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

[CL82]

It seems like a state secret. It isn't anywhere to be found.

Which makes me feel like it may not be a great number. If it's at seven figures, as has been speculated above, I'm kind ok with this being"house house bowl", where it's us and some other team.

That said, if it had been Boca or even Jacksonville, I was seriously thinking about making the road trip. A few days of sunshine and warmer temps would've been appreciated.

 

[Nameless]

They also brought NTexas to OT and scored 38 and only lost by 7 to Tulane. They aren't as bad as some say.

They also beat a solid P4 team in K State (as we did with Duke) and had 2 questionable losses to lesser teams (Tarleton and Tulsa) as we did with Delaware and Rice. The more I think about this matchup, the more I see why I had an ECU fan telling me a couple weeks ago we were comparable teams this year.

I still would've rather played Memphis, ECU, USF etc from The American. But USF wanted a lesser bowl with the coaching change, and Memphis, ECU and Navy all have a P4 matchup which is what they would prefer. So Army was probably the best available matchup from that league. I'll take it.

 

[temery]

I swear this thread is being brigaded.

@temery can we get an eyeroll emoji please?

For some reason, adding emojis to the script is a lot more difficult than it should be. I'll give it a try..

 

[uconndogs]

Army played everyone tough this season. This will not be an easy game and JF and the offense will need to be very efficient, because Army will eat up clock when they have the ball. The one think in UCONN's favor is two weeks before the Cadets have Navy. That game is so emoutional it's not hard to imagine a bit of a letdown after that. We'll see....

Beat Army!!

 

[uconnric]

Oh, and we are?

There's no upside for us in this game.

 

[BonaConn]

Has anyone received the season ticket holder email we were supposed to get by 10 am?

 

[BugsyCT]

Has anyone received the season ticket holder email we were supposed to get by 10 am?

Not yet. Should be anytime. Want to make sure we're buying tickets through UConn to fill our bowl allotment.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[AllHusky]

I don't see that any of our outbound Portal list has committed anywhere. Don't really know the psychology of Portal marketing. Do they look at a bowl as another chance to increase their value, or vice versa. Somehow I think Joe Fagnano plays, wonder about Bell, but he seems high character and understands what his time at UConn has done for his stock. Lets pray both of them are there.

Incoming Coach Candle has his hands all over this, of course. Wondering what his impact will be on our personnel and performance.

If our potential opt outs go mostly the opt out path, we are going to struggle with Army. Sammis is going to have his hands full getting our kids ready for this. Very confusing. Love to see us in Boston solidifying our claim to be the Northeast's Team(Pinstripe would be better, I know)

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

There's no upside for us in this game.

There's the possibility of a historic 10th win, actually

 

[freescooter]

The Fenway Bowl loves UConn. Last year we shattered the attendance record. We had almost 28000. When BC was there they had 16500. Fenway is likely going to try to land UConn when they have a slot.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Show up. It’s nice to be wanted.

 

[BeatNavy]

They also beat a solid P4 team in K State (as we did with Duke) and had 2 questionable losses to lesser teams (Tarleton and Tulsa) as we did with Delaware and Rice. The more I think about this matchup, the more I see why I had an ECU fan telling me a couple weeks ago we were comparable teams this year.

I still would've rather played Memphis, ECU, USF etc from The American. But USF wanted a lesser bowl with the coaching change, and Memphis, ECU and Navy all have a P4 matchup which is what they would prefer. So Army was probably the best available matchup from that league. I'll take it.

Army's loss to Tulsa is inexcusable.

The way the Tarleton game played out was inexcusable, but if Tarleton was in the American, they would have finished above Tulsa in the conference standings.

 

[RitzLuce1]

Show up. It’s nice to be wanted.

Will the team?

Watching the Cully show now and his source (Mike Burton) says the team is not happy the administration pushed for Fenway. Team wanted charlotte or Florida. The school pushed for Fenway to save money because they didn’t want to spend it sending the team to North Carolina or Florida (at a time when they are telling us we are gonna invest more.)

Bell is 50-50 on playing but Joe is the one they are worried about not playing. He is not happy it’s Fenway.

 

[UConnJim]

I would have loved this spot. But, we have a shot at #10. Can't complain.

The problem with the Boca Bowl is that the payout is probably half of the Fenway Bowl. Add in travel and you probably would break even at best for Boca. Plus, I think it is a tough bowl for fans to attend given the bowl is on December 23 at 2 PM.

