University of Connecticut Athletics
Football Ready To Face Rhode Island in Season Opener
8/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
CONNECTICUT HEAD COACH RANDY EDSALL
A veteran in his 24th year of major college coaching with three years in the NFL, Edsall has tackled the challenge of bringing a former NCAA Division I-AA team up to par with the BIG EAST in a six year span head on, guiding the Huskies to victory in the 2004 Motor City Bowl. He has compiled a 37-43 career record in his seven seasons at UConn, including wins in 26 of UConn’s last 39 games. He is 1-1 vs. Rhode Island. Immediately prior to becoming UConn’s head coach in 1998, Edsall served as defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech in 1998 under George O’Leary. Edsall began his coaching career at his alma mater, Syracuse, from 1980-1990, working under Frank Maloney and Dick MacPherson in a variety of capacities. Among his highlights at Syracuse was being a part of the 1987 team that went undefeated at 11-0-1, tying Auburn, 16-16, in the Sugar Bowl. Edsall moved on to Boston College where he coached defensive backs under Tom Coughlin from 1991-93 before following Coughlin to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, staying on the First Coast through the 1997 season. Edsall is a native of Glen Rock, Pa., and graduated from Susquehannock High School. Last winter, he was inducted into the York Area Sports Hall of Fame.
KING OF THE RHODE: URI HEAD COACH TIM STOWERS
Tim Stowers is 26-42 in his six seasons at Rhode Island and 77-65 overall in a 12-year head coaching career. He is 1-0 against UConn. Stowers’ previous head coaching assignment was at Georgia Southern where he compiled a 51-23 record in six seasons, guiding the Eagles to three NCAA Division I-AA Tournaments and the 1990 national championship in his rookie year as a head coach. Stowers had served as offensive coordinator at GSU from 1985-89 as the school claimed I-AA National Championships in 1985, 1986 and 1989 after a perfect 15-0 campaign. He broke into coaching as a student at Auburn and was a full-time assistant on Tigers teams that won the 1984 Sugar Bowl and the 1982 Tangerine Bowl (over Doug Flutie and Boston College). Stowers also served as ann assistant coach at Temple (1998-99) and Jacksonville (Ala.) State (1984). A native of Huntsville, Ala., Stowers holds two degrees from Auburn and lettered there in 1977 and 1978 at a variety of positions before suffering a career-ending back injury.
RADIO & TV COVERAGE
YES! WE’RE ON TV THIS WEEK
For the first time ever, UConn’s season opening game at Rentschler Field will be televised as ESPN Regional will produce a feed of the URI game. It will air locally on the YES Network and Cox Sports Television. Dave Weekley (play-by-play), and Bob Chmiel (color) will call the action.
RADIO COVERAGE
For the 15th consecutive season, WTIC 1080-AM in Hartford serves as the flagship station for the UConn Radio Network. WTIC is the state’s only 50,000 watt signal and can be heard in 23 states and parts of Canada. Veteran UConn announcers Joe D’Ambrosio (play-by-play) and Wayne Norman (color commentary) return to call the action with Kevin Nathan on the sidelines. The UConn pregame show begins 90 minutes prior to kickoff and is hosted by Bob Joyce, while at home games, the UConn Tailgate Show will air two and a half hours prior to the game with Arnold Dean. The UConn Football Radio Network also includes WILI 1400-AM in Willimantic, WXLM, 102.3-FM in New London, WLIS 1420-AM in Old Saybrook, WMRD 1150-AM in Middletown, WICC 600-AM in Bridgeport and WLAD 800-AM in Danbury. UConn football games are also broadcast over the internet at WTIC.com.
SERIES NOTES
THE LONG AND WINDING RHODE
The longest series in Connecticut football history, the Huskies' rivalry with Rhode Island dates back to 1897 when UConn posted a 22-8 win in Storrs. Overall, UConn leads the series 49-35-8. The Huskies' 49 wins against the Rams are the most that UConn has collected against any single opponent, followed by its 38 wins against Maine and 33 against Massachusetts. The series was fairly even through 1985 but the Huskies have won 11 of the last 15 meetings, including a 1996 game that the Rams forfeited to UConn. Each of the last four meetings were played at Memorial Stadium in Storrs as the Rams will make their Rentschler Field debut on Thursday night in the first meeting between the schools since UConn joined the Division I-A ranks in 2002. UConn has not played at Meade Stadium in Kingston, R.I. since a 24-19 loss on Oct. 21, 1995. The most recent meeting between the teams was a 26-21 URI win on Nov. 11, 2000 at Memorial Stadium. UConn and URI were both long-time fixtures on each other's schedule as charter members of the former Yankee Conference in 1947. The Atlantic 10 Conference assumed control of the YanCon in 1997 and the teams were both members of the league through 1999 when UConn left to begin its transition to Division I-A and its current status as a member of the BIG EAST Conference.
