University of Connecticut Athletics
Football Gameweek: SOLD OUT For Senior Day
11/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 22, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut football team will play its final home game of the 2010 season on Saturday at noon when it takes on Cincinnati at Rentschler Field. The game is an advance sellout. Please remember to be in your seats at 11:45 a.m. as the Senior Day ceremonies will begin shortly thereafter.
For a copy of the UConn media notes, CLICK HERE.
*
The University of Connecticut Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will conduct a "Winter Wear Drive" at the Cincinnati game.
Patrons are asked to bring gently-used coats, hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, etc. to the game and they will be collected as they enter the stadium.
The items will be donated to the Cornerstone Foundation in Rockville, Conn.; the Windham Area Interfaith Ministries of Willimantic, Conn., and the Salvation Army of Willimantic, Conn.
*
The UConn Division of Athletics will once again hold an in-game chat. Please join us!
*
Here are quotes from Tuesday's press lunchdeon with head coach Randy Edsall and UConn players:
Head Coach Randy Edsall
Opening statement:
"This week we've got Cincinnati who's a tremendous offensive football team that's starting to play better. They had a big game last week against Rutgers where they scored 69 points. Zach Collaros is really a good quarterback as we know first hand from a year ago. Defensively they're very active and athletic. We need to have a good week of preparation to give ourselves a chance to win on Saturday at The Rent."
On senior fullback Anthony Sherman:
"Anthony has had a very good career here for us. He's been outstanding player on special teams. He's been a great blocker and catcher for us coming out of the backfield. A lot of times he might not get as much of the notoriety in terms of running back success we've had, but if you're going to have success with those guys you need to have a blocker who is unselfish. We don't give him the ball, we just have him block, and he hasn't complained about it. He's been a very valuable member of the success we've had in two parts of the game. He's going to be a guy we miss very much."
On junior tailback Jordan Todman:
"Jordan did a good job in the offseason to build his strength and endurance on what he already had as a sophomore. He's a tremendous competitor who's willing to do whatever he has to for the team to win. The injury he had this year never slowed him down, he got back out there as soon as possible. He works very hard at his craft, and it shows on the field."
On UConn's favorable turnover margin and how it may impact the Cincinnati game:
"Turnovers are huge because they eliminate opportunities for people. If we can force some turnovers it will be a different ballgame. If you look at the games (Cincinnati has) had some issues in, they've turned the ball over. It takes away possessions they want to have. We just play the way we play all the time and hope things happen."
On senior linebacker Scott Lutrus' increasing level of play since returning from injury:
"I think he's just going out there and letting everything go. He knows that there might be issues, but he only has a certain number of games left. He's just going to go out there and let it fly and whatever happens, happens. Hopefully that will continue again this week."
"Three weeks ago (when the team was 0-2 in the BIG EAST), did you think you'd be in the hunt for the conference championship?"
"I did. I did, and obviously the players did too, if you look at what happened. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it's what we believe. The players were listening to what was going on and decided to take action on some of the issues. We've been saying it all season, it just took them a little longer to adhere to those things."
Zach Hurd (Waterford, Conn.) RS Sr. - Offensive Guard
On the team's turnaround after the poor start:
"After the Louisville game we got together at practice and looked at each other and said to each person `raise your hand if you practiced hard.'" We looked at each person and said, `Did you practice hard' and no one could raise their hand. We committed fully to it from then on. Most importantly, we started having fun at practice. We were having fun hitting each other. We are in full pads almost every day and started having fun with it. This team plays better when we have to face adversity and that's what we had. We had our backs to the wall. At the start of the year, everyone was giving us attention and saying how good we were. We needed to earn respect and that's what we've done the past few weeks."
On needing to keep the ball against Cincinnati:
"This Saturday is going to be a shootout. Cincinnati can score a lot of points. They showed that in the Rutgers game. We really need to get out there and the offense has to score some points. But at the same time, we need to run the ball and work the clock out so the defense can stay off the field to keep them from getting winded."
On his last game at Rentschler Field:
"Everyone keeps asking me how excited I am. But I don't really think about the game until I get on the bus. When that time comes, I'm going to be excited. It's my last game at the Rent. I have a lot of people coming to this game that I want to have there. Everyone that I love and want there will be at the game. We are going to put on a show for them."
