I guess I'm over enthusiastic and overly optomistic. But I like to have lofty goals and aim high.......I may not reach them, but am always trying.
Everyone laughed when Schiano went to Rutgers and proclaimed he wanted to bring national championships to the university. A high goal that was never achieved, but the program became something no one in NJ ever imagined was even remotely possible. Look where they are now compared to UConn........it must feel nice to be wanted.......the additional $ 20 mil is even better.
Schiano's illustrious and illusionary goals did not get NC's, but got Rutgers more attention from fans, athletes, press and other conferences.
Some commentary is absolutely on point. Syracuse and Pittsburgh stadiums often look as minor league as UConn during game time. The difference is they offer an historic perspective to a success where they had heisman trophy winners, and some of their players in the NFL became household names and NFL hall of famers. So in the eyes of the more established conferences, they have shown they can be successful, and have potentials that were not realized in the big east. That's why they were/are desirable and perceived as a benefit to other conferences.
Wasn't there a kindergarten story about the "little engine that could".....something about getting to the top of a big mountain? (My AARP mind may escape the details).
UConn does not have a historical perspective, which I'll symbolize as a diesel engine, to pull UConn's locomotive along.
So once again, its up to SH, WM and the fans to get this little FB engine out of the station and started up the big hill. If not, we're stuck in the "roundhouse" at ground level, and no other conference is going to punch UConn's ticket.