This is exactly that kind of approach the coaching staff should be taking in recruiting. Showing kids video of not-too-distant history of sold-out Rents, raucous crowds, and a very favorable home field advantage on most weeks. Show the video of Greg Lloyd Jr knocking Armando Allen's helmet into the "Play Like a Chump Today" tunnel. Show the entire 2009 season, G-dammit, including the gut-wrenching losses to Rutgers, WVU and Cincinnati that year because it shows a UConn team that was playing for a larger purpose...and one that would eventually destroy the tiny c0cks of South Carolina. 16-17 year old kids probably don't remember those days but we all do. Ironically, UConn football was better in a BCS era against better opponents and in more meaningful games. You come here to play football and help restore that (and help improve our B1G profile in the process) and you will become a LEGEND around here.
We're looking for talented kids with a chip on their shoulders that want to embrace a challenge. Kids who aren't afraid of hard work. Kids who will wake up at 2am to get in a heart pounding workout on their recruiting visit. Kids who ignore what the "experts" say when they're paid to say it and can think for themselves. Kids who will come to UConn because it's the only show in town and unlike other places, has the ability to unite an ENTIRE STATE. Kids who embrace adversity - who look at it straight in the fahqing face and spit in its eyes.
We play in the elements up north - the way football was supposed to be played. People remember the games played in driving snowstorms. Ask any UConn fan their recollection of our 2009 home finale against USF and 99 times out of 100, people will say "I can't believe he made that kick in the snow". If you want to go play football in the sunshine and rainbows, where girls where sundresses and boys wear shirt and ties to games like they were at a Preppy-a-thon, go right ahead. You're not our kind of man. But if you want to play in front of fans who have been wearing long johns for 8 hours, who have to poke holes in their beers to keep them from freezing, who will voluntarily stand outside on a 20 degree day to tailgate and get fired up to watch you play, and who will stand and scream their faces off for you despite the sh1tty weather, then you might be our kind of man.
Best of all, we don't have time to waste. We need to win now. That means, we need to play the best players at each position, regardless of age/class. If you are 18 years old and don't want to sit on the bench for 3 years at a P5 school, you can come to UConn, help restore our program to the up trending program that it once was not too long ago, ON THE FIELD. Your family will be so proud of you watching you from the stands or on television NEXT YEAR! And if you put in the work, play well enough, and win, you just might be one of the reasons UConn escapes the AAC and starts playing football at the highest level...ONCE AGAIN. For that, the state of Connecticut will carve a statue in your honor and put it up at all highway entry points into our beloved state. YOU WILL BE A LEGEND.
It's gut check time. Where are you gonna ball?
