The UConn Blog: FanPosts

Heading in the Right Direction-UCONN Hockey

2013-05-15T20:06:03Z

UCONN Hockey is heading in the right direction. As this past season will attest finishing fourth in the Atlantic Hockey conference at 19-14-4, UCONN has already shown flashes that with a plan in place, moving forward is a priority. Dave Berard who was at the helm for most of the year as the Interim head coach was recently replaced by BC assistant Mike Cavanaugh. For those of you that don't follow college hockey, BC has been at the pinnacle of D-1 hockey for the last decade and beyond. They along with Boston University have ruled the Hockey East conference. It is important to point out that without scholarships to give out, the hockey program struggled mightily. Now with our invitation to Hockey East the University will be offering scholarships on a yearly basis starting with enrollment this fall. Our maximum scholarship players will be at 20. There is also an agreement in place with Hockey East that a new facility will be under contract by 2016. This is important for many reasons. Just like in any major sport the facility can help land the blue chip recruit. Of course the coach has more of an impact (Calhoun started with nothing) but with state of the art facilities it makes the coaches job easier. What the hockey program will need is total support from the state. With the men's basketball program back on track and the football program making strides we need to back hockey. This past season the huskies played Air Force at the XL center before a whale game. The game was very competitive however with only a few hundred fans in attendance the center seemed like a graveyard. Pass the word along to go out and learn about hockey so we can support this team on their way to Hockey East. We have kicked BC around in Basketball and I'm sure lately we could destroy them in football. Now is the time to get on the bandwagon and watch them creep up on BC dominance in Hockey. Enjoy

Daniel Hamilton Commits to Huskies

2013-05-14T19:54:22Z

Daniel Hamilton a 6-6 guard/wing from Los Angeles and rated no. 27 among all high school juniors,commits to UCONN. He will be pared up in the backcourt with Rodney Purvis, who transfers from NC State. Hamilton Tweeted "Ya boy, just committed to Connecticut," Hamilton tweeted at 12:06 a.m. Eastern Time. "#huskyguard can’t wait." Kevin Oliie grew up in LA and may have a little inside track on the LA scene. Ollie certainly turned out to be an excellent coach and it also looks like he will be an excellent recruiter.

Daniel Hamilton 2014 St. John Bosco (CA) at the Adidas Invitational (via PrepHoopsTV)

Our Interview With Star Recruit, Kentan Facey

2013-05-03T23:07:21Z

Real Radio spoke with UConn's star recruit for the 2013-14 Huskies squad and asked about his decision to come to UConn as well as his plans for the future. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to 6'9" power forward, Kentan Facey! You may not know his name now, but you will soon enough. I can promise you that!

Check out the full interview by hitting the link below:

http://www.realradioblog.com/2013/05/our-time-with-star-uconn-recruit-kentan.html

Check out the full interview by hitting the link below:

http://www.realradioblog.com/2013/05/our-time-with-star-uconn-recruit-kentan.html

BREAKING NEWS: Shabazz Napier will be returning for his senior year at UConn

2013-04-26T16:42:18Z

BREAKING NEWS:

Shabazz Napier will be returning for his senior year at UConn. Check out the story at Real Radio. More details coming soon! This according to sources at the University of Connecticut. Napier developed into a talented guard, and more importantly, a reliable leader last season, and I'm excited to see what he can do with one more year under his belt. More details coming soon.

Full Story: http://www.realradioblog.com/2013/04/breaking-news-shabazz-returning-for-his.html

Turning the page to 2013-2014: UConn Basketball Preview

2013-04-15T23:21:42Z

The 2012-13 UConn basketball season may be over, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year. Well, perhaps it is, but that's not going to stop me from doing it anyway.

From departures and key returning players, to a break down of the newcomers, On Campus Sports is providing UConn fans with a way too early preview of the 2013-14 Huskies. Personally, I think we have all the tools to make a deep tournament run next year. Agree? Disagree? I encourage you to check out our analysis and weigh in with your own opinions! Hit the link below to see my full analysis.

