Sometimes, things happen in life that you later realize have changed your course forever. In the case of UCONN, that moment occurred when Shabazz Napier, who won a National Title with the Huskies his freshman year under Jim Calhoun, stuck to his word when he committed and stayed with the Huskies despite the unjustified, double punishment, postseason ban.
Storrs and the rest of the state of Connecticut will honor the rest of his teammates and coaches, especially fellow loyalists Niels Giffey and Tyler Olander, over the coming days and into the weekend.
I wrote back on December 2nd, after the emotional and electrifying buzzer beater to beat the Floida Gators at Gampel, the following:
"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 Monday 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."
The school rewarded Shabazz Tuesday by adding him to the 'Huskies of Honor,' a special group of UCONN players that made an impact not only on their respective teams, but the program and school as a whole. It marked only the second time since its' inception that a player was added immediately after his final game; Kemba Walker being the other in 2011.
It should come as no surprise that the school would give him this prestigious honor. After everything that transpired; the buzzer beaters, oh were there buzzer beaters, the pep talks, the Larry Bird esque calling out teammates in the media and quiet confidence that this team would get the job done.
What more important a time for this University than what we've witnessed the past few weeks. A school, who is underservedly on the outside looking in, in conference realignment, with the future of UCONN at stake, not only did UCONN fans come through in filling up Madison Square Garden, yet again, but the players put it all on the line and came through victorious time and time again.
UCONN fans, this school and this state will forever be indebted to Shabazz and all his teammates, for what they did during this championship run. Remember this well because we may never see the likes of it again. Thank you Huskies, thank you KO and a simple message to the NCAA, "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BAN US!"
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
The False Portrayal of UCONN Athletics Continues
We've heard the nauseating diatribe over and over again, football drives the bus in conference realignment and will continue to do so moving forward and thus resides the downfall of UCONN athletics.
Texas A&M women's head basketball coach Gary Blair piled on recently when he told the Hartford Courant, "I think what is likely holding UConn back is the football program. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how good their basketball teams or other teams are; football pays the bills and until they improve their football, they probably won't be invited to play in the right conference."
With all due respect to the Hall of Fame coach and every supposed sports expert in the media, UCONN football is not holding anyone back. Let's take a look at this on a factual basis and not as a false pretense that creates a perception that is completely off base.
Have on-field results lacked over the past couple of seasons for the UCONN football program? Yes. Look, any time a school loses nine consecutive games, the season is deemed an utter failure, the team is reported on like the little sisters of the poor and the players and coaches are ridiculed by not only columnists, but by their own fans and fellow classmates.
However, if we want to have an honest dialogue and a true assessment of the UCONN football program as a whole, which has not occurred by anyone, including the school itself, the following surely needs to be talked about.
First up is talent:
UCONN currently has 19 former players on NFL rosters, good for 33rd among all schools nationwide. This puts the Huskies ahead of programs that include the likes of Auburn, Baylor, Kansas State, Louisville, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Washington.
The school also had five players selected in the 2013 NFL draft, good for 10th among all schools, tied with offensive powerhouse Oregon and Texas A&M. Only Florida State (11), Alabama (9), LSU (9), Florida (8), Georgia (8), Rutgers (7), South Carolina (7), Notre Dame (6) and Oklahoma (6), had more.
Not bad for a basketball school, egh?
Next is fan support:
Flash back to November 21st, 2009. The scene is Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. UCONN running back Andre Dixon just scampered off left tackle and walked into the end zone to defeat the Fighting Irish 33-30 in double OT. The post-game interview with head coach Randy Edsall is broadcast nationwide on NBC. UCONN fans are heard boisterously over the comments coming from an emotional head coach who had just lost not only a player, but a son in Jasper Howard just a few weeks before.
Then, there is this take on that historic day for the young Huskies program, from the South Bend Tribune.
