Rice post game thread

[Chin Diesel]

I'm glad I didn't get to watch this game. I feel like I've seen this movie before.

I checked my phone with 0:06 left in regulation and immediately realized three OT losses in three road game was UConn's destiny.

UConn under Brock continues to be poor defending HS football schemes of get the ball to the best athlete on the field and best UConn's schemes. Jimmy and Joe is better than Brock's X and O.
Big picture is win next week, get bowl eligible and move on. From a national perspective of UConn this doesn't change anything.

 

[How Sway?!]

Hard to say anything without an isolated camera, but Bell disappeared in 2nd half. NFL talent shouldn't be invisible against a G5 secondary.

Whole offense disappeared. The play calling didn't help either. Can't really fault him when we don't put him in a position to succeed

 

[Scoe]

They all choked every single one of them.

 

[Mora4Prez]

For the record, my post wasn't meant to be a jab at you. I just found it ironic that a post saying we should look to replace Mora was first liked by someone who, at least at one point, was clearly a fan of Mora by their handle.

In general I don't mind people critiquing the administration or athletic department. But I think it's absurd people are actually looking to replace Mora at this point in time. Who exactly is Benedict supposed to bring in? It wasn't that long ago this program was a legitimate laughing stock. We've had one winning season in the past what, 15 years? Let's actually have a run of sustained success before acting like this is some destination spot. We're all pissed off we lost a game we should have won. Believe me I am pissed, but I'm also thankful I actually expect to win football games again.

Some of those teams you mentioned have clear advantages, like being in recruiting hotbeds and actually playing in a conference (USF, UNT). Tulane got to where they are because they brought in a guy like Mora (Willie Fritz), and went through 3 bad years and 3 mediocre years (4-8, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-6, 2-10) before finally winning the AAC and then the Cotton Bowl in year 7. It not only took time, but the team appeared to take a major step backwards in year 6 record wise. Imagine if they fired him because they felt he had gotten them to the next level and mediocrity was all he would ever achieve.

No I didn’t think it was a jab and I appreciate your POV. I absolutely have been a mora fan and extremely grateful for what he’s done.

That being said, it’s clear that there’s something missing. I don’t know if that’s “killer instinct” or what but it’s just infuriating. We suffered through years of Charlton and now we have the same BS with Brock. We just continuously underperform in key areas due to repetition of failure.

Maybe replacing Mora isn’t the answer (I find it hard to believe we’d do so after a 7-5 season) but SOMETHING about this program needs to change.

 

[Alum86]

Joe F’s stat line will look good, but he really did not have it today. Rice got up in his face and he could not go vertical. He reverted to whipping it in the flat and overthrowing passes (poor Rosa) on screens.

 

[ZooCougar]

Joe F’s stat line will look good, but he really did not have it today. Rice got up in his face and he could not go vertical. He reverted to whipping it in the flat and overthrowing passes (poor Rosa) on screens.

Passing game was gone in the second half. The conditions really great.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I haven’t read all of the comments…so forgive me if this is repititive.

This is the most disappointing loss of the year. At the end of Cuse, I was somewhat happy they competed. Delaware…it felt like a Cuse hangover and my boy Minicucci played amazing.

They needed to win this game to prove that they had grown as a team and they failed. I put this game on the offense. UConn was unlucky getting a healthy QB back for Rice. UConn’s defense has struggled all year…and having a healthy QB running the triple option was going to be a challenge for a defense that has struggled all year versus the run. They did struggle…and couldn’t come up with a big play or turnover.

But still…they could have won if the offense played at their best. I am going to assume that Edwards was banged up more than usual since they didn’t call his number much. Coleman should be getting more carries if Edwards can’t go. Instead..they keep calling plays out wide..both running and passing…that are mildly successful. I don’t remember many passes over the middle the whole game. Was it playcalling or Fagnano not playing agressively?

Either way…Rice does not have a good defense and UConn’s offense did not do enough to put this game away.

It feels like UConn got outcoached this game…but….I still have full confidence in Mora.

 

[Scoe]

There actually is a lot of pressure to win every G5 game, some of these G5 teams have us circled on their calender because of the UConn brand and will play us like it's their Super Bowl.

We have beaten Rice the last 2 years, Rice had their guys back and had a bye. Rice came in with revenge on their mind, and were ready to have a street fight and we had zero punch back played like whimps and it showed in the coaching too.

Our guys couldn't make adjustments and weren't poised to match Rice toughness. While the Bell TD was a nice start it it almost felt like it had an overlly positive but soon after a negative effects as if it were too easy. When Cam got stuffed in 3rd and 1 that's when it was a momementum shift. I know we took a lead but the rest of game we couldn't deliver the knockout punch just zero poise.

 

[CashewCrew]

Someone in here put it really well. When did we start running this east/west offense behind the line of scrimmage. What happened to throwing the ball DOWN the field. I almost wish Joe would throw an INT so I know he’s just not scared of ruining his stats. So frustrated with the offense. The defense has been bad, we knew this. The offense was supposed to help them out though and they did not. The O couldn’t stay on the dang field

 

[HuskyinWRNY]

I called the big 12. They hung up on.me.

