Donors Gone Wild: What Can $3 Million Buy You In Connecticut?

UConn has a disgruntled donor on it's hands after hiring former Syracuse head coach, Paul Pasqualoni, to replace the now-departed Randy Edsall.

Robert Burton, a big-time donor to the UConn football program, was reportedly upset after AD Jeff Hathaway failed to consult with "knowledgeable" people about who Edsall's replacement should be—for the record—Steve Adazzio was the man Burton felt was best for the job (guess he didn't see the Gators offense last season). Burton even went so far as to request his name be removed from one of the buildings, and that the $3 million check he recently wrote be returned (don't hold your breath, Mr. Burton).

While a demanding donor is nothing new in the game of football, it seems dangerous for UConn to continue coddling this man. The last thing college football needs is a return to the days of rogue boosters gone wild—remember SMU?

If Burton's a business man with any true sense, he should know that he's in a lose-lose situation right now because UConn is not going to fire Pasqualoni. If anything they will throw their support behind him even more, as they should, because they don't want any further negativity as he begins his tenure in Storrs. 

Mr. Burton's best bet is to keep his mouth closed and let the hire run its course. Why continue making useless waves?

Sooner or later, particularly if Pasqualoni turns out to be a success, Burton might regret his ill-advised behavior. In the meantime, he should try another sport if he doesn't like the state of football in Connecticut—I hear their basketball team is pretty good.

Related articles

• Major UConn Football Donor Pulls Support in Scathing Letter (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• UConn Football Donor Wants His $3 Million Back (businessinsider.com)
• UConn, unhappy donor keep talking (cbssports.com)
• Irate UConn booster blasts AD, demands refund (cbssports.com)

Around The SEC: Gary Crowton Headed To Maryland—LSU Fans Cheer!

Crowton moving to College Park, gives LSU his walking papers

Gary Crowton, the former offensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers, will now fill the same role at the University of Maryland for coach Randy Edsall.

Crowton was the behind the Tigers' stellar 2007 offense, which helped Les Miles win a national championship for LSU, but he has been mediocre since that time, and no one in Baton Rouge is likely to be crying crocodile-sized tears upon hearing of his resignation.

The real question has to be why would Maryland want him? Do they really believe that all of LSU's offensive troubles were due to the ineptitude of Jordan Jefferson—LSU's underachieving quarterback? And, even if that was the case, he didn't prove to be that much more successful with Jarrett Lee either.

The problem with Crowton appeared to be less about personnel than playcalling. He just couldn't seem to get his act together long and his schizophrenic way of handling the playbook showed on the football field where the Tigers finished 107th and 112th in passing offense over the last two years—respectively.

Perhaps the ACC will be a more welcoming atmosphere for a man of his talents—we'll see. But, I gotta tell you, it makes little sense that Maryland is willing to pay more for less.

Cobb leaving Kentucky to try his talents in the NFL

Hoping to cash in on the "do-everything" appeal offered by Percy Harvin in 2009 and Dexter McCluster in 2010, the all-american wide receiver has opted to see if he can excel at the next level in much the same way he has in the SEC.

Cobb was the catalyst behind a much-improved Wildcats offense this past season and, at one point, was the focal point of the team—after an injury to Derrick Locke forced him into more offensive responsibility.

With a change at quarterback forthcoming at Kentucky, Cobb may be thinking there is no time like the present to make the jump.

Fairley set to announce NFL decision Friday

Nick Fairley, the much-maligned, but equally talented, defensive lineman of the Auburn Tigers is scheduled to announce his NFL decision on tomorrow. Fairley has been projected, by some, as a possible No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and there are few who don't believe he is poised to make the jump.

Fairley's decision will broadcast from his high school in Mobile.

Related articles

• Report: LSU assistant Gary Crowton headed for Maryland (sports.espn.go.com)
• Falling upwards. (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

College Football: Wait...What? Maryland Bought An Edsall?

Reportedly, Randy Edsall—the now former head coach of the UConn Huskies—will be the new head coach at the University of Maryland.

