OT: how does Manuel have a job still?

[J187Money]

The Prez and Warde hit the fix everything lotto with the Big East payment. UCONN will now have enough money to build the countries best basketball practice and training facility. They actually should have enough to complete all of the proposed sports facilities upgrades. By the time this is done in a couple of years UCONN will be primed for a move to a major conference.

The total price tag is somewhere north of $125M. But it is a good start.

 

[concerned143]

They don't need 125 million. They need 25% for the State to finance the balance. they have raised over 25 million and the Big East Payout should get them to finally start

 

[dsturdy5]

I think it's a Junior Achievement project with him. He's learning on the job. He's a bad hire and did the University no favors in the recent alignment mess.

I just don't want him here if say UVA moves to the B1G and someone Cincy gets the call. He seems ill prepared.

If you support the hire and him as an AD, I question your decision making ability and ability to evaluate a difficult situation.

I'm still not sure what you want him to do with a realignment situation that started before he got here and was in full swing before he got his business cards printed.

 

[UConnDan97]

I'm still not sure what you want him to do with a realignment situation that started before he got here and was in full swing before he got his business cards printed.

Oh, it's not clear to you yet? He wants Warde to be more vocal about us to people like Delany and Swofford, because you know, those two guys make acquisitions for their leagues based on how vocal people are.

Delany: "I was thinking about making a decision worth tens of millions of dollars one way, but now that Warde called me....well gosh darn it!....I just like that Warde guy! UConn it is!!!"

 

[CTMike]

I'm still not sure what you want him to do with a realignment situation that started before he got here and was in full swing before he got his business cards printed.

Lol. He clearly wants WM to keep him in the loop on everything. By not knowing all the facts, he makes the assumption that WM is a failure. Pretty amusing really.

 

[zls44]

I'm sure he'll jump in with his random two-sentence tangents. You know, Tulane won the men's tennis championship in 1959, that's a real positive for us!

Did you know that Tulane turned down the SEC to join UConn in a conference?

 

[uconndogs]

Delany: "I was thinking about making a decision worth tens of millions of dollars one way, but now that Warde called me....well gosh darn it!....I just like that Warde guy! UConn it is!!!"

You laugh, but personal relationships and interaction can play a significant role in business deals. Not saying they did or would have here. Were I Ward Manuel I would be on a regular circuit "lobying" decision makers and one of the stops would be Tallahasee.

 

[UConnDan97]

You laugh, but personal relationships and interaction can play a significant role in business deals. Not saying they did or would have here. Were I Ward Manuel I would be on a regular circuit "lobying" decision makers and one of the stops would be Tallahasee.

You're right. I do laugh. I laugh when someone thinks that a personal relationship can win over a decision worth 50 million or more...

 

[rich1122]

You're right. I do laugh. I laugh when someone thinks that a personal relationship can win over a decision worth 50 million or more...

I am laughing like this at this miserable thread.

 

[uconndogs]

You're right. I do laugh. I laugh when someone thinks that a personal relationship can win over a decision worth 50 million or more...

They are very often the tipping point in my experience..........

 

[jrazz12]

Our current athletic director is not Jeff Hathaway. Therefore, we win

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

You laugh, but personal relationships and interaction can play a significant role in business deals. Not saying they did or would have here. Were I Ward Manuel I would be on a regular circuit "lobying" decision makers and one of the stops would be Tallahasee.

When Syracuse and Pitt jumped, and Warde/Herbst were all over the place saying they wanted to be in the ACC, the fanbase chastised them for being too vocal and desperate and it didn't work. When Maryland left the ACC and it was Louisville or UConn, the fanbase chastised them for staying too quiet.

The truth is, some things are beyond your control. WM isn't going to convince FSU and GT that UConn is a better football school than Louisville.

 

[FluxTZ]

Is this seriously coming up, AGAIN?! Give the guy a break. For me personally, I think he's done a fine job so far given the circumstances. Everyone just needs to take a deep breath and relax.

 

[UConnDan97]

They are very often the tipping point in my experience..........

In your experience of performing 50 million dollar deals? Really?

In my limited experience of helping to perform 10-20 million dollar deals, it was the due diligence and science that always won the day, and not the cupcakes and coffee. Maybe I'll chalk up your different observations to differences in fields (as I have a half-smile on my face)...

 

[UConnDan97]

They are very often the tipping point in my experience..........

