Non-Key Tweets

[noeynox]

UConn got a 2.2 locally because we no longer have a fan base beyond the same 25k who come to Rentschler. I was in a packed bar at kickoff. Nobody else was even interested in glancing at the game.

If a meaningless baseball game can impact the number that negatively.... what is there to even say about that.

When you get 19k houses for a game - it sounds fairly stupid to keep saying UConn owns the market. ESPN probably gets that number here in primetime just showing random programming.

It's a terribly boring product to watch.

I left a retirement party early to catch this game. I tuned in just in time to see Diaco punt from the 37. I knew then I had made a mistake.

This fan base is slowly dwindling because collectively it was in no mood for BS, after P. Yeah the regulars on this board see the improvements Diaco has made to the program but the less engaged see the same run, run, pass, punt. Hell you may even see run, run, run, punt.

Until the product on the field improves either via winning or entering the 21st century of offensive football interest is gonna continue to plummet.

We've seen what the rent looks like when the fan base is engaged, it can get back to that, and the local interest will be there also, but we are in a show me phase right now.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It's a terribly boring product to watch.

I left a retirement party early to catch this game. I tuned in just in time to see Diaco punt from the 37. I knew then I had made a mistake.

This fan base is slowly dwindling because collectively it was in no mood for BS, after P. Yeah the regulars on this board see the improvements Diaco has made to the program but the less engaged see the same run, run, pass, punt. Hell you may even see run, run, run, punt.

Until the product on the field improves either via winning or entering the 21st century of offensive football interest is gonna continue to plummet.

We've seen what the rent looks like when the fan base is engaged, it can get back to that, and the local interest will be there also, but we are in a show me phase right now.

I wish you would all stop with the mythical run, run, pass, punt. They haven't done that since the first half of the Maine game.

UConn passed for 273 yards against UH. They ran for 62 yards (against a great run defense). UConn attempted 36 passes, and ran 27 times (including QB scrambles). Look at the stats. Connecticut vs. Houston - Team Statistics - September 29, 2016 - ESPN They threw on first down quite often.

The game was closer than the score suggests, mostly because UConn did move the ball, but stalled just across midfield several times. Meanwhile, our defense couldn't stop Houston in the red-zone or get any field goals. Ward was a machine, with two incredible runs for TDs, and a pass for a one handed grab. We couldn't stop them. That was the game, not our offense.

Yes, the punts were maddening. I didn't agree with those calls and BD needs to explain those decisions in a game where we trailed heavily.

 

[JSM1970]

The game was close in the 1st Q, then Houston opened it up in the 2nd Q and the game was over. They could have put up 60+ if they get their foot on the gas.

I wish you would all stop with the mythical run, run, pass, punt. They haven't done that since the first half of the Maine game.

UConn passed for 273 yards against UH. They ran for 62 yards (against a great run defense). UConn attempted 36 passes, and ran 27 times (including QB scrambles). Look at the stats. Connecticut vs. Houston - Team Statistics - September 29, 2016 - ESPN They threw on first down quite often.

The game was closer than the score suggests, mostly because UConn did move the ball, but stalled just across midfield several times. Meanwhile, our defense couldn't stop Houston in the red-zone or get any field goals. Ward was a machine, with two incredible runs for TDs, and a pass for a one handed grab. We couldn't stop them. That was the game, not our offense.

Yes, the punts were maddening. I didn't agree with those calls and BD needs to explain those decisions in a game where we trailed heavily.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

UConn got a 2.2 locally because we no longer have a fan base beyond the same 25k who come to Rentschler. I was in a packed bar at kickoff. Nobody else was even interested in glancing at the game.

I watched the game until the 3rd quarter. At that point, the dismal play and my desire to sleep collided. Enter Sandman. I mention this only because I am a Nielsen household with their equipment tied to all of our TVs. No clue how many households I represent, but my TV was tuned in, although for bed time I probably changed it over to Cartoon Network for their late night Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, Cleveland Show lineup. To back up your point, I'n also one of the 25K who goes to The Rent, albeit begrudgingly lately.

 

[Pudge]

I think Ward's performance was as good as most any opponent player we have played. He was that good. My eye ,.. and not getting paid $2m like BD ... is that we have an abundance of playmakers; and they are underutilized. We saw Noel Thomas on a top level and Mayala is climbing; with little targets on the others.

I agree that what we have is the 20,000 core UCFB fanbase. Benedict is not going too far beyond that without (1.) winning games; and (2) far more entertaining gameplans. Filling Rentschler should be on this AD mindset ... and conveyed to Diaco as paramount. We aren't like many other FBS programs in our climb.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think Ward's performance was as good as most any opponent player we have played. He was that good. My eye ,.. and not getting paid $2m like BD ... is that we have an abundance of playmakers; and they are underutilized. We saw Noel Thomas on a top level and Mayala is climbing; with little targets on the others.

