Monday, December 2, 2013

UCONN Mystique Continues as Napiers' Legacy Grows

Add another to the where were you moments in UCONN men's basketball history. After Shabazz Napier's off-balance free throw line jumper dropped to give the Huskies an incredible 65-64 win over the 15th ranked Florida Gators, mayhem erupted inside Gampel Pavilion. From utter chaos in the student section, to the team all but exiting the building, Napier's jumper has added to the nostalgia that has surrounded this program over the past several years.

The heir apparent to Kemba Walker's throne, Napier has lived up to the billing. A more potent three point shooter, Shabazz has all the tools to lead his team to glory come March, much like Kemba was able to do in 2011. But first things first, this team has something to prove.

Sitting at 8-0 and a couple of their toughest tests behind them, the Huskies are looking to make a statement about more than a couple of things; that their No. 12 ranking, is much too low, that last year's postseason ban does not a program make and lastly, to all the UCONN players that bolted following the NCAA sanctions, there is only one word, quitters.

A true test makes a man. Adversity makes people grow. Losers only run from hard times.

Shabazz's decision to stay in Storrs, especially after his mentor Jim Calhoun swiftly retired amid the NCAA sanctions, was the turning point to keeping this program afloat. The Kevin Ollie appointment no doubt will solidify things long after Shabazz leaves Storrs, but minus the Roxbury, MA native, Ollie may not have survived his seven month trial run given to him by athletic director Warde Manuel.

That is what makes last nights' event that much more spectacular. Shabazz, Niels Giffey and Tyler Olander could have easily turned their backs on the program following the NCAA's hammer given to the men's basketball program.

When all is said and done come year's end, UCONN can thank these seniors for sticking it out and honoring the commitment they made to state U. Senior day at Gampel is going to be special. UCONN fans should enjoy every moment from here on out, because during this Thanksgiving season, they have a lot to be thankful for.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Turning the Page - UCONN Begins Life After Pasqualoni

A weight was lifted off of everyone's shoulders Tuesday afternoon as the UCONN football team took the field for their first ever practice under new head coach TJ Weist. There was life, there was fun and there was music? Practice opened with tunes blaring during warm-ups, a move by Weist that most unboubtedly signals not only change, but they will have fun implementing it.

Standing on the podium Monday afternoon, it was hard not to notice the confidence that Coach Weist possesses and with it came a presence that drew anyone in the rooms' attention. Hanging around with the likes of the Harbaugh's, Les Miles and Cam Cameron will do that. Learning from the best will most definitely create a sense of confidence within one self, but it remains to be seen if this will flow down to the players on the field.

Having a new leader, a true leader at that, bodes well as the Huskies prepare to open up conference play next Saturday. He has a voice, demands the best out of his players both on and off the field and most defintiely has the support of athletic director Warde Manuel, president Susan Herbst and everyone associated with UCONN and the program.

Tuesday's practice was step one in distancing the program from the Pasqualoni era. Changes have already rocked the depth chart and expect more to come. True freshman quarterback Tim Boyle will be leading the offense when it hits Rentschler Field against South Florida. The offensive line will be using a new scheme, reverting back to new and former offensive line coach Mike Foley's tactics that was oh so successful during the Randy Edsall days where Jordan Todman, Donald Brown, Andre Dixon, Cornell Brockington and Terry Caulley all made names for themselves that had some calling UCONN, running back U.

Should the line be able to pick up quickly on what Foley is installing, UCONN fans could see an entirely different identity from the offense come next Saturday.

Boyle is a flame thrower and is much more comfortable and mobile in the pocket than the ousted Chandler Whitmer. Standing at 6' 5" the Xavier product will have no trouble seeing over the line compared to the well-documented difficulties that Whitmer had.

Should holes begin to open up for running back Lyle McCombs in the running game, his numbers could resemble those of his true freshman days, when he ran for over 1,000 yards.

Health is another factor that is in the Huskies corner as they open up conference play. Wide receiver Shakim Phillips should be back to once again solidify a receiving corp that is without question the best the Huskies have ever put on the field.

