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

[thesportsguru11]

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

UConn A.D. hunt: Saban, Edwards, Valentine emerging as favorites

What the hell does Nick Saban want in Hartford?!?!?!?!?!

UConn has trimmed their list of candidates for the vacant athletic director position to three, and all three may come as a surprise.

Two favorites remain in George Mason A.D. Brad Edwards and Sacred Heart A.D. (and former Red Sox and Mets manager) Bobby Valentine, but the other is a candidate no one expected: former LSU, Alabama, Michigan State and Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban.

Saban has never held an athletic director position, but has been contacted by several other schools, including LSU and Ole Miss, since announcing his retirement from coaching in December 2017. Saban has ties to the eastern part of the country, having grown up in West Virginia and graduated from Kent State in Ohio. He and his wife Terry currently live in West Virginia, right in the middle of modern Big 12 country.

Valentine has held his position at Sacred Heart since July 2013, with marginal success. However, Valentine knows the area well, with his hometown listed as Stamford, CT, a little under 90 minutes away from the UConn campus.

Edwards has the most experience as an A.D., being at George Mason since 2014 with stints at Newberry College and Jacksonville University prior. Edwards, a former Super Bowl Champion, has improved Mason’s economic situation and has turned a profit each of the last two academic years.

Cigna CEO David Cordani, a potential favorite, turned down an interview offer and will remain in his current role.

UConn president Susan Herbst has been handling the search and declined comment for the time being, not noting anything outside the three finalists. There is no word on when a selection will be made, but with the new academic year rapidly approaching, expect a formal announcement very soon.

And yes, Coach Bob Diaco has been handling the athletic director's duties in the interim. He had this to say:

You have to be absolutely frickin' crazy to take this job. I don't know why I wanted to do this haha. It has helped me realize that our athletic programs require a lot out of the director, and someone with good leadership skills needs to be in charge, and we have that in all three finalists. Nick and Bobby being former coaches and managers gives them good potential, and Brad having experience doing this shows that Mrs. Herbst has done a fantastic job so far. I'm looking forward to see who comes in.

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

Hey, you're still alive!

The way we've played IRL, I don't need to look here for fantasies anymore. In Bob we trust! Go ahead, start the '06 now!

Yeah, I'm still here!

As I said, I've been slowed a lot and will be even more soon. But with Veterans Day off tomorrow, maybe I can get something done.

You still are a win away, but I see where you're coming from. You're having a better season than us, that's for sure....

However, you guys are still behind South Florida in the East. If you recall, I said I'd quit the dynasty if you don't beat USF....

We'll see.

[RoundingThird]

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

Don't remind me about that USF game. That was dumb. We've hit rock bottom, and like Memphis, Temple, and Houston, we have the QB to bring us back.

[tquigley4]

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

Awesome dynasty Guru! I've been reading off and on now for a couple of months and I've finally caught up. Good luck in the 2019 season! I love the presentation and graphics you use, they're amazing. I realize you've taken a break recently, but hopefully you can get back at it! Can't wait for the upcoming season!

[thesportsguru11]

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

Awesome dynasty Guru! I've been reading off and on now for a couple of months and I've finally caught up. Good luck in the 2019 season! I love the presentation and graphics you use, they're amazing. I realize you've taken a break recently, but hopefully you can get back at it! Can't wait for the upcoming season!

Thanks for checking in bud. Glad to see you've enjoyed the 'chise, even if the activity has dwindled to almost nothing over the past six weeks. Very happy I've had the success and critical acclaim I've received in doing this project.

It's amazing this 'chise has been going on for almost a year (one year anny coming next week), but the past few weeks have allowed me to reevaluate a bit, so to say. Trust me, I'd like to resume the dynasty at some point (I've been really going out of mind so it would likely be a while before I do), but I'm at a good point here where if I don't want to/can't continue, or if I want to start something new, I have sort of an escape route -- something I can do to end this immediately without posting six games then leaving on a cliffhanger.

Of course, I'd love to keep going and try to win another national title, but we'll see what happens. I have had the first half of the 2019 season played out since October though....

[whughes]

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

As much it saddens me to say this, you could end this dynasty here and I wouldn't be too terribly upset about it. However with that being said, because of this dynasty I'm a follower of yours now and I'll read whatever you decide to post next (if you decide to post another dynasty at all).

