Today’s Visit from Mora

[Hskies4Ever]

There’s no way he AD DB doesn’t assign Mora an escort for the entire time he’s on campus, right?

He has to have someone monitoring him the whole time, right?

 

[CTBasketball]

He’s already actively recruiting our high school commits and current players, so I don’t know why he’s allowed on campus in any fashion.

Huge fumble. You think Lane Kiffin will be allowed back at Ole Miss to “talk it all out?”

 

[coachcap]

It is magnanimous of AD Dave to allow FHCJM to address the team, but also VERY shortsighted. Mora will be using this visit as an ad campaign for players with eligibility to consider turning Fort Collins into Storrs West...

 

[ThabeetDown]

Ridiculous to let him back into the state after how he’s handled things and had his BFF bash us in the media. Real disappointed in Dave taking the high road but that’s the way the game is played.

 

[BugsyCT]

He needs to have an escort and a shock collar on for anytime the conversation slips toward anything in the realm of transferring.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Not being courteous would be a bad look for UConn and hinder coach search. New coach will want their players.

 

[BigTenFan]

Not being courteous would be a bad look for UConn and hinder coach search. New coach will want their players.

Excellent point

 

[uconnric]

He needs to have an escort and a shock collar on for anytime the conversation slips toward anything in the realm of transferring.

It is magnanimous of AD Dave to allow FHCJM to address the team, but also VERY shortsighted. Mora will be using this visit as an ad campaign for players with eligibility to consider turning Fort Collins into Storrs West...

Not allowing him to address the team would be absurd. They know him, they played for him. Addressing the team that he assembled and coached is not an "ad campaign" to leave. If they want to leave that's their choice. It happens anytime a coach leaves for another job. There's no ideal time for a coach to leave given the college football calendar of events.

 

[huskymedic]

“The next step for me is I am going to return (Monday) evening to Connecticut,” Mora said. “Because of the way our calendar fell at the University of Connecticut, I had not had a chance to address the team that I coached. I need to look those men in the eyes, and I need to tell them thank you and that I love them and that I appreciate all that they did.

“So, (my wife) Kathy and I and (our son) Trey are going to fly back to Connecticut (Monday) night. Then at 8 a.m. (Tuesday), I am going to talk to the UConn football team. I am sure that it will be emotional, but I will tell you this. The number of players that have already reached out to me and wished me well and said thanks has been pretty humbling and overwhelming.”

 

[CashewCrew]

Not allowing him to address the team would be absurd. They know him, they played for him. Addressing the team that he assembled and coached is not an "ad campaign" to leave. If they want to leave that's their choice. It happens anytime a coach leaves for another job. There's no ideal time for a coach to leave given the college football calendar of events.

Totally agreed. some people really need to get a grip

 

[Exit 4]

Will our new coach have a chance to meet with the Colorado State squad? Feel like its appropriate.

Its now 8:34am. The closure meeting should be over. Time to clear the office and get him back to the airport by 11am.

 

[Banta55]

Will our new coach have a chance to meet with the Colorado State squad? Feel like its appropriate.

Its now 8:34am. The closure meeting should be over. Time to clear the office and get him back to the airport by 11am.

Yes , i imagine AD David Benedict is in Kansas get JM out of there

 

[rich1122]

The kids that will leave, will leave anyway.

Who will the new coach bring?

 

[KryHavok]

Not being courteous would be a bad look for UConn and hinder coach search. New coach will want their players.

What, how do you figure that? Him already left UConn and had an official press conference with CSU. Him doesn't need to come back except to clear out his desk (even that could be done by someone else). Find me examples of other coaches that gave pressers at their new jobs then went back to their old school to address the team. UConn administration doesn't have to bend over backwards for a coach that clearly wanted out (per his words, him starting looking when Norvell was fired on Oct 19th). As for how not being courteous would hinder a coach search, again this is nonsensical as the two actions are not related to each other. Benedict, having to babysit him's visit interferes with Benedict doing due diligence for a critical hire...our school can't waste time on the past. Lastly, about the new coach wanting their players, yes I agree, but didn't him keep players that RE2 recruited for which those players played pretty good defense? It's not like the new coach is going to bring 85 new scholarship players. We don't have to be nice guy here as we are the ones getting burned.

