Post by hoyainspirit on Apr 25, 2012 10:49:07 GMT -5
After sanctions and transfers, UConn's biggest worry is irrelevance
EXCERPT:
It's hard to believe it's been less than 13 months since Jim Calhoun coached UConn to its third national title in 12 years.
That was some moment for the program, taking college basketball's crown and becoming one of the most unlikely champions in the history of the sport. As Calhoun and his pups stood on the podium after the game and watched One Shining Moment inside Reliant Stadium, they were all grinning and hugging like kids who got away with stealing every cookie from the jar.
Calhoun knew more than others. He knew he'd pulled off something even he couldn't have predicted (maybe even imagined), and by doing so, the Hall-of-Fame coach clicked Connecticut's prestige and reputation as a basketball boss up to another level. Calhoun's legacy was enhanced too, of course; he became the fifth major college basketball coach with at least three titles.
But the crazy thing about college sports -- the thing that makes it equal parts watchable and unpredictable -- is how fast the bread can go bad. You've seen how really good programs can swiftly spiral into part-time irrelevancy within a year or two.
Sometimes it's NCAA sanctions; sometimes it's coaching turnover; sometimes it's repeated misfires in recruiting. With very few exceptions, nothing is guaranteed for college dons, even the illustrious ones with bloated budgets and phone book-thick histories and records. Just check with USC, which has been a college football miscreant most of the past three seasons.
The Huskies are the latest example of this. Look at it now: UConn is so far removed from that 2011 shining moment. It's not the same team and it's certainly not the same program.
EXCERPT:
It's hard to believe it's been less than 13 months since Jim Calhoun coached UConn to its third national title in 12 years.
That was some moment for the program, taking college basketball's crown and becoming one of the most unlikely champions in the history of the sport. As Calhoun and his pups stood on the podium after the game and watched One Shining Moment inside Reliant Stadium, they were all grinning and hugging like kids who got away with stealing every cookie from the jar.
Calhoun knew more than others. He knew he'd pulled off something even he couldn't have predicted (maybe even imagined), and by doing so, the Hall-of-Fame coach clicked Connecticut's prestige and reputation as a basketball boss up to another level. Calhoun's legacy was enhanced too, of course; he became the fifth major college basketball coach with at least three titles.
But the crazy thing about college sports -- the thing that makes it equal parts watchable and unpredictable -- is how fast the bread can go bad. You've seen how really good programs can swiftly spiral into part-time irrelevancy within a year or two.
Sometimes it's NCAA sanctions; sometimes it's coaching turnover; sometimes it's repeated misfires in recruiting. With very few exceptions, nothing is guaranteed for college dons, even the illustrious ones with bloated budgets and phone book-thick histories and records. Just check with USC, which has been a college football miscreant most of the past three seasons.
The Huskies are the latest example of this. Look at it now: UConn is so far removed from that 2011 shining moment. It's not the same team and it's certainly not the same program.
