UConn sports

A few notes from the football team’s Media Day Monday afternoon.

Here’s the short version with updates later:

– The Huskies held a 145-play scrimmage Sunday, apparently in the worst of the heat.

“The guys did a good job of battling through it,” head coach Randy Edsall said. “We were in pretty good condition.”

The Huskies have double sessions scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week. Single practices are slated for Wednesday and Friday.

– Getting four players selected in the first two rounds of the latest NFL Draft _ and somewhat regularly putting players in the league _ has been a boon for UConn’s status on the recruiting trail.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Edsall said.

“That was a big moment for our program and it’s something we’ve tried to market with our recruiting.”

– Remember when Jimmy Bennett was on the heels of Dan Ryan for the starting left tackle job?

Forget that.

“Every day is different around here,” Edsall said.

A scrimmage on Sunday may have proved the difference.

“After the scrimmage, Dan Ryan,” Edsall said. “Dan Ryan.”

Bennett’s day will come but it probably won’t be this season.

“Jimmy Bennett’s got a ton of talent but he’s still wet behind the ears,” Edsall said.

– Sio Moore, a one-time West Haven resident, won’t start at linebacker this year.

He will, however, be on all of the Huskies’ special teams and could make come key contributions.

Moore, Kijuan Dabney and Greg Robinson are the primary backups at linebacker.

– Safety Harris Agbor has an LCL knee injury. He went down last Friday in a scrimmage.

Agbor is expected to miss in the neighborhood of six weeks, according to Edsall.

- Neill

Another hot day next to D-Lot on the Storrs campus. The coaches, and the assembled fans, saw a good practice from the Huskies Friday _ their first in full pads.

– WR Marcus Easley, the pride of Bunnell High, and WR Alex Molina, were both given scholarships. The two long-time walk-ons were informed before training camp started.

Easley, who caught four passes last season, continues to battle for serious playing time this season.

– CB Harris Agbor took a spill during a brief scrimmage. The sophomore didn’t appear to get hit but hit the turf in obvious pain.

The Mesquite, Texas, native had to be helped off the field with what appeared to be a left knee injury. No word from the head coach on the specifics of the injury.

– C Gary Bardzak turned an ankle in practice earlier this week and did not practice Friday.

Coach Randy Edsall says Bardzak’s injury is a “week-to-week” deal.

– OG Erik Kuraczea missed practice Friday with an injury, too. He got “dinged” the other day apparently.

Edsall said he’d be back on the field Tuesday.

– CB Robert McClain missed Friday’s practice. In fact Reggie (that’s his nickname) wasn’t even on the practice field. McClain is sick and had a temperature of 103 apparently.

– Remember Edsall’s rebuke of C Moe Petrus at the end of Monday’s practice? That’s over, sort of.

“I think he’s figured it out a little bit,” Edsall said. “I didn’t have to yell today, so…”

The coach just wants the best from his sophomore.

“Not only out here (on the practice field) but also in the weight room we have levels of expectations for our players,” Edsall said. “He’s got a lot of ability and we’re trying to get him to reach a level of expectation.”

– This just in: Dwane Difton is going to play.

How can he not?

The true freshman wide receiver is playing with the first team offense now (albeit with the second group of receivers). Edsall won’t say it’s a sure thing but, of course, he can’t.

“He’s making some strides and he’s being noticed,” Edsall said. “But in saying that, he’s still got a lot to learn.”

– The veteran wideouts aren’t done, of course. The coach had some praise for Michael Smith and Kashif Moore.

“I think those guys have really stepped it up over the offseason,” Edsall said. “I’m very pleased with what I see out of both those guys.”

– Jimmy Bennett is pushing Dan Ryan for the starting right tackle job. “That’s an even deal,” Edsall said.

- Neill

University of Connecticut junior linebacker Scott Lutrus was named to the preseason watch List for the Chuck Bednarik Award _ given to the top defensive player in the nation by the Maxwell Football Club of Roslyn, Pa.