HUSKIES HAVE BEEN A-1 VS. I-AA
The Huskies have faced one Division I-AA school in each of its Division I-A seasons, going 4-0 in the previous encounters and 3-0 at Rentschler Field. Last fall, UConn knocked off Liberty, 59-0, on Sept. 10. In 2004, UConn opened its season with a 52-14 win over Murray State on Sept. 4. In 2003, UConn defeated Lehigh, 35-17, on Oct. 4 at Rentschler Field. The 2002 season saw the Huskies roll to a 61-14 win over Florida Atlantic on Nov. 2 in the penultimate game at Memorial Stadium. FAU has since moved up to the Division I-A level and joined the Sun Belt Conference. The Huskies will continue this trend annually, especially now that the new NCAA legislation which allows teams to schedule 12 regular season games also allows one I-AA win to count towards the six needed for bowl eligibility on an annual basis instead of just once out of every four years. UConn has an agreement to face Maine at Rentschler Field in 2007 and will continue to bring more regional-based I-AA foes to East Hartford. However, by the time Maine makes it to Connecticut, the term "Division I-AA" will be no more. Effective December 15, the NCAA will now refer to the two classifications as the "Football Bowl Subdivision" for I-A and the "Football Championship Subdivision" for I-AA.
COUNTRY RHODES TAKE ME HOME
Many of the connecting roads between the border states of Rhode Island and Connecticut are two lane country byways and some members of both teams know them quite well. UConn's lone Rhode Island native is senior fullback Deon Anderson who is from Providence…The Rams have nine Connecticut natives: Tim Allen (Salem), Jimmy Hughes (Westport), Ryan Jefferson (Stratford), Keavaughn Johnson-Henry (Hartford), Shamel Lewis (West Hartford), D.J. Stefkovich (Westport), Marc Toni (Madison), Matt Vitti (Stamford) and Jimmy Young (Storrs). Johnson-Henry was a teammate of UConn fullback Stanley Williams at Weaver High School while Lewis played at Conard for head coach Rob Cersosimo, father of UConn wide receivers coach Matt Cersosimo. Young, who transferred from Southern Connecticut State, will be the first graduate of E.O. Smith High School to face the Huskies in the I-A era. E.O. Smith's campus is adjacent to UConn's and the school often plays games for several sports in UConn's facilities. Young is the son of UConn diving coach John Bransfield…UConn tailback Lou Allen and URI running back Tim Allen are brothers. Their father, Lou Sr., played tailback for UConn from 1971-73…UConn defensive tackle Brandon Dillon and URI nose guard Nick Levy both played together at Pittston Area High School in Pennsylvania. Dillon later prepped at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia in 2004 with URI defensive end Dana Hart. Hart attended N.J’s Plainfield High School with UConn defensive end Dan Davis…URI running back Jerell Jones and UConn defensive tackle Ray Blagman prepped together at New York's Roosevelt High School…UConn true freshman safety Robert Vaughn and URI fifth-year senior tight end Kyle Edwards are both from Massachusetts' North Attleboro High School though at different times… URI Director of Athletics, Tom McElroy, served at UConn's Deputy Athletics Director from 2001-04.
ONLY ON DAYS THAT END IN "Y"
For the second consecutive year the Huskies are opening their season on the Thursday prior to Labor Day, a move that is becoming increasingly prevalent around the country as a total of 16 games will be played on August 31 featuring Division I-A schools. Last year's season-opener, a 38-0 UConn win over Buffalo on Sept. 1, resulted in the first ever opening day sellout at Rentschler Field. The 2003 season opener against Indiana drew a crowd of 38,109 and the 2004 opener against Murray State drew 35,129. Both games were played on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Overall, UConn has been no stranger to playing on dates other than Saturday since joining the BIG EAST Conference in 2004. Including three scheduled non-Saturday games in 2006, UConn will have played on every day of the week but Tuesday over the past three seasons. The Huskies have taken to the field on a Sunday (2006 at Rutgers), Monday (2004 Motor City Bowl vs. Toledo), Wednesday (2004 vs. West Virginia), Thursday (2004 vs. Pittsburgh, 2004 at Rutgers, 2005 vs. Buffalo, 2005 at West Virginia, 2006 vs. Rhode Island) and Friday (2004 at Boston College, 2005 vs. Syracuse, 2006 vs. West Virginia). The Huskies are 5-3 in these previous non-Saturday games, including a 3-1 mark at Rentschler Field. Prior to 2004, UConn had not played on a weekday since 1982 when it faced Delaware on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
LET'S GET IT STARTED
August 31 equals the second earliest date that UConn has opened any of its 108 seasons of collegiate football. UConn also started its 2002 season at Boston College on Aug. 31, dropping a 24-16 decision to the Eagles at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill. The only earlier opening date for the Huskies came in 2003 when the inaugural game at Rentschler Field saw UConn defeat Indiana, 34-10, on Aug. 30.
