Edsall Notre Dame Ultimatum?

Saw this in the Norwich Bulletin and it was a ho hum article about Edsall meeting a Chamber of Commerce. Then, this hits you over the head a Q&A at the end with Edsall.

After dodging the Bulletin's question, Edsall was more candid to the audience. 

Q: Should a football ultimatum be given to Notre Dame soon?

A: I think that’s something the powers that be are discussing in terms of the strategies that they’re looking at to be proactive rather than reactive.

Note: In a question-and-answer session with the audience, Edsall said the football coaches have been asking the conference to deliver an ultimatum to Notre Dame to come into the conference for football or get out entirely for the last two years. He added that, if as speculated, two teams leave for the Big Ten, “the Big East is all done.”

Now, this isn't a surprise to me. Over the course of the last several years this has been something Edsall has hinted at in off the record conversations he has had. He is careful around the media because he doesn't want to create controversy, but he obviously was less guarded around the Chamber meeting. 

The facts are the Big East football coaches are frustrated with Notre Dame. The Big East allows the Irish to live by two sets of rules. Now, talking to the Big East office, they are going to say ND football helps with bowl tie-ins etc. That may be true, but if the Irish go 8-4, it's almost assured a 10-2 Big East team is going to get bumped out of the Champs Bowl, or in the past, the Sun or the Gator Bowl. 

The reason the Big East doesn't give an ultimatum is that Notre Dame would leave. 

As far as expansion, the loss of 2 teams and "the Big East is done" comment? Well, it's also true, and why I think the Big East could be on its last legs as a football conference. The league can't lose any of its eastern teams, notably two of UConn, Syracuse or Rutgers. Pitt by itself leaving would be a huge blow. 

These are scary times for the Big East, and I don't think that is being alarmist. 

Big East Bowl lineup complete

Here's a release on the Big East Bowl lineup for the next 4 years.

The key change here is the Big East now has a shot at going to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis to play either an SEC or a Big East champion.

Here's the release from the Big East:

Papajohns.com Bowl

The BIG EAST Conference has extended its agreement with the Papajohns.com Bowl.  The BIG EAST will face a team from the Southeastern Conference in the game.  The new agreement will run through the 2013 season.

For the upcoming season, the Papajohns.com Bowl will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.  The game, in its fifth year, will be televised at noon ET on ESPN. 

The Papajohns.com Bowl attracted a record crowd of 45,254 on Jan. 2 when Connecticut defeated South Carolina 20-7.  BIG EAST teams have compiled a 4-0 record in the game.

“We’re very excited to extend our relationship with the Papajohns.com Bowl,” said Marinatto.  “Our teams have had wonderful experiences in Birmingham and the bowl continues to grow each year.  With the support of ESPN, a great local organizing committee in Birmingham and the ability to play an opponent from the Southeastern Conference, the BIG EAST is proud to be a part of the game.”

The Papajohns.com Bowl is operated by ESPN Regional Television, the nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

The BIG EAST is pleased to have the opportunity to play in college football’s seventh-oldest bowl game, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.  In an effort to provide the best opportunities for its student-athletes, the BIG EAST could send its representative to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to play the champion from Conference USA or an opponent from the Southeastern Conference.

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl has a well established history with BIG EAST teams dating back to 1961, when Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis led Syracuse to a win over Miami.  The Bowl has also hosted BIG EAST teams Louisville, Pittsburgh and West Virginia over the past 52 years.

“The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is one of college football’s great traditions,” said Marinatto.  “I know any of our teams would enjoy the opportunity to go to Memphis and play in the game.”  

The 52^nd AutoZone Liberty Bowl will be played Friday, Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl

The BIG EAST will continue its relationship with the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl which is played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.  The game is in its third year.  The BIG EAST has won each of the first two games.  Last season, Rutgers defeated Central Florida 45-24.  The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl also is operated by ESPN Regional Television.

“The growth of the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl in only two years has been extremely impressive,” Marinatto said.  “St. Petersburg is a very attractive destination for BIG EAST teams and BIG EAST fans.  We’re happy that we’re able to continue our agreement with the bowl.”

The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.  ESPN will carry the game.

In addition to its success in the Papajohns.com Bowl and the Beef ‘O’Brady’s Bowl, BIG EAST teams have recorded a 16-6 bowl mark over the past four seasons.

 
So how does a Big east team end up in the Liberty Bowl? The details are simple. The Liberty Bowl and Papajohns.com kind of share the No. 7 and No. 8 at large from the SEC. In most years that means the No. 8 and No. 9 team out of the SEC with the league likely to have two BCS teams.

In years where the Papajohns.com can't field an SEC team, the Big East will go to the Liberty Bowl to play potentially an SEC team or the C-USA champion. Mostly, the deal for the Liberty Bowl on the Big East's end is to protect the Big East team in the Papajohns.com Bowl. They don't want to have to play a MAC school in Birmingham if they don't have to.

Chances are at least once in the cycle the Big East will end up in the Liberty Bowl. That's a good arrangement for the Big East. It also helps give the league more options. UConn has currently went to both Birmingham and Charlotte. Now the options are extended to either NYC or Memphis for the Huskies if the BCS or Champs Bowl don't work out.

Now, here's the official Big East Bowl lineup.

BCS Bowl -- Big East champion
Champs Sports Bowl -- Big East vs. ACC --Orlando
Meineke Car Care Bowl -- Big East vs. ACC --Charlotte
New Era Pinstripe Bowl -- Big East vs. Big 12 --NYC
Papajohns.com Bowl/AutoZone Liberty Bowl -- Big East vs. SEC or C-USA -- Birmingham/Memphis
Beef 'O’ Brady’s Bowl -- Big East vs. C-USA  -- St. Petersburg

Depth Chart

Here's the official depth chart putting the spring to rest. Only thing that stands out to me is Mike Lang listed now at safety and Marcus Aiken back at WR. Certainly has the speed. I wonder how much work he got done on that in the spring, or was this a move after the season. Perhaps he will red-shirt this year.