"They woke up the echoes after the game last Saturday. Or at least I think the ghosts of Rockne, Leahy, the Gipper and the Four Horsemen would have found it kind of hard to rest with the sound of “We are U-Conn” resounding through the bowels of Notre Dame Stadium after the Irish lost, 33-30, in two overtimes. Maybe the ghosts of Notre Dame legends past thought they were at a basketball game because it certainly sounded like January in Storrs."
UCONN doesn't travel for football? Puh-lease.
Want a take on Rentschler Field, the football home of the Huskies? How about one from former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
"When you were at Baylor, what was the toughest place for you to play in terms of crowd noise?" His answer was somewhat surprising. "The thing that people think is when you go to these big stadiums and they have 80,000 people or 100,000 people, that these are the toughest stadiums to play at, but really, those aren't," Griffin said. "When you have that many people, most of the time, the fans are pretty far away from the field. The toughest places to play are the ones that are jam-packed, are really tight to the field and sit about 45,000 people." Here comes the best part. "When we played at UConn my freshman year, that was the loudest place I've ever been as a football player," Griffin continued. "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..."
Not bad for a school that only plays basketball, huh?
You want facilities? UCONN has facilities. There's this from new UCONN recruiting coordinator Kevin Wolfhausen.
“Gosh I had no idea,” Wolfhausen said. “I mean I knew they had a nice facility but I had no idea it was this nice. Whether it does or doesn’t time will tell and be the true indicator, but it’s a show-me world. Don’t tell me how good you are. Show me. Now, you could say the same thing to me but the thing is we have every opportunity to put this place in front of a lot of people because any time you’re new you’ve got a chance. I mean just look around at this place. You have something to sell."
Finally, let's talk about on-field results, the one thing that matters above all else. While the Huskies did lose nine games a year ago, they also finished the season on a high note, winning their final three, including a 45-10 thrashing of Memphis to close out the year. It needs to be said that terrible teams don't make conference mates look foolish like the Huskies did that day.
You want to talk about conference titles? UCONN has two on their resume since 2007. A Fiesta Bowl appearance? You bet. A dominant win over an SEC powerhouse in a bowl game? Yep. Let's not forget that trip to South Bend mentioned above. How about the team the SEC's Florida Gators lost to in the 2013 Sugar Bowl? You guessed it, UCONN outlasted Louisville on the road that year in overtime.
Since 2007, UCONN has posted a 44-40 regular season record, won two conference championships, appeared in four consecutive bowl games (winning two) and made a BCS bowl appearance.
The 44 wins by a 'fledgling' program are more than or equal to the following P5 conference schools over the same time period:
ACC
Duke (32)
Maryland (36)
NC State (41)
Syracuse (34)
Virginia (35)
Wake Forest (38)
Big Ten
Illinois (37)
Indiana (29)
Minnesota (34)
Purdue (33)
Big XII
Iowa State (31)
Kansas (25)
Pac-12
Cal (38)
Colorado (27)
UCLA (44)
Washington (37)
Washington State (23)
SEC
Arkansas (42)
Kentucky (35)
Mississippi State (44)
Ole Miss (39)
Tennessee (42)
Vanderbilt (37)
Long story short, UCONN football has been much more closer to respectable than awful as many would have you believe. Twenty-three P5 conference programs have had equal or vastly worse records since 2007.
The worst that can possibly be said about the program is they are an average, middle of the pack program, nothing more, nothing less.
As the sports world turns it's attention to Dallas and Nashville over the next two nights as champions are crowned, what many could see is the continuation of an unbelievable run by the most dominating school in the sport. Wins by both the men and women would give UCONN 13 National Championships on the hardwood since 1999; four by the men and nine by the women. The men would have two more than any other program over that same time period. Yes Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina, like it or not, UCONN has been the preeminent men's college basketball school over the past 15 years.
The women can break the tie with Tennessee for the most titles all-time with a win over fellow unbeaten Notre Dame on Tuesday.
Whether or not Storrs will once again be home to two champions in March just as they were ten seasons ago, one thing is for certain. Actions always speak louder than words, wins count far more than anything else in sport. Football may drive the bus come Fall, but during the Madness of March, basketball is always front and center.