On the other side of the ball defensive coordinator Hank Hughes may be looking to make some changes of his own. Whether its schematically, with personnel changes or just plain creating a new mentality, Hughes will be looking to put a stamp on what could be his last hurrah in a 14 year career in Storrs.

Manuel had one simple message to Weist and his staff, 'just win.' The coaches will be fighting for their jobs the rest of the way and Tuesday was just the beginning of creating a new mentality around UCONN's football program.

One thing is certain, I was dead wrong about the leaders at the University of Connecticut. Warde Manuel and Susan Herbst do care about the football program and for that, I applaud them in taking action, when action was necessary. Making change, when change was necessary. Now it's time we see it on the field.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

UCONN Head Coach Paul Pasqualoni Buffalo Press Conference Transcript

Paul Pasqualoni Opening Comments:
"Well we are looking forward to getting started today. First big work day for the game plan. We did a little bit on Sunday and today is first and second down day. It will be our first road trip. We have some young players, we have quite a few first year players so, I am a little concerned for how we'll travel, we'll talk to them a lot about that. You know, Buffalo has a very very good football team here, they have some outstanding players so we are really going to have to prepare. The process of getting ready is what it is and we are going to have to go after it with energy and the same kind of passion we've had the last few weeks.

Q1 - John Silver: "Paul, can you talk about you know this is first and second down day. You've struggled on first down this year and that's really cascaded on the offense. What are you seeing on first down and where do you have to improve?"

A: "Well, we have to improve everywhere John. We have to improve on the run game. We are going to work through blocking their fronts and blocking their blitzes on first and second down and plays we're going to call and protections we are going to use and the routes and the play actions and we'll do the same thing on the other side of the ball defending what they do, so you know, you do what you do every week and hope you come up with a good plan and you execute it."

Q2 - : "Talk about some of the young players who played last week especially Jhavon."

A: "Jhavon gave us a consistent night. He was in the right place on that zone when he got that first tip on that first third down conversion and maybe the biggest play for him on the night was the go route when they went after him and he cut the defender off into the sideline which was really a good play for anybody, let alone a freshman. So, he played, he's got a long way to go, he's got a lot to learn, you know you don't learn it all in one year, but he played consistent football for us, helped us some in run support so he's got to keep his focus and not be distracted like everybody and a little harder when you're a freshman."

Q3 - Wayne Morgan: "The running game has struggled, but can you talk about the lift Delorenzo and Foxx have given the running game on Saturday."

A: "Deshonn on the speed sweep is really pretty fast, he was a running back in high school, so that's one of his strengths is running with the ball, for sure. So that helped us, we got a couple yards there and Max is kind of a good change up kind of guy, made a few yards. I thought he had another opportunity to make a few more yards on one play, so you knwo those change ups really help. I like the way those guys are working, I like their energy, throw Martin Hyppolite in there too. Obviously Lyle is getting more of the time, but those other guys are very very ready and very very willing to go in so we have to keep building on that, we really do."

Q4 - Desmond Conner: "Just to follow up on that Paul, on Max, it seemed like he's the guy that heats up the more he gets the ball, do you see that and is that something you look at?"

A: "Yea, I think he heats up the more he hits the right hole. I think certainly when you're making a few yards, you're playing with a lot of energy, that's for sure. But I think Des, there's something about one of those guys getting hot and then playing them a little more, that was always I thought a big thing. You got a back that's seeing things and got a great feel for it that night, so I think that is true, I think there's validity to that."

Q5 - "Coach, you normally don't talk about building from a loss, but how has the team's energy been after what they did on national TV and how they played?"