 Offense

LT

Adam Masters (RSo., 6-4, 270)

Jimmy Bennett (RSo., 6-8, 301)

Greg McKee (Fr., 6-5, 299)

LG

Mathieu Olivier (RSr., 6-6, 276)

Erik Kuraczea (RSo., 6-2, 315)

Steve Greene (RFr., 6-4, 324)

C

Moe Petrus (RJr., 6-2, 292)

Gary Bardzak (RJr., 6-3, 297)

Ben Chapman (RSo., 6-2, 276)

RG

Zach Hurd (RSr., 6-7, 323)

Tyler Bullock (RFr., 6-4, 291)

RT

Mike Ryan (RJr., 6-5, 332)

Kevin Friend (RFr., 6-5, 287)

Stephen Brown (RFr., 6-4, 289)

TE

Ryan Griffin (RSo., 6-6, 240)

John Delahunt (RSo., 6-3, 243)

Corey Manning (RSo., 5-4, 255)

Alex Kaiser (Sr., 6-5, 238)

TB

Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 190)

Robbie Frey (RFr., 6-0, 199) OR

Kelmetrius Wylie (RJr., 5-10, 223)

Jonathan Jean-Louis (Sr., 6-0, 200)

Martin Hyppolite (RFr., 6-0, 210)

FB

Anthony Sherman (Sr., 5-11, 242)

Bret Manning (Sr., 5-11, 255)

QB

Zach Frazer (RSr., 6-4, 236)

Cody Endres (RJr., 6-4, 223)

Michael Box (RFr., 6-3, 194) OR

Leon Kinnard (Fr., 5-9, 179) OR

Johnny McEntee (RSo., 6-3, 216)

WR

Michael Smith (Jr., 6-0, 200)

Malik Generett (RFr., 6-4, 210)

Joshua Massey (Sr., 5-8, 186)

WR

Kashif Moore (RJr., 5-9, 177)

Nick Williams (So., 5-9, 182)

Dwayne Difton (So., 5-11, 171)

Eric Sawicki (RFr., 6-0, 189)

WR

Isiah Moore (RJr., 6-1, 183)

Gerrard Sheppard (RSo., 6-2, 205) OR

Marcus Aiken (RFr., 5-11, 191)

Defense

DE

Jesse Joseph (So., 6-3, 231)

Trevardo Williams (So., 6-1, 224) OR

A.J. Portee (RSo., 6-4, 236)

Jonathan Louis (Fr., 6-5, 241)

DT

Kendall Reyes (RJr., 6-4, 287)

Alex Polito (RSr., 6-6, 284) OR

Shamar Stephen (RFr., 6-5, 291)

DT

Ryan Wirth (RSo., 6-2, 275) OR

Twyon Martin (RJr., 6-2, 270)

Tim Willman (RFr., 6-3, 271)

DE

Marcus Campbell (Jr., 6-2, 227)

Greg Lloyd (Sr., 6-2, 234) OR

Ted Jennings (RS., 6-5, 238)

“Husky” LB

Jory Johnson (RSo., 6-1, 219)

Andrew Opoku (Fr., 6-4, 217)

Matt Edwards (RSo., 6-0, 189)

Emmanuel Omokaro (RJr., 5-10, 207)

MLB

Scott Lutrus (RSr., 6-3, 240)

Jerome Williams (RSo., 6-11, 248)

Michael Osiecki (Fr., 6-2, 225)

WLB

Lawrence Wilson (RSr., 6-1, 217)

Sio Moore (RSo., 6-1, 231)

Mark Hinkley (RSo., 5-11, 228)

CB

Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSo., 6-0, 184)

Tevrin Brandon (RFr., 5-10, 172)

S

Jerome Junior (RSo., 6-1, 208)

David Kenney (RFr., 6-0, 186)

Harris Agbor (RJr., 5-10, 192)

John Yurek (RJr., 6-0, 200)

S

Kijuan Dabney (Sr., 6-0, 214)

Mike Lang (So., 5-11, 186) OR

Chris Lopes (RFr., 5-10, 183)

CB

Dwayne Gratz (RSo., 6-0, 190)

Gary Wilburn (RJr., 5-11, 196) OR

Gilbert St. Louis (Fr., 5-11, 176)

Special Teams

P

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200) OR

Cole Wagner (RFr., 6-2, 197)

K

Dave Teggart (RJr., 6-0, 209)

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200)

LS

Derek Chard (Sr., 6-3, 234)

Stephen Brown (RFr., 6-4, 279) OR

Mark Hinkley (RSo., 5-11, 228)

H

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200)

Zach Frazer (RSr., 6-4, 236)

PR

Gary Wilburn (RJr., 5-11, 196) OR

Nick Williams (So., 5-9, 182) OR

Leon Kinnard (Fr., 5-9, 179)

KR

Robbie Frey (RFr., 6-0, 199)

Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 190)

Mcclain goes

Robert mcclain taken very late by the panthers. Surprised no Lindsey Witten drafted. I thought he would be a 5th or 6th round pick. Andre dixon an Udfa. Not shocked.

Huskies have 2 taken.

We'll see where they end up.



-- Post From My iPhone

Easley to Buffalo

About 20 minutes a go, 4th round. Congrats. Should get him sometime today.

