- Joined
- Sep 18, 2011
- Messages
- 5,019
- Reaction Score
- 19,789
Short term, it appears that we may not be joining a new conference. LT, change is inevitable.
So, what should/can UConn do? In my opinion, focus on what you can control, not what you can't control.
1) Continue to build the sports programs. Increase investment. Build the basketball practice facility,...
2) Continue to improve out of conference football scheduling. Negotiate with ND for a new football series, possibly replacing Pitt.
3) Focus on building the fan base. Increase student attendance at games even if it means leaving some on the table. Building the fan base is more important to ST dollars. I think Lew Perkins understood this, but Hathaway didn't have a clue.
4) Use women's basketball to show UConn's value to key universities as most ADs would love to increase revenues from women's sports. Florida State, Clemson, Penn St., Ohio State..want to play?
5) Continue to focus on excellence in all athletic programs.
6) Reach out to alumni and explain our challenges. Now is the time for all of us to step up with donations, attendance, road attendance,..
7) Reach out to BC. Offer to play in all sports. If they aren't ready for football, offer men's and women's basketball. That would be hard for them to decline.
8) Focus on hiring a top notch AD with great contacts in college athletics to lead us into the future. Maybe Prendergast is the right person, maybe not. If Prendergast isn't the right guy, keep him as our chief fundraiser for the investments we need to do.
Finally, my most controversial recommendation of all. Increase the capacity of The Rent to 50k to 60k. With Michigan and Tennessee coming in to play and possibly others, we can sell out the stadium for some games. If we are committed to joining the Big Boys, you might as well increase the size of the stadium now. Reduce ticket prices for the worst seats. Increase student attendance. Interest rates are low and construction firms are looking for work. Politicians want to increase jobs, well here it is. Now is the time to do it.
Dammit, we are UConn! Now is the time to raise our game and move forward!
So, what should/can UConn do? In my opinion, focus on what you can control, not what you can't control.
1) Continue to build the sports programs. Increase investment. Build the basketball practice facility,...
2) Continue to improve out of conference football scheduling. Negotiate with ND for a new football series, possibly replacing Pitt.
3) Focus on building the fan base. Increase student attendance at games even if it means leaving some on the table. Building the fan base is more important to ST dollars. I think Lew Perkins understood this, but Hathaway didn't have a clue.
4) Use women's basketball to show UConn's value to key universities as most ADs would love to increase revenues from women's sports. Florida State, Clemson, Penn St., Ohio State..want to play?
5) Continue to focus on excellence in all athletic programs.
6) Reach out to alumni and explain our challenges. Now is the time for all of us to step up with donations, attendance, road attendance,..
7) Reach out to BC. Offer to play in all sports. If they aren't ready for football, offer men's and women's basketball. That would be hard for them to decline.
8) Focus on hiring a top notch AD with great contacts in college athletics to lead us into the future. Maybe Prendergast is the right person, maybe not. If Prendergast isn't the right guy, keep him as our chief fundraiser for the investments we need to do.
Finally, my most controversial recommendation of all. Increase the capacity of The Rent to 50k to 60k. With Michigan and Tennessee coming in to play and possibly others, we can sell out the stadium for some games. If we are committed to joining the Big Boys, you might as well increase the size of the stadium now. Reduce ticket prices for the worst seats. Increase student attendance. Interest rates are low and construction firms are looking for work. Politicians want to increase jobs, well here it is. Now is the time to do it.
Dammit, we are UConn! Now is the time to raise our game and move forward!