Flawed Lottery System Shows that UConn Simply Doesn’t Care

I didn’t win tickets in this year’s UConn basketball lottery.

I didn’t win last year either.

And I didn’t win the year before that.

I was upset the first two times I didn’t win, but neither of those disappointments compares to what I feel now. I imagine the feeling is the same among my fellow seniors and above (I have a total of 118 credits, either completed or in progress). The first two experiences were annoying, but this time it goes far beyond that – I don’t even have a word to describe it.

When first implemented, the number of times our PeopleSoft numbers were entered into the lottery was based on earned credits – freshman got their number in once, sophomores twice, juniors three times, and seniors four. Well now my fellow three-time losers (and there are LOTS of us) and I get to shine as examples of the students who have been shunned by the system because our number never came up.

I’ve tried to imagine some eloquent way to describe the flaws in the lottery system, but none come to mind, so all I can do is speak the truth: this is a terrible system. Over the past few months, UConn Athletics has claimed to work to increase school spirit with its new programs (e.g. the Spirit Squad, and we know how well THAT was received), but the reality is that Athletics seems more inclined to put convenience ahead of school spirit. They don’t care who gets the tickets, all they seem to care about is that the tickets get sold. After that it doesn’t appear to be their problem.

I went to check out the Facebook group, “Buy or Sell UConn Tickets,” after the lottery winners were announced, and I was less than surprised by what I saw. Within minutes of receiving their congratulatory emails, there were literally hundreds, HUNDREDS of students, offering to sell their ticket packages to the highest bidder. And the asking prices were absurd:

$90 for Women’s games at the XL Center…(which cost $2 per ticket face value)

$150 for Men’s games at the XL Center…

$250 for Men’s games at Gampel Pavilion…etc…etc…

One guy was offering $300 for Men’s Gampel and XL games, and posted “my loss is your gain, men’s Gampel and XL for only $300!” Thanks UConn for turning our student body into the next generation of Slick Rick used car salesmen. Students who won the lottery paid $108 total for both sets. Slick Rick here will generously sell us his tickets for around three times that amount. I feel so blessed by his charity.

There was a time, a time before online lotteries, before colored wristbands, when basketball tickets were based on a first-come, first-served basis. There was a day when the tickets would go on sale, and students camped out and lined up accordingly. It was a perfect system. It weeded out the true fans from the people who want to make a quick buck. True fans will walk through the gates of hell to get UConn basketball season tickets. These price gougers just wait for a little bit of luck.

My friend, Marcus Lynam, an anchor/producer with UCTV Sports, posted a blog about the lottery system shortly after the emails were sent out. In his post, he reminded us that the Gampel student section holds 2,600 people, which is just around 16% of the student body. Luckily, for us sports fans, not every UConn student cares about going to a UConn basketball game, or any sporting event for that matter. In the old system, would they have ever shown up to wait in line? But now, thanks to the lottery, they too can sign up for tickets they don’t even want. And when they win? PROFIT!

By the way, Marcus is a junior. His number went into the lottery three times. He didn’t win either.

UConn Athletics claims to want to increase school spirit, and yet they take away our signs, limit our camp out times, and create a lottery system that reduces our best fans to unfortunate saps who have to enter bidding wars, and turn other students into heartless profiteers who bank on the misery and devotion of the die-hard fans who simply weren’t lucky enough.

This has been a tough year for America, and the student body at UConn has not been spared the effects of a down economy. We have faced budget cuts, lost programs, and paid higher tuition, to say nothing of how the downturn has affected our students at home. Why does our school’s athletic department seem so content on making it that much harder for our biggest fans to get basketball tickets? Haven’t they suffered enough?

And I’m not buying the notion that Athletics isn’t aware of the problem, because I’m sure plenty of people have been complaining. The only conclusion I can draw is that they simply don’t care about the student fans.