Rags to riches story. Great spot too.


-- Post From My iPhone

NFL Draft, expansion and what's witth the Tebow love?

I do expect Marcus Easley to be drafted sometime today. He has such potential, and there is sure to be eventually be a run at wide receivers I would think Easley is a late third round pick. That would be a minor miracle considering where he came from. Five catches in three years, a DNP-CD in the first two games, and 8 months later an NFL pick? Rags to riches. You know something else? I don't think I have heard a convincing reason why he never played before.

The likes of Ellis Gaulden,Brad Kanuch and D.J. Hernandez saw so many snaps and Easley sat on the sidelines. I don't get it, but it's better late than never and he was tremendous. I would expect Lindsey Witten and Andre Dixon to go in the fifth round. Dixon could slide to the sixth. at that level he's a good value. He is productive, a tough runner, can catch out of the backfield and pick up the blitz. He isn't a speedster, but so what?

As far as other news, Paul Tagliabue is going to advise the Big East and now commish John Marinatto is talking about expanding the Big East? The league is already unmanageable and sprawling, I can't imagine adding more trips to it on the hoops side. This is no accident. The Big East saw that the Big Ten was looking to blow up the entire NCAA landscape and it went into survival mode. What was it this week with the accelerated and not accelerated.

I think the talks were accelerated, but what the Big Ten was trying to do would have too much of a chain reaction that they have to slow it down for the good of college football. Tagliabue said as much to the New York Times.

“It’s very disruptive to everyone outside of the Big Ten,” Tagliabue said in a phone interview on Thursday. “Everything outside the Big Ten is held in artificial suspension. The Big Ten looks at a bunch of choices and everyone else has to deal with the depreciating value and a ton of negativity. I hope there’s a better way. Otherwise it’s going to have a terrible negative effect on everyone other than the schools in the Big Ten.”

There is an inequity in the BCS between conferences with championship games and those with none. I think eventually you are going to see every BCS conference have a championship game. Obviously, there is a formula in place that could also give the MWC an auto bid to the BCS. That should keep Congress of their backs. I just don't see how the BCS maintains an auto bid with an 8 team league such as the Big East. It's much easier to get to the BCS out of the Big East than it is out of the SEC, Big 12 and even the ACC. If the Big Ten expands and gets a championship game, then it's going to mandate that every BCS auto bid league have a championship game. They won't let that inequity stand for much longer.

I like the idea of having the Big East champion meet the MWC champion for the right to have a BCS berth. You can make contingencies like if the MWC or Big East champ is ranked in the top 12 they get an auto bid even if they lose. This would prevent an unranked or lower ranked team from either league winning the conference and getting an auto bid at say 8-3 or something. At least they would have to win one more game to get to the BCS.  I just don't see the feasibility of expanding the Big East even more.  Add Notre Dame,  add Villanova, and perhaps bring in UCF and Memphis/East Carolina while kicking out Depaul and Marquette (sorry, but they are Midwest schools). Easier said than done, though I think Notre Dame may decide to just create it's own conference that it can control.

Lastly, on the NFL Draft. ESPN had one of the worst telecasts that I have ever seen. When the Giants were picking on the clock they rambled incessantly about Tim Tebow. Then, continually, ESPN destroyed its draft coverage by showing a player on the phone talking to the team that will pick him. It absolutely destroys the continuity of the draft, the excitement and it's hard to follow. They ruined the drafts first pick by displaying Sam Bradford too early.  Why even have Goodell announce?

I was even more irritated by Tebow. Sure he is a great guy. Jon Gruden  loves his character and intangibles. But, can he throw the ball? Does he have ability? I am sure he is a great leader, I would hire him to run my business and motivate. But, to be my QB? It takes a little more than character to do that. I think the country gets he is popular in Florida. He isn't loved anywhere else, and we shouldn't be forced to fawn over him.

So, it irritated me even more when he was selected. The announcers on set sounded like fools when they tried to figure out what was going on. Tebow was called by the Broncos, who traded up with the Ravens to get the pick. Now, no one knew that because it wasn't officially announced. So, you have people screaming Tebow is being picked and then first say Ravens. Then, there was a Broncos hat, which confused everyone even more. It was chaotic and destroyed the moment for the viewer.

Perhaps we should all wait until the commissioner announces the picks. Really? Is it that hard to hold on for 2 more minutes to create drama? Keep the cameras on, show the tape delay after the pick. The cameras are there to capture the drama and celebration, not preempt it. Awful broadcast.

Expansion on fast track, except when it isn't

So, Big 10 expansion is not accelerated?

SCOTTSDALE , Ariz. — Prying answers out of Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany has been a challenge — even for colleagues of his who are skittish about the effects of Big Ten expansion.

"I tried (to put) him in a headlock, but he's a tough guy," Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe joked.

Day one of the Bowl Championship Series meetings concluded Tuesday with no formal discussion about expansion.

"Informally," Beebe said with a chuckle, "there has been plenty."

Delany has informed colleagues that, contrary to a Tribune report, the timetable for Big Ten expansion has not been accelerated from the period of 12-to-18 months that was announced in December.

"You know, Jim wouldn't be one of the top commissioners and one of the top sports people in the country if he didn't take things into very careful consideration," Beebe said.

So, D day hasn't arrived for the Big East. Maybe this drags out another year and gets kicked until the next BCS agreement. Much ado about nothing if this is accurate.

Who knows? 

UConn's future?

I had a nice conversation at work with the JI UConn women's hoops writer Carl Adamec about the fate of the Big East, UConn football and the future. It's a topic these days that I think can't be ignored.

