, apparently.

The fundamentals are still better at UConn than the cohort we're compared against. Take BC, Cuse, Ville, Cincy, Pitt, Rutgers, and compare. Most of those teams are in good conferences so they can outperform UConn now, but if you start from zero affiliation, UConn has the best facilities, the fanbase, the money, the academics, the growth potential. What it doesn't have with respect to football is the talent base that Pitt, Rutgers and Ville have. It has as much enthusiasm for football as any of the other schools but Ville. It has the best research other than Rutgers and Pitt, and its academics are considered higher than Rutgers. It has the best facilities for football on campus, and it may do it for bball soon. The Rent is and always will be a huge huge detraction, and it shows the shortsightedness of the builders at the time that that many millions would be spent on an entity that would count against the whole enterprise many years later. Other than that, there is no professional sports team in Ct., which is something you can only say about Louisville and Cuse, but the Conn. population and TV households are much larger than Cuse and Ville's.

I'm not saying the future is bright. It is not. A confluence of factors (mainly BC's fear of UConn) contributed to this situation. But if you take UConn's performance in BE football, and add it to men's basketball, it comes out ahead of every single school listed. Again, this isn't a proud achievement on the football side, but it speaks to the horridness of BE football.

 

[concerned143]

UCONN does not have the best facilities and it hurts. they have the plans and are working on getting the money but still don't have it. The non money sports facilities , baseball, softball...are ranked amongst the lowest in the big east and the Northeast. Gampel can't hold a candle to the dozens of new on campus facilities and Hartford is an antique compared to others built in the last 20 years . It is not the only issue but its not the end all to go to a game in a substandard facility when you can watch it on tv or your cell phone.

Louisville was and is light years ahead . Ask our coaches how it hurts recruiting

 

[CTMike]

Don't blame the fans. The fans were there in droves, early and often. The leadership of this program failed to capitalize and build off of that momentum. Paul ****ing Pasqualoni, are you ****ing kidding me?

I'm with ya.

Edsall Years : "We're gonna charge steak prices. You'll get a little bit of steak, no seasoning, and a big bowl of vanilla ice cream." Folks said "OK" and largely showed up.
Pasqualoni : "We're gonna charge steak prices. You'll get a turd sandwich." Surprisingly, folks aren't as willing to show.

Can you imagine if there ever was a time where they decided "We're gonna charge some steak prices, some chicken prices, some pasta prices"... and they delivered a surf and turf buffet?

TL;DR... Fans aren't dumb and they know when they aren't being provided value for their dollar. UConn needs to deliver the value, either by changing the product or the prices. We are too young as a program to expect people to show up on autopilot.

 

[upstater]

Yes.

The fact that we suck in football right now is why we were passed over for Ville. It was all about football and the past 2 seasons have been enough for the entire nation to forget all the good that came before. If we were winning and had gone bowling the past 2 seasons we would be in the ACC today.

Yet they beat Louisville. How bad is Louisville?

 

[upstater]

UCONN does not have the best facilities and it hurts. they have the plans and are working on getting the money but still don't have it. The non money sports facilities , baseball, softball...are ranked amongst the lowest in the big east and the Northeast. Gampel can't hold a candle to the dozens of new on campus facilities and Hartford is an antique compared to others built in the last 20 years . It is not the only issue but its not the end all to go to a game in a substandard facility when you can watch it on tv or your cell phone.

Louisville was and is light years ahead . Ask our coaches how it hurts recruiting

Wrong. Where it counts, football, they have the best facilities.

 

[Nostical]

Wrong. Where it counts, football, they have the best facilities.

The stadium is separated from those facilities so some of the sizzle is lost. And the Rent (sorry) needs expansion and people need to be in their seats--not able to stand around in end zones or crevices leaving the seating area looking sparse. That won't fly.

