UCONN's Changing Times

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2013/09/manuel-leads-huskies-through-changing-times-in-athletics/

 

[Ts5034]

It seems to me that Warde is doing everything that "HE" can control to improve UConn athletics. He stepped up and made the important decision to let Pasqualoni go, and bringing basketball games to Bridgeport is a bold move that could only help the program. He will be under a lot of pressure over the next couple months to make the right hire for the new football coach but only time will tell if he makes the right decision. He has taken his share of heat from the fans on realignment and the way he handled the Ollie situation at first but I think this athletic department is in good hands right now. Just think of where we would be if Hathaway was still in charge.

 

[TheJerk]

It seems to me that Warde is doing everything that "HE" can control to improve UConn athletics. He stepped up and made the important decision to let Pasqualoni go, and bringing basketball games to Bridgeport is a bold move that could only help the program. He will be under a lot of pressure over the next couple months to make the right hire for the new football coach but only time will tell if he makes the right decision. He has taken his share of heat from the fans on realignment and the way he handled the Ollie situation at first but I think this athletic department is in good hands right now. Just think of where we would be if Hathaway was still in charge.

as much as Hathaway was a dope, I oddly think he would have helped us in the realignment mess. JW is/was very well connected nationally

 

[Stinger92860]

JH failed miserably at many facets of his job, that's why Susan replaced him. I doubt he could have helped gain admission to the colonial conference. He screwed the PP hire so much, I will forever loathe the man.

 

[Dooley]

Good interview with good questions. Probably the most important pieces of info that Warde provided was that UCONN is open to paying its student-athletes a "misc expense" package (that will be important if there is ever a split from the NCAA) and his desire to play more games in Fairfield County/NYC. Warde seems to understand the importance of CR and wants to promote UCONN's strengths in a way that Hathaway would never.

 

[Stinger92860]

Basketball in NYC is a no brainer for us. We need to schedule several a year at MSG/Barclay. I have no idea what the right number is, maybe 3 or 4. We also need to get a football game at Yankee stadium or citified, tho I am not sure that would be allowed. MetLife is too big and it will look empty. A game at Gillette would also be good for the Boston market. Desperate times call for disparate measures.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I thought it was a good interview. He has taken heat as some has mentioned over Realignment; but, my impression over the last few months is that University Presidents outside of the SEC, where AD’s rule, have much more power than that the AD on that issue. I though he handled Ollie well balancing the needs to make Calhoun and the fan base happy and be mindful of the NCAA spotlight the program was under. Once Ollie provided he could coach/motivate the team and keep them on a solid academic footing (there will always be an Olander or two on any program), he made the (right) decision. As for PP, he had not choice as PP & GDL especially had lost the team and at least handled it correctly, unlike USC firing their coach at the airport.

Warde’s insight in stipends was also very interesting. I had not thought about regional Cost of Living adjustments before. It is a valid issue. But, I can see the power football schools down south who are located in lower costs areas screaming about programs in higher cost areas (imagine BC being able to offer a higher stipend than Clemson and Florida State) being able to offer a higher stipend than they can as being ‘unfair’ (as they sit in an Italian marble sauna with waterfalls in their 500,000 ft2, gold plated football facility).

Good to know about the athletic facility plans. I can’t wait to see them. I am still amazed that it has taken to 2013 (special f-you to Hathaway) to figure out that UConn needs to play in Fairfield county (Webster Bank arena has been open since 2001). UConn’s Harford fan base can and does drive to Storrs. The XL location is redundant. What the schools needs is more exposure to fans and paying alumni down in Fairfield county and NYC. Thus, as I have said before, UConn should build a 12K basketball/8K hockey dual purpose on-campus arena to replace Gampel and have 80% of home games there. Over winter break, when few students are on-campus, have a pair of games in Hartford and another pair in Bridgeport. Lastly, they need 2 marquee games a year at MSG/Barclay’s to drive the brand and program. As a FYI, UConn baseball, instead of playing some games 20 miles away in Norwich, which does little to expand the team’s market, should also play a series or two in Bridgeport for the same reasons.

