Jim Mora and the UConn football program just capped off a spectacular 2024 season with a 27-14 win over North Carolina in the Fenway Bowl, moving the Huskies to 9-4.
It was the most wins for Connecticut football since 2007 and their first bowl victory since 2009, and with their success has come all kinds of attention.
Some of that is warranted, and likely welcomed by the program, which has been pretty much dormant since it became independent in 2021.
However, there are other things happening in Hartford that Mora and the Huskies are aware of and prepared to fight tooth and claw to keep at bay.
The transfer portal and NIL eras have created a monster that resembles NFL free agency without any of the contractual obligations — a highest-bidder, winner-takes-all kind of free agency.
After taking down an ACC team in the Fenway Bowl, UConn’s best players are drawing attention from programs looking to poach them, and Mora isn’t about to let that happen.
The Huskies’ head coach sent out a post on Twitter Monday morning, warning those who might try and tamper with the players in his program.
“A simple note to the schools and coaches that have blatantly broken @NCAAFootball rules by tampering with our players in the last 24 hours,” Mora wrote. “We do know who you are, we will pursue all avenues to hold you accountable. We are excited that we’ve built a program where coaches have to cheat to beat us and we will protect that program. Think hard before you tamper with our players.”
As an independent, UConn doesn’t have a conference affiliation or a commissioner they can use to help fend off the proverbial wolves at the door, so Mora is taking matters into his own hands. But, have the Huskies proven that their program is worthy of a Big 12 bid?
Check out the latest from HCS owner Pete Mundo, who discusses the topic after UConn’s latest win.
