We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

[Cheese2121]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

At least you got the win but that rushing attack and really the offense in general needs to get it together. Hopefully the bye week gives you some time to regroup. Looking good as always!

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Your offensive performance is horrific. The streak is in danger going into Big 12 play if you guys can't pull it together

At least you got the win but that rushing attack and really the offense in general needs to get it together. Hopefully the bye week gives you some time to regroup. Looking good as always!

Thanks guys. This is the first time I think we've had a problem with the rushing attack since season 1, and you're allowed a mulligan there anyhow.

The big problem is indeed becoming the line, which is really odd because we have 4 starters back from last year, the same line that allowed Josh Marriner to rack up 2000 yards. D-Ham isn't getting enough time to find the open men, and Johnson just isn't getting the holes he needs, he's not fast enough to run stretches and sweeps each play. Defenses have been blitzing us more, and 'Keel hasn't had any room to do anything.

We're working on it, I promise. Even if the overall win streak ends, I'm looking to keep that home win streak going. We aren't back home until we face Baylor in Week 7 (I think), then Kansas in week 9 or 10. Our harder games are all going to be on the road. Besides, being the pessimist I am, I wasn't calling for back to back at the start of the year. We'll see.

Again, thanks for checking in, as usual.

And if you haven't done so already, send in your CAC's!!! You have a week, sign up form on the last page. All you need to do is fill that out, I take care of the rest. Just don't make the names as long as Equanimeous St. Brown Sr. Haha.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Michigan A.D. Brandon stepping down in January; UConn A.D. Manuel top target


How does this affect Coach Diaco and his future at UConn?

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon has confirmed that he is stepping down from his post, effective January 1, 2019, per MLive.com.

Concerns had been growing since 2014 over Brandon's attitude toward fans and Michigan's traditions. Brandon declined interview, but university president Mark Schlissel said this is one of the big reasons for his departure.

Schlissel has indicated he will serve as interim athletic director, and intends to spearhead the search for a new A.D. He is hoping to have a replacement lined up by December.

"I'm more than happy to help out in the interim, but we need to find a replacement before the year is out. I have full confidence that we can bring in the best replacement possible. And the Michigan family wishes Dave all the best.

Schlissel did not indicate his top candidates, but all speculation leads to UConn A.D. and Michigan alum Warde Manuel as the obvious top candidate. Since 2014, UConn has doubled their budget and allowed for renovations on the XL Center in Hartford and other buildings around campus, while increasing performance on the football field by hiring Bob Diaco, who has in 4 years has taken UConn to the New Year's Six in 2016 and 2017, winning the national title in 2017.

Manuel declined comment.

----------------------------


How does this affect Coach Diaco?

After the past two offseasons being filled with musical chairs and rumors that Bob Diaco might be leaving UConn, they may be intensified if Manuel leaves.

Diaco has been granted virtually whatever he has needed to make the football program a success at UConn, and under someone other than Manuel that may change, and potentially be a turnoff. Diaco can opt out at any time after this season, and his current contract runs past 2020. No details were confirmed, but he is believed to be under contract through 2023.

Diaco has been entertaining offers from bigger schools such as USC and Alabama and NFL teams in the Vikings and Raiders in recent years, so the lure of complete power under someone new may bring Diaco somewhere else. The fact he had declined another extension last offseason doesn't help fans gain confidence.

We'll keep you posted as more information becomes available.

[whughes]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

IRL, I'm very happy with Michigan hiring Harbaugh. But in this dynasty, I wouldn't mind Diaco scooting over to the Big House. Not sure who the coach there is in this dynasty but they've had them in the top 25 pretty consistently the last few seasons, so Diaco to Michigan probably won't even be an option

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Other Notable Scores:

Rice 45, Northwestern 21
North Dakota St. 25, Kansas 18
Georgia Tech 42, Florida St. 21
Virginia Tech 29, Clemson 23
Georgia 35, Kentucky 18
TCU 49, FIU 28
Auburn 49, Alabama A&M 17
UMass 27, Indiana 21
Baylor 35, Duke 20
Stanford 49, Arizona St. 35
UCLA 41, Washington 17
Florida 44, Tennessee 27
Minnesota 34, Ohio St. 31
UCF 49, Texas 28
Ole Miss 52, Tulane 21
BYU 49, ECU 30
Cincinnati 35, Miami-OH 21
San Diego St. 38, UAB 3
San Jose St. 42, Iowa St. 21
Notre Dame 35, Miami-FL 24
West Virginia 38, Maryland 31
LSU 30, Texas A&M 24
Wyoming 31, Air Force 19

