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Post by timholycross on Sept 5, 2021 14:08:36 GMT -5
UConn and UMass are in college football limbo. Neither will ever go back to FCS. Too much investment. Only hope for them is with the coming conference shakeups the ACC implode. Could happen if the Big Ten lures a couple of schools away to counter the SEC getting Oklahoma and Texas. UMASS will go back first. ACC isnt imploding but if they feel forced to expand to 16, UConn would have to at least be in the conversation along with West Virginia. But that's a long shot. The Rent is an absolute embarrassment. Built in 2000, that's the best tney could do at a time when the anticipation was to join a league with Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Virginia Tech and Miami? I was expecting a facility a least close to on par with Alumni Stadium, minus the charm of the Chestnut Hill backdrop. What is wrong with it? Not kept up very well, cheaply constructed, something else? Have no frame of reference, have never seen it other than on tv.
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Post by timholycross on Sept 5, 2021 14:12:51 GMT -5
An advantage that The Rent has over Alumni Stadium.... Parking and immediate accessibility to an interstate highway, I 84. James Madison and HC end up in a tie for that award. I 81 splits JMU's campus in half (the new arena is on one side, the football stadium on the other).
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 5, 2021 14:25:27 GMT -5
The Rent is at least built. My friend got her vax jab there and she didn't even have to leave her car. The state is trying to utilize it for whatever they can and the cost of construction today would make a new stadium on campus prohibitive when the mission of UConn is to make quality higher education accessible for Ct. residents.
If a UCONN in the CAA played Villanova or UNH or URI late in the season in a game with playoff implications, or a home playoff game why wouldn't the Rent be rocking even at less than capacity? They'll never have a home bowl game there while in FBS and most bowl games are losing their luster.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 5, 2021 15:24:57 GMT -5
LS, not going to really call my friend Ryan as we've already spoken too many times since his hiring. I speak to him even more than 45, and that's a lot!
Just finished watching the tape of the game and much better on the video than it was in person as far as seeing what really happened. First time I think I've listened to color guy Ross Tucker. Guess he played at Princeton but he really seems to know his stuff and calls it like he sees it. I loved the "Mensa"/"Mensah" discussion which while having nothing to do with the actual game found it to be very entertaining. He was very complimentary about many of our players and especially Coach Chesney.
This qualified as a very entertaining game but not sure I would have said that had we lost. It was a real back & forth affair and very happy that the usual wear-down by an FBS team didn't happen probably because:
1. UConn isn't as good as many of the other FBS teams we've played 2. I really think our players are in much better shape and stronger than in past years 3. The weather was not too hot 4. The game being televised with so many breaks were like bonus time outs 5. Our offense was able to do a good job with time of possession.
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 5, 2021 15:28:23 GMT -5
The game did take all afternoon. Not fair for fans with fair complexions.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Sept 5, 2021 15:44:30 GMT -5
No disrespect to the UConn punter, but I laughed.
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Post by cmo on Sept 5, 2021 18:34:22 GMT -5
HC’s “Big Man Touchdown” was part of the ND-FSU pregame montage.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Sept 5, 2021 20:04:54 GMT -5
When are we going to see a highlight reel on goholycross.com?