[thesportsguru11]

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

UConn A.D. hunt: Valentine hired

Oh boy.

Current Sacred Heart A.D. and former Mets and Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine has been officially hired to replace Warde Manuel as the athletic director at UConn, announced at a press conference on August 19. Valentine beat out George Mason A.D. Brad Edwards and former Alabama, LSU and Michigan State head coach Nick Saban for the job.

UConn president Susan Herbst, in charge of the search, was "impressed by Mr. Valentine in his final interview, and ultimately we felt it was the right fit."

In his introductory press conference, Valentine said: "I am honored to be the new head of an athletic powerhouse.. in my home state no less. Warde left the school in great shape, and that helps make my job a bit easier. Now it's on me to help keep the level of performance at the highest we can keep it."

Valentine's hire comes with both pros and cons. Valentine has spent seven years as A.D. at in-state Sacred Heart, and calls his hometown Stamford, showing he knows the region and its people well. However, he was fired several times during his managerial career and his leadership skills have been called into question at points in his previous jobs.

Regardless, Coach Diaco and men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie have vocally supported their new boss, and "are eager to get to work", according to Coach Diaco.

It is sure to be an interesting ride.

[RoundingThird]

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

We have hope, oh wait, it's Bobby V...

[thesportsguru11]

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

2019 UConn Preview

And again, a call to Matt10 and MrRudy for the roster layout inspiration!

Roster

Schedule

We have hope, oh wait, it's Bobby V...

Maybe not the best hire, that is true. Edwards would have been the more favorable hire for Diaco, he would have sat back and gave Diaco whatever he wanted to stay forever and be more successful.

But at least with Bobby V we'll have more fake mustaches floating around the campus...That's a plus, right?

[RoundingThird]

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

That moment when you realize you're going to miss UConn's first bowl game in 5 years because you're going to be on a plane....

[tquigley4]

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

Awesome it's not dead! I'm looking forward to the 2019 season

[thesportsguru11]

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

2019 Preseason NCAA 1st Team All-Americans
Pos	Player Name	Ht	Wt	Year
QB	Barrett Merriman, Miami			Sr.
HB	Dontrell Marshall, USC			Sr.
HB	Obi Love, Georgia Tech			Sr.
WR	Justin Riley, Purdue			Sr.
WR	Shavaraion Massey, Florida State			Sr.
TE	Seth Greene, UL Monroe			Jr.
OL	Joe Stratton, Auburn			Sr.
OL	Jamaal Sparks, Nebraska			Sr.
OL	De'Shawn DeAngelis, Alabama			Sr.
OL	Courtney Johnson, Michigan			Sr.
C	Bobby Holt, Nevada			Sr.
DL	James Mays, Penn State			Sr.
DL	Sam Rourke, UConn			Jr.
DL	Adam Fichter, LSU			Jr.
DL	Mark Mayo, San Diego State			Sr.
LB	Marcus Bradford, UConn			Jr.
LB	Kenton Suber, USC			Sr.
LB	Jace Alton, Baylor			Sr.
CB	John Hubbard, Ohio State			Sr.
CB	Maurice Jenkins, Houston			Sr.
S	Ross Sinclair, UConn			Jr.
S	Derek Robinson, UConn			Sr.
K	Terry Bass, UCLA			Sr.
P	Harry Johnson, Arizona			Sr.
RS	Wayne Coley, Arkansas State			Sr.

2019 Big 12 Preseason 1st Team
Pos	Player Name	Ht	Wt	Year
QB	Ashton Overstreet, Oklahoma			Jr.
HB	Briyce Forrestal, Texas			Sr.
HB	Brian Glastele, Kansas State			Sr.
WR	Vanarius Barrett, TCU			Jr.
WR	Bryan Mandelle, West Virginia			Sr.
TE	Victor Barbour, Oklahoma			Sr.
OL	Josh Parrish, UConn			Sr.
OL	Porter Archer, West Virginia			Sr.
OL	Chris Hawkins, Baylor			Sr.
OL	Jamie Brown, Texas			Sr.
C	Chris Davis, Oklahoma State			Sr.
DL	Alton Steele, TCU			Sr.
DL	Sam Rourke, UConn			Jr.
DL	T.J. Newell, UConn			Sr.
DL	Leo Williams, TCU			Sr.
LB	Sammie Leonard, UConn			Jr.
LB	Marcus Bradford, UConn			Jr.
LB	Jace Alton, Baylor			Sr.
CB	Jerome Sololakas, Oklahoma			Sr.
CB	Maurice Jenkins, Houston			Sr.
S	Ross Sinclair, UConn			Jr.
S	Derek Robinson, UConn			Sr.
K	Michael Therman, Baylor			So.
P	Roger Wesley, TCU			Sr.
RS	Jeff McNeal, UConn			Jr.

