Should UConn abandon big-time college football? The question is a complex one to answer (Hearst)

[Brochacho]

Traditional D-1 programs in the Northeast, like Syracuse and Temple, are on life support, and BC and Pitt seem have an annual ceiling of being “decent.” So flip it around, and explain why you think UConn should continue trying to play in the FBS.

There's no reason UConn can't be a plucky 6-6 bowl participant most seasons besides horrid coaching for the past decade.

 

[NY Crusader]

Temple was atrocious in the MAC. It doesnt make sense for us to join the MAC as we aren’t interested in the teams in that conference.

That's incorrect. They may have had a bad year or two at some point during their tenure there. But when they were ATROCIOUS was during their last couple years in the Big East and when they were a I-A independent after getting kicked out. They rebuilt the program while in the MAC, were able to get re-invited to the Big East (right before the football group got re-badged as the AAC) and ultimately won an AAC title a few years back.

You may not have interest in the teams in the MAC, but is your fanbase interested in a hodgepodge schedule every year as an indy? That being said, I don't think the schedules you've put together are that bad, so far. So if you think UCONN can continue make it work as an FBS indy, so be it. But I think the stability that a conference would bring could help the program turn around.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

You take this program to FCS again and you can count me out. No thanks, will start following a real FBS school. What a joke.

 

[Uconnalliance]

FCS….

 

[drayenob]

 

[BlueDogs]

FCS….

Take it to FCS and I’ll never watch UConn again or donate a dime. It’s going backwards to the podunk dump it used to be. No interest watching a Catholic rec, basketball league.

 

[Skiblets]

That’s Dan O’s estranged father. He’s a piece of work

 

[noeynox]

Take it to FCS and I’ll never watch UConn again or donate a dime. It’s going backwards to the podunk dump it used to be. No interest watching a Catholic rec, basketball league.

I like BE basketball, but i too have no interest in FCS football. And I've followed since I was a kid and the names were Troy Ashley, Kevin Wesley, Glen Antrum, Cornelius Benton, Matt Degenaro etc.

As a kid a dreamed of UConn going 1A. It was a fun ride to start, we were like a penny stock that shot to the moon, now we are back in Penny land. But hell $NVAX was fifty cents 3 and a half years ago, so why not us. The next hire shouldn't be a retread or a reject.

I would make an exception for Paul Johnson. He was not a failed retread unlike P and Edsall.

 

[Vermonster]

I know we were overachievers in the early to mid 2000s but, it is really astounding (and depressing) to see how far this program has fallen. The playbook reads like one tragedy after another. Bumbling, misguided decisions and badly misplaced trust are only some of the program's problems.

The on-field and off-field products have become a constant source of embarrassment. I went from a proud alum that would bring groups of friends from out of state for UConn football weekends to sheepishly replying to text messages from those friends highlighting the team's recent laughable attempts.

I'm glad that the basketball team has turned the corner but, I really would love to see the football program return to a competent (at least competitive) status. It's just the latest black eye for the athletic department -- and quickly becoming a disgrace for the university.

I was never on the "drop to a lower division" bandwagon until this week. There's no shame in hitting the reset button when what you are doing is (quite clearly) NOT working. Randy is not the entire problem but, continually banging our heads against a brick wall is not the answer either.

Edit: my preference is very much to stay in division 1A, if possible, but not in our current state. SOMETHING needs to change. Maybe everything? I don't pretend to have all the answers... I'm just sick of what we've become

 

[shizzle787]

We are not going down to FCS. We would lose even more money at that level. Also, we are not playing a level below UMass, Syracuse, Pitt, or Boston College. The ACC will get raided by either the B1G or SEC or both in the next decade giving us a natural home.

 

[huskymedic]

-> UConn: It’s time to have the conversation about why UConn football exists in its current form. This is a school that cares about basketball so much it was willing to sacrifice football’s affiliation with the American Athletic Conference and go it alone as an independent so basketball could slide into the Big East.

