UConn sports

A few juicy nuggets from UConn football coach Randy Edsall’s Thursday chat with reporters:

– The coach has decided on a quarterback for Saturday’s game against West Virginia, he’s just not telling many people about it.

Zach Frazer appears likely to return but Cody Endres is a possibility, too.

“That will be game time announcement,” said Edsall, correcting the phrase he used last week.

(It was a “game time decision” last week, though the decision was obviously made much earlier. I, for one, appreciate some accuracy and proper syntax from coaches when they lie to me).

Frazer, who suffered an apparent concussion in the closing moments against Rutgers two weeks ago, has been practicing all week and is cleared to play.

“Yeah, we’re good to go from an injury standpoint,” Edsall said. “Everybody that we talked about earlier in the week all practiced this week and should be good to go.”

That appears to include DT Rob Lunn, who has battled a shoulder (upper extremity) injury.

– As first reported in the Daily Campus (good job, boys), it seems cornerback Darius Butler might play almost exclusively at wide receiver this week.

Edsall wouldn’t comment specifically on Butler’s move but did say that reserve cornerback Robert McClain could start this week.

“Robert might be starting this week,” Edsall said. “Robert or Terrence Baltimore just might be starting this week.”

This is just a guess but I’d say it’s more likely the Huskies open and play most of the game with a nickel defense, putting McClain in as the fifth defensive back. I’ve got a hunch that Butler will start on defense as usual.

I’m not saying he won’t play a lot more offense (seemingly a good idea) and a little less defense (probably OK against a team that doesn’t air it out too much) but I’d be surprised if Butler didn’t start on D.

– The Huskies were honored by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for the graduation rate in the football program. it’s the fourth time in the last six years UConn has been so recognized.

“We are happy to be recognized by the AFCA for our graduation rates once again,” Edsall said in a statement. “This is a great credit to our players and to Ellen Rennie and her staff at CPIA (Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes) which works so diligently to help the student-athletes here at the University of Connecticut.”

– Bring your “gently used” coats to Saturday’s game for the UConn Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s “Winter Wear Drive” at Rentschler Field. You can also donate hats, scarves and gloves.

The items will be distributed to charities across the state including the Salvation Army.

- Neill

The UConn men’s basketball team was ranked No. 2 in the ESPN/USA Today poll released this morning.

North Carolina was the overwhelming choice as No. 1, receiving all 31 first-place votes. UConn was second, Louisville third, UCLA fourth and Duke fifth.

The Big East placed seven teams in the top 25. In addition to the Huskies and Cardinals, Pittsburgh is sixth, Notre Dame ninth, Marquette 17th, Georgetown 18th and Villanova 25th.

Syracuse and West Virginia were among the teams also receiving votes.

- Neill

A few quick-hitters from Tuesday’s affair de Burton:

– The quarterbacks, Zach Frazer and Cody Endres, are OR for starting this weekend against West Virginia.

“It’s an or situation and it’ll be a game time decision,” coach Randy Edsall says.

Endres, though he says he doesn’t know and I think I believe him, has a hunch that Frazer will be back.

“Zach’s a great player and I think he’s going to be back,” Endres said.

– The “other” quarterback, Tyler Lorenzen, is healing nicely with his broken foot.

The coach says he’s “doing some land-based training” and has no problems with that.

I have no idea what land-based training is but it sounds military in nature. Look for the Huskies to start throwing long bombs when Lorenzen returns.

Edsall did say Lorenzen might be back before bowl season.

“There is a possibility we get him back before the end of the regular season,” Edsall said.

– When asked a question about middle linebacker Greg Lloyd, Edsall called him “more of a situational player as opposed to an every down player.” That probably means lots of nickel defense this week.

– West Virginia is 5-0 at home and 0-2 on the road.

– West Virginia QB Pat White needs 348 rushing yards to become the NCAA’s all-time leader in rushing yards by a quarterback (Missouri’s Brad Smith has the record for now).

If he gets that much against UConn, suffice it to say it won’t be as close as 66-21.

– DT Rob Lunn is practicing this week. He’s day-to-day with that shoulder injury.

– Redshirt freshman Isiah Moore is playing the role of White on the UConn scout team this week.