 

[CL82]

I turned the game off as soon as we missed 3 tackles to lose the game. Did the 20 Rice fans storm the field?

The crowd might've been less at the end. It was raining and people probably left early to avoid traffic. Although how much traffic 20 people can make is debatable.

 

[gtcam]

A six year college QB cannot miss those passes on the last offensive possession in regulation - at a TE's feet and over the head of his best receiver. Horrible sequence and horrible loss. Well, UConn may be come bowl eligible, but the bowl will be a stinker due to this loss.

 

[Alum86]

The crowd might've been less at the end. It was raining and people probably left early to avoid traffic. Although how much traffic 20 people can make is debatable.

The attendance looked sparse to put it best, watching on TV. But I did spot the blue white kid. God bless him.

 

[uconnyankee]

Come on. every message board out there is insufferable after a loss. That's the way it is. There is no way we should have lost to Rice, in this fashion, after having already lost to cuse and delaware the way we did, if we were much better than this. I don't think we are. It was a house of cards.

I don’t disagree it’s a tough loss.
But I can temper this with the countless games I’ve watched where we weren’t even competitive.

This team is who they are. They are a decent G5 program. Far from a juggernaut but farther from the team RE had that was as an embarrassment.

At some point, it would be great if folks could just stop with the program having to win out in perpetuity to justify its existence.

 

[uconnyankee]

I understand the glass-half-full perspective, and I appreciate it.

But - respectfully, these ^ are the types of takes that are happy to be independent football + big east basketball till the cows come home.

This season so far, ISN'T good enough, for what UConn claims it wants to accomplish (full P4 membership).

UConn itself (Plus some of us here) want to get football to the big stage. Big stage teams don't lose in shootouts to Delaware and Rice.

The big 12 won't be impressed that we dropped 41 and 34 on these teams. They will laugh that we did that and STILL lost. If that is good enough for some of you fans, then all respect to you. Just know that it means you'll never see anything beyond what uconn already has now. It only goes DOWNHILL from here (after Hurley goes to NBA and Geno retires).

Just stop and get over yourself. I’m a huge proponent of getting to P4 as are others.
This game was a let down. If you’re going to look at every game and analyze whether that is the game to get us to P4, good luck to you.

Geno retiring is inevitable. Hurley leaving at some point is inevitable. Mora will also leave. It’s called life.

just because some folks aren’t as insufferable as you doesn’t mean they are less of a fan or happy with status quo.

 

[giddyup]

Brock needs to hit the road. How in the world to we get beat for a second week in the row on a long pass TD under 2 minutes. It GD inexcusable incompetence.

 

[BlueWolf25]

I don’t disagree it’s a tough loss.
But I can temper this with the countless games I’ve watched where we weren’t even competitive.

This team is who they are. They are a decent G5 program. Far from a juggernaut but farther from the team RE had that was as an embarrassment.

At some point, it would be great if folks could just stop with the program having to win out in perpetuity to justify its existence.

I hear you, and I think two things can be true. No, our program shouldn’t shut down because of this loss. And we have come a long way, but we’re finally in position to take steps forward and we fall flat. Again.

Despite the flaws on defense and the playcalling issues, we’ve arguably had the better talent in every game, and we’ve held a late 4th quarter lead in every game. Yet we’re 5-3. It’s great that we aren’t an embarrassment, but it’s also frustrating because the same issues repeatedly come up. This could’ve been a special season where we were looking at 10+ wins if three or four plays go differently. Instead we’re on track for a similar, if not worse, season than last year. It’s fair for people to be frustrated when it’s right in front of this program, and everyone from the coaches to players make the same mistakes when it matters time and time again

 

[superjohn]

I understand the glass-half-full perspective, and I appreciate it.

But - respectfully, these ^ are the types of takes that are happy to be independent football + big east basketball till the cows come home.

This season so far, ISN'T good enough, for what UConn claims it wants to accomplish (full P4 membership).

UConn itself (Plus some of us here) want to get football to the big stage. Big stage teams don't lose in shootouts to Delaware and Rice.

The big 12 won't be impressed that we dropped 41 and 34 on these teams. They will laugh that we did that and STILL lost. If that is good enough for some of you fans, then all respect to you. Just know that it means you'll never see anything beyond what uconn already has now. It only goes DOWNHILL from here (after Hurley goes to NBA and Geno retires).

UConn basketball isn't going downhill and it isn't dependent on any one coach.

 

[giddyup]

I hear you, and I think two things can be true. No, our program shouldn’t shut down because of this loss. And we have come a long way, but we’re finally in position to take steps forward and we fall flat. Again.

