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- Aug 26, 2011
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There's been a repeated theme lately that Bob Diaco says some outrageous stuff. And then contrast him with Kevin Ollie.
You do realize the contrast ... Don't you? Diaco (to my ear isn't as charismatic as Ollie - who I think is a true unique speaker) has a different platform. In a start-up (where he is & other UConn coaches have been) he doesn't have the same platform that Ollie has. He really isn't sitting in the upper strata neighborhood & having the 25 years of success/championships. He's got the rundown house bought after the short sale. The PP years left us below stabilization. We couldn't pay the mortgage. The talent level was depleted (even if we had guys with more stars & more Connecticut kids). We have some oddities in positional strength. And the culture thing. Ollie is the transitional bridge from a legend; he's extended superbly unique with his own personal touch.
Diaco has the basic outline right: that doesn't mean he hasn't coughed up some strange in-game moves & things have been rosy. I am encouraged by the hustle of his recruiting (I do know our relative history & think he's higher); the incremental advance of the OLine (he saw this Day One - that's why Foley was retained & Cummings is on the staff); and the youth rising on the field. If this makes me an Apologista again: so be it. I bought the investment again back when I saw Terry Caulley speed past Kent at Memorial. I'm a fan. I think Diaco has gotten beat up around here for things LIKE what Ollie says. You all jump on him because you can. I think you're missing the relative states of these Programs. Our Football was in a disheveled state. His task is different & hard.
You do realize the contrast ... Don't you? Diaco (to my ear isn't as charismatic as Ollie - who I think is a true unique speaker) has a different platform. In a start-up (where he is & other UConn coaches have been) he doesn't have the same platform that Ollie has. He really isn't sitting in the upper strata neighborhood & having the 25 years of success/championships. He's got the rundown house bought after the short sale. The PP years left us below stabilization. We couldn't pay the mortgage. The talent level was depleted (even if we had guys with more stars & more Connecticut kids). We have some oddities in positional strength. And the culture thing. Ollie is the transitional bridge from a legend; he's extended superbly unique with his own personal touch.
Diaco has the basic outline right: that doesn't mean he hasn't coughed up some strange in-game moves & things have been rosy. I am encouraged by the hustle of his recruiting (I do know our relative history & think he's higher); the incremental advance of the OLine (he saw this Day One - that's why Foley was retained & Cummings is on the staff); and the youth rising on the field. If this makes me an Apologista again: so be it. I bought the investment again back when I saw Terry Caulley speed past Kent at Memorial. I'm a fan. I think Diaco has gotten beat up around here for things LIKE what Ollie says. You all jump on him because you can. I think you're missing the relative states of these Programs. Our Football was in a disheveled state. His task is different & hard.
