UConn sports

Need to vent about the Michigan game?

Questions about the defense? The offensive line?

We’re having a live chat about the UConn football team here Thursday at 11 a.m.

- Neill

UConn sent its response to the NCAA’s notice of allegations Tuesday, but it won’t make that report public just yet.

It could be available next week.

The UConn men’s basketball program was accused by the NCAA in May of committing eight major violations, most related the recruitment of Nate Miles and his dealings with former UConn manager turned agent Josh Nochimson.

There’s no word on what punishments UConn self-imposed, though it’s very likely the school did slap its own wrist to some extent.

UConn officials, including head coach Jim Calhoun and former assistants Pat Sellers and Beau Archibald, are scheduled to appear before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions Oct. 15-16 in Indianapolis. Sellers and Archibald were forced to resign just before the NCAA’s notice of allegations was sent to the school.

The violations UConn is accused of include making excessive phone calls to recruits and failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance. A Yahoo Sports story in March 2009, part of a series on the influence of agents on college sports, prompted the initial investigation.

- Neill

A few things to chew on from UConn football coach Randy Edsall’s chat with the media Tuesday morning in advance of Saturday’s home opener with Texas Southern.

– As expected, no injury talk from the head coach (we’ll try and track down LB Scott Lutrus himself this afternoon).

We may have to wait until Thursday to learn if/how serious Lutrus or anyone else is hurt.

Edsall spent a few minutes Tuesday clarifying the Big East’s new injury policy and his team’s interpretation of it.

“Whether you agree with it or not, that’s just the way it is,” Edsall said.

When the report comes out Thursday, it will be rather vague even though it lists players as probable, questionable, doubtful or out. The injuries will be listed as either: leg, arm, upper extremity, head or torso.

“We’re not going to get specific with the injury, due to the privacy of the student athlete,” Edsall said.

Even though almost every other coach in the Big East is commenting on and speaking about injuries to some degree, Edsall has self-imposed a code of silence. He won’t be talking about injuries at all this season, just releasing the names on Monday (those out for the year) and Thursday (those limited).

– Edsall was asked if he believes in his team as much as he did a week ago.

“Yeah, I really do,” Edsall said.

– No major changes to the depth chart this week.

DT Alex Polito has replaced Ryan Wirth as the backup to Twyon Martin.

P Cole Wagner is now officially listed as the No. 1 punter with Chad Christen No. 2.

Robbie Frey and D.J. Shoemate are still listed as co-backups to Jordan Todman at tailback.

– On S Harris Agbor’s good play at Michigan and somewhat surprising spot in the starting lineup:

“Harris is a smart young man. Harris made more of a commitment this summer to work harder on his game and develop his abilities as a safety,” Edsall said.

– On what UConn fans could take from the 113,000-plus fans in Ann Arbor and the way they supported their team.

“That’s a football environment. That’s what football is about,” Edsall said. “That’s how it should be.”

The big message to UConn fans was get into the stadium early and stay to the end.

“Somebody should have Last Call in the parking lot,” Edsall said.

– QB Zach Frazer was victimized by some drops by his wideouts, but he also wasn’t extremely precise with all of his throws either.

“I remember one pass over the middle to John Delahunt,” Edsall said. “That was a Nolan Ryan fastball from about 30 feet.”

- Neill

UConn linebacker Scott Lutrus is not on the Big East’s weekly injury list of players who are out for the season or scheduled for surgery that is released Monday.

That doesn’t mean Lutrus will play Saturday for the Huskies against Texas Southern. The league’s report on players who may be probable, questionable, doubtful or out is released Thursday.

Coach Randy Edsall, as is his new personal policy, would not discuss injuries when asked Monday on the Big East’s weekly conference call.

A few more numbers to chew on from the opening week of Big East play:

– Cincinnati’s 18-game regular season win streak is over thanks to Saturday night’s loss to Fresno State

If you thought UConn’s offensive line was bad in Week 1 (it was maybe sub-par but not terrible, to be fair), check out some of Cincinnati’s numbers from its opener.

In that Fresno game Bearcat quarterback Zach Collaros was sacked 8 times. Eight!

And (mostly because of that sack yardage) Cincinnati finished the game with a total of just 15 rushing yards.

– Rutgers is the only team in the nation that has recorded at least one shutout in each of the past five seasons. Those shutouts have come against:

Norfolk State (yawn), Texas Southern (yawn), Morgan State (yawn), Norfolk State (yawn), Illinois (pretty good), and USF (very good).

