Warde Manuel silence after Towson clock

[AZHuskiePop]

With Weist as a possible HC candidate in place removal of PP now gives the him enough time to win the job and would be only minimally distruptive. He doubles up as OC for the season.
He needs a new O line coach only. You get someone with the opportunity to become OC.

 

[Fishy]

You can't have your cake and eat it, too. He is involved with the team. I guess he could all of a sudden stay clammed up- but that would be evidence that he has changed how he previously conducted himself.

He's much more involved with the individual programs than his predecessor - he was last year and he is this year. I've seen him more in one year than I saw Hathaway in his last five.

It's entirely consistent despite whatever litmus tests we construct here.

 

[UCHuskies08]

Silence is consent

Don't leave this guy around your daughters, Boneyarders

 

[ZooCougar]

I kind of hope that Warde waits a little while before sacking P. I mean after that there won't be much else to look forward to for a while.

I just know that bringing him back was a mistake, but truly there was no good decision when you obviously have a very bad coach and he is early in his contract.

 

[Waquoit]

Manuel has inserted himself by constantly involving himself with the team. He has been a hands-on AD, even (evidently without precedent) giving the team a gipper speech.

He gave the gipper speech at the end of last season. He gave another one to open training camp. They responded by getting their a$$es kicked by Towson. His silence doesn't bother me for some reason.

 

[willie99]

And anyone who wants anything different really needs to throttle back and double your dosage of Xanax. Do any of you really suppose that a decent head coach would choose to come to UConn if we are ready to give in to the Boneyard Blather? Start looking long term.

now that's funny

what comes first, the chicken or the egg?

P P won't be fired because of this forum, he'll be fired because of 2+ years of putting a bad product on the field, and there will be scores of coaches lined up to replace him

 

[Dooley]

I just know that bringing him back was a mistake, but truly there was no good decision when you obviously have a very bad coach and he is early in his contract.

And this is an excellent opportunity to pile on and point out (again) the ignorance and ineptitude of Jeff Hathaway. Not only did he need to hire a consulting search firm, and waste money, to find an old, boring, "safe" retread that would have produced the same list as if he had just simply Googled "uninspiring college football head coach candidates", the bozo gave Pasqualoni FIVE F-BOMB YEARS!!!!! Hathaway couldn't have crushed UCONN football if he tried (and it certainly appears that he tried!).

 

[sdhusky]

yes you can fire coaches during the season. Desperate times, desperate measures. Sends a message that we're not going to tolerate the over-the-hill gang. Not unfair to Weist either - low expectations. I think the players would respond favorably, IMO.

I like getting the best coach possible over "sending a message" with a tantrum.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

What really should've been done was GDL being shown the door. If P refused, then can him to.

The fact that GDL is still on this staff is just utterly and grossly mind boggling.

 

[ZooCougar]

What really should've been done was GDL being shown the door. If P refused, then can him to.

The fact that GDL is still on this staff is just utterly and grossly mind boggling.

Easy there. You might hurt Uconnflyer's feelings.

 

[jrazz12]

What really should've been done was GDL being shown the door. If P refused, then can him to.

The fact that GDL is still on this staff is just utterly and grossly mind boggling.

It's really that simple. There may not be a lot to salvage from this lame duck season, but a change in OL scheme and allowing aggressive play calling from Weist would have gone a long way.

Plus, that whole fact that the man is a career failure.

 

[ruskin]

I like getting the best coach possible over "sending a message" with a tantrum.

Please quit using the word "tantrum" to describe what sacking PP now would be. This would not be a reaction to a one-off. This is a reaction to 2-plus years of decline and a .333 winning percentage (10-15). Do you like embarking on the death march led by the Dead Coach Walking that is underway?

Getting the best coach possible should have begun last fall.

 

[ZooCougar]

Please quit using the word "tantrum" to describe what sacking PP now would be. This would not be a reaction to a one-off. This is a reaction to 2-plus years of decline and a .333 winning percentage (10-15). Do you like embarking on the death march led by the Dead Coach Walking that is underway?

Getting the best coach possible should have begun last fall.

People are worried about being perceived as throwing a tantrum while the Rent is a ghost town and season ticket holders are gleefully selling their Michigan tickets on on stubhub?

Really?


Really?

Does anyone see how stupid that is?

We should have held a ceremonial firing and burned his likeness in effigy.

 

[sdhusky]

Please quit using the word "tantrum" to describe what sacking PP now would be. This would not be a reaction to a one-off. This is a reaction to 2-plus years of decline and a .333 winning percentage (10-15). Do you like embarking on the death march led by the Dead Coach Walking that is underway?

