Temple and UMass agree to home and home for 2015, 2017, and other schedule musings

[Rumrunner]

This was announced a few days ago. Like most here, I would like to see a 2 for 1 with UMass. I'm wondering if I'm Umass, and I can get Temple home and home, why do a 2 for 1 with UConn? How much will UConn agree to pay? Don't forget that the UMass game sells well (especially versus Buffalo, WMU, etc.) It was UConn's highest attended game last year. Hopefully the rent being closer than UMass' "home" stadium will help get them on the schedule, favorably. Soonest it will happen is 2015, but 2016 looks to have the most realistic chance.

As far as UConn's remaining 2014 OOC game (BYU, Stony Brook and Boise all at home), does Manuel make a splash and try to get at least one major conference team on the schedule for a road game? Does the thought of a first year head coach having to play BYU, Boise and a road game against a power 5 team give him nightmares? At the same time, the football program needs something to ratchet up enthusiasm. While I doubt that he goes for it, these are the major conference teams from the Big Ten and SEC that need a 2014 OOC game: (UConn's last OOC date is September 13, so lots of flexibility)

Big Ten
Illinois
Minnesota
Northwestern
Purdue
Wisconsin (no availability after 9/13, basically USF getting home and home killed any of UConn's chances)

Of the Big Ten teams,, Northwestern would seem the most ideal. Easy in and out, great city, beatable opponent.

SEC
Alabama is available (maybe a return game years down the road, with a buyout small enough to make it worth their while to bite?)
Arkansas wide open
Auburn
Kentucky
LSU
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt

Of the SEC teams, give me LSU, Bama or Auburn home and home with the rent return in mid November! I did not put any ACC teams on that list, and as JC would say "quite frankly" UConn is not desperate for a 2014 opponent, and why do anything to help those schools, and scheduling a home game this late in the game is an assist by any definition. The PAC 12 is out with boise and byu already covering out west. The Big 12 only has boomer sooner and Texas Tech in need of a 2104 game. But Manuel's scheduling has afforded UConn a really good opportunity to get a major team at home in the next few years by basically throwing UConn out on the road in 2014.

Aside from having a rookie starting quarterback (cochran, lagow?) and a first year head coach (endorsed, of course, by the prestigious Connecticut High School Coaches Association) and playing Alabama in Tuscaloosa or LSU in Baton Rouge what else could go wrong?

UMass future OOC schedule

2014
08/30 - Boston College
09/06 - Colorado
09/20 - at Penn State
10/04 - at Vanderbilt

2015
09/12 - at Colorado
09/19 - Temple
09/26 - at Notre Dame

2016
09/03 - at Florida
09/17 - at Boston College

 

[UConnJim]

This was announced a few days ago. Like most here, I would like to see a 2 for 1 with UMass. I'm wondering if I'm Umass, and I can get Temple home and home, why do a 2 for 1 with UConn? How much will UConn agree to pay? Don't forget that the UMass game sells well (especially versus Buffalo, WMU, etc.) It was UConn's highest attended game last year. Hopefully the rent being closer than UMass' "home" stadium will help get them on the schedule, favorably. Soonest it will happen is 2015, but 2016 looks to have the most realistic chance.

As far as UConn's remaining 2014 OOC game (BYU, Stony Brook and Boise all at home), does Manuel make a splash and try to get at least one major conference team on the schedule for a road game? Does the thought of a first year head coach having to play BYU, Boise and a road game against a power 5 team give him nightmares? At the same time, the football program needs something to ratchet up enthusiasm. While I doubt that he goes for it, these are the major conference teams from the Big Ten and SEC that need a 2014 OOC game: (UConn's last OOC date is September 13, so lots of flexibility)

Big Ten
Illinois
Minnesota
Northwestern
Purdue
Wisconsin (no availability after 9/13, basically USF getting home and home killed any of UConn's chances)

Of the Big Ten teams,, Northwestern would seem the most ideal. Easy in and out, great city, beatable opponent.

SEC
Alabama is available (maybe a return game years down the road, with a buyout small enough to make it worth their while to bite?)
Arkansas wide open
Auburn
Kentucky
LSU
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt

Of the SEC teams, give me LSU, Bama or Auburn home and home with the rent return in mid November! I did not put any ACC teams on that list, and as JC would say "quite frankly" UConn is not desperate for a 2014 opponent, and why do anything to help those schools, and scheduling a home game this late in the game is an assist by any definition. The PAC 12 is out with boise and byu already covering out west. The Big 12 only has boomer sooner and Texas Tech in need of a 2104 game. But Manuel's scheduling has afforded UConn a really good opportunity to get a major team at home in the next few years by basically throwing UConn out on the road in 2014.

Aside from having a rookie starting quarterback (cochran, lagow?) and a first year head coach (endorsed, of course, by the prestigious Connecticut High School Coaches Association) and playing Alabama in Tuscaloosa or LSU in Baton Rouge what else could go wrong?

UMass future OOC schedule

2014
08/30 - Boston College
09/06 - Colorado
09/20 - at Penn State
10/04 - at Vanderbilt

2015
09/12 - at Colorado
09/19 - Temple
09/26 - at Notre Dame

2016
09/03 - at Florida
09/17 - at Boston College

Yikes! Let's hope we don't have to schedule like UMass. Mostly 2 for 1s and one and dones away.

 

[freescooter]

I like the idea of scheduling Northwestern. They have over the years been willing to come east for games, and it is a greatplace to go for a weekend. Minnesota has too I think so that might be an option. We could actually go somewhere in 2014, but we need to get a return game. Perfect world, you want a big name team who has a bad year, ala Rutboys at Arkansas.

 

[HartfordHank]

Of the SEC teams, give me LSU, Bama or Auburn home and home with the rent return in mid November!

If you can get a return game from Alabama I guarantee you it will not be in November. Last time Alabama played in New England was during the Flutie Era at Sullivan Stadium on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Horrifically bad weather day. Snow, sleet, rain and bone chilling cold. They will not make that mistake again.

 

[RMS25CT]

If you can get a return game from Alabama I guarantee you it will not be in November. Last time Alabama played in New England was during the Flutie Era at Sullivan Stadium on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Horrifically bad weather day. Snow, sleet, rain and bone chilling cold. They will not make that mistake again.

You forgot to throw in power outage.

 

[HartfordHank]

You forgot to throw in power outage.

I stayed for the entire game. Fortunately I was on the side of the field where the wind was blocked by the stands. The other side of the stadium was empty at games end.

For a while we were concerned as to whether they were going to be able to finish the game due to lack of light. NO TV or radio due to the power outage which was caused by a fan leaving the game early and taking out a light pole.

 

[BoatShow]

Alabama at there place then at CitiField/Yankee Stadium/Fenway in 2020 or something.

Also, umASS with some really nice OOCs but a others have said, no series. Just majors looking for a cupcake.

 

[uconnell]

Alabama at there place then at CitiField/Yankee Stadium/Fenway in 2020 or something.

Also, umASS with some really nice OOCs but a others have said, no series. Just majors looking for a cupcake.

I guess that is the way you build a brand?

 

[BoatShow]

I guess that is the way you build a brand?

If you wanna be branded as a cupcake and not an equal.

 

[Brochacho]

Umass gave 2 for 1s to BC and Colorado, don't see why we can't hook up with them.

 

[Excalibur]

Umass gave 2 for 1s to BC and Colorado, don't see why we can't hook up with them.

Those teams play in real conferences.