Lutrus, a Brookfield High product, becomes the fifth Husky to be named to a major award watch list this preseason. He will serve as one of four captains of the Huskies in 2009.

Lutrus had started all 26 games for UConn over the past two seasons and led the Huskies in tackles last year with 106. He was a second team All-Big East Conference selection. Lutrus had five games in 2008 with double-digit tackles.

As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Lutrus had 107 tackles and was a Freshmen All-American.

He was a member of the 2008 Big East All-Academic Team and is an economics major.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagle great. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the NFL Hall of Fame. Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 4 and three finalists for the award will be announced Nov. 23. The winner of the award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, which will be held on Dec. 10. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala on March 5, 2010.

The following is the complete preseason watch list:.

Alem, Rahim, LSU, DE, SR
Angerer, Pat, Iowa, LB, SR
Atkins, Geno, Georgia, DT, SR
Austin, Marvin, North Carolina, DT, JR
Beal, Jeremy, Oklahoma, DE, JR
Berry, Eric, Tennessee, S, JR
Bowman, Navorro, Penn State, LB, JR
Burnett, Morgan, Georgia Tech, S, JR
Carter, Reggie, UCLA, LB, SR
Cody, Terrence, Alabama, DT, SR
Coleman, Antonio, Auburn, DE, SR
Curran, Rennie, Georgia, LB, JR
Davis, Dexter, Arizona State, DE, SR
D’Imperio, Ryan, Rutgers, LB, SR
Dunlap, Carlos, Florida, DE, JR
Graham, Brandon, Michigan, DE, SR
Hardy, Greg, Ole Miss, DE, SR
Hughes, Jerry, TCU, DE, SR
Jones, Arthur, Syracuse, DT, SR
Jones, Greg, Michigan State, LB, JR
Kindle, Sergio, Texas, DE, SR
Kirlew, Jammie, Indiana, DE, SR
Kristick, Keaton, Oregon State, LB, SR
Lee, Sean, Penn State, LB, SR
Lewis, Travis, Oklahoma, LB, SO
Lindley, Trevard, Kentucky, CB, SR
Lutrus, Scott, Connecticut, LB, JR
Mays, Taylor, USC, S, SR
McClain, Rolando, Alabama, LB, JR
McCoy, Gerald, Oklahoma, DT, JR
McCoy, Rico, Tennessee, LB, SR
Muckelroy, Roddrick, Texas, LB, SR
Norwood, Eric, South Carolina, LB, SR
Odrick, Jared, Penn State, DT , SR
Oghobaase, Vince, Duke, DT, SR
Pawelek, Joe, Baylor, LB, SR
Price, Brian, UCLA, DT, JR
Romeus, Greg, Pittsburgh, DE, JR
Selvie, George, South Florida, DE, SR
Sheppard, Malcolm, Arkansas, DT, SR
Spikes, Brandon, Florida, LB, SR
Stuckey, Darrell, Kansas, S, SR
Sturdivant, Quan, North Carolina, LB, JR
Suh, Ndamukong, Nebraska, DT, SR
Te’o-Nesheim, Daniel, Washington, DE, SR
Thompson, Syd’Quan, Cal, CB, SR
Tukuafu, Will, Oregon, DE, SR
Verner, Alterraun, UCLA, CB, SR
Weatherspoon, Sean, Missouri, LB, SR
Williams, Reed, West Virginia, LB, SR
Wilson, Kyle, Boise State, CB, SR
Wootton, Corey, Northwestern, DE, SR
Worilds, Jason, Virginia Tech, DE, JR
Wujciak, Alex, Maryland, LB, JR
Young, Willie, NC State, DE, SR

- Neill

University of Connecticut sophomore kicker Dave Teggart has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award.

Teggart became UConn’s regular field goal and extra points kicker after the seventh game of the 2008 season. He was 13 of 15 on field goals and a perfect 16 for 16 on extra points. He made the first 11 field goals of his collegiate career and the 11 consecutive field goals set a school record.

