Warde on the Spring Game

[Chin Diesel]

Lots of good stuff on the state of Uconn athletics.

He is spot on regarding the spring game. The actual format of the game is going to be an unknown due to injuries leading up to the game. The coaches, rightfully, need to do what's best to heal the players and get them ready for the fall.

However, the athletic dept. has full control over the environment of the game. He says they've heard the criticisms and compliments and will act on them.

He's dead wrong on "I don't know that spring games were designed to 'build buzz' in that sense".

That's exactly what a spring game does. Get the fans out in some warm(er) weather gear, mingle, meet up with old football friends and give the fans something to hold on to over the summer.

"We can always make improvements to the experience," he said. "Really, it's about opening the gates to let the fans come in and enjoy themselves. Spring games have really turned into controlled scrimmages. Players get hurt during spring ball, they're recovering from injuries in the fall. It becomes very difficult to have a full-on game. We'll take a look at everything. We have gotten some feedback. We'll see what we can do to make the experience better. A lot of people said they loved the fact we opened it up and let them come down on the field and meet the team. … I don't know that spring games were designed to 'build buzz' in that sense."

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

I think pretty much everything we do, to certain degrees, should be done to create buzz.

At this stage in our development, we need all the buzz we can get. It goes a long way to building a fanbase, filling the stadium, and generating revenue.

 

[thatguyed]

We need frickin' "stepped on a hive while mowing the lawn" buzz.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I think pretty much everything we do, to certain degrees, should be done to create buzz.

At this stage in our development, we need all the buzz we can get. It goes a long way to building a fanbase, filling the stadium, and generating revenue.

Can you imagine if Louisville didn't focus so much on "building buzz". Minor league mentality led us to......the minor leagues.

 

[huskymedic]

Spring games are overated - always have been. This is what caught my attention.

"He told the fans, though, that UConn football, specifically the Huskies' offense, "will be different, will be better. You'll be excited [next season]."

He's invested.

 

[Waquoit]

The experience was a buzz killer, literally. They couldn't even bother to hand out rosters at the entrances where people actually came in.

 

[Srqhusky]

Am I the only one trying to figure out why you Guys need buzz? If you need buzz bring a six pack of 420. With you.

 

[ZooCougar]

Am I the only one trying to figure out why you Guys need buzz? If you need buzz bring a six pack of 420. With you.

Because positive experiences are more enjoyable than negative ones?

 

[freescooter]

Cluelessness runs rampant in the UConn athletic department. My sense is that it does so mainly because the administration doesn't really care what happens to the Athletic Department (well aside from winningly winning in lacrosse, a sport we don't even offer). So it carries over to everything they do. I also sense that they might have made a decison that the AAC is our future, so our sports model is not Michigan, but Memphis or Temple. A good mid-major basketball program that will keep the biggest element of the fan base satisfied, and let football more or less hang around. If they have the odd good year, great, but don't sweat it. Overall, though I think over the past couple of years UConn athletics has been 1 fail after another.
On the plus side, I put the hockey upgrade and getting the basketball center underway. everything else has been mishandled or outright failure, with the biggest fail being out maneuvered by Louisville on the ACC. The utterly illogical argument regarding the APR ban, the handling of coaching selections, the whole athletics rebranding, the spring football game, the approach to fan relations...fail fail fail.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Am I the only one trying to figure out why you Guys need buzz? If you need buzz bring a six pack of 420. With you.

Cause I want 35k season ticket holders, not a couple hundred Boneyarders.

 

[huskymedic]

Cluelessness runs rampant in the UConn athletic department. My sense is that it does so mainly because the administration doesn't really care what happens to the Athletic Department (well aside from winningly winning in lacrosse, a sport we don't even offer).

You do realize the Women's Lacrosse team is ranked 16th in country?

 

[sdhusky]

Can you imagine if Louisville didn't focus so much on "building buzz". Minor league mentality led us to......the minor leagues.

