There's no silver lining

[Fishy]

We were among a handful of truly bad programs that fired their coach for cause last year. And then we let go of the interim guy who ended the season on a three-game winning streak.

We hired a guy who hit a grand slam at his press conference.

And then he started talking about preseasons and processes and God knows what else.

Jeff Monken didn't talk about preseasons and he turned Army into something respectable - you know what Army is trying to do and be after just one year. They're sixth in the nation in rushing and they embarrassed Diaco for 39 minutes before Diaco had a chance to embarrass himself with his clock management skills.

Bill Clark went from 2-10 to 6-6 before Alabama euthanized his program. Miami of Ohio hired Notre Dame's offensive coordinator and while they're still struggling, they move the football. Whipple has UMass averaging two touchdowns a game more than UConn and would simply skull f--- us if we were ever crazy enough to schedule them. SMU has an interim guy with one foot on a beach and he still undressed us.

Diaco has produced what is nothing short of the worst team in Division I. We have no discernible plan on offense - we rotated quarterbacks in without any sense of why we would be doing it. The only obvious difference was that receivers had to adjust to underthrows after getting used to overthrows and vice versa.

I don't know what to say about the defense other than to wonder how tiring it is to walk back and forth from the sidelines after the offense's three and outs.

I do know what to say about the special teams, but none of it's good.

At the end of it, Diaco gets a very clear "F" across the board. He did nothing of note on the field and every time I hear him speak, I wonder if his head isn't filled with cotton candy. I'm not sure if his array of under the radar, off the radar and just plain invisible to radar recruits can help, but dear God, I hope so.

Firing a coach after the first year is generally considered a bad idea and it's not happening...but unless s--- looks a hell of a lot better than it does right now, I don't even want to hear about a third year.

Honestly, I think we drugged UCF's Gatorade because that game is just inexplicable.

 

[TRest]

We were among a handful of truly bad programs that fired their coach for cause last year. And then we let go of the interim guy who ended the season on a three-game winning streak.

We hired a guy who hit a grand slam at his press conference.

And then he started talking about preseasons and processes and God knows what else.

Jeff Monken didn't talk about preseasons and he turned Army into something respectable - you know what Army is trying to do and be after just one year. They're sixth in the nation in rushing and they embarrassed Diaco for 39 minutes before Diaco had a chance to embarrass himself with his clock management skills.

Bill Clark went from 2-10 to 6-6 before Alabama euthanized his program. Miami of Ohio hired Notre Dame's offensive coordinator and while they're still struggling, they move the football. Whipple has UMass averaging two touchdowns a game more than UConn and would simply skull f--- us if we were ever crazy enough to schedule them. SMU has an interim guy with one foot on a beach and he still undressed us.

Diaco has produced what is nothing short of the worst team in Division I. We have no discernible plan on offense - we rotated quarterbacks in without any sense of why would be doing it. The only obvious difference was that receivers had to adjust to underthrows after getting used to overthrows and vice versa.

I don't know what to say about the defense other than to wonder how tiring it is to walk back and forth from the sidelines after the offense's three and outs.

I do know what to say about the special teams, but none of it's good.

At the end of it, Diaco gets a very clear "F" across the board. He did nothing of note on the field and every time I hear him speak, I wonder if his head isn't filled with cotton candy. I'm not sure if his array of under the radar, off the radar and just plain invisible to radar recruits can help, but dear God, I hope so.

Firing a coach after the first year is generally considered a bad idea and it's not happening...but unless s--- looks a hell of a lot better than it does right now, I don't even want to hear about a third year.

Honestly, I think we drugged UCF's Gatorade because that game is just inexplicable.

You probably had most of this written down before kickoff today. I left the house at halftime knowing I didn't want to see how this plays out.

 

[noeynox]

You had to be in the stands to understand how cold and miserable the UCF must have been for kids from Florida. Yet after that game Diaco almost dislocated his shoulder patting himself on the back. Then after losing to Army the players suck again. If he has done anything is dumb down expecations to ground zero levels. Think about it, three wins will be an improvement, four wins and he will be asking for an extension.

Right now Diaco looks like a joker laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[chapwilvaug72]

The summary of the whole debacle is that the UCONN Huskies do not have a head coach. They have an array of fine young men who claim to be a contingent of assistant coaches. And who hired these fine mentors of student athletes?

 

[Stinger92860]

Can't fire him now, but there has to be changes to the staff, starting with the OC. Now we know why he was not allowed to call his own plays. Let's hope Shirreffs or Davis can play, because Boyle is not the answer at QB.

 

[Skiblets]

The thing I just cannot get is that we have BCS era players losing to Tulane, Army, SMU and USF and a punt return away from losing to Stony Brook. The suckitude that is this team is inconceivable

 

[TheDoggPound]

We need a JUCO QB, Shireffs & Davis. If all we have is Shireffs next year we're putting all of our eggs in one basket, which spells trouble.