Ex-quarterback D.J. Hernandez also had a short stint as the scout team quarterback slated for Tuesday.

- Neill

A few updates from the men’s basketball team after practice this afternoon:

– G Scottie Haralson has been shooting the lights out lately, it seems.

“That’s against our zone, though,” coach Jim Calhoun said. “Most anybody can do that probably.”

– G Craig Austrie hasn’t been outstanding so far.

“If I had to start a team today, he would not be one of the top five names I come up with,” Calhoun said. “I thought I would. If you asked me two weeks ago or three weeks ago I would have start ‘We’ll Craig and probably Jerome (Dyson) and A.J. (Price).’ ”

– C Jon Mandeldove missed Monday’s practice with back spasms.

– Stanley Robinson was shooting baskets in Gampel Pavilion after the Huskies practiced Monday.

Calhoun says Stanley has put on some 30 pounds since last season because of his new job and workout regiment. I’d say it’s more like seven but he does look a little bigger.

– Price was hurting pretty bad today. Calhoun banished him during a late drill for being a little slow and the senior admitted later his left knee wasn’t doing well.

“Today was my toughest day in a while,” said Price, his knee iced heavily. “I was really sore today.”

– F Gavin Edwards has spent a lot of time at the three and isn’t doing too badly. He’s happy about the opportunity, we think.

“As great a kid as he is, he isn’t Mr. Excitement. He doesn’t jump up and down,” Calhoun said.

The even-keeled Edwards did say he is anxious for the chance to play more than one position.

“I definitely have to keep running, that’s a big part of playing on the perimeter,” Edwards said. “And I have to be more confident in handling the ball.”

– Funniest moment of the day?

I kiddingly asked Hasheem Thabeet about the giant bruises he’s developing on his wrists from dunking (there were none, unlike Calhoun said).

Thabeet smiled but before he could respond a talented yet vertically challenged scribe from The New London Day, the venerable Gavin Keefe, interjected “Yeah, I have the same problem.”

Thabeet, who is as quick witted as some Harvard Law students, quipped “With the video game?”

Score another one for the big guy.

- Neill

A couple of notes from the Big East Conference’s weekly coaches chat with reporters (have to head to Storrs for basketball practice soon):

– UConn kicker David Teggart was named special teams player of the week for his performance against Cincinnati. Teggart made four field goals, including a 47-yarder into a strong wind, and four extra points.

Coach Randy Edsall was asked if he knew Teggart was ready for that type of game.

“I knew he was ready. That’s why I put him in,” Edsall said. “I should at least get a little credit.”

– The UConn starting quarterback on Saturday will be….OR.

Well, at least that’s what the coach says. “It’s an or situation,” Edsall said.

What that means is it will be another “game-time decision” (probably around Tuesday at 1:59 p.m.) as to who starts, Cody Endres or Zach Frazer.

– West Virginia knows that UConn knows what happened last year when the teams met. And UConn knows that West Virginia knows, so you know, it should be common knowledge.

Anyway, here’s the start of the 66-21 doesn’t matter/sure it does talk about this year’s game.

“Don’t think the Huskies of UConn won’t have that 66-21 posted all around the building,” West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said Monday.

– Stewart had high praise for UConn tailback Donald Brown.

“Donald Brown right now is probably the most exciting runner in the country,” Stewart said.

- Neill

A few notes from the 40-16 stunner in East Hartford.

– UConn was down 13-10 at the half but somehow managed to outscore Cincinnati 30-3 in the second half.

“Connecticut whipped us in the second half,” Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said.

– QB Cody Endres said he found out on Tuesday that he would be starting against Cincinnati.

So much for a gametime decision.

Endres was remarkably calm in making his first career start.

“Cody’s a happy go-lucky guy. He drives me nuts sometimes on the practice field,” coach Randy Edsall said. “But that’s his nature.”

Edsall didn’t want Endres to get rattled by playing from behind right away.

“That’s one of the reasons I decided to receive if we got it: get him right out there, see if we can get it going and get in front of it instead of having to play from behind or something,” Edsall said.

– Donald Brown does more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day.