Week 1 CAC Games

(If you aren't listed, you have a bye)

Max Crenshaw (OC, Central Michigan, whughes)

vs. Michigan State


Kaelyn Willingham (HC, Washington St., kswgrad2012)

vs. Wyoming


Spanky Westside (OC, UAB, Trevor3_2009)

@ Mississippi State


Bob Trebell (HC, Hawai'i, DrGravyBoat)

@ #24 Western Kentucky


Equanimeous St. Brown Sr. (OC, Middle Tennessee St., TheRosterMaster)

@ Vanderbilt

That moment when you realize you're going to miss UConn's first bowl game in 5 years because you're going to be on a plane....

That's too bad. But with the way UConn played this year (at least from the games I watched early in the season), I suspect there will plenty more bowl games in the future. Still a young team IIRC.

Awesome it's not dead! I'm looking forward to the 2019 season

With almost two weeks off for break, I'm going to try to get everything I have already played out (through Week 6 I believe) posted on here. Don't expect much activity after the holidays, unfortunately...I expect the 2019 season to be dragged out for quite a while. I think it will be around mid May/early June when I can get back to regular posting.

[Yankeesfan224]

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

best of luck this season. its good to see a lot of CT talent on your roster hopefully the real life uconn follows suit

[thesportsguru11]

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

best of luck this season. its good to see a lot of CT talent on your roster hopefully the real life uconn follows suit

Thanks bud. Indeed it is nice to have that home state advantage, we are the only FBS team in the state so we need to take advantage of whomever comes our way. I'm surprised, though, by the amount of recruits we're getting from states in the middle and western parts of the country. Nice to see our recruiting efforts are paying off all over the nation.

I don't know how good the talent coming out of Connecticut is in real life, but it'd be nice to see UConn win IRL with homegrown talent. BC has had to do that in past years, unfortunately there just isn't enough HS talent in Massachusetts (or for that matter, VT, NH, RI or Maine) to field a competitive FBS team anymore.

[thesportsguru11]

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

A fan's guide to 2019: Every FBS head coach

For reference, I have written down all 126 (or whatever it is) coaches of each FBS team, organized by conference. I know whughes has questioned about this in the past, and here it is!

Additionally, I have a list of noteworthy coordinators, as in head coaches you've probably heard of or others who are strong head coaching candidates (excluding CAC's). I'll be putting this in the table of contents once I get caught up. If you have any questions (who a guy is, what school he came from before his current job, etc.), please ask! Enjoy!

ACC:

Virginia Tech - Lane Kiffin
Miami-FL - Al Golden
Duke - David Cutcliffe
North Carolina - Larry Fedora
Georgia Tech - Paul Johnson
Virginia - Josh Conklin

Boston College - Mike Cummings
Wake Forest - Dave Clawson
NC State - Bo Pelini
Florida State - Jimbo Fisher
Clemson - Dabo Swinney
Louisville - Brian Rock
Pitt - Kurt Roper
Syracuse - Skip Holtz


B1G:

Michigan - Brady Hoke
Wisconsin - Gary Andersen
Penn State - James Franklin
Ohio State - Urban Meyer
Iowa - Kirk Ferentz
Minnesota - Jerry Kill
Illinois - Tim Beckman
Michigan State - Mark Dantonio
Purdue - Travis Bush
Northwestern - Pat Fitzgerald
Indiana - Bob Shoop
Nebraska - Scott Frost
Maryland - Scott Shafer
Rutgers - Steve Spurrier Jr.