I wonder if Randy Edsall floating fan support and Rentschler expansion was in regards to the expansion plans of the Big 10. He knows the rumors flying perhaps he was thinking out loud. Edsall knows that if another shakeup of the Big East happens the school is going to need to land somewhere, and the MAC or A-10 isn't where they want to be. UConn needs to find itself in a BCS conference, that's certain.


There is one thing Adamec and I both agreed about while talking,  and it's a quote that sticks with me that I think I read almost 15 years ago. Lew Perkins was still AD here and I know I am paraphrasing, but when asked why UConn should invest money in football Perkins talked about how in essence it really is to protect the basketball programs.

Of course, us New Englanders laughed at the idea, but it's 2010 and how right has Perkins been? UConn could easily be Holy Cross or UMass if it didn't go to big time football. What if the Big East dissolves? Where would UConn hoops go?

It's a pertinent question because I know all of you here are keeping up tabs with the Big 10 and expansion. The Big 10 wants a championship game and to break into the Northeast market --  something the ACC has tried to do unsuccessfully with the addition of Boston College. CBS' Dennis Dodd has written a ton on this topic and here is a scenario from today. There is talk that the expansion plans are accelerating and Dodd writes about UConn and the Big 10. (Note: this is most likely on background, despite what you guys think, most sports writers don't make scenarios up, rather it's grounded in some off the record conversations and pulled from various sources including what other people have written).

Here's what Dodd says about UConn and the Big 10.

2. Connecticut: A UConn/Syracuse/Rutgers triumvirate maybe makes New York care enough about the Big Ten for the region's big cable carriers to start putting the Big Ten Network on the basic tier. Theoretically, you get New Jersey, New England and, maybe, New York. Taking UConn would be a big of a departure for the Big Ten because it is not an AAU school.

Obviously, this is all get to Notre Dame, and Notre Dame has said there are scenarios where they will be forced to join a conference. The above one I think would resonate. The Big 10 wants to do something big, and short of adding only Notre Dame (which won't happen) they may just blow up college athletics.

The ACC raid was supposed to get the Northeast market and a conference championship game, but that was successfully defended against by the Big East and politics kicked Syracuse out and put Va. Tech in. BC went in later, but the lack of another Northeast team has really hurt that expansion and I don't think its worked for BC. They gave up all their regional rivalries for what?

The Big 10 won't make the same mistake. Let's play with Dodd's scenario. If the Big 10 wants to grab that New York market and also force Notre Dame's hands they can't just do it by taking Rutgers. The market in NYC is shared by all three of those teams as well as Penn St. and Notre Dame. I thought once I read that the Big 10 wants to go to 14 and even 16 teams that this was going to be not a raid of the Big East, rather an annexation of the conference. 

NYC is so huge and untapped, but adding all three Big East teams to the conference, plus Pittsburgh and ultimately Notre Dame, that would lock down the Northeast for the Big 10. That famous Eastern Football conference that Joe Paterno wanted in the early 1980s would come to fruition. A Big 10 East could look something like this.

1. Penn St
2. Notre Dame
3. Pittsburgh
4. Rutgers
5. Syracuse
6. UConn
7. Indiana
8. Purdue 

Of course the Midwest would be anchored by Michigan and Ohio State. Can a 16 team conference work? In football it would be easy. 7 divisional games and you play 2 or 3 crossover games based on previous years record.  The Big East showed that 16 works in the Big East for other sports, and that would be one hell of a hoops conference. This would also make a difficult run to the BCS. I would imagine they would have to change some BCS rules, notably allowing a third team from a conference to get a BCS bid.

Now, the ACC has said no more expansion, but if the Big 10 blows up the Big East then what's the ACC going to do? UConn would be a perfect fit with Syracuse to go to the ACC if the Big 10 only goes for 14 teams. That would be ironic.

I don't know what the Big 10 is going to do and everyone up here is in the dark. I do know Bill Stewart talked a couple of weeks ago about WVu getting into the SEC and when I asked Edsall about it he said those decisions aren't in his hands. It's going to be a chaotic time in college football and make no mistake, something big is coming.

Will UConn be a part of it? Or, will they have to struggle to find a hoops and football home that isn't a BCS league such as the MAC, CUSA or the A-10? I don't know the answers to those questions, and the uncertainty certainly isn't comforting. I can see all those scenarios plausibly.


I do know one thing is certain, if Perkins never pushed UConn to go I-A, and that stadium in East Hartford was never built, in five years we would be gearing up for that big season opener in hoops against Rhode Island. Essentially, the Huskies would be back in the Yankee Conference playing UMass, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Edit: Just doing basic research. Why is the Big 10 accelerating the time table? Big East has 27 month escape loyalty clause as well as $5 million buyout for teams. If a Big East team leaves May 1st, they can join Big 10 August 1, 2013 2012.

This is happening soon. Just a matter of who and how. Worst part is, no one in the Big East knows.  It's like waiting for your execution date.

Blue White postgame

Quick wrap here. I have to head down to a function in New Haven.

I wanted to keep an eye on the secondary because I am of the opinion that it is perhaps the one thing holding this team back from a Top 25 year and a BCS game.

Well, the first play of the game went 70 yards from Zach Frazer to Kashif Moore. Brutal.

Then, Michael Smith had three touchdowns of 69, 75 and 52 yards, alll from Frazer. Smith had five catches for 207 yards. Frazer 8-of-14 for 307 yards and four touchdowns. It was scary easy.

"Just getting to watch Marcus (Easley) last year, seeing he excelled at catching the deep ball," Smith said as his motivation. "Wehad to do that to (the secondary). We are good receivers. They aren't bad, they just have to put thier eyes (in the irght place).

