No osiecki

I am in Farmington out of power. Here is an update from uconn. I will catch up at the golf tourney tommorrow.


UConn Athletic Communications --- June 27, 2009 -- Football Update

STORRS, Conn. (June 27, 2009) – Two incoming University of Connecticut football freshmen – linebacker Michael Osiecki (Seymour, Conn.) and quarterback Leon Kinnard (Reistertown, Md.) – will enrolled in school in January of 2010 as they recover from recent surgeries. The rest of the incoming UConn freshmen will report to campus on Sunday for the beginning of a summer school session.

In other UConn football roster news:


* Junior defensive end Marcus Campbell (Bloomfield, Conn.) will not be enrolled at the University for the fall 2009 semester.
* Redshirt freshman Brian Parker (Sarasota, Fla.) will be enrolled at the University this fall, but will not be eligible to play football.
* Redshirt freshman tailback Nathan Sherr (Lynnfield, Mass.) has indicated that he will transfer to Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Mass.



-- Post From My iPhone

Tweets, Tweets Tweets,...and Big East prediction

If you haven't already , get with the program and join twitter. I am going to be doing a lot of my quick updates on twitter this season and leave the blog for a little more detail.

Anyhow, UConn is in on the twitter craze and follow them @uconnathletics.

If you want to sign up to twitter and follow myself and others, go to link on the right side of the page.

As far as UConn football. Big East Media Day is Aug. 3 and 4th in Newport. This is perhaps the greatest two day media event in the country. Newport is a beautiful place in summer and the Big East sets up a golf outing and a clambake the night before. It's not all fun, some good networking takes place and a couple of years ago Randy Edsall and Menieke Car Care Bowl chairman Will Webb played golf and hit it off. Hmmm, later that year UConn got a Meineke Car Care Bowl invite.

As far as golf? Most of the media is terrible and I include myself in that. Last year I skulled (is that a word?) a ball through the green and almost hit Doug Flutie in the head while he was eating a hot dog.

Speaking of golf, heading to the Travelers tomorrow and will be back for the final round Sunday. Will be on vacation for most of July, but I can smell football season.

Starting to read the annals...typically underestimate UConn. Can't say I blame them this year however.

Still, here is how I see the Big East, which is wide open, playing out.

1. Pittsburgh

2. South Florida (didn't want to do this, but nowhere else to go.)

3. West Virginia

4. Cincinnati

5. Rutgers

6. UConn

7. Syracuse

8. Louisville

Am I dogging the Huskies? I don't think so. They lost a ton on offense including the nations leading rusher and a first round pick, their center on the offensive line and a second round draft pick at left tackle. Oh, they are also breaking in a new quarterback.

Rutgers is also breaking in a new QB, and lost their wideouts. I would say both of those teams have potential to breakthrough, but I have to see it first.

For preseason and what I know coming out of the spring, I don't see how you can't think this is anything but a rebuilding year for the Huskies.

I love the defense and it's going to be good at LB, but they have to replace Cody Brown and Julius Williams at end, and Darius Butler and Dahna Deleston in the secondary.

DE Lindsey Witten is ready for a big year, so I am not worried there, and Reggie McClain and Jasper Howard are both excellent corners. Defensive tackle is underrated with Twyon Martin and Kendall Reyes. Love the LBs.

The offense is where I have a concern. An anemic passing game loses the nations leading rusher in Don Brown, and two keys off the offensive line in Keith Gray and Will Beatty. These guys were excellent.

I will say, I think the line is going to be very good eventually, but you take a step back when you lose anchors like Gray and especially Beatty.

Running back is going to miss Brown of course, but Jordan Todman is explosive and there is plenty of depth with Andre Dixon and Wylie.

Here is why I am not bullish. Breaking in a new offense and a new QB in Zach Frazer. I like the offense, and I also like the Frazer's demeanor and ability. I covered this team post Dan Orlovsky, so it's somewhat of a shock to see a QB throw the ball like Frazer does. I think it will work eventually.

It comes down to the same old, same old -- wide receiver and playmaker. I didn't see anything this spring that led me to believe the Huskies have playmakers and answers at wide receiver or tight end. They have some freshmen coming in who are highly touted, but who knows?

It's going to be a long haul this year as the passing game retools. I remember thinking last summer that the wide receivers just didn't look good in fall camp. In the opener against Rhode Island I asked rhetorically "If they can't throw it against Rhode Island, who will they throw it against?"

I have to see the passing game become at least average for me to put UConn in contention.

Right now they are 6-6 in my book. They are going to need the passing game to raise it up a level to make a bowl again considering their schedule.

Big East is wide open however, and if UConn gets a passing game all bets are off.

But hell, it's June and what do I know?