 

[gars44]

I thought it was a good interview. He has taken heat as some has mentioned over Realignment; but, my impression over the last few months is that University Presidents outside of the SEC, where AD’s rule, have much more power than that the AD on that issue. I though he handled Ollie well balancing the needs to make Calhoun and the fan base happy and be mindful of the NCAA spotlight the program was under. Once Ollie provided he could coach/motivate the team and keep them on a solid academic footing (there will always be an Olander or two on any program), he made the (right) decision. As for PP, he had not choice as PP & GDL especially had lost the team and at least handled it correctly, unlike USC firing their coach at the airport.

Warde’s insight in stipends was also very interesting. I had not thought about regional Cost of Living adjustments before. It is a valid issue. But, I can see the power football schools down south who are located in lower costs areas screaming about programs in higher cost areas (imagine BC being able to offer a higher stipend than Clemson and Florida State) being able to offer a higher stipend than they can as being ‘unfair’ (as they sit in an Italian marble sauna with waterfalls in their 500,000 ft2, gold plated football facility).

Good to know about the athletic facility plans. I can’t wait to see them. I am still amazed that it has taken to 2013 (special f-you to Hathaway) to figure out that UConn needs to play in Fairfield county (Webster Bank arena has been open since 2001). UConn’s Harford fan base can and does drive to Storrs. The XL location is redundant. What the schools needs is more exposure to fans and paying alumni down in Fairfield county and NYC. Thus, as I have said before, UConn should build a 12K basketball/8K hockey dual purpose on-campus arena to replace Gampel and have 80% of home games there. Over winter break, when few students are on-campus, have a pair of games in Hartford and another pair in Bridgeport. Lastly, they need 2 marquee games a year at MSG/Barclay’s to drive the brand and program. As a FYI, UConn baseball, instead of playing some games 20 miles away in Norwich, which does little to expand the team’s market, should also play a series or two in Bridgeport for the same reasons.

Complete agreement. This is such a small state geographically. The people who run the show in Storrs seem to have disregarded that fact. Look at the travel required for Univ of Texas games, Okla, Nebraska, Michigan. You could fit 20 Connecticuts in Oklahoma, and yet we seem to have some mania about scheduling events in Fairfield County or Boston, or NYC. If before wasn't the time, now is the time to be creative and energetic. I'm tired of the "land of steady habits" mentality. Susan Herbst couldn't have come soon enough!

 

[FfldCntyFan]

JH was asleep at the wheel at far more serious a level than most could ever comprehend. The void above him was what allowed this to happen but fortunately for us those days are over.

I love the idea that WM wants to engage those of us down here into the athletic programs. Hopefully he will place a stake in NYC and another in Boston and claim the area between the two are ours (what I have been griping about for more than a decade). The potential that this university has is light years beyond what JH's limited imagination and thought process could handle. WM (and SH) are nowhere near as narrow minded.

 

[jdb50]

No doubt that during Winter break the basketball games should mostly be at venues other than Gampel. That's when we should be at XL and Bridgeport. Especially like the 12,000/8,000 combo arena idea on campus.

 

[Jimdish255]

Good to know about the athletic facility plans. I can’t wait to see them. I am still amazed that it has taken to 2013 (special f-you to Hathaway) to figure out that UConn needs to play in Fairfield county (Webster Bank arena has been open since 2001). UConn’s Harford fan base can and does drive to Storrs. The XL location is redundant. What the schools needs is more exposure to fans and paying alumni down in Fairfield county and NYC. Thus, as I have said before, UConn should build a 12K basketball/8K hockey dual purpose on-campus arena to replace Gampel and have 80% of home games there. Over winter break, when few students are on-campus, have a pair of games in Hartford and another pair in Bridgeport. Lastly, they need 2 marquee games a year at MSG/Barclay’s to drive the brand and program. As a FYI, UConn baseball, instead of playing some games 20 miles away in Norwich, which does little to expand the team’s market, should also play a series or two in Bridgeport for the same reasons.

Nailed it with the right mix. Let Hartford and Bridgeport be "event" games and give more students the opportunity to see the team closer to campus. And closer to center court please.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Caught this clip this morning, while it is designed to serve as a wake-up call, it does note the possibility of UConn looking at a dual purpose arena on-campus.

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...-jacobs-column-1015-20131014,0,4821851.column

“…XL Center isn't smart and creative and Bridgeport and Mohegan Sun step forward, well, you can see what direction the dominoes will fall. And what happens if UConn, at some point, pushes for an improved and new multipurpose arena for hoops and hockey on campus?”