Props to Warde Manuel

[Excalibur]

Sdhusky thinks warde handled the Ollie and Pasqualoni situations well. Got it.

P not so much, but probably 3/4 of the ADs in the country give P a third year. But it was Warde's job to make the right call and he failed miserably.

I thought he handled the Ollie situation perfectly. Said so at the time. I was right then and I'm still right.

 

[Waquoit]

P not so much, but probably 3/4 of the ADs in the country give P a third year. But it was Warde's job to make the right call and he failed miserably.

I thought he handled the Ollie situation perfectly. Said so at the time. I was right then and I'm still right.

Yes to both.

 

[sportsart]

Mike, we 'd all like to hear more facts from someone like Dog, especially to the extent he's an actual insider. But if he's actually an insider, highly unlikely he'll share too much, as his status will likely change rapidly to actual outsider.

I find it strange though that anyone would dismiss his perspective out of hand. I have no idea of the truth, though obviously the story he tells is plausible.

When you find someone so dismissive of 2 people who, by all appearances, have things going in the right direction, and they are on the internet spewing total disdain, you have to believe there is something personal behind it.

 

[intlzncster]

How about we give Jim Calhoun credit for 'hiring' Ollie. It was his choice after all.

Warde just went with the status quo and a nut fell into his hand. Basically Warde didn't duck up what was already in play.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

We've seen a lot more former players on camera during this and the AAC tournament. I wonder if that's part of a concerted effort by the athletic department. And who was that big guy giving Ollie the hug before JC's hug? I thought it looked like Eric Heyward.

Drummond, I think. Hope not Heyward as that young man crashed hard after leaving UConn and spent a few years in jail for rape I believe.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

P not so much, but probably 3/4 of the ADs in the country give P a third year. But it was Warde's job to make the right call and he failed miserably.

I thought he handled the Ollie situation perfectly. Said so at the time. I was right then and I'm still right.

Warde could have fired PP getting off a plane at Bradley. Whoops, wrong school. Putting aside the ‘when’ question for a moment, Warde handled the actual deed as well as he could. Everyone saw it coming expect for the old geezers coaching club down in Fairfield County.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The interim contract was not an insult to JC or KO, He absolutely did it the right way. I don't think it made him look weak at all. he had to assert himslf there after the way JC shoehorned KO in. You could say JC was in the wrong the way things went down but I sure am glad he pulled it off.

+1. No AD should be forced to accept a retiring coach's suggestion for a new hire to the flagship sports program at a major university. Many ADs would have been pissed, told Calhoun to go to hell and refused to consider his suggestion. Warde did the right thing, and decided to give Ollie a chance while engaging in some first hand observation. It became clear early on why he was the right guy, and Warde acted promptly to lock him up.

The think I appreciate about Warde is that he's former athlete and a fan. He now bleeds Husky blue the way he bleeds Michigan blue. He feels our pain. He's not just another guy in a suit pushing paper around.

 

[junglehusky]

Maybe the RockStar will announce we're leaving the AAC 25000 feet above while jetsetting between Big D and Nashville with the high rollers.
He does love a party. They do have phones on them, correct?

Seriously? You have a beef with our athletic director jetting between the men's and women's final four with our big time donors? God forbid we let them have an enjoyable experience on athletic department's dime (=not taxpayer's... Heck for all we know it might be the donors paying for it), they might be coaxed into donating more money (thus offsetting the cost of schmoozing them) for a hockey arena or expanding the Rent. Then we'd have to say something else positive about Warde, and that would make the energy vampire crowd even more miserable, and we wouldn't want that now would we?

 

[J187Money]

How about we give Jim Calhoun credit for 'hiring' Ollie. It was his choice after all. Warde just went with the status quo and a nut fell into his hand. Basically Warde didn't duck up what was already in play.

Sometimes that's the job.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Says the guy who said I was either "stupid" or a "di**head" for challenging his comments on Burrell's hops.

You're funny. Absolutely stunning lack of self awareness.

