This week:
After an emotional loss last Saturday, the UConn Huskies return home to the friendly comforts of Rentschler Field to take on the Rutger Scarlet Knights Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Expect it to be another emotion filled game as it’s the first home game for UConn since the passing of cornerback Jasper Howard.
Here are the rosters for the Scarlet Knights and the Huskies.
The Line/Prediction:
According to Rivals.com, the Huskies are 7.5 point favorites and the over/under is 46. My prediction is UConn 27 Rutgers 17.
Tickets:
As of the time of this post, there are still tickets available for the game.
Getting To The Game:
Here is link for the weather report. Here is all the parking info you will need for the game, this link includes directions to Rentschler Field. Here is a Rentschler Field seating chart.
The parking lots will open up 4 hours before kickoff. Here is a list of the tailgating rules at the Rent. And some alternative tailgating rules can be found here.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television:
Saturday’s game wil be televised by the BIG EAST Network as the BIG EAST Game of the Week and will be seen throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Southern portions of the country. Mike Gleason is on play-by-play while John Congemi returns once again on color and Quint Kessenich is on sidelines.
The game will be seen locally on MyTV9-WCTX and also on SNY. Other large market live clearances include WCVB-TV in Boston, WPVI-TV in Phildelphia, MASN Regional Sports in Washington, D.C., Brighthouse Regional Sports in Tampa, Fla., WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Altitude Sports in Denver, WTTV-TV in Indianapolis, WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, WMLW-TV in Milwaukee, WHAS-TV in Louisville and Cox Sports New England in Providence.
The game will also be broadcast on ESPN360.com.
Radio:
For the 18th consecutive season, WTIC 1080-AM in Hartford serves as the flagship station for the UConn Radio Network. WTIC is the state’s only 50,000 watt signal and can be heard in 23 states and parts of Canada. Veteran UConn announcers Joe D’Ambrosio (play-by-play) and Wayne Norman (color commentary) return to call the action with Kevin Nathan on the side lines and Eric Davis on production.
The UConn pregame show begins 90 minutes prior to kickoff, while home games, the UConn Tailgate Show will air two and a half hours prior to the game with Arnold Dean. UConn football games are also broadcast over the internet at WTIC.com. For a full list of stations on the WTIC/UCONN radio network, click here.
Rutgers Radio
The Rutgers Radio Network has pre-game coverage at 11 a.m. Chris Carlin, Ray Lucas and Anthony Fucilli will call the action on WOR-710 AM in New York City, WCTC-1450 AM in Central Jersey and WPEN-950 AM in Philadelphia and South Jersey.
The Rutgers radio feed is also available nationally on satellite radio. Sirius will carry the game on channel 158 and XM will broadcast the game on channel 203.
Last Week:
The UConn Huskies fell to the West Virginia Mountaineers while the Rutgers Scarlet Knights beat Army 24-17.
History:
Saturday will mark the 29th meeting between UConn and Rutgers in a series that dates back to 1940. The Scarlet Knights hold a 19-9 edge, but the Huskies have won four of the seven meetings in recent years.
Since UConn joined the BIG EAST in football in 2004, Rutgers holds a 3-2 edge with a 1-1 mark at Rentshler Field.
Connections:
- The UConn roster has nine players from the state of New Jersey on its roster — the fourth highest of any state behind Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts
- Rutgers has two players from Connecticut — Marcus Cooper of Bloomfield and Mark Harrison of Stratford
- Amongst coaching staff connections, UConn defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos coached at Rutgers from 2001-03
- UConn offensive line coach Mike Foley worked alongside RU linebackers coach Bob Fraser at Colgate from 1998-2005.
Other News:
Here are some quotes from UConn head coach Randy Edsall’s press conference and video from Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano’s press conference (bottom right).
All fans who attend Saturday’s game will receive a “6? card in honor of Jasper Howard’s jersey number. In addition, the first 15,000 fans who enter the gates will receive “Jazz Live 365? wristbands. UConn students who attend the game will receive the same “eye-black” that the Husky team is wearing – one with a “6? and the other with a “JH”. All UConn students will also receive a “6? button.
Prior to the contest, the UConn Marching Band will come onto the field all wearing No. 6 jerseys and will display the formation of a “6? in the word “UCONN” during its pregame program. Following the entrance of both teams on to the field for the game, there will be a “Moment of Respect” in honor of Howard with both teams lining up on their respective sidelines.
The Connecticut team will once again wear a “JH” sticker on its helmet while Rutgers will wear a “6?. As fans enter Rentschler Field, they will have the opportunity to donate to both of the funds that have been set up in his memory. “The Jasper T. Howard Endowed Scholarship” will be annually awarded to a UConn football student-athlete who plays at the cornerback position and who best displays the outstanding leadership qualities which Jasper embodied.
Here are the categories where UConn is in the top 30 in the 2009 NCAA statistics:
- Passing Defense – 39th at 196.14 (Third in BIG EAST)
- Total Defense – 37th at 323.14 (Sixth in BIG EAST)
- Scoring Defense – 31st at 19.57 (Fifth in BIG EAST)
- Net Punting – 31st at 37.38 (Second in BIG EAST)
- Fumbles Rec. – t39th at 7 (Fourth in BIG EAST)
- Interceptions – t14th at 11 (Third in BIG EAST)
- Turnovers Gained – t15th at 18 (Tied for Second in BIG EAST)
- Sacks – t20th at 2.86 (Fourth in BIG EAST)
- Turnover Margin – 39th at 0.43 (Fifth in BIG EAST)
In addition, Jordan Todman is 42nd in the country in rushing yards per game at 85.15 while Andre Dixon is tied for 28th at 93.43. Robert McClain is tied for eighth in interceptions at 0.57 per game along with teammate Robert Vaughn. Desi Cullen is 18th in punting, and second in the BIG EAST, at 43.68 yards. Lindsey Witten is second in sacks at 1.50 per game. Lawrence Wilson is tied for sixth in tackles. Cody Endres is 16th in passing efficiency.
UConn’s Lutrus cleared, and is Rutgers game a rivalry? [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]
Lutrus cleared, one more for Jazz and the picks [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]
Surprise! Lutrus back in the mix [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]
Rutgers at UConn: Who’s got the edge? [Connecticut Post]
UConn’s Lutrus will play against Rutgers [Connecticut Post]
4th arrest made in Jasper Howard case [Connecticut Post]
UConn’s Lutrus Practicing, Expected To Play [Hartford Courant]
UConn Honoring Howard Saturday [Hartford Courant]
Boxer to honor UConn’s Howard in Hartford bout [Norwich Bulletin]
Cops say man made threats in Howard case [New Haven Register]
Lutrus cleared to play vs. Rutgers [New Haven Register]
Lutrus cleared to play for Huskies [Waterbury Republican-American]
Lutrus back in lineup as UConn hosts Rutgers [New London Day]
Wilson dealing with tragic death of teammate [Tuscaloosa News]
Next Week:
The Huskies go on the road to take on the No. 5/7 Cincinnati Bearcats next Saturday. The game time hasn’t been announced yet.