Edsall loved what he saw out of Smith.

"Maybe he went to the K-Mart Blue Light special and got some speed."

Smith laughed when told: "I went to Wal-Mart."

The secondary was no laughing matter. Edsall tried to stay positive and not address. Jerome Junior was burned twice for big plays. Gary Wilburn and Kijuan Dabney both were caught on touchdown catches.

Edsall didn't want to talk much about it.

"I'll get that straight," Edsall said.

The problem at safety is the eyes. They are laying the QB, not reading the play. Smith was open by about 20 yards on one touchdown.

Now, there are things Edsall will do to protect the safeties in the season including scheming and perhaps becoming a much more pressure team with blitzes. Today was base against base, and the secondary coulnd't keep up.  The search continues there.

As far as the rest of the spring. Edsall loved Frazer's accuracy this spring. It is crisp and pinpoint (no QB controversy now, huh?). He liked what he saw out of Jon Jean-Louis at running back and was impressed with the lay of freshman corner Tevrin Brandon.

Another standout, A.J. Portee, racked up three sacks and 11 tackles out of the D-end spot. It was against second and third string players and Edsall said he wanted to see more consistency.

Leon Kinnard showed some ability, and after in his first comments to the media said the staff is going to keep him at QB, but also move him around to see where he fits. I doubt he stays at QB full-time for his career, he has too muhc athletic ability, but I can see a wildcat package for him which would be tremendous.

Edsall said that Top 25 talk right now is "cheap." He thinks the makings of this team are good, but that's not what they should strive for.

"You have the abiliy to be good. But, do you want to be great?"

That's the task for the Huskies as they head into the offseason. I have to go, will be back on late.

Enjoy. Got to pay the bills

Blue White gam thread

Pregame: Bad start. The scoring format was incorrectly read aloud. It is conventinal football.

Update 12:05 p.m.: Ouch. Right out of gate Frazer to Moore for a 70 yard touchdown. My goodness, doesn't inspire confidence in the secondary. Junior bit on the pump fake. Moore was wide open. 14:46. Sigh.

Update 12:07: Another big pass play. 48 yard to Difton on a trick play. Kinnard on some kind of pass run option. Secondary...secondary? Anyone.

Update 12:10 p.m.: 47 yard FG from Teggart off a wet turf. Impresive. 7-3 Blue.

Update 12:11 p.m.: Not good in the secondary. Flea flicker for 69 yards Frazer to Smith. Smith was open by about 20 yards. This is not good with the secondary.

Update 12:26 p.m.: A.J. Portee with second team at D end putting tremendous pressure on QB. Two striaght sacks. 14-3 Blue. Portee has 4 tackels and two sacks.

First quarter analysis: Frazer looks tremendous. The secondary is the opposite. The ease with which the first team offense is going through the first team defense is scary. Frazer 5-5 170 yards 2 TDs in three series.

Update 12:41 p.m.: Signs of life from White defense. Gratz INT of Frazer. Good coverage, Frazer forced the ball and Gratz went under the route and picked it off. Should have never thrown it.

Update 12:32 p.m.: Touchdown white. Not sure who it was. Love spring game. Martin Hypolite scored it.

Halftime analysis

The secondary has tightened up after an awful first quarter. The problem is during the season that is two touchdowns and nearly impossible to recover from. That can't happen. As far as a bright spot on defense. A.J. Portee has been a monster. Greg McKee and Scott Brown at RT or LT, Portee has abused. Good prospect. The receiver looks good. TE Ryan Griffin making difficult catches. Frazer has been terrific except for one poor decision on a throw. Good team, have to get the secondary kinks worked out.

Update 1:26 p.m.: Mike Smith 70 yard TD pass from Zach Frazer. It's a good thing that the season opens Sept. 4. Secondary needs a lot of work. The offense can surely get the big play. Blue 23-13 with the TD preceded by a white FG.

Fourth quarter

Update 1:43 p.m.: It's a bit of the dog days of the scrimmage. Things are getting a little chippy on the field. Turned into a semi nice day. Sun is peeking out. Wind makes it cold however. Some good performance (Frazer, Smith, Portee) and some birght spots out of the secondary in Gratz and Brandon. BUt, the secondary has given up a ton of big plays.

That, and I love Leon Kinnard's ability.

Update 1:54: Another long TD from Frazer to Smith. Junior burnt twice, Dabney and Gary Wilbourn burnet twice. Smith has a ton of yards and three touchdown. He looks like Jerry Rice out here. Secondary needs A LOT OF WORK.

Blue White pregame

Weather is starting to lighten up. It's going to be a small crowd for the spring game. It's a tough day. Nutmeggers Melt.

Key points for the spring game?

Secondary: The play of Jerome Junior and Kijuan Dabney will be interesting. How do corners Dwayne Gratz, Tevrin Brandon and Gilbert Stlouis stack up?

Defensive end: Jesse Joseph is out, but how do Trevardo Williams and Marcus Campbell look? They will rush the passer and have speed, but can they play the run? This is a key to the defense.

Wide receiver: No more Marcus Easley, but how productive will Kashif Moore, Isaiah Moore and Mike Smith be? How about the young ins? I really want to see want Malik Generrett can do. Big target, loads of potential.

Quarterback: How have Zach Frazer and Cody Endres progressed? First look at the backups Mike Box and Leon Kinnard.

Catching up with the old guys

Dan Orlovsky took a lot of heat for coming to UConn in 2000. The Huskies were a I-AA, and he was a high level quarterback recruit. If the object is to play in the NFL it might behoove a player to play at the highest level.

What was he thinking?