A: "Well, yea I think their energy was very good coming off the first game which was so disappointing and coming off the Maryland game I thought was good and it was really pretty good on Sunday. They watched the film, they see the film. Michigan made a couple more plays than we did. We made one or two many mistakes too many. You know they see all that and they know if we get those things corrected. And the goal for us to get ready is to improve this week, that's the real focus. The real focus ahs got to be we have a long season ahead of us yet and in a lot of ways we have our season ahead of us. Going into the game people asked me what would you want people to see from this game, and my response was I would like them to see a team that knows how to play football, knows how to handle themselves and can be physical and can be tough. You know I'm saying the same again thing this week and I'll say the same thing every week. We want to play great football, fundamentals, technique, assignments, take peopole on, it's a game of attrition, play that way. So that's the goal, its about us, its about us getting better and that's what I'm looking for this week. Because when you play good, it's fun. When you don't play well and I'm saying assignments, fundamentals, techniques, when it's not good sound football, then it's not fun. You always have a chance when you know what you're doing and you're playing good sound fundamental football and you believe in what you're doing and you stay with it, you'll always have a chance regardless to win. So that's the approach."

Q6 - "Can you talk about the progress of Spencer Parker and on the TD play was he the primary receiver or was he the second or third option?"

A: "Nope. On that play you look inside out, there's two guys. There's the tight end and then there's the receiver outside him. The safety got outside him and that's kind of where you look first and Chandler did a great job of getting the ball off on time. You know, he is fast, he runs, you know Ryan Griffin was a terrific receiver with really great hands and a pretty crafty route runner. If you lined them both up in a 40 yard draft, Parker would win. He's fast, he's legit fast for a tight end so I think that surprises people a little bit. I thought he showed it on that play, hopefully he can build on that and keep getting better, good to have a fast guy like that, that can get out into the seam."

Q7 - Jim Fuller "You go back to the Maryland game, you guys are 2-26 on third downs and only 4 postive plays during that stretch, where do you start to try to address that?"

A: "You know, third down is a lot like first and second down. You know, that's tomorrow. So we get to do this tomorrow, we get to do it on first and second and try to get things going on first and second down today. What you do is you try to come up with based on the down and distance what you feel your best chance to convert third downs and we work really hard at it. We go out there and rehearsh them and rehearsh them and rehearsh them and we just didn't do very well, we just didn't play very well on third down last week. So we got to go out and come up with the plan and make sure we got the protections right and make sure we have the coverages right and make sure the quarterbacks are seeign the right reads and the receivers are running the right routes. You knwo we're playing with a lot of young guys. I thought Peyton Manning had a great, you guys probably read that article on the drill we call routes on air and how important that drill is in his words. I think he called it the most important drill in the practice. It's the drill where you go out and run your pass routes and there's no defense there. So the quarterback goes back and his job is to get the ball out on time and the receivers job is to get the proper depth, hit the right stems and get to the right landmark on the field because the quarterback's got to throw the ball before he gets to the landmark and the quarterbacks got to have 100% confidence that the receivers going to be exactly wehre he needs to be becasue the rush and the blitz and everything else is coming. So part of the issue with us is we have so many young players and so many first year guys in the game that you have to work and work and work on that. Now on the TD to Parker he was in exactly the right spot. That was well done and Chandler did a great job of getting the ball out. At any level that was done as well as I've seen it done on that route. Now you got to do that consistently and there's a lot of routes. We got one picked a two weeks ago becasue we weren't exactly where we needed to be, but if you're going to be a team that drops back and throws the ball, that's how you have to do it and it's a huge commitment to do it and you hope that you develop chemistry and players have confidence in each other and their dependable and they're doing the right thing. I wish we could do it overnight, I really do, cause if we could do it overnight I promise you we'd do it."

Q8 - "The defense the last couple weeks had been criticized, but held Michigan to under 300 yards and 4 turnovers. Can you talk about the confidence they got out of this game?"

