Stop blaming Warde or P or even Susan.

[Palatine]

They inherited a situation most of you endorsed. Just hang in there with the basketball schools. The time to act was 2004. At the very least, they should have been addressed in Hogan's tenure. He was the wrong guy at the wrong time.

BTW, L'ville got the ACC invite largely on location. Not on anything printed in that stupid article. Could UConn have put together a better presentation, perhaps, but it UConn was already behind the curve.

The truth is that circumstances were way in front of W and P and S. Hysteria about firing them is misplaced. The question is are they capable of picking up the pieces. P. probably isn't. We'll see about W and S.

 

[Excalibur]

I think people are quicker to assess blame because of the early knee-jerk media reports that UConn was the likely selection after MD left. The perception is that we went from front-runner to afterthought. That perception is wrong.

Still, they're beginning to look like punching bags at this point.

 

[CTMike]

You are right, but it helps us feel better to place blame indiscriminately.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

The league should've made the decision to split in that fateful meeting in 2003. The league made disastrous decisions throughout its history. Jacobs goes through the littany. The Catholics blocking Penn St. Turning down the TV deal (led by Pitt). Hiring Marinatto. DePaul. The list goes on and on. They doomed themselves from the get go. This day was inevitable. Those of us who have advocated for a split for many years did so because this day was coming. We've allowed our fate to be determined by DePaul.

 

[coachcap]

Frankly, I was a huge proponent of the schism after the mandatory 5 year waiting period. It better to split amicably with those terms & make invitations than to inherit this catastrophe.

 

[upstater]

By 2004, the troubles were already etched in stone. The real problem was not landing Penn State and Maryland when they had a chance, and what that would have meant for Florida St. Even with a split in 2004, there was a good chance that these teams would have been picked off regardless. The B1G would have come calling for Rutgers regardless.

With FSU, PSU, Miami, Maryland and VT, there would have been enough money there to withstand ANYTHING the B1G threw at the league, and in fact, Notre Dame would have been more interested as well. ND obviously can't stand the B1G the way some B1G schools can't stand the B1G.

 

[freescooter]

I was always in favor of a split going back to 2004. At the very least the football schools could have controlled their destiny, something they never actually did in the combined league. And I must say that I never agree with palatine on anything, even enjoy poking him form time to time. But when he's right he's right and he was absolutely right on this. I have always been of the opinion, though, that for a majority of the Big East football schools, football was not a priority. Basketball was. And I include UConn in that group. When it came time to make a choice, staying with the basketball schools was always the preferred option because protecting basketball at all costs was always the higher priority than developing the football program. So playing Georgetown and St Johns became a higher priority than making bowl games.

Now I'm not as easy on Ward manuel adn Herbst as some of you guys. i recognize they inherited a position, but I also don't think they handled their situation properly either. Sorry, but you don't stay in the Islands when this was happening. And you don't stay silent. Youu need to fight and they passively sat back and watched things fall apart. At least go down fighting, for heavens sake.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

I was always in favor of a split going back to 2004. At the very least the football schools could have controlled their destiny, something they never actually did in the combined league. And I must say that I never agree with palatine on anything, even enjoy poking him form time to time. But when he's right he's right and he was absolutely right on this. I have always been of the opinion, though, that for a majority of the Big East football schools, football was not a priority. Basketball was. And I include UConn in that group. When it came time to make a choice, staying with the basketball schools was always the preferred option because protecting basketball at all costs was always the higher priority than developing the football program. So playing Georgetown and St Johns became a higher priority than making bowl games.

Now I'm not as easy on Ward manuel adn Herbst as some of you guys. i recognize they inherited a position, but I also don't think they handled their situation properly either. Sorry, but you don't stay in the Islands when this was happening. And you don't stay silent. Youu need to fight and they passively sat back and watched things fall apart. At least go down fighting, for heavens sake.

And I'm agreeing with you. Also would add that by splitting back in 2004 and giving Notre Dame an utimatium (join or be booted out), they may have been able to position themselves better and avoid the hostile takeovers and corporate raids.

