UConn's FBS Football Program - what is our mission?

[UConnJim]

We're getting close to the budget of the top of g5. That much is true. I suspect Boise and a couple of others outspend us

Based on the USA Today database, UConn's head football coach salary ranked #11 in the G5 (public schools) and the assistant coach salary pool was ranked 19th (public schools). Schools with higher assistant coach salary pools: Army, ECU, SD St., Memphis, North Texas, Boise St., USF, Wyoming, UTSA, Fresno St., UNLV, San Jose St., Coastal Carolina, Colorado St., Charlotte, Troy, Nevada, Temple.

I have been saying this for years, UConn does not spend enough on football to remain competitive year in and year out with top G5 programs and anyone thinking UConn is going to compete with P4 schools with much larger football budgets is not being realistic. UConn is lucky right now that Jim Mora is the head coach at a cut rate salary and he has been able to attract younger talented coaches who want to work for him, learn, and move on to a better job. UConn is a P4 athletic department in most sports except football as UConn has made the investment in the other programs.

 

[Kolumbo]

UConn Football needs to replicate last season for a few more years. It was a very good season and a couple games could have gone in the W column. I don't think we can expect much more than that because of being handicapped as an independent with no P4 revenue and a bad reputation. We just can't expect to outperform P4 programs consistently on this steep playing field. Feed HC Jim Mora youth serum.

Eventually the big change will come and UConn is really at the mercy of what happens:
1. P2 split off and UConn will most likely end up in one of the other Frankonferences. It will certainly be able to compete with the 90 or so other programs with similar missions
2. P4 will remain as is and UConn will either get invited to the ACC, Big XII, PAC G, or be forced to join another G5 conference. P4 great. G6 meh.
3. Some other transformational change in the landscape yet to be determined

UConn is in a very good situation compared to most other G5 programs and even some P4 programs. I think NIL and bankrolling college players is a short-term unsustainable bubble. People will tire very quickly of spending big bucks to watch their team finish 3rd or lower in their conference.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

We're getting close to the budget of the top of g5. That much is true. I suspect Boise and a couple of others outspend us

Overall AD Expenses.

 

[Kolumbo]

Plus this development beside the long, tidal river just 2.5 miles down the road from The Rent. Combined they are clearly the jewel of New England

Port Eastside

Rising above the Connecticut River, Port Eastside creates an inspired way of life where modern residences, a dynamic entertainment district, and elevated greenways weave together New England's next great waterfront destination

www.porteastside.com

 

[gioff2323]

Plus this development beside the long, tidal river just 2.5 miles down the road from The Rent. Combined they are clearly the jewel of New England

Port Eastside

Rising above the Connecticut River, Port Eastside creates an inspired way of life where modern residences, a dynamic entertainment district, and elevated greenways weave together New England's next great waterfront destination

www.porteastside.com

Maybe they can add a new arena there

 

[metsfan2323]

i thought about it more and realized this ^.

yeah ohio state has no reason to play by the same rules as uconn. The ratings of even a mediocre B1G matchup like Ohio State vs. Northwestern (not to mention stadium revenues on gameday) make any uconn game look like pop warner. The types of governance i mentioned are agreeable when everyone is contributing evenly (or close to evenly) to the league's revenue stream.

32 NFL teams, all of which are in it together.
FBS can't (or won't) follow this model, because of the income disparities... Michigan vs. Kennesaw State

Why does money ruin EVERYTHING.

Rules will just bring back cheating, and more importantly unfair enforcement of the rules. UConn seems to be doing very well in the no rules era; we might miss it when it is gone.

Right now our goal should simply be win as many games as possible and change the narrative around UConn football. Creating a winnable schedule should be part of that strategy.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Just win games they schedule. They need to be near the top of G5 programs no matter who it is. The goal should be to get into one of the P4 conferences and show them UConn can compete. If they can average 28 thousand that would be huge.