Orlovsky, a Shelton native, had faith in UConn and coach Randy Edsall. That faith has been rewarded. Orlovksy is going into his sixth year of the NFL, currently with the Texans, and surrounded by Tyler Lorenzen, who was on the practice squad with the Super Bowl champion Saints, first round pick of the Colts Donald Brown and former NFL player Alfred Fincher, Orlovsky know he made the right decision.

"It's one of the top three decisions I made in my life," Orlovsky said. "I took a lot, a lot, of heat for it when I made it. I believe in Coach Edsall and what he did and I wanted to do something different. The school took a chance on me to give me an opportunity. Coach Edsall invested his livelihood in the hands of 18-20 years olds. They took a chance on me and I on them and it worked out. "

There was a time the only UConn player in the NFL was tight end Brian Kozlowski. The school went decades without a draft pick. That ended when Fincher and Orlovsky were taken in the 3rd and 5th rounds in 2004. Then, Deon Anderson was a sixth round pick in 2007, Tyvon Branch in in the 4th round and Donald Thomas in the sixth ound in 2008 before and orgy of prospects last year. Brown in the first round and three second round picks in Darius Butler, Cody Brown and Will Beaty. Add to that Lorenzen making the NFL as an UDFA and the Huskies now have nine playrs currently on NFL rosters and several more on the fringe.

It will be added to this season when wide receiver Marcus Easley, defensive end Lindsey Witten and running back Andre Dixon are expected to be drafted. There are also a couple of UDFA that could make a roster in corner Robert McClain and safety Robert Vaughn.

Orlovsky knows when the program has arived and the NFL players are taking notice.

"Now when you get recruited to come to Connecticut, the NFL is an option. It's a legit option. It could be a goal for them instead of chasing a dream," Orlovsky said.

The Huskies moving onto the NFL is perhaps the best show of talent development. 13 months after having played together in the International Bowl Lorenzen and Brown met for dinner the first week of February in Miami. Brown is a reserve running back on the Colts. Lorenzen on the Saints. They were set to play in the Super Bowl.

The change wasn't lost on either.

"Who would have thought? A couple of years ago 4 guys drafted in first day and two guys in the super bowl," Brown said.

The future appears bright for Huskis in the NFL. Orlovsky has two year left on his contract with the Texans as Matt Schaub's backup and he is comfortable where he is. Lorenzen is on a 3 year deal with the Saints and is in a good position to make a roster after spending a year on the practice squad. Brown's in one of the best spots in the NFL in the backfield with Peyton Manning.

One thing is clear, UConn players in the NFL are no longer novelties.

Howard to be honorary captain

Jasper Howard will be an honorary captain for the Hiskies in 2010. Howard would have been a senior this season and was becoming a vocal team leader and a mentir to other players before his death.

The spring game is set for Saturday at noon.


-- Post From My iPhone

Captains announced

Football Announces 2010 Captains
Hurd, Lutrus, Reyes and Sherman will lead the Huskies in 2010

STORRS, Conn (April 15, 2009) – Redshirt senior offensive lineman Zach Hurd (Waterford, Conn.), redshirt senior linebacker Scott Lutrus (Brookfield, Conn.), redshirt junior defensive lineman Kendall Reyes (Nashua, N.H.) and senior fullback Anthony Sherman (North Attleboro, Mass.) will be the captains of the 2010 University of Connecticut football team as announced by head coach Randy Edsall, Thursday.

Lutrus and Sherman are both two-time captains for the Huskies after serving as captain during the 2009 season. They become the two-time captain duo since Darius Butler and D.J. Hernandez in 2008.

Hurd was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection in 2009 after playing and starting in all 13 games on the season at left guard. He has started in 26-straight games entering his senior season, 13 at right guard during his sophomore year and 13 at left guard in his junior season. He was awarded the offensive game ball along with his fellow offensive lineman after the Notre Dame game on Nov. 21 for an outstanding job in leading the way for Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman to rush for a combined 244 yards and two touchdowns, including the gamewinner in double overtime.

Lutrus, a freshman All-American and a Second Team All-BIG EAST performer during his time at UConn will return to captain the Huskies for his second-straight season. Lutrus finished 2009, third on the team with 69 tackles despite missing some of the season with a stinger. He had 5.5 tackles for a loss of 28 yards and finished with 3.5 sacks for 23 yards, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Reyes is a new addition to the Husky captain ranks and is the lone junior captain for UConn. Reyes has started 16 games in his first two years with the team on the defensive line, including 12 in 2009. The New Hampshire native finished 2009 with 37 tackles, six TFL and three sacks for 14 yards. Six of his 37 tackles came in a win against Syracuse.

The fourth captain for the Huskies in 2010 is Sherman who, like Lutrus, will be returning for his second year as a team leader. Sherman, the lone true senior in the captain ranks, earned a starting role in his sophomore season and has played in each and every game for UConn since he stepped foot on campus, starting in 20 of them. A tailback, Sherman has totaled 60 rushing yards and 350 receiving yards in his career. He is also an outstanding player on special teams, notching 49 career tackles, 33 unassisted.

Hurd, Lutrus, Reyes, Sherman and the 2010 Huskies will begin their season on September 4 on center stage when they head to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines.



-- Post From My iPhone

Tuesday practice

It was a ho-hum practice Tuesday as the Huskies wind down spring practice, and only the seniors were made available to speak.

First the business, Alex Polito has a torn labrum in his shoulder and is out about 16-20 weeks. Trevardo Williams is out with the chicken pox. He is in the infirmary now. Apparently, he was vaccinated against it at some point but it did no good. They are trying to figure out if someone else is susceptible.


