UConn Huskies head football coach Bob Diaco listens to a question from the media during UConn’s media day on August 21, 2014 at the Burton Family Football Complex.

A lot of people have asked me the following question. What kind of team will head coach Bob Diaco have with the UConn Huskies football team?

Here’s what coach Diaco had to say that question at the American Athletic Conference Media Day:

“The team is going to be intense. The team is going to love each other. The team is going to love football. The team is going to work to eliminate the things that cause losing, pre-snap penalties, errors with the football, mistakes like that (lack of control and emotional control mistakes). The team is going to display their passion. They’re going to play hard and give great, great effort.”

Doesn’t that remind you of what he said on Monday when he was asked about what expects from the team against BYU?

UConn Huskies head football coach Bob Diaco answers a question during his press conference for BYU on August 25.

When looking at the UConn Huskies 2014 football schedule, plusnot knowing what the Huskies are going to look like offensively and defensively, it’s hard to predict the outcome of the games.

But I’m going to give it my best shot.

Game 1 – BYU:

• Loss – UConn comes out fighting and gives a spirited effort but falls short 24-21

Game 2 – Stony Brook

• Win – I don’t see another Towson debacle happening here as UConn wins 45-7

Game 3 – Boise State

• Loss – Once again, Diaco’s Huskies put up the good fight but fall 27-17

Game 4 – @ South Florida

• Win – First road game under Diaco and he brings them in to Tampa and comes out victorious 21-13

Game 5 –  Temple

• Win – Temple looks to be an improved team but the confidence of a road win leads them to a 24-17 win

Game 6 – @ Tulane

• Win – The momentum continues as the Huskies shut down the Green Wave 28-13

Game 7 – @ East Carolina

• Loss – The streak ends at ECU as the Huskies can’t overcome the raucous crowd and get beat 35-7

Game 8 – Central Florida

• Loss – Bortles may be gone but UCF remains the class of the American with a 42-21 win

Game 9 – vs Army (Yankee Stadium)

• Win – Army and UConn battle hard but the Huskies pull out the W on an overtime field goal 24-21.

Game 10 – Cincinnati

• Loss – Former Huskies coach Hank Hughes’ defense shuts them down in a 21-7 win.

Game 11 – @ Memphis

• Win – The Tigers are overmatched again and UConn becomes bowl eligible with a 37-7 win.

Game 12 – SMU

• Win – UConn seniors go out in style and accomplish their goal of a bowl game with a 21-18 win.

Game 13 – Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman

• UConn heads to Annapolis, MD to take on a member of the ACC

So there you have it. I see UConn finishing 7-5 this season. I see no worse than 5-7 in this schedule.

Let me know in the comments how you think they are going to do.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a DAILY basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

The Bob Diaco era gets started in full swing tonight as the UConn Huskies football team will host the BYU Cougars at Rentschler Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:02 p.m.

If you missed our BYU vs UConn preview, be sure to check that out. We’ll also have a few more posts about the football program coming up in a bit.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Video: Sights and Sounds From UConn Football Pep Rally – 8/28/14 [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Football Pep Rally – 8/28/14 [sox & dawgs]

Video: The Blitz Episode 1 – BYU [sox & dawgs]

Game preview, pick: BYU at UConn [ed daigneault – republican-american]

UConn alumni report: Todman, Lansanah shine as cuts loom [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn’s football predictions: How will they finish? [lee lewis – republican-american]

UConn’s Diaco sends message to team: Give me emotion [ct post]

After All The Buildup, Diaco Has UConn Ready For BYU [hartford courant]

UConn Huskies Football preview [hartford courant]

UConn football’s Bob Diaco era begins Friday vs. BYU [new haven register]

UConn begins Diaco era tonight [the day]

BYU starting cornerbacks Jordan Johnson, Robertson Daniel don’t make trip to UConn [deseret news]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Former UConn star on WNBA All-Rookie team [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Ray Allen Gets Huskies Started; First Night Oct. 17 … A few  UConn Notes [dom amore – hartford courant]

Breaking down UConn’s 2014-15 schedule [david borges – new haven register]

Other UConn related links

W. Volleyball. UConn Set To Open 2014 Season On Friday [uconn huskies]

W. Soccer. UConn Set For Trips To No. 8 Penn State And Syracuse [uconn huskies]

W. Cross Country. Women’s Cross Country Opens 2014 Campaign On Friday Night [uconn huskies]

M. Ice Hockey. Huskies Add Former NHL Goaltender Andrew Raycroft to Coaching Staff [uconn huskies]

Makeover of a Mascot [uconn advance]

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a DAILY basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Paw Prints – BYU Cougars (0-0) @ UConn Huskies (0-0) Preview [sox & dawgs]