At first, UConn fans talked themselves into this being an appealing option for football. But we don’t need to pretend anymore that it’s true. As we’ve seen since then, independence is an abject disaster for UConn, which reached another low Saturday in a 38-28 loss to Holy Cross.

What are you doing here, UConn? What are you trying to accomplish by staying in the Football Bowl Subdivision when every bit of evidence suggests this experiment leads only to lots of bad losses and getting made fun of relentlessly on Twitter? Be who you are as a basketball school and either park your football program in FCS, where it can compete, or drop the sport entirely. If you’re going to lose to the likes of Holy Cross, it’s far less embarrassing to do it when you’re in the same weight class. <-

 

[Kolumbo]

-> UConn: It’s time to have the conversation about why UConn football exists in its current form. This is a school that cares about basketball so much it was willing to sacrifice football’s affiliation with the American Athletic Conference and go it alone as an independent so basketball could slide into the Big East.

At first, UConn fans talked themselves into this being an appealing option for football. But we don’t need to pretend anymore that it’s true. As we’ve seen since then, independence is an abject disaster for UConn, which reached another low Saturday in a 38-28 loss to Holy Cross.

What are you doing here, UConn? What are you trying to accomplish by staying in the Football Bowl Subdivision when every bit of evidence suggests this experiment leads only to lots of bad losses and getting made fun of relentlessly on Twitter? Be who you are as a basketball school and either park your football program in FCS, where it can compete, or drop the sport entirely. If you’re going to lose to the likes of Holy Cross, it’s far less embarrassing to do it when you’re in the same weight class. <-

Where are the ranked Huskies which lost to FCS Montana?

 

[Storrs South]

We are not going down to FCS. We would lose even more money at that level. Also, we are not playing a level below UMass, Syracuse, Pitt, or Boston College. The ACC will get raided by either the B1G or SEC or both in the next decade giving us a natural home.

I think so many people fail to realize this: Clemson and FSU will not be in the ACC in a decade. WVU is lined up to take one of those spots. UConn just needs to be competent in football and they get that second spot. That's it. That's the game here.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Edsall was a decent coach who the game has completely past by, and UConn is still digging out of the catastrophic decision to stay in the AAC after Louisville left. It would take a good young coach to turn this program around after the damage Diaco, Edsall and the AAC have done. NIL should make a turnaround easier, and an aggressive young coach that was willing to work the transfer portal could get us back on our feet in a couple of years.

It comes down to what UConn wants to do.

 

[jonsmith]

Edsall was a decent coach who the game has completely past by, and UConn is still digging out of the catastrophic decision to stay in the AAC after Louisville left. It would take a good young coach to turn this program around after the damage Diaco, Edsall and the AAC have done. NIL should make a turnaround easier, and an aggressive young coach that was willing to work the transfer portal could get us back on our feet in a couple of years.

It comes down to what UConn wants to do.

So you think the problem with FB is that it didn't go independent sooner?

 

[BigFanCT]

I think so many people fail to realize this: Clemson and FSU will not be in the ACC in a decade. WVU is lined up to take one of those spots. UConn just needs to be competent in football and they get that second spot. That's it. That's the game here.

Sometimes I like to daydream too

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Where are the ranked Huskies which lost to FCS Montana?

hey! u can't state the obvious here! lotsa fcs wins recently. i mean, isn't every setback for UConn always the worst thing ever in the history of ever?
they should send a case of xanax when they collect the cash for a season ticket purchase for any sport, or at least to any new member of the by.
mebbe one of these, too.

 

[Adios]

I think so many people fail to realize this: Clemson and FSU will not be in the ACC in a decade. WVU is lined up to take one of those spots. UConn just needs to be competent in football and they get that second spot. That's it. That's the game here.

No, that will never happen! They'll take Temple, Buffalo, Charlotte, Appalachian State, UAB, Southern Miss, FAU, FIU, Georgia State, Tulane, UTSA or UMass ahead of us! Conference realignment rule #1!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

So you think the problem with FB is that it didn't go independent sooner?

