Player Development Series

[Bill Sussman]

I thought this was a nice touch. Not sure if this was done in the past

 

[ZooCougar]

Poor Nuzie. It wasn't his fault that so many kicks were blocked. Glad to hear about this! Diaco was serious when he said he wanted to get alums more involved.

 

[UconnFamily]

Kashif Moore ‏@KashifMoore 19h
Feels crazy to be back at Uconn, lotta memories up here but it was good to see all my boys @UConnFootball

K. Moore was there last night as well...

 

[Third and one]

Great idea. They brought Ryan in from Houston for this too.
He was excited to be a part of this.
Absolutely more Alums should be involved, especially Sunday players.
The young kids need inspiration from time to time to stay motivated.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Great idea, but is it really new? It seems the program's brought in more alumni over the last decade. One difference, more current NFL players exist to discuss how difficult it is to play pro ball and the huge importance of preparing for a career outside of sports.

 

[Carl Spackler]

This has not been done like this before, not the way Diaco is doing it. There have been many times when past players were recognized on game days at Rentschler, but there is little to no interaction with the program. But this is entirely different. There was a football alumni function not too far back, just before Memorial Stadium was demolished where a couple of current players met former players. But this is different, and I love it.

The new grads, and current/recent NFL players are going to have way more effect on the current players than old timers, just human nature, they'll relate better to the young guys.

But the vast majority of the All Americans that UCONN has produced came from the 1980s decade. we've got some pretty notable alumni in Kirk Ferentz and John Dorsey among many others from the 80s and 90s that have risen up to some pretty high profile and respectable positions. We've got former players that are athletic directors at various levels, school administrators, business owners....etc. and hearing from them, because not everyone is playing in the NFL, has got to be useful too.

 

[KennyD]

This has not been done like this before, not the way Diaco is doing it. There have been many times when past players were recognized on game days at Rentschler, but there is little to no interaction with the program. But this is entirely different. There was a football alumni function not too far back, just before Memorial Stadium was demolished where a couple of current players met former players. But this is different, and I love it.

The new grads, and current/recent NFL players are going to have way more effect on the current players than old timers, just human nature, they'll relate better to the young guys.

But the vast majority of the All Americans that UCONN has produced came from the 1980s decade. we've got some pretty notable alumni in Kirk Ferentz and John Dorsey among many others from the 80s and 90s that have risen up to some pretty high profile and respectable positions. We've got former players that are athletic directors at various levels, school administrators, business owners....etc. and hearing from them, because not everyone is playing in the NFL, has got to be useful too.

This has been done before. Andy Baylock has been doing it ever since HCRE was hired. It looks like HCBD might be putting more emphasis on it or at least letting the average fan know that it's going on. We had well over a 150 players back for the Memorial Stadium celebration. Andy has scheduled football alumni employment functions twice a year for as long as I can remember. This is where former players discuss their careers to the current players on the roster. Andy also puts out a newsletter 5 - 6 times a year for football alumni that lets us know what's going on in the alumni community. Andy also arranges for the football alumni to go onto the field and greet the players as they come out of the tunnel for at least 2 games a year. Hopefully HCBD will give Andy's role increased emphasis and maybe a larger buget and increased staff. If any of the staff or athletic administrators read the Boneyard, they should also give Andy a "tribute day" at a home game this year. He truly deserves it and all the football alumni love the guy.

 

[huskymedic]

This has been done before. Andy Baylock has been doing it ever since HCRE was hired. It looks like HCBD might be putting more emphasis on it or at least letting the average fan know that it's going on. We had well over a 150 players back for the Memorial Stadium celebration. Andy has scheduled football alumni employment functions twice a year for as long as I can remember. This is where former players discuss their careers to the current players on the roster. Andy also puts out a newsletter 5 - 6 times a year for football alumni that lets us know what's going on in the alumni community. Andy also arranges for the football alumni to go onto the field and greet the players as they come out of the tunnel for at least 2 games a year. Hopefully HCBD will give Andy's role increased emphasis and maybe a larger buget and increased staff. If any of the staff or athletic administrators read the Boneyard, they should also give Andy a "tribute day" at a home game this year. He truly deserves it and all the football alumni love the guy.

Agreed - Diaco has already mentioned how AB is a UConn gem and getting him some additional resources:.

>>“He’ll have a whole component where he’s working with the former players, a year-long plan. And bless his heart Coach [Andy] Baylock who is fantastic and everybody knows him and he’s poured his heart out for this university for years and years and years. He’s been doing it on the grassroots, blood, sweat and tears on well-oiled heels. He’s just been hitting the bricks.Now he’s going to have some help, some staff and some plan behind him to keep the former players engaged. What’s the plan for the former players? Are we having a golf outing, do we have a gala in the winter, are we just getting together for a meet and greet, are we bringing them back for spring ball so that they can engage with the team? What’s better than having the former players engage with the team that we have right now?”<<

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

This has been done before. Andy Baylock has been doing it ever since HCRE was hired. It looks like HCBD might be putting more emphasis on it or at least letting the average fan know that it's going on.

Beyond arranging alumni golf and social events and enabling current players to meet recent alumni in the NFL, Andy Baylock's professional development, alumni networking, and career enablement efforts are exactly what I was referencing. Great idea, and undoubtedly well done by a good man and leader.

 

[SAMCRO]

Beyond arranging alumni golf and social events and enabling current players to meet recent alumni in the NFL, Andy Baylock's professional development, alumni networking, and career enablement efforts are exactly what I was referencing. Great idea, and undoubtedly well done by a good man and leader.

Couldn't agree more. Coach B and his wife have been an integral part of UConn athletics (primarily baseball and football, but all sports to some degree) for more than 50 years. His wife was the mandatory Freshman athlete study hall supervisor (and attendance checker) back in the 80's/early 90's. They are two of the nicest human beings one would have the pleasure to meet, and have given as much of their heart and soul to UConn as anyone else you could name.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Diaco has taken this entire aspect of the football program to another level, and I love it. That's all I meant, in writing that "this has not been done like this before." I didn't mean to come across that it had not been done before at all. Andy Baylock and his service to the University and it's students and alumni needs no introduction to anyone that's been part of UCONN athletics, let alone the football program, in any way shape or form at any time in the past 50 years, but it's good to see people write about him. Andy, bless him, is also no spring chicken anymore, and until the past few years, has not had the range of a crew of NFL veterans to work with as well. As much as anyone of us would hope, for the current players, that meeting former players that have reached high level real world jobs a few times a year would be important, they are 18-22 year old football players, and the NFL guys are going to bring the clout. Andy's going to have help in what he does, and has done for decades, with this new program in place like he's never had before. Nice to have you on the boneyard Kenny.

 

[huskymedic]

Uconn Football Begins Career Preparatory Series
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022114aaa.html

Good stuff...