Wasabi Fenway Bowl Game Post Game

[Duncan Idaho]

I think Notre Dame was the brunt of a lot of jokes for opting out this year, but they probably got it right. I expect that next year will have a lot more universities following suit...

They can afford to. Do any bowl revenues go to the conferences and not the program?

 

[CTBasketball]

They can afford to. Do any bowl revenues go to the conferences and not the program?

I believe revenues go to the conference and are split.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I believe revenues go to the conference and are split.

So the big 12 has 8 tie-ins. with CFP monies and others that pay pretty good. That makes kstate and iowa st decisions not to play perhaps a wash? considering their costs of playing?

 

[freescooter]

Does UConn actually make that much money on this bowl game once travel costs and guaranteed ticket sales are included?

No more guarenteed tickets. And yes they make money.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

No more guarenteed tickets. And yes they make money.

How much?

 

[UCan3]

College football is completely broken. But our trend is still up.

When we stay “broken” it is the bowl games that are especially broken. Army + Navy are likely the only teams set up to compete full strength bowl games.

We ran into one of them.

This morning, we feel like fans of NC did last year.

The defense was listless and Army came to play.

I did not think our QB played terrible. He had few players to throw to and in 2nd half made some decent passes.

If anything, yesterday reminded me of how important it is that we get into a conference.

I was ready to make Bell one of my all time favorites for deciding to play yesterday. In my eyes, kind of tarnished his image a bit. He could have played a half like Cam.

I take nothing away from the game - like nothing. Predictable based on the players that decided to play and the head coach that left us. I was not expecting miracles.

Our defense which allows like 400+ yards a game, played like it. They need a reset next year.

 

[Nostical]

While our group sat during pregame in the bitter cold (in seats built for 1912 bodies), one of our guys said he found what he called "the best bet on the board" and we should pound it to cover all our expenses and provide us all with a steak dinner. His track record is pretty good. What was the bet? Total Rushing Yards!!
Army 263 UConn 73.5. His reasoning?-
"Army is Army but the oddsmakers blew it on UConn. We have a young running QB who likely won't be passing much, Cam Edwards, Mel Brown and Victor Rosa are all playing. The O line is pretty sound even with the two opt outs. I think we can muster at least 20 yards rushing per quarter. I'm betting big on UConn over 73 rushing yards for the game!" Final outcome? We rushed for 183 Yards!
Luckily, we all listened to the logic and bought in. Not only did we recoup all of our expenses for the game, we enjoyed dinner at a fabulous Boston steak house.
Later, the guru said--"always look for the one bet that makes the most sense.Take the time to find it. Sometimes there isn't one, sometimes it's there but you won't see it-- but quite often It's staring you in the face"
Good advice!

 

[uconnyankee]

There’s really nothing to discuss with the game because it wasn’t a game and the result was baked in the cake a month ago. A tragic ending to a great season. It should have never happened.

UConn never never never ever again should participate in a bowl game if our players do not want to go. Players made personal choices to put us in a position where we couldn’t win this game. And sorry this is competition. It’s about winning and losing. If we don’t want to compete. Don’t show up. And how is it that our program, in the precarious state it is in as an independent, thinks it’s too good for a bowl? Including a backup qb who fleeced Mike Burton out of 6 figures. Too good to showcase the best of the program on a Saturday on ESPN? Likely the biggest audience that saw us all year. We don’t play for a conference championship. So what are we playing for? What are the fans supposed to be invested in? Well I hope for starters we start holding UConn’s feet to the fire about getting into either the ACC or Big 12. I mean things are clearly going well for us as we feel comfortable enough to forfeit a bowl game and get worked by Army for 3 and half hours on ESPN. If the bowl doesn’t matter, something better for the fans to justify the support. Only getting us into a power 4 conference does so that should be the minimum expectation of the administration going forward. And no excuses on it this time.

Well let’s forget the fans for a second because we know us poor saps are not the focus during these times. How about what we did to our players?