Big 12:

Iowa State - Paul Rhoads
Kansas - Mike Stoops
Kansas State - Trent Miles
Texas - Charlie Strong
Oklahoma - Bob Stoops
Oklahoma State - Mark Hudspeth
Baylor - Art Briles
Texas Tech - Nick Howell
West Virginia - Bill Legg
TCU - Gary Patterson
UConn - Bob Diaco
Houston - Tony Levine


Pac-12

USC - Quinn Shea
UCLA - Jim Mora
Cal - Ron Turner
Oregon State - Jay Johnson
Oregon - Mark Helfrich
Arizona State - Todd Graham
Arizona - Rich Rodriguez
Stanford - Bud Foster
Washington - Chris Petersen
Washington State - Kaelyn Willingham
Utah - Scot Loeffler
Colorado - Don Pellum


SEC:

Florida - Will Muschamp
Georgia - Mark Richt
Tennessee - Marty English
South Carolina - Tyson Summers
Kentucky - Kirby Smart
Vanderbilt - Garrick McGee
Missouri - Gary Pinkel
Texas A&M - Jeff Ulbrich
LSU - Sterlin Gilbert
Auburn - Gus Malzahn
Alabama - Blake Anderson
Arkansas - Lorenzo Ward
Ole Miss - Hugh Freeze
Mississippi State - Dan Mullen


AAC:

UCF - Mike Denbrock
Tulane - Steve Addazio
Tulsa - Bill Blankenship
Temple - Matt Rhule
USF - Willie Taggart
Army West Point - Jeff Monken
Cincinnati - Matt Limegrover
ECU - Pete Lembo
Marshall - Mike Locksley
Memphis - Justin Fuente
Navy - Ken Niumatalolo
SMU - Robert Anae


C-USA

Old Dominion - Doug Meacham
FAU - Randy Sanders
Western Kentucky - Kyle Flood
FIU - Kevin Sumlin
Louisiana Tech - Dan Enos
Middle Tennessee State - Walt Bell
Southern Miss - Brian Polian
North Texas - Dan McCarney
UTSA - Kevin Kelly
Texas State - Dennis Franchione
Rice - Kirk Ciarrocca
UTEP - Buster Faulkner


Indies:

Notre Dame - Brian Kelly
BYU - Bronco Mendenhall
UMass - Hank Hughes
UAB - Larry Leonard


MAC:

Akron - Terry Bowden
Kent State - Bobby Wilder
Ohio - Luke Fickell
Buffalo - Jeff Quinn
Bowling Green - Noel Mazzone
Miami-OH - Ted Roof
Western Michigan - Greg Davis
NIU - P.J. Fleck
Toledo - Tim Albin
Eastern Michigan - Chris Creighton
Ball State - Bobby Wise
Central Michigan - Doug Martin


Mountain West:

Wyoming - Rick Stockstill
Colorado State - Jim McElwain
Boise State - Bryan Harsin
New Mexico - Bob Davie
Air Force - Troy Calhoun
Utah State - Keith Patterson
Fresno State - Tim DeRuyter
San Diego State - Pat Narduzzi
San Jose State - Pete Kwiatkowski
Hawai’i - Bob Trebell
Nevada - Tommy Tuberville
UNLV - Tyrone Nix


Sun Belt:

Arkansas State - Jeff Brohm
Georgia State - Charlie Partridge
New Mexico State - Demetrius Carpenter
ULM - Mike London
UL-Lafayette - Tony Gibson
South Alabama - Joe Cauthen
Idaho - Paul Petrino
Troy - Lance Leipold


Notable OC’s:

