Tuesday Pressr

Sorry for the late post, I am swamped with High School football previews (Will be at Windsor-Bloomfield and then Enfield-Fermi). Home now, so now I actually get to start writing UConn Football at 7:10 p.m. Brilliant.

The best part of Saturday's game is that the result is clean. A win, and it's a Big east title and in the Sugar Bowl (most likely). A loss? As Chip's Runway Ramblings indicated, it could be Sun or probably more so Charlotte. A bad loss, and it could be the Pizza Bowl -- Ouch. I would say the Sun is out of the question, and I have felt so since the Cincinnati loss. A UConn loss coupled with a USF and Cincinnati win would put those teams ahead of UConn in all rankings. It's a bit unfair, but that is what happens when people don't like your wins (Temple, Louisville). The Cincinnati game is now the excuse not to pick UConn. That is the out everyone who votes was waiting for. UConn really has no way to answer that performance. A win against a bad cuse team is dismissed. A win over WVU and everyone's thoughts are moot. A close loss? It's still a reason to drop UConn.

That is why I am so enamored with this game however. UConn doesn't have to put its fate in the hands of bowl scouts and people with different agendas. They don't have to impress, they just have to win. A win, and whether people want to accept it or not, UConn is in the BCS.

Doing some quick math, and if UConn wins I think WVU, assuming they beat Pitt in the backyard brawl the following week, would probably get an at-large. The BCS committee voted to expand the pool to 18 just in case there are not enough qualifiers. If UConn takes the automatic qualifier, WVU is probably certain to get an at large unless the voters punish them by really dropping them back (No. 3 drops to No. 15?). If that happens to WVU with a loss at UConn there should be an investigation. Every other team that loses drops 6-7 or even eight spots. No one drops 12 spots that quickly, certainly not after losing to anther ranked team this late in the season.

I also think with a UConn win, they would overtake Boise or Hawaii in the BCS standings. A 10-2 team and 6-1 in conference, with one of those loses being a one point loss at another top 20 program, should be a top 12 team. Teams can shoot up quickly with a marquee win, and UConn over WVU in Morgantown would shock the world (me included).

If UConn wins and can break the top 14 in the BCS and knock out Hawaii or Boise State, then WVU will probably get the nod. If UConn can't move up 5 spots with the win, then the WAC will get a spot.

Anyhow, enough speculation here are some things from Tuesday's presser

• Zach Frazer gets the week off. Jon Jean Louis, the cornerback, is running scout team trying to be Patrick white. Frazer is the future QB of the Huskies, he throws a great ball, but he is a pocket passer. He is as different to White as you can be. Cody Andres is even more stationary.
  

• Here is a coach's nightmare. Play perfect defense and still get beat.
  

"Guys like this are more dangerous than straight drop back Quarterbacks," Edsall said. "You can be playing perfect defense down the field and have everyone covered and rush lanes intact. You have done everything right, he is that good he can make something happen when there is nothing there."

What is that called? Talent, and WVU has a lot of it.

• Like what Edsall said about playing this game?

  “We got a lot to lose. You won’t hear me say that. We are in a position to win a Big East championship.

  “You never know when you are get back in this position. But, history doesn’t lend itself to that. When you do things to put yourself in this situation. You want to make most of it. That is why we have a lot of lose.”

This is very important. UConn has about 18 starters returning and a good recruiting class coming off redshirts. But you never know if you can duplicate the season. It isn't like hoops where you know you will be better or at least maintain. Football is much more chaotic. How do they know a Lousiville or Temple game won't nip them next year? Then your playing for the International Bowl. It's that fine a line. Rutgers made that mistake this year.

Is UConn's time now? Don't know. But when you got your shot you better not take it for granted.

• Not much on the depth or injury front. UConn is healthy. Dixon will start, Brown will play a lot.
  

• Edsall doesn't have a sense of humor, at least with the media. The players say he is a funny guy. When asked who he wants to play in the Sugar Bowl he said he is just focused on the WVU game. It was a joke. I think Edsall thought it was a serious question --which in some ways I guess is comforting. Edsall doesn't think UConn in the Sugar is outlandish.
  

• I asked Edsall does he play the same type of game, or throw the kitchen sink at WVU. He turned red and smiled "You think I am going to answer that? Next question?" Big smile on his face.

There was rabid speculation in the cafeteria that we could see the first fake punt or fake field goal in UConn history (lol. Just seems like it). Got to do some work. I'll be back late, or tomorrow.

John