I agree that what we have is the 20,000 core UCFB fanbase. Benedict is not going too far beyond that without (1.) winning games; and (2) far more entertaining gameplans. Filling Rentschler should be on this AD mindset ... and conveyed to Diaco as paramount. We aren't like many other FBS programs in our climb.

Agree on Ward. He's a great QB.

On the "game-plan" I think it's execution of the plays, not the game plan. We threw 36 passes with 27 runs. Yes, most went to a couple of receivers. Who makes that decision? The coaches don't. I'm increasingly impressed with Verducci. I think Shirreff's is not managing the offense or executing it as designed. I think Diaco knows it and is trying to get him to run the offense as designed. He couldn't have been more clear in his comments about Ward. Even with that, we still see this comment.

Joseph Duarte@Joseph_Duarte 7 mins ago
Tom Herman says UConn “exposed” some things in UH pass defense that “we need to get fixed.”

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Agree on Ward. He's a great QB.

On the "game-plan" I think it's execution of the plays, not the game plan. We threw 36 passes with 27 runs. Yes, most went to a couple of receivers. Who makes that decision? The coaches don't. I'm increasingly impressed with Verducci. I think Shirreff's is not managing the offense or executing it as designed. I think Diaco knows it and is trying to get him to run the offense as designed. He couldn't have been more clear in his comments about Ward. Even with that, we still see this comment.

Joseph Duarte@Joseph_Duarte 7 mins ago
Tom Herman says UConn “exposed” some things in UH pass defense that “we need to get fixed.”

Well we did expose things in their pass defense. Thomas absolutely torched their secondary at least three times, BS airmailed two of the throws and the third was the short slant that he hit and Thomas outran everyone. Even Hergy got behind them a couple of times. If we have a QB who can throw a deep ball, we easily have at least 35 points in the game. UH's run defense and their game plan to spy BS was excellent, but their secondary was very subpar.

 

[psilotic]

We threw 36 passes with 27 runs. Yes, most went to a couple of receivers. Who makes that decision? The coaches don't. I'm increasingly impressed with Verducci. I think Shirreff's is not managing the offense or executing it as designed. I think Diaco knows it and is trying to get him to run the offense as designed.

If the implication is BS is calling his own number ahead of designed Verducci pass plays that is absolutely insane. The red zone plays at end of Navy and Syracuse games -- all but one runs up the middle -- would be some of the evidence.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Well we did expose things in their pass defense. Thomas absolutely torched their secondary at least three times, BS airmailed two of the throws and the third was the short slant that he hit and Thomas outran everyone. Even Hergy got behind them a couple of times. If we have a QB who can throw a deep ball, we easily have at least 35 points in the game. UH's run defense and their game plan to spy BS was excellent, but their secondary was very subpar.

In other words, the offensive game plan was pretty darned good. Good enough to win? No, not on a night where our D bent then broke every single drive and couldn't even get a stop in the red zone. But competent QB play easily gets us two more TDs, minimum.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If the implication is BS is calling his own number ahead of designed Verducci pass plays that is absolutely insane. The red zone plays at end of Navy and Syracuse games -- all but one runs up the middle -- would be some of the evidence.

Verducci has confirmed it. That of his 20 or so runs a game, maybe 5 or 6 are plays with a run option. He is nervous in the pocket, and once flushed he doesn't try to keep the pass play alive and instead starts to run. He fails to see open receivers and rarely checks past his first option. Once he's moving, on the rare occasions where he throws, he's inaccurate. Diaco was sending a clear message to BS with his comments.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

In other words, the offensive game plan was pretty darned good. Good enough to win? No, not on a night where our D bent then broke every single drive and couldn't even get a stop in the red zone. But competent QB play easily gets us two more TDs, minimum.

Absolutely, 100% agree. Verducci/Diaco certainly deserve some level of blame for some bad decisions over the first four games, but they are absolutely limited by BS's inability to throw a deep ball.

If the implication is BS is calling his own number ahead of designed Verducci pass plays that is absolutely insane. The red zone plays at end of Navy and Syracuse games -- all but one runs up the middle -- would be some of the evidence.

'

The implication isn't that BS is telling Verducci to screw off and calling his own plays in the huddle, the implication is too often BS drops back, immediately checks down one receiver, blows up the play and runs. His 1patience in the pocket has been very poor at times and it's lead to what looks like a lot of designed QB runs that in fact aren't designed. Verducci confirmed this after (I think) the Navy game. Of course the playcalling at the end of the Navy game and in the 4th quarter of the Syracuse game fall entirely on Verducci/Diaco's shoulders, but to absolve BS for the lack of offensive production is entirely wrong.