START ME UP
UConn is 46-58-2 in season openers dating back to 1896. The Huskies are 3-0 in season openers at Rentschler Field after defeating Buffalo, 38-0, last Sept. 1 along with wins over Murray State, 52-14, on Sept. 4, 2004 and Indiana, 34-10, on Aug. 30, 2003. The wins snapped a four-game opening day losing streak that had stood since a 1998 win at Colgate...They are also UConn's first three season opening wins under Randy Edsall and the only three times that UConn had opened at home under his watch. UConn's last home season-opener before 2003 was in 1997, a 38-26 win over Northeastern at venerable Memorial Stadium...UConn is 18-6 when opening its season at home since 1947...This will mark the first time the Huskies have opened at home in four consecutive seasons since the team played eight straight season openers at Memorial Stadium from 1985-92...With a win, it would make the first time that UConn has won four consecutive season openers since a string of four straight from 1995-98. Meanwhile, UConn last won four consecutive season openers at home when the team ran off a string of five straight from 1985-89.
SPIRITS IN THE NIGHT
UConn will be playing its sixth game under the lights at Rentschler Field with the Huskies posting a 3-2 record in their previous forays into the East Hartford night. UConn's debut was auspicious as on Sept. 30, 2004 the Huskies defeated eventual BIG EAST champion Pittsburgh, 29-17, before a national television audience on ESPN2. Two weeks later, the team was not as fortunate, falling to No. 17 West Virginia, 31-19, on Oct. 13 live on ESPN. The 2005 season saw three night games, two of which were nationally televised, with UConn defeating Buffalo (38-0 on Sept. 1) and Syracuse (26-7 on Oct. 7) while losing to No. 17 Louisville (30-20 on Dec. 3).
SQUAD NOTES
IT’S HARD TO KEEP GOOD MEN DOWN
UConn is 9-4 in games following a loss since Oct. 26, 2002. The Huskies dropped their 2005 season finale to No. 17 Louisville, 30-20 on Dec. 3 at Rentschler Field. UConn did not avenge three losses last fall as the Huskies lost to Rutgers, 26-24, on Oct. 22 a week after falling, 28-13, at Cincinnati on Oct. 15. UConn followed the Rutgers loss with a 45-13 defeat at No. 16 West Virginia on Nov. 2 and another at Pittsburgh a week later. The other exception during this stretch was last Nov. 13 when Georgia Tech beat UConn after an Oct. 30 loss at Syracuse. Prior to last year, UConn had not lost four games in a row since dropping four straight from Sept. 28-Oct. 26, 2002, losing successive games against Ball State, Miami, Temple and Vanderbilt.
CONNECTICUT'S THIRD MOST SUCCESSFUL FOUR-YEAR RUN EVER
The Huskies have posted .500 or better seasons in three of the school's first four Division I-A seasons, finishing at 6-6 in 2002, 9-3 in 2003, 8-4 in 2004 and 5-6 in 2005. Remarkable given the obstacles of the school's transition to Division I-A, the 28 combined wins over the 2002-05 seasons equal the third winningest four-year span in school history. UConn has twice won 30 games over a four year span, going 30-14 from 1986-89 and 30-16 from 1995-98. The Huskies also recorded 28 wins over a four-year span from 1987-90 when the team went 28-16.
KINGS OF PAIN NO MORE, KNOCK ON WOOD
Although head coach Randy Edsall refused to use it as a crutch, 18 players on UConn’s preseason two-deep missed at least one game in 2005 due to injury. The injuries stacked up at some critical positions too as the Huskies were forced to start three different quarterbacks (including a true freshman in Dennis Brown). At one point, UConn started a different middle linebacker in four consecutive games last year, including true freshman walk-on Anthony Rouzier. In part due to these injuries, UConn saw 21 different players make their first career start during the 2005 season, including three quarterbacks and 12 in all on offense.
HUSKIES EARN HIGH MARKS AT OBEDIENCE SCHOOL
UConn was a disciplined squad in 2005 as the Huskies led the BIG EAST in 2005 in fewest penalty yards at 47.2 per game (519 yards in 11 games). This average ranked 23rd in the nation. In addition, UConn’s 68 penalties on the year narrowly ranked second in the league, just one behind Syracuse’s conference-low total of 67 accepted infractions.
