By my count, Wake holds two advantages over us: conference affiliation and located in better recruiting grounds. I think that the latter is neutralized significantly being a small private school and 4th fiddle in their own state. Our next coach should be able to bring in some kids from NJ, PA, OH, FL and the mid-Atlantic region. Perhaps even TX if playing SMU and Houston have any impact whatsoever. If we were bidding against NC State or UNC, I'd be more worried about this than I am bidding against Wake.
Conference affiliation is obviously our biggest hurdle to overcome. It's not like UCONN isn't trying to escape AAC purgatory. If they pay our next man comparable to P5 school salary ranges, it will be yet another example of UCONN showing that it wants to be in the big leagues. It's Warde's job to confidently convey to candidates that UCONN is doing everything in its power to get an invite to the B1G or ACC. But while we sit and wait (and watch mediocre grandfathered schools like Wake enjoy better conference affiliation), our mission is simple: get back to bowl eligibility. Against our AAC mates, this can be achieved and, if/when it does, the coach will be granted Sainthood. The wildcard in all of this is if/when UCONN gets the "B1G call", if our football program is back to getting bowl invites, the head coach will see his job get much easier if he should decide to stay at UCONN.