I did hear that one or two Big 12 university AD’s questioned the fact that Rentschler field was in Hartford proper and not any near the campus. That being said if Mora takes them undefeated or with only one or two losses for a couple years, that might not matter.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I did hear that one or two Big 12 university AD’s questioned the fact that Rentschler field was in Hartford proper and not any near the campus. That being said if Mora takes them undefeated or with only one or two losses for a couple years, that might not matter.

They would have had zero problems with bringing in UCLA, USC or Miami. The location of the stadium falls in the category of excuses. The reason is still primarily our sketchy history in football.

 

[SellersElbow]

Our mission for this year should be:

• earn respect and and a decent bowl invite,
• significantly expand our active fan base, and
• continue building toward a program that sees time in the top 25 most seasons.

Doing so would support a longer term mission of either gaining an invite to a power conference or somehow getting to a level where independent status is stable, economically and schedule-wise, for us.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

They would have had zero problems with bringing in UCLA, USC or Miami. The location of the stadium falls in the category of excuses. The reason is still primarily our sketchy history in football.

All those schools have unquestionable football pedigrees, and there is no question about those institutions sincerity to their football programs. UConn however has no pedigree and wants to break into P4 football, and so I can see this or that AD questioning the a schools sincerity to the football program with not even a distant plan to eventually build a football stadium on campus, instead of continuing to have the team bus drive them to a crappy stadium 25 miles away on game day. So it’s not so much the stadium itself but the perception of the school not being willing to improve the program or the game day experience.

 

[Windham4th]

I did hear that one or two Big 12 university AD’s questioned the fact that Rentschler field was in Hartford proper and not any near the campus. That being said if Mora takes them undefeated or with only one or two losses for a couple years, that might not matter.

If you heard it here, it doesn't count as hearing something

 

[Kolumbo]

All those schools have unquestionable football pedigrees, and there is no question about those institutions sincerity to their football programs. UConn however has no pedigree and wants to break into P4 football, and so I can see this or that AD questioning the a schools sincerity to the football program with not even a distant plan to eventually build a football stadium on campus, instead of continuing to have the team bus drive them to a crappy stadium 25 miles away on game day. So it’s not so much the stadium itself but the perception of the school not being willing to improve the program or the game day experience.

Plus East Hartford is not Los Angeles or Miami. Universities in large urban areas playing in historic stadiums vs rural UConn playing in The Rent. The definition of night and day, apples and oranges.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Plus East Hartford is not Los Angeles or Miami. Universities in large urban areas playing in historic stadiums vs rural UConn playing in The Rent. The definition of night and day, apples and oranges.

I don't think anyone views Joe Robbie, sorry, Pro Player, no, Dolphins, no, Land Shark, sorry Sun Life, sorry, Hard Rock stadium as historic and I highly doubt that Scott Lake (now called Miami Gardens) is considered a large urban area.

 

[Kolumbo]

I don't think anyone views Joe Robbie, sorry, Pro Player, no, Dolphins, no, Land Shark, sorry Sun Life, sorry, Hard Rock stadium as historic and I highly doubt that Scott Lake (now called Miami Gardens) is considered a large urban area.

I figured someone would reply with that when of course I was talking about LA Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. And if you believe Miami and East Hartford are comparable, you know something everyone else does not.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I figured someone would reply with that when of course I was talking about LA Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. And if you believe Miami and East Hartford are comparable, you know something everyone else does not.

Miami Gardens is not Miami (in all candor they should just view it as part of Sunrise).

Again, the location of the Rent is an excuse that gets piled on to why we continually get overlooked. In the time frame where college football has been important (for the sake of argument let's say the past sixty years, although adding another decade or so wouldn't be unreasonable) we've had about a half dozen years that could be placed within what a reasonable P level school should view as competent.

We need to do enough over the next few years to give people outside of our school and fan base reason to believe we can and will sustain at a minimum a competent level of football going forward.

 

[Kolumbo]

Miami Gardens is not Miami (in all candor they should just view it as part of Sunrise).