In his first career game against Cincinnati (Oct. 25), he was a perfect four of four in field goals. He was a two-time Big East Special Team Player of the Week for his performances against the Bearcats and Syracuse (Nov. 15) _ when he connected on three field goals. He also contributed five extra points and a 32-yard field goal in the International Bowl victory over Buffalo (Jan. 3).

In 1992, The Palm Beach County Sports Commission established the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker award. This award is given annually to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker as determined by a voting panel of head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters from across the county, conference representatives, professional kickers and previous winners.

The award is named in honor of one of the all-time great kickers in football history, Lou Groza. After serving in World War II, Groza signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1946. A six-time all-pro tackle, Groza really earned his fame, and his famous nickname, “The Toe,” as a kicker. In 1950 Groza won the NFL championship game for the Browns by kicking a field goal with 28 seconds left. That was just the first of what would turn out to be four championships that Groza and the Cleveland Browns shared.

The complete Watch List consists of: Josh Arauco, Arkansas St.; James Aho, New Mexico; Matt Bosher, Miami; Kyle Brotzman, Boise State; Josh Czajkowski, North Carolina State; Ross Evans, TCU; Clark Fangmeier, Rice; Kai Forbath, UCLA; Sam Glusman, Troy; Kevin Goessling, Fresno State; Ben Hartman, East Carolina; Alex Henery, Nebraska; Hunter Lawrence, Texas; Daniel Lincoln, Tennessee; Nick Maggio, Duke; Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State; Jonathan Phillips, Florida; Jake Rogers, Cincinnati; Mike Salerno, Northern Illinois; Joshua Shene, Mississippi; Alex Steigerwald, Toledo; Jimmy Stevens, Oklahoma; Brett Swenson, Michigan State; Dave Teggart, Connecticut; Leigh Tiffin, Alabama; Brandon Walker, Notre Dame; Blair Walsh, Georgia; Thomas Weber, Arizona State; Philip Welch, Wisconsin; Carson Wiggs, Purdue.

- Neill

2009-dsg-nit-season-tip-off-bracket1

Here are the matchups for the preseason NIT.

It’s UConn-Colgate in round one. The Huskies could see Yale in round two (or Hofstra) and would meet Duke in the title game if the seeds hold.

- Neill

Single-game tickets for UConn home football games will go on sale on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.

Tickets can be ordered by visiting UConnHuskies.com or ticketmaster.com. In addition, tickets can be reserved by calling ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

UConn will open the home season on Saturday, Sept. 12 against preseason top 25 opponent North Carolina at noon. Other UConn home games include Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Rhode Island at noon; Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. Louisville (Homecoming) at noon; Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. Rutgers at a time TBA; Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Syracuse at noon; and Saturday, Dec. 5 vs. South Florida at a time TBA.

Also:

– Season tickets remain on sale, including the “Top of the Rent” package, where upper level seats are priced at just $20 per game.

– Mini-plan packages available at $99 apiece.

– Group ticket sales are available for select home games. Groups of 20-or-more enjoy discounts of 45 to 55 percent per seat.

– The popular “Big Y Family Days” will be available for games against Rutgers, Syracuse and South Florida. Beginning Sept. 1 and subject to availability, fans can go to UConnHuskies.com and enter promotional code “BIGY” for $16 tickets.

- Neill

The first day of practice is in the books for the UConn football team.

Because of the heat, most of the players worked really, really hard.

Because of the heat, most of the sportswriters worked really, really hard. OK, we didn’t work quite as hard as the players. And some of us (I mean, them) even brought lawn chairs. Those hard-working scribes will have to remain nameless (your welcome, Chip and Dez, I mean, whoops).

As for the news of the day, here we go:

– It was hot. Really hot. Maybe that’s why some of the Huskies “wilted” late in the workout.

“To come out here and have this heat on the first day, it breaks you in properly,” running back Andre Dixon said.

We think he was serious. Dixon admitted he was one of the ones who was gassed.

– One player in particular drew some harsh rebukes from head coach Randy Edsall. Sophomore center Moe Petrus apparently did something to tick Edsall off. Actually, it was likely more than one thing.