 

[psilotic]

Verducci has confirmed it. That of his 20 or so runs a game, maybe 5 or 6 are plays with a run option. He is nervous in the pocket, and once flushed he doesn't try to keep the pass play alive and instead starts to run. He fails to see open receivers and rarely checks past his first option. Once he's moving, on the rare occasions where he throws, he's inaccurate. Diaco was sending a clear message to BS with his comments.

OK, enough's enough. Here is the full Navy game tape. UConn's final drive starts at 2:01:3 mark. Look at all the plays in that drive (including the final one where your man Verducci took the ball out of the players' hands) and get back to me on all Shirreffs' inadequacies. On the road, 100-plus degrees. . . .as has been conceded Shirreffs doesn't have a 'monster' arm. But this sequence is why I'm sticking with this guy. BTW there was one on the run throw in this drive. Given the conditions pretty freaking gutty IMO.

 

[CTMike]

A non key tweet would be pretty sweet right now.

 

[HuskyHawk]

OK, enough's enough. Here is the full Navy game tape. UConn's final drive starts at 2:01:3 mark. Look at all the plays in that drive (including the final one where your man Verducci took the ball out of the players' hands) and get back to me on all Shirreffs' inadequacies. On the road, 100-plus degrees. . . .as has been conceded Shirreffs doesn't have a 'monster' arm. But this sequence is why I'm sticking with this guy. BTW there was one on the run throw in this drive. Given the conditions pretty freaking gutty IMO.

Love his toughness. Liked that one throw on the run a lot, he needs to do that more. Three other scrambles on pass calls. One for 1 yard and two for first downs. Good work, but ate a lot of clock, which is why Navy was giving those up. I'm less worried about his arm strength than his decision making.

 

[amory]

A non key tweet would be pretty sweet right now.

 

[alexd]

Really.....what the hell happened to this thread over the weekend?

 

[SubbaBub]

By my reckoning, there are really only two ways to get new fans. New students and winning games. The first way is very slow. Litreally takes years for them to show up as regular season holders.

The second requires winning.

At the risk of sounding like Diaco, we are at that level yet. We are at the 100 level - stop losing the fans we have. I think we are 80% there. Avoid tanking this season and a CR Rule #1 nut punch and we can move on to the 200 level - getting our old fans back.

Level 300 is getting new fans
Level 400 is getting new fans nationally.

 

[Dooley]

You are correct, take the Patriots game out of it. That Sox/ Yanks game seems to be pretty important, though. Maybe enough for 2 point drop? They TTU/Kansas game is nothing in Houston, though.

My point was more towards the fact that everyone has viewing options. I think it's hypocritical to give X, Y, Z excuse to UConn fans if you don't also give other fans the same courtesy. No doubt Ortiz last game at Yankee Stadium was of large interest to folks around here - myself included - but once the ceremony and 1st AB were over, it was UConn FB time. Game kicked off at 8 so all of the Ortiz stuff was over with by then anyway.

Just my two cents. I am no network expert by any means but I do know a 2.2 is an awful rating no matter how you slice it. UConn fans are shooting ourselves in the foot here.

 

[psilotic]

Love his toughness. Liked that one throw on the run a lot, he needs to do that more. Three other scrambles on pass calls. One for 1 yard and two for first downs. Good work, but ate a lot of clock, which is why Navy was giving those up. I'm less worried about his arm strength than his decision making.

I agree with you that Navy may have conceded those runs, but they were being too cute by half given that UConn got to the 23 with 45 seconds left. Luckily for them, that's when the Verducci/Diaco overthinking began. Verducci/Diaco need to put Shirreffs into positions where Shirreffs and the offense can succeed. This proves it can be done.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Mark Blaudschun ‏@blauds 11m11 minutes ago
Big 12 expansion or not will have after shocks. Find out what they will be in http://TMGCollegesports.com

Anyone know what it says?

 

[huskymedic]

Mark Blaudschun ‏@blauds 11m11 minutes ago
Big 12 expansion or not will have after shocks. Find out what they will be in http://TMGCollegesports.com

Anyone know what it says?

Nothing earth shattering - cherry picking from the 12 aftershocks:

Houston–The school with the most to gain and the most to lose with Big 12 expansion. The Cougars have unveiled major plans to accommodate a move to the Big 12 and have overextended themselves financially in anticipation of getting the extra revenue a move to the Big 12 would generate. If the Big 12 doesn’t expand or Houston is rejected, the Cougars will remain a Tier 2 program.

Houston football coach Tom Herman. Herman is the coaching flavor of the week. He is the front runner if LSU decides that interim coach Ed Oregeron is only a short term solution. He would also be the front runner if Texas makes a move to replace embattled Charlie Strong as its football coach. Houston officials already have put a boost in Herman’s salary to $5 million (from $3 million) if Houston joins the Big 12. That might be enough to hold off LSU. But if Texas makes a move, choosing the Longhorns over Houston appears to be a lock. And if that happens, does Texas, which has publicly supported the inclusion of Houston to the Big 12, change its stance?''

