UConn is going Bowling > Wasabi Fenway Bowl v. Army (Saturday 12/27/25 @2:15 on ESPN)

[BRS24]

They (and all cadets) have always been paid as members of the armed forces. They get 35% of the base pay for a second lieutenant, less expenses.

This must be new. My brother went to the Air Force Academy and was not paid. He wasn’t commissioned until he graduated either

OK, so this is going back to the early 70s, however my husband said he was "paid" every month at USNA (half of an Ensign's base pay), however most of the $$$$ was taken for uniforms, books, haircuts, etc, etc. They only saw $$$ if there was anything left at the end of First Class year.

 

[giddyup]

Damn. It’s too bad we didn’t play a triple option team four weeks ago and hold them to one of their lower offensive outputs of the season. Because then it would really be hard to understand all this pessimism.

I think you are way overstating the actual case. was operating without a key component of their offense with their QB, Szarka, who taken out in the second quarter. It was 9-7 at half. Army and Navy are masters of the triple option. Point being this is not going to be any auto W.

 

[metsfan2323]

Army will be a much tougher opponent than North Carolina was last year. I don't understand the disappointment. Is it the fear of getting blown out by Army?

I like that we will again be playing in BC's backyard. Heck, we will be playing in their front yard while they just sit and watch from their window.

 

[NHUConnfan]

There are any number of bowl games you and your son can go to. Please, go to the Birmingham Bowl and enjoy App State vs Georgia Southern.

The Fenway Bowl is awesome because it's football at Fenway Park. And you know why else? Because we're in it and going for win number 10.

We packed Fenway last year and we'll pack it again this year. It's wild that you think a bowl game wanting us because we show up and show out is bad for the program.

I may very well go take him to Memphis to see my Bearcats play. I'd much rather watch UConn but I am also not very interested in going to Fenway a third time in 4 years. (It was also not "packed" unless you consider <70% capacity packed. I certainly don't...and especially not for events at Fenway.)

 

[Patman]

my biggest problem with the fenway bowl... other than getting home at 2am, was I bought what I thought were going to be great tickets only to sit in slush

 

[GampelGladiator]

I may very well go take him to Memphis to see my Bearcats play. I'd much rather watch UConn but I am also not very interested in going to Fenway a third time in 4 years. (It was also not "packed" unless you consider <70% capacity packed. I certainly don't...and especially not for events at Fenway.)

Going bowling with your son...no bad option

 

[DoctorWho85]

Disgusting outcome. 9-3 season and we get a (most likely) 6-6 Army, who finished 6th in the AAC. On top of that, there’s no novelty in playing the same bowl 2 years in a row - when does that ever happen? Just gross.

We have no time ins so this or the Pinstripe bowl make the most sense because it's going to sell a lot of tickets for both schools and the stadoum will be packed again

 

[Dove]

I'm going to have to do some driving that day. I just realized I have tickets for Men Without Hats that night at Foxwoods.

My God. This was posted on a public forum for all to see.

 

[Dove]

Disgusting outcome. 9-3 season and we get a (most likely) 6-6 Army, who finished 6th in the AAC. On top of that, there’s no novelty in playing the same bowl 2 years in a row - when does that ever happen? Just gross.

You're nuts.

 

[businesslawyer]

I think you are way overstating the actual case. was operating without a key component of their offense with their QB, Szarka, who taken out in the second quarter. It was 9-7 at half. Army and Navy are masters of the triple option. Point being this is not going to be any auto W.

I don’t think it will be an auto win. Just that the way we were lit up on D by Delaware and FAU running non-option offenses, and the way we played against Air Force, I am not panicked about facing an option team. I am panicked whenever we’re on D.

 

[HuskyNan]

my biggest problem with the fenway bowl... other than getting home at 2am, was I bought what I thought were going to be great tickets only to sit in slush

 

[king conn]

What's the payout on the Fenway bowl?

When the bowl was originally formed, it was announced as 2.5 million for each league participant.

Shortly after, the aac was hit by the Big 12 raid. Reports at the time said some aac bowls were going to renegotiate their payouts with the league or look for other tie ins, as the replacements were certainly no match for the departed members.

From that point, The fenway payout has been mysteriously classified as unknown. My thought has always been that the AAC half was chopped in half, and the AAC accepted with the request to keep it private whether from embarrassment or not wanting to appear to be a weaker league than before.

It also wouldn't surprise me if they gave that half from the AAC to the ACC. The ACC could argue we signed up to play up north and compete against bigger names, they are gone and now you need to pay us more. So their payout could even be over 3 ml

 

[Chin Diesel]

This must be new. My brother went to the Air Force Academy and was not paid. He wasn’t commissioned until he graduated either

I'm too lazy to look how long it has been going on but they receive money each month.