Absolutely. The AAC killed all three of our major revenue programs. Being in a southern mid-major conference killed our recruiting for years. Thank God we switched leagues in time to save the two basketball programs, but it may be too late for football. If it wasn't for NIL, I would say football is hopeless, but NIL gives us a chance if we want to take it.

 

[NE Football]

How exactly does NIL give us a chance?

Major college football is played at the P5 conference level. I think the Big 12 survives through expansion and in the process creates a larger gap between P5 and G5. The Big 12 is taking 4 of the best G5 programs and will probably add Boise St and USF in the future. UConn could have at least been in consideration for the Big 12 if we had stayed in the AAC. Dropping out was a clear signal that we are not interested in playing big time football.

The ACC isn’t going anywhere and none of their teams are leaving for other conferences. The same goes for the PAC 12. That new Alliance will most likely lead to a massive TV deal in a few years. One TV contract for 41 teams with a national footprint. BC, Pitt & SU are all going to benefit from the Alliance. The transfer portal is also a big help to them. BC landed a top QB via the portal. BC has a very good coach, Pitt has a decent coach and SU needs a new coach. For teams on their level it’s all about coaching at this point. They have the right conference affiliation that gets them 35 million per year and growing to probably 50 million plus they all have excellent facilities.

Clearly, Cincinnati got it right by staying in the AAC. They hired the right coach and survived in the shadow of tOSU. The Big 12 is a better hoops conference than the BE.

 

[amishboy]

There's no reason UConn can't be a plucky 6-6 bowl participant most seasons besides horrid coaching for the past decade.

This is tongue-in-cheek, right? Because you're obviously kidding about the 6-6 aspirations?

 

[amishboy]

Take it to FCS and I’ll never watch UConn again or donate a dime. It’s going backwards to the podunk dump it used to be. No interest watching a Catholic rec, basketball league.

Why would it be a Catholic rec basketball league? Why couldn't we stay in the BE for basketball and play FCS football? Isn't that what Villanova, among others, does?

 

[NY Crusader]

We are not going down to FCS. We would lose even more money at that level. Also, we are not playing a level below UMass, Syracuse, Pitt, or Boston College. The ACC will get raided by either the B1G or SEC or both in the next decade giving us a natural home.

Of that group UMass, actually SHOULD move down to FCS.

If I were UCONN I do what I can to turn the ship around at the FBS level. There's no reason they can't find a Temple-like niche within the G5 (soon to be G6) landscape. ACC deciding to expand add UConn in the near future is a long shot IMO but worth remaining in position for if the opportunity does arise.

I really would be happy to see FBS football ultimately work out in East Hartford.

 

[amishboy]

Here are the records for the past 10 years of some other Eastern schools, i.e., our "natural rivals," who are still trying to compete at the FBS level:

2	2020	ACC	1	10	0	.091	1	9	0	.100	-12.92	1.53				Dino Babers (1-10)
3	2019	ACC	5	7	0	.417	2	6	0	.250	-2.79	-0.62	22	21		Dino Babers (5-7)
4	2018	ACC	10	3	0	.769	6	2	0	.750	12.14	1.30		12	15	Dino Babers (10-3)	Camping World Bowl-W
5	2017	ACC	4	8	0	.333	2	6	0	.250	1.96	5.80				Dino Babers (4-8)
6	2016	ACC	4	8	0	.333	2	6	0	.250	-4.51	4.57				Dino Babers (4-8)
7	2015	ACC	4	8	0	.333	2	6	0	.250	-1.51	3.91				Scott Shafer (4-8)
8	2014	ACC	3	9	0	.250	1	7	0	.125	-4.84	3.00				Scott Shafer (3-9)
9	2013	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	2.81	2.88				Scott Shafer (7-6)	Texas Bowl-W
10	2012	Big East	8	5	0	.615	5	2	0	.714	6.27	0.81				Doug Marrone (8-5)	Pinstripe Bowl-W
11	2011	Big East	5	7	0	.417	1	6	0	.143	-3.15	1.02				Doug Marrone (5-7)