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 5, 2021 21:49:32 GMT -5
No disrespect to the UConn punter, but I laughed. Grasping at straws.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Sept 6, 2021 6:45:12 GMT -5
The Rent is at least built. My friend got her vax jab there and she didn't even have to leave her car. The state is trying to utilize it for whatever they can and the cost of construction today would make a new stadium on campus prohibitive when the mission of UConn is to make quality higher education accessible for Ct. residents. If a UCONN in the CAA played Villanova or UNH or URI late in the season in a game with playoff implications, or a home playoff game why wouldn't the Rent be rocking even at less than capacity? They'll never have a home bowl game there while in FBS and most bowl games are losing their luster. Travelers Nutmeg Bowl
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Sept 6, 2021 6:52:49 GMT -5
UMASS will go back first. ACC isnt imploding but if they feel forced to expand to 16, UConn would have to at least be in the conversation along with West Virginia. But that's a long shot. The Rent is an absolute embarrassment. Built in 2000, that's the best tney could do at a time when the anticipation was to join a league with Syracuse, BC, Pitt, Virginia Tech and Miami? I was expecting a facility a least close to on par with Alumni Stadium, minus the charm of the Chestnut Hill backdrop. What is wrong with it? Not kept up very well, cheaply constructed, something else? Have no frame of reference, have never seen it other than on tv. I'm probably overly dumping on the venue. Knowing that it was built around 2000 and having seen it on TV at least 20 or so times over the years, it just wasn't what I expected. It's same size and built much more recently than Alumni Stadium (BC) or Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium but feels less modern than either. Remember, this stadium was built for a team that was supposed to go into a conference with BC, Miami, Virginia Tech, WVU, Pitt and Syracuse. And paid for by taxpayer dollars in the wealthiest state in the US per capita. It's not a bad venue if your expectation was to be on equal footing with Buffalo or Northern Illinois. Specifically, I thought there would be a lot more of the blue chairback seats, not 95% the stadium Yale-bowl style bleachers. Not that I mind, but it's just not a "big time" look. And I thought the stadium would be more visually impressive. The upper deck is sloped at a very low grade, meaning the seats at the back would be much further from field than need be. Tailgating situation and concessions not at all bad though IMO. Like I said, not an awful place to see a game by any means but just fell short of my expectations.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 6, 2021 7:06:35 GMT -5
Have you considered that your expectations are simply too high for a place that is occupied for usually 4 hours or less? 🤷🏻♂️
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Post by HCFC45 on Sept 6, 2021 7:14:55 GMT -5
The problem is, neither UConn or UMass "can play at the next level," at least not successfully. I must have much lower standards than some here. My second trip to the Rent in 4 years (both HC games). Was it a "plush" stadium? Probably not. But when you're only going to be there for 4 hours +/-, it was perfectly fine. I also went to Alumni Stadium when HC last played them and did not find Alumni any better than the Rent. Heck, I wasn't impressed with the "new" Yankee Stadium either. Let's see how I feel about Polar Park. My "complaint" with the Rent was somehow I thought I remembered the place being all chairbacks and obviously was wrong. Despite being one of the first to order my tickets through HC, where I sat on about the 20 yard line 4 years ago, I found myself in end zone seats this year in the blazing sun. Saw '45 at halftime and I believe he said he was seated on about the 20 but bought his seats through UConn at the advice of HC Athletics! And to add insult to injury, he said the cost of his tickets were the same as mine. So, exactly why should I buy tickets for away games through HC? Hopefully, fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The $64 question: were either Marcus Blossom (still AD until 9/24) or Vince Rougeau at the game? Didn't see either but either or both might have been in the suites. Just to clarify and clear up the ticket purchase situation.... In my case we (my grandson and I) decided on Thursday to go to the game. I called Ryan and asked what section(s) the HC allotment of tickets were in. He said 134 and 135. Both those sections are in the end zone and corner of it. In fairness to Ryan he said "If you want better seats, buy them there," He also said (paraphrasing)... with all away games, you never get the best seats in your allotment.... Before purchasing our tickets ($20 ea in section 140) we were offered tickets at $15 each. Not knowing if they would be checking tickets inside or if these were bogus tickets I decided to pay the extra $10 and secure our seats which turned out to be a good move as we had an excellent view of the game and video board with the sun at our backs. And, as a bonus, we were seated next to a really nice family of one of our players! Also, knowing from 4 years ago where we parked (seemed like miles away in the general parking lots inside the stadium area) we parked in a lot near the entrance to the Rent for the same $20 and had an easy in and out decent walk. As for the Rent, it is not a "dump" by any means and the playing field was in excellent condition! Our guys looked like they were on a mission to win and they did! One thing that I noticed and have never seen a punter do is to punt the ball by kicking the pointed end of the ball rather than the flatter belly of the ball. HC did this twice when they were inside in 50 yd line in Uconn territory. I guess the reason is to have back spin on the ball so that it does not kick into the end zone. Seemed to work well as one was downed inside the 10 yd line while the other landed just over the goal line. Let's keep it going and beat Merrimack!!!