 

[HuskyNan]

You take the donations and buy tickets through UConn, yes?

 

[Wildgopher]

Will the team?

Watching the Cully show now and his source (Mike Burton) says the team is not happy the administration pushed for Fenway. Team wanted charlotte or Florida. The school pushed for Fenway to save money because they didn’t want to spend it sending the team to North Carolina or Florida (at a time when they are telling us we are gonna invest more.)

Bell is 50-50 on playing but Joe is the one they are worried about not playing. He is not happy it’s Fenway.

This is exactly what I was thinking. The team had a much better chance of staying together going to warmer destinations than going back to a bowl game that has no real "Bowl Game festivities" and cold temps. Add to that, now the defensive guys have to worry about their knees getting clipped on low blocks.

My guess, we are trying to save as much money as possible for the new team they will need next year.

 

[AllHusky]

Didn't realize we had that much of a choice in our bowl. Do we?

 

[BeatNavy]

Thanks. I watched the Georgia:Alabama game this weekend and remembered that Elo Moduzie transferred from Army to Georgia. But I checked and he entered the portal in the spring.

Yeah, he and RB Kanye Udoh [Arizona State] were the two very notable sophomores who announced they were entering the portal before Army's bowl game last year.

 

[UConnJim]

Will the team?

Watching the Cully show now and his source (Mike Burton) says the team is not happy the administration pushed for Fenway. Team wanted charlotte or Florida. The school pushed for Fenway to save money because they didn’t want to spend it sending the team to North Carolina or Florida (at a time when they are telling us we are gonna invest more.)

Bell is 50-50 on playing but Joe is the one they are worried about not playing. He is not happy it’s Fenway.

I don't believe UConn was in play for Charlotte as it is an ACC vs SEC game and the payout is ~$4.8 million per team so the ACC and SEC weren't giving up that money. UConn would have jumped on that in a second for the money! The Boca Bowl has a payout of $900k and you will probably lose money. The Gasparilla Bowl is $600k and you will lose money. The Fenway Bowl was the highest paying bowl that UConn could get by a factor of at least 2.

 

[freescooter]

Will the team?

Watching the Cully show now and his source (Mike Burton) says the team is not happy the administration pushed for Fenway. Team wanted charlotte or Florida. The school pushed for Fenway to save money because they didn’t want to spend it sending the team to North Carolina or Florida (at a time when they are telling us we are gonna invest more.)

Bell is 50-50 on playing but Joe is the one they are worried about not playing. He is not happy it’s Fenway.

Much of this is probably nonsense. I doubt the administration pushed for Fenway. Fenway probably approached UConn with the best offer. And as I said in another post Fenway loves UConn. Plus it is a good date. Some people just like to stir up controversy.

 

[uconndogs]

Will the team?

Watching the Cully show now and his source (Mike Burton) says the team is not happy the administration pushed for Fenway. Team wanted charlotte or Florida. The school pushed for Fenway to save money because they didn’t want to spend it sending the team to North Carolina or Florida (at a time when they are telling us we are gonna invest more.)

Bell is 50-50 on playing but Joe is the one they are worried about not playing. He is not happy it’s Fenway.

Not sure why Mike Burton would share that.....other than loving the spot light.

Assuming the comment is accurate about Joe F., the kid had a terrific season and I think he has a shot at the League. Stepping away from the bowl game would not be a good look imo. He's terrific.........but he isn't that terrific.

 

[Samoo]

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.

Think of how many more fans can afford to go to Wasabi due to the cost or the distance/time involved. Not only do our fans have more money to spend on the holidays, but next year when the Big 12 and ACC are reviewing various teams and how well they travel there will be a nice fat average attendance number next to UConn.

 

[Flipside]

Got tickets last year through the Red Sox ... this is part of a follow up email received yesterday

"This year’s bowl includes a postgame concert from country artist Riley Green, automatically included with every ticket—making it a full afternoon and evening of entertainment without needing separate plans."

 

[RitzLuce1]

Not sure why Mike Burton would share that.....other than loving the spot light.

Assuming the comment is accurate about Joe F., the kid had a terrific season and I think he has a shot at the League. Stepping away from the bowl game would not be a good look imo. He's terrific.........but he isn't that terrific.

Because if they want more money/incentives to play in the bowl, guess who has to dish it out? Burton.