They are considered active duty but still don't get commissioned until they graduate.

 

[RSTuthill]

I do know Chadwick and Doumande are in the portal, hopefully Doumande comes back and for Chadwick not sure missing a CB would be a big deal against Army.

What I observed against Air Force is that it took all hands on deck to stop the run. Corners too sometimes.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Here's a little piece of the bigger picture, we are the preferred program for this venue. Our attendance exceeded the local, more established program (who happened to be facing a top 20 opponent) by 175%. The best thing that could happen to our athletic department would be to be the preferred program, in all sports, in Boston and NYC.

We already own NYC in men's basketball and between the '24 tournament and the recent BYU game, we are making serious progress in Boston with men's basketball. This bowl game will help reinforce our football presence in Boston, and having a bowl game in a major city where we have a reasonable alumni base and is somewhat local to our core alumni base wanting us whenever they can get us is in no way, shape or form a bad thing.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

That's not even it. It just feels like going to the same bowl two years in a row (one...mind you...that all of the bowl projections never had us returning to) is a bad thing...for the players, for the fans, for the program.

The Fenway Bowl is easily near the bottom of bowl games I've been to (and I've been twice!) It's a bad product and I think too many folks ignore that fact.

And selfishly, I was looking forward to taking a big trip with my son. A trip down 93 doesn't hit the same. Sorry!

Save your money, Bro. We will go and send you photos. Enough already.

 

[Zerostatic]

Damn, I like having a nearby game but could we at least have gotten the pinstripe bowl just to change it up.

Regardless, I would've went but my wife likes to do a Christmas in NYC day every year and we already got tickets to see a musical (and some other things) on that very day. If we got into the Pinstripe bowl, maybe I could've worked it into the day.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

I may very well go take him to Memphis to see my Bearcats play. I'd much rather watch UConn but I am also not very interested in going to Fenway a third time in 4 years. (It was also not "packed" unless you consider <70% capacity packed. I certainly don't...and especially not for events at Fenway.)

Just do the obvious thing and take him to a basketball game.

 

[RSTuthill]

I don’t think it will be an auto win. Just that the way we were lit up on D by Delaware and FAU running non-option offenses, and the way we played against Air Force, I am not panicked about facing an option team. I am panicked whenever we’re on D.

At least there will be a LOT of video to analyze and plenty of time to prepare. And a game using a four man front under UConn's belt.

 

[Waquoit]

My God. This was posted on a public forum for all to see.

They're not getting any younger. This could be my last chance to see The Safety Dance live. I've already seen UConn in the Fenway Bowl. Last May I finally got to see AC/DC.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

That's not even it. It just feels like going to the same bowl two years in a row (one...mind you...that all of the bowl projections never had us returning to) is a bad thing...for the players, for the fans, for the program.

The Fenway Bowl is easily near the bottom of bowl games I've been to (and I've been twice!) It's a bad product and I think too many folks ignore that fact.

And selfishly, I was looking forward to taking a big trip with my son. A trip down 93 doesn't hit the same. Sorry!

In all candor, you are allowed to feel however you do feel about this. Coincidentally, I'll be in New Hampshire that weekend, and currently trying to juggle a couple of things so I can attend this game.

As you don't view this game as being worth your time, money or trouble, maybe you can find something in here.. Things to do in NH

 

[Jetskies]

This. Army will treat it like the Super Bowl.

uhh..... I would say Army/Navy is their super bowl... not a meaningless bowl against UConn.

I agree that they'll come out full force, since service academy kids aren't portal drama queens, but let's not pretend this bowl comes even close to the navy rivalry, in terms of importance for army's 2025 season.

 

[storrsroars]

They're not getting any younger. This could be my last chance to see The Safety Dance live.

What is memorable or compelling about that song without little people prancing about?

 

[AllHusky]

Whenever any UConn team plays in Florida the arena is 80% Husky fans. I went to the women’s UConn vs USF game in Tampa last week and it was mostly UConn fans. The UConn club in the Villages has 400 fans, lol. They ship bus loads to games

No, I do NOT live in the Villages, thank goodness

Walked into a restaraunt in Longboat Key wearing UConn gear, the maitreD saw me and ran over like I was his long list brother. He was a Brit, both of his kids went to UConn and one worked for Geno. He’s going to set me up with the head of the Alumni Assoc in So Fla. Go Huskies!

 

[zls44]

They're not getting any younger. This could be my last chance to see The Safety Dance live. I've already seen UConn in the Fenway Bowl. Last May I finally got to see AC/DC.

Listen, you can dance if you want to, ok.