I think ruskin's point is that manuel has been very vocal, very visible on issues surrounding the football team. He has not been a shrinking violet of an AD...until now.
I'm not sure of the other programs' AD's, but it is fair to question manuel based on his public statements. The clock just is a way to poke him a bit. But Manuel is a big boy, he knows the way the game that is played. This isn't buffalo.
As for what he could/should say? It's not our job to think of it for him. He has $475,000 ways to think of something.
Most are in agreement that deleone's make-work $275k position is money better spent on recruiting or marketing even. But at this point that's a band aid really.
Also, our chirping is something that is part and parcel of bcs football. Losing to mac and fcs teams just is not tolerated at this level. Regression even less so. Sadly, UConn has experienced pathetic results and now will pay the price in terms of fan enthusiasm, ticket sales, etc. A death spiral.
The thing that just absolutely floors me is that this song and dance played once already at syracuse, including with the same mediocre results and the same promotion/demotion of manuel's bff from oc to associate head coach. That is unacceptable. This isn't justabout the last three putrid years but a continuation of pasqualoni's mediocrity and in a manner so blatantly apparent to even casual observers.