Props to Warde Manuel

[Husky25]

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!

See 8893 above.

I think Calhoun had every intention of coaching in 2012, when he fell off his bike. This guy is well passed "typical" retirement age, a 3 time cancer survivor, had just gone through an NCAA Investigation, and found guilty of having no institutional control over his program. On top of that, he was being openly opined upon about the position passing him by a mere 2 years earlier. UConn had not won a regular season title since 2006 and had not won a Big East Tournament title since 2004.

I also think he Ollie was in the perfect position to succeed him at that point.

 

[Alum86]

The Warde Manuel Admiration Society. Are you kidding me? He is riding off our success despite of himself. Toes in sand, d@ck in hand, watch where the Cardinals land. Yeah I went there. And what's with the cookie junglehusky? I lived there for two years btw. I am no insider, just know a charlatan when I see one, and WM is a poser

 

[sportsart]

The Warde Manuel Admiration Society. Are you kidding me? He is riding off our success despite of himself. Toes in sand, d@ck in hand, watch where the Cardinals land. Yeah I went there. And what's with the cookie junglehusky? I lived there for two years btw. I am no insider, just know a charlatan when I see one, and WM is a poser

You are such a bore. Why do you even bother with UConn athletics? We are going no where and we are only succeeding due to luck. Eventually we will end up like Rutgers and never win another championship.

Please just stop. No one really cares.

 

[Alum86]

I think they do Art. Mr Rah Rah for WM. And tacitly for PP as well. I am no bore, just do not think this AD is any good. He is mot in the forefront explaining where he thinks we are going. Don't tell me to go away or bother , you sanctimonious s.o.b.

 

[MattMang23]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Waquoit]

Ignore

 

[Rico444]

Anyone see him go full-on crazy after Nolan's dunk?

That is a whole lotta enthusiastic athletic director right there.

He's a Michigan guy, right? The fact that we beat State to get to the Final Four must have been the cherry on top.

 

[SAMCRO]

It's laughable to read from posters that UConn employees complaining about Herbst/Manuel. With a little inside scoop from time to time, I know the people pissing the most are the ones who've had a free ride for the last 7+/- years before SH and WM arrived. The ones who sat on their hands NOT building/marketing ' out of a NC generating BB machine for both M&W, and capitalizing on FB when it was actually winning BE titles and consistently going to Bowl games, and a BCS game, not growing our endowmnet or donations to the Athl Dept. Over the past 2 years the current administration has gotten more mileage with worse on field/court results than the previous administration did with huge athletic success (comparatively speaking). Herbst and Manuel inherited a sandwich in a lot of ways, and have done solid work in righting a wayward ship. Our current fate was written years before either arrived on campus, and at the least they are working on creating a better fate.

So, to all the whining UConn employees who are now being asked to actually earn their keep, STFU and raise your game, or feel free to leave (don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya).

 

[Waquoit]

So, to all the whining UConn employees who are now being asked to actually earn their keep, STFU and raise your game, or feel free to leave (don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya).

And not just in the Athletic Department, there is ton of entreched suck in UConn admin. Herbst had her work cut out for her.

 

[dante]

It's laughable to read from posters that UConn employees complaining about Herbst/Manuel. With a little inside scoop from time to time, I know the people pissing the most are the ones who've had a free ride for the last 7+/- years before SH and WM arrived. The ones who sat on their hands NOT building/marketing ' out of a NC generating BB machine for both M&W, and capitalizing on FB when it was actually winning BE titles and consistently going to Bowl games, and a BCS game, not growing our endowmnet or donations to the Athl Dept. Over the past 2 years the current administration has gotten more mileage with worse on field/court results than the previous administration did with huge athletic success (comparatively speaking). Herbst and Manuel inherited a sandwich in a lot of ways, and have done solid work in righting a wayward ship. Our current fate was written years before either arrived on campus, and at the least they are working on creating a better fate.

So, to all the whining UConn employees who are now being asked to actually earn their keep, STFU and raise your game, or feel free to leave (don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya).

Ok calm down there buddy, the Success of the women's and men's has nothing to do with Warde, do you remember Geno's contract? how it wasnt a priority and took his sweet time to make it happen.. where was he? China! I like how you go on about UConn's athletics and blah blah when the only thing you follow is men's basketball. Tell me how Warde had a problem with giving Kevin Ollie a contract be cause of lack of head coach experience and so on and yet has no problem in hiring a football coach with no head coach experience? you dont think thats hypocrite?
You go on saying the old administration did nothing to promote UConn and blah blah, Ok what has Warde done to promote UConn? the uconnhuskies videos on youtube? give me a break

 

[tcf15]

