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On Wednesday, UConn announced that Randy Edsall would be returning for a second stint as the head coach of the football team. His first run, from 1999-2010, ended in a BCS Bowl berth for the Huskies and status as the program’s most successful coach.
Many players, current and former, took to Twitter after the news was announced and just about all of them were positive.
Current Cowboys safety Byron Jones, UConn’s most recent first round pick and unofficial world record holder in the broad jump, was excited about the opportunity for UConn.
I just spoke to Randy Edsall before the Lions game! I'm fired up about the hire by Uconn! Let's put Uconn football back on the map!
— Byron Jones (@Byron31Jump) December 28, 2016
UConn’s other first round pick, Donald Brown, a running back from 2005-2008 who played under Edsall, felt the same way.
I couldn't be happier w/ @UConnHuskyAD decision to bring back @RandyEdsall to lead @UConnFootball #UConnNation #proudalumn #BleedBlue
— Donald Brown (@Donaldb31) December 28, 2016
Former quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who UConn has desperately seeking a qualified successor for, echoed each of these players. He’s spent a great deal of time with Edsall as of late, given Edsall’s post with the Lions, where Orlovsky has played for the past three seasons.
Now THAT is some news to come out of a meeting to! FIRED UP for @RandyEdsall and @UConnFootball
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 28, 2016
I feel I know Coach Edsall as good as
Anyone as a coach and a man, and what the state, the kids and the administration are getting is absolute top notch. Can't wait #TheComeback
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 28, 2016
I'm legit so fired up about this!!! #UConnFootball
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 28, 2016
It wasn’t only former players who are excited about the hire, either. Tight ends Tyler Davis and Tommy Myers gave hints they’re happy about the move.
Lets work https://t.co/T0BW8ZXVjP
— Tyler Davis (@Tyler_Davis9) December 28, 2016
Last season, new leader. Couldn't be more excited.
— Tommy Myers™ (@TommyMyers42) December 28, 2016
Freshly graduated players Bobby Puyol and Noel Thomas both urged fans to support the team even if the coach wasn’t the one they wanted.
Whether u like the hire or not, #UConnNation, pls back the @UConnFootball players w/ ur support! Some great players & men especially seniors
— Bobby Puyol (@BobbyPuyol) December 28, 2016
No need to forget. We need to move forward. Put trust and support into the program, for the players. They deserve to have fans who believe. https://t.co/CP2PSRyF4w
— Noel Thomas (@NoelThomas05) December 28, 2016
Some, including former offensive lineman and current The UConn Blog staffer Dalton Gifford, were not as positive about the hire. And rightfully so, Gifford committed to Edsall, only for him to leave by the time he got to campus.
I will support @UConnFootball till the day I die, but I really don't know how I feel about this move...
— Dalton Gifford (@dmgUConn) December 28, 2016
...On one hand, he's the coach I committed to....on the other, he was gone a month-and-a-half later when I arrived on campus..
— Dalton Gifford (@dmgUConn) December 28, 2016
..all in all my support will always be there for the team as a whole and I wish him and the team nothing but success #UConnNation
— Dalton Gifford (@dmgUConn) December 28, 2016
No matter what, it is Edsall’s team now and UConn fans would be best served giving him a chance. While the way he left is undeniably horrible, it takes some guts to come back, knowing the scrutiny he would endure at the start. Winning cures everything, and if he can get UConn back to being a consistent seven or eight-win team I think we’d all prefer that to what we saw over the past six years since his departure.