You know what creates buzz? Winning games.

What loses buzz? (its not boring spring games or ties) Going 5-7 two years in a row.

If we win, I don't care about any of this buzz and branding.

 

[pepband99]

Can you imagine if Louisville didn't focus so much on "building buzz". Minor league mentality led us to......the minor leagues.

Odd that we go with the word "buzz," and Ville does this...

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...7/louisville-will-sell-1-beers-at-spring-game

It's brilliant, number-inflating, and something we could never pull off in a million years.

 

[freescooter]

You do realize the Women's Lacrosse team is ranked 16th in country?

Actually I do. I was making a reference to Susan Herbst's comments with Joe D. a while ago that lacrosse was her favorite sport...and it was clear from the context that she didn't mean womens lacrosse.

 

[ZooCougar]

This was another missed opportunity.

 

[ktuck911]

Can you imagine if Louisville didn't focus so much on "building buzz". Minor league mentality led us to......the minor leagues.

CT arrogance/pig headedness did too... Conservative ide0logy jacked us up....

 

[Chin Diesel]

Am I the only one trying to figure out why you Guys need buzz? If you need buzz bring a six pack of 420. With you.

I did celebrate 4/20 on Saturday with several 420's.

 

[uconnric]

Cluelessness runs rampant in the UConn athletic department. My sense is that it does so mainly because the administration doesn't really care what happens to the Athletic Department (well aside from winningly winning in lacrosse, a sport we don't even offer). So it carries over to everything they do. I also sense that they might have made a decison that the AAC is our future, so our sports model is not Michigan, but Memphis or Temple. A good mid-major basketball program that will keep the biggest element of the fan base satisfied, and let football more or less hang around. If they have the odd good year, great, but don't sweat it. Overall, though I think over the past couple of years UConn athletics has been 1 fail after another.
On the plus side, I put the hockey upgrade and getting the basketball center underway. everything else has been mishandled or outright failure, with the biggest fail being out maneuvered by Louisville on the ACC. The utterly illogical argument regarding the APR ban, the handling of coaching selections, the whole athletics rebranding, the spring football game, the approach to fan relations...fail fail fail.

Looks like clueless also runs rampant on this board. If you dislike the program so much that you have to keep spewing unsubstantiated nonsense, and you think everything is such a failure, go root for someone else.

 

[ZooCougar]

CT arrogance/pig headedness did too... Conservative ide0logy jacked us up....

Well, neither Warde or Sue are from CT. And they were the major decision makers in that effort.

 

[ktuck911]

Well, neither Warde or Sue are from CT. And they were the major decision makers in that effort.

where'd u think they got most of their info from to make decisions initially? They just go here. You think that wanted to burn bridges at first? or play kissy face with the all the CT folks that mattered (donors)? Point is, they're changing their tune NOW... a little late but tune is definitely changing... that old culture the last 20 years is done....

 

[ZooCougar]

where'd u think they got most of their info from to make decisions initially? They just go here. You think that wanted to burn bridges at first? or play kissy face with the all the CT folks that mattered (donors)? Point is, they're changing their tune NOW... a little late but tune is definitely changing... that old culture the last 20 years is done....

I think the donors and trustees have very little impact on day to day operations. They select President's and ADs to do that. Not sure how they would have burned any bridges with a different strategy.

We didn't lose because of some arrogant Connecticutness. We lost because we were playing the wrong game.

 

[freescooter]

Looks like clueless also runs rampant on this board. If you dislike the program so much that you have to keep spewing unsubstantiated nonsense, and you think everything is such a failure, go root for someone else.

Warde, is that you?