Ok calm down there buddy, the Success of the women's and men's has nothing to do with Warde, do you remember Geno's contract? how it wasnt a priority and took his sweet time to make it happen.. where was he? China! I like how you go on about UConn's athletics and blah blah when the only thing you follow is men's basketball. Tell me how Warde had a problem with giving Kevin Ollie a contract be cause of lack of head coach experience and so on and yet has no problem in hiring a football coach with no head coach experience? you dont think thats hypocrite?
You go on saying the old administration did nothing to promote UConn and blah blah, Ok what has Warde done to promote UConn? the uconnhuskies videos on youtube? give me a break

Has nothing to do with head coaching experience. Just experience in general. Kevin Ollie had 2 years of being an assistant coach under his belt. Diaco had 15+ years experience as an assistant or coordinator. Two completely different situations.

 

[IMind]

See 8893 above.

I think Calhoun had every intention of coaching in 2012, when he fell off his bike. This guy is well passed "typical" retirement age, a 3 time cancer survivor, had just gone through an NCAA Investigation, and found guilty of having no institutional control over his program. On top of that, he was being openly opined upon about the position passing him by a mere 2 years earlier. UConn had not won a regular season title since 2006 and had not won a Big East Tournament title since 2004.

I also think he Ollie was in the perfect position to succeed him at that point.

I guess the point I really had an issue about and you reacted to was that you said, "There is no doubt that Calhoun "Dean-Smithed" Warde Manuel". There really are too many differences in the situation. Calhoun didn't force a long time assistant with a limited shelf life on Warde. If he had named Blaney the head coach or maybe Hobbs then it might be appropriate.

 

[Husky25]

I guess the point I really had an issue about and you reacted to was that you said, "There is no doubt that Calhoun "Dean-Smithed" Warde Manuel". There really are too many differences in the situation. Calhoun didn't force a long time assistant with a limited shelf life on Warde. If he had named Blaney the head coach or maybe Hobbs then it might be appropriate.

A respected hall of fame legend retired unexpectedly and named his own successor with no head coaching experience on a truncated timeline? The "too many differences" equal exactly two (2)" age and assistant coaching experience (which is mitigated by Ollie's experience as an NBA player).

Guthridge was 59 and supposed to be coach for at least 5 years, but retired after 3. When Roy Williams (and others) rebuffed UNC, they hired Matt Doherty. Only after Doherty was forced out did Williams go to UNC.

Blaney had no desire to be a full-time head coach at his age (13 years older than Guthridge was at the time) and Hobbs was/is used goods. I had always thought that Tom Moore would come back, but he was intimately involved with the Nate Miles situation and therefore toxic to the program.

 

[junglehusky]

The Warde Manuel Admiration Society. Are you kidding me? He is riding off our success despite of himself. Toes in sand, d@ck in hand, watch where the Cardinals land. Yeah I went there. And what's with the cookie junglehusky? I lived there for two years btw. I am no insider, just know a charlatan when I see one, and WM is a poser

I think they do Art. Mr Rah Rah for WM. And tacitly for PP as well. I am no bore, just do not think this AD is any good. He is mot in the forefront explaining where he thinks we are going. Don't tell me to go away or bother , you sanctimonious s.o.b.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Have any of you listened to Calhoun interviews in the last few days? Calhoun is making the "I told you so" circuit. Who is the "you" in Calhoun's "I told you so"? It isn't fans, or the media for that matter. Just about everyone was anywhere from indifferent to excited about Ollie, and willing to at least give him a chance. If you haven't figured it out yet, the "you" in Calhoun's "I told you so" is Warde Manuel.

Yes, Calhoun tried to shove Ollie down Manuel's throat by retiring when he did instead of taking a few months off for the hip injury. It was an "in your face" stunt, but that is the kind of guy Calhoun is. Manuel gave Ollie a 10 month contract which was a passive/aggressive slap in the face to both Calhoun and Ollie. It tied Ollie's hands for recruiting and made him look weak to the entire country by making him dance for his job. It was also stupid and a no win situation for Manuel. If Ollie failed, Calhoun and the basketball alum would have blamed Manuel for undermining Ollie by only giving him a 10 month contract. If Ollie succeeded like he did, they would get to do exactly what they are doing now, which is rub Manuel's nose in it. Manuel can't take credit for Ollie because it wasn't his decision to hire Ollie, it was Calhoun's.

The smart move for Manuel would have been to give Ollie a cheap 3 year deal, and then fire him after 1 or 2 if it wasn't working out. Calhoun couldn't complain at that point, because Ollie would have gotten a fair chance to succeed. Now Manuel has two head coaches that are more powerful than him, one of whom he tried to undermine. Politically, he is in exactly the same spot as Hathaway was in.