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 6, 2021 7:33:14 GMT -5
45, I'm sure I just heard you wrong since I was wearing my face mask at the time ( ). Or maybe my sister was talking louder than you? Not sure where you parked but I paid the same $20 and while I wouldn't say we were "close" to the stadium, my son (you know, the one with the HC shirt and the UConn cap*) said it was the best parking he ever had there - still the Gray lot and from memory, about the spot the HC reception tent was 4 years ago. I needed my FitBit steps anyway. *- 4 years at HC but double that at UConn getting his masters and Ph.D. - that's my excuse for him but he only roots for HC. P.S. While I feel like I know William, I really think this was the first time we met. Great student but his professor refuses to divulge anything other to acknowledge he's been in his class. Privacy stuff, you know. P.P.S. my uniquely formed sunburn (outline of mask) is my badge of honor and we did move to the shaded upper deck around the 25-30 yard line in the 4th quarter.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Sept 6, 2021 8:15:05 GMT -5
It’s always interesting to see comments made as a reaction to a situation without having a full understanding of the history that has led to the current venue. In the mid 1990’s UConn originally wanted to build a new on campus stadium to replace Memorial Field. There was strong opposition from the town of Mansfield regarding game day access to the campus by the projected 40 thousand plus fans. Direct access to campus from I84 or 384 and Rt44 is constricted as well parking for and additional 15 to 20 thousand cars, busses and RV’s. Subsequently, the focus of a new stadium was changed to downtown Hartford, with a stadium at the proposed Adriaen’s Landing site to be shared with the New England Patriots. This would have been similar to the arrangement the University of Pittsburgh has with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. That plan obviously fell through when the state of Massachusetts provided incentives to the Patriots to stay at Foxboro. When Pratt and Whitney decided to decommission their air field, around 1999, they decided to create a development zone on the site with a multiple research and business entities, including retail, housing and a donation of land for a stadium for UConn on 75 acres dedicated for the stadium. The stadium which opened on August 30, 2003, cost $91.2 million, with seating for 40,000 with plans for upgrades and expansion. Changes to the economy in Connecticut in the early 2000’s with the recession and crash in 2008, put a hold on any immediate plans for upgrades to the stadium. As recently as 2016, the plans for expansion and upgrades again surfaced. adimeback.com/renderings-show-rentschler-field-expansion-possibilities/As we have seen, plan conference affiliation has not panned out for UConn, first with the implosion of the Big East Football conference, the non invite to the ACC, then with the lack of success in the AAC and the non invite to the Big 12. The current stadium is not the final product that was envisioned when the stadium was built in 2003. The stadium provided UConn entry into FBS and the Big East Football Conference. The first 8 years was successful, then the wheels came off the bus. The Rent is an adequate venue for lower level FBS competition, that has not been completed as originally envisioned from 20 years ago. www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-rentschler-field-uconn-football-east-hartford-development-20190224-dbvunnqb2fhnfgyiwqeaoscqnm-story.html
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 6, 2021 8:29:39 GMT -5
The Rent is at least built. My friend got her vax jab there and she didn't even have to leave her car. The state is trying to utilize it for whatever they can and the cost of construction today would make a new stadium on campus prohibitive when the mission of UConn is to make quality higher education accessible for Ct. residents. If a UCONN in the CAA played Villanova or UNH or URI late in the season in a game with playoff implications, or a home playoff game why wouldn't the Rent be rocking even at less than capacity? They'll never have a home bowl game there while in FBS and most bowl games are losing their luster. Travelers Nutmeg Bowl With global warming why not?