Pitt - David Shaw
Virginia Tech - Gregg Brandon
NC State - Paul Wulff
Louisville - Darrell Hazell
BC - Clay Helton
Clemson - Chad Morris
Iowa - Butch Jones
Minnesota - Steve Sarkisian
Wisconsin - Paul Chryst
Nebraska - Dino Babers
Illinois - Todd Monken
Michigan - Doug Nussmeier
Ohio State - Tom Herman
West Virginia - Mike Leach
UConn - Bill Cubit
Kansas State - Sean Kugler
Houston - Joey Jones
Baylor - Philip Montgomery
Oklahoma - Josh Heupel
Oklahoma State - Kurt Warner
Texas Tech - Joey Lynch
Navy - Karl Dorrell
Marshall - Kevin Wilson
Tulane - Neal Brown
Tulsa - Lincoln Riley
Old Dominion - Mike Bajakian
UTSA - Ivin Jasper
BYU - Kliff Kingsbury
Notre Dame - Kevin Brown
Kent State - Todd Berry
Western Michigan - Dave Christensen
Buffalo - Jeff Jagodzinski
Boise State - Mike Sanford
Cal - Bobby Petrino
Colorado - Doc Holliday
Stanford - Darrell Dickey
Arizona State - Matt Wells
UCLA - Ron Caragher
Oregon State - Curtis Johnson
Arizona - Calvin Magee
Oregon - Andy Ludwig
USC - Brian Scott
Utah - Sonny Cumbie
Washington - Jonathan Smith
Alabama - Mike Gundy
Tennessee - Mark Mangino
Florida - Dana Holgorsen
Arkansas - Charlie Weis
Texas A&M - Rod Carey
Missouri - Matt Campbell
LSU - Cam Cameron
Auburn - Rhett Lashlee
Georgia - Mike Bobo
South Carolina - Tyson Helton
Vandy - Mike Norvell
Arkansas State - Sonny Dy.kes
UL Monroe - Ryan Day


Defensive Coordinators:

VA Tech - Randy Edsall
Georgia Tech - Mike Riley
NC State - Bobby Hauck
Clemson - Brent Venables
Michigan State - Bret Bielema
Maryland - Ruffin McNeill
Nebraska - Nick Holt
Minnesota - Tracy Claeys
Michigan - Greg Mattison
Ohio State - Dave Steckel
Penn State - Ellis Johnson
TCU - Dave Doeren
Baylor - Phil Bennett
Houston - Craig Bohl
Oklahoma State - Mark Stoops
UConn - Barry Odom
Oklahoma - Anthony Poindexter
Temple - Tom Masella
FIU - Mark Snyder
MTSU - John Chavis
ND - Brian VanGorder
Colorado State - Brent Guy
Oregon - Kyle Whittingham
Stanford - Chuck Bullough
Utah - Dave Aranda
Ole Miss - Mike MacIntyre
Georgia - Chuck Martin
Texas A&M - Paul Haynes
South Carolina - Derek Mason
Alabama - Jeremy Pruitt
Auburn - D.J. Eliot
Florida - D.J. Durkin
Vanderbilt - Don Brown
ULM - Dave Bailiff

[thesportsguru11]

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

NCAA Players of the Week

Week 1 CAC Games

(If you aren't listed, you had a bye)

Max Crenshaw (OC, Central Michigan, whughes)

L (0-1), 35-45 vs. Michigan State (1-0)

D. Wood: 21-37, 215 yds, 4 TD
C. Stith: 13 rush, 61 yds, TD
D. Grant: 4 rec, 80 yds, TD


Kaelyn Willingham (HC, Washington St., kswgrad2012)

L (0-1), 14-38 vs. Wyoming (1-0)

C. Hill: 19-42, 276 yds, 2 TD
B. Larson: 3 rec, 60 yds, TD
J. Neltren: 11 tckl


Spanky Westside (OC, UAB, Trevor3_2009)

L (0-1), 11-28 @ Mississippi State (1-0)

C. Stovall: 5-17, 50 yds
D. Clark: 22 rush, 113 yds
C. Rosario: Rec TD


Bob Trebell (HC, Hawai'i, DrGravyBoat)

W (1-0), 38-10 @ #24 Western Kentucky (0-1)

M. Bryant: 20-32, 265 yds, 2 TD
F. Cantana: 19 rush, 131 yds
K. Rega: 7 rec, 139 yds, TD
B. Landrum: 10 tckl


Equanimeous St. Brown Sr. (OC, Middle Tennessee St., TheRosterMaster)

L (0-1), 13-35 @ Vanderbilt (1-0)

W. Johnson: 16-35, 158 yds, TD, 3 INT
B. Kennedy: 20 rush, 100 yds
K. Nelson: 6 rec, 38 yds


*Full CAC Week 2 lineup to come later*

*Note from the Author:* Let me know what you guys are thinking about the Around the NCAA layout. The only things to note for now is that I will be tracking movement in the Top 25 starting next week and that the normal CAC graphic will return next week when we all have games.