 

[upstater]

The stadium is separated from those facilities so some of the sizzle is lost. And the Rent (sorry) needs expansion and people need to be in their seats--not able to stand around in end zones or crevices leaving the seating area looking sparse. That won't fly.

Did you even read my post on this that he was responding to?

This is what I wrote:

"The Rent is and always will be a huge huge detraction, and it shows the shortsightedness of the builders at the time that that many millions would be spent on an entity that would count against the whole enterprise many years later."

Clearly, I separated the campus facilities from the Rent.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

If you've been to every game, then you know that what you have written is mostly bull****. I've been to some special games, with special experiences. Vs Duke with Danny O. Vs Louisville (LT game). Vs USF. Vs UVA. Vs Baylor. Vs WVU. Vs RU 07, vs RU following the Howard tragedy. Here's the obvious point. Some of our best crowds and best experiences were in 2007. We were winning against quality opponents. The place was packed. In the wind and rain.

We had momentum, we were building, our trajectory was beautiful, then we plateaud, then our coach left, and now our trajectory is pathetic.

We need a Bobby P type. We need to re-energize the fan base. Warde Manuel is a buffoon for giving Pasqualoni year 3. A buffoon. Especially with an offer from some boosters to pay his buyout.

Don't blame the fans. The fans were there in droves, early and often. The leadership of this program failed to capitalize and build off of that momentum. Paul ****ing Pasqualoni, are you ****ing kidding me?

He makes more than Rich Rod for ****s sake!!!!

Can't disagree with anything you've said. UConn - and - PP have killed the momentum of '07,'09 & '10. Paul needs to resign.

 

[Doggie Style]

Maybe that's because if you actually look at the teams that have been chosen in expansion, winning games, coach, and every other anecdotal reason you have is bull. You say we aren't being selected because we're sticking with a loser coach but then you disregard the fact that Maryland has been MUCH worse than us the last two seasons. You say it's about winning games, but then Cuse and Pitt, who have been unquestionably among the two worst teams of the NBE are selected before WVU. You say it's about having a good AD, but Rutgers and Maryland are among the BCS leaders in losing money and futility on the field/court. We just beat Louisville while we're at the worst we've been in about 8 years and they're at among their best.

The only thing that's under our control that is affecting our selection is stadium size, but if stadium size was that important would the ACC have selected BC ten years ago, and Cuse now? Their stadiums aren't much bigger than ours. Cinci has had 3 home run hires at HC lately (personally I don't think much of Tuberville, but if you want to assume he'll be great, it's 4) and they're still sitting in this mess with us, and Maryland just hired our "small time" coach away from us, but their in the B1G.


We don't understand this point because it's contrary to reality. How are you going to look at the teams that have actually been taken and try to support you assertion? Some of you seem to think conferences are selecting teams based on the recommendations of Dennis Dodd and Pete Thamel.

When did I say that our selection in coaching staff is the reason we have not been selected? I didnt! When did I say that it is about winning games? I didnt! As far as having an excellent AD is concerned, for a school in a situation like ours, it is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!! Mickey frickin Mouse could of been the AD at Rutgers and they still would of selected based on sheer proximity to NYC, Period! We dont have that luxury so we need the best option possible, and his name is NOT Warde Manuel! Stadium size is relevant only to a certain extent. If you think that I'm suggesting that we expand to the average size of the ACC or B1G schools then we will get an invite, well I don't know what to tell you, because that not what i'm saying. What IS relevant, is by schools demonstrating their ability to develop and execute long term strategies, this sends a message to the powers to be. By Cinci hiring some coaches that can provide sizzle and excitement, they are sending a message to fans and other conferences! Am I suggesting we do the same and we will get an invite? No, but if you put that together with a sound marketing approach (which we dont have) with Brand modifications, a new coaching staff that will drive ticket sales and excite a fan base, potential stadium upgrades, etc etc etc... This sends a message !!! It says we are serious, come look at what we have to offer your conference. That same message I might add, should not be delivered by anyone other than the largest sports/marketing firm money can buy, which SHOULD be leading this process as we speak. Unfortunately for all of us, our flag ship university is heavily regulated by a state government who has managed to put the 4th richest state in the country in financial chaos, so where do you think this leaves us in terms of long term planning and execution? I could go on here for hours but if you cant get my point by now, well I don't know what to tell you!! Its not about one event, its about a SERIES of actions or non-actions that determine the path of any given entity. You figure it out from there!!