Uniform part deux

Today I covered my first fashion show. I did MC a prom fashion show in high school once -- looked great in that tux -- but got yelled at for cracking a joke about old people dying. Right then and there I decided that fashion wasn't my thing. My wife and my wardrobe consultant at Men's Wearhouse also agree.

So, as a journalist, today was a new experience for me. Sad to say it wasn't exactly the Victoria Secrets fashion show. We talked about color combinations and patterns as well as the front of the uniform being too busy (not a mention of Connecticut on the entire uniform. Just a block C).

Here is the video of the occasion.

Of course as all fashionistas know the material is ultra important (it is?). This thing is made out of some type of material that hugs the body and collects sweat off the skin. I swear it makes you faster. That's the extent of my textile knowledge. It isn't cotton or polyester, which is all I wear anyhow. No idea how to wash it. Just throw it in the machine, then throw it in the dryer.

As far the aesthetics of the uniform?

I don't know. I can read the numbers and that's a start. It isn't lime green or see-through, so it's a win-win in my book.

In perhaps the most awkward moment of their careers (and mine), UConn's four captains acted as models for the event. Reggie McCalin took a pirouette (corners have to have quick feet) for the assembled media.

Scott Lutrus played the part of Sunday newspaper circular cover boy. When Lutrus' NFL career is done perhaps he can model for the JC Penny catalogue. Anthony Sherman looked like he couldn't wait to get it dirty. Kid was intense up there.

And, then there is every one's favorite Desi Cullen. Right now he is already the most quoted punter in college football history, and no one can explain how a uniform fits like Desi.

"It's like punting naked."

Desi did his best Derek Zoolander impression for the TV cameras. He was a divas diva. He complained there was no runway, and he wouldn't strut unless there was a camera.

As far as my professional opinion?

The uniform is spectacular in its simplicity. Less is certainly more with the small block C at the top of the sternum replacing the over-busy Connecticut across the chest. In place is the traditional navy blue and white with the iconic block "C" helmet that has its roots back to Red O'Neil and the Storrs Agricultural gridiron club of 1924. Footwear will be solid black cleats.

It's a simple, elegant and goes well with the look of the program.

Notes:

* In all seriousness the Huskies first approached Nike last August to replace the uniform. The material is the key for the Huskies.

This one is light and collects sweat while the last uniform got pretty heavy. Scott Lutrus said he would have to go back to the locker room at the half and he could ring the moisture out. Offensive lineman are going to love it. I am not qualified to give my aesthetic opinion, though I like simple combinations. It isn't flashy, and it looks like UConn decided to make the helmet its icon.

It isn't the mid 1980s Astros or the worst uniform of all-time, the White Sox shorts. It isn't the Yankees pinstripes either.

*Workouts are going well according to Cullen and Lutrus. They are getting four days in of workouts with Wednesday's as an off day. Cullen is headed out to punting camp in Michigan soon (I think). He will tutor some high school kids and there will be pros there for him to get some tips too. Desi hated the old uniforms because they were restrictive for kickers. They use to cut them up.

*Will be back blogging more once high school season ends. It's been non-stop since January for our sports staff.

New duds

Home uniforms two options.







Road uniforms. Desi said it's "like kicking naked."











-- Post From My iPhone

Lower chair backs sold out

Just a quick bit of good news for the football program. Lower chair backs sold out. In the economy, anything that is sold out is a plus. Total tickets are at 20,000, which roughly 3,000 ahead of last year's pace. This is a new cycle, seems it is off to a good start three months before the opener.

STORRS, Conn. (June 1, 2009) --- Lower Chairback season tickets for the 2009 University of Connecticut football season at Rentschler Field have sold out.

A limited number of seats remain on sale in the Mezzanine Chairback and Upper Chairback seating areas. All chairback seats are located between the 35-yard lines of the stadium and require a three-year commitment for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.

“We are excited that our Lower Chairback seating area is sold out for the 2009 season,” says UConn Director of Athletics Jeffrey Hathaway. “As we approached our third three-year ticket cycle at Rentschler Field, we wanted to make sure that there were a number of appealing season ticket options for our loyal Husky fans. All of us are looking forward to another outstanding UConn Football season and thank our season ticket holders for their continuing support.”

Mezzanine Chairback season tickets are located in the lowest rows of the upper level and are priced at $240 for the 2009 season along with a $400 seat donation. The total cost marks a savings of more than 25 percent from the 2008 season.

Upper Chairback season tickets represent the greatest value for chairback seats located near midfield. These seats are priced at $210 for the 2009 season along with a $225 seat donation. The total cost marks a savings of nearly 50 percent from 2008.

Season tickets also remain on sale in the Preferred, Reserved, Family and Young Alumni seating areas. Tickets can be purchased at UConnHuskies.com or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 1-877-AT-UCONN.

The Huskies home opener for 2009 is on Saturday, Sept. 12 against North Carolina.