Props to Warde Manuel

[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.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Nice improvement and looks to be head in the right direction. Getting UConn into a P5 Conference will be the tipping point.

 

[metsfan2323]

Being an AD is like being a baseball umpire, you only get noticed when something goes wrong. If the coaches are happy with Warde (they are) then so should the fans.

Nice job Warde Manuel.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

You guys are giving Manuel credit for hiring a coach that he didn't want to hire, who went on to win the national championship.

Nice work Warde!!!

 

[CTMike]

He didn't want to hire him so much that he gave him an initial deal, made a new deal, and was already on the record before the championship about giving him an extension.

You've got a thing about always needing to be right, huh?

 

[Husky25]

You guys are giving Manuel credit for hiring a coach that he didn't want to hire, who went on to win the national championship.

Nice work Warde!!!

Manuel wasn't in position to hire anyone. He was operating under the assumption that Calhoun was coming back for at least one more year. Ollie's 7 month deal was for crap, that really can't be disputed. It should have been for at least two years. What also cannot be disputed is that Ollie proved he was the right guy for the job. Would Manuel have hired Ollie after a national search? No one really knows for sure, but Ollie definitely would have been in the pool of candidates.

In the end, you can't really say he didn't want to hire him?