A: "We just didn't play very well against Towson and against Maryland we really didn't play bad, we didn't tackle very well and we gave them the touchdown because we flat out missed the tackle on a blitz where we had the guy cold, stoned, done and he shook it and we missed him and he got in the end zone and then the next 3 points we gave up on a blown coverage and then we played great red zone and they went with their 2 point play right before the half to get in the end zone, the kids did a great job with that and they kicked a field goal. So agaisnt Maryland really in the first half we gave up 10 points. So the kids come in and they see that on the film and they say geeze, what if we had made that tackle, what if we had not blown that coverage, they wouldn't of had any points at halftime. And then we come back to Michigan and in the first half I think they had seven points so that's pretty good that's not too bad and then we give up that option deal on that check and the kids know that's on us, so you know I think their confidence is if we can consistently do and execute what we're supposed to do we have a chance to play really good defense. It was good to see Reuben get off the ball and grab a sack and tackle for a loss, get a little speed back in the rush. Good to have Jesse Joseph in there, have more young players; Tyree Clark had to come in, he hadn't played, Taylor Mack was hurt, we talked about Jhavon, he's playing, Obi's still a freshman, Jefferson Ashiru is in the game like that for the first time. First year, Ryan Donohue has played, but this is his first year starting too, Julien Campenni is in there, his first year starting too. You know so I think if we keep on working on defense and can execute I think we can be a pretty good defense."

Q9 - "Paul, back to the young guys. With Shakim out, talked about the timing with John that would have been a first down, how are you going to get prodcution out of that second WR to get open up Geremy and Deshon?"

A: Well we are going to go out and as I said earlier we are going to have the game plan and what we're doing on first and second down and third down routes and play action and we are going to go out and work our fannies off on it. You know the younger guys have got to master running the routes and Chandler has got to have confidence they are going to be where they need to be and that's how we have to do it. We'll make decisions based on the coverages they play and we'll take what the defense gives, we always do and try to attack their coverage where we think it's weak and we'll attack that, that'll have a lot to do with it and we just have to execute, that's all we can do."

Q10 - "Paul, now that you've had time to look back at the interception that Chandler threw, the guy made a tremendous one hand stab, but what were the problems with that play?"

A: "Well, the only issue was it was a tight window and he thought he could get it over the linebackers head. It was kind of the exact same throw as the last, it's the same play on the other side the last play of the game where he fit it in there. The linebacker just had a little more depth and just really surprised me that he got up in the air so high with one hand, so that was really the issue with the play, it was a good play, the kid just made a play, that's all."

Q11 - "Paul, what do you want to see out of Chandler in this game?"

A: "Here's what I'd like to see, I'd like to see the approach that Chandler took after Geremy's catch was replayed and taken back. So what happens now? So we make this great play and they rule its a no catch, so in a game like that, it's a pretty big play, so we come back on the sideline and Chandler had a great look cause we're calling the next play now they're replaying this thing, I'm saying to myself let's get ready for the next play, so we grab Chandler, ok Chandler, here's what we're gonna do, so he's got a great look in his eye, he's goes out there, we all know what happened, we got to a third down and he makes the play, so that type of fire, that type of toughness mentally, come back and lets go after it. I'd like to see that every single series, that's what I'd like to see and he knows it and he's working on it and that's what I'd like to see out of any quarterback that plays here."

Q12 - "Does he need to improve his play?"

A: "Chandler is playing, when he gets the ball out on time, he's managing the run game well, he gets the ball out quick. We need to run the ball better and we need to protect better and we need to help him out too. It's always the QB the QB the QB, but there's the supporting cast that helps the QB too, we gotta do a better job all around."

Q13 - "Paul you guys are next to last in rushing in the nation and next to last in most sacks allowed. I was looking back to the defense of Michigan, Maryland and Towson, they are all at the top in all those areas, has the offensive line been as bad as the statistics say or is something..?"

A: "We've struggled a little bit with not having Kevin Friend in there to be honest with you, there's a few sacks in there and we're getting a little bit more accustomed to the adjustments we have to make in the protection, getting the help on the people that we need to help and we're going to have to help on some guys this week that's for sure. So I think its a little bit of personnel and a little bit of making the right adjustments, try to keep the QB upright and give him a chance to throw the ball, that's what I think it is."

Q14 - "You said early in the season you'd love to have a situation where you'd have a tailback and a fullback and the fullback has been in a very small number of plays, is he just not ready blocking wise?"