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 6, 2021 8:53:53 GMT -5
It’s always interesting to see comments made as a reaction to a situation without having a full understanding of the history that has led to the current venue. In the mid 1990’s UConn originally wanted to build a new on campus stadium to replace Memorial Field. There was strong opposition from the town of Mansfield regarding game day access to the campus by the projected 40 thousand plus fans. Direct access to campus from I84 or 384 and Rt44 is constricted as well parking for and additional 15 to 20 thousand cars, busses and RV’s. Subsequently, the focus of a new stadium was changed to downtown Hartford, with a stadium at the proposed Adriaen’s Landing site to be shared with the New England Patriots. This would have been similar to the arrangement the University of Pittsburgh has with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. That plan obviously fell through when the state of Massachusetts provided incentives to the Patriots to stay at Foxboro. When Pratt and Whitney decided to decommission their air field, around 1999, they decided to create a development zone on the site with a multiple research and business entities, including retail, housing and a donation of land for a stadium for UConn on 75 acres dedicated for the stadium. The stadium which opened on August 30, 2003, cost $91.2 million, with seating for 40,000 with plans for upgrades and expansion. Changes to the economy in Connecticut in the early 2000’s with the recession and crash in 2008, put a hold on any immediate plans for upgrades to the stadium. As recently as 2016, the plans for expansion and upgrades again surfaced. adimeback.com/renderings-show-rentschler-field-expansion-possibilities/As we have seen, plan conference affiliation has not panned out for UConn, first with the implosion of the Big East Football conference, the non invite to the ACC, then with the lack of success in the AAC and the non invite to the Big 12. The current stadium is not the final product that was envisioned when the stadium was built in 2003. The stadium provided UConn entry into FBS and the Big East Football Conference. The first 8 years was successful, then the wheels came off the bus. The Rent is an adequate venue for lower level FBS competition, that has not been completed as originally envisioned from 20 years ago. www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-rentschler-field-uconn-football-east-hartford-development-20190224-dbvunnqb2fhnfgyiwqeaoscqnm-story.html $91 million twenty years ago with no cost for the land and probably not much site preparation if it used to be a flat airfield. That shows what a paid for gem HC has in Fitton Field. And HC can offer it's fans, and attract new fans with, a brand new venue a mile away once a year for probably no net loss of revenue vs Fitton because of the increased ticket prices at Polar Park offsetting any rental fees. Hart Center is paid for also with a city built large arena a mile away for big games and tournaments.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Sept 6, 2021 10:00:52 GMT -5
It’s always interesting to see comments made as a reaction to a situation without having a full understanding of the history that has led to the current venue. In the mid 1990’s UConn originally wanted to build a new on campus stadium to replace Memorial Field. There was strong opposition from the town of Mansfield regarding game day access to the campus by the projected 40 thousand plus fans. Direct access to campus from I84 or 384 and Rt44 is constricted as well parking for and additional 15 to 20 thousand cars, busses and RV’s. Subsequently, the focus of a new stadium was changed to downtown Hartford, with a stadium at the proposed Adriaen’s Landing site to be shared with the New England Patriots. This would have been similar to the arrangement the University of Pittsburgh has with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. That plan obviously fell through when the state of Massachusetts provided incentives to the Patriots to stay at Foxboro. When Pratt and Whitney decided to decommission their air field, around 1999, they decided to create a development zone on the site with a multiple research and business entities, including retail, housing and a donation of land for a stadium for UConn on 75 acres dedicated for the stadium. The stadium which opened on August 30, 2003, cost $91.2 million, with seating for 40,000 with plans for upgrades and expansion. Changes to the economy in Connecticut in the early 2000’s with the recession and crash in 2008, put a hold on any immediate plans for upgrades to the stadium. As recently as 2016, the plans for expansion and upgrades again surfaced. adimeback.com/renderings-show-rentschler-field-expansion-possibilities/As we have seen, plan conference affiliation has not panned out for UConn, first with the implosion of the Big East Football conference, the non invite to the ACC, then with the lack of success in the AAC and the non invite to the Big 12. The current stadium is not the final product that was envisioned when the stadium was built in 2003. The stadium provided UConn entry into FBS and the Big East Football Conference. The first 8 years was successful, then the wheels came off the bus. The Rent is an adequate venue for lower level FBS competition, that has not been completed as originally envisioned from 20 years ago. www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-rentschler-field-uconn-football-east-hartford-development-20190224-dbvunnqb2fhnfgyiwqeaoscqnm-story.html What were they waiting for? At the time it was built, UCONN was entering into a BCS (the term used to describe the then-equivalent of P5) conference. And this was not the Big East in its final death throes. This was the Big East that had sent a team to the national championship game in 3 out of 4 years.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Sept 6, 2021 10:03:29 GMT -5