By the way, sorry for the amount of "snark" in my last post. And my experience should be labeled as "very very limited" (a.k.a., n=2). But what I'm trying to get across in all this is that everyone is nice. Everyone is selling their product (whether it's behind the scenes or in the media). And the buyers are very much aware of the available products. So there is no way in hell in my opinion that Warde Manual is the difference between NBE and a new promised land...

 

[uconndogs]

............So there is no way in hell in my opinion that Warde Manual is the difference between NBE and a new promised land...

Never said he was.

You are seeing this as black and white. It's not. All I'm saying is that personal relationships and rapport matter, especially when things are close or politics becomes involved. Ward will need to be a good embassador to put us in the best position to get out of this mess. I have no idea if he is or not. I never met the man. But, it is a skill I sincerely hope he possesses.

 

[CL82]

When Syracuse and Pitt jumped, and Warde/Herbst were all over the place saying they wanted to be in the ACC, the fanbase chastised them for being too vocal and desperate and it didn't work. When Maryland left the ACC and it was Louisville or UConn, the fanbase chastised them for staying too quiet.

The truth is, some things are beyond your control. WM isn't going to convince FSU and GT that UConn is a better football school than Louisville.

I wasn't. But the truth is they weren't all over the place. They were fine. It was when tone deaf Malloy decided to jump on board that when sounded desparate. JMO

 

[cohenzone]

Stupid thread.

And everybody knows it's Bush's fault.

Finally you come to grips with reality.

 

[J187Money]

They don't need 125 million. They need 25% for the State to finance the balance. they have raised over 25 million and the Big East Payout should get them to finally start

They needed more than that for the hoop facility. It depends on what the state wants to do. That wasn't what I was told but you may be right. That also assumes they dump all of that into facilities.

 

[ruskin]

WM isn't going to convince FSU and GT that UConn is a better football school than Louisville.

will get back to OP in a second, but this is why overall Connecticut CR strategy has to change -- has to be also be fought at pay grades above Warde and even Susan. Playing nice is never going to convince atavistic southern/midwest boards of trustees, athletic directors, presidents & conf. comishes of anything. This is why new fronts have to opened up above the stubborn parties in other states.

Back to Warde. Has rebounded since the ill-conceived NPR interview (probably had to go with the boss). I'd say he's gone from a C-minus to a B-plus. The Boise/BYU '14 football scheduling a big step forward as is finally breaking ground on basketball facility.

The TJ Weist hire is a net plus, but with reservations. I get the feeling that if it was strictly up to Warde he'd have canned PP but suspect Herbst/BOT lack of appetite to pay buyout & McHugh-PP ties got in the way. I just wish he'd have been a little more transparent and taken ownership of the TJ hiring the way Oliver Luck did with Holgorsen at WVU . I hope we're not treated to the same soap opera that came with Bill Stewart's ugly departure.

Football-scheduling wise would like to see a BCS away in 2014 and another 2 to join Tenn in 15.

Warde's big challenge now is men hoop scheduling (figure Geno can handle his side) Gotta lessen the RPI hit and figure out a way to fill home seats, especially in November and December.

People are going nuts over the logo change but now that he's had a full year to "monitor" stale and sometimes annoying football and hoop "game production" make some reasonable changes. For example time to bag "Let's get ready to rumble" & "are you ready for this" in hoops, etc.

And back to tickets - a big deal was made about charging higher prices for 'marquee' games (like Michigan in football). That's fine, but for the time being (hopefully) there's going to be a lot less marquee games. If TV is paying a lot less money for rights to UConn games, why are fans paying the same? Would bet anything UConn ticket prices will still rival that of highest found in Big 10, SEC, ACC. Personally willing to pay it for a couple of years as long as I can see a light at the end of the tunnel (not a train). But overall, still get feeling fans are being taken for granted a la the Hathaway era. Would be nice if season ticket renewers saw some kind of gesture of gratitude from Storrs -- and that's where Warde can make a difference.

 

[junglehusky]

NOTE: I blame him squarely for this conference mess and his inability to communicate UConn's vision and value. He' s an awful mouthpiece for the University. If people like me and others think he's a clown how do the people he needs to influence, which he's failed at, view him? Yes, I know that's rhetorical.

He's so incompetent I bet he hangs the portrait photographs in his office in landscape orientation.

 

[tduconn]

Let's just take a deep breath, and back off sarcastic remarks.......which are generated out of frustration.....and let SH and WM do their jobs.