“Freshman All-American my (behind)!” Edsall screamed at the end of practice. “You play like a (gosh darn) ninth-grader!”

Edsall then softened his stance _ slightly.

“You’ve got a chance to be a player!” Edsall yelled. “That’s a CHANCE!”

Edsall knew the members of the media were watching him by now. Most of it was probably for our benefit as much as for Petrus’.

“When you do things you’re not supposed to do, you draw the ire of the head coach,” Edsall said later.

– Friday will be UConn’s first workout in full pads. Saturday is the team’s first day of double sessions.

– Don’t pencil in Mike Cox as a starting defensive end to replace Marcus Campbell. It seems Cox will backup Lindsey Witten.

A.J. Portee, Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams are battling for the other starting job.

“Those other three are going to fight it out,” Edsall said.

Joseph and Williams split time with the first team defense Monday. Portee missed most of the workout with a minor injury.

– Wide receiver Brian Parker is still practicing with the team. He still won’t be able to play this season, though.

“Brian is ineligible to compete. He’ll practice. He should get a lot better and he should help our defense all year long being on the scout team,” Edsall said.

– Linebacker Matt Ashmead has left the program. The Miami native graduated this summer and decided not to return to UConn for a fifth year.

– Defensive tackle K.C. Chambers is also gone.

“He’s just no longer with the program,” Edsall said, “due to university discipline.”

– A scout from the Kansas City Chiefs was around Monday to take a look at the Huskies.

– All of the “Husky” linebackers are sporting Mohawks including Scott Lutrus. They look, um, good.

– CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson looked like he was the fifth DB today. We’ll see if it stays that way.

– I swear the injured players who can’t practice sometimes work harder than the ones on the field. Strength and conditioning coaches Jerry Martin and Drew Wilson don’t mess around.

Beau Brunelli, a redshirt freshman DT from Greenwich, looked like he was going to sleep well Monday night. Wilson was working him over pretty good.

It’s funny seeing a No. 75 (Brunelli’s number) working out on the side of the practice field. Former Husky Brian Kersmanc, an oft-injured offensive lineman who also wore No. 75, seemed to spend most of his career in that spot with Martin.

– John Delahunt was the tight end with the first group. Yianni Apostolakos was the second.

– At first the only true freshman I saw working with the second team offense was wideout Dwayne Difton. None worked with the first team.

Later, wideout Malik Generett also ran with the 2′s.

Difton looks like the real deal. Expect him on the field quickly (Ohio anyone?).

– As expected, Zach Frazer was the first-team QB and Jordan Todman the first running back. Dixon also got plenty of touches.

Frazer looks thinner and threw the ball very well today.

_ Neill

UConn senior Lindsey Witten has been named one of 30 preseason candidates for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

Witten has played in 36 career games over the past three years for the Huskies with 81 career tackles, 10.5 career sacks and 16.5 career tackles for a loss. He also has a career interception and seven pass break-ups. He played in 11 games in 2008 for the Huskies with two starts and had five sacks.

The award is named after former University of Miami defensive end Ted Hendricks.

This year’s preseason candidates include, but are not limited to the following players:

Rahim Alem LSU

Trevor Anderson Michigan State

Jeremy Beal Oklahoma

Alex Carrington Arkansas State

Antonio Coleman Auburn

Jermaine Cunningham Florida

Dexter Davis Arizona State

Auston English Oklahoma

Brandon Graham Michigan

Greg Hardy Ole Miss

Jerry Hughes Tcu

Jan Jorgensen BYU

Sergio Kindle Texas

Jammie Kirlew Indiana

Brandon Lang Troy

Eric Lorig Stanford
Koa Misi Utah
Greg Middleton Indiana
Dontay Moch Nevada
Eric Moncur Miami
Doug Pilcher Illinois
James Ruffin Northern Iowa
George Selvie South Florida
Will Tukuafu Oregon
Lawrence Wilson Ohio State
CJ Wilson East Carolina
Lindsey Witten Connecticut
Corey Wootton Northwestern
Willie Young N.C. State
Frank Zombo Central Mich.