2013-2014 UConn Basketball Preview: http://oncampussports.com/2013/04/turning-the-page-to-2013-2014-uconn/

The 2012-13 UConn basketball season may be over, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year. Well, perhaps it is, but that's not going to stop me from doing it anyway.

2013-2014 UConn Basketball Preview: http://oncampussports.com/2013/04/turning-the-page-to-2013-2014-uconn/

A Different Take on the UConn Rebranding

2013-04-15T16:00:27Z

It is not my intention to write something here that just rails against UConn for the new logo and rebranding efforts. There is enough one-sided criticism out there. While I certainly do have my criticisms, it also must be acknowledged what they did well, and yes, they did do some things well.

To start off, I absolutely love the initial UConn wordmark. I know it is based off a font that was created close to ten years ago, but I really like how clean it is. Previously, I had mixed feelings about the use of that lettering. I liked how it was unique to UConn, but I felt like the school had a tendency to clutter them up with unnecessary outlines thus making it feel too bulky. If they can keep that wordmark clean, then I would love to see them throw it on a jersey similar to the throwbacks the men wore in 2006.

Additionally, I like that we are standardizing how UConn athletics will represent the school. No more will we see the Baseball team , Football team and Men's and Women's basketball teams each with their own branding. I always found that odd, especially the variation in the Men's and Women's Basketball. These were two of the top programs in the country for each gender, playing the same sport, what better opportunity to promote the school brand than to unify their looks. This will finally rectify that.

As for the Jonathan logo, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I think it is well designed. It is fairly simple and clean as a standalone logo. I like that it is not overly aggressive. In fact, it was pointed out to me that if you cover up mouth on the old Jonathan and new Jonathan, the eyes on the old Jonathan actually may be more aggressive. I think the tongue disperses any aggression the eyes may portray but it was an interesting observation nonetheless. However, when paired with the UConn wordmark, the red outline needs to go. It is unnecessary, starts making the wordmark feel bulky again and only detracts from the logo.

Yet that said, I don't like the logo... for UConn. Don't get me wrong, I like the logo itself, just I do not think it is good for this school. It does bother me that he is not all white now, considering all the live Jonathans always are, but I will not devote much space to that, that really is a secondary issue to me. Of more concern to me is that it feels too generic. My first reaction was that it is the love puppy of the Washington Huskies and New Mexico Lobos. After giving it a day and returning to it, I thought it reminded me of a cleaned up version of the Minnesota Timberwolves logo (and their old logo too).

That to me is the biggest problem, it just is too similar to many other logos. To me if you are rebranding here, you are trying to further position this school as a national brand. Using the UConn typeface was a good first step because there really is not much out there like it. However, the logo kind of feels like one of the generic ones you find in older Madden games (2004-2006 era) when you want to move your team to a new city.

Really though, why does Jonathan even have to be the basis for the logo? Look at some of the major national brands in college sports. Some do use their mascot as the basis for their logo, but a lot of them do not. Look at the most dominant teams of the past 15 years in basketball (UNC, Kansas, Duke, Kentucky) and football (USC, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Miami, Oregon, Texas). Look at some of the other classic programs that are national brands (Notre Dame, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska). How many of them use their mascot as their primary logo? How many of their logos are instantly recognizable?

Now maybe I am off base here and those logos have brand recognition because of the long term success these schools have achieved. Maybe all that needs to happen is that UConn continues to win, play deep into March each year and improve their football team. Or maybe, the all white Jonathan already has that. Maybe since UConn has been a Men's and Women's basketball powerhouse for the past 20+ years with one form of Jonathan or another as the basis for their logo, it already is gaining that notoriety. If that is the case, why run away from it? Embrace it, tweak it like they did the last time, and continue the brand, rather than trying to create a new one.