CONN-TROLLING THE FLOW OF THE GAME
A telling sign of UConn's strong performance on both sides of the ball during its brief tenure as a Division I-A program has been its ability to both record and prevent long drives. Since the start of the 2002 season, UConn's offense has strung together 39 scoring drives of at least 80 yards while the Husky defense has surrendered just 19 such marches. UConn also holds an 8-3 advantage over its opponents in the number of 90-yard and over drives since becoming a I-A program.
HUSKIES DOMINATING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
Over the past 39 games, UConn has outgained its opponent 30 times. The Huskies were outgained five times in 2005, including the team’s win over USF. This stretch, like many UConn trends, dates back to a disheartening 28-24 loss at Vanderbilt on Oct. 26, 2002. Over this 39 game span, UConn has averaged 417.8 yards per game of total offense and 314.8 yards per game of total defense.
GAME BALLS
After each UConn victory, head coach Randy Edsall awards game balls for the team’s top performer on offense, defense and special teams. The following is a list of UConn’s active career leaders in game balls received: Terry Caulley (5), Larry Taylor (5), Matt Nuzie (3), Matt Bonislawski (2), Darius Butler (2), Dan Murray (2), Lou Allen, Allan Barnes, D.J. Hernandez, Danny Lansanah, Graig Vicidomino, Brandon Young.
SIX TRUE FRESHMAN CRACK TWO-DEEP
A total of six true freshmen earned a spot on UConn’s two-deep for the Rhode Island game after their strong performances in fall camp. Others can still earn their way onto the field as well, either as reserves or on special teams. The lone true freshman slated to start is Desi Cullen. The Louisville native will take the team’s kickoffs and is battling Chris Pavasaris for the punting chores. A pair of true freshmen are fighting each other for the backup role at middle linebacker with Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus in competing for the role. Lindsay Witten will man one back up defensive end spot after senior Jason Ward broke his ankle during camp. Two of UConn’s most promising true freshmen throughout August were wide receivers Terence Jeffers and Brad Kanuch, both of whom are listed as backups but are expected to see time. A year ago, six true freshmen saw action for UConn (Anthony Barksdale, Cody Brown, Dennis Brown, Jimmy McClam, Courtney Robinson and Anthony Rouzier), almost all of them in either reserve roles or on special teams. Edsall has kept the number of participating true freshmen consistent as eight true freshmen appeared for UConn in 2004 while six true freshmen played for the Huskies in 2003.
CONNECTICUT CAPTAINS
For the first time since 2001, UConn will have four captains as seniors Allan Barnes, Terry Caulley, Rhema Fuller and Jahi Smith were all elected to that post by their teammates. Caulley and Fuller are by far the bigger contributors on the field. Each has started most of their career games played and has proven to be one of UConn’s top players on their sides of the ball (offense for Caulley and defense for Fuller). Barnes and Smith are steady contributors, mainly on special teams, who are known for their off the field leadership. Both are popular figures in the UConn locker room who are respected by their peers.
OFFENSE NOTES
CONNECTICUT BORN AND CONNECTICUT BRED UNDER CENTER
For the fourth time in Connecticut's five Division I-A seasons, a native Nutmegger will start at quarterback on opening day as Bristol's D.J. Hernandez leads the Husky offense against Rhode Island. The three-sport all-state star at Bristol Central High School, and son of the late former Husky Dennis Hernandez, earned the starting nod after his relentless work ethic helped push him past his competition due to vast improvements in his game since the end of the 2005 season. Hernandez was a fixture at the team's off-season workouts and distanced himself from the team's other signal callers during spring practices and the recently completed preseason camp. Each of UConn's first three Division I-A seasons (2002-04) opened with Shelton's Dan Orlovsky under center. Orlovsky is currently playing for the NFL's Detroit Lions. Last year, Matt Bonislawski of Natrona Heights, Pa. was UConn's opening day signal caller. Hernandez showed a flash of what might await UConn fans this year in a losing effort against No. 17 Louisville in the season finale on Dec. 3. Before a prime time ESPN audience with a bowl berth on the line, Hernandez completed 18-of-32 passes (56-percent) for 255 yards and three touchdowns without an interception for a 154.13 rating. He also led UConn in rushing against the Cardinals with his 49 yards and gained four first downs on the ground to accompany his 11 through the air.