There was still plenty to talk about however, and all of it was brought up by UConn coach Randy Edsall, who wants fans to be at the spring game on Saturday. It was unusual for Edsall to say he wants fans there for the spring game. This is a point of concern for him. In casual talk right before the interview in a joking manor about the weather Saturday I said to Edsall that "Connecticut people melt." There was no polite laugh at my corny attempt at small (never laugh after your own joke).

Edsall then brought up how he would like to see the stadium expanded at some point. Here's what Edsall said.

“Hopefully,  we get people out there to watch, not only these kids,  but with (former players) Dan (Orlovsky), Al (Fincher), Don (Brown) and Tyler (Lorenzen) coming back, if we want to make this program bigger and better we are going to have to have more people show up for the spring game. That’s part of building the tradition and increasing the fan base and getting to the point where you can increase the stadium.”

On the Stadium expansion:

“I don’t want to get into it, it will open up a can of worms...but I just want to see more people there and want 15,000-20,000 for a spring game. I would like to fill the stadium eventually. When you do that you have a chance to increase the size of the stadium. That’s what you want as a coach. You want to keep getting things bigger and better.”

Edsall on being outspoken about this:

“I have to do what I feel is necessary to help our program. Here, we’ve been to 3 straight bowl games, had guys go to the NFL and guys coming back who have made this program. You would like to see that ‘hey  people here really appreciate football' and want to be a part of it.
If I have to be the spokesperson for the program that is what we have to do."

Finally:

“I’ll tell you what. I will be disappointed if the stadium isn’t sold out before the seaosn starts. I’ll be disapointed.I don’t know what else these young people have to do. It’s how I feel. I think that we’ve created a buzz and excitement and these kids are working their tails off and they deserve to have a lot of people there. With the schedule we have, 16 starters coming back, I will be disappointed if the stadium isn’t sold out before our season opener."

This kind of came out of nowhere, but I think the head coach may be right here. The showing at Gampel Pavilion for the UConn women was embarrassing for the victory rally. I am sorry. No more excuses. There are 10,000 + students on campus. The lack of selling out of men's and women's basketball games are concerning also and this is going to be a make or break year for the football team in the attendance area.

Edsall is putting his neck out, which he really never has done, and that would seem to me to think he believes the Huskies have a chance to really do something. This won't be an alignment of the stars like 2007 and backing into the title, the 2010 Huskies looked like a Top 25 at the end of the year, and if the secondary issues can be resolved this team should be preseason top 25 in my opinion.

That puts the onus on the fans. There is no reason that the games shouldn't be sold out unless in fact the fans don't care. It's put up or shut up time in 2010.  Birmingham had a small UConn contingent, and I think that hurt. Now, I know a lot of fans blew their travel money for Notre Dame, but seeing 25,000 USC fans there I am sure was disheartening.

There are a lot of things that UConn probably could do better in marketing and selling it's program. We know that, they need to be more aggressive.  For the last 15 years, the program sold itself on the hoops side so they may just be learning how to turn that tide. But, one thing is certain -- the product on the field as far as football is real. Edsall has delivered.

If the Huskies have a big year Edsall is going to be in demand. Even when they go 8-5, there are whispers. A 10-2 year? It will become a fever pitch.  If the fan base doesn't show up and support the team like it does in other places, why should he and the staff stay? Big-time football is here in Connecticut. They have a terrific team coming back.  I remember going to a hoops scrimmage at the civic center that had 10,000 people at it. That was a long time ago.

Where did Husky Mania Go?

Spring practice, back on the wagon

How's everyone's Saturday going? It's nice to be back here and back at practice. Nice to be back blogging too, finally getting a chance to breathe (high school spring sports makes sports writers want to quit).

That said, there were some nuggets out do today's practice. The first is Mike Osiecki is no longer practicing with the team. It would appear that $2 Power Bar he lifted from the co-op was enough to send him packing for the spring. He isn't off the team, he will be back this summer.

When asked about Osiecki, Edsall was vague:

"He won't be our here and won't be for the rest of the spring. He will be taking care of some things that I want him to take care of and we'll let the legal process run its course. He and I have talked and will continue to talk and support him. He does not deserve to be out here at this point in time."

Now, Osiecki practiced on Tuesday. When asked if he knew if Osiecki had been arrested for shoplifting Edsall dodged the question.

"I explained the situation what we are doing with Mike and that is that needs to be said and all the comments i have on the situation."

Did Edsall know that Osiecki was arrested or not? What changed from Tuesday to Wednesday besides it being reported?

More importantly, what the heck is Osiecki doing? A $2 Power Bar? Adjusted for inflation, this is a cheaper crime than the Brian Fair video splitter episode. You can get Power Bars at the cafeteria less than a 1/4 mile away. I can't really explain it. Perhaps Mr. Osiecki has a sweet tooth.

Also, the fact he was arrested and it is going to cost something to get him through the court system to me is ridiculous. Ban him from the co-op and give him a public fine. Did they really have to finger print him? $2? Most expensive candy bar ever.

The entire episode is ridiculous.

This speaks to another problem that is happening this spring. There isn't anything major, though the intelligence of lifting a candy bar from a store would give me some concern, but there are some little things that are creeping up on the team. Today, Erik Kuraczea wasn't at practice because he overslept. Edsall sent him home and said get more sleep.

Add to that Jordan Todman's little academic problem "something about using technology during class" and Lawrence Wilson's academic problems and there are some cracks. There isn't anything major going on, but there is some lack of focus with the players. All of it is forgivable, but for the team's sake I would hope it's just some random happenings. Edsall does run a tight ship so he is not too pleased.

