University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Football Hosts Media Luncheon
11/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
November 19, 2002
STORRS, CONN. - The University of Connecticut football team held its final weekly media luncheon on Tuesday at the Putnam Dining Hall on the Storrs campus as the Huskies prepare face Iowa State on Saturday, a bowl-bound team with a deceptive 7-5 record. Here are some excerpts from head coach Randy Edsall.
"First of all, this being the last press luncheon of the year, I just want to thank everybody for all of the added coverage and attention that all of you have been given the program this year. It's been great and it really helps us. Even last weekend, it was interesting to see the student paper down in Annapolis. I thought that was great that they came down and covered the game. So again, on behalf of the football program we appreciate all of the coverage."
"We've got a tremendous challenge this week going against Iowa State. What Dan McCartney has done with that program is just incredible. There were six years where they really suffered through the hard times and then got it going and now they're going to three straight bowl games. To play the schedule that they've played this year (is tough). All of their defeats have come against ranked teams. And the Big 12 is an outstanding conference. It's interesting because in our situation, being an independent, you get to see all of those (leagues) and being the 12th game of the year we have all 11 games. So now you get a chance to watch Oklahoma, and watch Texas, and to watch Texas Tech and you get a better appreciation for just how good the Big 12 Conference is. And they've done a very good job this year."
"We'll get to go against what might be the best college football player this year in Seneca Wallace is just and outstanding opportunity for our program. Seneca Wallace is an outstanding quarterback. He throws the ball extremely well and has very good touch. He understands where to go with the ball and makes the tough throws and also the finesse throws. I'm very, very impressed with him. He'll be the best player that we've seen all year. He's got outstanding athleticism. He can move around in the pocket and make plays with his legs as well. They put a lot of pressure on you from an offensive standpoint."
They lost to five great teams (Florida State, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas State, and Colorado - all away from home), but what have they not done in those games?
"I don't think it's what Iowa State has not done. I think it's more of the people that they've played. Those are pretty good football teams. I think it was a result of just how good those other five teams were."
How has QB Dan Orlovsky improved this year?
"I think that he has really come a long way in terms of just managing the game and feeling comfortable under the center and feeling comfortable with everything that he's seeing on the field and making the right checks. he's more decisive. He's playing more confident now than what he was earlier in the year. He doesn't really blow checks. His overall reading of coverages and his overall game management (has improved) and going exactly where he's supposed to with the ball, and for him to understand within himself that every play doesn't have to be the touchdown. I think he's learned more about defenses and the strengths and weaknesses of a defense."
Does this game mean more being against a Big 12 opponent?
I don't think so. We've played teams from the the SEC. We've played teams from the BIG EAST that are very good. It's just another conference, but a very good conference from top to bottom. We're approaching this the same way that we have for the previous 11 weeks. We know that this is a step up from the previous three games that we played but we've gone against Miami, Georgia Tech and BC so far this year. This is a very good team, a quality opponent, and one that we're going to have to step our game up even more than the last three weeks in order to try and get a win."
What does you defense have to do this week?
"We're going to have to play aggressive but also be disciplined in our lanes (against Wallace). He's going to make some plays. I'm not going to sit here and say we're going to shut him down. But we've got to minimize them to where they're not big plays or touchdowns."
How important is it to finish the season strong?
"I think it's always important to finish the season strong because that's what you're taking into the off season condition program and also into spring practice. You always want to try and win your last game because that's a big carry over. That's what we're going to try and do."
"Anything else? No. Now you can talk to the guy who has the longest tenure here."
Fifth-year Senior corner back Roy Hopkins (playing game #48 on Saturday)
"It's been a long, fun ride. We started out in 1998 as a very good I-AA team, going to the playoffs. And then, starting at I-A and being at the bottom of the barrel. Our steady climb over the years has been fun."
Is it worlds apart?
"The places we play are a lot bigger now. The teams are a lot better. They players that we play against are a lot better and our team as a whole has improved drastically."
On Seneca Wallace:
"He is the best combination of running and throwing quarterback. The runs he makes and the throws that he can stick in there, he's unbelievable. We've played some quarterbacks who could run but they were one-dimensional. Once they got on the run they couldn't throw as well. But this guy, he can definitely throw on the run."
"They're definitely better than Navy, Florida Atlantic and Kent State, but I think we'll be ready. It's definitely a chance to put ourselves on the map and be like 'here's Connecticut football. We are a good football team now and not just the same old Connecticut where you can look at the schedule and just write down a W.'...It's a pride issue. We want to show that we're better than our record."