NCAA Players of the Week

UConn ST coordinator Bob Trebell (DrGravyBoat) and his Huskies won 21-12 over Boston College at Gillette Stadium to move to 4-0. They are on a bye and face Oklahoma St. on the road in Week 6.

Other CAC Results

Laurence Gilbert (OC, Syracuse, Mike7Vinas)

BYE (1-2, 0-1)

Week 5: vs. Georgia Tech (1-1, 1-0)


Tyrell Coley (OC, Rutgers, Knickerbocker91)

L (2-1), 17-48 vs. Iowa (2-1)

L. Wilson: 9-26, 114 yds, TD
J. Hicks: 14 rush, 99 yds, TD
C. Scarff: 3 rec, 25 yds

Week 5: @ Northwestern (1-2)


Sam Freday (OC, Bowling Green, RoundingThird)

L (2-1), 31-35 vs. Memphis (1-2)

C. Williams: 8-24, 148 yds, 2 TD, 14 rush, 40 yds, 2 TD
B. English: 18 rush, 100 yds
W. McNeal: 5 rec, 83 yds, 2 TD

Week 5: BYE


J.J. Mac (OC, UTEP, RedRaider10)

L (0-3) 32-42 vs. Colorado (3-0)

C. Samples: 12-27, 267 yds, 2 TD-3 INT, 16 rush, 57 yds
T. Irby: 10 rush, 48 yds, TD
S. Napier: 5 rec, 142 yds, TD

Week 5: vs. Western Kentucky (3-0, 1-0)


Brian Grant (OC, New Mexico St., LadiesandEdelman)

L (1-2) 14-42 vs. Arkansas (2-2)

N. Jeanty: 23-39, 232 yds, 2 TD-4 INT, 29 rush, 131 yds
C. McNeil: 10 rush, 55 yds
M. Shelton: 6 rec, 63 yds

Week 5: BYE


Dale Miller (OC, UL-Lafayette, glunsford)

L (0-2), 17-31 vs. UNLV (2-0)

J. Davis: 12-27, 164 yds, TD
A. Wilson: 21 rush, 102 yds, TD
T. Holland: 3 rec, 70 yds

Week 5: @ Texas Tech (3-0)

IRL, I'm very happy with Michigan hiring Harbaugh. But in this dynasty, I wouldn't mind Diaco scooting over to the Big House. Not sure who the coach there is in this dynasty but they've had them in the top 25 pretty consistently the last few seasons, so Diaco to Michigan probably won't even be an option

Hoke is still the coach. But I've gathered up some results from past seasons just so you can get some info here.

2014: 10-4, lost Fiesta Bowl to BYU -- B1G Champs
2015: 7-6, won Outback Bowl vs.. forgot to write that down. Doesn't really matter anyhow.
2016: 11-3, won Citrus Bowl vs. Florida. (Was ranked #2 before a loss in the B1G Title Game to Minnesota).
2017: 9-4, won AdvocareV100 Texas Bowl vs. BYU

And Hoke is off to a 3-0 start here. Barring an epic collapse (losing QB Shane Glover would be the likely reason), Hoke looks pretty safe, and he's done a solid job overall. Not sure how long this relative inconsistency can work for UM though.

Even if Manuel leaves for Michigan and Hoke is still there, it wouldn't exactly be earth shattering if Diaco left, especially for the NFL so he can have full control as he does here. Manuel has been a saint to him, I just can't see Diaco gelling with any other A.D. (or for that matter, anyone gelling with him, dude's crazy hyper in real life haha).

We'll see what happens at the end of the year. We've been coming up with these weird rumors for 3 seasons now, so for all I know this is just another tall tale and Diaco is still roaming the sidelines in Hartford come 2019.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Watts: "We are likely dropping UAB football after 2018"

At a press conference at school HQ in Birmingham this morning, UAB president Ray Watts uttered the words no fans in the area were anticipating hearing: "We are likely dropping UAB football after 2018."