Have you considered that your expectations are simply too high for a place that is occupied for usually 4 hours or less? 🤷🏻♂️ My expectations aren't that high. All I'm saying is that the image I had in my head of what Pratt & Whitney Stadium would look like inside and out didn't turn out to be as I thought it would. Not a bad place to watch a game, or tailgate by any means. Just not a venue that translates to "we are big time college football" which is what the CT taxpayers paid for.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Sept 6, 2021 10:15:33 GMT -5
It’s always interesting to see comments made as a reaction to a situation without having a full understanding of the history that has led to the current venue. In the mid 1990’s UConn originally wanted to build a new on campus stadium to replace Memorial Field. There was strong opposition from the town of Mansfield regarding game day access to the campus by the projected 40 thousand plus fans. Direct access to campus from I84 or 384 and Rt44 is constricted as well parking for and additional 15 to 20 thousand cars, busses and RV’s. Subsequently, the focus of a new stadium was changed to downtown Hartford, with a stadium at the proposed Adriaen’s Landing site to be shared with the New England Patriots. This would have been similar to the arrangement the University of Pittsburgh has with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. That plan obviously fell through when the state of Massachusetts provided incentives to the Patriots to stay at Foxboro. When Pratt and Whitney decided to decommission their air field, around 1999, they decided to create a development zone on the site with a multiple research and business entities, including retail, housing and a donation of land for a stadium for UConn on 75 acres dedicated for the stadium. The stadium which opened on August 30, 2003, cost $91.2 million, with seating for 40,000 with plans for upgrades and expansion. Changes to the economy in Connecticut in the early 2000’s with the recession and crash in 2008, put a hold on any immediate plans for upgrades to the stadium. As recently as 2016, the plans for expansion and upgrades again surfaced. adimeback.com/renderings-show-rentschler-field-expansion-possibilities/As we have seen, plan conference affiliation has not panned out for UConn, first with the implosion of the Big East Football conference, the non invite to the ACC, then with the lack of success in the AAC and the non invite to the Big 12. The current stadium is not the final product that was envisioned when the stadium was built in 2003. The stadium provided UConn entry into FBS and the Big East Football Conference. The first 8 years was successful, then the wheels came off the bus. The Rent is an adequate venue for lower level FBS competition, that has not been completed as originally envisioned from 20 years ago. www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-rentschler-field-uconn-football-east-hartford-development-20190224-dbvunnqb2fhnfgyiwqeaoscqnm-story.html What were they waiting for? At the time it was built, UCONN was entering into a BCS (the term used to describe the then-equivalent of P5) conference. And this was not the Big East in its final death throes. This was the Big East that had sent a team to the national championship game in 3 out of 4 years. The economic downturn and recession in CT did not provide a climate for major funding for expansion and upgrades. The recession hit hard around 2007-2008. For example, a Fortune 500 Financial Services Company based in Hartford saw a rapid decline of its stock price starting in 2007. The stock that traded at over $107.00 a share, one year later was trading at $3.33 a share. It was a painful time, and not one to be spending on a tax payer built stadium.
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Post by deep Purple on Sept 6, 2021 10:20:37 GMT -5
UConn and UMass are in college football limbo. Neither will ever go back to FCS. Too much investment. Only hope for them is with the coming conference shakeups the ACC implode. Could happen if the Big Ten lures a couple of schools away to counter the SEC getting Oklahoma and Texas. UMASS will go back first. ACC isnt imploding but if they feel forced to expand to 16, UConn would have to at least be in the conversation along with West Virginia. I think the only hope for UMass and UConn would be if a few CAA or other FCS teams decide to upgrade their programs and move up to FBS. They could then get Liberty and form a new football only Yankee Conference and then try to get Army.
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Post by purplehaze on Sept 6, 2021 10:39:48 GMT -5
I think you're right - as a Ct taxpayer, I don't see anyway out of this football predicament - a new lower level FBS (football only league) is what their AD, Benedict should be investigating right now - without such an affiliation they're in limbo permanently - also get Navy to leave the AAC - Delaware and JMU would be perfect partners as well.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Sept 6, 2021 11:35:08 GMT -5
I think you're right - as a Ct taxpayer, I don't see anyway out of this football predicament - a new lower level FBS (football only league) is what their AD, Benedict should be investigating right now - without such an affiliation they're in limbo permanently - also get Navy to leave the AAC - Delaware and JMU would be perfect partners as well. Except youre not allowed to just create a new FBS conference out of thin air. The powers that be unfortunately have created barriers to entry to prevent that from happening. Same reason the Missouri Valley Football Conference cant just declare itself FBS. If not for that, you could acutally put together a nice Eastern leage with some of the teams you described plus maybe Villanova, Buffalo, Old Dominion and Temple. North Carolina A&T even.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Sept 6, 2021 12:46:47 GMT -5
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Post by EasyStreet on Sept 6, 2021 19:09:30 GMT -5
Great W this past weekend! Anyone think BC will stay on a few more years via an extension? Sure hope so, what a program!
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