– Syracuse’s win over Akron Saturday was: its first season-opening win since a 3OT victory over North Carolina in 2003, and head coach Doug Marrone’s first road win as Cuse coach.

How’s this for a change: The season has only just begun but Syracuse is second in the Big East in total offense and second in total defense.

The Orange were the only Big East team last week to beat a Division I-A (FBS) foe.

– UConn is last in the league in scoring defense and scoring offense.

- Neill

UConn has not reported any season-ending injuries to the Big East, as of 11 a.m.

League teams have been asked to report any major injuries to the league (those out for the season or scheduled for surgery).

So, that means UConn LB Scott Lutrus is probably not seriously injured. Husky coach Randy Edsall has been mum on Lutrus’ health, even as senior captain missed much of Saturday’s loss to Michigan.

We’ll have more info when we speak to Edsall on the Big East’s conference call in a half hour or so.

- Neill

The Big East released its players of the week this morning. It’s an Orange theme today.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK _ Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse. Nassib had 287 yards of total offense and threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes in his first career start to lead Syracuse to a 29-3 win at Akron. He finished 17 of 27 passes for 229 yards, rushed for 58 yards on nine attempts and completed passes to seven different receivers.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK _ Mike Holmes, FS, Syracuse. Holmes had a team-high six tackles with one sack to lead a Syracuse defense that limited Akron to just three points and 166 yards of offense. Holmes also scored a touchdown on a 57-yard blocked field goal return.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK _ Brandon Bing, CB, Rutgers. Bing blocked two punts to set up Rutgers scoring plays in the win over Norfolk State.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville — Ran for a career-high 153 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown, on 16 carries in a 23-16 loss to Kentucky.

Alex Silvestro, DE, Rutgers — Had five tackles, a sack and four tackles for loss. Led a defense that held Norfolk State to 25 rushing yards and an 0-for-12 showing on third down conversions.

B.J. Daniels, QB, USF — Completed 15 of 22 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in a 59-14 win against Stony Brook.

Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia — Ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in a 31-0 win against Coastal Carolina. Moved into eighth place on the Big East’s career rushing chart (3,492 yards).

Gregg Pugnetti, P, West Virginia — Averaged 49.2 yards on six punts with a long punt of 71 yards. Downed two punts on the 1-yard line to help keep the Chanticleers out of the red zone for the game.

- Neill

The Big East’s new procedure of releasing information twice a week has given UConn coach Randy Edsall the impetus to not discuss injuries at all this season.

On Monday’s the league reveals those players out for the season or having surgery, and on Thursday’s (or two days before a game) injured players are listed as doubtful, questionable, probable or out.

So Edsall has taken the opportunity to clam up entirely when it comes to injuries. It’s certainly his prerogative, it just makes life tough for people like me and fans who are salivating to know such details.

– So, along those lines, we can report at this time that LB Scott Lutrus may or may not be injured and that he may or may not be limited or out for this week’s game against Texas Southern.

“I’ve got no comment on anything about injuries,” Edsall said Sunday.

Lutrus left Saturday’s 30-10 loss to Michigan with what appeared to be an injury. He has suffered from shoulder stingers in the past.

TE Ryan Griffin (leg) may also still be less than 100 percent, as well as DE Trevardo Williams (???).

If Lutrus, or anybody else, is on Monday’s list then it’s bad news. If he’s not, it at least means the injury isn’t really bad.

– Among the other items Edsall did discuss Sunday was his team’s performance on third down.

“The third down situation on both sides of the ball was disappointing,” Edsall said, pointing out that the Huskies were a less-than-average 4-of-15 and the Wolverines were an ungodly 14-of-19.

– The offensive line was obviously not great against Michigan. Nor was its counterpart on defense.

“I didn’t think they were very good. I thought we got whupped on both sides of the line of scrimmage,” Edsall said. “We didn’t win the battle in the trenches, obviously.”

– RB D.J. Shoemate had a key fumble, as Husky fans all know now.

RB Robbie Frey wasn’t exactly outstanding, either,

Perhaps because of that or perhaps just because the coaches don’t feel they can spread the ball around any more, the Huskies may not use three tailbacks in their next game.

“It might be a situation where you only play two guys,” Edsall said. “Or you play three. We’re going to have to talk about that and see which way we go.”

– What happened on Cole Wagner’s 5-yard (shanked) punt?

