UCONN football............for me.

[uconndogs]

When you are on the north side of half a century perspective begins to change. The same experience from 10 or 20 years ago means something different that many years later. Wiser? Maybe. A little fire lost? Could be a little of that too.

I love going to the UCONN games at the Rent. For me it's an oppornity to see family on a more regular basis and share the games. Yesterday it was my brothers and son, some tail gating and much laughter. The guys talking football and being crude. Good stuff.

I see the full parking lot, the jammed student section and think back to the 30+ years ago when I spent 4 of the best years of my life at Storrs and when soccer games regularly outdrew football games.

I recognize the extraordinary effort put out by young men playing a game that is as demanding intelectually and emotionally as it is physically.....and it would never cross my mind to boo them, regardless of the results.

I wonder at the talent that comprises our band when they play one of the most beautiful renditions of God Bless Americ that I have ever heard from a marching band.

I reminisce as I see students testing the bounds of alcohol consumption and sociatal behavior in general. I remember the energy, uncertainty, the hope and promise.

So I stayed in the Rent until the NCState QB took his knee. Disappointed. We went back to the lot and relaxed to let the traffic clear. The weather, for the most part, had held out perfectly. More laughs. Hugs good-bye.

Bufallo in two weeks, and I can't wait.

 

[PolisHusky]

Now that is a perspective 35,000 other fans need right now. Through thick and thin, you have to look at the whole experience of college football, but not give up or lose sight of the sincere effort made by the entire team, band, and the people who ensure our safety at the rent. We have come a long way from memorial stadium, trailors, and 1-AA, but we have things that are still timeless and other traditions yet to be seen. That is the growth of a fanbase and a college football program. Although coaches, players, students and the college transform, it is the fanbase that reminds those new to the experience how it's done. I really appreciate that perspective uconndogs, it takes the sting out of a tough loss yesterday and gets me pumped to see the renewed spirits (and I don't mean the ones from the package store you will see on tailgatig tables) of our fanbase as we cheer on the Huskies! Go UCONN!

 

[huskyjawz]

When you are on the north side of half a century perspective begins to change. The same experience from 10 or 20 years ago means something different that many years later. Wiser? Maybe. A little fire lost? Could be a little of that too.

I love going to the UCONN games at the Rent. For me it's an oppornity to see family on a more regular basis and share the games. Yesterday it was my brothers and son, some tail gating and much laughter. The guys talking football and being crude. Good stuff.

I see the full parking lot, the jammed student section and think back to the 30+ years ago when I spent 4 of the best years of my life at Storrs and when soccer games regularly outdrew football games.

I recognize the extraordinary effort put out by young men playing a game that is as demanding intelectually and emotionally as it is physically.....and it would never cross my mind to boo them, regardless of the results.

I wonder at the talent that comprises our band when they play one of the most beautiful renditions of God Bless Americ that I have ever heard from a marching band.

I reminisce as I see students testing the bounds of alcohol consumption and sociatal behavior in general. I remember the energy, uncertainty, the hope and promise.

So I stayed in the Rent until the NCState QB took his knee. Disappointed. We went back to the lot and relaxed to let the traffic clear. The weather, for the most part, had held out perfectly. More laughs. Hugs good-bye.

Bufallo in two weeks, and I can't wait.

Great post.

 

[Adios]

Win or lose, games are fun to attend. No one wants to win more than the players and coaches.

 

[Srqhusky]

Exactly when u focus on having a good time you always win!!

 

[jdb50]

We're in the same life boat as you dogs, stayed till the team went in the tunnel. So many positives from the game day experience win or lose. Not looking forward to watching on TV next week. There is a core group of fans that hopefully will stick with the program and carry us through these hard times on the field. If 1/3 of the stadium can make that much noise at the end then the future is bright.

 

[gars44]

Great post. Stayed till the bitter end, watched the TOB/PP handshake. Etc, etc, etc.
However . . . . . . . . .
This is not the attitude that breeds a winning program. I'm not criticizing you, condemning you or complaining about your post. I'm just bringing this up. West Virginia's fan base doesn't see it this way. They demand a relevant program. Winning programs usually don't happen by accident. They happen in response to fan and institutional demand. Calhoun happened by accident. We were extremely lucky. Uconn basketball now demands a winning program. Won't accept less. Uconn football is not there, and many of us do enjoy the sun, friends, the sausages and family time. Until there is a demand for winning - Burton family level demand - we won't achieve it.