Forgive the license here, but isn't the goal of firing a head coach—especially one that had as much success as Ralph Friedgen—to hire a better one?

It was assumed that Maryland wanted to go in a different direction with the football program. They were no longer satisfied with the plodding, mundane, and methodical pace that Friedgen brought to the table—that wasn't putting enough backsides in the seats.

They wanted a guy with...well...a pulse, a personality, and a bit more fire to his approach.

That led many to believe that the disgraced former head coach of Texas Tech, Mike Leach, would be the guy.

So, imagine the surprise and awe of many when it was discovered that Maryland traded a Friedgen for a freezer.

Not sure where that makes any sense.

While Edsall has done a fine job of making UConn semi-relevant at a school where basketball rules, his overall record isn't something to run home and tell your mama about.

He's been average, at best, and will now have to fight against even bigger fish in the ultra-competitive ACC.

Perhaps, the powers that be at Maryland saw something we didn't in UConn's beatdown on Saturday night. Maybe coach Edsall will bring his plodding, mundane, and methodical approach to College Park with more favorable results. And, if that happens, we should all be ready to eat a little crow.

However, at the moment, this hire is about as exciting as the Edsel of 59'.

Congratulations, Maryland. You just gave up Ralph Friedgen for...a slightly lesser version of Ralph Friedgen.

Related articles

• Report: Maryland picks UConn's Randy Edsall as next coach (sportingnews.com)
• Report: Randy Edsall To Replace Ralph Friedgen At Maryland (sbnation.com)

ATS Bowl Predictions 2010: Can UConn Upend Oklahoma In The Orange Bowl?

It's another week of bowling and some of the biggest of the big boys are on the slate to make their appearance on an E$PN network near you.

No matter your opinion on the Connecticut Huskies' (UConn) "worthiness" to be a participant in the Orange Bowl you have to respect what Randy Edsall has done at UConn.

His teams have consistently proven themselves to be both competitive and resilient and, despite how this game looks, you cannot give the win to either team based solely on what the stats on a piece of paper shows.

Oklahoma is the obvious pick for most, but they always have been. Unfortunately, they have often failed to live up to expectations where BCS bowls are concerned—suffering disappointing and embarrassing losses to teams that were considered underdogs—and while UConn doesn't tout a Landry Jones at quarterback, Bob Stoops unflattering reputation for blowing it in BCS games could become an unspoken factor.

Don't count Connecticut out of this game—despite what you hear—they have every bit the opportunity and talent to pull the upset if the Sooners come out flat, undisciplined, or minus the appropriate focus.

The picks that follow are for all games played from December 27th through December 30th. All lines are courtesy of VegasInsider.com.

(The 'Lady's bowl record thus far: 6-2).


December 27th:


Georgia Tech at Air Force, Advocare V100 Indepence Bowl: Air Force (-2.5)

The Jackets are short-handed in this one and Air Force sports a better-than-average pass defense (6th in the nation). If the Falcons can get on the board early and force Tech to go to their passing game, there is no reason they shouldn't win this game.

On the other hand, if Tech manages to make mince meat of that Falcons run defense early, forget about it, this game will be over long before halftime.

The Lady's Pick: Air Force to cover

December 28th:


North Carolina State at West Virginia, Champs Sports Bowl: West Virginia (-2.5)

The Wolfpack were one win away from an ACC Championship and they frittered it all away with bad play. West Virginia was inconsistent early and it cost them the Big East—UConn sits where they might have been—has either team recovered from their mishap?

The Mountaineers have shown that they can beat teams if they have everything clicking, but Russell Wilson—of NC State—is every bit as capable of leading his team to victory if he decides to show up and play. That said, it's hard to see the Wolfpack having enough offense to keep up with the sizzling hot Mountaineers.

The Lady's Pick: West Virginia to cover

Missouri Tigers at Iowa, Insight Bowl: Missouri (-2.5)

Iowa isn't looking like a team with much cohesiveness at the moment and that won't serve them well against a Missouri team that, despite their record, was once considered a BCS contender.