UCONN has received all the positive publicity it could ask for over the past three weeks, from overtaking Madison Square Garden in the all important market of New York City, to 40 minutes away from completing another improbable run. Come the end of these forty minutes, don't be surprised to see old state U exploring their conference options. It would be stupid for any of the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII and SEC to take a pass.
Texas A&M women's head basketball coach Gary Blair piled on recently when he told the Hartford Courant, "I think what is likely holding UConn back is the football program. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how good their basketball teams or other teams are; football pays the bills and until they improve their football, they probably won't be invited to play in the right conference."
With all due respect to the Hall of Fame coach and every supposed sports expert in the media, UCONN football is not holding anyone back. Let's take a look at this on a factual basis and not as a false pretense that creates a perception that is completely off base.
Have on-field results lacked over the past couple of seasons for the UCONN football program? Yes. Look, any time a school loses nine consecutive games, the season is deemed an utter failure, the team is reported on like the little sisters of the poor and the players and coaches are ridiculed by not only columnists, but by their own fans and fellow classmates.
However, if we want to have an honest dialogue and a true assessment of the UCONN football program as a whole, which has not occurred by anyone, including the school itself, the following surely needs to be talked about.
First up is talent:
UCONN currently has 19 former players on NFL rosters, good for 33rd among all schools nationwide. This puts the Huskies ahead of programs that include the likes of Auburn, Baylor, Kansas State, Louisville, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Washington.
The school also had five players selected in the 2013 NFL draft, good for 10th among all schools, tied with offensive powerhouse Oregon and Texas A&M. Only Florida State (11), Alabama (9), LSU (9), Florida (8), Georgia (8), Rutgers (7), South Carolina (7), Notre Dame (6) and Oklahoma (6), had more.
Not bad for a basketball school, egh?
Next is fan support:
Flash back to November 21st, 2009. The scene is Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. UCONN running back Andre Dixon just scampered off left tackle and walked into the end zone to defeat the Fighting Irish 33-30 in double OT. The post-game interview with head coach Randy Edsall is broadcast nationwide on NBC. UCONN fans are heard boisterously over the comments coming from an emotional head coach who had just lost not only a player, but a son in Jasper Howard just a few weeks before.
Then, there is this take on that historic day for the young Huskies program, from the South Bend Tribune.
"They woke up the echoes after the game last Saturday. Or at least I think the ghosts of Rockne, Leahy, the Gipper and the Four Horsemen would have found it kind of hard to rest with the sound of “We are U-Conn” resounding through the bowels of Notre Dame Stadium after the Irish lost, 33-30, in two overtimes. Maybe the ghosts of Notre Dame legends past thought they were at a basketball game because it certainly sounded like January in Storrs."
UCONN doesn't travel for football? Puh-lease.
Want a take on Rentschler Field, the football home of the Huskies? How about one from former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
"When you were at Baylor, what was the toughest place for you to play in terms of crowd noise?" His answer was somewhat surprising. "The thing that people think is when you go to these big stadiums and they have 80,000 people or 100,000 people, that these are the toughest stadiums to play at, but really, those aren't," Griffin said. "When you have that many people, most of the time, the fans are pretty far away from the field. The toughest places to play are the ones that are jam-packed, are really tight to the field and sit about 45,000 people." Here comes the best part. "When we played at UConn my freshman year, that was the loudest place I've ever been as a football player," Griffin continued. "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..."
Not bad for a school that only plays basketball, huh?
You want facilities? UCONN has facilities. There's this from new UCONN recruiting coordinator Kevin Wolfhausen.
“Gosh I had no idea,” Wolfhausen said. “I mean I knew they had a nice facility but I had no idea it was this nice. Whether it does or doesn’t time will tell and be the true indicator, but it’s a show-me world. Don’t tell me how good you are. Show me. Now, you could say the same thing to me but the thing is we have every opportunity to put this place in front of a lot of people because any time you’re new you’ve got a chance. I mean just look around at this place. You have something to sell."
