Boy, the more I look at Pat White's numbers the more I am scared. He just seems superhuman in the college game. Vince Young was the most unstoppable player I have seen, but White can be as dangerous as anyone who has played the game the last 10 years. If you look at his career numbers he is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks to play.
White is probably a wide receiver in the NFL, but he is a falt out great college player. Why isn't he getting more Hesiman hype?
Per the Courant today, and reiterating what Runway Ramblings stated a couple of days ago, it looks like the Sun Bowl is out. Not surprised, UConn just hasn't been ranked high enough. You have to figure USF and Cincy both win, and if the Huskies lose, they will fall behind those two in the rankings.
Not incredibly fair because it is more when you lose than who, but that Cincinnati game really hurt UConn's credibility with poll voters. That will kick them down to the Car Care or even worse (doubt Charlotte passes them up).
For as brilliant as UConn has played this year, there hasn't been enough hype. Hype means little in actual results on the field, but not allowing media interview requests just takes the Huskies off the national radar (how are national media supposed to do stories if they can't talk to people? How are local media supposed to d0 stories with the same 5 guys every week?). Nationally, all people know about UConn is the Temple and Louisville games. That's gotten the most play. There isn't any buzz outside CT, there is no Huskies profile outside of the Nutmeg State (I didn't hear a mention of the Huskies on WFAN this week). And that is what generates poll votes. And, as we are seeing, polls matter.
They can make all this moot by winning, and I am certain there is a method to the madness and you do have to trust what got you here. But, when you are in a popularity contest, and not an athletic contest, you got to learn to "play the judges."
Chalk it up to a lesson learned.
3 comments:
John...as usual you write like alot of us feel.
But let me play devil's advocate.
If Randy does not keep the media away and the team is talking to all kinds of reporters do the kids lose their focus, something that appears to have been so important this year?
What if the media starts running with Tyler or Andre (like here in CT) and it starts to single them out? Does that take away from the "team" Randy has created?
If he does things differently would there be anything to write about if they don't win because of lost focus and individualism (is that a word)?
This year was so vital for Randy to get a winning record and get to a bowl I think he needed to be even more in control than usual. I think he loosens up next year.
Apparently the players say he's more relaxed with them.
Yes, you run the risk of that and have a good point. You have to have a balance, and it has to be a fine line. A team like Rutgers went overboard and now have egg on their face.
It's a young team and I am not criticizing Randy's strategy, though I think not being allowed to request players is frustrating to us (local media), especially the guys who are there everyday like myself and others. I talk to Randy more than my wife and child and the beat becomes your life. I would think that we would get a little more respect and appreciation for our hard work, but that ship sailed in major college sports a long time ago. We are a hassle that has to be managed I guess (But that is a media thing, so don't fret about us. If they want less coverage, then they are doing the right thing).
But, everything you do has consequences. I am confident Randy is doing everything he feels is necessary to win. But, if no one knows who the team is and all they remember is Temple and Louisville, and you want to remain off the grid, then you lose something when you are successful. Hype is a major part of college football.
There is a lot of money at stake, and whether UConn is the second best team in the Big East or not, they deserve to be treated as the second place team because they earned it.
It's hard to go 5-2. If they can't get into the Sun Bowl at 5-2, when will they ever?
Team needs to be a little more aggressive marketing itself. You have to create excitement regionally.
I am of the notion that positive independent publicity is never too much. You should do every interview you can. If you have a great story, tell it. That gets people emotionally attached to the team and drives interest and profile.
It's never about just winning. If it was, UConn would be going to the Sun Bowl with a loss tomorrow regardless.
Again...you nailed it right on. I can't get enough of the stories you guys put out.
But right now I'm enjoying the winning and will settle for less insight to the team.
Soon enough I hope he lightens up. Thanks again John.
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