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

[JMick]

Dan Hurley makes almost $8 million per year, and we were able to keep him from going to the Lakers.

I'll say it again so that the folks in the back can hear clearly: CONFERENCE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MORA GOING TO COLORADO STATE...

If it's not the lack of a conference then what it is? Mora has semi complained about it his entire stint here

 

[Windham4th]

We've been burned by both retreads AND up-and-coming. Need to thread this needle. Would not be suprised if Sammis gets it. I wouldn't mind that. He seems like a good coach in my honest expert opinion. I stayed at a holiday Inn express last night, if you are questioning my credentials...

 

[UConnDan97]

If it's not the lack of a conference then what it is? Mora has semi complained about it his entire stint here

There are about 12 threads currently going, all of which point out the fact that he's headed back west because he never established here (he was renting his place for years, for Pete's sake!).

If anyone can make a credible argument to me that being with a middle-of-the-road team in the "new Pac12" G5 conference is so much better than our current situation, I'd love to hear it. Even Nick Saban would love to hear it, apparently.

Make sure to bring data though, and not nonsense anecdotes...

 

[JwittersPAC]

There are about 12 threads currently going, all of which point out the fact that he's headed back west because he never established here (he was renting his place for years, for Pete's sake!).

If anyone can make a credible argument to me that being with a middle-of-the-road team in the "new Pac12" G5 conference is so much better than our current situation, I'd love to hear it. Even Nick Saban would love to hear it, apparently.

Make sure to bring data though, and not nonsense anecdotes...

What is puzzling is the way he left. In the middle of the night without even having a team meeting with the players? Supposedly Mora was a players coach but does not say goodbye in person to the players? If it was just to head west (home) it seems this could have been handled much better instead of now people wondering what the reason for the departure. There has been nothing from Jim Mora except talking how great it is to be at Colorado State. What is strange there is no comment from him about his time at UConn.

 

[Banta55]

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.

I said that from the beginning, pretty telling

 

[UConnDan97]

For folks that are unwilling to look it up, the new-look Pac12 is distributing somewhere in between 7 and 10 million per school. That puts them exactly in line with UConn's Big East earnings + CBS Sports contract for football. I would love to hear more about how Mora left for "the conference"...

 

[JwittersPAC]

For folks that are unwilling to look it up, the new-look Pac12 is distributing somewhere in between 7 and 10 million per school. That puts them exactly in line with UConn's Big East earnings + CBS Sports contract for football. I would love to hear more about how Mora left for "the conference"...

Well first he can actually play for a conference championship and has a legitimate way to make CFP as G6 conference champ. Those things matter to recruits. Hence makes it easier to recruit players.

 

[uconnyankee]

For folks that are unwilling to look it up, the new-look Pac12 is distributing somewhere in between 7 and 10 million per school. That puts them exactly in line with UConn's Big East earnings + CBS Sports contract for football. I would love to hear more about how Mora left for "the conference"...

That’s money.
I think the conference piece could be legit. Not playing for conf championship, not having rivals, always having a different schedule.
I think Mora spoke to that.

 

[UConnDan97]

That’s money.
I think the conference piece could be legit. Not playing for conf championship, not having rivals, always having a different schedule.
I think Mora spoke to that.

If you think that he left for the chance to play against Utah State, I have some land to sell you in the Everglades...

 

[huskymedic]

What is puzzling is the way he left. In the middle of the night without even having a team meeting with the players? Supposedly Mora was a players coach but does not say goodbye in person to the players?

Aren’t the players scattered back home for Thanksgiving?

 

[UConnDan97]

Well first he can actually play for a conference championship and has a legitimate way to make CFP as G6 conference champ. Those things matter to recruits. Hence makes it easier to recruit players.

There's a problem with your argument. They only take the top 5 Conference Champs, as I understand it. That means that he's not only got to win his conference, but finish higher in the rankings than the champ of the AAC, MWC, MAC, and Sunbelt too.

He had a better chance of accomplishing that at Stanford in the ACC than Colorado State in the new Pac 12. Sell me a different story, please...

 

[JMick]

There are about 12 threads currently going, all of which point out the fact that he's headed back west because he never established here (he was renting his place for years, for Pete's sake!).

If anyone can make a credible argument to me that being with a middle-of-the-road team in the "new Pac12" G5 conference is so much better than our current situation, I'd love to hear it. Even Nick Saban would love to hear it, apparently.

Make sure to bring data though, and not nonsense anecdotes...

A lot of wealthy people rent now. That's not some gotcha

The reality is that not being in a conference is something he's mentioned before and otherwise it's been pretty quiet. Sure maybe he also wants to be out west but that's just another reason. We won't get an actual statement from anyone, so it doesn't matter, but your attitude about it is laughable

 

[maple]

There's a problem with your argument. They only take the top 5 Conference Champs, as I understand it. That means that he's not only got to win his conference, but finish higher in the rankings than the champ of the AAC, MWC, MAC, and Sunbelt too.

He had a better chance of accomplishing that at Stanford in the ACC than Colorado State in the new Pac 12. Sell me a different story, please...

Yeah, I don’t buy into the conference/CFP narrative at all. The CFP is still a very long shot for a place like CSU. Let’s be serious. It’s not like he took an HC job at a middling SEC program.

 

[UCTitleTown]

There's a problem with your argument. They only take the top 5 Conference Champs, as I understand it. That means that he's not only got to win his conference, but finish higher in the rankings than the champ of the AAC, MWC, MAC, and Sunbelt too.

He had a better chance of accomplishing that at Stanford in the ACC than Colorado State in the new Pac 12. Sell me a different story, please...

