Big East Media Day

Greetings from Newport. Big East Media Day went without a hitch, though when I got back to my hotel room the Internet was down.

The only shock for me on Tuesday was that UConn was picked to finish sixth in the conference. I know the sentiment amongst college football's elite is that the Huskies were a fluke last season, but I didn't think it was that pervasive. Of course, no one argues UConn should be picked to win the Big East, and I could even see USF getting a lot of action. But, it boggles the mind to me that Pittsburgh is viewed so strongly while Cincinnati (5th place, a vote ahead of UConn) and the Huskies were banished to the second tier. There is no on field evidence in the last couple of years to support this.

Coming off last season, I don't feel there is a basis to drop UConn and Cincinnati this far down. Obviously, the Bearcats lose Mauck, but UConn? Unless you think it was a fluke last year, no justification.

I would have pegged UConn from third-sixth with the likely spot probably fourth place. But, to get this far down means the entire voting mechanism had UConn in fifth or sixth place. Certainly possible with the balanced Big East, but taking in last year's play a sixth place finish is not entirely deserved. I wonder how many voters slipped UConn into seventh place or even eighth? Is Diebold running the Big East voting poll?

No questions, UConn isn't viewed as a Big East co-champ much less a contender. That much is clear.

In other news:

• Brandon Dillon is going to return to the team at defensive tackle. That is going to greatly enhance depth. Kid s a player.

• D.J. Hernandez is fine injury-wise while Brad Kanuch had an MRI on his knee. Ellis “Mr. Glass” Gaulden will only take part in two a days.

• UConn is likely to lose one roster player before practice at least though Randy Edsall won't say who. There are also five walk-ons who because of roster limits won't be with the team until school begins.

• Tyler Lorenzen spent the last month as an intern at Merrill Lynch. Former center Bobby Fry was hired after his internship just a couple of weeks ago. Lorenzen said he was doing spreadsheets, making some calls. He loved it.

• Golf highlights at Newport National on Monday: Mr. Silver skulled a 60 degree lob wedge and almost hit Doug Flutie and his 4-some eating a hot dog in their golf carts. It was an ugly round.

• I have some funny quotes from my new favorite quote Cody Brown. I promise to share them when I get the transcriptions. Teaser: Brown referred to the offense as “square as a box of Apple Jacks”

I have to pay the bills now and finish writing for everyone else.