Would UConn Ever Do Away With Football?
That’s a question Hearst Connectict Media columnist Jeff Jacobs asks, and answers, in his column today. If UConn continues to struggle on the field, is it worth it to even save? Jacobs says that’s what we have to find out.
It’s Not A Crazy Opinion: This is something we have heard since the demise of the Big East, and whenever the football team loses a game (or gives up a score for that matter), it’s mentioned. The program operates in an area that is untenable — every week it plays, it has to justify its existence. It’s been an unhealthy dynamic since the rug was pulled out from under the Big East with Pittsburgh and Syracuse jetting off to the ACC six months after UConn won national championships in men’s and women’s basketball and football reached the Fiesta Bowl in 2011. UConn football didn’t cause UConn men’s basketball to lose its luster. UConn basketball caused its basketball team to lose its luster. Still, there are big questions about the viability of the program financially.
Money Is An Issue: The cash-strapped athletic department has expanding budgets and dwindling attendance. Not a good recipe. In 2005, UConn generated $15 million in ticket sales and $14 million in licensing fees. In 2017, the department generated $9.8 million in ticket sales and $24 million in licensing, per USA Today. The school’s budget has exploded in that time, and total revenue is now $83 million, but with $41 million coming from university subsidies. So, it isn’t generating $83 million a year in revenue as it reports. Revenue remains stagnant and has for much of the last decade, but the budget has exploded with a university (50 percent in 2017!) footing the bill. UConn took $9 million in student fees and school funds in 2005. In 2017, the school received $41 million from students fees and school funds. That’s not sustainable, and football is what is eating up that cash.
So What Needs To Happen?: The easiest changes should be found on the field. Recruiting has to get better, and the team has to win games. Coaching changes are program destroyers. Firing two coaches in a five-year span is disastrous, and the football program is feeling the consequences of that purge this year. One would think Randy Edsall would be able to turn this around. Heck, UCF was 0-12 just three years ago. Different recruiting grounds, but drastic improvements can happen. Five years is too long to wait. But the program needs to be viable or the entire athletic department will go up in smoke.
And, winning doesn’t cure all the ills. If UConn was 7-1, we might be having the same discussion. That’s the worry about the program. The headwinds in the Group of 5 are fierce. UConn athletics is at a major financial disadvantage with its athletic peers in the Power 5 conferences. How will it compete five years from now?
Edsall and the football team can’t solve this. Their jobs are to win football games. Figuring out attendance and budgets? That’s up to the athletic department and administrators at the school. That’s who the real pressure is on.
First Hurley Recruit Looks Like a Keeper
Brendan Adams was the first recruit to commit under Dan Hurley, and it’s looking like it’s going to be a bountiful relationship for both. Adams started in the exhibition opener, and the 6-foot-4 recruit scored 17 points. He is the only true freshman on the team.
The importance of Adams: Adams, from Baltimore, committed initially to Hurley at Rhode Island and backed out after his coach left for UConn. Hurley decided to bring along Adams with him to Storrs and felt that even though he was not considered a top-100 prospect, he had more than enough talent to play in Storrs. Adams is a combo guard with size and a scoring mindset.
Where Does He Fit?: Adams, assuming everyone is healthy, slots in off the bench behind Jalen Adams and Alterique Gilbert. Adams can back up both as a combo guard and will compete with senior grad transfer Tarin Smith for time in the backcourt. He was productive in the exhibition game. Can he do it against better competition?
Family Ties: Adams comes from a basketball family. His brother is Jaylen Adams (not teammate Jalen Adams), who starred at St. Bonaventure and is now in the G-League. UConn fans are also well aware of his cousin, former Cincinnati guard Troy Caupain, who was a thorn in the Huskies’ side for several years.
Morning Reading
CULTURE BUILDERS: A trio of UConn recruits in Brendan Adams, Tarin Smith and Kassoum Yakwe are here to bring toughness and Hurley-style basketball to Storrs. (Hartford Courant)
AHMED WINS GOLD GLOVE: Former UConn infielder Nick Ahmed won his first Gold Glove with the Arizona Diamondbacks at shortstop. Ahmed was tied for the most defensive runs saved in baseball this season with 21. (Arizona Republic)
PATS SIGN FORMER UCONN STANDOUT: Former UConn safety Obi Melinfonwu, who was cut by the Raiders in training camp, has resurfaced with the Patriots. Melinfonwu is a Grafton, Massachusetts, native and has had an injury-plagued career thus far after being a second-round pick three years ago. (Boston Herald)
FIELD HOCKEY TO PLAY RUTGERS: UConn will play Rutgers in the first round of the Division I Field Hockey Championships in College Park, Maryland, on Friday. (UConnHuskies.com)
HUSKA TABBED BY HOCKEY EAST: Junior goaltender Adam Huska was named Hockey East Defensive player of the week after posting his first shutout, against Vermont, on Friday. (UConnHuskies.com)