TOTAL RE-CAULL
Senior tailback and team captain Terry Caulley showed during preseason camp that he is back to the form that helped his garner freshman All-America honors in 2002 when he led the nation in rushing yards by a freshman with 1,247. As the 2006 season opens, a few of UConn's biggest career rushing records are well within his reach. His 2,513 career rushing yards leave him just one good game shy of passing Wilbur Gilliard's total of 2,624 yards set from 1992-95. Caulley needs just 75 carries this year to surpass Ed Long's school record sum of 524 set from 1991-94. With seven rushing touchdowns this year, Caulley would pass Gilliard's 34 for the most ever by a Husky. With one more 100-yard rushing game, Caulley would tie Vin Clements (1968-70) for that school record with 12.
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL
A year ago, UConn went from the penthouse to the outhouse in terms of offensive line experience. The team’s 2004 line, which helped pave the way for the BIG EAST’s leading total offense, boasted 174 career starts. In 2005, seven of the 10 student-athletes on UConn's opening day two-deep had never played a single down on the Huskies' offensive line prior to this season. The group came together as the year went along and, under the watchful eye of new offensive line coach Mike Foley, a young but more seasoned unit hopes to play better in 2006. Four of the five starters return in left tackle William Beatty, left guard Matt Applebaum, center Keith Gray and right guard Immanuel Hutcherson. Redshirt freshman right tackle Mike Hicks is the lone new starter, but Hicks has been one of the team’s top blockers throughout the past spring and preseason camp and he is poised to demonstrate that on the field this fall.
DAN-IMAL ON THE LOOSE
A candidate for the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end, Dan Murray hopes to build upon an All-BIG EAST junior campaign in 2005. How much his progress will be hampered by a high ankle sprain suffered during a scrimmage on Aug. 21 remains to be seen, but Murray has been overcoming obstacles for his whole UConn career. A basketball player first and foremost at Gloucester High School north of Boston, Murray played just one year of football, as a wide receiver. Head Coach Randy Edsall liked his make-up though and signed Murray, adding weight to his frame and lining him up as a tight end. The move has paid dividends as Murray has steadily improved throughout his career at UConn, his blocking ability in particular, and he has blossomed into one of the country's top tight ends.
FINISHING IN THE RED IS GOOD
You wouldn't want your financial ledgers to be full of red ink, but UConn's Division I-A era success is in part due to finishing its time in the red zone in style. Since 2002, UConn has tallied on 162 of 187 (87%) of its red zone possessions with only two turnovers during that span. Of the 25 non-scoring drives, 16 came as a result of a missed field goal attempt.
SHARING THE WEALTH
Edsall has made a point of having a deep rotation at wide receiver throughout his time at UConn. The unit’s depth is still settling out, but senior Brandon Young and junior Brandon McLean are the group’s veterans. Junior Larry Taylor will see his first consistent time at wide receiver this year after starting his UConn career as a running back. Sophomore Nollis Dewar has a great frame and could develop into a top-flight receiver for the Huskies. Also, two speedy true freshmen cracked the preseason two-deep in Terence Jeffers and Brad Kanuch. Whoever the names are, opportunities will abound. Last year, 13 different Huskies caught a pass while UConn's 14 TD passes were spread out to six different receivers. Regardless of who ends up in the mix, Edsall will keep them involved. During the 2004 season, 13 different Huskies caught a pass, nine hit double digits in receptions and nine different UConn players have caught a touchdown pass. In 2003, 15 different players caught a pass for UConn and eight Huskies hit double figures in receptions. A total of 10 different Huskies caught a touchdown pass in 2003. The stats were similarly diverse in 2002 when seven different Huskies caught at least 20 passes which tied for the fourth in the nation during the regular season. The shared receptions have also created an even distribution of receiving yardage. Despite the fact that UConn has thrown for 11,264 passing yards over the past four seasons combined (239.7 ypg), the Huskies have had just 11 100-yard receiving games, with six different receivers reaching the plateau (Shaun Feldeisen, Keron Henry, Dan Murray, Jason Williams, O'Neil Wilson and Young).
DEFENSE NOTES
AIMING FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR ON TOP OF BIG EAST
In 2005, for the second consecutive season, UConn led the BIG EAST Conference in total defense. In 2004, an average of 327.4 yards per game topped the league and in 2005, UConn again finished at the head of the pack, this time yielding just 297.2 yards per game. UConn is the only active BIG EAST member to ever lead the league in total defense in consecutive seasons. Miami and Virginia Tech both accomplished the feat in the past. The Huskies are looking to join Miami as the only school to lead the league in total defense for four consecutive seasons. The Hurricanes accomplished the feat four years in a row from 1991-94. Those immovable Miami defenses included several future NFL superstars, including Warren Sapp, Jesse Armstead and Ray Lewis.