Now let's go on the field (thankfully):

I like the way the Huskies are looking. On Saturday I thought Mike Smith had a terrific day. He has great hands and is a god route runner, but he is playing with a lot more confidence. Smith made a couple of people miss on slant for some big yardage and got behind the defense for a touchdown. He also collided with Jerome Junior and laid the sophomore safety out. I asked Smith after and he smiled "He didn't move."

Junior is loking a little better. Another receiver that I am loving, but still raw, is Malik Generett. At 6-4 he is such a large target. On consecutive plays he took a fade to the sideline and beat Gilbert Stlouis. And on a running TD by Martin Hypolite, wiped out Stlouis on the block down the field. It's just a question of hands and precise route running, the physical package is unmatched.

Another player I can't keep my eyes off is Leon Kinnard. Maybe it's because he is small, but he is a superior athlete who has a surprisingly good arm. Kinnard is going to remain at QB despite being 5-9 (generous), and the staff isn't sure what to do with him. I can envision a wildcat type package of 10-15 plays a game that would work well with this kid. He is such a different changeup than the rest of the team.

Now, will they use a Kinnard package? They are going to wait until the summer and there is a lot to sort out. But, the kid can play the position. The problem is can they use the athleticism somewhere else sooner (slot?, DB?). That's the problem with players like Kinnard. Do you want to wait 3 years to see if they can be a QB Or get on the field sooner? Right now, he has played well enough t be given a shot at QB.

As far as the other QBs. Zach Frazer is NO. 1 and Cody Endres is NO. 2 by a mile. One thing Edsall has liked this spring is that the QBs are "live." No red shirts and that has really made them get better. Most coaches don't allow QB contact during the spring, but Edsall was angry at the offense through the first two practices and decided to lift it. He has liked what he has seen.

It's a controversial move. Frazer has had two concussions in the last 18 months and Endres is coming off shoulder surgery.

"It has helped our quarterbacks and helped our offensive line about how precious that quarterback is."

"We have worked where guys haven't been live and they have been live. There was a situation watching the first couple of practices and tings that were going on, the only way I can get the timing and everything we want is to go live.

"Zach has played, Cody has played and one games for us. How are they going to get better? Make them live."

When did Edsall make this decision? Surely it was after a long talk with his assistants weighing the benefits and the risks.

"I got p***** off one day and decided this is what we are going to do," Edsall laughed. "If we are going to get better, this is what we are doing, I told the coaches.

"If you ask them, they will tell you it made them better this spring. I can see the difference. I see the difference in the offensive line."

Going live has helped the offensive line. Kevin Friend and Adam Masters were thought of as placeholders for injured tackles Jimmy Bennett and Mike Ryan, but that's far from the case. Edsall is impressed by the tackles.

Other housekeeping notes, Edsall challenged Twyon Martin after practice. Martin is now behind Shamar Stephen and Ryan Wirth at DT. Martin started all last year and at the end of his freshman season. Edsall said that Martin has to stop being lazy.

Spring game coaches have NFL feel

UConn Athletic Communications --- Spring Game Coaches Announced --- April 1, 2010

STORRS, Conn. (April 1, 2010) -- Five former University of Connecticut football stars of the recent past will serve as honorary coaches for the 2010 UConn Blue-White Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at Rentschler Field.

All-American running back Donald Brown, who recently finished his rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts and played in Super Bowl XLIV in January, will coach one team along with former Husky quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, who finished the 2009 NFL season on the practice squad of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.

The honorary coaches for the other team will be the tri-captains of the 2004 Huskies, who earned UConn’s first-ever bowl bid – a win in the Motor City Bowl. They are: quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who just completed his fifth NFL season and is currently a member of the Houston Texans; linebacker Alfred Fincher, who played for the New Orleans Saints from 2005-07; and offensive guard Ryan Krug, who made the New England Patriots practice squad in 2005.

Brown was UConn’s first-ever First Team All-American in its Football Bowl Subdivision history. He led the country in rushing in 2008 at 160.23 yards per game and was named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He is UConn’s all-time leading rusher with 3,800 yards.

In the spring of 2009, he became the first Husky to be selected in the First Round of the NFL Draft as the Colts picked him 27th overall. In his rookie season, he rushed for 281 yards with three touchdowns as he helped lead the Colts to the AFC Championship.

Lorenzen was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Huskies in 2007 and ’08 and led the team to bowl appearances in both seasons. He threw for 3,236 yards during his UConn career. Following his senior season, he signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars and later was signed to the practice squad of the Saints as a tight end.

Orlovsky led UConn in passing from 2001-04 as he played right away as a true freshman. The Shelton, Conn., native helped lead UConn during its initial days as a Division I-A program, which cumulated in his senior season of 2004, when the Huskies played their first season as a BIG EAST Conference member and defeated Toledo in the Motor City Bowl.

Orlovsky is UConn’s all-time leading career passer with 10,706 yards and 84 touchdowns. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions and played for that club from 2005-08 before moving on to the Texans.

Fincher made 357 tackles from 2001-04 – good for sixth on the Husky career list and also had 35.5 tackles for a loss during his career. He led the team with 140 tackles in his senior year and earned All-BIG EAST Conference honors. Fincher was selected in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Saints and played for them for three seasons. He played the 2008 season for the Washington Redskins and also spent time with the Detroit Lions.

Krug earned All-BIG EAST honors for the Huskies in 2004 and was a mainstay on the offensive line. He signed a free agent contract with the Patriots following his senior year and made that team’s practice squad in 2005.

The 2010 UConn Blue-White Spring Football Game kicks off at 12:00 p.m. and admission and parking are free. The parking lots will open at 9:00 a.m.