UConn Football Wednesday Update [sox & dawgs]

UConn TE Sean McQuillan Emerging As A Leader [sox & dawgs]

UConn Fans Can Take To Twitter To Help School Win $150,000 In Scholarships [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Global Spectrum Adds New Grub Items At Rentschler Field [desmond conner – hartford courant]

One last night to shine for some UConn products [jim fuller – new haven register]

Huskies 48 hours away from BYU [john silver – sny uconn]

College football simulator predicts a fifth-place AAC finish for UConn in 2014 [the uconn blog]

GameDay Live On UConnHuskies.com For Football Season [uconn huskies]

As UConn’s opener nears, Diaco pumped for restoration project [ct post]

Bronco Mendenhall Faces Unique Challenges As BYU Coach [hartford courant]

UConn Will Have Tough Task In Containing BYU QB Taysom Hill [hartford courant]

UConn Football Season Opener: A Husky Scavenger Hunt [hartford courant]

Weist Resides In Michigan, But UConn Will Live In His Heart [hartford courant]

Cochran, DeLorenzo among UConn’s home-grown Huskies [new haven register]

Will BYU cornerback Jordan Johnson play vs. UConn? Friends in Boston hope so [deseret news]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Boatright, Hamilton settling in [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. No. 8 UConn Opens Regular Season Friday Against No. 17 Coastal Carolina [uconn huskies]

UConn Huskies TE Sean McQuillan runs after making a catch against the South Florida Bulls on October 11, 2013 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

Let’s take a look at the UConn Huskies tight ends for a moment. We have the following players at the position:

• Sean McQuillan – redshirt junior
• Nicholas Lensander – redshirt sophomore
• Tommy Myers – redshirt freshman
• Sheridan Lawley – freshman
• Steve Hashemi – freshman
• Alec Bloom – freshman

Now let’s take a look at how many games they’ve played.

I’ll make it simple.

McQuillan is the only one who has any college game experience. In his two seasons, he’s played 12 games (three in 2012 and nine in 2013).

So it’s safe to say despite holding down the starting tight end spot for only one season that the Glastonbury, CT native is the elder statesman of the group. By default, that should make him the leader of the group.

McQuillan didn’t have to step up and lead but he has and embraced it. And according to his head coach, Bob Diaco, it’s come naturally.

“If he doesn’t like what he sees out there, he’s got more a visceral response to it where he’s not looking around thinking ‘I should be leading right now.'” said Diaco. “This is more reactionary. It’s getting more engrained in him to lead and communicate.”

“I’m just trying to be a leader and do the right things each and every day.” McQuillan said. “Be someone that the younger guys in the group, and even the team can look up to.”

“They want to follow and do the things that I’m doing. I want to be a leader.”

Not only does McQuillan want to be a leader for the guys at his position but he wants to show the entire team he can be one as well.

“Coach always talks about third down,’ said McQuillan. “I want to be a guy that we can look to in those situations.”

“I’m a lot more confident, I feel good. If i can be a leader for this team that’s all I’m trying to do.”

When asked, he was quick to offer up advice for his fellow young tight ends who should see action in Friday night’s game versus BYU.

He may not be a captain this year but it wouldn’t surprise me if he is one in 2015.

But for now, let’s keep the focus on 2014 and seeing what McQuillan and the rest of his young guns at tight end can do.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco just held a quick conference call with the local media and talked about a few things in regards to Friday night’s game against BYU.

As of right now, Diaco said there are no changes to the depth chart or participation plan for the game.

He was asked about the kick return game and said that Deshon Foxx and Joshua Marriner will be the primary guys back there. He also stated that freshman RB and Ansonia, CT native Arkeel Newsome will get a chance as well.

Diaco said that he plans to get true freshman OL Trey Rutherford and Ryan Crozier some snaps during the game. They are the backups to LG Gus Cruz and RG Tyler Samra respectively. Diaco feels this is the best way for them to get better by seeing game action.

He said he wasn’t worried about who BYU is playing, he can only be concerned for his team. They need to continue to work on the things that prevent losing so that they can get better.

In the past, the Huskies have stayed near Rentschler Field on the day before the game. Under Diaco, the team will stay on campus at the Nathan Hale Inn the night before. And on that same night, they will be holding a pep rally on Fairfield Way (across from the Husky Dog statue at Gampel Pavilion).

The first pep rally is tomorrow night beginning at 6:30 p.m. The team and Diaco will walk from The Burton Family Football Complex to the pep rally location and arrive there at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Also tonight on WTIC 1080-AM and WAVZ 1300 AM (New Haven) will be the first UConn Football Coach’s Radio Show at 6 p.m. with the voice of the Huskies Joe D’Ambrosio and head coach Bob Diaco.