Moving UConn Football Forward - A Message from Athletic Director David Benedict.

[maple]

Whoever said that we won’t be making a power conference anytime soon…respectfully, I disagree.

I’m just going to be frank: the ACC and Big 12 are fighting their own battles right now, as they are currently worried about retaining members. UConn is power-conference ready, we’re just waiting for the current realignment to settle. I wouldn’t be surprised if Yormark and DB have the occasional discussion about adding UConn to the B12. I think part of the reason Mora left is because he realized it will be 2-3 years before we get solidified into a P4—given his west coast connections, he may have realized it would be time better spent closer to home.

Look, I want to believe, but I can’t help but feel like if any P4 truly wanted us, we’d there by now.

 

[cthog]

Unless you think Mora is literally stupid, I don’t see that as a realistic theory. People weren’t paying him enough attention on social media but he didn’t notice that the stadium was full, fans were going crazy and we finished the game with most of them still here? If he craves attention — which I find hard to believe but how knows — the proof of the pudding was in the eating. Your theory is that he didn’t care about the respect he got locally and nationally after they beat Duke because he wasn’t getting enough respect earlier that week for being 5-3 with losses to Delaware and Rice? Please.

My guess is he just wants to live in the Rockies. Second theory is that he wants to compete for the G-5 playoff spot every year, and he can do that at CSU and can’t do it here (combination of conference affiliation, regional recruiting differences and/or inside and outside financial support). But his ego needed more feeding?

Ant not even just the playoff spot but the ability to play for a conference championship. He came here wanting to help us get into a power conference. He did his job, but we never got the call and who knows when it will come.

 

[HuskyAlum012]

Do people forget that Jim Mora never even bought a house here? We all knew that this was only a temporary position, even Coach himself.

 

[Gburyhusky]

I want a P4 invite as much as the next guy, however I think that people also need to appreciate and enjoy the success we have had in the current situation (i.e. independence/Big East) and not spend time obsessing or doomcasting about the perils of the future and conference machinations. No one really knows what's going to happen so why not enjoy the successes we have. I realize that life as an independent is challenging but I don't think that the lack of conference membership is what cost us the Coach. In fact there are plenty of successful coaches in good conferences who are taking other jobs (see USF as just one example) so conference membership isnt some magic pill that solves all problems. The average tenure for an FBS coach is this era is the 4-5 year range, and by this standard alone we did pretty well with Mora

 

[huskymedic]

Assisted <<

 

[Exit 4]

More evidence that UConn football has the attention of the highest offices in CT. And for good reason, football drives the CRA bus and that bus is critical for economic development.

 

[Sea Goat]

Mora did a great job. I wish him well. But, it is embarrassing to lose a coach to Colorado State... However, this points up the lack of a major conference problem we have and it's all about football and the dinero.

For well more than a decade, we have been shut out of meaningful conference payouts. For instance, Northwestern alone gets more from the Big 10 than the combined conference payout to all BE members! (approx. $65mm to approx. $57mm) For us, the BE is a joke - only 2 teams in the top 25 for BB, no football and otherwise weak Olympic sports! 9 of its 11 members are small Catholic schools. For those schools, the BE may suit them well. However, UConn simply doesn't fit.

UConn has to figure out a way to get the hell out ASAP! Every day's schedule in the AD's office should include a time slot (however small) to discuss any new conference ideas. We may have stomach investment requirements in certain conferences so our payouts would be curtailed. But, it would be better to swallow that bitter pill now then languish in the BE any longer.

 

[buddy]

Look at the bright side. At least we are not UMass ---- yet. BC is nothing to be proud of either. Northeast / New England college football is not a go to destination. Very little interest from the general public.

Mora did a great job. I wish him well. But, it is embarrassing to lose a coach to Colorado State... However, this points up the lack of a major conference problem we have and it's all about football and the dinero.

For well more than a decade, we have been shut out of meaningful conference payouts. For instance, Northwestern alone gets more from the Big 10 than the combined conference payout to all BE members! (approx. $65mm to approx. $57mm) For us, the BE is a joke - only 2 teams in the top 25 for BB, no football and otherwise weak Olympic sports! 9 of its 11 members are small Catholic schools. For those schools, the BE may suit them well. However, UConn simply doesn't fit.

UConn has to figure out a way to get the hell out ASAP! Every day's schedule in the AD's office should include a time slot (however small) to discuss any new conference ideas. We may have stomach investment requirements in certain conferences so our payouts would be curtailed. But, it would be better to swallow that bitter pill now then languish in the BE any longer.

Can easily turn into UMass. Even worse, UMass without a conference!

 

[Exit 4]

I've over the embarrassment factor. It really can be summed up as a lateral move to get back west. He's 64, this is probably his last ride.

 

[jostar1]

Do people forget that Jim Mora never even bought a house here? We all knew that this was only a temporary position, even Coach himself.