Watts and school admin have yet to confirm the decision, but the end result is looking more and more accurate to the statement. UAB has been in financial trouble for the past several years and has been receiving very little support from the University of Alabama system over the past 10 years athletically.

Watts elaborated by stating the university really had two choices to improve the financial situation: cut football and save other sports, or cut several other sports to save football. He says "administration is still deliberating over what to do."

UAB is clearly up in arms as a school and community, as students and fans held protests calling for the firing of Watts, among other higher-ups in the Alabama university system, including trustee Paul Bryant Jr., who is believed to be the mastermind behind the financial troubles. Reports say he is forcing UAB to run the athletic department through him. Both Watts and Bryant Jr. declined to comment.


Country music star Sam Hunt, a former QB at UAB and Middle Tennessee St., took to twitter to say simply, "Free UAB", as did Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White, who holds multiple UAB receiving records.

UAB left Conference USA at the close of 2017 and is now independent in football, and is in the Sun Belt for all other sports. The Blazers finished 3-9 in 2016, and faded to 1-11 last year. Head coach Bill Clark was fired in December.

WR coach Larry Leonard was promoted to the head post in January, and has led the Blazers to a 1-2 start in 2018.

Clark eloquently said last year that they just needed to keep winning. Coach Leonard delivered a powerful statement upon hearing the news.

It's a shame that young men playing football for pleasure and grown men coaching for a living are being subjected to nonsense from talking heads. We'll keep doing what we're doing until they tell us to stop. We've had a good start, and perhaps we can rally around this. There's nothing we can do, just keep our heads up. And when the end comes, so be it.

Should UAB shutter their football program, it is believed the NCAA will pool FCS teams capable of moving to the FBS in attempts to make it financially possible to move up. Tennessee St., Texas Southern, Georgia Southern, Appalachian St., North Dakota St. and New Hampshire are among potential candidates to join the FBS in such a scenario.

[HARLEE23]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Question, if Diaco would leave I am assuming you would follow the new Head Coach at UConn right? Or would you focus on Diaco. The name leads me to believe UConn.


Also another great showing by my offense at UTSA!

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

NOTE: I messed up some of the next week's matchups in the CAC recap, so I got that fixed. Coach Coley, Gilbert, and Freday accidentally had their Week 6 games up, that is now fixed to reflect Week 5.

Question, if Diaco would leave I am assuming you would follow the new Head Coach at UConn right? Or would you focus on Diaco. The name leads me to believe UConn.


Also another great showing by my offense at UTSA!

Correct, we'd follow the new coach, whoever it may be. If the storyline unfolds so that Diaco leaves, I'd bring him to his new job and switch users to the new UConn coach, whoever the CPU selects. This is a UConn dynasty and strictly that.

The Thomas-Thomas connection is definitely working for you, and I'm glad to see you guys having some success after a rough year last year.

Hopefully you can keep it rolling against Buffalo!

[RoundingThird]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Thanks for giving something entertaining to read on vacation during the breaks I take from finishing the last of my school work before school starts.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Thanks for giving something entertaining to read on vacation during the breaks I take from finishing the last of my school work before school starts.

No problem.

Doing this is WAYYYYYYY more fun than AP Bio homework, trust me on that. I'll be finishing mine up tomorrow, and an extra week before school starts. Not sure what you have/had on your plate, but you definitely understand.

Looking forward to starting my new NCAA 'chise with our 2015 updated rosters off the record. If I find the time, I'd love to start posting that or a Madden 'chise....or maybe even a surprise NCAA dynasty....hmm. But this comes first!

[whughes]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

I'd love to see a Madden 'chise where maybe you follow Diaco to Oakland or Jacksonville. Maybe he can reunite with some of his former Huskies at the next level. Although then you'd be limited to Madden 25 to be able to import the classes, and that game sucks. But jus an idea

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

NCAA set to probe UConn for potential recruiting violations

Rourke target in pay for play investigation

Sam Rourke

Has it been a week for UConn, or what?

The blows keep coming for the Huskies football program.