But if they really want to rebrand, there are better options out there. UConn already has an interlocking UC logo they can make more prominent. It is already on the Men's shorts, and you find it on some of their other gear as well. Personally, I have always felt that logo was underutilized. If they really want to rebrand, make that the focus. You can keep a form of Jonathan around, but make it a secondary logo, much like Notre Dame does with their Irishman or Kentucky with their Wildcat. This better compliments the wordmark, feels less like a mid-major logo than the new Jonathan and more like one of the powerhouse logos as demonstrated above.

UConn needs to be thinking big picture now, how to promote themselves as a national brand. On the one hand the school does a good job of that by consolidating sports brands and standardizing their athletics to be known as UConn (as opposed to Connecticut). Unfortunately, I just think the new logo is off the mark in that regard.

Husky History Countdown

2013-04-12T20:33:57Z

What an interesting year it has been for the Huskies. Between conference realignment, NCAA violations, a new coach, and now a new logo, UConn has made a number of changes recently. The one thing you can't change, however, is the history of the program. To celebrate this rich, albeit short, history, I have thrown together a list of the top five players and top five teams to ever have worn the uniform. I encourage you to check out this list and comment with your own opinions, whether you agree or disagree with my selections.

My name is Nick Rizner and I'm the founder and sole author of Real Radio, a blog that focuses on the intellectual side of music, television, and sports. If you like my article, I strongly encourage you to check out the rest of my work. I am the author of every post on the site and stand by their quality. Anyway, let's get right to the list. Check it out by hitting the link below!

The Countdown: http://www.realradioblog.com/2013/04/real-sports-husky-history-countdown.html

Michigan vs. Louisville: Who ya got?

2013-04-09T00:55:35Z

We're less than an hour away from the National Championship game and I want to know who UConn fans are pulling for. On one hand, Michigan ended Syracuse's hopes at a 2nd National Title. On the other hand, Louisville is a Big East rival who kept the Orange from becoming the champs of the final Big East Tournament. So who do you want to take it all? Vote now by hitting the link below!

Vote Now!

UConn Recruits Competing in NYC Mayor's Cup Basketball All-Star Games

2013-03-28T20:21:27Z

The best high school basketball players in NYC will meet in the NYC Mayor's Cup Basketball All-Star Games on Friday, April 5th at Baruch College in Manhattan.

At 7pm future Huskies, Terrence Samuel and Jordan Fuchs will square off while leading a team of all-stars representing NYC's Public and Catholic High School leagues.

This event will mark the first time in over 50 years that the two leagues will face each other in an officially sanctioned all-star basketball game. Click here for the full rosters (.pdf)

More information about the games can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/nycmayorscup.

The best high school basketball players in NYC will meet in the NYC Mayor's Cup Basketball All-Star Games on Friday, April 5th at Baruch College in Manhattan.

At 7pm future Huskies, Terrence Samuel and Jordan Fuchs will square off while leading a team of all-stars representing NYC's Public and Catholic High School leagues.

This event will mark the first time in over 50 years that the two leagues will face each other in an officially sanctioned all-star basketball game. Click here for the full rosters (.pdf)

More information about the games can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/nycmayorscup.

Trolls need to get flu vaccine

2013-02-26T17:45:10Z

Trolls are required by Federal Government to get H1N1 vaccine. As a fellow troll there are vaccinations in the back alley behind Walgreens by homeless guys. You need to pay them 20 dollars and they will reuse their needles. You will get a free prostitude of your choice if you come in and get the vacine by march 1st, 2013. The virus is deadly and will experience coughing blood and your stool will be bloody if not treated, death will follow. Do it for your fellow troll.

You guys are filled with cuteness

2013-02-23T00:17:34Z

You guys are like babies, just keep on getting cuter and cuter. This is an absolutely adorable blog and a community, I think of all the cuteness with other blogs and you guys are up there. You guys are the Anthony Peeler Of cuteness its so adorable its almost funny. Thank from the bottom of my heart for being so cute. Rockmnation is also adorable and I wish I could join and talk about their cuteness but they banned me, which makes me really sad.

JEFF ADRIEN, NBASSOCIATION STARTER

2013-01-29T13:03:54Z

Current UConn specter of competent post play and former power forward Jeff Adrien got his first NBA start last night.

He scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds. And blocked two shots. And he assisted a score. I didn't watch the game, but he probably also talked some shit to Carlos Boozer.

Jeff Adrien was not drafted. He has been waived three times, once to make room for Acie Law. He once was traded for Garret Temple. Since 2009, he has played for ten different teams and in four different countries. He is the 2011 D-League impact player of the year.

Jeff Adrien got his first-ever NBA start and precisely matched his senior year average at UConn: 14 and 10.

Here is a comment from last night's game thread over at Rufus on Fire, the SBNation Bobcats blog:

"Adrien just tried to eat babies."

-Aisander D on Jan 28, 2013 7:17 PM PST reply actions

Current UConn specter of competent post play and former power forward Jeff Adrien got his first NBA start last night.

He scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds. And blocked two shots. And he assisted a score. I didn't watch the game, but he probably also talked some shit to Carlos Boozer.

"Adrien just tried to eat babies."

-Aisander D on Jan 28, 2013 7:17 PM PST reply actions

Thoughts On Newtown

2012-12-16T08:44:36Z

On Friday, a tragedy struck beyond the abilities of us to comprehend. It would have been an unspeakable tragedy no matter where it occurred, but as it so happened, the tragedy occurred here, in our state, in our community.

I’ve spent time in Newtown- it’s a beautiful place, with every New England stereotype you can imagine, and incredibly kind people. Sandy Hook Elementary School was like any other school across our state, across our country. It was a safe haven, where young minds were being shaped for a bright future by adults who are among the best of us, people who wanted nothing more than to make a positive difference in the world. It was a place for the laughter of children, the feeling of hope, a place where nothing could possibly go wrong..

Then came Friday, ten terrifying minutes of senseless violence that changed everything forever.

Ed Mahony and Dave Altimari of the Hartford Courant authored a definitive description of those ten terrifying minutes. It is a brilliant piece of reporting, and one that’s nearly impossible to read.

Lauren Rousseau had her life all falling into place. She had recently landed a permanent job as a full-time substitute teacher at Sandy Hook. A Danbury native, she was working on her master’s at the University of Bridgeport. Rousseau had spent the previous six weeks filling in for another teacher who was on maternity leave. The gunman entered Rousseau’s classroom and murdered all 15 people in the classroom.

Rousseau completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Connecticut.

Brian Engel is an alumnus of the University of Connecticut. Brian was a member of the UConn Marching Band while a student. Brian and his wife Shannon had a beautiful daughter, Olivia, who was one of the children who died. Dr. David Mills, head of the UCMB, passed along the terrible news via Facebook, as well as a link to the Friends of the Engel Family Fund page, which has been established to help pay for Olivia’s final expenses. Paying for your child’s funeral is the worst expense I can imagine, and it is one expense that the Engel Family should not have to bear.

As the stories came out, with the UConn connections, I had other thoughts. Did we share classes? Did our paths ever cross? Was anyone I knew affected? Why did they have to suffer such an unspeakable tragedy? I’ve tried to stop asking these questions, because there are no good answers, and it will just drive me mad.

The reality is that twenty children, aged six and seven, are gone. They would have grown up to be teachers, doctors, leaders, with children of their own. Now they’re gone, and we don’t know why.

But in these dark times, when it seems that maybe the Mayans were right, that there’s nothing left to believe in, there are still heroes. There are the six incredible adults who died protecting the children of others, whom they loved as if they were their very own. Without their bravery and quick-thinking, the death toll could have been far worse.

Dawn Hochsprung had done everything she could to protect her students as the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary. When she heard the commotion of the murderer storming the halls, she tried to subdue him and stop the violence. Hochsprung had a bachelor’s from Central Connecticut State University and a master’s from Southern Connecticut State University.

Victoria Soto died exhibiting bravery that is almost inconceivable. She hid her students in a closet and faced the murderer herself. The murderer demanded to know where her students were. She attempted to divert him to the other end of the school, saying they were in the auditorium. Soto died protecting her students, seven of whom were later found by police holed up in that closet, saved only by her actions. Soto had a bachelor’s from Eastern Connecticut State University and was pursuing her master’s at Southern.

