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UConn Football Depth Chart Post-Training Camp

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.

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.

During his media day press conference on Thursday, UConn Huskies head coach Bob Diaco made a few references to his post-camp two-deep depth chart. With it not being released yet, it was hard to ask questions but we’ll get a chance to do that coming up (not a big deal to me at all).

One thing to keep in mind when you look at the depth chart below and read the notes is the fact that is from post-training camp. Diaco was quick to point out that it could change before the BYU game next Friday.

Honestly, the only question I would have is when did John Green switch positions to cornerback as he is listed as the backup to Byron Jones. Everything else is pretty straightforward.

Max DeLorenzo emerged as the winner at tailback although Diaco did say say that all four in his stable, Joshua Marriner, Arkeel Newsome and Ron Johnson, along with DeLorenzo would see action in the game.

There are four true freshman on this two-deep, two on offense, one on defense and one on special teams. There are 10 redshirt freshman as well (all guys who would be seeing the field for the first time in a game in a Husky uniform).

It’s going to be interesting to see if this changes at all before the BYU game.

Here’s the full two-deep as of 8/21/14.

Offense

LT: 71 Richard Levy (RSo., 6-6, 305)
74 Paul Nwokeji (RJr., 6-6, 287)

LG: 65 Gus Cruz (RSr., 6-4, 296)
77 Trey Rutherford (Fr., 6-5, 289)

C: 73 Alex Mateas (RSr., 6-4, 309)
70 Kyle Bockeloh (RSo., 6-3, 284)

RG: 60 Tyler Samra (Jr., 6-2, 288)
63 Ryan Crozier (Fr., 6-4, 297)

RT: 78 Dalton Gifford (RJr., 6-4, 304)
62 Thomas Hopkins (RFr., 6-6, 298)

TE: 49 Sean McQuillan (RJr., 6-3, 239)
80 Tommy Myers (RFr., 6-5, 238)

WR: 85 Geremy Davis (RSr., 6-3, 216)
8 Thomas Lucas (RFr., 6-2, 198) OR
5 Noel Thomas (So., 6-1, 187)

QB: 12 Casey Cochran (RSo., 6-1, 224)
10 Chandler Whitmer (RSr., 6-0, 192)

FB: 34 Jazzmar Clax (RFr., 5-11, 241)
36 Matt Walsh (So., 6-1, 227)

TB: 44 Max DeLorenzo (RJr., 5-11, 210)
26 Joshua Marriner (RFr., 5-9, 193)

WR: 4 Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 172)
9 Kamal Abrams (RJr., 5-11, 182) OR
1 Dhameer Bradley (So., 5-9, 166)

Defense

DE: 56 Angelo Pruitt (RSr., 6-2, 287)
93 Folorunso Fatukasi (RFr., 6-4, 307)

NG: 90 Julian Campenni (RJr., 6-0, 299)
92 Mikal Myers (RSo., 6-1, 312)

DT: 97 B.J. McBryde (RSr., 6-5, 304)
95 Kenton Adeyemi (RJr., 6-4, 268)

DE: 47 Reuben Frank (RSr., 6-4, 246)
57 Cole Ormsby (RFr., 6-3, 248)

LB: 46 Marquise Vann (RJr., 6-0, 226)
55 Jon Hicks (RSo., 6-2, 236)

LB: 32 Jefferson Ashiru (RSo., 6-2, 233)
39 Junior Joseph (RFr., 6-1, 242)

LB: 2 Graham Stewart (RJr., 6-1, 227)
10 Cameron Stapleton (RFr., 6-4, 226)

CB: 16 Byron Jones (RSr., 6-1, 196)
7 John Green (RSo., 5-10, 179)

S: 22 Andrew Adams (RJr., 6-0, 197)
28 Jordan Floyd (RSo., 6-0, 206)

S: 20 Obi Melifonwu (RSo., 6-3, 210)
23 Junior Lee (RJr., 6-0, 214) OR
19 Ellis Marder (RSo., 6-1, 193)

CB: 6 Jhavon Williams (RSo., 5-10, 190)
21 Jamar Summers (Fr., 6-0, 180)

Special Teams

K: 17 Bobby Puyol (RSo., 5-10, 174)
94 Chase Briley (Fr., 5-11, 165)

P: 42 Justin Wain (RSo., 6-3, 204)
94 Chase Briley (Fr., 5-11, 165)

HL: 82 Blake Feagles (RFr., 5-10, 205)
12 Casey Cochran (RSo., 6-1, 224)

KR: 4 Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 172)
26 Joshua Marriner (RFr., 5-9, 193)

PR: 4 Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 172)
18 Brian Lemelle (So., 5-10, 165)

LS: 66 Dominick Manco (RJr., 6-0, 213)
67 Adam Mueller (RSr., 6-1, 212)

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

UConn Men To Play Series Versus Ohio State, Arizona

From UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men’s basketball program announced that it has agreed to home-and-home series with Ohio State and Arizona, which will stretch over the next four seasons.

newuconnlogo(1)Ohio State, out of the Big Ten, and Arizona, out of the Pac-12, are perennial Top 25 programs and fixtures in the NCAA Tournament. Each has had memorable games against UConn in the past.

The series against Ohio State will begin in the 2015-16 season in Connecticut, with Huskies visiting Columbus the following season in 2016-17. Both games will be held during December.

UConn will travel to Tucson to play Arizona in the McKale Center during the 2017-18 season, and the Wildcats will return the game in Connecticut in 2018-19. Again, both games are tentatively set for December.

