UConn Outbound Transfers for 8/1/23>7/31/24 Cycle

[BigTenFan]

The sad reality is that no matter how much money Hoosiers Connect and Hoosiers For Good comes up with and spends on football players, Indiana is never going to break into the upper echelon of the Big 10. Not as long as Michigan, Ohio St., Penn St., Michigan St. and Iowa are around.

Indiana's had 3 winning seasons in the past 30 years. They've finished no higher than tied for 4th in the B1G prior to the conference splitting into two divisions, and no higher than 4th in their division since the B1G went to divisions in 2011 (with the exception of the covid year 2020, where they ended 6-2 and in 2nd place in the East Division). With the exception of the covid year, they've finished above .500 in conference play once in 30 years. They've only been to 5 bowl games in the past 30 years, and they lost all 5.

It's an arms race that Indiana is never going to win, or never even come close to being in the upper echelon. Yet, their supporters are going to shell out millions over the next few years. At what point in the next few years are those supporters going to say "why are we doing this?" It's just not a sustainable model.

And I'm not picking on Indiana, just responding to the post about IU. You can substitute any lower level team in a P4 conference - Rutgers, Illinois, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Boston College, Arizona St., etc.

I agree 100 percent. The top tier teams will continue to excel and add in 4 Pac 10 teams and the gauntlet gets tougher. Iowa, Wisconsin will have winning records most years

My point is - if B1G Ten teams pour millions and millions of dollars into their football programs- how does a University like UConn attract any attention from players or coaches for its football program? As stated- it's just not a sustainable model for 90 percent of schools

 

[CL82]

With all due respect, stinks for whom? Not the players, which should always be kept at the center of all of this. If UConn had bags of cash and were getting the top players in consistently to supplement winning records year over year and the Rent was packed because of it- I doubt you would be pining for change

True, but that isn't the case.

 

[CL82]

Love the way Mora is handling this. Will pay dividends in the long run.

agree, but what else is he really going to do? Crap all over about a dozen players leaving? This is his best play, but, believe me our best players leaving in droves is not a good look. It has me worried.

 

[Bubba1957]

A few thoughts:

• The overall quality of play is going to take a big hit across the board with a lot of guys coming and going every year.
• A lot of guys leaving for NIL money will be riding the pine at their new home.
• At what point to boosters pressure coaches to play guys that they've invested as opposed to the best man?
• Leaving UConn for a bigger football school as away of being noticed by the NFL is just not true. First you have to get on the field, then play well. If you are starring at UConn (Joly, Aaron Turner, Carter), its a real gamble to leave and potentially not be seen again.

I used to argue with a coworker about the value of sports at a university. He didn't like sports and claimed it was ridiculous to even offer athletic scholarships at an institution dedicated to education. I argued the opposite and talked about opportunities for kids who might not have much and the overall improved college experience for everyone. I love athletic competition, but he was never wrong.

 

[RC111]

Beginning to see the end of College Football. We are the minor leagues and the big boys just buy the players. It's no longer a level playing field, the have and the have nots. Rich get richer! This has been horrible day to be a UConn football fan and I can't even imagine what the UConn coaches and staff are feeling! I hope we survive this crappy NIL and portal mess!

Hopefully not the end but a pivot back to something many of us would still watch.

If UConn builds a 20k on-campus stadium and goes back to mostly-regional in-conference games against eastern and/ or northern schools, I'll still show out for games. I'm just as happy watching decent football against Delaware as our team getting pounded by bigger teams with greater resources.

Josh Allen started at Reedley College. Carson Wentz attended FCS North Dakota State. UConn can still catch lightening in a bottle and have some fun players and games without all the BS that D1 college football is becoming. My ONLY fear is the big boys not inviting our BBall team to a future league if BBall breaks along the same lines.

 

[UCMB88]

A lot of logic there, but you're acting as if IU's donors haven't been contributing to the school's athletic department for generations notwithstanding all the losing. As J-Money just said, the core of this isn't new. Schools with donors who give a lot of money will have more ways to attract players than schools that don't. The only difference with the coming of NIL is how much money and to whom you write the check.

I understand that donors have been contributing to school's athletic department's for generations, but athletic department funds and NIL collective funds are two entirely separate things. Athletic department funds cannot be used to pay players directly. Sure, they are used for scholarships, but they can't be used for the straight up cash that is given to players.

Is Joe Hoosier, who gives $100,000 to the athletic department every year, now going to fork over an additional $100,000 to the NIL collective for football? Maybe, but at which point does Joe question why he's doing so when the football team continues to mire in mediocrity.

 

[cthog]

I think there l is a chance to get talented young players from P5. Why go to BC and sit on the bench for three years? Come here and play. You blow up? U can leave.

When the portal just started, I thought that type of scenario would help us. But now? These kids will get paid more to sit on the bench than to play here.

 

[uconnfan68]

When the portal just started, I thought that type of scenario would help us. But now? These kids will get paid more to sit on the bench than to play here.