The Lady's Pick: Missouri to cover

December 29th:


Maryland vs. East Carolina, Military Bowl: Maryland (-7.5)

These Pirates aren't the same ones that beat Virginia Tech and went on an early tear a mere two seasons ago. No, these are Ruffin McNeill's Pirates and they know how to do one thing very well—score.

Maryland will be looking to send Ralph Friedgen out on a winning note and the emotion of that could propel them to play big in this game. That said, McNeill will be playing for some respect of his own, and could have just enough in place—on both sides of the ball—to pull the minor upset.

The Lady's Pick: East Carolina to cover


Baylor vs. Illinois, Texas Bowl: Baylor (-1)

They do it big in Texas and Robert Griffin III (Baylor) will be looking to do big things in Baylor's first bowl game in a very long time.

Illinois was hoping for better than 6-6, but the fact that they looked markedly better on offense and slightly better on defense this past season is a start—if you're looking for a silver lining—however, the edge has to go to the Bears in this game.

The Lady's Pick: Baylor to cover

Arizona Wildcats at Oklahoma State, Valero Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State (-5.5)

The Cowboys are just going to be too much for the Wildcats. Love their defense and love what they have been able to do minus initial starter, Foles, but this Cowboys team is too potent to be stopped for four quarters.

The Lady's Pick: Oklahoma State to cover


Army at Southern Methodist, Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Methodist (-7)

June Jones knows how to engineer an offense and Kyle Padron will be far too much for the Knights to contain.

The Lady's Pick: SMU to cover

Kansas State at Syracuse, New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse (-1)

Kansas State relies heavily on the run and that will serve them well against the Orange—who give up a lot of yards on the ground—but their lack of balance here could be there downfall. Syracuse has one of the best pass defenses in the nation (3rd) and if they can shut down Daniel Thomas, they stand a good chance of running away in this contest.

The Lady's Pick: Syracuse to cover

North Carolina at Tennessee, Music City Bowl: North Carolina (-2)

The Tarheels are a scrappy bunch but Tennessee has found their stride late with Tyler Bray at the helm. If he can get the offense going, and the Vols can play football for 60 minutes, they win this game—no question.

The Lady's Pick: Tennessee to cover

Washington at Nebraska, Holiday Bowl: Nebraska (-14)

Washington's problem lay in their lack of a competent defense. By contrast, Nebraska has plenty of that to spare, and then some. Look for Jake Locker to try his best to keep this game close but, in the end, Nebraska just has too much talent to be overtaken.

The Lady's Pick: Nebraska to cover

Randy Edsall Imploring UCONN Fans To Buy Tickets to Fiesta Bowl

It's safe to say that no one figured on UCONN making a trip to a BCS bowl game this year. They slid in by the hairs of their chinny-chin-chin and will now reap the benefit of a nice little payout.

Unfortunately for UCONN, their fans aren't as excited about their trip to Arizona as the players and coaches. So far, according to Darren Rovell's Twitter feed, the Huskies have only sold 4,700 of their allotted 17,500 tickets.

That puts them well shy of where they'd like to be at this point in the bowl season—financially—and makes the possibility of them taking a loss on this trip a major probability.

In response to the slow-going sales, UCONN head coach, Randy Edsall, has asked that fans and supporters of the program consider the magnitude of this opportunity to see their football program play on the national stage.

Said Edsall, "If you have the opportunity and the wherewithal to make it happen, (you) should make it happen, because this is a once in a lifetime experience for the most part,” Edsall said. “There’s (other) BCS (games), but this might be the only Fiesta Bowl we go to. We hope it’s not, but if you have the opportunity to go, (you) should spend the money and go."

You would hope that fans wouldn't need such prompting but, the truth is, times are tough for many, and UCONN football doesn't have the following of an SEC or a Big Ten school—convincing people to spend upwards of $700 (tickets are $111 minimally) is going to be a much tougher proposition.