 

[gars44]

They inherited a situation most of you endorsed. Just hang in there with the basketball schools. The time to act was 2004. At the very least, they should have been addressed in Hogan's tenure. He was the wrong guy at the wrong time.

BTW, L'ville got the ACC invite largely on location. Not on anything printed in that stupid article. Could UConn have put together a better presentation, perhaps, but it UConn was already behind the curve.

The truth is that circumstances were way in front of W and P and S. Hysteria about firing them is misplaced. The question is are they capable of picking up the pieces. P. probably isn't. We'll see about W and S.

Rare when I agree with Pal. This is one of those times! LOL.

 

[gars44]

i recognize they inherited a position

They did indeed. They were two moves from checkmate. And they're still buying time. Monitoring. Not such a bad thing when you're two moves from checkmate.

 

[Doggie Style]

Your point about this trend being put in motion long before Susan and Warde were here is valid. What most here are pi$$ed about is the lack of action or response! And this is absolutely on Susan and Warde! The "we are winners, we like to win" crap is not what I'm referring to, but is plain garbage nonetheless. I said this over a month ago and many have commented in a similar fashion, that Uconn should of learned from the last debacle and hired professionals to work this deal. Warde and Susan are being outmaneuvered on every level as of late and they are never going to catch up unless bold moves are made at this point. What I mean is first, hiring a sports marketing/PR firm to develope a "Brand Strategy" to present Uconn in the most favorable manner, as well as direct ALL future comments from Warde and Susan moving forward regarding any realignment issues. I think its safe to say that the most recent communication that we have received from WM and SH has been less than impressive to say the least, so we need to let the professionals do it for us. Second, we need a dramatic plan in place to move our Athletic Progams forward and to make a statement to other conferences that were are serious about our athletic future on many levels! This could include diagrams of a potential Rent expansion design, hockey upgrade infoetc.... This should be a big announcement coming from State and Uconn officials. The billboards akk along I-91 that are filled with University Of Fairfield Basketball signs should be dominated by all Uconn messaging to sell this to the state. The list goes on and on, but until we make this move and hire the correct firm, we are just sitting and hoping that an invite is coming and this we ABSOLUTELY can blam on Warde and Susan.

 

[gars44]

Your point about this trend being put in motion long before Susan and Warde were here is valid. What most here are pi$$ed about is the lack of action or response! And this is absolutely on Susan and Warde! The "we are winners, we like to win" crap is not what I'm referring to, but is plain garbage nonetheless. I said this over a month ago and many have commented in a similar fashion, that Uconn should of learned from the last debacle and hired professionals to work this deal. Warde and Susan are being outmaneuvered on every level as of late and they are never going to catch up unless bold moves are made at this point. What I mean is first, hiring a sports marketing/PR firm to develope a "Brand Strategy" to present Uconn in the most favorable manner, as well as direct ALL future comments from Warde and Susan moving forward regarding any realignment issues. I think its safe to say that the most recent communication that we have received from WM and SH has been less than impressive to say the least, so we need to let the professionals do it for us. Second, we need a dramatic plan in place to move our Athletic Progams forward and to make a statement to other conferences that were are serious about our athletic future on many levels! This could include diagrams of a potential Rent expansion design, hockey upgrade infoetc.... This should be a big announcement coming from State and Uconn officials. The billboards akk along I-91 that are filled with University Of Fairfield Basketball signs should be dominated by all Uconn messaging to sell this to the state. The list goes on and on, but until we make this move and hire the correct firm, we are just sitting and hoping that an invite is coming and this we ABSOLUTELY can blam on Warde and Susan.

Doggie, you are absolutely right about the marketing. There is just no energy to the mission. I have to confess attendance at undergrad. They are bombarding me with letters, magazines, emails, invites, it's constant. They are just brimming with energy. I also get some Uconn stuff, but the difference is night and day. It is the difference between public sector and private sector. It is the reason so many people oppose government encroachments into traditional private market domains (I'm not one of them btw). In Susan Herbst, we have witnessed a tremendous injection of energy and enthusiasm into the bureaucracy - one tough word to spell, btw - at Storrs. As they say, the Queen Mary does not turn on a dime.