 

[noeynox]

The thing I just cannot get is that we have BCS era players losing to Tulane, Army, SMU and USF and a punt return away from losing to Stony Brook. The suckitude that is this team is inconceivable

Diaco has shown no faith in this team with his press conferences or his play calling. Yet after UCF "you could see the plan coming together". Got he gets on my nerves.

 

[TRest]

The thing I just cannot get is that we have BCS era players losing to Tulane, Army, SMU and USF and a punt return away from losing to Stony Brook. The suckitude that is this team is inconceivable

Our recruiting was always close to the bottom of BCS, but Edsall and staff could coach them up. These kids are rudderless, but the nutrition program is peaking right now.

 

[Fishy]

Can't fire him now, but there has to be changes to the staff, starting with the OC. Now we know why he was not allowed to call his own plays. Let's hope Shirreffs or Davis can play, because Boyle is not the answer at QB.

Absolutely - on all counts.

You knew we had a complete dumpster fire right here.

Read those quotes and then find bourbon.

"The game plan is built by Mike Cummings and his staff all week so the offense goes to the game with a scripted plan then everyone has jobs to execute that plan," Diaco said. "For example, you're doing a speech and standing next to you is a sign language specialist. Is the sign language specialist doing the speech or are you doing the speech?

"Mike Cummings details out the game plan for the day and then he's giving jobs to his staff to accentuate assets and limit liabilities."

"He's a manager of a unit and the way we present that is that there are certain jobs that need to be done and he organizes and coordinates assets and liabilities to decide who should do the jobs," Diaco said. "From drawing cards, to writing scripts, to recruiting hand-written letters to marketing campaigns to video productions to running the copier and everywhere in between, and we also don't feel like any one job is more important than the other as it relates to calling the game."

So why was Cummings on the sideline?

"We need those four quarters of coaching," Diaco said. "We don't want to minimize those four quarters of coaching. We want to maximize those 3 ½ hours to get even more coaching done there. That's why I called him out of the [press] box and had him on the sideline."

We are so f---ed.

 

[UconnU]

No need to worry, Bob has things under control. "Things are changing ... the tide is coming back in."

 

[noeynox]

Hope the training wheels come off next year. Run this thing like a real college program. The extra coaching from the sideline isn't going to make a bit of difference. Go up in the booth and get a better perspective of what the defense is trying to do and call plays accordingly.

 

[UCHuskies08]

At least there's the basketball te..... oh wait

 

[TRest]

Absolutely - on all counts.

You knew we had a complete dumpster fire right here.

Read those quotes and then find bourbon.

"The game plan is built by Mike Cummings and his staff all week so the offense goes to the game with a scripted plan then everyone has jobs to execute that plan," Diaco said. "For example, you're doing a speech and standing next to you is a sign language specialist. Is the sign language specialist doing the speech or are you doing the speech?

"Mike Cummings details out the game plan for the day and then he's giving jobs to his staff to accentuate assets and limit liabilities."

"He's a manager of a unit and the way we present that is that there are certain jobs that need to be done and he organizes and coordinates assets and liabilities to decide who should do the jobs," Diaco said. "From drawing cards, to writing scripts, to recruiting hand-written letters to marketing campaigns to video productions to running the copier and everywhere in between, and we also don't feel like any one job is more important than the other as it relates to calling the game."

So why was Cummings on the sideline?

"We need those four quarters of coaching," Diaco said. "We don't want to minimize those four quarters of coaching. We want to maximize those 3 ½ hours to get even more coaching done there. That's why I called him out of the [press] box and had him on the sideline."

We are so f---ed.

Holy shat. I'm glad I have never seen his introductory press conference. This guy coaches like a middle manager at a life insurance company.

 

[whaler11]

Absolutely - on all counts.

You knew we had a complete dumpster fire right here.

Read those quotes and then find bourbon.

"The game plan is built by Mike Cummings and his staff all week so the offense goes to the game with a scripted plan then everyone has jobs to execute that plan," Diaco said. "For example, you're doing a speech and standing next to you is a sign language specialist. Is the sign language specialist doing the speech or are you doing the speech?

"Mike Cummings details out the game plan for the day and then he's giving jobs to his staff to accentuate assets and limit liabilities."

"He's a manager of a unit and the way we present that is that there are certain jobs that need to be done and he organizes and coordinates assets and liabilities to decide who should do the jobs," Diaco said. "From drawing cards, to writing scripts, to recruiting hand-written letters to marketing campaigns to video productions to running the copier and everywhere in between, and we also don't feel like any one job is more important than the other as it relates to calling the game."

So why was Cummings on the sideline?

"We need those four quarters of coaching," Diaco said. "We don't want to minimize those four quarters of coaching. We want to maximize those 3 ½ hours to get even more coaching done there. That's why I called him out of the [press] box and had him on the sideline."

We are so f---ed.

Only solution is to blow the whole thing up and start over.

Usually you'd say they can't hire anyone. But damned if Weist isn't sitting around unemployed.

Of course they can't afford it - but it's a pretty simple move.

