Why did uconn wait so long to join Div1 football?

[Waquoit]

Because this is Connecticut. We don't want to do anything rash.

What about the deal for The Rent? The whole process was completed in just a few weeks, if not days.

 

[Carl Spackler]

This. I was at a breakfast in '88 where Turner told a group of us that within the next 4-5 years UConn would be playing the likes of Pitt, BC, and Penn St on a regular basis.

I wasn't recruited by the UCONN staff, but I am familiar with a few that were in that time. I could be entirely wrong about this, but I think that contrary to what has been stated here, Toner was a big time proponent of 1-AA football, and wanted UCONN at 1-AA. I could be wrong about that, and I"m sure there are those around here that can correct me if I am.

Jackson most definitely did promise scheduling with those kinds of programs though, as he planned to do it out of conference, and we did play some division 1As such as North Carolina in the late 80s. I think that the plan was that as 1-AA football progressed, there would regular out of conference scheduling with the 1A's regularly, including home and home (a lot more than the one time away cash money deals that it turned out to be between 1A /1-AA scheduling). At least that was the plan as I understood it for 1-AA football.

Edit: also - as far as playing those programs regularly, from the mid 80s on, it seemed as though it was inevitable that the Big East would be playing football, and the natural progression would have been to include UCONN and Villanova. I don't know if it was ever discussed that scheduling the 1A's for UCONN would have been in conference or out, but I do know that Jackson did promise scheduling with 1A programs in the 1980s.

 

[06029]

Actually he paid for Gillette himself. All he wanted was some infrastructure work done on RT1 and other access roads. MA was too cheap for even that. He also considered putting a stadium in South Boston. The state did pony up 17% of the total cost, but it was all road and infrastructure work, not the stadium itself.

The Route 1 infrastructiure was huge for him. Enabled him to get Patriot Place built. Also, he got full control of the track behind the old stadium for nothing, got the back road in for fire, emergency and his family and he also got the right to develop the site as he saw fit beyond the just the stadium. So instead of just a stadium that is used maybe 20 times a year (football, concerts and the Revs) he has a year round destination place that generates some very high rents to him an his family. I believe he has some long term tax breaks on that development too. Owning the stadium and the land, he also gets all of the concessions, parking, naming rights income and advertising income. No split with the state. The CT deal, he had none of that.

 

[06029]

What did CT get out of it?

An approved bond issue that developed the convention center, the Rent and Uconn's upgrade to D1. That and the debt service on all of those things.

 

[John]

I was also really disappointed when the Patriots didn't come here (same thing when the Six Flags rumor was going around). Although it would be nice to share a stadium with a pro team, I don't think it would work out too well for attendance. Look at Pitt, Temple and USF. THey all play in pro stadiums and most of the time it looks like there are more empty seats than are fans. I know it isn't ideal, but I love The Rent and have many good memories in that stadium and hope to have a lot more this year, starting with BYU!

what was the Six Flags rumor, I don't recall ever hearing about them coming to CT.

 

[huskyrob1]

Why are you blaming anyone but Kraft? He knew he couldn't leave Boston/Mass for CT. He was only trying to get Mass to foot the bill for a new stadium, and when they didn't, he paid for it. He could have had state money from CT.

I'm not saying he never did try to play Rowland to get Mass to pony up, he very well might had that angle in mind, but at the same time it was well known that Barbara Kennelly campaigned in the legislature to not give Kraft one cent of state money, also IIRC wasn't there a lot of negative press directed at Kraft at the time? He may have just said screw you and took his team elsewhere.

 

[Buzzyboy]

You don't know what you are talking about, plain and simple. Yes he broke the law and paid his debt to society, but he did do a lot for the state while Governor.

During the years that Rowland was in office, the state enjoyed record-breaking surpluses, state spending increased only modestly, with real spending growth rates of just over 2 percent annually between 1995 and 2003. For the first time in state history, tax rebate checks were sent to taxpayers in 1998 and again in 1999. He adhered to a spending cap voters added to the state constitution in 1992.

During those years, the state invested more than $2 billion to rebuild the University of Connecticut. Major investments were also made in the Connecticut State University andCommunity Technical College systems; enrollments as of 2004 were at an all-time high.

As of 2004, Connecticut students led the nation in performance, and the number of spaces in pre-school programs more than doubled during his term in office.

During his term, more than 455,000 acres (1,840 km2) (700+ sq. miles) of open space were preserved for future generations and state parks were revitalized. Rowland also led an aggressive clean-up and protection effort for Long Island Sound.

The Adriaen’s Landing project, the most ambitious capital city development project in decades in the state, continued to progress during Rowland's time in office. College campuses were moved, which brought thousands downtown in Hartford, Stamford, Bridgeport and Waterbury. New London's waterfront was thriving as of 2004, with a new global research facility and rebuilt pier. Theaters and museums in all major cities were revitalized, from the Palace Theater in Waterbury to the New Britain's Museum of American Art.

In 1998, Rowland implemented the HUSKY Plan (Healthcare for UninSured Kids and Youth) to provide health insurance to uninsured Connecticut children. During his tenure, the budget for the Department of Children and Families more than doubled. Rowland supported addition to government of the state’s first Child Advocate.