Skyler Bell was trotted out to tell us he was playing and was trying to get others in the portal to play. Wall him! A hero! People wanted to build a statute for him over this news. The new Locked On UConn host gushed “this means UConn is going all in for win #10.” Well, That was never the case. Bell played one series and took his pads off. Was it done to rube fans to pay for tickets or throw off the opponent? Regardless, It was deceitful and he looks bad because of it.

Because of Bell’s warrior like decision to tell us he was playing (not true) Joe Fagano got smeared online (still going on today) as the sole quitter for 2 weeks while Bell got the statue built for him. He abandoned the team! I’m so mad at Joe! Turns out they both quit. Joe was just more up front about it.

The Candle era begins today and all will be forgotten with news of new hires and recruits. But it’s gonna be hard to forget about some of the selfishness and lies of the last month that robbed the fanbase from a proper send off for this worthy team. The fans and the team deserved better. It did not have to end this poorly.

Agree with some of comments about the game. Was very apathetic, went anyway, and was miserable.
You seem to be very focused on every game being some indication or measure of UConn’s P4 candidacy. This game meant nothing in that regard.
Yes, this game sucked. It was a tough matchup for UConn even at full strength. Players weren’t excited to be there. It was cold and Army plays a style that is punishing. The field itself looked cold, hard, and unforgiving.

The fact UConn has players sitting is because that’s the new normal for CFB Bowls not part of CFP, especially if players have NFL aspirations or transfer portal plans. That’s not just a UConn thing. this is same thing happening across the board to all schools. And then throw in coaching change. UConn was always in a tough spot once Mora announced his departure. Again, not unique to UConn.

And the fans still showed up! Over two seasons UConn has sold better in Boston than BC. That’s a positive that will mean something to P4 committees.

Yes, disappointed. But not with UConn really. Yeah, would be great if team was jacked for game like last year. But situation is different with coaching change and half team in portal. Is what it is.

I’m more upset with CFB/ESPN who want to sell inferior product and meaningless games to fund P4 media deals all while touting that only 10 teams should even be considered for NC in any given year. It’s a sham that is starting to be exposed by players and fans. UConn is just trying to navigate from a position of zero leverage.

 

[uconnyankee]

Please supply info on what the school may have made. We have lost money on most bowls and the crowd looked very sparse on this one. The school has to sell an allotment of tickets or eat them. This looked like another game of eating. Just saying...

Where did you see sparse crowd?
Was at game. Thought turnout was solid despite all the question marks with coaches, players etc. I saw # listed at 28K or so. My guess is a 50/50 turnout between Army/Uconn. That’s not bad for meaningless bowl game.

I have no idea what the revenue deal is, but I think Fenway is very happy with UConn being in their bowl past two seasons.

Don’t see any issue with fans showing up. Especially given circumstances.

 

[uconnyankee]

We win by 20 with Fagnano and Bell. We couldn’t score or move the ball without Edwards.

Our defense could not stop Army. I doubt we win by 20, but we would definitely have had more points than 17 and Army probably less than 41.

 

[ZooCougar]

When we stay “broken” it is the bowl games that are especially broken. Army + Navy are likely the only teams set up to compete full strength bowl games.

We ran into one of them.

This morning, we feel like fans of NC did last year.

The defense was listless and Army came to play.

I did not think our QB played terrible. He had few players to throw to and in 2nd half made some decent passes.

If anything, yesterday reminded me of how important it is that we get into a conference.

I was ready to make Bell one of my all time favorites for deciding to play yesterday. In my eyes, kind of tarnished his image a bit. He could have played a half like Cam.

I take nothing away from the game - like nothing. Predictable based on the players that decided to play and the head coach that left us. I was not expecting miracles.

Our defense which allows like 400+ yards a game, played like it. They need a reset next year.

The QB play was terrible. He had pretty much every receiver but Bell too. If Bell played it wouldn’t have made a difference.
In the first half, half his passes got blocked at the line of scrimmage.

He very much looked like a 4th string QB.

 

[ZooCougar]

There’s really nothing to discuss with the game because it wasn’t a game and the result was baked in the cake a month ago. A tragic ending to a great season. It should have never happened.

