Among the movers and shakers featured on our 'Bearcat Fever: Climb to the Top' special which airs Saturday night, is Larry Sheakley.
He is the guy who funded the Sheakley Lawn in honor of his Dad, Ray, a UC grad. Larry has undertaken the task of raising money for an upgrade of athletic facilities.
In a frank give and take Thursday afternoon on that same lawn, Larry spoke candidly about key moments and people in the restoration and rise of UC's football program.
In his mind, it started November 4, of 2003, when UC joined the Big East Conference.
"There are so many people in this city that still don't understand what the Big East has brought. We no longer need to be a stepping stone for a coach. We're now playing in a BCS conference. We're playing big time football at a big school. That can go to the Orange Bowl. That can go to the Rose Bowl. We never had that before,” he said. “So sure, the first time somebody got offered to coach at another school, they were leaving because we were playing in Conference USA."
On the subject of upgraded facilities, Larry said, "They might shoot me for saying so, but we're 80% of the way toward completing a funding package for practice fields and an all weather dome. Then comes Nippert Stadium."
And he said none of this should be viewed as paying a ransom to keep Brian Kelly.
As Sheakley put it, "We've got to have these things no matter whether Brian's here or not. Its not like we're building a practice facility for Brian Kelly. Whatever coach we bring in here, he's got to have them."
Because the bar has been set high and is getting higher. Larry, who didn't attend UC, but sees its success as crucial to the city, said, "I was talking with a friend of mine yesterday and we both said, almost at the same time, it's almost surreal. That we're in this position this quickly. And if you talk with Brian, He'll tell you it’s quick. He really believes he's going to win a National Championship and he can do it here."
More with Larry Sheakley, Brian Kelly and others related to the program, will have their say during 'Bearcat Fever: Climb to the Top' at 7:00 p.m. Saturday on Channel 9.
I'll be blogging live during the UConn game that follows at 8:00 p.m., with a complete wrap up of what we all presume will be UC's 9th straight win on 9News after the game.
