I want hardworking lunch pail kids just like u. But there is nothing wrong with making sure they get the rock star treatment. They get it elsewhere. If they commit to uconn over let's say bc because in the end they are hardworking kids who like our pf and nfl draft results lately then that's that. The jersey and bit of hs flash is just gravy on there visit. Other kids who like the gear and stuff, we now look a bit more up to date with. It's a no lose. No kid is going to walk out of uconn and say, they are to cool for me.
I am worried about this type of stuff because I am worried about everything about this program. Not a lot is being done right as far as media, perception, selling, marketing, showing and swagging. In college u have to put the whole puzzle together. Money, perception and recruiting are the gold 3 things. Everything college wise falls under one of those 3 things. U want AAU staus? Then you have to find grants($) and get good workers and students(recruiting). U want to play big boy football etc etc....everything is those 3. We lack them. We will continue to lack all of them until this leadership is gone and we get leadership from real personnel that have experience from other schools that matter.
Today I read besides the game vs bc in a tney this fall for bball warde is working on a bc series in bball. For no one here to stand up says it all. You all lack pride and a sack. I would rather play bumfucc Montana every year for the rest of our schools life then give them a OOC game and let them profit off a national program that they have continued to try to destroy. How dare every single one of you support this guy. We're here because of JC and our hate of bc. Now we're going to play nice and help them? noise and f any of u who support that jack wagon of a ad we got.
It all takes time. I agree that we should pump ourselves up much more loudly than we have been doing. The school is taking the right steps, and has the state behind it in order to continue to grow academically. Our candidacy for the AAU is getting stronger, and while it probably will take time, it is still on the correct pace. UConn is the best remaining chip in the game, and making sure we stay that way is the critical tactical goal we must have.
What we need is a national buzz in football. Get people talking about UConn. Even the negative publicity leading into the Fiesta Bowl was better than nothing. National pundits were discussing UConn football, and that is a win, even if the pub is bad (we are all aware of Amanda Bynes again, so it works!). The problem is really this: Massive national brands such as Ohio State football, Kentucky and UNC basketball have built their brand recognition over 50+ years. While UConn has caught up and outpaced them in recent years, we are still Novae Riche to the rest of the country, only climbing to the top in the last 25 or so years.
We can build this football program, but it takes a few things: 1)
continue to get good home and homes. We are already talking about Tennessee, UVA, Boise, and BYU, let alone Michigan. There is buzz about the schedule, even if it is loaded with drecks on the back end. UConn fans turn out for big games. It really works like this: Men's basketball is a major, nationally relevant program. Fans come to UConn vs. Cuse, Pitt, Louisville, etc. However, who cares about seeing Cuse or Pitt's football team? No one, because they are not important teams. If we do not sell out Michigan I will be very concerned. 2)
Win those fecundity games. You can't sit at the big boy table without beating the big boys. Winning games, and being nationally relevant will only help UConn get better national coverage, and make kids consistenly aware that UConn has a good program. 3)
Sell the growth potential. UConn has won two big east titles in the 10 years they have been FBS. This despite having the lowest rated recruiting classes, residing in a state that does not historically produce much FBS talent, and having to compete for those recruits with programs that can say we are in the ACC, B1G, SEC, etc. Give UConn a conference that kids want to play for, the exceptional facilities, and the support of the administration, and imagine what they can do.
I have my complaints too as far as what WM has done at times, but I also do think that there isn't much that could have been done in November. They absolutely should not have allowed the national coverage to pump up Louisville the way it did and marginalize us, but I just don't think it would have mattered in the end. The one time the ACC swallows its academic pride, we get left out. It is a shame, but it speaks to the problems that the ACC had at the time. We were not going to improve the football profile in their view, and they chose the school they thought did that. That was a defensive move, and signals fear. We were caught in the worst possible circumstance there. However, WM is getting good opponents, and while he certainly needs to do more, I am happy with the progress of the hockey hire, the push for lax, the continued success of the soccer and baseball teams.
We need to think positively as a fanbase, and rally behind the school more now than ever. I am not 100% behind everything Warde has done, but the only people in control of realignment reside in conference offices. We move to the beat of their drum. The best thing for us, is to make sure we make enough noise that they have to hear us.