Rowland was a strong proponent of a tough stance against violent crime as Governor. The prison population grew rapidly during his term, which caused the state to send inmates to prisons in Virginia to deal with overcrowding. Legislative opponents of this policy such as Representative Michael Lawlor urged more rapid release of nonviolent offenders. After Rowland left office the Virginia inmates were returned to Connecticut and more criminals were paroled. This approach was criticized after the 2007 Cheshire home invasionmurders committed by two "nonviolent" inmates paroled from Connecticut prison.

Before investigation into his conduct as governor started, Rowland was viewed as a rising star in the Republican Party, and was mentioned as a future presidential or vice-presidential candidate.

Shortly after being released from prison, he was offered a job as the city of Waterbury's economic development coordinator. Rowland was appointed to this office by long time friend and associate, Mayor Michael Jarjura.

I don't have a clear remembrance of all the things that transpired during the years he was governor but it's obvious that anything that occurred during the years of his administration that were of a positive nature you want to give him credit for. I particularly like that you want to cite the fact that "Adrian's Landing project continued under him". Is that to suggest that because he didn't make any efforts to undermine it, that's one of the many stellar accomplishments of his administration????? I lived there during his time as governor and though I concede that he wasn't a horrible governor, he surely wasn't anything like you choose to portray him. Meanwhile, others have pointed out that there seems to be some current issues of a less than stellar nature that he is being accused of. You chose not to remark about any current investigation pertaining to Rowland. I'm not quite sure why you seem to be such an advocate of his. Is he your Uncle or your cousin or what? The topic is really supposed to be why was UConn so late to the Division 1 table, isn't it? There are a few people who have a completely different impression of Rowlands role in any of this because as you should know, there are so many things that go on behind the scenes that it can be a cloudy subject. Politics is a hell of a thing where people sometimes publicly favor something while doing everything in their power to sabotage it in private.

 

[Waquoit]

what was the Six Flags rumor, I don't recall ever hearing about them coming to CT.

There were rumblings back then that a Six Flags was being considered for the space where the Rent sits now.

 

[John]

There were rumblings back then that a Six Flags was being considered for the space where the Rent sits now.

Lake Compounce must have loved that.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Love these two bullets:

The football program, operating at a deficit of $2.1 million a year at I-AA, is expected to lose about $3 million by 2000 -- but should produce positive financial results as soon as 2005.

The salary of the head coach is projected to increase from $110,000 to $200,000 by 2003, when the team would be playing a partial Big East schedule.

“A suggested site at the junction of I-84 and Route 195 was ruled unacceptable because of space and environmental considerations.”
Well, at least Electric Blue was saved

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I also remember that. There were objections by the people of Mansfield over traffic etc, but the main reason it died was because it was proposed in an election year. As I recall one of the candidates, Barbara Kennelly I believe, railed against the cost and how much it would hurt education and other state services. The other candidate(not sure, but it may have been Rowland) backed down and that was the end of it.

Likely the same locals who complained that UConn students were walking in the road in between campus and Celeron and Hunting Lodge; but, refused to approve sidewalks being built between the two areas so students had a choice of walking in the road or taking the ‘rape’ trail behind the sewage treatment plant.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

The Route 1 infrastructiure was huge for him. Enabled him to get Patriot Place built. Also, he got full control of the track behind the old stadium for nothing, got the back road in for fire, emergency and his family and he also got the right to develop the site as he saw fit beyond the just the stadium. So instead of just a stadium that is used maybe 20 times a year (football, concerts and the Revs) he has a year round destination place that generates some very high rents to him an his family. I believe he has some long term tax breaks on that development too. Owning the stadium and the land, he also gets all of the concessions, parking, naming rights income and advertising income. No split with the state. The CT deal, he had none of that.

More recently during the downturn and the development of Federal ‘Tiger Funds’ to build ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure projects under Obama back in 2009, Kraft trird to sneak in a bill in Beacon Hill to build a $9 million dollar pedestrian bridge over route 1 connecting patriot’s Pace to land he owned on the other side of Route 1. The press eventually got wind of it and it died a bad death.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/kraft-bridge-carried-red-flag/article_34bcb5c4-e67e-59a6-b9e7-017ba40cd4a0.html?mode=story

More recently, the town of Foxborough shot down the proposed Wynn Casino, also across from Patriot’s Place.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/05/07/casino-opponents-gain-foxborough/Rwdj3cX6NzcB8a8qLL14fN/story.html

Some people believe that Kraft is furious over both and that is why he has been dragging his feet on the soccer only stadium that MLS is demanding for the Revs because he wants to draw blood.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The Route 1 infrastructiure was huge for him. Enabled him to get Patriot Place built. Also, he got full control of the track behind the old stadium for nothing, got the back road in for fire, emergency and his family and he also got the right to develop the site as he saw fit beyond the just the stadium. So instead of just a stadium that is used maybe 20 times a year (football, concerts and the Revs) he has a year round destination place that generates some very high rents to him an his family. I believe he has some long term tax breaks on that development too. Owning the stadium and the land, he also gets all of the concessions, parking, naming rights income and advertising income. No split with the state. The CT deal, he had none of that.