Central Connecticut State University. Eastern Connecticut State University. Southern Connecticut State University. The University of Bridgeport. The University of Connecticut. These, and countless other schools and communities around our state/region have been touched by this tragedy. These are our friends, our families, our neighbors, our sons, our daughters. Gone.

There are memorial services and vigils being held across Connecticut over the coming days. The Courant has an excellent map listing the details of these services. In Storrs, there is a candlelight vigil on Sunday night at 6 PM in front of the Mansfield Town Hall, located on South Eagleville Road, right next to campus.

For over a year, we’ve talked about conference realignment, and footprints, and market value, and TV rights, and none of it matters in the grand scope of life. It didn’t matter before Friday, it didn’t matter on Friday, and it hasn’t mattered since. Seven institutions, supposedly of a religious background, decided that a press release concerning their own athletic futures could not wait through the weekend. The timing of their decision is unfathomable to me, the logic behind it known only to those institutions, their leaders and their faith.

There are debates to be had about those things, about the schedules of when schools will bounce and throw balls at what time and against whom in what year and for what. Those frivolous debates will be overshadowed in the coming days and months with news of funerals for children and educators, a debate over gun control, over mental health, and other serious matters.

The University of Connecticut has a very important role to play. As those important debates go on, the school remains the public face of Connecticut. Properly remembering Sandy Hook is the primary concern (I’m all-aboard with the idea of having the basketball teams wear the Newtown High School uniforms at least once, plus a patch all year). Maybe these trivial games can serve as a distraction from all the sadness and chaos that envelops us. For a couple of hours, they can provide us a chance to get worked up over things that are ultimately meaningless. Maybe that’s myopic.

For now, there is only a profound sadness, filled with the wish that there was a way to go back to the way things were before Friday. The knowledge that we cannot do so only makes the grief stronger.

The Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary:

Charlotte Bacon, 6

Daniel Barden, 7

Rachel Davino, 29

Olivia Rose Engel, 6

Josephine Gay, 7

Ana M Marquez-Greene, 6

Dylan Hockley, 6

Dawn Hochsprung, 47

Madeleine F Hsu, 6

Catherine V Hubbard, 6

Chase Kowalski, 7

Jesse Lewis, 6

James Mattioli, 6

Grace McDonnell, 7

Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Emilie Parker, 6

Jack Pinto, 6

Noah Pozner, 6

Caroline Previdi, 6

Jessica Rekos, 6

Avielle Richman, 6

Lauren Rousseau, 30

Mary Sherlach, 56

Victoria Soto, 27

Benjamin Wheeler, 6

Allison N Wyatt, 6

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Then came Friday, ten terrifying minutes of senseless violence that changed everything forever.

Rousseau completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Connecticut.

The reality is that twenty children, aged six and seven, are gone. They would have grown up to be teachers, doctors, leaders, with children of their own. Now they’re gone, and we don’t know why.

For now, there is only a profound sadness, filled with the wish that there was a way to go back to the way things were before Friday. The knowledge that we cannot do so only makes the grief stronger.

The Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary:

Charlotte Bacon, 6

Daniel Barden, 7

Rachel Davino, 29

Olivia Rose Engel, 6

Josephine Gay, 7

Ana M Marquez-Greene, 6

Dylan Hockley, 6

Dawn Hochsprung, 47

Madeleine F Hsu, 6

Catherine V Hubbard, 6

Chase Kowalski, 7

Jesse Lewis, 6

James Mattioli, 6

Grace McDonnell, 7

Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Emilie Parker, 6

Jack Pinto, 6

Noah Pozner, 6

Caroline Previdi, 6

Jessica Rekos, 6

Avielle Richman, 6

Lauren Rousseau, 30

Mary Sherlach, 56

Victoria Soto, 27

Benjamin Wheeler, 6

Allison N Wyatt, 6

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Enough.