HUSKIES FINISH A LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN IN NATION
UConn ranked amongst the top 10 nationally in several defensive categories in 2005 and pulled in at seventh in the nation in total defense at 298.3 yards per game. UConn also finished fourth in the nation in passing defense (158.45 ypg) and seventh in passing efficiency defense (99.81 rating). UConn’s defensive performance in 2005 was its best in 26 years since the Huskies allowed 289.4 yards per game in 1979. UConn led the nation in total defense entering both the Syracuse (Oct. 7) and Cincinnati (Oct. 15) games. The Huskies held a team under 200 yards of total offense three times this past season, most recently at Pittsburgh on Nov. 12. After a steady 79-yard opening drive, Pitt had just 113 yards of total offense in the final three and a half quarters. In the following game, against USF, UConn held the Bulls to a season-low 83 yards rushing. USF entered the game ranked 12th nationally at 229.8 yards per game.
THIRD DOWN INEFFICIENCY
A critical element to UConn’s defensive success a year ago was that the team’s opponents found third down to be a tough row to hoe. UConn led the nation in third down conversion defense at 24% (38-for-157). LSU was second in the nation behind UConn with a rate of 28.2-percent followed narrowly by SEC rival Alabama at 28.3. Helping UConn to this was steady first and second down defense, forcing teams to convert from longer distances on third down. Only 28 times last year did UConn's defense face a third down and three yards or less (2.5 per game). Of 157 third down conversion attempts faced by the Huskies last year, 90 were seven yards or longer (67%). Teams didn't fare much better when going for it on fourth down against UConn either as the Huskies were 4-for-20 (20%) in fourth down defense, tying the Huskies for third in the nation along with Middle Tennessee.
ALL THE RUNNING LANES ARE FULL-ER
Named to the Outland Trophy's Watch List, senior defensive tackle and captain Rhema Fuller is a rock in the middle of UConn's defensive front seven. The Cocoa, Florida native has done an effective job stuffing the opponents' offense the past two years as he helped push the Huskies to two first place finishes in the BIG EAST's total defense leaders. In addition to eating up blockers, he as made 78 career tackles, 14.5 of them for a loss. His work off of the field is just as stellar though. Fuller is named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District I team and the BIG EAST's academic Honor Roll. He also received the Donald Kinsman Award from UConn's Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes to a student-athlete for his or her high academic achievement.
THE QUARTERBACK MUST GO DOWN
One of the many benefits of the two lopsided season-opening wins in 2005 was that it allowed head coach Randy Edsall to use many of his young players in game situations and let them gain experience. Not only did they figuratively get their feet wet, but they also performed well once they got on the field, something that has helped the team through its rash of injuries. A total of 23 different UConn defenders factored in a tackle for loss last year and 14 different Huskies recorded at least a half of a sack. In the 2004 season, 17 different UConn players recorded a TFL and nine different players had a sack, numbers that UConn eclipsed after just four games last fall.
USUALLY NO NEED FOR THE RED ALERT SIREN
In eight of UConn’s 11 games last year (excluding Cincinnati, West Virginia and Louisville), UConn's opponents reached the red zone just 11 times out of a total of 116 drives. One of the 11 possessions resulted in seven points for the Huskies when Darius Butler ran an interception back 86 yards for a touchdown at Army. In the other three games, UConn did not fare as well. The Bearcats found the red zone four times, Louisville six and West Virginia seven.
SECONDARY NOW A PRIMARY OBSTACLE
The Connecticut secondary blends youth and experience as well as any team in the nation as the Huskies return all but one letterwinner from the 2005 secondary which helped the team rank fourth in the nation in passing defense by yielding just 158.5 yards per game. An astounding seven different active Huskies have started at least six games as a defensive back in their UConn careers. They are Allan Barnes (7), Tyvon Branch (6), Darius Butler (11), Ernest Cole (14), Dahna Deleston (8), M.J. Estep (18) and Marvin Taylor (8). The eighth spot on the two-deep is held by fleet-footed redshirt freshman Terry Baltimore. This glut of talented players is a problem for Edsall, but a good problem to have. Further displaying the respect that this unit commands in the locker room, two members of the secondary (Barnes and Jahi Smith) were named as team captains for the fall. Having two defensive backs in this role is especially impressive considering that prior to 2006, UConn players had not elected any defensive back as a team captain since Roy Hopkins in 2001.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
TAYLOR MADE RETURNS
Larry Taylor is back to 100-percent and ready to reassume his role as UConn’s top return specialist. He hurt his knee in UConn’s game at Cincinnati on Oct. 15, 2005 and the loss was felt hard in the team’s return game. Taylor ranked 18th in the nation in punt returns (12.30 average) and seventh in kickoff returns (34.2 avg.), but would fall below the national minimum to be ranked because of time missed due to injury. Prior to the Army game on Oct. 1, Taylor was one of only two versatile players in the nation to rank in the top 20 of both kickoff and punt return yards, joining Brandon Williams of Wisconsin. He started the 2005 season off on the right foot with 118 punt return yards against Buffalo on Sept. 1, marking the eighth-best performance in BIG EAST history and the second-best ever by anyone not wearing either a Miami or Virginia Tech uniform. Taylor was not far off of the UConn record of 145 yards set by Joe Markus at Maine on Oct. 20, 1979. Taylor returned in 2005 after an electrifying true freshman season in 2004 during which he became only the second Husky ever (and the first since 1975) to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same season. Behind Taylor, UConn ranked 18th in the nation in punt returns in 2004 after finishing the previous season ranked 116th out of 117 Division I-A teams. Individually, he ranked second in the nation last fall by averaging 31.3 yards per kickoff return.