Finally, let's talk about on-field results, the one thing that matters above all else. While the Huskies did lose nine games a year ago, they also finished the season on a high note, winning their final three, including a 45-10 thrashing of Memphis to close out the year. It needs to be said that terrible teams don't make conference mates look foolish like the Huskies did that day.
You want to talk about conference titles? UCONN has two on their resume since 2007. A Fiesta Bowl appearance? You bet. A dominant win over an SEC powerhouse in a bowl game? Yep. Let's not forget that trip to South Bend mentioned above. How about the team the SEC's Florida Gators lost to in the 2013 Sugar Bowl? You guessed it, UCONN outlasted Louisville on the road that year in overtime.
Since 2007, UCONN has posted a 44-40 regular season record, won two conference championships, appeared in four consecutive bowl games (winning two) and made a BCS bowl appearance.
The 44 wins by a 'fledgling' program are more than or equal to the following P5 conference schools over the same time period:
ACC
Duke (32)
Maryland (36)
NC State (41)
Syracuse (34)
Virginia (35)
Wake Forest (38)
Big Ten
Illinois (37)
Indiana (29)
Minnesota (34)
Purdue (33)
Big XII
Iowa State (31)
Kansas (25)
Pac-12
Cal (38)
Colorado (27)
UCLA (44)
Washington (37)
Washington State (23)
SEC
Arkansas (42)
Kentucky (35)
Mississippi State (44)
Ole Miss (39)
Tennessee (42)
Vanderbilt (37)
Long story short, UCONN football has been much more closer to respectable than awful as many would have you believe. Twenty-three P5 conference programs have had equal or vastly worse records since 2007.
The worst that can possibly be said about the program is they are an average, middle of the pack program, nothing more, nothing less.
As the sports world turns it's attention to Dallas and Nashville over the next two nights as champions are crowned, what many could see is the continuation of an unbelievable run by the most dominating school in the sport. Wins by both the men and women would give UCONN 13 National Championships on the hardwood since 1999; four by the men and nine by the women. The men would have two more than any other program over that same time period. Yes Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina, like it or not, UCONN has been the preeminent men's college basketball school over the past 15 years.
The women can break the tie with Tennessee for the most titles all-time with a win over fellow unbeaten Notre Dame on Tuesday.
Whether or not Storrs will once again be home to two champions in March just as they were ten seasons ago, one thing is for certain. Actions always speak louder than words, wins count far more than anything else in sport. Football may drive the bus come Fall, but during the Madness of March, basketball is always front and center.
UCONN has received all the positive publicity it could ask for over the past three weeks, from overtaking Madison Square Garden in the all important market of New York City, to 40 minutes away from completing another improbable run. Come the end of these forty minutes, don't be surprised to see old state U exploring their conference options. It would be stupid for any of the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII and SEC to take a pass.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Phil Mushnick on Kevin Ollie: Lies, Ignorance and Incompetent Journalism
Saturday night saw Kevin Ollie's coaching brilliance in full display as UCONN overcame an early 16-4 deficit to roll past the Florida Gators 63-53 in the first national semifinal in North Texas. The insertion of Terrence Samuel, a freshman from Brooklyn, into UCONN's lineup, consisting of 3 ball-handling guards, along with Ryan Boatright and Shabazz Napier, caught the Gators off guard and single-handedly turned the tide in last night's widely perceived upset.
The only ones believing in UCONN prior to tip was UCONN themselves. Confidence has seeped into each and every one of the Huskies beings by the second year head coach. Ollie is one win away from a National Championship in just his second season as head man in Storrs. Hand picked by Jim Calhoun, by now everyone knows the story; eleven NBA teams throughout his 13 year career, mentoring LeBron James and Kevin Durant and returning to UCONN, taking his players under his wings and leading them to live life the right way; not only on the basketball court, but in every aspect of their lives.
