I can’t take it anymore. Trying to read an online article from The Hartford Courant requires espionage. They email me Jeff Jacob’s piece on the state of UConn athletics, but I can only read it if I buy The Courant? Really? Almost any daily paper is available online without charge. They sell advertising. If the Courant thinks they are going to survive, they must shift the paradigm. Give the paper away. Then sell advertising based on the fact that every household in Connecticut receives it. When I sold & managed for radio stations, beating the Courant was easy. And that was 20 years ago. No one under 50 buys your paper. The ideal ad base is 18-49. Set up a site that makes money. Or The Hartford Courant will go the way of The Whale. Just pictures at The Civic Center, oops The XL Center.
Now back to Jeff Jacobs. I’ve read almost everything he has written. None was better written, researched and explained better about the state of UConn athletics. Let’s see. No men’s team – not Kentucky, not Duke, not North Carolina, not Kansas, not – oh never mind – has won more championships since 1999 than UConn’s 4. Next best? 2. UConn women? Who’s ever done it better? Football – yes Connecticut has struggled because of how the program has been mismanaged since Edsall’s departure. If it were up to me (Sorry it sucked for you Maryland) I’d bring him back. I know they have a coach and he got them to a bowl game. But do you remember how it felt when Randy’s team beat Notre Dame? But I’ve drifted.
As Jeff said, get us into a Power 5 conference. Not someday, NOW! Governor, Senators, Representatives put Connecticut where it belongs. It’s really ad listening to Joe D. say today that because the conference sucks moose you have to win them all, practically. Remember beat Georgetown & Syracuse during the “Dream Season”? The same week, twice? Okay. I’m done. I just hate watching basketball hell.