If they’d rather sit than play, who wants them?

 

[uconnric]

Nah, UConn basketball is benefiting and I still don’t like it selfishly as a fan. It’s reality so I hope we do continue to poach good players from the transfer portal, but as a fan I’d rather we’d go back to the days you mostly relied on high school recruiting and developed guys

Not sure if basketball is benefiting, we just lost 2 high level recruits to Duke and I’d bet NIL had something to do with it.

 

[cohenzone]

The transfer rule is way more destructive to college sports than the NIL. At one point the argument in favor of a free transfer was that if a coach could leave for greener pastures without sitting a year, why should players have to sit? So why can’t the transfer rule be changed to award one free transfer to a player only when the coach who recruited him is gone for any reason,- new job, fired, retired, whatever. Otherwise sit a year. I watched one P5 game this year where the announcers were rather nonchalantly saying where players had transferred from. A very big %. These are no longer “programs”, its just fielding a team on a yearly basis with the name of the school on the jersey. If its going to be a pro knock off, a player with an NIL deal should include a minimum 2 year contract or longer as negotiated through a max of 4 years. I even wouldn’t care if the grad student eligibility were scrapped even though it has benefitted various UConn sports. I’ll probably remain a UConn fan til i die, but a lot of the interest is diminishing.

 

[UCFBfan]

agree, but what else is he really going to do? Crap all over about a dozen players leaving? This is his best play, but, believe me our best players leaving in droves is not a good look. It has me worried.

Is it really a bad look? I think it's just the future reality for programs like us. We can't afford to drop massive NIL on a player like Joly who can't fix the offense by himself. Also, players, like coaches, will now use programs like ours and other low tier programs as a spring board to better offers/programs. It's the reality that we all need to accept. Last year these departures would have me freaking out. Now I just shrug. It's sad but true.

As a fan, there's no more rooting for players, it's just rooting for the university.

 

[Hogoff]

agree, but what else is he really going to do? Crap all over about a dozen players leaving? This is his best play, but, believe me our best players leaving in droves is not a good look. It has me worried.

He could just keep quiet about it. Although, that would be a bad look.

 

[How Sway?!]

I think the best way to move forward is to institute a solidarity system like they have in soccer. Players keep their one time transfer, they keep getting paid, and the developing school get some reward for developing the player. Something like $25k would stop a large amount of the poaching.

 

[uconnfan68]

Is it really a bad look? I think it's just the future reality for programs like us. We can't afford to drop massive NIL on a player like Joly who can't fix the offense by himself. Also, players, like coaches, will now use programs like ours and other low tier programs as a spring board to better offers/programs. It's the reality that we all need to accept. Last year these departures would have me freaking out. Now I just shrug. It's sad but true.

As a fan, there's no more rooting for players, it's just rooting for the university.

I’ll root for whomever is wearing our uniform. Unless their next uniform is professional, that’s as far as my interest will go.

 

[kemba]

Not sure if basketball is benefiting, we just lost 2 high level recruits to Duke and I’d bet NIL had something to do with it.

All the reports were nil had nothing to do with it, our offer was right there, at least for Flagg. We’ve also never really beaten out duke for that level recruit pre-nil.

We were able to poach 2 key pieces on last years championship team, one of which is one of our best players this year. One of our other best players this year we were able to poach from a big 10 team. Without these guys we don’t have a title last year and this year we’re probably not much more than a tourney team

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Love the way Mora is handling this. Will pay dividends in the long run.

I also have noticed Mora talking to a lot of opposing players after games.

I think Mora just enjoys the mentorship element of the game. Even with the frustrations of the portal, he still cares about doing the right thing for the kids. Edsall would blame the way kids are today...Mora blames the process and looks for solutions.

I like Mora's approach to these things.

 

[YoungFree]

I also have noticed Mora talking to a lot of opposing players after games.

I think Mora just enjoys the mentorship element of the game. Even with the frustrations of the portal, he still cares about doing the right thing for the kids. Edsall would blame the way kids are today...Mora blames the process and looks for solutions.

I like Mora's approach to these things.

Well, with all the players leaving and only 12 commits, I hope he has a process

 

[BugsyCT]

The system is worse than it was before thanks to NIL. Honestly, it's one thing for players to leave because they aren't geting playing time. If we're losing guys like Joly and Ruelas because they're good and can get better FBS offers and more NIL $$, then it's pretty much over for UConn football at the FBS level. In basketball we can survive like this; in football, no way. The hole we're in is too deep.

 

[YoungFree]

The system is worse than it was before thanks to NIL. Honestly, it's one thing for players to leave because they aren't geting playing time. If we're losing guys like Joly and Ruelas because they're good and can get better FBS offers and more NIL $$, then it's pretty much over for UConn football at the FBS level. In basketball we can survive like this; in football, no way. The hole we're in is too deep.

