A few notes and numbers from UConn football coach Randy Edsall’s chat with the media and the Huskies’ game against Notre Dame.
– The Zach Frazer-keep-your-emotions-in-check speech will continue throughout the week from Edsall and the coaches.
“I know he has good friends out there and good memories,” Edsall said. “But once he hits that field, it’s just another game.”
The coach, obviously, began the speech long before Tuesday.
“I brought him in and I spoke to him, as you can well imagine,” Edsall said.
– Frazer transferred to UConn before the Huskies and Irish scheduled to play each other. When he arrived in Storrs, he learned a series might be in the works.
When a single game was scheduled, Frazer says he was told quickly.
“I was one of the first to know and I’ve had it marked down on my schedule for a while,” Frazer said.
– No changes to the UConn depth chart, with the exception of Sio Moore’s name reappearing as Lawrence Wilson’s backup at will linebacker and Kashif Moore officially being listed as the starter at (slot) wide receiver.
Sio Moore’s been hurt and hasn’t been in the two-deep. Kashif has been listed as an “OR” starter along with Isiah Moore.
(Yeah, I know. Too many Moores to keep track of.)
– The bye week apparently did the Huskies good.
“You could see that they were rejuvenated,” Edsall said.
– It’s Notre Dame and many fans are excited but Edsall is trying to treat the game (as he always does) the same as any other.
“It is just another game. It’s the 10th game of this season,” Edsall said. “From the school’s standpoint it probably means more.”
– Notre Dame is fifth nationally in passing offense and ninth in total offense.
“We’re going to see a team that’s got a lot of skill players offensively that can make a difference,” Edsall said.
– RB Andre Dixon is a little banged up, though he’ll probably play. RB Robbie Frey is out for the season with a shoulder injury. RB Kelmetrus Wylie is about ready to come back but is also injured.
So who is Jordan Todman’s backup if Dixon and Meme can’t play?
In reality it’s probably FB Anthony Sherman but the next man on the depth chart is apparently freshman Nick Williams.
But Dixon is going to go this week, it seems.
“Andre’s fine,” Edsall said.
“I’m not real concerned with the depth at that position now,” the coach added.
– UConn will (in all probability) play before more fans than it ever has. Notre Dame Stadium seats more than 80,000 fans.
The previous largest crowd to see the Huskies play was 65,115 during a 2003 game at Virginia Tech.
– Big East teams have won three straight games over Notre Dame (Pitt this year, and Pitt and Syracuse last year).
– Edsall was asked about New England Patriots coach Bill Belichik’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 Sunday night. At first the coach took a pass.
“I fell asleep,” Edsall said. “So I didn’t see it until the next day.”
But Edsall didn’t appear shocked by the call.
“He made a decision that he thought we give his team the best chance to win,” Edsall said.
Edsall was having dinner Monday night with a few of his players, including DT Kendall Reyes. The players (as well as anyone else who knows Edsall) had a good idea what Edsall would have done in the same spot.
“Kendall said ‘I know what you would have done. You would have punted it!’ ” Edsall said.
- Neill