UConn never never never ever again should participate in a bowl game if our players do not want to go. Players made personal choices to put us in a position where we couldn’t win this game. And sorry this is competition. It’s about winning and losing. If we don’t want to compete. Don’t show up. And how is it that our program, in the precarious state it is in as an independent, thinks it’s too good for a bowl? Including a backup qb who fleeced Mike Burton out of 6 figures. Too good to showcase the best of the program on a Saturday on ESPN? Likely the biggest audience that saw us all year. We don’t play for a conference championship. So what are we playing for? What are the fans supposed to be invested in? Well I hope for starters we start holding UConn’s feet to the fire about getting into either the ACC or Big 12. I mean things are clearly going well for us as we feel comfortable enough to forfeit a bowl game and get worked by Army for 3 and half hours on ESPN. If the bowl doesn’t matter, something better for the fans to justify the support. Only getting us into a power 4 conference does so that should be the minimum expectation of the administration going forward. And no excuses on it this time.

Well let’s forget the fans for a second because we know us poor saps are not the focus during these times. How about what we did to our players?

Skyler Bell was trotted out to tell us he was playing and was trying to get others in the portal to play. Wall him! A hero! People wanted to build a statute for him over this news. The new Locked On UConn host gushed “this means UConn is going all in for win #10.” Well, That was never the case. Bell played one series and took his pads off. Was it done to rube fans to pay for tickets or throw off the opponent? Regardless, It was deceitful and he looks bad because of it.

Because of Bell’s warrior like decision to tell us he was playing (not true) Joe Fagano got smeared online (still going on today) as the sole quitter for 2 weeks while Bell got the statue built for him. He abandoned the team! I’m so mad at Joe! Turns out they both quit. Joe was just more up front about it.

The Candle era begins today and all will be forgotten with news of new hires and recruits. But it’s gonna be hard to forget about some of the selfishness and lies of the last month that robbed the fanbase from a proper send off for this worthy team. The fans and the team deserved better. It did not have to end this poorly.

Get a grip. The game didn’t matter. This is college football in 2025.

 

[uconnyankee]

lmao Sammis won’t last more than 2 years in Fort Worth. There’s plenty of reasons why he didn’t get a sniff at the HC job. Bell and Edwards bailed him out with raw talent so much this season.

Why? Because of yesterday’s exhibition? Under him, UConn had a high powered offense. He’s used the teams talents to its fullest.
He’s a solid coach on the rise.
I didn’t think he was ready for HC position, but would’ve been happy if he stayed.
I think he’ll do well at TCU with maybe more football resources. All the best to him.

 

[Exit 4]

Bust of a day. Lots of sour feelings. Personally I have debated all sides of this in my head.

As we all know, the season took a strange ending when our winning head coach bailed for ski conditions and current staff also checked out (yes they are here, but they are not staying which makes them less effective coaching his roster) - mostly because that its the nature of the coaching business. I would like to think most guys would have played that bowl had Mora stayed...or at least a few more.

In a few days we can all rebound and put this behind us through the joy of portal season, the second HS signing window in Feb and of course, plenty more of winning UConn MBB and WBB.

Its hard not to look at every snap of UConn football and think it has a meaningful impact on its B12/ACC status. However, you just have to step back and take a breath. Did the entire ACC and B12 go into bowl season this year guns a blazing? Nah- that didn't happen either. Our flat bowl performance really isn't out of step with many others inside and outside of the power conf world. We went 9-4 and had a third successful season in four years - that fact didn't change yesterday at Fenway.

And so what should matter about UConn football remains in place. Upward trajectory, new HC coming in with all the experience you could ask for and school-admin committed to football. Now could this school be even more committed to football - well, the next level of commit we need is the kind that only the Governor's office can provide, but yeah that is another discussion.

So chin up, be proud and I would not bother reading too much more about this bowl. Next!

 

[RSTuthill]

Are you suggesting the players are stakeholders? I know it’s the jimmies and joes but…

They sure as heck are now. After what just went down, you would disagree?