“He didn’t tuck his elbow like he’s supposed to when he punts,” Edsall said. “It was technique.”

– The much-maligned defensive secondary was seemingly bad, but not any worse than any other position group Saturday.

“We had one major bust,” Edsall said. “It was a lack of communication on that big pass play.”

A couple of DB’s drew praise from the coach, however.

“I thought Harris Agbor was productive in the game. I thought Blidi (Wreh-Wilson) was productive in the game,” Edsall said.

– And how did true freshman WR/QB Leon Kinnard do in his debut?

“He showed that he was a true freshman,” Edsall said.

“He made mistakes just like other people made mistakes,” the coach continued.

– There were positives, of course. RB Jordan Todman wasn’t bad.

“I thought Jordan had a good day. I thought Jordan played well,” Edsall said. “He was a hair away from breaking a couple for even (more) yardage.”

– The good news in Edsall’s mind is that none of the Huskies’ mistakes were season-enders.

“I don’t think there’s anything that’s not correctable,” Edsall said.

“There were positive things from the game. We had a bunch of tackles for losses,” Edsall said. “We made some good plays but there were too many bad plays to overcome.”

– FYI, here are Sunday’s stories from the game.

Robinson runs over Huskies.

Mr. Smith’s up-and-down day leads the notebook.

A short story on the big crowd at the Big House.

- Neill

A few notes and quotes from the Michigan-UConn post game.

Obviously not a good start for the Huskies in what many thought could be their BCS year.

– The defense was awful, though facing Pat White Denard Robinson might not be easy for anyone this year.

Robinson ran for 197 yards and threw for 186. He threw only three incomplete passes.

“I’m not saying that he’s Pat White,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said of Robinson. “Pat was pretty good. But with time I think this young man will have a chance to be a very, very good quarterback.”

Robinson’s rushing total was the most ever by a Michigan quarterback in one game. Steve Smith held the old record, running for 147 yards (on just four carries) against Minnesota Nov. 12, 1983.

– The UConn offense wasn’t a whole lot better than the D.

Three 3-and-outs on their first four drives. Lots of drops and one big fumble by D.J. Shoemate.

“I’m sure it took a little steam out of us,” Edsall said. “They’re human. We had a chance to go down seven points. Now you say ‘OK, let’s see if we can go and stop them.’ That was big. That was big in the ball game, there’s no question about that.”

– WR Michael Smith was all over the place Saturday _ in a good and bad way.

Before the game he collided with teammate Jerome Junior during a simple drill. Smith had the wind knocked out of him, but it looked even worse at first.

“That was bad,” Smith said. “I was just going to catch the ball and ‘Pow!’ I was like ‘What the (heck) happened?’ My stomach hurt and I was like ‘I can’t breathe.’ ”

Smith caught a 47-yard pass (after four bobbles) to set up UConn’s only touchdown but also dropped one at the 2-yard line in the first quarter that would have led to points.

“I had my hands on it,” Smith said. “I probably could have closed the elbows. I had my hands on it but the backside safety came in and jarred the ball loose. That’s a catch I’m supposed to make.”

– As for the drops (Kashif Moore had at least one, Isiah Moore had one, Smith had one or two), QB Zach Frazer took the blame.

“I hold every drop on me. I can take credit for that,” Frazer said. “Some of the passes I threw were a little left, a little right. I’m disappointed if it’s not on their chest, in their hands exactly. I’ll take that on me.”

– On the injury front we’re a little in the dark.

LB Scott Lutrus didn’t play for most of the second half, seemingly hurting his shoulder again. (He also didn’t play for a long stretch in the first half when the Huskies went to the nickel defense but that didn’t seem injury-related).

Edsall refused to talk about injuries after the game.

TE Ryan Griffin (leg) didn’t start but did appear in a few offensive plays and on some special teams. John Delahunt started in his place.

DE Trevardo Williams had to be helped off the field at one point Saturday, though it’s not clear what his injury was.

– QB/WR Leon Kinnard played both of his positions in his debut. He had one run (out of the Wildcat) for two yards. He didn’t catch a pass.

As a wideout Kinnard also appeared to miss a check (audible) from Frazer in the third quarter. Not sure what the play would have been but it didn’t look routine.

– UConn is now 2-1 against Big Ten teams … Edsall’s career record is now 66-66 … UConn is 7-2 in openers since joining Division I-A … Rich Rodriguez is 5-0 (most of them REALLY easy) against UConn.

- Neill