I called you a d-head because you put words in my mouth. I never said Burrell didn't have great hops. I just thought they weren't as good as Robertson's or Gay's. For what its worth, someone who was relatively close to the program told me about 10 years ago that Kirk King had the highest vertical ever measured by the staff. Seems possible, but I didn't see the "game athleticism" that there was with some of the other players.

 

[sdhusky]

Sometimes that's the job.

Yup.

 

[Nostical]

Warde and SH are simple minded collegiate administrators that don't have a clue about business/media...and big business/media is what this conf realignment bs is built on.

Bull. You should hit your knees and thank your deity that we have both of them right now--and SH is the savviest Prez we've ever had. Go ahead. Put Jurich in as Hathaway's replacement with PP already on board. Put Louisville's Prez in SH's place. Now put WM and SH at Louisville with Charlie Strong, an expanded stadium, top notch BBall, Pitino etc and tell me how UConn would have been the ACC choice over Louisville. Stop the nonsense. Enough about the piña coladas.

 

[intlzncster]

Sometimes that's the job.

I can do that . Sign me up!

 

[imno1]

Seriously? You have a beef with our athletic director jetting between the men's and women's final four with our big time donors? God forbid we let them have an enjoyable experience on athletic department's dime (=not taxpayer's... Heck for all we know it might be the donors paying for it), they might be coaxed into donating more money (thus offsetting the cost of schmoozing them) for a hockey arena or expanding the Rent. Then we'd have to say something else positive about Warde, and that would make the energy vampire crowd even more miserable, and we wouldn't want that now would we?

Plus one of the perks of the job. Who of us would't be going to all the games if we were in his position. I like that he's a rabid fan.

 

[sdhusky]

I called you a d-head because you put words in my mouth.

This is funny.

So what you are really saying is that you think Warde should have fired Ollie and not hired Diaco. Got it.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Mike, we 'd all like to hear more facts from someone like Dog, especially to the extent he's an actual insider. But if he's actually an insider, highly unlikely he'll share too much, as his status will likely change rapidly to actual outsider.

I find it strange though that anyone would dismiss his perspective out of hand. I have no idea of the truth, though obviously the story he tells is plausible.

If asked, I would tell you that my boss is a knucklehead and doesn't have the necessary skills for the job and yet I realize it is not a universal POV.

 

[Gringo]

Nope, wrong again. I'm just a fan with high level access into the inner politics in Storrs and tired sick of people giving credit to average university administrators who sat on their hands during this CR disaster...and now that we have leverage again they continue to sit on their hands. If you don't like or can't handle the truth that's your choice.

It's nice that you post you have "high level access" on an anonymous forum.

If you really do have "high level access" than I suggest you stop wasting your time bashing the administration on a public forum and actually do something about it. Posting negatively about the current administration during final four week really isn't helping. This is a time for celebration, not criticizing.

Also, what you are posting are opinions. Just because you see something one way does not make it true. The majority posting disagree with your opinion and I haven't seen anything to corroborate what you call true.

Personally, I think Warde has done a great job. The former administration failed to get us into a major conference, but that should not be an indictment on Warde. I don't see it as Warde's fault the ACC took Louisville over UConn. Our football team was awful last year and our basketball team played a season where they were ineligible for postseason play. UConn was not attractive last year but things have changed very rapidly. He's re-energized the football fan base with his hiring of Diaco and kept our proud basketball tradition moving forward seamlessly with the Ollie hire. I highly doubt you know what is going on behind the scenes to help us get into a power conference, but I am sure they are working on it and we all know it is priority #1. The UConn brand is very strong and I think it is more a matter of "when" not "if" they get into a power conference.

 

[jostar1]

They are simple minded collegiate administrators that don't have a clue about business/media...and big business/media is what this conf realignment bs is built on.

Her brother, Steve Herbst, is the man who negotiated what is, according to the Sports Business Journal, $8.2 billion in television contracts for NASCAR. Prior to that he worked for CBS College Sports Network and NBA TV.

