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To preface, I'm not one of the disconnected basketball fans calling for the Athletic Department to abolish the program so that we can move back to the Big East. Though I'm not a die-hard like some of the guys on the football board, I have watched a fair amount of UConn football over the last few years, including about 75% of their games this year, and even attended my first game in August against BYU. I enjoy supporting them and rooting for them, even if they suck.
But at what point does this program, if it hasn't already, begin to drain the life out of the secondary programs (basketball, field hockey, soccer, etc.)? For how long can an inert football program stand in direct resistance to the progress of other sectors of the Athletic Department, to the extent that, in the interim, they would likely be notably better off without its existence?
As I'm sure you know, 0-11 Southern Methodist - ranked as the second worst team in FBS by FEI - just waltzed into the Rent and not only beat UConn but also thoroughly outplayed them for most of the game. For as disastrous as the 2013 season was, the consensus heading into this year was that our success wouldn't be measured on wins and losses as much as improvement that persisted throughout the year. And, barring a brief two game stretch of hope in late October, that this season could be characterized indisputably as demoralizing means that this program isn't just starved for success, but also devoid of hope.
And as I watched today's comically unending steam of blown assignments, dropped passes, muffed punts, blocked field goals, missed extra points and poor ball security - all traits associated with poorly-coached football teams - I became more convinced than ever that there are several FCS teams that would beat UConn soundly on a neutral field.
Two years ago, I went to five UConn basketball games. All of them were conference opponents - I saw Louisville, Syracuse, and Cincinnati in Hartford, Georgetown in Storrs, and Providence at the Dunk. This season, I will not be attending any UConn basketball games, not because I don't love the team, but because it's hard to justify paying traveling three hours to and from, leaving early from obligations, and spending over $50 to watch mediocre basketball teams.
Incidentally, one basketball team I'd love to see us play regularly - Villanova - could probably beat us in football if we played next Saturday. Essentially, we have the worst of both worlds - a football team worthy of the Big East and a basketball schedule of AAC opponents. That dynamic is tough to stomach, even if committing to football was the right decision over the long haul.
I don't say this out of self-pity, but to openly wonder about at what point people like me not showing up to games anymore forces the AD's hand. Likewise, I can't imagine people are going to be lining up at the window for football season tickets next year, and coaches salaries need to be paid. I'm not proposing anything here, just looking to answers for questions that aren't going away. And if there are any legs to the rumors that Memphis and Cincinnati may be heading to the Big Twelve, I just cannot imagine that the AAC is a viable short or long term option for this Univeristy.
But at what point does this program, if it hasn't already, begin to drain the life out of the secondary programs (basketball, field hockey, soccer, etc.)? For how long can an inert football program stand in direct resistance to the progress of other sectors of the Athletic Department, to the extent that, in the interim, they would likely be notably better off without its existence?
As I'm sure you know, 0-11 Southern Methodist - ranked as the second worst team in FBS by FEI - just waltzed into the Rent and not only beat UConn but also thoroughly outplayed them for most of the game. For as disastrous as the 2013 season was, the consensus heading into this year was that our success wouldn't be measured on wins and losses as much as improvement that persisted throughout the year. And, barring a brief two game stretch of hope in late October, that this season could be characterized indisputably as demoralizing means that this program isn't just starved for success, but also devoid of hope.
And as I watched today's comically unending steam of blown assignments, dropped passes, muffed punts, blocked field goals, missed extra points and poor ball security - all traits associated with poorly-coached football teams - I became more convinced than ever that there are several FCS teams that would beat UConn soundly on a neutral field.
Two years ago, I went to five UConn basketball games. All of them were conference opponents - I saw Louisville, Syracuse, and Cincinnati in Hartford, Georgetown in Storrs, and Providence at the Dunk. This season, I will not be attending any UConn basketball games, not because I don't love the team, but because it's hard to justify paying traveling three hours to and from, leaving early from obligations, and spending over $50 to watch mediocre basketball teams.
Incidentally, one basketball team I'd love to see us play regularly - Villanova - could probably beat us in football if we played next Saturday. Essentially, we have the worst of both worlds - a football team worthy of the Big East and a basketball schedule of AAC opponents. That dynamic is tough to stomach, even if committing to football was the right decision over the long haul.
I don't say this out of self-pity, but to openly wonder about at what point people like me not showing up to games anymore forces the AD's hand. Likewise, I can't imagine people are going to be lining up at the window for football season tickets next year, and coaches salaries need to be paid. I'm not proposing anything here, just looking to answers for questions that aren't going away. And if there are any legs to the rumors that Memphis and Cincinnati may be heading to the Big Twelve, I just cannot imagine that the AAC is a viable short or long term option for this Univeristy.
