UConn Staff Crushing It | Page 2 | The Boneyard

UConn Staff Crushing It

CTM626 said:
Is it me or does something not add up? As someone who barely posts here but reads the board all of the time, I am surprised that I don't see anyone really digging into this all that much. When you start to connect the dots, a lot of things just don't make a lot of sense to me. I wasn't thrilled when it was announced that RE was coming back but since the press conference I have been completely onboard. After RL was announced as OC, I was beyond thrilled but incredibly confused as to why someone my exact age would take a substantial six figure paycut to come be an assistant (and move his young family) in an area of the country that he has zero familiarity with for a team that had the worst offense in all of college football. Granted there's nowhere to go but up, but to hear that RL was originally contacted to be HC but "wasn't interested" and later opted for the OC job instead and now RE was contacted as early as last spring, something just isn't making sense to me and there has got to be a lot more going on than meets the eye in my opinion.

I could be looking into this way too far but does anyone think that Randy sees this as a 2-3 year opportunity to make good with the UConn fanbase, rid himself of any lingering guilt, and then sail into the sunset by leaving the keys with RL? It just seems to me that when you look at his twitter and he had Florida set as his home location (already having one foot in the door for retirement), saying at his press conference that the only HC job he'd ever do again would be UConn, his desire to finish up the playoff stint with the Lions and not come immediately to UConn (which seemed a little uncharacteristic but I guess I understood), to letting RL have complete autonomy, etc. that it just isn't the same guy. He was an absolute control freak/micro-manager and I don't understand how a man at that age could change that drastically, unless it's just a different agreed upon role pitched by AD Dave. I'm just thoroughly confused (in a good way). But I really wonder if this is really RL's team.
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I think it is fair to wonder exactly what happened and what is the plan. We probably won't know how we got here, but I would think this has a lot of moving parts and the timing with RE, and especially RL, was just good. It feels like it got to the point at Auburn that Malzahn strongly urged RL to take another opportunity, and when other P5 opportunities didn't materialize, DB convinced RL that being OC at UConn would position him for a HC job and that RE would give him full control. Being OC with total control would look better on his resume than partial control under Malzahn.

Who knows that RE is thinking now. Maybe he wants to be an AD and DB told him that his plan is move on after a couple years and then RE can be AD and RL can be HC. These types of plans hardly ever work because there are too many variables that can wreak havoc on the plan.

However we got here, it feels like things couldn't have worked out better for UConn football. And I don't remember the last time I could say that...lol.
 
CTM626 said:
Is it me or does something not add up?

He was an absolute control freak/micro-manager and I don't understand how a man at that age could change that drastically, unless it's just a different agreed upon role pitched by AD Dave. I'm just thoroughly confused (in a good way). But I really wonder if this is really RL's team.
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To your point about micromanaging and prior control freak behavior: you want your people to own what they do and unleash their creativeness and enthusiasm. We live and learn as leaders and at some point you learn that a lighter touch usually produces better results as long as everyone is on the same page and pulling in the same direction. HCRE2.0 may have adjusted his approach after learning this via that great teacher called experience.
 
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JSM1970 said:
The AAC only has 2 4 star or better players, the idea Aresco calls it the P6 is just laughable.
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Right, because the number of stars on high school recruits determined by "independent sources" whose primary goal is to drive subscriptions with college fan bases is what defines a program. On-field performance, NFL alums - all just window dressing.
 
CTM626 said:
I could be looking into this way too far but does anyone think that Randy sees this as a 2-3 year opportunity to make good with the UConn fanbase, rid himself of any lingering guilt, and then sail into the sunset by leaving the keys with RL? It just seems to me that when you look at his twitter and he had Florida set as his home location (already having one foot in the door for retirement), saying at his press conference that the only HC job he'd ever do again would be UConn, his desire to finish up the playoff stint with the Lions and not come immediately to UConn (which seemed a little uncharacteristic but I guess I understood), to letting RL have complete autonomy, etc. that it just isn't the same guy. He was an absolute control freak/micro-manager and I don't understand how a man at that age could change that drastically, unless it's just a different agreed upon role pitched by AD Dave. I'm just thoroughly confused (in a good way). But I really wonder if this is really RL's team.
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During one of Athletic Director Dave's interviews on Joe D and Gresh, he gave a hypothetical scenario of Edsall being here for five years. I was surprised that he said that. I think it was in the context of always having a list of prospective coaches at the ready.
 
businesslawyer said:
For years, we always had good gunners. I couldn't even tell you who our gunners were the last few.