So when Phil Mushnick of the New York Post makes a comment so disturbing as the one he made in last night's 'column' about Ollie's so-called 'grammar,' it calls into question his motives, his character and whether the man should still be writing for a newspaper that reaches so many.
"To that endless end, it seems to bother a lot of emailing folks — especially Connecticut taxpayers — that UConn’s second-season, UConn-educated and graduated basketball coach, Kevin Ollie, as a representative of the State’s namesake university and a school that in 2012 was sanctioned for gross academic negligence, is so painfully deficient in fundamental, spoken grammar. They wonder if Ollie, who played for UConn, and, with a new deal that will pay him roughly $1.3 million per plus perks, is the third-highest paid state employee (behind UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma and UConn football coach Bob Diaco), he might consider, if only for the future sake of his recruits, to work on that."
Let's dissect and thoroughly rip apart this statement line by line, shall we?
Mr. Mushnick states 'a lot of emailing folks, especially CT taxpayers' are upset about the way Ollie pronounces words and handles himself during interviews and press conferences. To anyone with a pulse, the only thing Ollie exhibits during these moments is everything you want in a person, a leader and a coach. Supports his players? Check. Treats each one with the utmost respect? Check. Acts like each of them are his own sons and pushes them to succeed in the classroom, just as much as on the court? Check. So Phil, how many emails have you received from Connecticut residents complaining about how KO communicates? One, maybe two? An actual number would go a long way in supporting what you say.
Next up, Phil takes a shot at UCONN as a whole when he mentions that Ollie is a 'UConn-educated and graduated basketball coach.' After a quick look-up to see just how valuable a UCONN education is, according to the latest 2014 rankings put together by US News and World Report, the University of Connecticut is rated the 19th best public school in the nation, ahead of the reputable University of Maryland and Purdue University, just to name two.
Not surprisingly, Mushnick hops on board the 'academic sanctions' bandwagon when he states 'a school that in 2012 was sanctioned for gross academic negligence.' Just because a class of basketball players did not graduate and received poor grades, does not mean the entire school committed gross academic negligence. If this is the case, the University of North Carolina should all but disband after admitting to creating fake classes.
Finally, Mushnik calls Ollie 'painfully deficient in fundamental, spoken grammar' and 'he might consider working on that for the future sake of his recruits.' First off, Kevin Ollie's post-game, on-court interview contains absolutely no egregious grammatical errors. Secondly, Coach Ollie is everything a prospective student athletes' parents would want in a man that will oversee the growth of their child over the next four or so years of their lives. A coach needs to be trustworthy, someone that will do what is in the best interest of his players, will always lead the right way no matter the circumstances and be a great human being.
Following this week in Dallas at the Final Four, Kevin Ollie has been described as the following by some of Mushnik's fellow reporters.
From last week's Wall Street Journal:
Reggie Miller of Turner Sports: "There's a reason every GM brought him in. I don't think anyone would have a bad word about him. If you find that one person, I guarantee he got paid off."
Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti on why he brought in Kevin Ollie: "We wanted to continue to surround our younger players with examples of professionalism, work ethic and humility."
This is not the first time that the New York Post columnist has attacked African Americans in his articles, Steven A. Smith and Jay-Z are just two of many examples. You can call it freedom of speech, voicing your opinion or doing his job, but in reality what this article and this 'man' who hides behind a keyboard is made up of is flat out rude, arrogant, ignorant and for lack of a better word, incompetent.
For those that agree with what Mushnick says, that is your personal right, but I'm sure the columnist would have a different opinion of KO had he ever met the man that he is trying to destroy. So here's some advice from a former journalist to a current one, if you lack integrity and common sense on a topic, it would be best to just keep your mouth shut.
The only ones believing in UCONN prior to tip was UCONN themselves. Confidence has seeped into each and every one of the Huskies beings by the second year head coach. Ollie is one win away from a National Championship in just his second season as head man in Storrs. Hand picked by Jim Calhoun, by now everyone knows the story; eleven NBA teams throughout his 13 year career, mentoring LeBron James and Kevin Durant and returning to UCONN, taking his players under his wings and leading them to live life the right way; not only on the basketball court, but in every aspect of their lives.