Agreed. NIL, as originally described to me was basically supposed to be commission/percentage of money the school made, not the pre-NFL payouts. It's not even college anymore.

 

[noeynox]

I think there l is a chance to get talented young players from P5. Why go to BC and sit on the bench for three years? Come here and play. You blow up? U can leave.

Some of the P5 guys that have come here have made zero impact. Thinking of Ethon Williams that came in from BC.

 

[CL82]

Is it really a bad look? I think it's just the future reality for programs like us.

yeah, I think it is. It's effectively designating us to AAA ball club.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Well, with all the players leaving and only 12 commits, I hope he has a process

There will be kids available in the portal.. UConn isn't the only school losing kids to the portal.

At this point who knows if it's a net positive or negative...but Mora's approach has to resonate with some kids who care not only about money but culture and education.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

I wonder if even a modestly successful season would have encouraged some guys to stick around, or if these are all 100% NIL-based transfers no matter what our record was. IMO, as soon as the PAT got blocked against Utah State and we became 0-5, the rest of the season effectively became a 7-week audition for larger programs to poach the remaining talent.

It's all about the money all over the country.

 

[freescooter]

I agree 100 percent. The top tier teams will continue to excel and add in 4 Pac 10 teams and the gauntlet gets tougher. Iowa, Wisconsin will have winning records most years

My point is - if B1G Ten teams pour millions and millions of dollars into their football programs- how does a University like UConn attract any attention from players or coaches for its football program? As stated- it's just not a sustainable model for 90 percent of schools

I get what you’re saying but it isn’t sustainable for anybody but a handful. When the coach at LSU is complaining and the coach at Nebraska is saying a quarterback is $1 million and K State and Michigan State both lose ALL there quarterbacks you really have to wonder for whom is this viable. Look at the list of quarterbacks in the portal. It isn’t guys who are moving for playing time. Guys who aren’t all that great are going to get megabucks and will continue to be not that great.

 

[businesslawyer]

I understand that donors have been contributing to school's athletic department's for generations, but athletic department funds and NIL collective funds are two entirely separate things. Athletic department funds cannot be used to pay players directly. Sure, they are used for scholarships, but they can't be used for the straight up cash that is given to players.

Is Joe Hoosier, who gives $100,000 to the athletic department every year, now going to fork over an additional $100,000 to the NIL collective for football? Maybe, but at which point does Joe question why he's doing so when the football team continues to mire in mediocrity.

I’m not saying there won’t be a breaking point. But I am pointing out that IU donors have had to give more and more money over time even without NIL, and even while their team only rarely was competitive. Whether the next “we need more” check goes to the school or a NIL, who cares? Why would they care? And is IU now going to finish worst than last in the new environment?

 

[That Guy]

People embracing the idea of becoming Alabama’s development league team is disgusting. Why don’t we just rebrand the university as “Alabama Jr” at that point? Cowards.

So long as we're outside of a power conference then we have no leverage whatsoever in football and will continue to lose tons of players to the portal every year. I would 100% be in favor of some arrangement where Bama, LSU, Georgia, Michigan, etc. send us their 4* guys that would typically be redshirted or on the bench for 1 or 2 years to start and get playing time and then they head off to their respective schools. It would make us bowl eligible every year at the very least and then give us some guys to root for at the top programs once they leave. I wish I was being sarcastic, but this would honestly be a huge win for us.

 

[LBird33]

A few hundred thousand dollars in NIL money just not going to move the UConn football needle. That money should be spread around to mens, women's BB and some Olympic sports. That is the new reality in D1 sports- more specifically football

Sad but it’s looking true

 

[Dizzy21]

The system is worse than it was before thanks to NIL. Honestly, it's one thing for players to leave because they aren't geting playing time. If we're losing guys like Joly and Ruelas because they're good and can get better FBS offers and more NIL $$, then it's pretty much over for UConn football at the FBS level. In basketball we can survive like this; in football, no way. The hole we're in is too deep.

Ruelas probably left because he was the better kicker who we refused to play. Why would he stay to ride the bench at UConn when he could probably be kicking for a lot of good teams?

 

[Patman]

Agreed. NIL, as originally described to me was basically supposed to be commission/percentage of money the school made, not the pre-NFL payouts. It's not even college anymore.

Whoever described that you was woefully wrong. This was never about schools paying players money. this was always about private pay to players akin to sponsorships however in pros there's no real incentive for third parties to just give raw cash. Presumably somebody could.

 

[DawgEnjoyer]

The system is worse than it was before thanks to NIL. Honestly, it's one thing for players to leave because they aren't geting playing time. If we're losing guys like Joly and Ruelas because they're good and can get better FBS offers and more NIL $$, then it's pretty much over for UConn football at the FBS level. In basketball we can survive like this; in football, no way. The hole we're in is too deep.

Ruelas is leaving because the coaches have a crush on a kicker with a dead leg, who he is better than.

Really bums me out we chased away a local kid with a good story who was good because of some weird favoritism