That doesn't mean much. Rhett Lashlee bought a house here and sold it a year later.

 

[UCan3]

I've over the embarrassment factor. It really can be summed up as a lateral move to get back west. He's 64, this is probably his last ride.

I think the 64 yrs old makes this more digestible to me…. He may be in exit mode at this point and just wants to get closer to family.

My only disappointment is that I thought he had bigger ambitions here - to leave a lasting legacy of helping us get into a Power Conference.

He gave up.

 

[huskymedic]

Assisted <<

Hearst version - good read from Mike:



-> “When people are being recruited from your campus it’s typically a good thing,” Benedict said late Wednesday morning, his professional life made abruptly more complicated by word late Tuesday from Mora. “It means you’re having success. Not that you want to go through transitions. Transitions can be very challenging, very difficult, especially in this new world. But this is part of the business. When you have success and you have great coaches, this is part of that paradigm. Whether it was Colorado State, rumored to be Stanford or Cal, the jobs were going to keep coming. Jim has a proven track record of success. Had it not been this one, it could have been another. If it was going to happen, I’m glad we know at this point in time so we can get to a place where we can begin our search for the next leader of this program.” <-

-> The data and things we can put in front of people is totally different than it was last time,” Benedict said. “The fact that we’re competing against the [Power Four] schools that were scheduled is a statement in itself. The support that the university and our donors have provided for NIL/revenue sharing, all those things are critically important. That’s different than last time. We weren’t in this environment. Certainly we can show how recruiting has been impacted, because of NIL. Look at just the guys on our roster this year and the recognition they’re receiving. Those things weren’t happening previously.” <-

-> “Jim accomplished everything we could have expected him to competitively while he was here,” Benedict said. “While I’m very happy for him personally, and certainly very disappointed for UConn, ultimately it’s important that people are happy in their lives. If this is something that is going to benefit him and his family and if this is something he feels is the right move at this point in his career, there’s nothing for me to say other than, ‘I’m happy for you. Congratulations and thank you for your service.’ That’s the way we communicated.

“He obviously knew if there was anything that was important to him at UConn, we could have had that conversation. But that, at least from what I talked to him about, wasn’t really the calculus or what drove this decision.” <-

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Where is this nobody cared about the Duke win and Mora resented it coming from? People were going crazy on social media and regular media about that win and the job Mora has done. To the point of going overboard, he beat Duke not Georgia.

Not after the Duke win…before. Mora was complaining that they were playing Duke that weekend and the media wasn’t asking questions.

 

[J187Money]

There is a point of time in life where your living situation matters more than the money (when you have enough). Obviously he reached that point.

 

[UConnDan97]

There is a point of time in life where your living situation matters more than the money (when you have enough). Obviously he reached that point.

This!

People can try to spin it whatever way they'd like, but it's ultimately this. And quite frankly, the folks here should be happy that this is the reason, because it means we're still on the way up. The next hire is crucial, but we're infinitely better off than we were when we hired him...

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[jostar1]

Hearst version - good read from Mike:



-> “When people are being recruited from your campus it’s typically a good thing,” Benedict said late Wednesday morning, his professional life made abruptly more complicated by word late Tuesday from Mora. “It means you’re having success. Not that you want to go through transitions. Transitions can be very challenging, very difficult, especially in this new world. But this is part of the business. When you have success and you have great coaches, this is part of that paradigm. Whether it was Colorado State, rumored to be Stanford or Cal, the jobs were going to keep coming. Jim has a proven track record of success. Had it not been this one, it could have been another. If it was going to happen, I’m glad we know at this point in time so we can get to a place where we can begin our search for the next leader of this program.” <-

-> The data and things we can put in front of people is totally different than it was last time,” Benedict said. “The fact that we’re competing against the [Power Four] schools that were scheduled is a statement in itself. The support that the university and our donors have provided for NIL/revenue sharing, all those things are critically important. That’s different than last time. We weren’t in this environment. Certainly we can show how recruiting has been impacted, because of NIL. Look at just the guys on our roster this year and the recognition they’re receiving. Those things weren’t happening previously.” <-

-> “Jim accomplished everything we could have expected him to competitively while he was here,” Benedict said. “While I’m very happy for him personally, and certainly very disappointed for UConn, ultimately it’s important that people are happy in their lives. If this is something that is going to benefit him and his family and if this is something he feels is the right move at this point in his career, there’s nothing for me to say other than, ‘I’m happy for you. Congratulations and thank you for your service.’ That’s the way we communicated.

“He obviously knew if there was anything that was important to him at UConn, we could have had that conversation. But that, at least from what I talked to him about, wasn’t really the calculus or what drove this decision.” <-

Thanks to Mike Anthony for getting some quotes from Benedict.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[DoctorWho85]

This really makes me feel DB has his finger on the pulse of what the school and fans want. I'm sure he's going to leave no rock unturned.