I really do yearn for the days when I paid more attention to every detail of the games. Hopefully, those days will be back.
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I turned the TV off vs Tulane when they scored 14. First time ever.

I yearn for the days when a 14 point first quarter deficit wasn't insurmountable.

PS: We scored 13 that game.
 
sdhusky said:
I turned the TV off vs Tulane when they scored 14. First time ever.

I yearn for the days when a 14 point first quarter deficit wasn't insurmountable.

PS: We scored 13 that game.
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First year at the Rent, with Orlovsky, we fell behind 21-0 to Western Michigan. I remember that a friend could't understand why my son and I weren't panicked. We ended up winning fairly comfortably.

I want those days back.
 
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JSM1970 said:
Glass 1/2 full: I do think there are some pleasant surprises in the class and certainly a coaching change can be tough

Glass 1/2 empty: Rankings wise this is the worst class in the AAC and the worst UConn class in the last 10 years or more

Going forward though I think Edsall and Lashlee will get it back good
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In a matter of weeks Randy took this recruiting class up past 25% of the league and jumped us ~30 spots nationally. Given the time frame, remaining availability of recruits, and the barren desert of a class Diaco had assembled, he's done a phenomenal job.
 
Standing O for the job they've done. But I guarantee they aren't satisfied and will be moving forward with this class as a springboard in areas where we want to maintain a presence. We don't need miracles next year, just a coherent plan that shows progress and generates enthusiasm for the fans. A Bowl game would be nice though.
 
weyuo said:
Because last Spring Diaco had just come off a turn around season where he got this team to it's first bowl game in 4 years so there was optimism that he may do even better in 2016. Benedict, just starting, could only cross his fingers and pray Diaco actually knew what he was doing.
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What a revelation! :rolleyes: I'll g o r e a l s l o w, r e a d t h e p o i n t I w a s a d d r e s s i n g b e f o r e p o s t i n g. ;)
 
Woof 101 said:
Not here to attack this thread or Husky1964...Just a little on this comment. I like how the last minute recruiting is going. My point is if David was talking to Randy in the spring why did he wait so long to pull the trigger. I would love to hear the source on that one. DB was pretty sweet on BD back in May.....
Benedict's First Big Move At UConn: Extending Diaco's Contract Through 2020
Someone proactive does not hand over the schools bank roll to a coach he is already looking to replace. Sorry but the financial cost to the school and how everything went down would render DB an idiot if it were fact.
If he made a mistake his best move was to admit to being overwhelmed with everything that was in place before being hired. If he was talking with Randy that long ago one would think he fires Diaco the day the season ends so as not to put the new regime under such recruiting duress.
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The source is Athletic Director Dave himself. He says so right at the beginning of this video. He talked to Randy Edsall in his first month on the job. Also a lot of good info in this video as to why he hired Randy Edsall.

 
I'm not a fan of RE, he failed at Maryland and this is his only job offer. Diaco was a disaster and RE is somewhat of an upgrade, but I would have hired Don Brown.
 
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NE Football said:
I'm not a fan of RE, he failed at Maryland and this is his only job offer. Diaco was a disaster and RE is somewhat of an upgrade, but I would have hired Don Brown.
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Don doesn't want to be a head coach anymore, and he's making more than Edsall is at Michigan.

Brown should have been hired instead of P in 2011, but that ship sailed . . .
 
jostar1 said:
The source is Athletic Director Dave himself. He says so right at the beginning of this video. He talked to Randy Edsall in his first month on the job. Also a lot of good info in this video as to why he hired Randy Edsall.

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Great vid, thank you for the post. I tried twice to be a fly on the wall at that one but security had it documented press only. What this does confirm is basically what I said that DB was off to a shaky start. If he was talking to Randy that early in the game, why did he wait so long to pull the trigger on Diaco? He had already made the mistake of signing off on something his predecessor agreed to, knowing he was leaving. He should have told all trusting Susan, I would like time to look this over before signing.
This cost the school millions they do not have and the delay of Wacky Bob's firing cost the new head coach a lot of valuable recruiting time. Again thank you for validating what Husky 1964 said.
 