Most of us do not have "inside connections" to know what is going on behind the scenes, and if we did, most of us do not have any experience as a university president or AD........so really don't know much beyond idle speculation as to "what they should be doing"

Both WM and SH have extensive backgrounds from major institutions.......and what they haven't learned from previous jobs they've certainly made rounds in respective professional organizations.......so they know how and the way things are done in numerous organizations. From personal experience and professional contacts.......they've seen what works and what don't.

I don't know what is going on behind the scenes......but can speculate with a positive attitude that SH, WM, Bd of Trustees, and beyond are doing what needs to be done.......but probably not at the pace ALL of us are hoping.

Small steps for UConn.......just as Neil Armstrong made a small step for the space program.

We will succeed.......have faith!

 

[gioff23]

There are 2 was to succeed - rise above, or try and drag others down. My gut tells me everyone here bitching and moaning about WM's (or any other person's) job is mediocre on a good day at work. Typically the folks who complain the loudest are those who simply can't cut it, period.

 

[uconnfan68]

He's so incompetent I bet he hangs the portrait photographs in his office in landscape orientation.

ouch!

 

[Marty Jackson]

His own players? You expecting a lot of freshman or red shirt freshman to play? Otherwise other than couple of JC/transfer guys these are mostly fhcRE guys. GDL is valuable @ $270m you can get as an OL coach? I'd have to say that anyone with a double digit IQ would recognize Ollie's ability (Freescooter aside). Yeah, he sure did a great negotiating job paying a girl's basketball coach $2 mill a year and sure he is instrumental in the baseball teams upward trend.

This is PP's 3rd year, but he's only really had two full recruiting classes. this year should be the first where his players specifically should have a big impact.

 

[Marty Jackson]

There are 2 was to succeed - rise above, or try and drag others down. My gut tells me everyone here bitching and moaning about WM's (or any other person's) job is mediocre on a good day at work. Typically the folks who complain the loudest are those who simply can't cut it, period.

pretty loud words chief...

 

[ZooCougar]

This is PP's 3rd year, but he's only really had two full recruiting classes. this year should be the first where his players specifically should have a big impact.

That's such a meaningless excuse. I think I can speak for a good many people in that, I would prefer to see what some other coaches could do with his recruits. Lord knows he wasn't able to win games with a roster littered with NFL draftees and free agents.

 

[Pudge]

That's such a meaningless excuse. I think I can speak for a good many people in that, I would prefer to see what some other coaches could do with his recruits. Lord knows he wasn't able to win games with a roster littered with NFL draftees and free agents.

I am not as hot about the poor performance as I was in November. Maybe, I am giving him a chance for a solid 2013.

The Contra? That damn George DeLeone. How can you watch 5 years of UConn Football & accept that our Offensive Line play has gone from solid to tragic. I do think we have better QB talent. I don't think we have anywhere near the depth RE brought at RB. WR better. But, you simply cannot have much of an offense without blocking from 5 guys. And, Mike Foley is still on the staff.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Who did you think was/going to be our best OL going into last season?

 

[Pudge]

Who did you think was/going to be our best OL going into last season?

I will answer this in a serious tone. (cause I don't know where you are coming from ...) This isn't just about last year. It's a 2 year cycle now.

We have two solid well-paid Offensive Linemen, from recent history, getting paid really well in the NFL. (Donald Thomas & Will Beatty) Both came from OUR system ... created by Mike Foley. It was also recent history that WE went into South Bend, with all their prime recruits, and pushed them all over the field.

From that day ... 3 kids were shining examples: Moe Petrus, Mike Ryan, Adam Masters. All three solid hard-working kids. And behind them, the string of Kevin Friend, Jimmy Bennett, Steve Greene, Tyler Bullock, et al ... all were prime examples of how a STAFF recruited and then developed a solid Offensive Line for more than a decade. And, we have consistently and continuously upgraded the type of talent we bring from High School.

Petrus and Ryan did not have stellar senior years. Coming into last year, NONE of the consistent UConn Football watchers should have accepted the Spring 2012 pronouncement that we were in horrible shape. Really??? I think this is a DeLeone DeLeone DeLeone construct. We are not 120th in FBS offense because we suddenly have bad kids. And, Pasqualoni does not get off on this ... it's your buddy. There is simply no excuse I would find acceptable for the fall-off of our Offensive Line. We could take Walk-ons and make them a Pro. Next ... we take All-Conference Linemen and they are kerfluffle.