 

[Husky pride]

Farrar had one really nice drive but I think this is what you get when you're essentially putting a third stringer out there that probably had few if any reps until a few weeks ago this season.

Also, I'm not really a fan of the hate Bell is getting. I didn't hear the full story but if he was willing to play to showcase his skills, he rightfully figured that he was not going to get an opportunity to do so today, so why risk injury? This isn't a "we have to hand it to him" comment, but I really don't get the flak he's getting when you boil it down to his future and what he needs to do to give himself the best shot there. And to be honest, Bell becoming a big time NFL player is worth way more to this program than winning this bowl game.

I’m not sure that there’s a lot of “hate” going on in regard to Skylar. It’s just a bit hard to reconcile the approach he ended up taking when he was so adamant- before the game- making it known that if anyone knows him, “he’s a football player” first and thst he intended to “finish what he started”.
He practiced with the team and must have had some idea of what our “third string, freshman quarterback” was capable of …going into a big game. If he had felt he was subject to a possible injury and/or couldn’t perform up to his expectations—potentially hurting his opportunity at the next level—it would seem appropriate for him to have made that call BEFORE the game. No one should have had any need to blame him for doing so. He had a brilliant UConn career…unfortunate that its ending wasn’t more favorable. No hate intended or involved.

 

[CL82]

I'd expect that trend the line (to the extent that two points can actually give you a trend line) to continue if they bring us back a third time in a row.

 

[giddyup]

I'd expect that trend the line (to the extent that two points can actually give you a trend line) to continue if they bring us back a third time in a row.

I know 5 people who won’t be attending any bowl game unless the players are 100% committed. Every kid should be required to sign a personal pledge to their teammates that they promise they will play the full season, bowl game included. Loved Fagnano and Bell, but kind of lost a lot of respect for and interest in them going forward. I’ve been a critic of Mora’s classless move from day 1. Same goes with coaches. You leave before a bowl, there is a huge penalty. Sick of this garbage. We were raised to respect the game, respect commitment and effort, support your teammates, and lay it out on the field. It was a game of character, honor and toughness. That’s why I loved the game. They are killing what I love. It pisses me off.

 

[Waquoit]

I can't blame Bell one bit. The offense was unequipped to get him the ball. He would be playing for nothing.

 

[RSTuthill]

He very much looked like a 4th string QB.

Who insisted on wearing orange shoes.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[ZooCougar]

Bust of a day. Lots of sour feelings. Personally I have debated all sides of this in my head.

As we all know, the season took a strange ending when our winning head coach bailed for ski conditions and current staff also checked out (yes they are here, but they are not staying which makes them less effective coaching his roster) - mostly because that its the nature of the coaching business. I would like to think most guys would have played that bowl had Mora stayed...or at least a few more.

In a few days we can all rebound and put this behind us through the joy of portal season, the second HS signing window in Feb and of course, plenty more of winning UConn MBB and WBB.

Its hard not to look at every snap of UConn football and think it has a meaningful impact on its B12/ACC status. However, you just have to step back and take a breath. Did the entire ACC and B12 go into bowl season this year guns a blazing? Nah- that didn't happen either. Our flat bowl performance really isn't out of step with many others inside and outside of the power conf world. We went 9-4 and had a third successful season in four years - that fact didn't change yesterday at Fenway.

And so what should matter about UConn football remains in place. Upward trajectory, new HC coming in with all the experience you could ask for and school-admin committed to football. Now could this school be even more committed to football - well, the next level of commit we need is the kind that only the Governor's office can provide, but yeah that is another discussion.

So chin up, be proud and I would not bother reading too much more about this bowl. Next!

The Big 12 had like one or two bowl eligible teams just completely skip a bowl. As long as the team maintains its winning form this result will be forgotten.

 

[ZooCougar]

I can't blame Bell one bit. The offense was unequipped to get him the ball. He would be playing for nothing.

I don't understand why people can't see this for themselves.

 

[Purple Stein]

How would he "get it done"

You think he just asks very nicely?