 

[JwittersPAC]

Is UConn committed to funding football at the same level of other schools with that full revenue sharing? Or is the percentage carved off to sustain the basketball success going to lower the salary cap at UConn relative to other schools who commit to full revenue sharing?

While we understand why the revenue share might be different for UConn... a football coach is going to care about the what/how much of the resourcing, not the why... if we don't align with others on football funding the attractiveness will go down, to what extent? Who knows, each coach will have a different idea.

I have asked this question in the past. Some people have said even if we have full revenue share - P4 level we will provide around $6 million of the $20.5 million to football. That would be considerably less than the P4 schools which are allocating around 75% to football. A football coach coming to UConn will want to know how much resources the university will put behind the football team. For example has the football recruiting budget increase to at least the amounts of the men and women basketball teams? Same goes for coaches salaries as well.

 

[Kolumbo]

We know. We need a conference.

"But again, Colorado State? A team moving to the Pac-12 and in real rebuild mode? Really?
That **** hurts. And it should serve as a massive wake-up call for UConn Athletics; it's time to find a conference for football."

 

[Ucxc24]

We know. We need a conference.

"But again, Colorado State? A team moving to the Pac-12 and in real rebuild mode? Really?
That **** hurts. And it should serve as a massive wake-up call for UConn Athletics; it's time to find a conference for football."

I really think this had less to do with UConn and more to do with going back closer to home

 

[UConnDan97]

We know. We need a conference.

"But again, Colorado State? A team moving to the Pac-12 and in real rebuild mode? Really?
That **** hurts. And it should serve as a massive wake-up call for UConn Athletics; it's time to find a conference for football."

... except for the fact that it almost certainly has nothing to do with our conference situation...

 

[Exit 4]

We know. We need a conference.

"But again, Colorado State? A team moving to the Pac-12 and in real rebuild mode? Really?
That **** hurts. And it should serve as a massive wake-up call for UConn Athletics; it's time to find a conference for football."

I disagree. We will look for a conference AFTER the great 2030 realignment should it failed to get us a desirable seat.

In the meantime we have an incredible schedule. And so far its not melting away as predicted. We can schedule 4 to 5 reach games and the balance are regional rivalries and winnable games. Its our independent schedule that got us 9 wins the past two seasons.

I feel anyone on the staff that talks about the challenges of the independent schedule for recruiting/etc is speaking some truth, but mostly using the "independence" word as code for UConn being G5 vs P4.

 

[JwittersPAC]

I disagree. We will look for a conference AFTER the great 2030 realignment should it failed to get us a desirable seat.

In the meantime we have an incredible schedule. And so far its not melting away as predicted. We can schedule 4 to 5 reach games and the balance are regional rivalries and winnable games. Its our independent schedule that got us 9 wins the past two seasons.

I feel anyone on the staff that talks about the challenges of the independent schedule for recruiting/etc is speaking some truth, but mostly using the "independence" word as code for UConn being G5 vs P4.

It will change over the next year or so as the P4 conferences all move to 10 P4 game schedules.

 

[Kolumbo]

I disagree. We will look for a conference AFTER the great 2030 realignment should it failed to get us a desirable seat.

In the meantime we have an incredible schedule. And so far its not melting away as predicted. We can schedule 4 to 5 reach games and the balance are regional rivalries and winnable games. Its our independent schedule that got us 9 wins the past two seasons.

I feel anyone on the staff that talks about the challenges of the independent schedule for recruiting/etc is speaking some truth, but mostly using the "independence" word as code for UConn being G5 vs P4.

I guess we'll see who is eager to take this job rather than say the USF job in the best G6 conference. And yes, it was our crappy weak independent schedule which got us to 9-3. We'll take it. Regarding Mora, I believe that either this was Mora and Benedict's plan all along, or Mora underestimated the challenges of our situation.

 

[rich1122]

I've over the embarrassment factor. It really can be summed up as a lateral move to get back west. He's 64, this is probably his last ride.

Heard that that’s about right.

 

[Kowalski]

I disagree. We will look for a conference AFTER the great 2030 realignment should it failed to get us a desirable seat.

In the meantime we have an incredible schedule. And so far its not melting away as predicted. We can schedule 4 to 5 reach games and the balance are regional rivalries and winnable games. Its our independent schedule that got us 9 wins the past two seasons.

I feel anyone on the staff that talks about the challenges of the independent schedule for recruiting/etc is speaking some truth, but mostly using the "independence" word as code for UConn being G5 vs P4.

If 2030 is the next window for a P4 all-sports invite, DB should still be looking for a conference for football only in the interim. There may not be good options out there ( MAC & CUSA aren’t good options), but I don’t think you wait if if a good option presents itself because it’s too important for football.

 

[king conn]

We know. We need a conference.

"But again, Colorado State? A team moving to the Pac-12 and in real rebuild mode? Really?
That **** hurts. And it should serve as a massive wake-up call for UConn Athletics; it's time to find a conference for football."

Keep these receipts