New pod with David Benedict

[gwhuskyfan]

Hi all,

New Connecticut Scoreboard episode with DB. Really good interview with insight into the Mora hire and state of football. Lot of other areas covered as well. Tune in!

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Good job on this.

Just curious..are you given parameters around what you can ask? Or do you just use your judgement that some questions aren't worth asking because he won't or can't answer?

For example....not sure if this was before or after the Ollie decision...but if it was after...could you have asked about that? Or could you have asked if he had concerns about budget shortfalls? Or maybe even specifics around the budget for Mora's staff versus RE's staff?

 

[Drew]

Great listen- thanks for sharing.

Comments on independence were interesting:



I think we’ll see an effort before 2026 to get into a league in some capacity.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Great listen.

 

[gwhuskyfan]

Thanks everyone! And no parameters on questions. Always try to keep it conversational. We recorded before the Ollie decision

 

[metsfan2323]

Great listen- thanks for sharing.

Comments on independence were interesting:



I think we’ll see an effort before 2026 to get into a league in some capacity.

Interesting. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of football independence.

 

[huskymedic]

Interesting. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of football independence.

You really need to hear the whole conversation about the topic…

 

[Drew]

You really need to hear the whole conversation about the topic…

Your takeaway from the discussion on independence is that he’s thinking it’s the long term solution for UConn football?

 

[huskymedic]

Your takeaway from the discussion on independence is that he’s thinking it’s the long term solution for UConn football?

Long term - no. My point was hearing the actual conversation was worthwhile. He discussed that there are many positives to being an independent program but the college football landscape is changing rapidly and if backed into a corner where it didn’t benefit the program anymore they would have to make a decision about moving towards a conference.

 

[Alum1620]

Long term - no. My point was hearing the actual conversation was worthwhile. He discussed that there are many positives to being an independent program but the college football landscape is changing rapidly and if backed into a corner where it didn’t benefit the program anymore they would have to make a decision about moving towards a conference.

If you look at the follow up tweet to the one they are commenting on it basically says this

 

[metsfan2323]

Long term - no. He said there are many positives to being an independent program but the college football landscape is changing rapidly and if backed into a corner where it didn’t benefit the program anymore they would have to make a decision about moving towards a conference.

"Let alone next week or a year from now" The interviewer didn't bring up such a short time frame like a year from now. Isn't the CBS contract up next year? I can't help but wonder if CBS wants us in CUSA. That could be the corner we are being backed into.

He also mentions "we're in a position where we have some flexibility" I wonder what the flexibility is? The only thing that comes to mind is a possible football only invite to CUSA.

 

[TheDrifter75]

"Let alone next week or a year from now" The interviewer didn't bring up such a short time frame like a year from now. Isn't the CBS contract up next year? I can't help but wonder if CBS wants us in CUSA. That could be the corner we are being backed into.

He also mentions "we're in a position where we have some flexibility" I wonder what the flexibility is? The only thing that comes to mind is a possible football only invite to CUSA.

One huge aspect of flexibility is to set our own schedule with an independent schedule.

 

[Exit 4]

I like independence. I want people to hear independence and think ND, Army and UConn all at the same time.

CUSA would be awful needless to say.

Interesting there have been few new games announced for the UConn card while we wait on the CFP discussion.

 

[metsfan2323]

CUSA would be awful needless to say.

I'm indifferent to the the idea. I think the same crowd shows up regardless and more will come if we start winning against the easier schedule. We saw minimal attendance bump for our only P5 home game last year vs Purdue. We could still schedule 4 games against local P5 teams. We would probably enjoy a conference championship game if we were in it.

 

[ZooCougar]

Interesting. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of football independence.

God I love the Boneyard.

 

[Hoophound]

I'm indifferent to the the idea. I think the same crowd shows up regardless and more will come if we start winning against the easier schedule. We saw minimal attendance bump for our only P5 home game last year vs Purdue. We could still schedule 4 games against local P5 teams. We would probably enjoy a conference championship game if we were in it.

I don’t think so. UConn fans are getting more and more fickle.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Great listen- thanks for sharing.

Comments on independence were interesting:



I think we’ll see an effort before 2026 to get into a league in some capacity.

Drew, I think UConn gets an invite much much sooner than that. Mora’s contract up in late 2024 IIRC. I would not be surprised to see an invite late this year or next.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Drew, I think UConn gets an invite much much sooner than that. Mora’s contract up in late 2024 IIRC. I would not be surprised to see an invite late this year or next.

Invite to what?

 

[Jimdish255]

I'm out on CUSA. I can't imagine DB gives that more than a gracious conversation.

 

[Jimdish255]

Invite to what?

Got me off the stool too.

 

[Exit 4]

Invite to what?

The congress of disinvited state flagship division 1 universities. Charter member. We'll send the invitation to ourselves. The opening of cardstock mail with foil liner always feels nice.

 

[huskymedic]

Mora’s contract up in late 2024 IIRC.

Mora’s contract runs through 2026.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

I want no part of CUSA, AAC, Sunbelt, etc. Independent is much more appealing because we get a blend of Northeast schools and attractive payoff games. The fanbase hated AAC and CUSA is a notch or two below that in terms of competitiveness, attractiveness of the conference members, etc. No way, no how.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I think he would be concerned about the proposed scheduling alliance among the other P5 confetence schools in response to the SEC expansion and/or more conference games. It would dry up our P5 scdeduling.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Hi all,

New Connecticut Scoreboard episode with DB. Really good interview with insight into the Mora hire and state of football. Lot of other areas covered as well. Tune in!

With respect to continuing playing home basketball games at the XL Center, I thought what DB said about that vs playing at Gampel leads me to wonder if those days might be numbered.