2	2020	ACC	6	5	0	.545	5	5	0	.500	1.54	-1.19		21		Pat Narduzzi (6-5)
3	2019	ACC	8	5	0	.615	4	4	0	.500	0.60	0.52				Pat Narduzzi (8-5)	Quick Lane Bowl-W
4	2018	ACC	7	7	0	.500	6	2	0	.750	5.70	6.55		24		Pat Narduzzi (7-7)	Sun Bowl-L
5	2017	ACC	5	7	0	.417	3	5	0	.375	1.21	4.13				Pat Narduzzi (5-7)
6	2016	ACC	8	5	0	.615	5	3	0	.625	8.12	3.51		22		Pat Narduzzi (8-5)	Pinstripe Bowl-L
7	2015	ACC	8	5	0	.615	6	2	0	.750	6.32	3.78		23		Pat Narduzzi (8-5)	Military Bowl-L
8	2014	ACC	6	7	0	.462	4	4	0	.500	2.74	0.97				Joe Rudolph (0-1), Paul Chryst (6-6)	Armed Forces Bowl-L
9	2013	ACC	7	6	0	.538	3	5	0	.375	3.72	3.49				Paul Chryst (7-6)	Little Caesars Bowl-W
10	2012	Big East	6	7	0	.462	3	4	0	.429	2.05	-0.64				Paul Chryst (6-7)	BBVA Compass Bowl-L
11	2011	Big East	6	7	0	.462	4	3	0	.571	1.09	1.17				Todd Graham (6-6), Keith Patterson (0-1)	BBVA Compass Bowl-L

2	2020	ACC	6	5	0	.545	5	5	0	.500	-0.04	-0.59				Jeff Hafley (6-5)
3	2019	ACC	6	7	0	.462	4	4	0	.500	-0.37	1.17				Rich Gunnell (0-1), Steve Addazio (6-6)	Birmingham Bowl-L
4	2018	ACC	7	5	0	.583	4	4	0	.500	4.61	1.78		17		Steve Addazio (7-5)
5	2017	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	9.39	7.08				Steve Addazio (7-6)	Pinstripe Bowl-L
6	2016	ACC	7	6	0	.538	2	6	0	.250	0.58	0.50				Steve Addazio (7-6)	Quick Lane Bowl-W
7	2015	ACC	3	9	0	.250	0	8	0	.000	-1.73	2.11				Steve Addazio (3-9)
8	2014	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	6.04	2.35				Steve Addazio (7-6)	Pinstripe Bowl-L
9	2013	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	1.28	2.20				Steve Addazio (7-6)	AdvoCare V100 Bowl-L
10	2012	ACC	2	10	0	.167	1	7	0	.125	-6.74	2.01				Frank Spaziani (2-10)
11	2011	ACC	4	8	0	.333	3	5	0	.375	-4.61	0.89				Frank Spaziani (4-8)

From 30 results, there have been four 8-win seasons at Pitt and Syracuse and one 10-win season at Syracuse; BC has never won more than 7 games. So please tell me how UConn is going to be more successful than Syracuse, Pitt, and BC. Better coaching? Bigger endowment? More "commitment"?

We need to face facts: the recruiting base in the Northeast is small, better recruits from the South, Midwest, and West Coast aren't going to opt to spend 4 or more years in Storrs, and the fan base is smaller than in other areas of the country (in part because many people are happy to root for local professional teams).

In my mind, the UConn football issue is very similar to the Whalers; there are many very passionate fans, but not enough to make it work. How much are people willing to spend, to achieve a goal of mediocrity?

 

[Mrhoops33]

Facts are facts! Uconn is a basketball school. Uconn football is a divison 2 school at best maybe divison 3. They play in a 40,000 seat stadium and draw less than 10,000 people.Any recruit thats any good ,will not come to Uconn.so you get second tier players at best. Uconn will not win a game this year. Uconn will not fire Edstall because they will have to pay him. let him go at the end of the year and save money.

