Here's an interesting tidbit that I especially liked hearing. I asked him what he thought of President Herbst.He said he'd coached at Alabama, Michigan, Tulsa, Indiana, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Cincinnati--- and his wife went to and worked at Indiana and several others. His comment? Susan Herbst is "by far" the most impressive college president of them all. Not surprising to me, but still music to my ears.
Too bad he didn't stay on. I think he is a buttoned up guy with a lot to offer. I still believe that 3 game run was pretty amazing given what a disaster PP had left behind. Even listening to Diaco, you get a sense that PPGDL just let things go to at the most basic levels.
Here's an interesting tidbit that I especially liked hearing. I asked him what he thought of President Herbst.He said he'd coached at Alabama, Michigan, Tulsa, Indiana, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Cincinnati--- and his wife went to and worked at Indiana and several others. His comment? Susan Herbst is "by far" the most impressive college president of them all. Not surprising to me, but still music to my ears.
I think he'll end up as an asst at Iowa or Mich.TJ is taking the year off and moving back to Michigan where his wife is from. I had a long talk with him. He had some offers as an Asst but wants to be a head coach and is willing to wait. He's very upbeat. He's high on the Huskies going forward and feels Diaco is going to be great here.
Who is this PP that people keep writing of, and why is he/she driving an epic failure of Ford manufactured automobile?
never mind.
In my entire recollection of UCONN football personally, I cannot recall a team that folded, and frankly backed down, from adversity they way the 2013 team did. In our worst years of transition from 1-AA to 1-A from the late 90s, we played tougher mentally. Going up against the U as the #1 ranked team in the country, on the road, with the players we had, they didn't fold and put up a battle against overwhelming odds and no chance of winning. The last time I can recall a team that even came close to that kind of mental weakness was the team that lost to New Haven at home in Storrs. It was disgusting to watch, and it made me frothy at mouth mad.
Something happened though, at half-time on the road in Philly in the wet and cold, with nobody watching. Whatever, whomever, however, whichever what way whatever it was happened in that game - continued to the end of the season. We played mentally tough, and we won, against the competition we were lined up with - which admittedly - was Temple, Rutgers and Memphis.
Every season is a new beginning though, as corny and cliché as that is. It's true. How well.whatever, whomever, however, whichever what way whatever it was mentally turned this team around in Philadelphia last November....how well that transfers to Aug. 29, 2014 and beyond, will go a long way as to whether or not we are playing for more than pride, come November 2014.
Diaco, driving the boat, gives hope - but it is a new coaching staff, yet again. The players remain, and the players build programs.
Agreed. Weist was not afraid to open up the UConn offense (loved that he threw 56 times against Memphis). The result was an offensive onslaught over the last three games unlike anything we've seen from the Huskies since the Dan O era . . . and it sure was entertaining football.
My optimistic nature ...
I have knowledgeable cousins who think PP left such a mess that we may have several years re-build before we are even back to the Edsall type results.
I HOPE that is wrong. I THINK that PP actually knew talent and brought good kids in. So ... we aren't lacking in crucial depth. A Diaco has the clay to make a decent 2014 ... and then advance to Bowl eligibility soon.
Agreed. Even though I went to every game last year, 2013 brought with it the weird sensation of exactly zero expectation for a win. Even if UConn was winning at some point during the contest, You got the feeling that the 11 players had no confidence in 1) the coaching staff, 2) The plays being called, and 3) each other. It was 11 individual players. Not once did I get the feeling that the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. The regime 4 years ago and prior never conveyed that feeling.
I don't think I've ever agreed with one of your posts more than I have the last two in this thread.There were a few people that saw the game against Rutgers. There were far less that saw the game against Memphis. There were a lot that saw the mess early on in the season.
It's most definitely a combination of the level of competition we were up against, as well as what we did ourselves...the end of the season, we weren't going against the best in the land, but you still got to strap up and play every week. This is entirely speculation, but my untrained eye and my experience tells me that Casey Cochran must have had enough of the shiiite flowing through this program and channeled a little bit of his father somehow into the locker room to close out the season. Maybe it was somebody else that finally stepped up in the locker room, but I guarantee somebody got up in the locker room and had enough. That would be my best guess as to what happened to turn the mentality of the team around.
Diaco, needs to do the best he can to find whoever the leaders are, and cultivate them, so that the team stays mentally strong and together and never folds like they did last year again.
Whatever it was, the team played with some heart and mental toughness as a team, to close out the season. They were a disgusting bunch to watch through the first 2/3 of the season.
let's hope that never happens again.
The second half of 2009 says hello . . .
I don't think I've ever agreed with one of your posts more than I have the last two in this thread.
Leaders lead, even if they are Freshmen and aren't wearing a "C" on their chest on August 29.
I knew before, but the last straw of incompetence of the Former regime was during Pro Day, when one of our starting Offensive Linemen (I forget who) could not do more than 20 reps of 225 lbs.
I know you're a big fan of Suzy. I also know, that you know, it's always smart to praise your present employer as the best you ever worked for. Sorry just my skeptical nature at work.
Not really. But I did ask his opinion on WM's longevity, given the Va Tech rumors. He felt that WM is here for the duration with the possible exception of Michigan (which would be a no-brainer for him) but he added that Dave Brandon will be at UM for quite a while. While TJ's opinion may be an educated one, even he would admit it's a bold guess.Did you happen to ask him for any tidbits on AD Manuel? I'd be interested to hear how TJ thought he compared to AD's at those other schools.
Actually it was 2 of them that couldn't do 20.I don't think I've ever agreed with one of your posts more than I have the last two in this thread.
Leaders lead, even if they are Freshmen and aren't wearing a "C" on their chest on August 29.
I knew before, but the last straw of incompetence of the Former regime was during Pro Day, when one of our starting Offensive Linemen (I forget who) could not do more than 20 reps of 225 lbs.
Yes I agree this is piss poor but I was just reading a bio for Clowney that said he did 21 reps at the combine.I don't think I've ever agreed with one of your posts more than I have the last two in this thread.
Leaders lead, even if they are Freshmen and aren't wearing a "C" on their chest on August 29.
I knew before, but the last straw of incompetence of the Former regime was during Pro Day, when one of our starting Offensive Linemen (I forget who) could not do more than 20 reps of 225 lbs.
I realize that we can't really take a ton from just one number on one day, but different positions require different attributes. An O-lineman needs upper body strength to push and pull behemoth D-linemen and Line backers on every play. A speed rushing End like Clowney won't be going through O-tackles as much as he will be racing around them. His 4.53 sec. 40, 7.27 sec. 3 cone drill, and 4.5 20 yard shuttle are pretty impressive, speed-wise.Yes I agree this is piss poor but I was just reading a bio for Clowney that said he did 21 reps at the combine.