Getting the best coach possible should have begun last fall.

Making a move now to "make a statement" is just another way of saying tantrum.

Of all the reasons for or against making a move NOW, "making a statement" is one of the least compelling

 

[sdhusky]

Getting the best coach possible should have begun last fall.

And if you were in charge and you had a time machine, that would be relevant.

 

[Sea Goat]

I like getting the best coach possible over "sending a message" with a tantrum.

NO tantrum here - just acceptance of the results of the reality check. The definition of insanity is trying the same ole, same ole again and again and expecting a different result each time.
That has been UConn's story during the PP era! It's time to face reality if PP leads the Huskies into lifeless performances vs our next 2 opponents. If so, start with Weist on an interim basis and see how he does. He's got the background. Let's see if he can do it. We have been very patient with PP. Most of us gave him a free pass after year one, even though there was a gnawing feeling that Burton was right. After year two, 4 consecutive bowl appearances seemed like a distant memory. (Including our win over South Carolina!) In year two, we had 5 NFLers and we end up 5-7? With a hideous home loss to Temple?

PP got a pass from Manuel and also got to keep GDL by kicking him upstairs. I thought that at least Manuel would have said that your goombah had to go. Now, I don't think you can argue the relative merits of keeping PP until the end of the year if we don't beat Maryland and at least show up against Mich.

He makes about six times what the Towson coach makes - he should be under immediate pressure to perform. If he doesn't, please show him the door.

 

[whaler11]

For whats its worth 10-15 is a .400 winning percentage.

 

[junglehusky]

Christmas is coming in December. If you see a child at Toys 'r' us whining and crying about not getting his Christmas presents in September, it's fair to call that a tantrum. When football fans know a coaching change is likely to happen in December, but are so insecure about the program that they demand what they want immediately, and then make the inference that since the AD doesn't publicly state what is painfully obvious about the state of the current coaching staff to any observer with one good eye that the AD is incompetent and must be fired... well to me that's a tantrum. You may disagree.

Christmas is coming, the same time it comes every year.

 

[Sea Goat]

Christmas is coming in December. If you see a child at Toys 'r' us whining and crying about not getting his Christmas presents in September, it's fair to call that a tantrum. When football fans know a coaching change is likely to happen in December, but are so insecure about the program that they demand what they want immediately, and then make the inference that since the AD doesn't publicly state what is painfully obvious about the state of the current coaching staff to any observer with one good eye that the AD is incompetent and must be fired... well to me that's a tantrum. You may disagree.

Christmas is coming, the same time it comes every year.

Don't confuse decisiveness and quick action in the face of obvious failure with tantrum behavior. So I do disagree with you, but that is what makes for lively debate on this board.

Unfortunately, IMO we need a sense of urgency around here. It doesn't have a damn thing to do with insecurity. Rather, it is all about reality.

Decisions have to be made that show people that we are serious about righting a ship that was torpedoed by Hathaway and Pasqualoni. Granted, if PP's first two years produced 8-5 or maybe 7-6 records with bowl appearances, maybe the sense of urgency wouldn't be there. But when you combine our dismal, lifeless performance of last week with the underachievement of the last two years plus the CR mess, then dramatic action is called for. Having said that, PP gets the next two games to A.) beat Maryland and B.) be competitive against Michigan. Let's see what happens.

 

[ruskin]

And if you were in charge and you had a time machine, that would be relevant.

Another brilliant riposte. Seriously sd do you have season tix and are you looking forward to the six remaining home games either in a halfempty stadium or being outnumbered by visiting fans? And is it fair to the seniors to sacrifice their last season in the name of whatever it is youre advocating (not quite sure what that is)?

 

[Marty Jackson]

Without a doubt, things are really bad. The coaches have totally lost the team.

what have you seen to suggest the coaches have lost the team?

 

[junglehusky]

Well, Pasqualoni said some things during the summer about urgency, he made reference to his job security after two 5-7 seasons at the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, and for all that urgency/desperation we went out and lost to Towson. So my advice is don't hold your breath for some renewed sense of urgency or something dramatic to happen. As long as we're talking about reality here, the reality is the decisions that will turn the ship around won't come in in the next two months, at least, not publicly. Manuel probably has a list of candidates and he'll be watching the names on that list, maybe adding and subtracting from during the season. But turning a big battleship around takes time, it's not done instantaneously even if that's what we want.