 

[noeynox]

Absolutley should have split and taken our lumps then, Oh well all we could do now is hope for a life raft.

 

[gars44]

By 2004, the troubles were already etched in stone. The real problem was not landing Penn State and Maryland when they had a chance, and what that would have meant for Florida St. Even with a split in 2004, there was a good chance that these teams would have been picked off regardless. The B1G would have come calling for Rutgers regardless.

With FSU, PSU, Miami, Maryland and VT, there would have been enough money there to withstand ANYTHING the B1G threw at the league, and in fact, Notre Dame would have been more interested as well. ND obviously can't stand the B1G the way some B1G schools can't stand the B1G.

And they would not have taken Uconn. So, we're better off now, and will be better off in the future, compared to 2001.

 

[Doggie Style]

Doggie, you are absolutely right about the marketing. There is just no energy to the mission. I have to confess attendance at undergrad. They are bombarding me with letters, magazines, emails, invites, it's constant. They are just brimming with energy. I also get some Uconn stuff, but the difference is night and day. It is the difference between public sector and private sector. It is the reason so many people oppose government encroachments into traditional private market domains (I'm not one of them btw). In Susan Herbst, we have witnessed a tremendous injection of energy and enthusiasm into the bureaucracy - one tough word to spell, btw - at Storrs. As they say, the Queen Mary does not turn on a dime.

Uconn is guilty of years of "Brand" mismanagement and we are paying the price right now there's no doubt about it.

 

[upstater]

And they would not have taken Uconn. So, we're better off now, and will be better off in the future, compared to 2001.

It was possible. But the Jacobs article this morning showed that UConn was the facilitator between the bball schools and the addition of the football schools to the conference both in 91 and 94. Remember, these schools needed bodies because they didn't have enough members. That's why they took Temple.

 

[Nostical]

Uconn is guilty of years of "Brand" mismanagement and we are paying the price right now there's no doubt about it.

Absolutely right on. And it all comes down to leadership and vision. It's all about recognizing the problem, hiring the best folks to fix it and getting out of the way. I believe that one individual can make a huge difference here. Hire that person, fund the effort, and the UConn story and brand could be Nike-like. But, we need to ....Just Do It.

 

[Palatine]

I have complained about UConn's PR department for years and years.

But Hathaway was absolutely the worst. He really hurt the program.

 

[Doggie Style]

I have complained about UConn's PR department for years and years.

But Hathaway was absolutely the worst. He really hurt the program.

I had a meeting with someone (will not name them/ but no longer with the program) in the Athletic Development office a few years ago to discuss ideas regarding the direction of ticket sales, donations, seat locations, marketing ideas etc... The meeting was over an hour long and went very well but I was told point blank that they would not be allowed to do any of these initiatives I presented, although they agreed they were good ones. The reason was because they would alienate long time supporters and it would not be approved. I explained that long term supporters and "Boosters" need to be addressed differently and would help with increasing fan support, which he agreed but said that there was nothing further that could be done as it pertained to changing the way Uconn has always done things. It was disappointing nonetheless. Since this happened under the Hathaway Regime, I was optimistic that Manuel would follow Pres Herbst' lead and schedule open appointments with anyone interested in discussing the future of Uconn and listen to all ideas to help improve the way we do things. As you may recall she did this soon after she was hired. Warde has not done much along those lines for far and we are where we are...... Declining fan interest, ticket sales, and decreased donations!!!!

 

[FBUCONN]

Please stop making excuses about what situation they were left with.
They were left with a football program on the rise, coming off a BCS Bowl and a Men's B Ball program which won 3 National Championships in recent years. These three Heroes have done nothing impressive since arriving at UCONN. No time for more excuses, time for ACTION!

 

[whaler11]

Let me get this right. A post that says 'hysteria' about Paul Pasqualoni being fired is misplaced got 8 likes on the Boneyard. I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure bipolar disorder is an easy diagnosis.

 

[Dann]

things u can blame warde for:
-making p his coach now
-kos contract taking so long
-genos contract taking a while
-marketing boost(lack of)
-media savy(no expierence)

CR is not one of them