 

[crewbear742]

Facts are facts! Uconn is a basketball school.

Yes. That is why UCONN is on the outside of realignment looking in. That is why UCONN has buried itself in a marginal basketball conference pretending it is still the 1980s.

I get it. "Basketball Strikes Back" and all that. Football is the sport that destroyed Paradise and you want your pound of flesh. In 20 years UCONN will still be a basketball school. The New Big East will be a note in the margin of some NCAA history somewhere but UCONN will still be a basketball school.

Then what?

 

[huskymedic]

UConn/BOT/AD Dave need to work to shift the growing narrative here…

 

[storrsroars]

Here are the records for the past 10 years of some other Eastern schools, i.e., our "natural rivals," who are still trying to compete at the FBS level:

2	2020	ACC	1	10	0	.091	1	9	0	.100	-12.92	1.53				Dino Babers (1-10)
3	2019	ACC	5	7	0	.417	2	6	0	.250	-2.79	-0.62	22	21		Dino Babers (5-7)
4	2018	ACC	10	3	0	.769	6	2	0	.750	12.14	1.30		12	15	Dino Babers (10-3)	Camping World Bowl-W
5	2017	ACC	4	8	0	.333	2	6	0	.250	1.96	5.80				Dino Babers (4-8)
6	2016	ACC	4	8	0	.333	2	6	0	.250	-4.51	4.57				Dino Babers (4-8)
7	2015	ACC	4	8	0	.333	2	6	0	.250	-1.51	3.91				Scott Shafer (4-8)
8	2014	ACC	3	9	0	.250	1	7	0	.125	-4.84	3.00				Scott Shafer (3-9)
9	2013	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	2.81	2.88				Scott Shafer (7-6)	Texas Bowl-W
10	2012	Big East	8	5	0	.615	5	2	0	.714	6.27	0.81				Doug Marrone (8-5)	Pinstripe Bowl-W
11	2011	Big East	5	7	0	.417	1	6	0	.143	-3.15	1.02				Doug Marrone (5-7)

2	2020	ACC	6	5	0	.545	5	5	0	.500	1.54	-1.19		21		Pat Narduzzi (6-5)
3	2019	ACC	8	5	0	.615	4	4	0	.500	0.60	0.52				Pat Narduzzi (8-5)	Quick Lane Bowl-W
4	2018	ACC	7	7	0	.500	6	2	0	.750	5.70	6.55		24		Pat Narduzzi (7-7)	Sun Bowl-L
5	2017	ACC	5	7	0	.417	3	5	0	.375	1.21	4.13				Pat Narduzzi (5-7)
6	2016	ACC	8	5	0	.615	5	3	0	.625	8.12	3.51		22		Pat Narduzzi (8-5)	Pinstripe Bowl-L
7	2015	ACC	8	5	0	.615	6	2	0	.750	6.32	3.78		23		Pat Narduzzi (8-5)	Military Bowl-L
8	2014	ACC	6	7	0	.462	4	4	0	.500	2.74	0.97				Joe Rudolph (0-1), Paul Chryst (6-6)	Armed Forces Bowl-L
9	2013	ACC	7	6	0	.538	3	5	0	.375	3.72	3.49				Paul Chryst (7-6)	Little Caesars Bowl-W
10	2012	Big East	6	7	0	.462	3	4	0	.429	2.05	-0.64				Paul Chryst (6-7)	BBVA Compass Bowl-L
11	2011	Big East	6	7	0	.462	4	3	0	.571	1.09	1.17				Todd Graham (6-6), Keith Patterson (0-1)	BBVA Compass Bowl-L