NO IFS ANDS OR BUT-LERS ABOUT IT
UConn has gained more depth in recent years, and as the program’s consistently growing stature improves recruiting classes, special teams has benefited most. Darius Butler became a third option at kickoff returner last year after injuries to both Larry Taylor and Jimmy McClam. He hardly played like a typical third-stringer and will retain his kickoff return role as the 2006 season opens. Against USF he joined both Taylor and McClam as Huskies with 100-plus yard return games to their credit last year alone as he ran back four kickoffs for 148 yards, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown that made ESPN SportsCenter’s Plays of the Day. Coupled with his 86-yard interception return touchdown at Army on Oct. 1, Butler became the first UConn player to ever have a defensive touchdown and a special teams touchdown in the same season.
NEITHER PUNTER GETS THE BOOT JUST YET
One of the more anticipated races in fall camp was that for the punting duties and the battle did not disappoint. Both senior Chris Pavasaris and charismatic true freshman Desi Cullen showed their potential and the race continues with Edsall not declaring a starter as of yet. Pavasaris, a Rhodes and Marshall Scholarship nominee who carries a 3.9 GPA, was UConn’s starting punter down the stretch last year and performed well. Cullen has shown great promise and will take the team’s kickoffs in 2006 to help break him into collegiate action.
STADIUM/ATTENDANCE NOTES
MOVIN’ ON UP TO THE EAST SIDE
The Huskies moved into brand new Rentschler Field in East Hartford for the 2003 season with the stadium opening its doors on August 30 when UConn defeated Indiana, 34-10. Conveniently located within miles of Interstates 91, 84 and 384, Adriaen’s Landing and downtown Hartford, the new home of the Huskies lies on 75 acres of land donated to the State of Connecticut from the historic Pratt & Whitney Airfield. The stadium, like the former airfield, is named for that company’s founder, Frederick Rentschler. The new stadium boasts a capacity of 40,000 with 38 luxury suites in a massive press box tower which helps enclose the natural grass field. The $91.2 million construction project is an integral part of former Governor John Rowland’s economic development program for the Hartford metro-area. While UConn football serves as the primary tenant, the facility also attracts other prominent events to Hartford. Rentschler Field hosted two concerts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, September 16 and 18 of 2003 and one by the Rolling Stones on Aug. 26, 2005. Several prominent international soccer contests have been played on the pitch at Rentschler Field, most notably a World Cup Qualifier between the United States and Trinidad & Tobago on Aug. 17, 2005.
RENTSCHLER AMONGST TOUGHEST ROAD VENUES
The UConn football team is 15-4 since moving into Rentschler Field for the 2003 season and have played to 14 sellouts in those 19 games, including each of the last 12. UConn has been particularly inhospitable to non-conference guests as the Huskies have amassed an 11-1 mark in non-league games in their new home. Those boisterous Husky fans have disrupted opponents as visiting teams have been flagged for 25 false starts and delay of game penalties in the last 10 games played at Rentschler Field. With this 15-4 mark since 2003, Rentschler Field ranks ahead of such hallowed grounds as Tennessee's Neyland Stadium and Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (aka "The Swamp") in terms of home team wins.
MOST HOME WINS SINCE 2003
19 Boise State, Ohio State
18 Auburn, Iowa, LSU, Oklahoma, USC
17 Michigan, Virginia Tech
16 Georgia, Hawaii, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Texas, Texas Tech
15 CONNECTICUT, Florida St., Nebraska WVU, Wisc. & others
14 Alabama, Florida, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and others
STARTING A COMMOTION
Swelling interest in the Husky football program as it gradually moved up into BIG EAST play can perhaps be best evidenced by the rise in attendance. Though 2006 season ticket sales are still coming in, for the 2005 season, UConn sold in excess of 32,000 season tickets at Rentschler Field, including 3,800 student season tickets, a pair of staggering sums considering that the 2001 season ticket base was around 4,000. In 2002, fueled by a season-ticket base of 11,300, UConn ranked 23rd in the nation by playing to 97.58% of Memorial Stadium’s 16,200 seat capacity. The burgeoning season ticket base more than doubled to 24,000 for the inaugural season at Rentschler Field and rose to 28,000 a year later in 2004.