A: "Well, we have one fullback right now and he's a freshman, Matt Walsh is a great kid, he's gonna be a great player, so right now we don't have that experienced older guy there which I really think you really need. I think it's a lot to ask of a first year player coming in. He's doing well, he's in the game on goaline and short yardage and that type of stuff so we'll see how that goes, see how that develops."

Q15 - "You were saying the future of the season is still in front of you guys, the three teams you've played are 12-0 so how do you put this in perspective for the guys going forward?"

A: Well, you know I don't know if I put it in perspective. We go into every game and we expect to win. We went into Saturday night expecting to win, we might have been the only ones, but we did. We expect to win this week and as I said earlier this is only about us, this is about us getting better individually as players, as a team, it's a complimentary game, we haven't had one yet, we had a chance to do it Saturday night, didn't do it enough, so my perspective is just keep your nose to the grindstone, focus on the little things, take care of the things you can control, there's some things you can't control, don't try to control what you can't control, just focus on what you can control and that's you, your effort, your attitude, your hustle, your fundamentals, your technique, your assignments, on and on, so that's all I keep saying and that's all we keep working on and we're gonna go out today and we're gonna work on energy and passion for the game and prepare to win our biggest game of the year cause it's our next game up in Buffalo and that's what we're gonna do."

Q16 - "You've got a lot of young players, how do you keep them from getting down since they're 0-3?"

A: There's no entitlements in this game. You're not entitled to anything in this game. We have all good coaches. Everything you get in this game, you're gonna earn every yard, every win, every point in this game, at this level of football. So are you entitled to have a scholarship? No, I don't think so. Are you entitled to have a great facility? No, I don't think so. Are you entitled to a certain amount of wins? No you're not, you know it's life. When you get down to it, this game is a lot like life. You know, it's tough. Life is tough. You get up and you go to work every day. Once you're done with your undergraduate degree and the reality of the real world hits and you go out and have to wake up at 6 o'clock in the morning every day, that's the education in my opinion. The other side of the pancake is, I always thought this and I went through this and I was a Division I football player too, ok, so 40 years after I graduate, I'm not so sure that psychology class really what I remember from that psychology class, you guys are a lot smarter than me so you're probably a little different, but I remember a whole lot about what I learned going through the battles that we're going through right now and that's more what I apply to everyday life and that's part of the process and to me that's part of the education of the kids being here and it's part of being a division 1 football player. Now to go back on the part of perspective, the thing that I have to keep in perspective is that I'm delaing with young kids getting an education, it's not hte NFL. We are very positvie with them, we look at it as being an educator, we look at it as teaching, we look at it as the wholistic development of every student athlete and keep that all in perspective, that's the hard part. Becasue the expectations are let's beat Michigan every Saturday, which is fine, becasue I have no problems with those expectations."

Q17 - "What parts of Buffalo's game concern you the most?"

A: "This guy Mack, this outside linebacker, he's as good an outside LB as there is in Division 1 fooball, period. If this guy doesn't go in the first round then I'll be surprised, I'd take him in the first round, he's that type of player so we can start there. He's a really really good, everybody struggles to block the guy on film. I like their secondary, I think they play well. i think they've settled in on a QB who is really a drop back passer, probably the leading passer in the history of NY high school football. I really like the tailback, Oliver is a difference maker, certainly one of the best players in their conference. No. 19 WR is one of the better players in their conference. I like their offensive line a great deal. The left side is very strong and very phsyical. They blocked the guys from Ohio State, you watch them last year, they blocked the guys from Georgia. They've had a week to prepare, and they have some very good players. Been 2 hard fought battles with them in the 2 years I've been here so I'm anticipating a hard fought game."

Q18 - "The last two games you've played some running type QB's, nice to have a guy that sits back in the pocket?"

A: "I don't know, careful what you wish for. This is a different style QB than what we've faced the last two weeks, that's for sure. This QB can really get the ball out on time and is very accurate. Taller player like 6' 3". They have some quick backs, some good receivers and some good tight ends."