2	2020	ACC	6	5	0	.545	5	5	0	.500	-0.04	-0.59				Jeff Hafley (6-5)
3	2019	ACC	6	7	0	.462	4	4	0	.500	-0.37	1.17				Rich Gunnell (0-1), Steve Addazio (6-6)	Birmingham Bowl-L
4	2018	ACC	7	5	0	.583	4	4	0	.500	4.61	1.78		17		Steve Addazio (7-5)
5	2017	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	9.39	7.08				Steve Addazio (7-6)	Pinstripe Bowl-L
6	2016	ACC	7	6	0	.538	2	6	0	.250	0.58	0.50				Steve Addazio (7-6)	Quick Lane Bowl-W
7	2015	ACC	3	9	0	.250	0	8	0	.000	-1.73	2.11				Steve Addazio (3-9)
8	2014	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	6.04	2.35				Steve Addazio (7-6)	Pinstripe Bowl-L
9	2013	ACC	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	1.28	2.20				Steve Addazio (7-6)	AdvoCare V100 Bowl-L
10	2012	ACC	2	10	0	.167	1	7	0	.125	-6.74	2.01				Frank Spaziani (2-10)
11	2011	ACC	4	8	0	.333	3	5	0	.375	-4.61	0.89				Frank Spaziani (4-8)

From 30 results, there have been four 8-win seasons at Pitt and Syracuse and one 10-win season at Syracuse; BC has never won more than 7 games. So please tell me how UConn is going to be more successful than Syracuse, Pitt, and BC. Better coaching? Bigger endowment? More "commitment"?

We need to face facts: the recruiting base in the Northeast is small, better recruits from the South, Midwest, and West Coast aren't going to opt to spend 4 or more years in Storrs, and the fan base is smaller than in other areas of the country (in part because many people are happy to root for local professional teams).

In my mind, the UConn football issue is very similar to the Whalers; there are many very passionate fans, but not enough to make it work. How much are people willing to spend, to achieve a goal of mediocrity?

Hard to argue this level of mediocrity is the best the Northeast has, sans PSU. And he didn't even include Rutgers.

I will say though, that because I now live in Pittsburgh with a Pitt double grad wife who has season tix, I've started to follow them a bit more closely lately. And I think they might have a 10-win season in them this year. Probably 9 wins, but after watching Clemson and UNC, who knows. And Kenny Pickett will be drafted and be a fine backup QB for someone. Not that that changes the fact that the Northeast (sans PSU) never achieve anything remotely close to B1G or SEC levels of fanaticism.

 

[Steve1981]

Of that group UMass, actually SHOULD move down to FCS.

If I were UCONN I do what I can to turn the ship around at the FBS level. There's no reason they can't find a Temple-like niche within the G5 (soon to be G6) landscape. ACC deciding to expand add UConn in the near future is a long shot IMO but worth remaining in position for if the opportunity does arise.

I really would be happy to see FBS football ultimately work out in East Hartford.

UMass will never move down to FCS as we are committed and have been upgrading our "on campus" facilities. Feel being on campus is great for the game day experience. That said, while most may not care for MAC teams, there are some that I like as Toledo, Ohio, and Buffalo. In basketball you have 3 seasons, within the season: OOC, conference and post season. Imagine you took the post season possibilities out of basketball. Do you really think it would not hurt recruiting. Think having the conference championship and bowl games are worthy goals and the ease of scheduling 4 ooc games with a P5 or two game and local FCS and G5 game plus a MAC schedule would be fine. My thought is stay FBS and be open to a affiliation that's good for the program and post season play.

 

[amishboy]

Yes. That is why UCONN is on the outside of realignment looking in. That is why UCONN has buried itself in a marginal basketball conference pretending it is still the 1980s.

I get it. "Basketball Strikes Back" and all that. Football is the sport that destroyed Paradise and you want your pound of flesh. In 20 years UCONN will still be a basketball school. The New Big East will be a note in the margin of some NCAA history somewhere but UCONN will still be a basketball school.

Then what?

Why do you believe the BE will be a note...? If we continue to recruit as we have been under Hurley, we can be a perennial top 10 program; it's much easier to get a 4 or 5-star kid to come to Storrs for 1 year, plus there's still plenty of talent within a few hours, unlike football. Sure, maybe the payoff from March Madness is less than the FBS, but it's still plenty, not to mention the name recognition that so many seek.