 

[DoctorWho85]

So not only is are recruiting class getting decimated, Mora is allowed to be on campus with the team to essentially recruit players away too?

 

[Windham4th]

Relax everyone. Standard operating procedures. It's not like he didn't have to return his badge/access card when he left. He will be guided throughout. He will not be "recruiting" specific players in front of the entire group. That info would leak from anyone and everyone not a target. Bad look for him to do something like that as a coach. Privately via social media/phone, I am sure it is already happening or at least he is making his Christmas list of possible portal additions.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I don’t see any issue with allowing Jim Mora to return to Connecticut to address the team. As many have pointed out, with today’s college football calendar, there is never a “good” time for a coach to leave. No matter what, fans and players will feel disappointed. Look at Lane Kiffin—he’s leaving Ole Miss right before their College Football Playoff appearance.

And realistically, Mora can recruit players anytime, whether he’s on campus or not. Allowing him to speak to the team simply shows that UConn is not a vindictive program; it’s offering proper closure to the Mora era and demonstrating readiness to move forward into the next chapter of UConn football.

As for roster impact, players who want to leave will leave. Our recruiting class has already taken a major hit. The new coach will need to rebuild through the portal. It’s unfortunate, but this is the reality of modern college football.

 

[Windham4th]

I am sure its a conversation not a lecture so kids can get the closure they might need. Especially if promises were made and broken at the individual level.

 

[AllHusky]

Benedicts only opportunity to "show" Mora his feelings is to not be present when Mora is on campus, "your Dead to me"

 

[Coult]

I fall more in the camp of taking the high road and what will happen will happen. In the end Mora coming back is not about Mora or UConn, but what the players deserve, especially the ones that played multiple years for Mora. Even in my limited athletic career I would be disappointed if I was unable to say goodbye to a coach.

 

[LBird33]

It is magnanimous of AD Dave to allow FHCJM to address the team, but also VERY shortsighted. Mora will be using this visit as an ad campaign for players with eligibility to consider turning Fort Collins into Storrs West...

He can be professional today, which he will, say all the right things, which he will. And as soon as he’s back in Colorado. Recruit the heck out of us

 

[LBird33]

So not only is are recruiting class getting decimated, Mora is allowed to be on campus with the team to essentially recruit players away too?

He could do it from Colorado Don’t need to be on sight to do it. So don’t think his visit changes that one way or the other

 

[BlueandOG]

This is bitter medicine, but it is the right move by AD Dave. Stay classy Storrs.

 

[CTBballfan243]

The Team has been burned to the ground already. This will be a total rebuild. When the new coach gets the team back on solid ground and we start winning again I'm sure he will get poached as well. Rinse and repeat. We better get use to it. This will not be the last time our coach and players get poached.

 

[Exit 4]

I don’t see any issue with allowing Jim Mora to return to Connecticut to address the team. As many have pointed out, with today’s college football calendar, there is never a “good” time for a coach to leave. No matter what, fans and players will feel disappointed. Look at Lane Kiffin—he’s leaving Ole Miss right before their College Football Playoff appearance.

And realistically, Mora can recruit players anytime, whether he’s on campus or not. Allowing him to speak to the team simply shows that UConn is not a vindictive program; it’s offering proper closure to the Mora era and demonstrating readiness to move forward into the next chapter of UConn football.

As for roster impact, players who want to leave will leave. Our recruiting class has already taken a major hit. The new coach will need to rebuild through the portal. It’s unfortunate, but this is the reality of modern college football.

Jim left for a lateral move. He could have stayed forever. Do lateral move people get the same respect as those that get a clear promotion?

I have no problem with him speaking with the team, it is the right thing to do. But for me that moment with the team becomes extremely limited when you start offering 1/2 the HS recruits that were set to come here. Offer one or two, fine. Start offering them all, F-U.

And as for Jim on the field, loved everything he did for us. I will always look fondly on the Mora era, it was special. Apparently Jim felt he needed to end that special era ASAP and so be it....same here.