"Please, Mr. Big 12, may I have some of your Big 12?"

 

[ZooCougar]

Our defense could not stop Army. I doubt we win by 20, but we would definitely have had more points than 17 and Army probably less than 41.

We'd win by 10-15 points. We would have held the ball long enough to keep the defense serviceable. The Army defense sucks at defending in space. I have little doubt that the offense would have feasted with Joe in there.

 

[BlueandOG]

I think Notre Dame was the brunt of a lot of jokes for opting out this year, but they probably got it right. I expect that next year will have a lot more universities following suit...

I totally agree. If they don't restructure bowl games to make them meaningful to the players, they are doomed.

 

[BugsyCT]

I know 5 people who won’t be attending any bowl game unless the players are 100% committed. Every kid should be required to sign a personal pledge to their teammates that they promise they will play the full season, bowl game included. Loved Fagnano and Bell, but kind of lost a lot of respect for and interest in them going forward. I’ve been a critic of Mora’s classless move from day 1. Same goes with coaches. You leave before a bowl, there is a huge penalty. Sick of this garbage. We were raised to respect the game, respect commitment and effort, support your teammates, and lay it out on the field. It was a game of character, honor and toughness. That’s why I loved the game. They are killing what I love. It pisses me off.

Like others have said, this is a wider college sports problem that the bigwigs who pull the $$ strings have created. Coaches & players are going to bail before bowl games. That's the world we now live in. You can hold grudges all you want against individuals but this will keep happening in this current fugly college football system.

The only thing that matters for UConn football is getting a P4 invite. The bowls have become meaningless crap and will most likely get phased out eventually the way things are going.

 

[BlueandOG]

If the players don't care about the bowls, then I don't care about the bowls. The bowls have been ridiculous, with the Clemson/Penn State game one of the silliest exhibitions of half-assery I have ever seen in a college football game.

End the bowl games, and make the playoffs games with real stakes. Then make an "NIT' bracket with real dollars for each win. That would get player buy in.

I totally agree. Last year the Fenway Bowl mattered to the players, and it showed. This year, the exact opposite. I used to love bowl season. Now, I won't watch any non-playoff bowls (other than our game) because the players don't care.

 

[ec33]

Every one, right? You are making a false distinction between bowl games and any game during the season.

Here's your original quote:
View attachment 115138
Anytime you play sports you put yourself at risk. A college golf player could injure himself preventing him from having a pro career. A college volleyball player could get concussed, preventing her from a career in…say...accounting. How is one of those things any less "absurd" than another? So following your train of thought to its logical end point, you're advocating for no collegiate sports.

There have been football players that have shut it down well before the season is over. It goes back to character (and NFL front offices rightly judge them on that decision).

Azzi could stop playing and still be drafted #1 overall. And she is certainly risking another ACL injury. If the WNBA paid like the NBA it would be hard to fault her decision from a rational perspective. But we would judge her character negatively (as people are currently doing regarding Bell not playing in a post-season exhibition game in which UConn didn't have a QB capable of completing a pass to him if he have played).

But we aren't talking about Azzi ending her UConn career in January. We are talking about Azzi not playing in a post-season exhibition tour to celebrate yet another title. Meaningless games that have no bearing on anything and especially not her future (although with UConn, you could easily argue that none of their football games matter because they are an independent -- and I am of the opinion that this is true outside of the larger context of a conference realignment that none of the current players will benefit from).

Added later: But we have to keep in mind that with football and bowl games -- the combine is around 8 weeks away. And muscle strains could adversely impact his prep and performance at that event, hurting his draft stock and potentially costing him a position on an NFL roster. So it isn't only crippling injuries (like a Jaylon Smith) that are of concern, but a far larger range of more typical injuries that occur during a football game. As of end of the scheduled reason, Bell stopped being a football player and become an underwear Olympian.

 

[cullaville]

At least he was there unlike Fagnano and others who didn't show up to cheer the teammat

It was a competitive game where our best players made a choice to not participate.

Once they decided not to play they weren't UCONN players anymore, including Bell.