 

[BoatShow]

So many long posts in this thread.

 

[Exit 4]

Absolutely - on all counts.

You knew we had a complete dumpster fire right here.

Read those quotes and then find bourbon.

"The game plan is built by Mike Cummings and his staff all week so the offense goes to the game with a scripted plan then everyone has jobs to execute that plan," Diaco said. "For example, you're doing a speech and standing next to you is a sign language specialist. Is the sign language specialist doing the speech or are you doing the speech?

"Mike Cummings details out the game plan for the day and then he's giving jobs to his staff to accentuate assets and limit liabilities."

"He's a manager of a unit and the way we present that is that there are certain jobs that need to be done and he organizes and coordinates assets and liabilities to decide who should do the jobs," Diaco said. "From drawing cards, to writing scripts, to recruiting hand-written letters to marketing campaigns to video productions to running the copier and everywhere in between, and we also don't feel like any one job is more important than the other as it relates to calling the game."

So why was Cummings on the sideline?

"We need those four quarters of coaching," Diaco said. "We don't want to minimize those four quarters of coaching. We want to maximize those 3 ½ hours to get even more coaching done there. That's why I called him out of the [press] box and had him on the sideline."

We are so f---ed.

Quotes from the article "assets and liabilities" and "chain of custody" and "no one job is more important than the other?"
Holy F. This is wacky biz consulting speak - straight out of Dilbert.

I don't know. I'm beginning to think there is a real possibility Diaco is tossed.

These quotes are completely baffling. Its clear that Diaco places too much weight in "process" which can be unproductive and well, lead to 2 win seasons.

You need to be able to divide needs from wants and these quotes indicate he is confused as about this.

 

[UConnDan97]

Only solution is to blow the whole thing up and start over.

Usually you'd say they can't hire anyone. But damned if Weist isn't sitting around unemployed.

Of course they can't afford it - but it's a pretty simple move.

I'm thinking exactly this ^^^.

Only a few days ago, I was saying that nobody was calling for Diaco to lose his job. I can safely say that the number of people calling for his job is at least 1 person and likely more. I would literally be ecstatic if we could buy him out now and hire TJ Weist, and I'm not kidding about that. He snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. Today was literally depressing to the point where I didn't even want to drink, because the liquor was too far away from where I was sitting. And I don't want to hear about talent. We have 100x more talent than the team that lined up across from us today, and we still couldn't beat them.

God, he makes me wish for Pasqualoni back, and that's saying something...

 

[SubbaBub]

The five foot woman throwing footballs into the Dr. Pepper can is more accurate than any QB on our roster.

 

[VAHuskyFan]

Diaco has been in full-on CYA mode for most of the year. I think he realized early on that he was in over his head and things weren't coming together. That's when he started saying crazy * about preseasons and "process" and all that. He also started making histrionic comments about the state of the program when he took over so that everyone (i.e. future employers) would know that the lack of results was on purpose and/or not his fault.

The problem is that if your message and supposed motivating philosophy is positivity and love for your team, you CAN NOT reflexively throw them under the bus at every opportunity to cover your own ass. You have to take some responsibility publicly for poor results to show the players you have their back. Diaco has never done that.

 

[sub legacy]

You probably had most of this written down before kickoff today. I left the house at halftime knowing I didn't want to see how this plays out.

I called it about a week ago. I positively knew they were gonna find a way to drop this game.

 

[sub legacy]

The five foot woman throwing footballs into the Dr. Pepper can is more accurate than any QB on our roster.

And more deserving of a scholarship.

 

[HomeKing93]

The silver lining is I learned my lesson from the UCF game. A poncho and long johns makes for a better experience in the cold and rain. But that's about it. It's hard to dispute your "F" grade for this season.

 

[stephen Henry]

I may be in a minority, but I think Coach D completely lived up to expectations. He always seemed to me like more of a high energy salesman than a football guru. To be fair, he does seem honestly perplexed that the snake oil he sells (vitamin D, energy buckets, etc.) not only cannot cure any known ailment, but it is vastly less effective than just a mere placebo. Having seen it applied over the course of the season it seems to be more of a threat to the health of the patient than the opposition.

I dread to think of what the program will look like under another full year of his stewardship. Not that it would ever be made public, if Manuel is not deeply concerned about his hire then he is not fit for the job. Particularly since he let TJ go, the only decent coach we have had since Edsall. He not only bet several million on this hire, he bet the future of UCONN athletics.

When he tried to entice UCF into establishing a 'rivalry' after his only AAC (yes that is AAC) victory, I lost all hope in his understanding of reality. It was a truely a classic case of why it is “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak and remove all doubt".

I think if we were fortunate enough to have had TJ out on the side lines in his trademark short sleeve shirt, SMU would have been spanked and would be going home having ended the season 0 - 12. Having said that, this time next year I sincerely hope that I will need to eat my words.

 

[Chief00]

I don't see Diaco coaching at UConn next season. It's not so much the record it's him.