 

[FBUCONN]

As terrible as PP and GDL do people really believe they are part of the reason we got passed over? Do you think these other conferences are looking at a 60 something year old duo and making a decision based on that? They are both dead men walking for .

The answer to your question is YES! The reality that these 2 Heroes are still in place speaks volumes about the direction of the program and what Conference is looking for new members that lack the leadership and commitment to get the ship righted.

 

[mattp]

I think you guys are overstating how important a school's coach is to these conferences. These schools aren't even joining until 2014, I'm pretty sure the powers that be know P will be gone by then if he continues to under perform. Edsall's school is going to the B1G and I know damn well if he was still our coach you'd be blaming him for our lack of an invite. The one thing I'll give credit to Cinci for is going after another BCS coach. I doubt that even crossed Hathaway's mind. Cinci went to the counter and bought what they wanted while we picked over what was available on the ground.

I don't think sticking with a coach that's gone 5-7 two years in a row for a third year is small time though. Jurich stuck with Krags for a third year and he was much worse than P, and since everyone seems to agree Jurich craps diamonds I don't see how you can disagree with WM sticking with P for a third

 

[Waquoit]

Debbie Downer moved to Connecticut, apparently.

Debbie Downer? Tell you what, when you turn the barn into a theater and put on a show, I'll buy a ticket.

 

[Jax Husky]

Tos some degree, yes. Two or three years ago, UConn was a shoe-in to go to the ACC over Louisville. Louisville had just been Kragthorped and their football was awful. And, UConn men's and women's basketball were better. Do you think WVU goes to the Big 12 without their two BCS wins? Or, TCU goes to the Big 12 if they hadn't upgraded their football program?


The message has been sent: Conferences want schools to have relevant football programs and be focused on improvement. With PP and GDL, you really have to question UConn's LT commitment to football improvement as there is no evidence that they are improving UConn football in any way.

NO. Louisville is Top 15 in athletic revenues. UConn is like 60th. Many here think this stuff is about records. It has nothing to do with that. Louisville also spends a LOT more than UConn. UConn's administration better stay committed to the arms race if they want to get to these other leagues.

 

[businesslawyer]

NO. Louisville is Top 15 in athletic revenues. UConn is like 60th. Many here think this stuff is about records. It has nothing to do with that. Louisville also spends a LOT more than UConn. UConn's administration better stay committed to the arms race if they want to get to these other leagues.

Except when you compare UConn to Syracuse and Pitt ....

 

[Rumrunner]

Sometimes it's like playing whack-a-mole with all the ill-informed and outright inaccuracies put here.

UConn is in the top 40 in revenue, ahead half of the ACC, including Clemson.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/spor...ollege-athletics-finances-database/54955804/1

i won't get into how the rev is calculated, except to say media uses it as if it tells the whole story. so no choice but to live by it.

NO. Louisville is Top 15 in athletic revenues. UConn is like 60th. Many here think this stuff is about records. It has nothing to do with that. Louisville also spends a LOT more than UConn. UConn's administration better stay committed to the arms race if they want to get to these other leagues.

 

[Jax Husky]

Except when you compare UConn to Syracuse and Pitt ....

That is absolutely a valid point. I was just trying to point out that Louisville's AD brings in a ton of money, which makes them valuable. The decisions by the ACC have nothin to do with Paul Pasqualoni.

I was corrected below it seems, that UConn is 40th in revenues. My apologies. That was just a mistake on my part.