UConn men’s and women’s basketball games, especially at Gampel, are a sight to see. The students who attend the games are devoted. They’re loud. They’re the sixth man for home teams that usually don’t need the extra help, but it’s certainly a nice addition. When Big Red stands up from his seat, charges up the student section, and leads the U! C! O! N! N! chant, I will forever maintain that this is one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard. There’s nothing quite like it. These games allow us the chance to escape the outside world, if only for a few hours. Inside the arena, we don’t need to worry about the molecular biology exam the next day, or the 10-page history midterm paper we haven’t started yet. As top tier UConn fans, our only job during the game is to show up and cheer loudly. Is Athletics really going to make us jump through hoops to get that experience?

In Marcus’ blog, he also wrote about a system being utilized by major schools like Florida, UCLA, Maryland and Texas where students “garner points by attending athletic events other than the big time sports” like football and basketball. When it comes time to buy tickets for the big sports, preference is given to the students with the most points. Athletics wants school spirit? There it is. It draws fans to the sporting events that usually don’t get many fans, and rewards the most devoted students when basketball season rolls around. How hard could it be to implement that system at UConn? It’s the perfect system for any school with a reputation for top-notch athletic programs.

But then again, anything at this point would be better than the lottery.

UConn defeats Rhode Island 52-10

The Huskies improved to 3-1 on the season Saturday with a win over the Rhode Island Rams. The game was never in question as UConn came out firing, scoring on the opening drive in just 6 plays. Although their numbers weren't huge, the ground game duo of Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman is still proving to be an extremely effective offensive weapon. Dixon lead the ground game with 98 yards on 17 carries, while Todman contributed 70 yards and 3 scores. Reserve back Robbie Frey also shed some light late scoring twice in the final 8 minutes, one on an impressive 54 yard run to seal the deal. Cody Endres started for the 2nd game in a row and orchestrated the best game of his career, completing 23 of 30 passes for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the first half Endres looked uncomfortable in the pocket, missing one-on-one coverage and holding onto the ball for too long. Head Coach Randy Edsall said after the game that Endres needs to work more on anticipating plays developing and putting more confidence in the receivers to make the plays. Endres' target of choice for the game was sophomore Michael Smith, who reeled in 8 catches for 82 yards. Smith was targeted mainly in crossing routes, where the Rhode Island secondary seemed to have the hardest time defending him. Freshman Mike Lang also had a breakout game, recording the first receptions and touchdown of his career, catching 2 passes for 58 yards and a score. Endres hit Lang on a strike down the sideline, which he took 50 yards to the house in the closing minutes of the third quarter.

On the defensive side of the ball, UConn's front line was relentless, holding URI to just 40 yards on the ground. QB Chris Paul-Etienne was limited to just 108 yards in the air, throwing 2 interceptions and being sacked 3 times. The key to the UConn defense was their ability to stop URI on third down, allowing just one third-down conversion in 15 attempts. URI ran out of the shotgun the majority of their 3rd down attempts, and the front line consistently pressured Paul-Etienne into a scramble. Defensive End Lawrence Wilson lead the Huskies with 12 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 TFL. Edsall commented on Wilson's performance after the game, saying he played "just OK" because Wilson is the man on defense that should be making those plays, and was quick to point out that he had a few missed tackles on some screens. Nevertheless, Wilson had a very successful game, especially with the lack of production from Lindsey Witten, who has been bothered by a GI illness throughout the week. The secondary was lead by captain Robert McClain, who picked off 2 passes in the first half. Cornerback Jasper Howard also had a very good game with 8 tackles, most of which came off URI's screens and quick slants.

UConn enters a bye week this week where they will rest and hopefully get some injured players healthy for Big East rival Pittsburgh the following week. Coach Edsall said he does not know the status of QB Zach Frazier for Pittsburgh, saying that he is rehabbing his injured knee and he will be back on the field as soon as he is cleared to do so. As of right now, Cody Endres will still be getting first team reps and is slated to start.