Despite the flaws on defense and the playcalling issues, we’ve arguably had the better talent in every game, and we’ve held a late 4th quarter lead in every game. Yet we’re 5-3. It’s great that we aren’t an embarrassment, but it’s also frustrating because the same issues repeatedly come up. This could’ve been a special season where we were looking at 10+ wins if three or four plays go differently. Instead we’re on track for a similar, if not worse, season than last year. It’s fair for people to be frustrated when it’s right in front of this program, and everyone from the coaches to players make the same mistakes when it matters time and time again

We are more talented overall but can’t get over the hump and that is a problem and it starts with both an OC and DC that cant consistently manage and call a complete game. It’s maddening. This team could be 8-0 right now but for a DC running a junk scheme with the wrong personnel, and an OC that seems to disappear for chunks of a game. It’s disappointing to see us squander what could have been a great year. Boy do we seem to shrink in the moment.

 

[Jetskies]

UConn basketball isn't going downhill and it isn't dependent on any one coach.

i'm not saying it's guaranteed to go downhill.
i'm saying that if 5-3 with a cupcake schedule is ok with some fans, then the current state of uconn athletics is as good as it's ever gonna get, and they need to be ok with that if they don't see the big-picture problem with a loss like today (combined with delaware). The only direction things can go, is down, because there's not much else we can achieve with basketball (good problem).


Also, past bball performance is not a guarantee of future results. We learned that during AAC days. So there is no guarantee it WON'T go downhill. Football carrying us to P4, is a huge hedge against that risk, IMO. Football is the only sport that can get it done, as we've now seen the last 2 summers. And today was another step in the wrong direction.

 

[Jetskies]

Just stop and get over yourself. I’m a huge proponent of getting to P4 as are others.
This game was a let down. If you’re going to look at every game and analyze whether that is the game to get us to P4, good luck to you.

Geno retiring is inevitable. Hurley leaving at some point is inevitable. Mora will also leave. It’s called life.

just because some folks aren’t as insufferable as you doesn’t mean they are less of a fan or happy with status quo.

ok.

 

[RitzLuce1]

Handed away a game to the worst team in Texas in front of 25 fans. All with the chance to go 6-2 and fire the fanbase up to come out and support you for the final 3 home games. Potentially getting some of the biggest crowds in years. And threw it down the drain.

I am still pissed. If the AD is even remotely serious about this program, he better be pissed too. Huge consequences to the incompetence we saw today. There better be a big time plan in place this off season in terms of NIL/Rev Share and building this roster. After a game like today, I am worried people like Mike Burton are just gonna throw their hands in the air and say why bother.

 

[Devland]

The frustrating thing about the defense is the inability to tackle. Most times we have players in position to make a play but either take the wrong path or just totally miss the tackle. People want to change schemes but I don't think there is a scheme out there that works if you can't tackle.

 

[uconnyankee]

I hear you, and I think two things can be true. No, our program shouldn’t shut down because of this loss. And we have come a long way, but we’re finally in position to take steps forward and we fall flat. Again.

Despite the flaws on defense and the playcalling issues, we’ve arguably had the better talent in every game, and we’ve held a late 4th quarter lead in every game. Yet we’re 5-3. It’s great that we aren’t an embarrassment, but it’s also frustrating because the same issues repeatedly come up. This could’ve been a special season where we were looking at 10+ wins if three or four plays go differently. Instead we’re on track for a similar, if not worse, season than last year. It’s fair for people to be frustrated when it’s right in front of this program, and everyone from the coaches to players make the same mistakes when it matters time and time again

Very frustrating.
This clearly isn’t a complete team in areas. Especially on defense. They’ve had moments but were exposed a bit. And offense, for putting up 30+ points didn’t seem to be effective in 2nd half

I’m hoping this is a hiccup before team makes next evolution in learning to win consistently. They just aren’t good enough and don’t have this huge margin of error to take any team or any single play for granted.
We’ll see against UAB. I think Mora will have them ready.

 

[uconnyankee]

i'm not saying it's guaranteed to go downhill.
i'm saying that if 5-3 with a cupcake schedule is ok with some fans, then the current state of uconn athletics is as good as it's ever gonna get, and they need to be ok with that if they don't see the big-picture problem with a loss like today (combined with delaware). The only direction things can go, is down, because there's not much else we can achieve with basketball (good problem).


Also, past bball performance is not a guarantee of future results. We learned that during AAC days. So there is no guarantee it WON'T go downhill. Football carrying us to P4, is a huge hedge against that risk, IMO. Football is the only sport that can get it done, as we've now seen the last 2 summers. And today was another step in the wrong direction.

Bb is going to go downhill.
And then it will come back up.
People had Geno dead, he’s doing okay in his twilight years.

There is genuine fatigue over people looking at every result of every football game and suggesting that result is why we aren’t good enough, aren’t viable, and therefore not worthy of a P4 invite.

People are seeing what UConn is doing. People see what Mora has done. The FB program has turned the corner. Get upset after a frustrating loss. It means we should have won vs the apathy of the previous staff where just being competitive was the goal.

Just stop with the ‘this ^ is why we won’t get a P4 invite’ stuff’.