Mike Anthony: UConn Teams Are Down, So Attendance Is Down, And The Rebuild Has Begun

[huskymedic]

Mike Anthony: UConn Teams Are Down, So Attendance Is Down, And The Rebuild Has Begun

>>Edsall’s history with the Huskies brings credibility to the program and his approach brings stability to a situation of damage and increasing fan apathy. He understands the importance of attempting to play, at least to some degree, an entertaining brand of football. Losing is one thing. Losing while choosing not to return punts and failing on offense with one handoff after another is insufferable. It’s no lock that the Huskies can work their way over the next few years toward the middle or top of the AAC, but at least the offensive keys have been given to men with imagination -- Rhett Lashlee first, now John Dunn — and at least there’s some commitment to getting more in line with an increasingly high-scoring sport.<<

>>Two key UConn products have been flat. It’s hard to blame the public for staying away. UConn gets this. UConn, at least, is making efforts — direct and indirect, grassroots and otherwise — to get you back in the buildings. Now the Huskies have to start looking like major college programs again, winning programs, because that, ultimately, is the only solution.<<

 

[History Geek]

Great article. Spot on analysis of the situation.

 

[Ldandy]

Pretty simple premise. Put something worth watching on the field and court and you are half way to solving your problem. The other part of the equation is more difficult and that's winning games. The coaches have to find a way to make it happen.

 

[Palatine]

The athletic department has made its own bed. The football team has never had a head coach from the offensive side of the ball. Edsall, Pasqualoni, Diaco, Edsall were all defensive coordinators. If offense sells, then hiring DCs is not the way to put fannies in the seats.

 

[Redding Husky]

The athletic department has made its own bed. The football team has never had a head coach from the offensive side of the ball. Edsall, Pasqualoni, Diaco, Edsall were all defensive coordinators. If offense sells, then hiring DCs is not the way to put fannies in the seats.

I disagree. Winning gets butts in the seats, and UConn fans were very happy with our team from about eight years ago which plowed over people with big offensive line and some talented backs. Add in a defense with an attitude and some degree of athletic ability, and you have a very nice college football program. That will bring 40,000 to the Rent.

Of course, a passing attack that gets 400 yards and 50 points per game will also sell out the stadium ... as long as it wins.

 

[champs99and04]

The athletic department has made its own bed. The football team has never had a head coach from the offensive side of the ball. Edsall, Pasqualoni, Diaco, Edsall were all defensive coordinators. If offense sells, then hiring DCs is not the way to put fannies in the seats.

I will take my chances building a real fan base over one that is held together by fantasy football players and eSports gamers.

As we've observed with the basketball program, you're better off catering to your loyal fans/season ticket holders than hoping to attract people that will be out the door with one bad season. People obviously don't want to watch incompetent offense, but the SEC and the Big Ten have never been known as offensive juggernauts, and they don't seem to have much trouble selling tickets because their fans like football and not pony shows.

 

[Redding Husky]

Whatever problems we have, coaching is not one of them. In football, both basketball programs, ice hockey, and baseball, we have quality coaches in place. We can probably include men's soccer, too (but I don't know for sure).

This frees us up to work on the other problems.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Mike Anthony: UConn Teams Are Down, So Attendance Is Down, And The Rebuild Has Begun

>>Edsall’s history with the Huskies brings credibility to the program and his approach brings stability to a situation of damage and increasing fan apathy. He understands the importance of attempting to play, at least to some degree, an entertaining brand of football. Losing is one thing. Losing while choosing not to return punts and failing on offense with one handoff after another is insufferable. It’s no lock that the Huskies can work their way over the next few years toward the middle or top of the AAC, but at least the offensive keys have been given to men with imagination -- Rhett Lashlee first, now John Dunn — and at least there’s some commitment to getting more in line with an increasingly high-scoring sport.<<

>>Two key UConn products have been flat. It’s hard to blame the public for staying away. UConn gets this. UConn, at least, is making efforts — direct and indirect, grassroots and otherwise — to get you back in the buildings. Now the Huskies have to start looking like major college programs again, winning programs, because that, ultimately, is the only solution.<<

feel like I've read this article before or some variation of it.