So when Phil Mushnick of the New York Post makes a comment so disturbing as the one he made in last night's 'column' about Ollie's so-called 'grammar,' it calls into question his motives, his character and whether the man should still be writing for a newspaper that reaches so many.
"To that endless end, it seems to bother a lot of emailing folks — especially Connecticut taxpayers — that UConn’s second-season, UConn-educated and graduated basketball coach, Kevin Ollie, as a representative of the State’s namesake university and a school that in 2012 was sanctioned for gross academic negligence, is so painfully deficient in fundamental, spoken grammar. They wonder if Ollie, who played for UConn, and, with a new deal that will pay him roughly $1.3 million per plus perks, is the third-highest paid state employee (behind UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma and UConn football coach Bob Diaco), he might consider, if only for the future sake of his recruits, to work on that."
Let's dissect and thoroughly rip apart this statement line by line, shall we?
Mr. Mushnick states 'a lot of emailing folks, especially CT taxpayers' are upset about the way Ollie pronounces words and handles himself during interviews and press conferences. To anyone with a pulse, the only thing Ollie exhibits during these moments is everything you want in a person, a leader and a coach. Supports his players? Check. Treats each one with the utmost respect? Check. Acts like each of them are his own sons and pushes them to succeed in the classroom, just as much as on the court? Check. So Phil, how many emails have you received from Connecticut residents complaining about how KO communicates? One, maybe two? An actual number would go a long way in supporting what you say.
Next up, Phil takes a shot at UCONN as a whole when he mentions that Ollie is a 'UConn-educated and graduated basketball coach.' After a quick look-up to see just how valuable a UCONN education is, according to the latest 2014 rankings put together by US News and World Report, the University of Connecticut is rated the 19th best public school in the nation, ahead of the reputable University of Maryland and Purdue University, just to name two.
Not surprisingly, Mushnick hops on board the 'academic sanctions' bandwagon when he states 'a school that in 2012 was sanctioned for gross academic negligence.' Just because a class of basketball players did not graduate and received poor grades, does not mean the entire school committed gross academic negligence. If this is the case, the University of North Carolina should all but disband after admitting to creating fake classes.
Finally, Mushnik calls Ollie 'painfully deficient in fundamental, spoken grammar' and 'he might consider working on that for the future sake of his recruits.' First off, Kevin Ollie's post-game, on-court interview contains absolutely no egregious grammatical errors. Secondly, Coach Ollie is everything a prospective student athletes' parents would want in a man that will oversee the growth of their child over the next four or so years of their lives. A coach needs to be trustworthy, someone that will do what is in the best interest of his players, will always lead the right way no matter the circumstances and be a great human being.
Following this week in Dallas at the Final Four, Kevin Ollie has been described as the following by some of Mushnik's fellow reporters.
From last week's Wall Street Journal:
Reggie Miller of Turner Sports: "There's a reason every GM brought him in. I don't think anyone would have a bad word about him. If you find that one person, I guarantee he got paid off."
Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti on why he brought in Kevin Ollie: "We wanted to continue to surround our younger players with examples of professionalism, work ethic and humility."
This is not the first time that the New York Post columnist has attacked African Americans in his articles, Steven A. Smith and Jay-Z are just two of many examples. You can call it freedom of speech, voicing your opinion or doing his job, but in reality what this article and this 'man' who hides behind a keyboard is made up of is flat out rude, arrogant, ignorant and for lack of a better word, incompetent.
For those that agree with what Mushnick says, that is your personal right, but I'm sure the columnist would have a different opinion of KO had he ever met the man that he is trying to destroy. So here's some advice from a former journalist to a current one, if you lack integrity and common sense on a topic, it would be best to just keep your mouth shut.
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.
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.
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."
"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.
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.
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