Strong Underlying Fundamentals: UConn Football is Poised for Growth, With or Without Mora
The only thing holding back the Huskies from reaching new heights is having a conference to call home
We at The UConn Appeal are enthusiastic supporters of UConn football head coach Jim Mora. We admire his energy, charisma, dedication, commitment, love for the game, and the way he has embraced Connecticut's culture. We hope he spends the remainder of his career here and transforms UConn into a perennial Bowl contender.
However, we're also realists and understand that UConn, under no circumstances, would be able to match the millions that a Power Conference school could offer Mora if they were interested in his services. And at 61, Mora is likely closer to the twilight of his career than his prime (though we would argue he looks and acts much more youthful than his age suggests).
The reality is that whether it’s two, ten, or fifteen years from now, Mora will eventually move on. Be it to another school or to enjoy retirement in the Big Sky once again, his time as the head coach of the Huskies has a shelf life.
Whenever it happens, Huskies fans need not worry. UConn football is positioned for sustained success long after Mora departs, even if that might be difficult to envision right now given all that has – or hasn’t – transpired over the past decade. With state-of-the-art facilities, a track record of preparing players for the next level (yes, even during the toughest times), and unwavering commitment from the university administration, UConn possesses all the necessary ingredients to compete at the highest-level year in and year out.
Let's level set before diving in further. It's undeniable: Since Randy Edsall departed for Maryland shortly after the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in 2011, UConn football has experienced a downward spiral. The program has become a subject of jokes among college football writers across America, further reinforcing their belief that college football in the Northeast is – and always will be – irrelevant.
However, the challenges of the past decade are less about the core fundamentals of the program – primarily its facilities and culture – and more about three consecutive ill-conceived coaching hires: Paul Pasqualoni, Bob Diaco, and Edsall. Pasqualoni’s, Diaco’s, and Edsall’s failure to consistently uncover underrecruited talent – something Edsall excelled at in his initial tenure – and their struggles to adapt as the college game evolved, led to UConn football plummeting. Just when we thought they had hit rock bottom, the situation continued to deteriorate.
The decline of the Huskies’ football program has been the greatest obstacle to UConn's aspirations of joining a Power Conference, despite coming close to securing the coveted invitation multiple times. If UConn is genuinely committed to securing a seat at the table – and all signs indicate they are – then we expect the university will continue making significant investments in its football program to ensure it remains consistently successful. Conference realignment is an ongoing saga, and the UConn administration will not jeopardize the program's relevance once again by making the wrong coaching choice. Especially when the university already possesses many of the essential elements needed to field a competitive product.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
College football itself is a business, and certain prerequisites are necessary to attract high-end talent. First and foremost, competition is fierce, so whether it’s in finance or football, facilities play a pivotal role. Contrary to what’s been written, the Huskies boast some of the finest facilities in the country, offering a clear demonstration of UConn's long-term commitment to its football program.
The Burton Family Football Complex, serving as the on-campus hub for the Huskies’ football team, is state-of-the-art in every aspect. From the team locker room and meeting rooms to the dining hall, student lounges, academic resource center, and video facilities, as well as a 120-yard, multipurpose artificial turf field and an 18,000 square-foot strength and conditioning area – every aspect of this meticulously designed facility is of the highest quality. Few Power Conference schools can rival, let alone surpass, the quality and appeal of UConn's facilities.
Intriguing Benefits Package
Moreover, another critical element in attracting top talent to an organization is having an enticing benefits package, something that UConn extends to its athletes on various levels. First, the university is positioned between two of the largest media markets in the U.S. – New York City and Boston. Consequently, any athlete who decides to play collegiately at UConn has convenient access to some of the world's largest employers, just a short drive or train ride away. While this might not immediately stand out as a strong selling point, especially for football, considering that only 1.6% of college football participants make it to the NFL, UConn's proximity to major economic centers provides a path to internships and long-term employment opportunities that few other universities can offer.
Second, life in the Northeast is intense. It's characterized by a fast-paced lifestyle with minimal tolerance for failure, and patience isn't one of our strongest traits. Thriving here requires a unique resilience. Our lifestyle is the equivalent of jumping into the middle of the ocean headfirst without knowing how to swim. You either figure it out and make it back to shore or get swallowed up by the tide.
In a similar vein, playing collegiately at UConn is no different. When a recruit commits to the Huskies, they face scrutiny the moment they sign their letter of intent (in certain cases, such as basketball, even well before). In Connecticut, the mindset is that if the coaches deem a recruit worthy of wearing the UConn uniform, fans expect them to live up to the hype. As a result, when the spotlight is on, UConn athletes must excel because if they don’t, they will hear about it on social media, chat forums, or podcasts.
Between the unpredictable heat of summers and the unforgiving chill of winters, the scrutiny of a dedicated media, and the constant need to prove themselves, the high-pressure environment at UConn prepares its football participants effectively for the challenges of the next level. This is a significant reason why numerous Huskies have been drafted and subsequently enjoyed successful careers in the NFL: Tyvon Branch, Will Beatty, Darius Butler, Donald Brown, Anthony Sherman, Ryan Griffin, Byron Jones, Matt Peart – just to name a few. And then there’s Dan Orlovsky, who might be more remembered for stepping out of the back of the end zone than for any touchdown he threw, but attributes his success as one of ESPN’s top football analysts to his experience at UConn.
Third, with athletes now able to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), the D’Amelio Huskies Collective might be one of the most enticing and captivating NIL collectives in the country. Founded by UConn graduate and internet personality Marc D’Amelio, father of two of the most influential social media influencers in the world, Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, the D’Amelio Huskies Collective provides UConn athletes the chance to associate themselves with one of today's most recognizable families and leverage their network for their benefit.
Leadership and Culture
Another significant factor that candidates and recruits heavily weigh in their decision-making process is leadership and culture. Specifically, the type of culture those at the top have established and how it aligns with their own personal values. Importantly, once a culture is defined, it becomes ingrained in the fabric of the organization or program, regardless of who is leading it.
Since Edsall first took over the reins of UConn’s football program, the culture has prioritized being a student before an athlete. This has transcended across Pasqualoni, Diaco, Edsall again, and now Mora. From 1998 through 2015 (the last year for which the NCAA’s Graduation Rates Database provides data), the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) for the Huskies program averages 77.6%, surpassing several prominent schools such as Michigan (77.2%), UCLA (71.1%), North Carolina (69.9%), USC (64.9%), and Texas (60.3%), among others.
What this conveys is that not only does UConn football effectively prepare its participants for NFL careers but also equips them for success beyond the field. And with fewer than 2% of NCAA student-athletes going on to be professional athletes, the value of a quality education and college degree cannot be overstated. UConn possesses the tools and resources to ensure its athletes thrive in both athletic and academic pursuits. Excelling in competition while maintaining strong academic standing is a hallmark of the university, a principle that will endure regardless of who occupies the position of head coach.
Perhaps it’s fitting that there's a mountain in Connecticut known as Sleeping Giant, as one thing is certain: Mora has awakened UConn football from its decade-long slumber. Will he be the one to persist and elevate UConn football to Northeastern giant status? Only time will tell, but rest assured, whenever he moves on, the program's future is promising. Now, the only missing piece is a conference to call home.
This needs to be must reading for every media outlet. It’s stunning how uninformed people are. around the country about the incredible facilities at UConn and the amazing potential of its football program.