 

[businesslawyer]

Why are these two things mutually exclusive. Why can't I come to the Rent to have fun, enjoy my time with my guests, but still really, really, really care about winning?

 

[Yonick]

Great post. Stayed till the bitter end, watched the TOB/PP handshake. Etc, etc, etc.
However . . . . . . . . .
This is not the attitude that breeds a winning program. I'm not criticizing you, condemning you or complaining about your post. I'm just bringing this up. West Virginia's fan base doesn't see it this way. They demand a relevant program. Winning programs usually don't happen by accident. They happen in response to fan and institutional demand. Calhoun happened by accident. We were extremely lucky. Uconn basketball now demands a winning program. Won't accept less. Uconn football is not there, and many of us do enjoy the sun, friends, the sausages and family time. Until there is a demand for winning - Burton family level demand - we won't achieve it.

We're not going to be that winning program by having 6,000 empty seats for argueably the best team to visit the rent this year.

 

[Adios]

Great post. Stayed till the bitter end, watched the TOB/PP handshake. Etc, etc, etc.
However . . . . . . . . .
This is not the attitude that breeds a winning program. I'm not criticizing you, condemning you or complaining about your post. I'm just bringing this up. West Virginia's fan base doesn't see it this way. They demand a relevant program. Winning programs usually don't happen by accident. They happen in response to fan and institutional demand. Calhoun happened by accident. We were extremely lucky. Uconn basketball now demands a winning program. Won't accept less. Uconn football is not there, and many of us do enjoy the sun, friends, the sausages and family time. Until there is a demand for winning - Burton family level demand - we won't achieve it.

The AD and Herbst demand winning in football.

 

[Adios]

Why are these two things mutually exclusive. Why can't I come to the Rent to have fun, enjoy my time with my guests, but still really, really, really care about winning?

We all want to win. Well, at least half of us.

 

[bigAbruns]

We're not going to be that winning program by having 6,000 empty seats for argueably the best team to visit the rent this year.

That and only putting 7 points on the board.

 

[coachcap]

Why are these two things mutually exclusive. Why can't I come to the Rent to have fun, enjoy my time with my guests, but still really, really, really care about winning?

My sentiments exactly.

 

[ASweet3781]

We're not going to be that winning program by having 6,000 empty seats for argueably the best team to visit the rent this year.

In early 2007, Cincinnati was playing in front of a barely more than half full stadium. You want to know what started selling that stadium out by the end of that year and leading into the following year? Winning football games. Winning A LOT of football games. Putting a product on the field that was fun to watch and worth going to see.

If UConn is going to win 4-5 games a year playing a mediocre non conference schedule and playing in a laughably weak Big East, there will be LOTS of empty seats. If the offense of UConn is so inept, a 10-0 deficit in the 3rd QTR feels like a lost cause, there will be LOTS of empty seats. Thats reality.

A winning program will mean those 6,000 empty seats will be filled. What we got last year, and what we got yesterday will ensure they remain unfilled.

 

[gars44]

In answer to your question, BL, it's like San Diego. Chargers, Padres. They can never win. Not a chance. The fans are too satisfied just the way it is. Great place to live, clean, bright, sunshine, water, let's go to the game, have fun, go home, have some more fun. Ok, we lost, but we had fun. Let's have more fun. And do it again next week. Yeah, you can want to win, and I know you do. This isn't it about people like you. We need a critical mass of energy that demands winning. We need wealthy boosters who want to win, who want to cheat to win, who want to do the old fashioned stuff, like da U, like Texas, like USC, like Auburn, like Bama, like Penn State. I'm not advocating for this, so people, please stop. I'm just saying that this is the critical mass of passion necessary to accomplish a little goal called "winning." The P hire was a necessary event given the timing of the RE departure. The next hire has to be a lot, lot different.

 

[Adios]

In answer to your question, BL, it's like San Diego. Chargers, Padres. They can never win. Not a chance. The fans are too satisfied just the way it is. Great place to live, clean, bright, sunshine, water, let's go to the game, have fun, go home, have some more fun. Ok, we lost, but we had fun. Let's have more fun. And do it again next week. Yeah, you can want to win, and I know you do. This isn't it about people like you. We need a critical mass of energy that demands winning. We need wealthy boosters who want to win, who want to cheat to win, who want to do the old fashioned stuff, like da U, like Texas, like USC, like Auburn, like Bama, like Penn State. I'm not advocating for this, so people, please stop. I'm just saying that this is the critical mass of passion necessary to accomplish a little goal called "winning." The P hire was a necessary event given the timing of the RE departure. The next hire has to be a lot, lot different.