Edsall isn't naive to the fact that the school could lose more than it gains, from a financial standpoint, but he wouldn't trade it for anything—the recruiting benefits alone could speak volumes for his program's future.

That said, there are still those who wider if it's worth the cost. If maybe the BCS shouldn't have been bait more cognizant of the locales before making their decision to allow UCONN to play in the Orange Bowl—they stand to lose just as much if no one is watching.

It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out but, right now, it doesn't look like anyone is winning.

Related articles

• UConn coach confident heading into Fiesta Bowl matchup with Oklahoma (nypost.com)

BCS Bowl Game Head-Scratchers: What Games Are Likely To Bore You The Most?

The first thing that might have struck many of you when the bowl selections were made on Sunday night is this: is Connecticut really getting a shot to play in the Fiesta Bowl?...Seriously?

While it's through no fault of their own, the Huskies have become the poster team for just another thing that's wrong with the BCS.

The Huskies, by default, are the Big East Champions. They beat West Virginia—a team that has a slightly more Fiesta-friendly record (9-3)—and won the tie-breaker. It happens and, as Randy Edsall (Connecticut's head coach) stated, "We played by the rules. Those are the rules, that the Big East champion gets an automatic bid to a BCS bowl game and we’re the conference champions and we’re going to accept that invitation".

He's absolutely right. The BCS made those rules, not him, and thanks to that his team will appear in the Fiesta Bowl to take on the Oklahoma Sooners.

While it's safe to assume the Huskies will be the underdogs in this contest, it is also safe to assume that the Sooners will surprise no one if they lose. After all, Bob Stoops has seen his team get beat on multiple occasions—in a BCS contest—during the last decade. So, as disinterested as many a football fan (outside of Stoors, CT) will be in seeing this game played, Sooner fans better hope that the Oklahoma of old doesn't put in an appearance this season.

But enough people are picking on the Huskies and, to be honest, there are quite a few uncompelling match-ups to be had. Below are the Top 5 candidates for the most boring bowl game the 2010 season will have to offer:

1. BYU vs. UTEP, New Mexico Bowl: December 18th at 2pm

BYU started the season losing 5 of 7, but closed out the year 4-1—including a near defeat of Utah—to become bowl eligible. That said, not many are likely to care about their match-up with the Miners. The former WAC foes don't have much to offer in name or excitement this season and the 2pm start (on a Friday no less) isn't likely to have many people rushing home.

2. Kansas St. vs. Syracuse, New Era Pinstripe Bowl: December 30th at 3:20pm

Perhaps the fact that this game will be in Yankee Stadium will give it some appeal—to Yankee and Syracuse fans—but to those of us who could give a flip about new Yankee Stadium, and are still wondering how on earth Syracuse got bowl eligible in the first place, there is little appeal.


3. Nevada vs. Boston College, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: January 9th at 9pm

By the time these two play, the Auburn/Oregon talk will be in full-swing and few people are likely to notice this final bowl game—played a mere 24 hours before the biggest game of the college football season. Oh, and the fact that Boston College, on offense, has been about as exciting as watching paint dry doesn't help much either.

Seriously, this is the best opponent they could find for the Wolfpack?

4. Notre Dame vs Miami, Hyundai Sun Bowl: December 31st at 2pm

Explain this: how do two teams from Indiana and Florida, respectively, end up playing in Texas...on CBS? Not only does the match-up not make any sense, the chances of anyone outside of Indiana or Florida stumbling across it on CBS (after the other 68 games have been played on ESPN or an ESPN affiliate) seems unlikely.

Even more, both Notre Dame and Miami were supposed to be great this year—both fell far short of expectations—this game seems more like consolation than reward.

5. Florida Interational vs. Toledo, Little Caesars Bowl: December 26th at 2:30pm

Many forget just how many teams the state of Florida fields...this one is no different. This game might  look good to some, but most will probably take a giant pass and return this college football gift to sender—just saying.

Related articles

• No. 9 Oklahoma To Face UConn In Fiesta Bowl (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• BCS breakdown: Looking at the biggest of bowl season (cbssports.com)