 

[junglehusky]

Another brilliant riposte. Seriously sd do you have season tix and are you looking forward to the six remaining home games either in a halfempty stadium or being outnumbered by visiting fans? And is it fair to the seniors to sacrifice their last season in the name of whatever it is youre advocating (not quite sure what that is)?

No it's not really fair to seniors, or to the other players, that the Rent will be a morgue. This season is going to probably be the worst since we moved into the Rent, and if that turns out to be the case, yeah it'll really suck for the seniors to have their last year under a lame duck coach with no hope of a bowl bid. But as a program, UConn has to do what's best for its medium and long term growth and winning, which is hiring the RIGHT head coach for 2014 on. I don't think that you promote an assistant to take over unless you are 100% certain that is the right person for not just 2013 but beyond, and I doubt Hughes or Weist is that person for now.

 

[freescooter]

Well, Pasqualoni said some things during the summer about urgency, he made reference to his job security after two 5-7 seasons at the Middles e x Chamber of Commerce, and for all that urgency/desperation we went out and lost to Towson. So my advice is don't hold your breath for some renewed sense of urgency or something dramatic to happen. As long as we're talking about reality here, the reality is the decisions that will turn the ship around won't come in in the next two months, at least, not publicly. Manuel probably has a list of candidates and he'll be watching the names on that list, maybe adding and subtracting from during the season. But turning a big battleship around takes time, it's not done instantaneously even if that's what we want.

You know, I wouldn't have been happy losing to Towson under any circumstances, but when a team comes out and is lifeless, disorganized, and gets pushed around by a smaller opponent, that is about coaching. We see the same mistakes, year in year out. Linemen who have no idea what their assignments are, trying to power run a 160 pound halfback on 3rd & 2. Poor time management, poor play calling, no halftime adjustments...this isn't like we haven't seen it all before for the last two years. It is clear that Pasqualoni is not going to get it done. Sometimes a change needs to start sooner than later.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

Making a move now makes the administration look horrendous. We brought him back but one loss we punt the season?

Looking at it from Manuel's point of view, no reason to cause a circus. Maybe it gets better. If it doesn't you get a shot at a hire.

If Manuel's job were at risk I could see him making that call. Since it isn't he'll sit back - make a change around Thanksgiving and then it's 2-3 years before anyone can even judge that hire

No way he puts himself in harm's way for the 2013 season.

Then he's the wrong guy for the job!!! Our situation calls for somebody with balls. Any CEO worth his salt will tell you s/he prefers someone who takes action. Ask Lincoln what he thought of the usefulness of McClellan's ability to monitor situations. The plain cold fact is we're going in the wrong direction so step one in any plan is to stop going that way. The way to stop going that way is to get rid of the guy leading. Right now. Not later. Not after the guy has a chance to accidentally stumble upon a good result that temporarily let's people sigh, slide back into the barcalounger, and pretend that maybe things are going to work out after all. They're not, and the last thing we need to do is fool ourselves about that.

Inaction is the wrong course. Even if TJ or whoever is installed as head coach fails miserably, so what? You come to a fork in the road. To the left is certain death. To the right is almost certain death. Which way do you go?

People are worried about sending the wrong message to some future coach? Trust me, firing PP now is EXACTLY the message I want to send. It's not like Thursday was Paul's first stroll out that tunnel. I want anyone applying for the job to think "These guys mean business." Right now we look like a bunch of monkeys grooming ourselves for fleas while the forest is on fire.

 

[tduconn]

I'm torn on a number of issues and everyone has made some good commentary.

Is PP and his staff gone sometime this year. Right now I'm guessing it would probably happen.

But when? Putting aside my selfish feelings, what is best for the players? If we give up on the coaches today, done the players also feel we've given up on them? I'm guessing they'd question their future......if a new coach comes in now, would they "be benched" now or next season. Will their skills match the requirements of a "new scheme". And after Spring and August training under existing concepts, just how long will it take to change things around. It seems the players are confused enough now.

What about the "assistant coaches". Would they have the fire in their gut to coach hard the rest of the season if they believe they need to be getting resume's out before the end of the season?

It wouldn't be fair to name an interim coach RIGHT NOW from the existing staff because I'm not too sure we'd receive the best effort from the players or coaches. Just too much uncertainity for all of them as to their respective futures.......so we may never experience the talents of an interim coach to the fullest.

I'm quite sure Ward Manual has a plan and he don't have to e-mail me to keep me abreast of his ideas. He and Herbst very well know what is at stake for all of UConn, and I'll bet the gears are moving, and the Trustees are providing the grease. I have absolutely no worries about this already being set in motion. I'm confident the timetable has been hashed over......they don't need my selfish imput.