Let's look at the record.
APR waiver-Fail. Absolutely picked the wrong argument to make and earned zero good will with the NCAA while making it.
Calhoun replacement-even if you think the result was right, the process was a disaster. If you're going to fold like a $2 suitcase, just do it and save everyone the bad feelings.
Aurriema contract-Again, a needless mess that ended with Manuel caving after the Championship.
Conference Realignment-FAIL. Not even in the same solar system with a pass.
Rebranding-based on every survey, where 75-85% disapprove, I think you have to say Fail.
Basketball Center-pass.
Hockey East. Pass so far, but he still has an opportunity to grab defeat from the jaws of victory in the coaching select and the decisions on the rink. I don't put it past him.

 

[freescooter]

I think the donors and trustees have very little impact on day to day operations. They select President's and ADs to do that. Not sure how they would have burned any bridges with a different strategy.

We didn't lose because of some arrogant Connecticutness. We lost because we were playing the wrong game.

Yup.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

You know what creates buzz? Winning games.

What loses buzz? (its not boring spring games or ties) Going 5-7 two years in a row.

If we win, I don't care about any of this buzz and branding.

Thats a very fair point, but your boy Paul actually has to win some games before we can take that as a possibility. As of right now, coming off two 5 win seasons...we need all the flashing lights and loud music (so to speak) we can get.

Tell Paul to win, and this discussion is moot.

 

[Dann]

Warde, is that you?

Let's look at the record.
APR waiver-Fail. Absolutely picked the wrong argument to make and earned zero good will with the NCAA while making it.
Calhoun replacement-even if you think the result was right, the process was a disaster. If you're going to fold like a $2 suitcase, just do it and save everyone the bad feelings.
Aurriema contract-Again, a needless mess that ended with Manuel caving after the Championship.
Conference Realignment-FAIL. Not even in the same solar system with a pass.
Rebranding-based on every survey, where 75-85% disapprove, I think you have to say Fail.
Basketball Center-pass.
Hockey East. Pass so far, but he still has an opportunity to grab defeat from the jaws of victory in the coaching select and the decisions on the rink. I don't put it past him.

I remember going nuts about KO and Geno. Most here sat on there hands. Then some started to see my side with KO stuff and eventually enough inside pressure got things done. I remembe Warde at one point admiting certain emails and family member being all over him. My favorite tho is the Geno contact. I was bitc*ing about it but not as much as other things because the list was so long(wonder why...). People here thought that I was offically a tard. Even Nan tried to get in on it calling me a idot. And that was the first time she swear since she was 11 when she said "shut up" to another girl on the lay ground. Then what do you know, Nan is upset about he way Geno's contract was handled. Blah blah tosu offer and this and that. LMFAO. Whats a matter? Having a dackery pool side with warde on a island while lville was on its knees didn't help geno get a contract?!?!?!? The Wake Forrest assistant AD didn't elp either???? OH BOO WHOOOO Nan and crew...This whole board needs to wake up an realize what going on. You all think I bit*h and moan for fun???? Do u all think freescotter comes here to complain for fun? NO WE FUC*IN DONT. I wt to win and be a HAVE not a HAVENOT. I want to post about the cheerleders and recruiting and road trips to bowl games. Not the i pst about now. This is all given intern type stuff in other ahletic depts. Its above our AD's head hre in CT. We are passionate fans who want UConn to be Michigan and Florida types. Whats currently goin on is not getting to that goal so we have no chice but to be real. By being real, most here with blue glasses think were trolls and idiots. The truth hurts. Get your heads outof your asses and do something. I did't go to UConn like a lot of you. The way show my fanhood is by tickets, gear and internet chat(recruiting)... Look at who posts here. The casuals are gone. When was the last time you saw guys like bnich post? UConn is failing because they are te wrong leaders fo the job.

While i'm on this lets be real rant. lets talk susan. i think shes great president and very on point academics wise but something is becomig very clear. shes rushing big things. the bran is wrong an so is the way to aau path with jackson labs etc...why is she rushing it? this job for here is not end game. end game is ivy, look at her brother that wierd nerd to be nice. he culdn't even stand in front of a halftime tv camera. susan is rushing tese things to fill her personal agend which is boost the resume for a ivy job. she is not the asnwer either.