Jordan Todman (North Dartmouth, Mass.) Jr. - Tailback
On his personal success rushing the ball this year:
"It's great to have that success. When the season starts, you'd love to be at the top and able to compete with the top rushers in the country. You never know what it's going to be like though. I've been lucky enough to have a successful season. I can't complain but I just want to keep getting better."
On getting better:
"Making less mistakes. Taking opportunities and making big plays out of them. I can get more first downs. Working hard in the offseason, getting faster, getting stronger, getting bigger. I want to be a better student of the game. Knowing more about the opposing team. Watching more film and learning how to pick up blitzes better. That's all stuff that I can do."
"I can definitely be a better student of the game. Running the ball, I've been doing it for a while, and I'm getting better with time and patience. Picking up blitzes and catching the ball out of the backfield, I can definitely do better at that. But I feel like there's definitely things about the game that I don't know much about that I could learn and improve on. That'd be the next step for me on what I can do."
Zach Frazer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) RS Sr. - Quarterback
On Senior Day:
"I never really thought about senior day before, maybe I will think about it after the game, but beforehand I am just focused on the game itself. It will certainly be interesting to walk on the field for the last time at Rentschler."
On the team and the Syracuse win:
"We are finally clicking on offense and defense out there and we are doing well against teams. We are confident in our skills out on the field and so far that work as put us in a good position."
"Coming from where we were to where we are now it shows the true character of our team. We kept pushing through and finally it paid off for us."
"To go to Syracuse and get the win was huge. It put us in a great position and we need to keep carrying that momentum into the final two games this season."
On the Cincinnati game:
"We have to go out there and move the ball and score points against Cincinnati. That will allow us to help our defense out there. We all need to be confident and sure of what we can do and show everyone else that we can do great things."
Kendall Reyes (Nashua, N.H.) RS Jr. - Defensive Tackle
On the interception at Syracuse:
"It was right there, pretty easy catch for me. I was actually surprised that the ball was there and my instincts just took over and went from there. I was just in the right place at the right time and I'm glad that I could help the team there and eventually add some points on the board."
On the team's intensity:
"Everything is clicking for us right now, as a team we are very passionate and intense and it feels good to go out and play every weekend. Of course we wish we could take some of the earlier games back, but those games helped us get to where we are now. We have been having great practices the last few weeks and you definitely see that it carries over to the games."
"We have been having a lot of fun out on the field recently and winning sure helps that. Everybody is feeling good during practice, and we still play hard and do what we need to do. All of our hard work has finally paid off and we need to keep it up."
On the Cincinnati game:
"We have a chip on our shoulder from the game last year and we want to go out and play hard the entire game on Saturday. It will be a high powered game against Cincinnati and hopefully that will help us stay intense the whole time.
Anthony Sherman (North Attleboro, Mass.) Sr. - Fullback
On the team's improvement:
"We all started to realize that although we might have had a good game we can still improve on things during practice. We still need to watch film and improve every day to become the team that we all want to be, and everyone finally started to see that and all of the hard work is paying off."
On the Cincinnati game:
"We know how to stop Cincinnati and we need to focus on executing the game plan when it comes to that. Everyone is going to need to step up and contribute in order for us to get the outcome we want on Saturday."
On his role change from high school to college:
"It doesn't bother me too much to not have the ball in my hands that much anymore, as long as I'm helping my team succeed that is all I could ask for. My teammates and my coaches appreciate what I do and if we can be a successful team then that works for me and that is what counts. I had to get used to not having the ball all the time when I came here, but it all worked out for me and I enjoy my role that I have here."
*
The kickoff time and television coverage for the UConn at USF game on Saturday, Dec. 4 will be announced on a six-day window. Kickoff time and television for all three BIG EAST games that day (UConn at USF, Pittsburgh at Cincinnati and Rutgers at West Virginia) will be announced on Monday, November 29.
*
University of Connecticut junior tailback Jordan Todman (North Dartmouth, Mass.) and redshirt junior defensive tackle Kendall Reyes (Nashua, N.H.) were both named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for their performances in the Husky win against Syracuse. Todman rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns against the Orange while Reyes had an interception and a key forced fumble.
Players Mentioned