I'm more concerned about the concepts of empty seats at the Rent. . I played on an absolutely horrible little league team years ago, but will guarentee you this........we played harder when our dads were there to watch than when they stayed home. At least then we knew someone besides ourselves cared.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

No it's not really fair to seniors, or to the other players, that the Rent will be a morgue. This season is going to probably be the worst since we moved into the Rent, and if that turns out to be the case, yeah it'll really suck for the seniors to have their last year under a lame duck coach with no hope of a bowl bid. But as a program, UConn has to do what's best for its medium and long term growth and winning, which is hiring the RIGHT head coach for 2014 on. I don't think that you promote an assistant to take over unless you are 100% certain that is the right person for not just 2013 but beyond, and I doubt Hughes or Weist is that person for now.

Stop already. It's the old what happens if so-and-so gets hit by a bus or wins the lottery. PP didn't get run over but he's performed like he was. You gotta reassign the tasks, maybe bring in somebody new. It doesn't mean you've conducted an exhaustive search and have located the ideal replacement. Still, something must be done and you need to buy time. That's what we do until the end of the year. Meanwhile, Warde can monitor the hell out of things.

 

[freescooter]

a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. And the first step in the restoration of UConn football is to clear away the roadblock that is Paul Pasqualoni. And the sooner that happens the sooner we can begin the rebuilding process. And this from someone who thought Pasqualoni was a solid choice. Clearly he has not been. He has just sucked the life out of the program. I envisioned the Fiesta Bowl as being the first step in UConn's move to the next level, but Pasqualoni has moved it in the wrong direction entirely.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

I'm torn on a number of issues and everyone has made some good commentary.

Is PP and his staff gone sometime this year. Right now I'm guessing it would probably happen.

But when? Putting aside my selfish feelings, what is best for the players? If we give up on the coaches today, done the players also feel we've given up on them? I'm guessing they'd question their future......if a new coach comes in now, would they "be benched" now or next season. Will their skills match the requirements of a "new scheme". And after Spring and August training under existing concepts, just how long will it take to change things around. It seems the players are confused enough now.

What about the "assistant coaches". Would they have the fire in their gut to coach hard the rest of the season if they believe they need to be getting resume's out before the end of the season?

It wouldn't be fair to name an interim coach RIGHT NOW from the existing staff because I'm not too sure we'd receive the best effort from the players or coaches. Just too much uncertainity for all of them as to their respective futures.......so we may never experience the talents of an interim coach to the fullest.

I'm quite sure Ward Manual has a plan and he don't have to e-mail me to keep me abreast of his ideas. He and Herbst very well know what is at stake for all of UConn, and I'll bet the gears are moving, and the Trustees are providing the grease. I have absolutely no worries about this already being set in motion. I'm confident the timetable has been hashed over......they don't need my selfish imput.

I'm more concerned about the concepts of empty seats at the Rent. . I played on an absolutely horrible little league team years ago, but will guarentee you this........we played harder when our dads were there to watch than when they stayed home. At least then we knew someone besides ourselves cared.

Nice post td and I agree for the most part, especially the paragraph about gears being in motion. That I certainly agree with. I wouldn't call our input selfish particularly. Sometimes a trustee who is not particularly interested in sports might overlook what's going on with the football team unless a stink so big s/he can't ignore it is raised. We might miss important input from someone astute enough in general to secure a spot on the board.

The bolded, blue statement does bother me. Were I a player, replacing some coaches might me feel the administration cared more about me than that they'd given up on me. Let's say I'm a running back and the coach has me practicing long snaps with the punting team all day. If the head guy comes over, sees what's going on, and sends my coach packing I'll think he cares more, not less.

What Thursday's game showed is one of these things:
1) The game plan was inadequate. Coach's problem.
2) The team was incapable of executing the plan. Coach's problem.
3) The program isn't currently capable of fielding a competitive team for the contest. Not the coach's problem but surely not the case with Towson.

 

[huskymedic]

a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. And the first step in the restoration of UConn football is to clear away the ro that is Paul Pasqualoni. And the sooner that happens the sooner we can begin the rebuilding process. And this from someone who thought Pasqualoni was a solid choice. Clearly he has not been. He has just sucked the life out of the program. I envisioned the Fiesta Bowl as being the first step in UConn's move to the next level, but Pasqualoni has moved it in the wrong direction entirely.

Said it better than I could.

I do believe that if we start 0-4 (with bad loses to RE and both of WM's old stomping grounds) -- they make a change after the Buffalo game (9/28) which leads to the next bye week and USF @ home on 10/12.