Again, the location of the Rent is an excuse that gets piled on to why we continually get overlooked. In the time frame where college football has been important (for the sake of argument let's say the past sixty years, although adding another decade or so wouldn't be unreasonable) we've had about a half dozen years that could be placed within what a reasonable P level school should view as competent.

We need to do enough over the next few years to give people outside of our school and fan base reason to believe we can and will sustain at a minimum a competent level of football going forward.

So your argument is that "Miami" does not include Metropolitan Miami. OK, you win. Having The Rent in East Hartford is and will continue to be a major flaw in the UConn Football Program. From outside perception, to student participation, to alumni experience, to quality of facilities. It's a flaw.

Hey, if you want to keep comparing UConn Football to The U and East Hartford to Miami, have at it. Maybe UConn is a storied football program which can afford to do things differently. A stadium 30 minutes away from campus on an abandoned airfield among distribution warehouses. That's the ticket.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Im

So your argument is that "Miami" does not include Metropolitan Miami. OK, you win. Having The Rent in East Hartford is and will continue to be a major flaw in the UConn Football Program. From outside perception, to student participation, to alumni experience, to quality of facilities. It's a flaw.

Hey, if you want to keep comparing UConn Football to The U and East Hartford to Miami, have at it. Maybe UConn is a storied football program which can afford to do things differently. A stadium 30 minutes away from campus on an abandoned airfield among distribution warehouses. That's the ticket.

I'm not quite sure what it is that you are reading but it isn't close to what I am writing.

When did I claim that we have a storied football program? (I've asserted that our very mediocre past has been our greatest detriment).

If you have the opportunity, look up the distance (as the crow flies and driving distances of suggested routes) and travel times (with suggested routes) from the campus to football stadium for both Miami and UConn. The results will be nearly identical.

Additionally, Miami is south of Hialeah, Miami Gardens is north of Hialeah. The 'city' was incorporated about two decades ago (something unique about Florida. Davie was carved out of Ft Lauderdale about 60 years ago) roughly fifteen years after the stadium was built and named to make the stadium the Dolphins play in seem less out of place.

 

[Kolumbo]

Im
I'm not quite sure what it is that you are reading but it isn't close to what I am writing.

When did I claim that we have a storied football program? (I've asserted that our very mediocre past has been our greatest detriment).

If you have the opportunity, look up the distance (as the crow flies and driving distances of suggested routes) and travel times (with suggested routes) from the campus to football stadium for both Miami and UConn. The results will be nearly identical.

Additionally, Miami is south of Hialeah, Miami Gardens is north of Hialeah. The 'city' was incorporated about two decades ago (something unique about Florida. Davie was carved out of Ft Lauderdale about 60 years ago) roughly fifteen years after the stadium was built and named to make the stadium the Dolphins play in seem less out of place.

My point was that powerhouse football programs and/or programs with a long history can do whatever they want. UCLA can play in the Rose Bowl. Notre Dame can remain independent. USC and Miami can play wherever they want to. UConn has no such luxury and should stick to what most college football programs do and play on campus. The off-campus stadium is a big negative to the program.

 

[Jetskies]

i love how this ended up nowhere near my question. lol

carry on

 

[Palatine]

Mission -- compete at the highest level possible without becoming a doormat.

 

[jostar1]

My point was that powerhouse football programs and/or programs with a long history can do whatever they want. UCLA can play in the Rose Bowl. Notre Dame can remain independent. USC and Miami can play wherever they want to. UConn has no such luxury and should stick to what most college football programs do and play on campus. The off-campus stadium is a big negative to the program.

This is beating a dead horse. There is no money for an on-campus stadium. It's a miracle UConn does what it does with the pittance we get from being in the Big East.

 

[Patman]

Still say the smart pull would be to move uconn itself to east Hartford. Gotta be enough land there.

 

[Kolumbo]

This is beating a dead horse. There is no money for an on-campus stadium. It's a miracle UConn does what it does with the pittance we get from being in the Big East.