2012-12-14T17:50:05Z

Sometimes the writing is on the wall. My reading of the situation is that from where we stand at this very moment, we have a great opportunity to be picked up by the ACC, and a plausible chance to be picked up by the B10. I also believe that neither of these things will happen, that Uconn football will be comparable to non-power conference Div 1 football, that this future is all but guaranteed not by our position today but by our leadership going into the future, and that our leadership is okay with that situation.

I lay-out my argument for this below. It's based on 6 points:

1) The Big 10 is motivated by TV markets and a fear of leaking viewership as the population density continues away from the B10 states.

2) The ACC is motivated by a fear of football inferiority brought on by years of under-performance and a growing secondary status in the power conference hierarchy.

3) The B12 is relatively stable and un-reactive. Their greatest concern is stability and ensuring their current members do not exit.

4) The SEC is stable and has no apparent motivation to expand unless significant value can be brought in from elsewhere.

5) The power 5 conferences will reap enormous and disproportionate rewards from the BCS playoff system as well as TV contracts- many times more than any school in a non-power 5.

6) Any school not in a power 5 conference will not be able to compete in a meaningful way. A relative lack of funds will result in relatively poor facilities. A relative lack of strong competition will result in a relative lack of viewership and fans. A relative lack of status will result in a relative lack of ability to recruit top talent.

Okay, so if you accept that these above points are more or less true then read on.

Almost everyone accepts that the most likely scenario moving forward is further conference alignment. This is most likely to occur through further B10 expansion. Either they raid the ACC, or perhaps grab another BEast team or 2, or some other school. This causes a cascade where the ACC then needs to grab Uconn or Cinn or perhaps some other team(s).

The team that will be grabbed by the ACC is the one with the best athletic department (particularly in football) with some smaller emphasis on culture, geography and academics. The team that will be grabbed by the B10 is the one that is in the best eastern market with the best academics that has an appropriate minimum level of football commitment. These events may happen tomorrow, or they may happen sometime over the next 12-24 months. When they do happen, the B10 will be thinking about future potential. The ACC will be thinking about which school will appease their members and bring stability.

The answer to both of these questions in terms of who they select will be the school that shows the greatest future potential for their concerns. There are no super-attractive options open in the BEast or other non-power 5. Yet, it's likely that at least 1 BEast school will get chosen, either directly by the B10 for TV market or by the ACC because they can look nowhere esle.

The playing field is level right now, neither conference will be impressed nor completely deterred by Uconn or Cin, so they will choose based on potential and what they can tell their members to expect going forward. So, what have we done?

Uconn's Herbst has released public statements hinting at the subordinate place of athletics to academics in terms of the future of the school (implicitly not recognizing the mutual ties they hold and the attractiveness of big sports to students). AD Warde Manuel has indicated that he continues to support his current (losing) coach (PP) and will not expand the rent until the fan numbers call for it (i.e., fill the seats before you expand). Keep in mind, current B10 member, UMich does not want to play Uconn at the Rent due to the small size of the stadium. It doesn't matter that Uconn can't fill it. UMich can. I wonder how they would feel about Uconn joining the B10?

Cincinnati is launching a major campaign to expand their stadium and will be aggressively seeking a top notch coach to replace Butch Jones, attempting to demonstrate a commitment to football.

Which school will the ACC or B10 choose? Hmmm...

I believe that Herbst and Manuel recognize the situation in the same way, but that investing in the football program during a time when the state budget crisis seems to grow by the day appears to them as too risky. Instead, they're hoping to avoid investment and win the lotto- that one of the conferences will need Uconn after losing 2 members. Worst case scenario, they can always claim that they did everything they could and also insist that Uconn will be successful in any conference it plays in (it won't).

Tragically, I believe if Herbst called Jim Delaney today and asked what Uconn would need to do to get into the B10, there would be a decent chance he would tell her that it is a possibility and that with the right investments the university would be too compelling to turn away. A large stadium and a top coach- the same attributes that would get them into the ACC. The same things Cinn will have in the coming months/years.