40,000 HUSKY FANS CAN’T BE WRONG
The Huskies have sold out 14 of their first 19 dates at Rentschler Field and each of the last 12. UConn has played to 97-percent of capacity all-time in East Hartford, drawing 737,485 fans, or an average of 38,815 per game. UConn finished 2005 ranked 18th in the nation in attendance based on percentage of capacity, a sum that led the BIG EAST Conference and ranked ahead of BCS participants Georgia, USC, Penn State and West Virginia, amongst many others. In fact, UConn sold more football tickets in both 2005 (275,129) and 2006 (240,000) than either men’s or women’s basketball.
RENTSCHLER FIELD PROVES FRIENDLY FOR HUSKIES
UConn went 4-2 at Rentschler Field in 2005 after compiling a 6-1 home record last fall. The six home wins in 2004 set a school record for a single season. Seven times UConn has won five home games in a season. UConn turned the trick each of the past two years and also managed the feat five times at Memorial Stadium, going 5-0 in 1986 and 1989 and posting a 5-1 mark in 1987, 1995 and 1998. UConn presently stands at 15-4 all-time at Rentschler Field.
SCHEDULE NOTES
A LUCKY SEVEN FOR HUSKY FANS
With the NCAA expanding schedules to 12 games starting with the 2006 season, UConn is able to reward its fans with seven home games this year for just the second time in school history. In 2004, UConn also played seven dates at Rentschler Field with the Huskies posting a 6-1 mark in those contests. The Huskies join West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati as BIG EAST schools who will play seven home games in 2006.
WISHING IT WAS A DIRTY DOZEN
The NCAA schedule reverted back to 12 games for the 2006 season, news which will welcomed by the Huskies if history is any indicator. In the 2002, 2003 and 2004 seasons, UConn used its 12th game to post a monumental win. On Nov. 23, 2002, UConn recorded a 37-20 win over bowl-bound Iowa State on Senior Day in Ames. On Nov. 15, 2003, the Huskies found more Week 12 magic with a 51-17 rout of Wake Forest, again on the road. The 2004 season was set up for 11 games but the Huskies earned a 12th opportunity to take the field by securing its first ever bowl berth and seized victory, topping Toledo, 39-10, in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 27, 2004. The Huskies would of course gladly welcome a 13th contest added to the 2006 season as it would come in a bowl game.
FAMILIAR FACES
For the first time since leaving Division I-AA, UConn has a schedule full of opponents which it is familiar with. UConn has previously played each of the 12 teams on its 2006 schedule and, except for Rhode Island, has played them all within the careers of the current senior class. UConn routinely played between first-time opponents during its early days at the I-A level as of the 36 games UConn played from 2002-04, 16 of them inaugurated a new series with UConn going 10-6 in those contests. Last year, UConn faced just one first-time opponent in I-AA Liberty.
SYMPATHY FOR THE SCHEDULE
Just like in 2006, UConn is playing the longest regular-season schedule in the nation this year, covering the full 94-day regular season playing period permitted by the NCAA. August 31 is the first permissible playing date for Division I-A football, while UConn is also scheduled to play on the last permissible regular season date when the Huskies travel to face Louisville on “Championship Saturday,” Dec. 2. UConn is one of only six teams in the nation to have a regularly scheduled game on both the first and last days of the season, joining Florida International, Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State, Oregon State and San Diego State. However, many teams will be able to also equal this feat if they were to advance to their respective conference championship games.
BIG EAST PLAY IS A LONG WAIT AWAY
For the second consecutive year, the Huskies wait until Oct. 7 to open their BIG EAST Conference schedule, Last year the game was a 26-7 win over Syracuse at Rentschler Field. In 2006, UConn will make its BIG EAST seasonal debut at South Florida. Only four schools in the nation will wait longer than UConn to play their conference openers in 2006, and two of them are fellow BIG EAST members in Louisville (Oct. 14 vs. Cincinnati) and West Virginia (Oct. 14 vs. Syracuse). The other two teams are Wac member San Jose State (Oct. 14 vs. Utah State) and the Sun Belt’s Troy (Oct. 14 vs. Louisiana-Monroe).