If any of you think any of the Calhoun partisans like Manuel, you are deluded. Just read what they are saying about Ollie. How many "I have always believed in you" tweets and quotes have you seen? Dozens? Who do they think DIDN'T believe in Ollie?

 

[intlzncster]

Yes, Calhoun tried to shove Ollie down Manuel's throat by retiring when he did instead of taking a few months off for the hip injury. It was an "in your face" stunt, but that is the kind of guy Calhoun is. Manuel gave Ollie a 10 month contract which was a passive/aggressive slap in the face to both Calhoun and Ollie. It tied Ollie's hands for recruiting and made him look weak to the entire country by making him dance for his job. It was also stupid and a no win situation for Manuel. If Ollie failed, Calhoun and the basketball alum would have blamed Manuel for undermining Ollie by only giving him a 10 month contract. If Ollie succeeded like he did, they would get to do exactly what they are doing now, which is rub Manuel's nose in it. Manuel can't take credit for Ollie because it wasn't his decision to hire Ollie, it was Calhoun's.

He did that at the recommendation of Dean Smith(iirc) apparently. It was the right move. Don't give Warde Manuel a chance to f up the program he built. Too important for the school. Warde had been on the job, what, a year? Hardly the man you want to entrust in that situation.

 

[Gringo]

The smart move for Manuel would have been to give Ollie a cheap 3 year deal, and then fire him after 1 or 2 if it wasn't working out. Calhoun couldn't complain at that point, because Ollie would have gotten a fair chance to succeed. Now Manuel has two head coaches that are more powerful than him, one of whom he tried to undermine. Politically, he is in exactly the same spot as Hathaway was in.

Not sure why, but reading your post makes me think of this....

 

[CTMike]

That conspiracy theory is a stretch even for you, Nelson.

 

[Waquoit]

The answer to this entire thing is "eh, so what." Manuel has never been stronger and this FF run has put JC in the RVM. Read this article and tell me JC has more power than WM. He has gone from a necessity to a "nice to have." Any new contract JC gets from UConn will be on Warde's terms.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

If Ollie succeeded like he did, they would get to do exactly what they are doing now, which is rub Manuel's nose in it.

Nice adverb.

 

[Nostical]

Calhoun, as he should, feels good about the way Ollie has worked out, which has vindicated him but Manuel did the right thing. Regardless of what Calhoun thought about Ollie being a no-brainer, WM wasn't about to turn over the ship to an untested captain. Too many other hand picked successors have flopped.

 

[SAMCRO]

Ok calm down there buddy, the Success of the women's and men's has nothing to do with Warde, do you remember Geno's contract? how it wasnt a priority and took his sweet time to make it happen.. where was he? China! I like how you go on about UConn's athletics and blah blah when the only thing you follow is men's basketball. Tell me how Warde had a problem with giving Kevin Ollie a contract be cause of lack of head coach experience and so on and yet has no problem in hiring a football coach with no head coach experience? you dont think thats hypocrite?

Is that what you took away form my post. Not sure I can help you then, but I'll address each of your points:
- I never said WM had anything to do with BB success. I said he and SH have done more to advance and promote the UConn brand beyond the north/central portion of CT than the prior administration ever did. Check the fundraising. It's no small coincidence that the practice facility moved forward with them here, we upgradedto HE under his watch, etc...
- WM locked up GA's contract though, and the two are actually pretty tight. WM was in China with Nike and other Univ. AD's, etc.. if memory serves correct. Contract still got done though and GA is happy.
- I actually support all the sports teams at UConn, not just BB. I primarily support FB (season tickets). I rarely post on the BB board truth be told.
- Last I checked WM did in fact give KO a contract after being put in a corner by JC. Glad it all worked out. Just b/c your panties tightened on how he handled it doesn't change the fact he hadled it. You remind me of posters on the FB board who used to complain that we only threw for 100 yards while winning games. Forget the fact the team won, they didn't like the style.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

What has Warde Manuel done to promote UConn athletics? Cavanaugh, Ollie and Diaco.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The answer to this entire thing is "eh, so what." Manuel has never been stronger and this FF run has put JC in the RVM. Read this article and tell me JC has more power than WM. He has gone from a necessity to a "nice to have." Any new contract JC gets from UConn will be on Warde's terms.

Herbst is above the fray.

Calhoun has never been more powerful. Ollie owes Calhoun big after what Calhoun did. Dealing with legends is normal at successful programs, and I suspect Calhoun is not amongst the easiest in this regard. But to have taken the legend head on, and lost as badly as Manuel did here, was just stupid.

Manuel could have taken credit for Ollie if he had offerred Ollie any kind of deal up front, even a lousy one. Now, Manuel has no credibility. Notice how often the sportswriters bring it up. Even they are rubbing Manuel's face in it. At this point, the smart thing for Manuel to do would be to give an interview to his favorite Horde writer in a month and just admit he screwed up on Ollie last year.