Halftime: UConn 24 - Rhode Island 7

As expected, the UConn Huskies have had no problem with the Rams of Rhode Island. The defensive line has been outstanding, holding Anthony Ferrer to just 13 yards on 6 attempts. QB Chris Paul-Etienne is 6 of 9 passing for 90 yards with a score and 2 interceptions, both by Robert McClain. The defensive front has been putting lots of pressure on Paul-Etienne, throwing 5 and 6 man blitzes on almost every third down, forcing him out of the pocket and causing him to make mistakes. On the offensive side, UConn had a lot of success on the ground and in the air in the first half, as the Huskies needed just 6 plays to take the lead. Jordan Todman is the leading man on the ground, with 67 yards on 10 attempts with 2 TDs. Andre Dixon has added 40 yards on the ground, as well as an 18 yard TD catch to open the game. Endres statistically looks good, going 12 for 15 for 152 yards and a touchdown. However, his pocket presence needs to improve, as he has been sacked 3 times, all of which he sat in the pocket for too long. He is also having problems keeping the ball off the ground, as he has fumbled multiple times within the pocket.

2009 New England Patriots Season Preview

The New England Patriots are coming into the 2009 NFL Season with a number of new faces on the roster. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is yet to be determined. Last season now seems like a blur. Having won 11 games after losing their best player and still not making the playoff was a huge blow, but this year looks to be a season of redemption for the Patriots of New England. Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, is finally back and healthy. Matt Cassel, his backup from last year, has been shipped off to Kansas City along with longtime outside linebacker Mike Vrabel and Ex-Director of Player Personnel Scott Pioli. Josh McDaniels, who was the O-Coordinator from last year’s team, is now the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos as well. However, most people in New England agree that as long as Bill Belichick is still around, that is all that really matters.

After a long and successful career in Jacksonville, RB Fred Taylor has joined the New England backfield committee alongside Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Joey Galloway has been added to the receiving corps to go with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, while TE Chris Baker has signed over from the New York Jets. This offense, which has always been anchored by its great lineman upfront, looks armed and ready to have a terrific season once again.

The Defense on the other hand has much to prove. Just this week the Patriots traded away former first round draft pick Richard Seymour, who had been a stalwart defensive lineman for this team for the better half of the last decade. The Raiders sent a 2011 first round draft choice in compensation for Seymour. Rodney Harrison & Tedy Bruschi have recently retired, Mike Vrabel went to Kansas City, Ellis Hobbs was traded to Philadelphia and well….you get the idea. Only 5 returning starters will be back for the Patriots defense this season, and plenty of responsibility will be put on guys like Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, and JeRod Mayo to make sure that this defense holds up with the reputation of the past.

One last hometown note, former UConn standout defensive back Darius Butler was selected by the Patriots in the 2^nd Round of April’s NFL Draft and he has made the team with flying colors. After having a great training camp and pre-season, Butler looks to notch some immediate playing time as a backup cornerback, and will be on the field right away in nickel formations. Good luck Darius!

UConn 23 Ohio 16

The Huskies travelled to Ohio University on Saturday and came away with a victory over the hometown Bobcats. The Huskies defense looked strong all game allowing only 247 yards to Ohio. The Offense, however, could go from dominate to confused in a matter of plays. 

The team was led by the backfield tandem of Sophmore Jordan Todman and Senior Andre Dixon. Todman finished with 157 yards on 25 carries and walked in for the teams last touchdown early in the fourth. Dixon carried the ball 19 times for 100 yards and also caught two passes for 20 yards.

Junior quarterback Zach Frazer was erratic at best throughout the game finishing with 11 completions on 24 attempts for 127 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. While two of the interceptions were arguably not Frazer's fault, as they bounced off open receivers hands to the defenders, Frazer also considerably under threw an uncovered Brad Kanuch forcing him to comeback to catch the ball on a 35 yard touchdown pass.

The Defense was led by Senior defensive end Lindsey Witten who finished with three sacks including a  saftey in the third quarter. Junior linebacker Lawrence Wilson led the team with nine tackles.

The Huskies will take on the 20th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, who beat The Citadel 40-6 on Saturday, next Saturday at 7P.M. in Rentschler Field.