A Peek At UConn’s Future Football Schedule
The Story: What does the future look like for the football team? The Hartford Courant took a peek at what UMass is doing and the good and bad of independent scheduling.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: There are some interesting takeaways from life as an independent school. Now, comparing UConn to UMass in athletics makes us gag, but we also know UMass’ experience is the worst-case scenario for UConn. While the first year may be tough as Dave Benedict forces together a schedule for 2020, the result in several years might be something fans want to see. Again, might be. This comes down to execution by the AD’s office.
The first is that UConn can set up some pretty lucrative guarantee games. The Huskies have a $1.2 million date with Clemson next year and can get more than $2 million in those games each year. Blowouts? Likely, but they pay the bill. Two guarantee games a year seems to be the model UMass uses. The Huskies don’t want to become sacrificial lambs on the road, but we think the fact that the Huskies are a national brand will help, and the football team can take one on the chin for the entire athletic department.
INDEPENDENTS A PSEUDO CONFERENCE: UConn can schedule UMass every year and we like the idea of adding Army and BYU each year as well. Add a northeastern FCS school to the schedule and UConn is playing a decent amount of games in its territory.
Other independents? Liberty would like to play UConn, and we are assuming so does New Mexico, which is also independent. Fine, but if the Huskies wanted to play road games each year in the Mountain Time Zone, they could have just stayed in the AAC.
WE THINK UCONN CAN GET P5 TO THE RENT: Here’s the big area where we think UConn can succeed as an independent. No one wants to play UMass in New England. The reasons? There’s no brand recognition, the stadium is small (and Gillette Stadium is two hours away) and there’s no buzz. Those are three things that UConn has that our friends to the north don’t have. Also, UConn has Power 5 ties, and we think routinely scheduling home-and-homes with mid- and lower-level ACC, Big Ten and SEC teams is possible. Will we see Michigan ever again in East Hartford? No, but Illinois and Indiana are already on the schedule and Purdue is on tap. The entire ACC, outside of Florida State, Miami and Clemson, could also be doable. We don’t like two-for-ones, but if they are what it takes to get a marquee game in The Rent, so be it.
We also think home-and-homes with Boston College, Syracuse, and Rutgers would be an attractive rotation.
BALANCE IS KEY: What should UConn strive for between Power 5 and Group of 5 opponents? We’d prefer a schedule with a mix. For example, we want Temple on the calendar every year and wouldn’t mind seeing Navy quite often. Cincinnati? Why? UConn will never win there and we don’t see the rivalry. We are saying goodbye to Texas and Florida schools as options because they will be scared to come up north and encounter sub-50 degree temperatures. So, here’s the question — how much #MACtion can we handle?
The MAC has decent football, but no buzz, and we would like to see some MAC teams come to Storrs. They are likely easy gets and can bring an exciting brand of football at a level UConn can compete with on the field. The caveat? UConn is not playing on Tuesday nights.
NO BOWL GAMES: They aren’t happening. Yes. There are now games at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, and we know that those stadiums would like UConn to play there. But we don’t see how the Huskies can sneak into those games — they will be filled up by conference tie-ins. We could see UConn fill in as a bowl-eligible team in years where there aren’t enough teams over .500. If that’s the case, watch the bottom line on ticket sales.
BOTTOM LINE: This doesn’t quite ease the heartburn of the move back to the Big East. Right now, all we have read and heard is what’s possible. We can write a decent schedule on the back of a paper napkin at Ted’s on any day of the week. Can we get that plan on the field? Right now, the Huskies are sitting at the bar spitballing big dreams and what’s possible. Can the school execute on that vision? That is TBD, but we are willing to give the administration time. Just don’t lose our shirt or our football program.
Morning Read
THE GHOST OF CALHOUN! Our friends at ESPN have an excellent series going on about schools that have lost iconic coaches. Jim Calhoun, of course, only did the best building job in college sports history in Storrs. (ESPN)
UCONN LEFT BEHIND: The Athletic does a great job and did a great job here about what happened to UConn in realignment. If you are a glutton for pain, this is the story for you. (The Athletic)
STANFORD TAKES THE OVER!: ESPN’s Stanford Steve is taking the Huskies at over 1.5 wins. (ESPN)
DRE HAS AN ALBUM: We didn’t have the heart to listen to this, but former UConn center Andre Drummond has released an album, if that’s your thing. Where’s Shammon Tooles when you need him? (Instagram)
GRIFFIN SIGNS WITH JETS: Tight end Ryan Griffin has signed with the New York Jets. Griffin played six years of his career in Houston. (Pro Football Talk)