An offensive genius. That's what changed Cincinnati.

 

[ASweet3781]

In answer to your question, BL, it's like San Diego. Chargers, Padres. They can never win. Not a chance. The fans are too satisfied just the way it is. Great place to live, clean, bright, sunshine, water, let's go to the game, have fun, go home, have some more fun. Ok, we lost, but we had fun. Let's have more fun. And do it again next week. Yeah, you can want to win, and I know you do. This isn't it about people like you. We need a critical mass of energy that demands winning. We need wealthy boosters who want to win, who want to cheat to win, who want to do the old fashioned stuff, like da U, like Texas, like USC, like Auburn, like Bama, like Penn State. I'm not advocating for this, so people, please stop. I'm just saying that this is the critical mass of passion necessary to accomplish a little goal called "winning." The P hire was a necessary event given the timing of the RE departure. The next hire has to be a lot, lot different.

If you are going to start out the year losing a TON of winnable games like Western Michigan, Iowa State, Vandy, and NC State, you are not going to have a "critical mass of energy" out of this fan base.

At this stage you only fill those seats by winning football games. That is reality. If you think there's some sort of silent majority out there of rabid football fans in CT who are going to pack the place for a team that starts at 2-3 every year and whose offensive style is inept, your not being realistic.

 

[businesslawyer]

In answer to your question, BL, it's like San Diego. Chargers, Padres. They can never win. Not a chance. The fans are too satisfied just the way it is. Great place to live, clean, bright, sunshine, water, let's go to the game, have fun, go home, have some more fun. Ok, we lost, but we had fun. Let's have more fun. And do it again next week. Yeah, you can want to win, and I know you do. This isn't it about people like you. We need a critical mass of energy that demands winning. We need wealthy boosters who want to win, who want to cheat to win, who want to do the old fashioned stuff, like da U, like Texas, like USC, like Auburn, like Bama, like Penn State. I'm not advocating for this, so people, please stop. I'm just saying that this is the critical mass of passion necessary to accomplish a little goal called "winning." The P hire was a necessary event given the timing of the RE departure. The next hire has to be a lot, lot different.

I think the lack of fan satisfaction is clear from the fact that only 34k showed up for such a big football game. I don't think the program gets better because fans are boooing players, or calling into talk shows with more anger. If fans don't come, if they don't contribute as much as their peers at other schools, the message is being sent.

 

[pj]

It could be worse. We could have a fanbase that looks like this:

 

[Adios]

It could be worse. We could have a fanbase that looks like this:

That looks like the Temple fanbase.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

An offensive genius. That's what changed Cincinnati.

Until UConn values an exciting offense and stops with the old school 1960s approach, things won't change much. Stars with a better selection of the HC.

 

[sportsart]

We have to stop having the WTF games. Love him or hate him Edsall's teams rarely lost games they were supposed to win. Last year and with NC St......

 

[UConnDan97]

It could be worse. We could have a fanbase that looks like this:

That is fantastic!! And they sound like they are still generating some serious sound, for just being 35 organized arrows...

 

[BlueDogs]

The AD and Herbst demand winning in football.

Yet to see anything that suggests that except at lot of hollow words. First order of business is getting us out of a death spiral conference scenario. Adding a bunch of midtiers slapping lipstick in the pig doesn't cut it.

 

[huskysupporter]

Why are these two things mutually exclusive. Why can't I come to the Rent to have fun, enjoy my time with my guests, but still really, really, really care about winning?

+ 1000. One of the best parts of college football is the game day atmosphere. And that includes tailgating. It's a time for me to meet up with friends and family and have a great time. UCONN tailgating is first class all the way. I have yet to go to a stadium with a better tailgating atmosphere, and that includes Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. I never thought I would say that.

 

[J187Money]

I think the lack of fan satisfaction is clear from the fact that only 34k showed up for such a big football game. I don't think the program gets better because fans are boooing players, or calling into talk shows with more anger. If fans don't come, if they don't contribute as much as their peers at other schools, the message is being sent.

Actually I think most people in CT don't realize what is or isn't a big football game. It was really big for UCONN but the average person if they have ever heard of NC State only knows about Valvano and that was 30 years ago. Face it, they aren't Michigan etc.

The fact that this state has NEVER had real college football of any importance means that nobody talks about it as a subject, unless they went to a big football school or happen to be a rabid football fan.

And what I'm sure you don't see in Texas--all of the Pop Warner games are all scheduled at the same time as our games so you miss a ton of opportunities to gain new fans because they can't go to games. A bunch of the football parents in my hood maybe go to one game a year (and a lot of them went to UCONN) because they can't be in two places at once.