Days after rumors surfaced that A.D. Warde Manuel may be headed to Michigan's vacant A.D. job, ESPN released an article today stating that the NCAA is slated to begin investigations into the UConn football program on Monday.

The investigation is going to be centered around accusations of UConn illegally paying recruits during visits, the most prominent being former blue-chip defensive end Sam Rourke from the class of 2017.

Reports from sources close to the program indicate that coach Bob Diaco and former defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter, who now holds the same post at Oklahoma, slipped Rourke $100 bills under the table during his recruiting process, and school admin gave Rourke $10,000 to come play for UConn. Also mentioned were promises of cars and other lavish gifts from boosters.

Rourke, coach Diaco and Poindexter declined to comment.

If the accusations are correct, and depending upon how many recruits were given benefits, Diaco could face a suspension or show cause penalty, a fine, or other discipline. UConn could face scholarship reduction and results from the 2017 and 2018 seasons stripped (including the 2017 National Championship), though that won't be discussed unless the accusations are confirmed and more details are released.

The investigation is slated to take "a few weeks", according to officials, and results will likely not be disclosed until the end of the season.

I'd love to see a Madden 'chise where maybe you follow Diaco to Oakland or Jacksonville. Maybe he can reunite with some of his former Huskies at the next level. Although then you'd be limited to Madden 25 to be able to import the classes, and that game sucks. But jus an idea

I'd much rather play M25 just because of the import class feature. Almost every Madden sucks in my eyes. FWIW, I love Madden 09's franchise mode on the PS2, but editing rosters isn't possible without an emulator and a Max drive (which I don't have). I'd love to do that though.

[RoundingThird]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

No problem.

Doing this is WAYYYYYYY more fun than AP Bio homework, trust me on that. I'll be finishing mine up tomorrow, and an extra week before school starts. Not sure what you have/had on your plate, but you definitely understand.

Looking forward to starting my new NCAA 'chise with our 2015 updated rosters off the record. If I find the time, I'd love to start posting that or a Madden 'chise....or maybe even a surprise NCAA dynasty....hmm. But this comes first!

How about APUSH and AP Calc (as a junior )? It's been rough, but I'm glad I'm on vacation, because I don't have the Xbox to use to procrastinate.

[Cheese2121]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Great articles and great reads. Would be very interesting to see you move to another program or an NFL one down the road. I am curious to see what direction you take with this.

On an unrelated note if anyone needs help with classes let me know. I use to tutor a lot of high school and undergraduate classes in the hard sciences. I got my bachelors in bio-engineering with minors in chemistry and english before I went on to veterinary school (third year vet student here; small animal pursuing a career in ER/trauma surgery). PM me if you need anything.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

UConn recruiting check-in

And now not at all purposefully, we head from a recruiting probe to....recruiting! Yeah that's really fitting, but UConn has some big targets on the board for the 2019 class. I'm fairly certain they are not being paid.

NOTE: None of these players have committed yet.





A guy UConn is really excited about is tailback J.P. Byers of Oklahoma. Byers does a bit of everything, and does everything well. Byers also has something only Ron Johnson has, size. At 6'2, 224, Byers will do just fine as an every down back.

Byers is also fielding offers from Virginia Tech, Purdue and TCU.

Other Tailback Targets:


#15 RB Mike Molden - 4*, 6'0, 207 lbs., Universal City, TX
TOP 3: UConn, Kansas, Arizona

The biggest (literally and talent-wise) target is 5-star Floridian athlete Graham Patterson. Patterson has played both ways, but will almost definitely be an offensive lineman in college. This is welcome news to Coach Diaco and staff, as the line has surprisingly struggled without three year starting left guard Trey Rutherford, who graduated in the spring. Patterson blends speed, athleticism and power wonderfully, and should be an anchor for years to come.

However, UConn has to fend off Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Wake Forest and South Alabama. This battle should stretch into the offseason.




Another potential option on the line is the 5th best tackle in this year's class, Kevin Jones. The Maryland native has fantastic size, but isn't much of a road grader, a rare finesse blocker with size. Though he excels in the pass game, UConn should have no problems converting Jones to be built for the run game.