Q19 - "Going back to Chandler, you say you say the look you want from him in sputs. Why? Is it personality..?"

A: "I didn't say spurts, I said I really liked it at the tough part of the game. You're dying to make a big play and we made a big play so it'd be easy to lose concentration or lose focus there. Chandler has been a really tough kid for us, not only physically, but he's been pretty tough mentally too so I just liked the energy and the fire right there and I thought it was a great example of how you respond."

Q20 - "Coach, a couple tense moments on Brian on the punt return, is there any concern with him?"

A: "Well, I probably shouldn't have done it to him at the end of the first half, but we were returning the punt pretty good in the first half last game. So I got a little greedy, called a timeout and made them punt the ball just becasue I thought we were doign a pretty good job holding people up and he had a lot of space to catch the ball in and he darn near came out of one of those which he has the ability to do so I had vsions of getting the ball up around midfield, hitting a chunk and kicking a field goal before we went in. It was a tough play for him right there before the end of the half, he's got to do a better job with that, but he saved us some yards on a few catches there, where a week ago he may have let that ball hit the ground, it may have rolled another 15 yards, I think he's improving and i got to be a little more careful in what I ask him to do, he's not a seasoned vet."

Q21 - "What's your opinion on what's wrong with Cole Wagner?"

A: "I think the problem with a kicker and punter is your only as good as your last punt, regardless of how good you are, it's always the last one that you're evaluated on. But as in every other position, it's the technique that you evaluate and when you catch the ball, you've got to be into your footwork when you catch it, so he's working hard on that and that's probably most of it."

Q22 - "Injury updates?"

A: "Optimistic on all of them. We're going to find out more this afternoon and as the week goes on. Right now we will try to answer the questions as the week goes on."

Q23 - "Environment was the best you've ever been in."

A: "That environment, I don't know about you guys, I've been in some good environments it at least equaled, that environment was as good as it gets. And it's a teaching moment, that's how we want it week in and week out. The fans were just unbelievable, the whole thing was just great."

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Why There Should Be Hope, No Matter How Slim It Is

The countdown has hit two days until the most anticipated home game in the history of the UCONN football program. Many here are writing the Huskies off, who at last check, are sitting as 18 point underdogs at home. The spread is far and away the largest point differential against the home team in the 10-plus year history of Rentschler Field.

Even the most diehard of fans are finiding it hard to think of a situation where the outcome will be any different, but there are some indications that this game will be closer than the experts believe.

First off is UCONN themselves. Two subpar performances, where, as much as it will pain Huskies fans to hear this, Paul Pasqualoni may be correct. His players have not yet played anywhere near a complete game this season. Be it missed assignments, breakdowns or flat out mental errors, UCONN has shot themselves in the foot many times here in 2013.

Be it Brian Lemelle's dropped punt late in the fourth against Towson, or Taylor Mack's inexcusable attempt to return a field goal against Maryland, the Huskies have beaten themselves more than their opponents have beaten them.

For all the skeptics out there, note this; the Michigan Wolverines have not travelled away from Ann Arbor in a non-conference game outside of Notre Dame and come away victorious since 1999. Yes, teams, players and coaches change every year, and Michigan does not travel away from home out of conference very often, but this is one thing going on UCONN's side of the ledger.

Then there is Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner. The first year starter had Wolverine fans utterly inscensed following the near loss to Akron this past weekend. In three games here in 2013, Gardner has thrown seven touchdowns. However, he has also tossed six interceptions. Remind you of anyone UCONN fans? Against Notre Dame, he threw one in his own end zone when he was up two touchdowns. Against Akron he had one returned twenty-seven yards for another score. Gardner likes taking chances and should the Huskies defense bait him into a couple mistakes, it will be interesting to see if UCONN can use this to their advantage.

