We skipped the Mailbag last week because you people didn’t cheer hard enough at the UConn/Maine game. Do better… or else. And even though you don’t deserve it, we’re answering your questions on football panic, Bridgeport (never go to Bridgeport) and the greatest time to have been a Husky.
Remember: If your question wasn’t answered or you’ve been living under a rock and are just hearing about this, you can submit your questions here or on Twitter (@ADimeBack).
Josh asks: Is it time to panic yet?
Maybe! Last Thursday’s victory over Maine was about as disastrous a win as UConn’s ever had in football, showing an eager audience some of the least creative, boringly ineffective offense of all time, and a defense that looked very much like it had a number of guys getting a lot of playing time for the first time, most notably in the secondary.
I think the defense will end up being OK as the secondary gets experience, although the lack of any real attempt to bring pressure on Maine quarterback Will Neverthinkofhisnameagain is discouraging (though rushing four pretty much just seems like Diaco’s thing at this point). The game also showed how necessary it is for UConn to force turnovers; when they don’t, they’re a very mediocre unit.
I still need to re-watch the game to get a better feel for why almost everything offensively was terrible, but you might be OK panicking after that performance by the O-line (with no help at all from OC Frank Verducci, who didn’t appear very interested in helping his players succeed by calling an overwhelmingly run-and-short-pass-heavy game against a loaded box).
The optimist in me would say that it was a concerted effort to be as vanilla as possible on offense so as not to give away the playbook (this is still dumb and shows that the coaching staff believes its players are unable to execute without the element of surprise), and to see what that basic offense looks like against a live opponent, so that now the coaching staff can be aware of what works and doesn’t work.
The pessimist in me would say that almost losing to Maine shows that UConn’s talent is a lot closer to the caliber of Maine than it is to an actual top-50ish FBS team.
But I say hold off on actually panicking until the Navy game, which is unfortunately a lot more urgent now than it was prior to last night’s game; coming into the season, I expected a close loss in a tough road environment in Annapolis. Now, UConn almost has to win or else the fanbase is going to deflate, really quickly.
Storrs South asks: interesting to see back to back yrs of no winter break game in Bridgeport for UConn MBB despite max capacity crowds. Thoughts?
Playing in Bridgeport was always more of a good idea on paper than in practice. Yes, it’s important for UConn to build and retain its fanbase in the southwest part of the state, but let’s be real. What they really want (and need) is to make nice with the monied potential donors in Greenwich, New Canaan and Darien. To get those folks to attend games, the answer isn’t to ask them to travel north… TO BRIDGEPORT!… to see UConn play Eastern Washington. You need to meet them where they work: New York City.
The benefits are supremely obvious. Not only can UConn get in front of a Fairfield County audience, but it can draw big name opponents (Maryland, Syracuse), get a guaranteed national TV game, and set up a host of donor outreach (read: wine and dine) opportunities that aren’t available in Storrs or Hartford, let alone Bridgeport.
Now, if you’re looking for an easy local place to hold a game during the holiday break, Mohegan Sun seems an obvious choice. Mohegan does college basketball well — it will host Duke, Penn St, Cincy and Rhode Island in November for the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament. And you get the benefit of built-in entertainment and lodging. UConn vs. Rhode Island in December at Mohegan would be a fun annual tradition.
Yonnathan asks via email: Which high school graduating class entered UConn at the best time for maximum enjoyment of UConn sports greatness? My vote: high school ’90 graduate was accepted to UConn and thus became invested with the 89-90 team.
As a 1999 high school graduate (and a 2003 UConn graduate), I’m afraid I cannot concur with this take. Being almost in college for awesome stuff is not at all cool. With that in mind, my vote is for the class of 2000. You’re in the same class as Diana Taurasi, which means apex women’s basketball, and your senior year culminates in dual national championships. You’re also on hand for the move to 1-A, Dan Orlovsky and your senior year is the first year in the Rent. Bonus! Men’s soccer won a national championship, and I can attest to how dope that was. Will also accept class of 2001, which, while leaving on a lesser basketball season for both the men and the women and missing the soccer chip, you get an extra Rent year and a bowl win. Early aughts UConn best UConn.