Excalibur said:
Don doesn't want to be a head coach anymore, and he's making more than Edsall is at Michigan.

Brown should have been hired instead of P in 2011, but that ship sailed . . .
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Per a CT sportswriter - can't remember which one at the moment - Brown absolutely was interested in the UConn job but was never offered.
 
Warde was a football guy and a rock star. In his brief tenure he probably did more damage to the program than Any AD we ever had. He was hired because he was Mr APR. If I'm Michigan I'd give every coach there whatever he or she wants rather than entrust Warde with responsibility for hiring a replacement.
 
freescooter said:
Warde was a football guy and a rock star. In his brief tenure he probably did more damage to the program than Any AD we ever had. He was hired because he was Mr APR. If I'm Michigan I'd give every coach there whatever he or she wants rather than entrust Warde with responsibility for hiring a replacement.
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I had no issue with WM when he was the AD here. I think he got blamed for some ridiculous stuff (most notably by you).

That said, his most important decision here was the hiring of our football coach. So while I think it's ridiculous to say that he did more damage than any AD we ever had, when Jeffrey Hathaway once held that job, I have to be fair and view his tenure here overall as a failure. History won't be kind to Manuel's time here.
 
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freescooter said:
Warde was a football guy and a rock star. In his brief tenure he probably did more damage to the program than Any AD we ever had. He was hired because he was Mr APR. If I'm Michigan I'd give every coach there whatever he or she wants rather than entrust Warde with responsibility for hiring a replacement.
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Well, we don't know what went on behind the scenes when Disco was hired. So I am a little reluctant to indict him for what turned out to be a major mistake. But he did play a positive role in getting UConn elevated to Hockey East, which really had to be done, and may pay dividends in the future. Let's face it, UConn is never gonna get an invite to a P5 because of it's FB program. But as long as FB is competitive and doesn't weigh too heavily, it's other sports might get them one down the road. WBB, MBB, field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, track, all first class programs. I have a friend who was part of the B12 thing for UConn. That friend reported MAJOR interest in WBB and how UConn has handled Title 9. I thought of that when the women went out to Nebraska and got a standing O in the last minute of the game when they were leading by 40.
 
freescooter said:
Warde was a football guy and a rock star. In his brief tenure he probably did more damage to the program than Any AD we ever had. He was hired because he was Mr APR. If I'm Michigan I'd give every coach there whatever he or she wants rather than entrust Warde with responsibility for hiring a replacement.
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Naw Hathaway had him beat in the damage department.
 
RSTuthill said:
Well, we don't know what went on behind the scenes when Disco was hired. So I am a little reluctant to indict him for what turned out to be a major mistake. But he did play a positive role in getting UConn elevated to Hockey East, which really had to be done, and may pay dividends in the future. Let's face it, UConn is never gonna get an invite to a P5 because of it's FB program. But as long as FB is competitive and doesn't weigh too heavily, it's other sports might get them one down the road. WBB, MBB, field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, track, all first class programs. I have a friend who was part of the B12 thing for UConn. That friend reported MAJOR interest in WBB and how UConn has handled Title 9. I thought of that when the women went out to Nebraska and got a standing O in the last minute of the game when they were leading by 40.
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The standing O is a tradition givin to every opponent, not just when you kick the Spartacus out of them.
 
TheDrifter75 said:
The standing O is a tradition givin to every opponent, not just when you kick the Spartacus out of them.
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When it is over and the team heads to the dressing room, not for the final minute of the game.
 
uconnell said:
Naw Hathaway had him beat in the damage department.
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Nah what Warde did in his brief tenure was equal to what Hathaway did in a much longer time frame. Warde did more damage in 5 years than Hathaway did in 10
 
freescooter said:
Nah what Warde did in his brief tenure was equal to what Hathaway did in a much longer time frame. Warde did more damage in 5 years than Hathaway did in 10
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Let's face it, neither did not do their job all that well.
 
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