And since I live 15 minutes away, it's all good for me.

 

[huskyrob1]

I don't have a clear remembrance of all the things that transpired during the years he was governor but it's obvious that anything that occurred during the years of his administration that were of a positive nature you want to give him credit for. I particularly like that you want to cite the fact that "Adrian's Landing project continued under him". Is that to suggest that because he didn't make any efforts to undermine it, that's one of the many stellar accomplishments of his administration????? I lived there during his time as governor and though I concede that he wasn't a horrible governor, he surely wasn't anything like you choose to portray him. Meanwhile, others have pointed out that there seems to be some current issues of a less than stellar nature that he is being accused of. You chose not to remark about any current investigation pertaining to Rowland. I'm not quite sure why you seem to be such an advocate of his. Is he your Uncle or your cousin or what? The topic is really supposed to be why was UConn so late to the Division 1 table, isn't it? There are a few people who have a completely different impression of Rowlands role in any of this because as you should know, there are so many things that go on behind the scenes that it can be a cloudy subject. Politics is a hell of a thing where people sometimes publicly favor something while doing everything in their power to sabotage it in private.

I didn't write that stuff. I took it word for word from Rowlands bio on Wikpedia, so if you disagree with it I suggest you go on there, hack into Wikpedia, and set the record straight according to "Buzzyboy". My original post that you attacked as "wrong, wrong, wrong" was liked by several posters, I guess they remember like myself the good things he did for the state, especially UCONN, and his HUSKY insurance program for poor kids statewide. Your attack on that post got no likes. As I've already stated several times in response to your attacks, he went to jail and paid his dept to society and freely admits his wrongdoing as a CT governor, unlike many in politics who got caught but never admitted anything. I'm not an advocate of his, just remember his years as gov were good years for the state, before his Governorship went down the tubes. You certainly seem to have an axe to grind though with respect to Rowland, did you lose an election to him or something. Give it a rest.

 

[FDNY99]

There was supposed to be a research park near Celeron that the residents of Mansfield were able to shut down (what a difference that would have made)...the stretch of 384 between Columbia and Bolton was done in when Fed permits were not renewed on time with Army Corps of Engineer's...and someone with contacts with-in Army Corps of Engineer's was able to get them to not renew the permits (this info came from a friend of mine who learned it in class while getting a bachelor's degree of soil science at UCONN)....I was never a Rowland fan what so ever...but what he did for UCONN from UCONN 2000 to the football upgrade can't be pushed to the side. He was the Gov that helped the school emerge from the dark ages academic facilities wise!

 

[CL82]

IRC, this was what killed it.

* The facilities building, a two-story structure of 35,000 to 45,000 square feet, would include locker rooms and strength training, sports medicine and equipment rooms on the ground floor. Office and meeting rooms would be on the second floor.
An end zone practice facility and on-site practice fields are included in the north campus design. Costs at all sites, including Hartford, include separate, on-campus support facilities.

Now if they had pushed for the stadium separately and used private money for Shenkman and Burton, it would have gotten done. I think there was too much sticker shock with everything included.

I'm a fan of Horsebarn Hill as a location but the North Campus site would have worked as well.

 

[Waquoit]

I was never a Rowland fan what so ever...but what he did for UCONN from UCONN 2000 to the football upgrade can't be pushed to the side. He was the Gov that helped the school emerge from the dark ages academic facilities wise!

It's just funny that when people tout the good things Rowland did, it all amounts to his spending money on the things they liked. While saying we need to cut spending out of the other side of their mouth.

 

[huskyrob1]

It's just funny that when people tout the good things Rowland did, it all amounts to his spending money on the things they liked. While saying we need to cut spending out of the other side of their mouth.

Your post is incredibly ignorant.


"During the years that Rowland was in office, the state enjoyed record-breaking surpluses, state spending increased only modestly, with real spending growth rates of just over 2 percent annually between 1995 and 2003. For the first time in state history, tax rebate checks were sent to taxpayers in 1998 and again in 1999. He adhered to a spending cap voters added to the state constitution in 1992."

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Rowland reminds me a lot of current NJ Governor Chris Christie. Moderate Republican Governor in a Democratic leaning state that did cross party lines to get things done; but, carried huge grudges against those who opposed them and tried to destroy them in anyway possible. Christie may also join Rowland in the impeachment category as Bridgegate continues to get more and more exposed.

 

[husky8273]

The financing for a Storrs stadium was never going to be approved by the CT legislature. It was attempted many times. The financing was only available as part of a Hartford centric "redevelopment" plan. The downtown stadium was a pipedream. The space was not sufficient for a stadium and the surrounding infrastructure. The Patriots were never coming to CT. Kraft played us. The NFL was never going to let the Patriots leave the Boston TV market.

 

[DoctorWho85]

what was the Six Flags rumor, I don't recall ever hearing about them coming to CT.

It was right before Riverside was made into Six Flags New England. I know they were shopping around for a place CT, but ultimately just converted Riverside and the race track into Six Flags.