On to head coach Brady Hoke. Since he took over for Rich Rodriguez at his alma mater, the maize and blue have only managed to go 5-7 away from home. Included in those twelve games is a 1-1 record in bowl appearances and an absolute melt down last year to Alabama in their season opener. How his young and inexperienced players face what is expected to be a raucous atmosphere Saturday night, will go a long way in determining which team comes out on top.

Finally, there is the home crowd. UCONN fans are salivating at the mere thought of Michigan coming into their house. There will be some Michigan colors in the stands Saturday night, but the majority will still be from the home side. Should the Huskies fans get rowdy and turn a raucous environment into a hostile one, Gardner will be wondering what he walked into in his first ever career start on the road.

The longer the Huskies stay with Michigan, the longer Rentschler Field will be how current NFL quarterback and former Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III portrayed it.

"When we played at UConn my freshman year, that was the loudest place I've ever been as a football player. The stands are right next to the field, it was packed, and everyone was yelling. That was probably the coolest place for me to play at aside from Texas, Texas A&M and Nebraska."

UCONN will be hoping Devin Gardner and the rest of the Michigan players and faithful walk away with the same impression Saturday night.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Depleted Patriots Massive Favorites over Rival Jets

Vegas must know something the rest of us do not because the Pats have gone from an opening line favorite of 8.5 Sunday night, to giving 12.5 points at home against the division rival Jets. Obviously, big time money is being placed on the Patriots, but why?

Danny Amendola, Shane Vereen, Rob Gronkowski and Zach Sudfeld have all already been ruled out of tonight's game.

So that means, thanks to the Kraft's inability to pay Wes Welker properly, thanks to Aaron Hernandez's malfunctioning brain, thanks to Brandon Lloyd's lunacy (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23596663/report-wr-brandon-lloyd-has-turned-down-at-least-six-teams) and thanks to Gronk's offseason workout plan of rape, pillage and plunder, Tom Brady is left to throw to Julian Edelman and a cast of rookies.

Yesterday, Jets fans received the 'disappointing' news that 'unfortunately' Mark Sanchez was done for the season.

On top of that, New York comes in riding high after an improbable comeback that was spurred only by William Gholston's incompetence. But Jets fans will take it. In the win, rookie Geno Smith found a reliable target in Kellen Winslow (7 catches for 79 yards and a score) and surpringly there were no mentions of soldiers after the game.

Edelman will be the main focus of the Patriots passing attack tonight and due to Vereen's broken wrist, Stevan Ridley will get another chance to carry the majority of the load at tailback, following a second half benching due to continued fumble issues in Buffalo.

You have to like where this kid's head is however following an interview with the Boston Globe. '"I never get too high, never get too low," Ridley said. "This was the first game of the 2013 season, and what happened last year just goes to show you that things can change day to day. Coming in and having two turnovers, I can’t blame anybody but myself. I have to man up and come back to work. I’m just going to put my nose in the dirt and keep grinding, man, that’s all I can do."

Ridley said he was happy for Vereen after such a productive game.

"That’s what we try to go out and do every Sunday, every opportunity you get, just capitalize on it," he said. "I’m happy for him, I really am. It sucks for me, to be in this situation, but as a teammate, I have to pat him on the back and just tell him that he did a great job in helping us win this game today."

Ridley also said he has to earn his job back.

"Absolutely," he said. "Two turnovers, man, and I was out of there the rest of the game."'

It's hard to imagine the Patriot offense rolling up and down the field tonight unless rookie free agent receiver Kembrell Thompkins returns to preseason form. The 6' 1" Thompkins is curently the only true deep threat in the lineup. Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson will also see extended action on the outside, but will they see the ball?

Tom Terrific is on record stating whoever knows the offense will get the ball and if you don't, you won't. If he has to throw 30 times to Edelman tonight, the only receiver playing that has caught an NFL touchdown, Brady will.

With so much uncertainty, expect the unexpected at Gillette. Who knows how the night will unfold.

Maryland Game Week - The Future in the Balance

The game that was circled on everyone's calendars since January 3, 2011; Randy Edsall's return to not only the place he built, but the place he deserted without warning.