 

[dante]

What has Warde Manuel done to promote UConn athletics? Cavanaugh, Ollie and Diaco.

lol, not a hockey fan wont comment on Cavanaugh, Governor malloy was the one pushing for UConn to go to Hockey East and yet Warde gets credit for that. Ollie was not Wardes pick.
Warde wanted Pat Narduzzi there was newspaper from michigan, detroit or whatever saying how Pat was his man yada yada yada and pretty much sucking up to him but Pat was like no thanks lol, and thats when Warde hired Diaco and started saying how Diaco was the guy he wanted yada yada yada the same BS he was saying about Pat.

Being rejected is not promoting UConn my friend, it was on his watch that UConn got rejected by the ACC and got rejected by the guy he wanted in Football

 

[sportsart]

lol, not a hockey fan wont comment on Cavanaugh, Governor malloy was the one pushing for UConn to go to Hockey East and yet Warde gets credit for that. Ollie was not Wardes pick.
Warde wanted Pat Narduzzi there was newspaper from michigan, detroit or whatever saying how Pat was his man yada yada yada and pretty much sucking up to him but Pat was like no thanks lol, and thats when Warde hired Diaco and started saying how Diaco was the guy he wanted yada yada yada the same BS he was saying about Pat.

Being rejected is not promoting UConn my friend, it was on his watch that UConn got rejected by the ACC and got rejected by the guy he wanted in Football

He hired Cavanaugh, but go ahead and pass over that. Yes...believe the Michigan media while they protect one of their own. He was here less than a year when the ACC took UL, and by ALL accounts we did not have the votes to get in. But you go ahead and blame him.

You obviously have an agenda or you are just plain ignorant.

 

[Husky25]

lol, not a hockey fan wont comment on Cavanaugh, Governor malloy was the one pushing for UConn to go to Hockey East and yet Warde gets credit for that. Ollie was not Wardes pick.
Warde wanted Pat Narduzzi there was newspaper from michigan, detroit or whatever saying how Pat was his man yada yada yada and pretty much sucking up to him but Pat was like no thanks lol, and thats when Warde hired Diaco and started saying how Diaco was the guy he wanted yada yada yada the same BS he was saying about Pat.

Being rejected is not promoting UConn my friend, it was on his watch that UConn got rejected by the ACC and got rejected by the guy he wanted in Football

I was playing slow pitch softball in a beer league in Manchester during the Summer of 2003, and I hit a seeing eye single through the left side of the infield. My roommate was sure I going to be Boston's first pick in the upcoming amateur draft. Of course at the time, I was having loads of fun in with debits and credits in public accounting, so I said then and there that I am withdrawing my name from consideration. Alas, the Red Sox picked David Murphy.

You're posts reads like the Chris Farley Show from SNL back in the day.

Chris Farley: Umm, Pat?

Pat Narduzzi: Yes, Chris.

CF: Remember when all these anonymous idiots on a message board thought you were awesome and you were going to be their favorite team's next coach and you won awards, and your home town newspaper said you were leaving, and the teams athletic director said he wasn't going to comment until the search was done, and he didn't, and you were passed over, and you withdrew your name after the fact?

PN: ....Yeah?!?!

CF: Did that suck!?!?!?!

PN: Well, I did get a raise.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

lol, not a hockey fan wont comment on Cavanaugh, Governor malloy was the one pushing for UConn to go to Hockey East and yet Warde gets credit for that. Ollie was not Wardes pick.
Warde wanted Pat Narduzzi there was newspaper from michigan, detroit or whatever saying how Pat was his man yada yada yada and pretty much sucking up to him but Pat was like no thanks lol, and thats when Warde hired Diaco and started saying how Diaco was the guy he wanted yada yada yada the same BS he was saying about Pat.

Being rejected is not promoting UConn my friend, it was on his watch that UConn got rejected by the ACC and got rejected by the guy he wanted in Football

Rejected, according to who? All reports of that BS came from unconfirmed "sources" out of footballscoop.com. the offer was rejected in the media, Narduzzi was the media choice. The only open statement about that subject came from Warde at the press conference saying Diaco was his first choice. Few if any in the media knew we were even looking at Diaco.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

And as far as Ollie is concerned, there is no difference between a 1 year or a sh!tty 2-3 year deal regarding recruiting competitors/athletes' advisors.

 

[Alum86]

He hired Cavanaugh, but go ahead and pass over that. Yes...believe the Michigan media while they protect one of their own. He was here less than a year when the ACC took UL, and by ALL accounts we did not have the votes to get in. But you go ahead and blame him.

You obviously have an agenda or you are just plain ignorant.

Thank you Mrs. Manuel.