 

[Bootsthemonkey]

I have to admit I enjoy the UConn games as well, win or lose. My brothers, my nephew and I all live in different parts of the state. We see each other maybe 8 times a year - Thanksgiving, Christmas and six UConn games. That said I think we all care about winning, but at the same time I'm not going to let it wreck my day if it doesn't happen.

I think this fanbase can be very good - the stadium can get loud. However it's also embarrassing that it takes two quarters of the game for fans to get into the stadium - and they start filing out in the 3rd regardless of the score. I had people in front of me get up and leave right after UConn cut it to a 10-7 game in the 4th as well. Huh? Anyone on here that does this stuff, it's your right and I won't argue it but I'm stating my opinion that I'm unimpressed by this and I'm sticking to it. And whether anyone thinks the NC State crowd was small, I'll admit they were loud for their numbers.

This region does have a strong football following. Prior to the 50's when college football was king this area put out great numbers for college football - the Ivies were powerful back then and used to fill those stadiums. But as the dawn of TV gave rise to the popularity of the NFL the northeast became a pro football region. I can't tell you how many friends I ran into this week who were happily telling me they were excited because Sunday meant "Football is back!" (translation: The NFL is back and I couldn't care less about college football. Not just UConn. All of college football). I felt like reminding them that college football was already into week 2 but didn't feel like wasting my time.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Great post. Stayed till the bitter end, watched the TOB/PP handshake. Etc, etc, etc.
However . . . . . . . . .
This is not the attitude that breeds a winning program. I'm not criticizing you, condemning you or complaining about your post. I'm just bringing this up. West Virginia's fan base doesn't see it this way. They demand a relevant program. Winning programs usually don't happen by accident. They happen in response to fan and institutional demand. Calhoun happened by accident. We were extremely lucky. Uconn basketball now demands a winning program. Won't accept less. Uconn football is not there, and many of us do enjoy the sun, friends, the sausages and family time. Until there is a demand for winning - Burton family level demand - we won't achieve it.

Gars - thank you. I would have stumbled around for 1,000+ words to state this.

As much as the original post is a nice thing, without the absolute will to win, the frothing at the mouth vitriol that comes from the absolute hatred of failure, .....the attitude that Jim Calhoun installed at UConn 25 years ago.....and has led to multiple national championships throughout the athletic department.......

UConn football will continue to be a great way to spend a fall saturday afternoon with family and friends, and that's it. It should be that, and is that - but it can, and should be more. The investment, in it being more, is there.

I'm still fuming beyond belief at what I saw on the field on Saturday, the lack of urgency and the lethargy that I saw from our offense, where's the guy that's stomping around like a maniac firing everybody up? Who's the enforcer that's going to beat the snot out of you if you duck up again? If the coaching staff isn't going to set the tone, they damn well better put players on the field that will..... , and if the coaching staff can't do it themselves, and can't find players to put on the field to do it, then the coaching staff needs to change.

I watched those guys on the sidelines. THe energy level was simply not there. The defensive players were over there, late in the game, with the energy they carried all game long, telling them they'd get the ball back, and they did.

But it's now 36 hours or so + game time, so it's in a compartment in the back of my head, and I'm really looking forward to Maryland.

Friends, family, fun - yes. That's all great, but I expect winning football. that's on the leadership of the entire program to create, and there's a part of the program, that's severely lacking right now, and there needs to be a change. Deciding what that change needs to be, for the results to show on the field? That's why the head man gets paid what he gets paid.

We have not won consecutive football games in just under two years now. We've lost consecutive games. That is not winning football.

You are what your record says you are.

Coach P, and his program - is 6-8.

Right now in sept 2012?

#2 in Defense. #105 in offense.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Win or lose, games are fun to attend. No one wants to win more than the players and coaches.

Some people come close.

 

[Carl Spackler]

We're not going to be that winning program by having 6,000 empty seats for argueably the best team to visit the rent this year.

We're not going to fill those 6,000 straggler seats, when we can't win consecutive football games.

This talk about the fans needs to go away. Tehre is a core base of fans for this program that is going nowhere. The athletic department screwed up royally and the lightning rod that the program was for ticket sales 7-8 years ago, there's not much that can be done about that at this time, except everythign they are doing now, with motivating ticket sales, it's an uphill battle, but bitching about the failures of the past on the business side of things, is useless.

THe only way a fan base trully grows, is with winning.