Pitt and Navy are pushing for Jones' services as well. He is expected to make a decision before the end of the season.

Other Line Targets:


#52 G Lui May - 3*, 6'4, 259 lbs., Bowling Green, KY
TOP 3: UConn, Wisconsin, Iowa

#8 C Lawron Leak - 4*, 6'3 301 lbs., Irondequoit, NY
TOP 3: Navy, Army West Point, Rutgers

#10 G Antoinee MacDouger - 4*, 6'1 266 lbs., Alamo, TX
TOP 3: Air Force, UConn, Rice


Other Athlete Targets:


#26 ATH Marcus Rodgers - 4*, 6'4, 214 lbs., Westmont, IL
TOP 3: UConn, Arizona, Ball St.

#35 ATH Victor Curtis - 3*, 6'0 225 lbs., St. Joseph, MO
TOP 3: UConn, Oregon, North Carolina

Being thin on the defensive line, UConn is in need of help. 4* DT Jeremy Broadricke could fit that mold. Despite not having the bulk a nose tackle should in UConn's 3-4, Broadricke has the power and skills to fit a nose tackle mold if he can put on 10-20 pounds.

UConn is fighting off Broadricke's local schools in USC and UCLA, as with TCU.

Other D-Line Targets:


#11 DE Tedryan Duckley - 4*, 6'1, 241 lbs., Detroit, MI
TOP 3: Oklahoma St., TCU, UConn

#13 DT Brion Rowe - 4*, 6'2 325 lbs., Washington, DC
TOP 3: UConn, Kentucky, Oregon St.

UConn is looking to shore up the secondary with junior Derek Robinson gone after 2019 and a lot of top backups gone after 2018.

The two big prospects to build upon behind D-Rob, Ross Sinclair and Mike Stokes are Oregon's Sidnye Todolfson and Tony Rush.

Todolfson will almost certainly slide down to linebacker, but could play safety as needed. This is because of Todolfson's average speed, average zone coverage ability and above average tackling skills. However, Todolfson definitely has the height that UConn likes to employ in the secondary.

Rush, on the other hand, is destined to star at safety, and could even be slid in at nickel corner if necessary. He has good speed, and a sound tackling technique. He could use some work in coverage, but Rush has fantastic potential.

Other Linebacker Targets:


#6 LB Anthony Phelan - 4*, 6'3, 229 lbs., Lynbrook, NY
TOP 3: Syracuse, Pitt, Army West Point

Other Defensive Back Targets:

#15 CB Kallan Slaughter - 4*, 6'3 182 lbs., Petersburg, VA
TOP 3: Virginia, UConn, South Carolina

#22 CB Pico Swain - 3*, 5'11 174 lbs., Groves, TX
TOP 3: Purdue, UConn, Kansas

#23 CB Bryson Haynes - 3*, 6'3 171 lbs., Trussville, AL
TOP 3: BYU, UConn, South Carolina

#24 CB Shavlion Wade - 3*, 6'1 186 lbs., Union, PA
TOP 3: UConn, Kansas, Pitt

How about APUSH and AP Calc (as a junior )? It's been rough, but I'm glad I'm on vacation, because I don't have the Xbox to use to procrastinate.

Ouch. APUSH wouldn't be so bad for me (I'm an english/history guy, I've got AP American Lit in the spring), but math and science just make me want to puke sometimes haha. I'm a really bad procrastinator too, even if the PS3 isn't in reach. Good luck brotha!

Great articles and great reads. Would be very interesting to see you move to another program or an NFL one down the road. I am curious to see what direction you take with this.

On an unrelated note if anyone needs help with classes let me know. I use to tutor a lot of high school and undergraduate classes in the hard sciences. I got my bachelors in bio-engineering with minors in chemistry and english before I went on to veterinary school (third year vet student here; small animal pursuing a career in ER/trauma surgery). PM me if you need anything.

The articles mainly give us some substance during the bye week, but can and (likely) will assist in the progression of the story down the line.

And wow...that's very generous of you Cheese, thank you very much! And a very nice career choice, that's fantastic you're doing so well with the education. Sounds like it'll be well worth it down the line.

I'll tuck the offer in my back pocket for the time being...thanks again, very much.