Steve Herbst, NASCAR, VP of Broadcasting and Global Media Strategy
Herbst, who is based in NASCAR’s New York City office, most recently held the position of executive vice president and general manger of CBS College Sports Network from 2008-2010. While there, he was responsible for managing all aspects of the 24-hour network. Under his leadership, the network’s subscriber base grew by 75 percent and advertising sales increased by 56 percent.
Prior to his stint at CBS-CSN, Herbst spent 19 years with the National Basketball Association in a number of broadcasting positions, including senior vice president of broadcast and general manager of NBA TV. He was responsible for managing the league’s relationships with ABC, ESPN and TNT; served as head of production, programming, marketing and scheduling for NBA TV after launching the network in 1999 and played a key leadership role in the NBA.com news operation, NBA’s video-on-demand productions and managed the league’s production and programming relationship with Sirius Satellite Radio.

 

[Excalibur]

I call bullsH!+ on any "high-level access", and I have reason to.

 

[UConn990411]

Nope, wrong again. I'm just a fan with high level access into the inner politics in Storrs and tired sick of people giving credit to average university administrators who sat on their hands during this CR disaster...and now that we have leverage again they continue to sit on their hands. If you don't like or can't handle the truth that's your choice.

You're a "fan" who chose to make one of his only appearances in a thread crediting Warde Manuel. Not after UConn hockey joined Hockey East, football hired Diaco or the men's basketball team earned a berth to the Final Four.

None of those things prompted you to make a post. But a thread titled "Props to Warde Manuel" did.

Forgive me if I don't take you at your word.

 

[RMoore1999]

When you find someone so dismissive of 2 people who, by all appearances, have things going in the right direction, and they are on the internet spewing total disdain, you have to believe there is something personal behind it.

That certainly could be the case. I was simply trying to point out that this place (and most other interactive internet forums) really excels at piling on to quash unpopular minority views.

The definitive story from the "inside" of why we currently reside in the aac still hasn't been written. Multiple theories abound. Hopefully in the aftermath of our eventual admittance into the B1G, that story will be written, and I won't be surprised if it contains components from most of the competing theories.

Someone in this thread reminds us that bashing the current administration this week is bad form, and I couldn't agree more.

Irrespective of everything else, I am grateful that the man responsible for creating the national power that is Connecticut basketball was able to orchestrate KO's hiring. For me, the ends most certainly justified the means.

Let's beat Florida.

 

[Alum86]

Seriously? You have a beef with our athletic director jetting between the men's and women's final four with our big time donors? God forbid we let them have an enjoyable experience on athletic department's dime (=not taxpayer's... Heck for all we know it might be the donors paying for it), they might be coaxed into donating more money (thus offsetting the cost of schmoozing them) for a hockey arena or expanding the Rent. Then we'd have to say something else positive about Warde, and that would make the energy vampire crowd even more miserable, and we wouldn't want that now would we?

He is a party boy fluff no substance AD my friend. Your rant defending him is hard to comprehend.

 

[junglehusky]

He is a party boy fluff no substance AD my friend. Your rant defending him is hard to comprehend.

 

[tcf15]

"Oh, wow, check it out. 82 posts in a thread titled 'Props to Warde Manuel'. Could it be?"

*clicks on thread*

"Nope"

 

[junglehusky]

Mike DiMauro: Manuel's earning his "Rock Star" status.

He left out the "party boy" angle, so BC grad DiMauro must be slipping. Good thing our "fan" Alum86 is clever enough to see the real story that our athletic department has no substance! Here's a cookie for you, sporto.

 

[GlastonTim]

Mike DiMauro: Manuel's earning his "Rock Star" status.

He left out the "party boy" angle, so BC grad DiMauro must be slipping. Good thing our "fan" Alum86 is clever enough to see the real story that our athletic department has no substance! Here's a cookie for you, sporto.

I guess Mike DiMauro doesn't have insider knowledge.

 

[Husky25]

+1. No AD should be forced to accept a retiring coach's suggestion for a new hire to the flagship sports program at a major university. Many ADs would have been pissed, told Calhoun to go to hell and refused to consider his suggestion. Warde did the right thing, and decided to give Ollie a chance while engaging in some first hand observation. It became clear early on why he was the right guy, and Warde acted promptly to lock him up.