It is beating a dead horse if you think the football program is dead in the water. If people want the program to thrive long-term, then conference affiliation is a major factor, as is the football stadium. Or take the first bullet, so to speak, drop to D III, and play in the soccer stadium on campus so the students have easy access. USF plays in an NFL stadium just 10 miles away from campus and is still building a new on-campus stadium.

• Are we to prioritize an authentic student athlete experience (emphasis on STUDENT), over on-field success?

 

[Kolumbo]

I think the agreement with Pratt & Whitney included 10 acres of land donated by UTC to the state of CT.

this is from 12/2024

 

[Zerostatic]

If it was up to me, I would try to engineer a big fish in a small pond scenario where we schedule exclusively G5 schools (no P4's on the schedule whatsoever) and then put in enough resources where we have an advantage over those teams and consistently beat them. If a G5 conference offers a football only invite with an easy out if a P4 offer comes our way I would jump on it.

Best case scenario, when conference realignment happens we should be a prime candidate to backfill some conferences loss.

Worst case scenario, the state has a good winning FBS program that gets into a bowl game consistently and that is always good for attendance at the games, fandom in general, retention of players and staff, etc.

 

[Patman]

If it was up to me, I would try to engineer a big fish in a small pond scenario where we schedule exclusively G5 schools (no P4's on the schedule whatsoever) and then put in enough resources where we have an advantage over those teams and consistently beat them. If a G5 conference offers a football only invite with an easy out if a P4 offer comes our way I would jump on it.

Best case scenario, when conference realignment happens we should be a prime candidate to backfill some conferences loss.

Worst case scenario, the state has a good winning FBS program that gets into a bowl game consistently and that is always good for attendance at the games, fandom in general, retention of players and staff, etc.

Thing is p4 draws seats and players do want to play against big schools

 

[JellyBean]

Keep recruiting and developing players so that we can field a decently competitive football program.

As fans, we don't have any grand illusion that our UConn football program is going to turn into Alabama or Georgia of the Northeast. Or a Ohio State/Michigan of the Northeast. We never get those elite type of talented players. What we do get is some solid 3- and 4-star players that develop and play with that edge which in the end helps the program, brings in fans, and then creates national interest, a little.

As long as we are decently competitive, I would say that is our mission. Keep finding and developing players and build a decently competitive program,

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Miami Gardens is not Miami (in all candor they should just view it as part of Sunrise).

Again, the location of the Rent is an excuse that gets piled on to why we continually get overlooked. In the time frame where college football has been important (for the sake of argument let's say the past sixty years, although adding another decade or so wouldn't be unreasonable) we've had about a half dozen years that could be placed within what a reasonable P level school should view as competent.

We need to do enough over the next few years to give people outside of our school and fan base reason to believe we can and will sustain at a minimum a competent level of football going forward.

An abandoned WW2 airfield with god knows what, buried underneath.

 

[Rdkid]

Win as many games as possible, put more butts in the seats, more sponsorship, NIL, investment, rinse, repeat. Gotta win and make money to run with the big or biggish boys.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

An abandoned WW2 airfield with god knows what, buried underneath.

Here we go, digging up another argument that died years ago.

Would I prefer that we had an on campus football stadium that could hold about 45k and be expanded when that becomes necessary? Yes, without question.

Is there any chance outside of private donations that the school would be able to sink $600+ million to put a football stadium on campus? I personally don't see it as a possibility.

Is there a chance some benevolent billionaire(s) will donate the money? I don't see that happening.

If by some miracle we were to find the funding, what are the chances the state would let the school render Rentschler Field obsolete? None.

What the school needs to do is demonstrate that we can consistently perform at or above the level we reached last season. Once we do that we can work on the next goal.

Worrying about the location of the stadium is a waste of time and effort. Worrying about whether the remediation of the soil under the stadium (who's field and lower level were built below ground level) will become an issue if and when hazardous chemicals begin emitting from the ground. I also can't see how that would be the school's problem unless the field becomes the school's property, so this may on fact become our out that leads to an on campus stadium.