Diaco Hired as Purdue DC

[vmgsf]

A tip of the hat to O'Leary. He is trying to save Diaco from doing himself in. Would be total embarrassment - UCF stomps UConn and no one from UCF accepts trophy.

 

[dublinirish]

i saw UCF play in person last year, no way Diaco's UCONN team is gonna hang with them

 

[GaryMcLain'sSkiLodge]

UCONN may very well lose their first game against Villanova (a team that should have beat Cuse last year, and returns its Walter Payton Award winning QB).

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Public opinion seems united . . .

 

[dublinirish]

they could easily lose all their games this year

 

[Blaise]

I don't mind it... You are a bland program with no rivals, so you are trying to create one... Get buzz going and in 15 years maybe everyone on UConn looks at that game as one of their big games....

As for the undefeated comment.. What do you want him to say.. We only think we have 4 winnable games? C'mon

 

[Luckylucci]

I don't mind it... You are a bland program with no rivals, so you are trying to create one... Get buzz going and in 15 years maybe everyone on UConn looks at that game as one of their big games....

As for the undefeated comment.. What do you want him to say.. We only think we have 4 winnable games? C'mon

To be very successful in any athletic competition you have to have an unflappable belief that you will be successful. Man, women, or child all the greats have this. Now in these situations I think keeping that belief in house take some pressure and expectations off of your players but there is nothing wrong with the belief itself. Nobody competes to lose, you play to win and the expectation you should have for yourself is that you win everyone. The world doesn't need to agree with that and in fact the whole world will never be united on who they think will win each individual contest, so who cares.

 

[ulukinatme]

A tip of the hat to O'Leary. He is trying to save Diaco from doing himself in. Would be total embarrassment - UCF stomps UConn and no one from UCF accepts trophy.

That's how you start a real rivalry.

 

[dublinirish]

If UCONN wants to start a rivalry they need to actually fire some shoots like refusing the pre game hand shake ala Maryland versus PSU last year

 

[Luckylucci]

If UCONN wants to start a rivalry they need to actually fire some shoots like refusing the pre game hand shake ala Maryland versus PSU last year

If I have a choice it wouldn't be something that is disrespectful to the game or the other team.

 

[Meacon Irish]

If UCONN wants to start a rivalry they need to actually fire some shoots like refusing the pre game hand shake ala Maryland versus PSU last year

Or just start winning games. :stickoutt

 

[gkIrish]

I don't mind it... You are a bland program with no rivals, so you are trying to create one... Get buzz going and in 15 years maybe everyone on UConn looks at that game as one of their big games....

As for the undefeated comment.. What do you want him to say.. We only think we have 4 winnable games? C'mon

How about setting realistic goals for your team? If you say we are going to go undefeated and go 3-9 the players are going to feel like they failed to a much greater extent. If you set realistic goals and achieve them...that's something to build on.

There's nothing wrong with saying "we think we can win the conference and have a chance to win every game." It's another thing to say "we are going to be one of the four playoff teams." Just sets ridiculously high expectations on a bad team.

 

[NDWorld247]

i saw UCF play in person last year, no way Diaco's UCONN team is gonna hang with them

Diaco's UCONN team beat UCF last season. I haven't looked into what each team is bringing back and the projections for this year, but seems like an outlandish statement considering UCONN not only hung with them, but beat them a season ago.

Or just start winning games. :stickoutt

This. I was at UCONN earlier this summer for a one-day camp and the talk amongst some alumni and people in the know was that Diaco wasn't making a lot of friends within the alumni base. This shouldn't come as a surprise as I feel he's a love him or hate him type of character. The manufactured rivalry with UCF doesn't bother me. It's a boom or bust proposition for Diaco. The only thing that's going to protect his job security at UCONN is winning.

 

[phgreek]

I went to the Uconn site and watched Diaco's signing day routine. He is frustrating to watch behind the podium...he reminds of a cat that has to pee, but sees it raining outside. Be excited, but man, stay in one place...good lord!

That said, He is all in, and he is getting some players. I don't know what they'll be like this year, but in two years he is going to beat the brakes off of most people in his conference. If he can finish in the middle of it this year, and get one serious upset win...boy, he'll be in good shape.

As for his comments...meh. He'll learn to say things the right way. I get what he's trying to do. The hardest thing he faces is culture, so winning themes will be seriously exaggerated for a bit.

 

[pumpdog20]

There is absolutely zero pressure on these players. No one actually believes they are any good. Let Diaco be crazy.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm curious if the people that wanted Diaco to succeed Kelly are still in that boat?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I'm curious if the people that wanted Diaco to succeed Kelly are still in that boat?

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[phgreek]

I'm curious if the people that wanted Diaco to succeed Kelly are still in that boat?

I was never really thinking that way...but he's had Uconn 1 season, and has one recruiting class thats really his...

He can be a little crazy, but if he wins at Uconn, when the time comes he'll get a look from anyone with an opening. Its far from a foregone conclusion he'd be coming to ND...but I wouldn't write him off at this point.

 

[woolybug25]

It will be interesting how his tenure progresses. Two wins isn't exactly good, but hell... They won three the year before. I hope they have a good season this year and Diaco does well. I have a soft spot in my heart for our Rainman former coach.

 

[dublinirish]

UConn were 7 point underdogs at home to FCS Villanova but managed to pull out the win by holding on late 20-15

 

[PANDFAN]

UConn were 7 point underdogs at home to FCS Villanova but managed to pull out the win by holding on late 20-15

well diaco did say he thinks they are going to the playoffs

 

[dublinirish]

well diaco did say he thinks they are going to the playoffs

National Champs he said!

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Good for Diaco, I hope he finds success.

 

[BearGB]

I know it's just Army, but a 2-0 start for Diaco. (Last week over Villanova.) Really happy for Bobby - I think the big key will be seeing if they can beat (self-proclaimed rival) UCF in four weeks. I expect them to lose the next three weeks as they play @Mizzou, vs. Navy, and @BYU. If they can keep some of those close it could help momentum. Pulling for them - would love to play for that guy.

 

[dublinirish]

Bob Diaco's made-up rivalry is this week, and he's still fired up about it

UConn is 2-3 this year, and UCF is 0-5. The hottest rivalry in college football kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPNU.

 

[BGIF]

Bob Diaco's made-up rivalry is this week, and he's still fired up about it

What are the odds that it gets picked up by the Golden Shamrock Sports Book?

 

[phork]

Gameday there?

 

[dublinirish]

UConn has signed up to play BC in '16 and '17. Maybe now Diaco can have a rivalry that actually makes some sense

 

[tko]

Terrible. He is not a head coach.

 

[ACamp1900]

They lost three straight huh? Too bad I was hoping they'd turn it around this year, I'll always like Bob the same way I'll always like Barry Alvarez.