BYU–If you looked at it from a football standpoint, BYU remains the most attractive non Power 5 conference school available. Such is not the case. Social issues involving the school’s viewpoints and mission have become overwhelming factors, changing the odds on BYU from favorite to long shot.

UConn–The Huskies plight is similar to Houston. The Big 12 looks like it is UConn’s last chance to become a member of a Power 5 conference for the foreseable future. If UConn is rejected or there is no expansion, the Huskies must decide if they want to remain as a full member of the AAC or make the break in other sports back to the Big East, which would put the future of football at UConn in doubt. The bottom line is that UConn can not really afford to stay as a full member of the AAC. They were paid almost $10 million dollars in television based revenue last season, but that total was supplemented by the AAC from exit fee money it got from schools when the Big East football broke up. That money will soon be paid out and the AAC could drop to $3 million per year.

The Mid-American Conference–If UC0nn does not move to the Big 12, but wants to leave the AAC, the MAC could be a landing area for UConn in a football only situation. The MAC has experimented with that before with Temple and UMass and it hasn’t worked out. Adding UMass and UConn in football only is a possibility, since it would give the MAC an Eastern block of Buffalo, UMass and UConn.

UMass–UMass is playing as an independent in football. It is only a temporary arrangement as UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford shops for a conference. UMass hopes that the Big 12 takes some AAC schools and that UMass than would move up the AAC contender board as a replacement. But if there is no Big 12 expansion or the AAC does not replace teams or choose another school (ODU, Rice and Northern Illinois are possibilities), the future of UMass football becomes an issue. If there are no invitations coming, UMass football could very well disappear.

Idle speculation about what will happen to Big12, BIG and SEC if no expansion happens.

 

[dayooper]

Nothing earth shattering - cherry picking from the 12 aftershocks:


The Mid-American Conference–If UC0nn does not move to the Big 12, but wants to leave the AAC, the MAC could be a landing area for UConn in a football only situation. The MAC has experimented with that before with Temple and UMass and it hasn’t worked out. Adding UMass and UConn in football only is a possibility, since it would give the MAC an Eastern block of Buffalo, UMass and UConn.



Idle speculation about what will happen to Big12, BIG and SEC if no expansion happens.

You would no way deserve this, but the selfish side of me would love to go to a UConn game at Kelly-Shorts Stadium against CMU.

 

[sportsart]

You would no way deserve this, but the selfish side of me would love to go to a UConn game at Kelly-Shorts Stadium against CMU.

May a drone drop down your shorts and cause you to sit when you pee.

 

[mavblues]

Just thought I'd beat @MattMang23 to it with my new profile pic.

 

[MattMang23]

Just thought I'd beat @MattMang23 to it with my new profile pic.

Who is that? Elizabeth?

 

[psilotic]

UConn–The Huskies plight is similar to Houston. The Big 12 looks like it is UConn’s last chance to become a member of a Power 5 conference for the foreseable future. If UConn is rejected or there is no expansion, the Huskies must decide if they want to remain as a full member of the AAC or make the break in other sports back to the Big East, which would put the future of football at UConn in doubt. The bottom line is that UConn can not really afford to stay as a full member of the AAC. They were paid almost $10 million dollars in television based revenue last season, but that total was supplemented by the AAC from exit fee money it got from schools when the Big East football broke up. That money will soon be paid out and the AAC could drop to $3 million per year.


Blauds still shilling for Tranghese and his desire to get old Big East back together, IMO.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Big East + MAC would be an unmitigated disaster. If we're going to go football-only anywhere outside the P5, it'd have to be AAC, MWC, or some new conglomeration of the two. Yes, the AAC money isn't enough to sustain our athletic department, but the MAC would be a zillion times worse.

 

[Marty Jackson]

That is probably the most depressing sequence of posts in a long time.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

It's probably not a bad idea for UConn to be floating stories about going back to the Big East
This could only be a positive in negotiating a new contract for the AAC .
Loosing UConn basketball ,although not earth shattering ,is not something ESPN really wants to do.

 

[TRest]

Big East + MAC would be an unmitigated disaster. If we're going to go football-only anywhere outside the P5, it'd have to be AAC, MWC, or some new conglomeration of the two. Yes, the AAC money isn't enough to sustain our athletic department, but the MAC would be a zillion times worse.

I guess it's a financial disaster for UConn staying in the AAC in the future, what does that make the current situation for the schools who aren't receiving any of the BE buyout? I can't see us trading the current situation for MAC football, which would potentially pay less. It's not like the BE basketball conference is printing money now, can they take on more members? Fox would probably love to open up that contract.