While there will be boos in his direction come Saturday night at Rentschler Field, the crowd's reaction to Edsall's homecoming has taken a back seat to UCONN's play on the field. The fury and venom that was supposed to be issued in Randy's direction has shifted to displeasure and anger with the current regime. What was to be an event and the closest thing to a public hanging that is allowed in these parts, has become possibly the final act in the Paul Pasqualoni and George DeLeone farewell tour.

So while UCONN officials install the 'temporary' seating for next week's showdown with Michigan, the bleachers may not be the only things leaving The Rent for the last time following the opening three game homestand to start the 2013 campaign.

Should the Huskies defeat Maryland for the second straight year, momentum will carry over to the game against the Wolverines and hope, no matter how slim, will be restored to the fanbase. A loss Saturday and the Huskies are staring down the barrel of an 0-3 start, with rumors already swirling of a potential mid-season dismissal should that happen.

Saturday is no doubt going to decide what exactly the future holds for UCONN football, not unlike that day back in January of 2011 over 2,602 miles southwest of Storrs. It should make for an interesting Saturday night in Connecticut.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Entitled Fanbase

Whining. Complaining. Yelling. Booing. Let's just call it what it was, flat out bitching.

For a second Thursday night, I thought I was sitting through my fiance's period week all wrapped up into three hours instead of opening night at Rentschler Field. With the result, some may actually say that that would have been a more pleasant experience.

Look, there's no doubt that UCONN's loss was not only embarassing, but detrimental to the school's conference realignment hopes that seem to hinge upon this football season. Those that are currently reading in their parent's basement can argue about that on 'The Boneyard' for the next two years.

But was the fans reaction justified? Perhaps...

How about this thought; HAD true freshman Brian Lemelle NOT dropped the punt after the Huskies defense awoke from what seemed like a game-long coma and HAD the Chandler Whitmer led UCONN offense marched down the field as they had one drive earlier and HAD the Huskies stuffed home another 2-point conversion to tie it and force overtime, then OF COURSE the energy and enthusiasm of the UCONN crowd would put them over the top for the W..

Oh wait, no one was left.

It's no secret that UCONN football fans start heading for the exits faster than the French during a military conflict, but even this crowd left me wondering, ‘when did UCONN fans become so entitled?’

Watching the 60” behemoth of a flat-screen (thank you honey) that sits in my living room with wide eyes and a huge smile, as I welcomed college football back with open arms this past weekend; it was hard not to see what separates UCONN from the rest of the country that is so rabid and passionate about the sport.

It's not the talent on the field, to borrow a line from Coach P: 'I promise you that.'

No, what makes an atmosphere as electric as the one seen at Death Valley when Georgia marched in to Clemson on Saturday Night is not the head coach. It's not the mascot. It's not the school colors. Heck, it's not even the players.

Newsflash Connecticut, it's the fans.

Countless coaches, players, athletic directors and school presidents will walk in and out of Storrs over the next several decades; fans are currently hoping a few of those will change sooner rather than later.

But the one constant, is YOU, the fans.

So the question is asked, when things are going tough at home, do you walk out on each other or do you work on things to make the most out of every situation? For the majority and for the sake of the future of our society, hopefully the answer is no.

So why, pray tell, with 3 minutes left and UCONN fresh off a three and out, down just one score, were all of you home, on your way home or in the parking lot?

Where were you; the ones that the players on the field are supposed to be able to rely on for the extra edge and support when things aren't going up to par?

UCONN fans need to seriously look themselves in the mirror and realize that walking out, no matter the reason, has an effect on how the team performs on the gridiron.

RGIII came into The Rent not too long ago and left with this impression: 'When we played at UCONN my freshman year, that was the loudest place I've ever been as a football player. The stands are right next to the field, it was packed, and everyone was yelling. That was probably the coolest place for me to play...'

When Randy Edsall and Maryland come in to Rentschler Field next Saturday night, make of it what you want. Be LOUD, wear blue and root for UCONN, or sit on your asses, leave early and don't care about the actual outcome of the game. The choice is yours.