Cal or Stanford would take him back to his home state and where his 90 year-old Dad lives. Colorado isn't exactly close to CA, sure a lot closer than CT is, but not close. If he wanted to be home, he wouldn't have chosen Colorado State.

People in Colorado are nicer than people in CT and the traffic there is a lot better. I blame this. It's the only logical answer. 😉

 

[JwittersPAC]

Aren’t the players scattered back home for Thanksgiving?

How about a team conference call?

 

[jostar1]

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.

What conference would that be? You said that MAC and CUSA aren't good options. We turned down the PAC12 last year and it doesn't look like they are looking for a football-only member now. We left the AAC and it doesn't seem like they want us as football only. So?

 

[uconnyankee]

If you think that he left for the chance to play against Utah State, I have some land to sell you in the Everglades...

Look, we can debate all night. Neither of us knows exactly the reason until we hear from Mora.
If you ask me why he left, it was location and being in a better conference situation. I don’t know the money piece but I’m guessing UConn could have, or actually did match Col States offer.
That means it was something else.
What?
location is probably a big factor. But downplaying the conference piece is wrong. Mora himself stated he wanted to be in a conference.
Do I think Mora left specifically for Pac 12? No. But it’s interesting he supposedly interviewed at OSU and then Col State. Both being members of ? Yep. Same conference as Utah State! So, maybe he does want to play them?

haha! You can keep your bridge.
🙂

 

[JwittersPAC]

Look, we can debate all night. Neither of us knows exactly the reason until we hear from Mora.
If you ask me why he left, it was location and being in a better conference situation. I don’t know the money piece but I’m guessing UConn could have, or actually did match Col States offer.
That means it was something else.
What?
location is probably a big factor. But downplaying the conference piece is wrong. Mora himself stated he wanted to be in a conference.
Do I think Mora left specifically for Pac 12? No. But it’s interesting he supposedly interviewed at OSU and then Col State. Both being members of ? Yep. Same conference as Utah State! So, maybe he does want to play them?

haha! You can keep your bridge.
🙂

Also allegedly interviewed at Washington State last year. I now believe that is true.

 

[Nameless]

What is puzzling is the way he left. In the middle of the night without even having a team meeting with the players? Supposedly Mora was a players coach but does not say goodbye in person to the players? If it was just to head west (home) it seems this could have been handled much better instead of now people wondering what the reason for the departure. There has been nothing from Jim Mora except talking how great it is to be at Colorado State. What is strange there is no comment from him about his time at UConn.

I was thinking about this to, something just didn't add up to me. But the more I thought about it, I realized he may have been planning this for a month or so now (remember his press conference where he gave really short answers and seemed disinterested?) and he may have had a meeting with the players after the FAU game, letting them know he was likely gone if an opportunity out west came along. I haven't seen anything from players calling him a hypocrite or anything, so I'm assuming he let them know in some way, shape or form before the announcement.

At the same time, I'm with you in thinking something still feels off about the whole situation. It may just be that this feels like a lateral move at best, and Colorado isn't exactly a short drive to California where his dad is. So it gives the feeling of desperately wanting out or something. Idk

 

[superjohn]

Let’s be clear. For BB, Big East is on par with the P4 media deals.
Problem is, it doesn’t pay for football and UConn just so happens to field a team to compete at the highest level.
The situation currently works for BB as long as BE stays at the current level. But, there are some cracks with some members. Are they all willing to invest? Are they able to invest?
UConn has that to worry about PLUS they have to self fund FB.
That is a massive obstacle. That plus they don’t have a conference in FB so they are on an island.

What DB and Mora have done these past several years is simply amazing. And now we want DB to do it again.

I just hope DB doesn’t leave. He’s been a miracle worker. That guy will be difficult to replace.

All the Big East schools are heavily invested in men's basketball with the new revenue share model. It doesn't exactly help UConn because we're the only ones who have to come up with a ton of money for football.

 

[Uconnalliance]

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...

People are gonna think I’m insane but the Tony Reno thing intrigues me

 

[superjohn]

There are about 12 threads currently going, all of which point out the fact that he's headed back west because he never established here (he was renting his place for years, for Pete's sake!).

If anyone can make a credible argument to me that being with a middle-of-the-road team in the "new Pac12" G5 conference is so much better than our current situation, I'd love to hear it. Even Nick Saban would love to hear it, apparently.

Make sure to bring data though, and not nonsense anecdotes...

I agree it was about geography but some people prefer renting. A house is a money suck and he wasn't planting roots and starting a family in his 60s.

 

[UConnDan97]

I agree it was about geography but some people prefer renting. A house is a money suck and he wasn't planting roots and starting a family in his 60s.

Correct, some people prefer renting. The point is that almost every other coach at UConn has a permanent residence, and he chose to not have one over the last half decade. Most of us assumed well before this announcement that he still pined for the West, and today it came to fruition at an institution that most would classify as "lateral" at best. Pretty telling...

 

[Patman]

I agree it was about geography but some people prefer renting. A house is a money suck and he wasn't planting roots and starting a family in his 60s.

I mean if you're a football coach who doesn't know what their future is like

 

[superjohn]

Correct, some people prefer renting. The point is that almost every other coach at UConn has a permanent residence, and he chose to not have one over the last half decade. Most of us assumed well before this announcement that he still pined for the West, and today it came to fruition at an institution that most would classify as "lateral" at best. Pretty telling...

They all signed on to coach here with longterm plans of staying here and raising their families here. Calhoun, Geno, Ollie Hurley, Edsall, Diaco, Pasqualoni is from here.