The think I appreciate about Warde is that he's former athlete and a fan. He now bleeds Husky blue the way he bleeds Michigan blue. He feels our pain. He's not just another guy in a suit pushing paper around.

First, many ADs would not have told Calhoun to go screw. Second, Warde Manuel had no choice. There is no doubt that Calhoun "Dean-Smithed" Warde Manuel. He retired too close to the start of the season and a national search really couldn't have happened within three week prior to Midnight Madness. It's not because a search firm wouldn't be able to identify candidates, it's because any potential candidate worth their salt were already entrenched in preparing their own teams and were no going to agree to take over a team barred from the post season as UConn was. The coach for the 2012 season was going to be someone from Calhoun's staff minus George Blaney.

Warde Manuel handled the situation as well as he could minus one aspect. I think he Ollie should have been given a 2-year contract initially with a buyout provision at a nominal amount AND a coaches option to renegotiate after year one. That way there would be no perceived interim tag (He was not interim in reality. He was a lame duck. T.J. Weist was an interim coach, Hank Hughes was an Interim coach.) and Ollie could recruit more "effectively." In hindsight however, I don't think UConn really missed out on a lot of recruits that panned out.

 

[RMoore1999]

I guess Mike DiMauro doesn't have insider knowledge.

First, many ADs would not have told Calhoun to go screw. Second, Warde Manuel had no choice. There is no doubt that Calhoun "Dean-Smithed" Warde Manuel. He retired too close to the start of the season and a national search really couldn't have happened within three week prior to Midnight Madness. It's not because a search firm wouldn't be able to identify candidates, it's because any potential candidate worth their salt were already entrenched in preparing their own teams and were no going to agree to take over a team barred from the post season as UConn was. The coach for the 2012 season was going to be someone from Calhoun's staff minus George Blaney.

Warde Manuel handled the situation as well as he could minus one aspect. I think he Ollie should have been given a 2-year contract initially with a buyout provision at a nominal amount AND a coaches option to renegotiate after year one. That way there would be no perceived interim tag (He was not interim in reality. He was a lame duck. T.J. Weist was an interim coach, Hank Hughes was an Interim coach.) and Ollie could recruit more "effectively." In hindsight however, I don't think UConn really missed out on a lot of recruits that panned out.

Warde certainly deserves much credit for avoiding a pissing contest with JC and instead partnering with him to leverage everything great JC offers.

 

[IMind]

First, many ADs would not have told Calhoun to go screw. Second, Warde Manuel had no choice. There is no doubt that Calhoun "Dean-Smithed" Warde Manuel. He retired too close to the start of the season and a national search really couldn't have happened within three week prior to Midnight Madness. It's not because a search firm wouldn't be able to identify candidates, it's because any potential candidate worth their salt were already entrenched in preparing their own teams and were no going to agree to take over a team barred from the post season as UConn was. The coach for the 2012 season was going to be someone from Calhoun's staff minus George Blaney.

Warde Manuel handled the situation as well as he could minus one aspect. I think he Ollie should have been given a 2-year contract initially with a buyout provision at a nominal amount AND a coaches option to renegotiate after year one. That way there would be no perceived interim tag (He was not interim in reality. He was a lame duck. T.J. Weist was an interim coach, Hank Hughes was an Interim coach.) and Ollie could recruit more "effectively." In hindsight however, I don't think UConn really missed out on a lot of recruits that panned out.

I guess Calhoun must have fallen off that bike and broke his hip for show. Or maybe he didn't! He might have gotten the UConn Health Center to falsify his injury just so he could install Ollie right before the season started!

 

[8893]

I guess Calhoun must have fallen off that bike and broke his hip for show. Or maybe he didn't! He might have gotten the UConn Health Center to falsify his injury just so he could install Ollie right before the season started!

I don't think he's doubting the legitimacy of the injury, but rather pointing out that the timing forced the situation.