And unlike the Army, the UConn running back also does more in eight games than most people do all season.

Brown ran for 150 yards Saturday, setting a new school record for season yardage with 1,324.

Tory Taylor had the old mark, running for 1,262 yards in 1995.

Brown actually looked like he was going to be held to around 80 yards but he ripped off a 53-yarder late in the game.

– CB Robert McClain had two picks: one that essentially ended any chances of a comeback and one that ended any chances of the score being respectable.

– Yuke was in the house in case you missed it. Cincinnati native and University of Cincinnati graduate (I think he might also play some baseball) Kevin Youkilis was in attendance.

– DT Rob Lunn has “an upper extremity injury” according to Edsall. Don’t really know what that means.

It looked like it might be a shoulder to me but upper extremity sounds like a head.

– So what was kicker David Teggart’s range today?

“It wasn’t as far as 47 into the wind,” Edsall joked.

The coach said he “rolled the dice” when he sent Teggart out for that impressive 47-yard kick into the teeth of the wind.

– DE Cody Brown was the best player on the field last week against Rutgers. He was that again this week against Cincinnati.

What’s the secret to his hot play?

“I don’t know. I take showers before the game now, maybe that’s what it is,” Brown said. “Rob Lunn put me onto that.”

– Cincinnati committed six turnovers. That sounds like a big number….and it is. But two of those were on special teams (one on a kickoff and one on a punt) and two of them were essentially meaningless (McClain’s second pick and the fumble in the final minute).

- Neill

Greetings from a chilly, rainy Rentschler Field. It’s climate-controlled here in the press box but my sources tell me it’s a crappy day outside.

The starting quarterback for UConn today when it plays Cincinnati is clear. Redshirt freshman Cody Endres is warming up as a quarterback. Sophomore Zach Frazer is practicing his holds for now backup kicker Tony Ciaravino.

The non-concussion concussion is going to keep Frazer out of the game.

- Neill

Just when you think a Thursday will be boring…

– First of all, it’s big-time cloak and dagger time in Storrs. (No, not that Cloak and Dagger).

Zach Frazer is a “game time decision” for Saturday against Cincinnati with his don’t-call-it-a-concussion injury.

How much has he practiced this week? Edsall’s reply: “He’s a game time decision.”

Has he been cleared medically to play? Edsall reply: “He’s a game time decision.”

How much has backup Cody Endres practiced this week?

“Cody’s practiced just like he’s been practicing every week,” Edsall said.

OK, let’s sift through this for a moment.

The coach won’t say whether or not Frazer has been medically OK’d to play, which means he probably hasn’t.

And the coach won’t say if he’s practiced or not, which means he probably hasn’t.

So if 1+1=2, then when the question is will Zach Frazer play against Cincinnati, the answer probably is no.

Enough math, my head hurts.

– Second item, Edsall decided to set the record straight about another Edsall-returns-to-Syracuse story.

“I haven’t been contacted by any college, any university, the NFL, any person or people, regarding any job,” Edsall said. “End of story.”

Pete Thamel of the Times, a good guy and an excellent scribe, even points out in the story that “Edsall’s ending up on the Syracuse sideline is unlikely for several reasons” but it’s pretty clear the Orange are still interested in taking a flier anyway.

This isn’t like the Georgia Tech dance last season where Edsall is trying to keep things quiet and they get out anyway. I seriously doubt he’d jump back to upstate New York.

Greg Robinson is gone at the end of the season if not sooner (I know, shocking) but Edsall probably isn’t the guy who will come in next.

– DT Brandon Dillon and RB/LS Nate Sherr both went down with leg injuries this week and won’t play this weekend. Neither was likely to have had a big impact (or any) on the game but it’s too bad they’ll miss the first home game in more than a month.

– PK Dave Teggart will be working with a new holder this week in P Desi Cullen as Teggart takes over the place-kicking duties.

“He’s worked with Desi before,” Edsall said. “We haven’t had any issues with that this week in practice.”

– The special teams, especially the return men who had difficult days last week, have apparently performed well this week.

“We’ve had a good week. We’ve caught the ball. We’ve made good decisions in practice,” Edsall said. “Now we have to carry it over to the game.”

- Neill