UConn is 2-3 all-time against Ohio State, but has not played the Buckeyes since its 64-58 victory on March 27, 1999, in the NCAA National Semifinals in St. Petersburg, Fla., as the Huskies went on to win their first National Championship. UConn’s other victory over Ohio State was also in a national tournament, a 72-67 triumph on March 30, 1988, in Madison Square Garden to capture the NIT Championship. UConn’s three losses to Ohio State came in 1983-84 in Columbus, in 1984-85 at the Hartford Civic Center, and in 1991-92 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Cincinnati.

The Huskies are a perfect 5-0 all-time against Arizona, the most recent game a 65-63 thriller on March 26, 2011, in the NCAA West Regional Championship in Anaheim, Calif., advancing UConn to the Final Four in Houston, where the Huskies won their third national title.

UConn’s other games against the Wildcats have taken place in 1999-2000 in the Great Eight Basketball Classic in Chicago’s United Center, in 2000-01 at Gampel Pavilion, in 2001-02 in Tucson, and in 2005-06 at the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.

UConn Men Announce 2014-15 Non-Conference Schedule

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut men’s basketball team has announced a 12-game non-conference schedule for the 2014-15 season, highlighted by games against perennial national powerhouses Duke and Florida, and an in-season tournament in Puerto Rico.

newuconnlogo(1)The 2014-15 non-conference slate includes six home games, two away games, and four games on neutral courts. In addition, the Huskies will play two preseason exhibition games in early November. Home venues for each game will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2014 National Champion Huskies will play the first of two exhibition games on Tuesday, Nov. 4, against Division II Southern Connecticut State University. After playing a preseason contest against UConn last year, the Owls went on to have the finest season in school history, finishing with a 30-3 record, 18-2 in the Northeast-10, and reaching the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Huskies’ second exhibition game will be on Sunday, Nov. 9, against Division II Assumption, out of Worcester, Mass., also a member of the Northeast-10.

UConn opens the regular season at home on Friday night, Nov. 14, entertaining Bryant University of the Northeast Conference, which posted an 18-14 record last season.

Following the opener, the Huskies will head for San Juan and participate for the first time in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, Nov. 20, 21, and 23 at Coliseo Roberto Clemente. UConn first opponent in the tourney will be College of Charleston, 14-18 last year, on Nov. 20 at 12:30 p.m. On Friday, Nov. 21, the Huskies will either meet Dayton, which won 26 games last season and reached the NCAA Elite Eight, or Texas A&M, which won 18 games. On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, UConn will face an opponent from among George Mason, West Virginia, New Mexico, or Boston College. The tourney will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.

Upon returning home, UConn will renew its series against the University of Texas, hosting the Longhorns on Sunday, Nov. 30, at noon on ESPN2. Texas won 24 games last season and reached the third round of the NCAA tourney.

In-state rival Yale, which reached the championship game of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament and won 19 games last season, visits the Huskies on Friday, Dec. 5. Following a nine-day break for final exams, UConn will then play host to Baltimore-based Coppin State on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Four days later, on Thursday, Dec. 18, UConn and Duke will meet for the first time in five years at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The Blue Devils won 26 games last year and are projected to add one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.

Columbia, which won 21 games last year and also participated in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, comes to UConn on Monday, Dec. 22, while in-state rival Central Connecticut makes a visit to challenge the Huskies on Sunday, Dec. 28.

UConn’s final two regular-season non-conference games will take place on the road in January.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, the Huskies will travel to Gainesville to meet Florida. The Gators won 36 games last season, but lost two exciting contests to UConn — in December at Gampel Pavilion and in the NCAA National Semifinals in Arlington. Texas, in front of the largest crowd in college basketball history (79,444).

UConn ends its regular-season non-conference slate on Saturday, Jan. 17, in Palo Alto, Calif., where it will battle Stanford, an NCAA Sweet 16 team last year, at Maples Pavilion.

Game times, home game locations, and television information will be announced at a later date, as will UConn’s complete schedule, including its 18 American Athletic Conference games.

UConn Women Unveil 2014-15 Non-Conference Schedule

This in from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has released its non-conference schedule for the 2014-15 season, as announced by head coach Geno Auriemma on Friday.  The schedule includes 12 games, a figure that includes four at home, three on the road and five at neutral sites.

UConn HuskiesThe Huskies will play their first of two exhibition games against Division II opponents on Saturday, November 1 against Auriemma’s alma mater, West Chester University.  West Chester finished the 2013-14 season with a 19-9 record and a 13-3 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.  The exhibition portion of the schedule will be rounded out with a game against Post University on Sunday, November 9.  Post finished last season with a 10-16 record, including a 9-10 mark in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

The regular-season opener is set for Friday, November 14 when the Huskies head west to square-off against UC Davis.  The Aggies finished the 2013-14 campaign with a 15-16 record and a 9-7 mark in the Big West.  UConn defeated UC Davis by a 97-37 margin on December 5, 2013 in Hartford.

Next up for the Huskies is a rematch of last year’s NCAA national semifinal matchup as the team remains in the Golden State to take on Stanford.  The Cardinal finished the year ranked sixth in the Associated Press Poll and won the Pac-12 regular season crown before falling to UConn, 75-56, in the aforementioned matchup.  Stanford was 33-4 overall last year but the Huskies have won four-straight and seven of the last eight showdowns between the two squads.  The Stanford matchup is set for a 9 p.m. ET tip and will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

The 2014-15 home opener is set for Sunday, November 23 against Creighton.  The Blue Jays were 20-14 overall and 12-16 in the Big East last year.  The team finished the season rated No. 83 in the RPI and advanced to the second round of the NIT.

The Huskies will head to the Sunshine State over Thanksgiving to compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase at Germain Arena in Naples.  UConn will open the event on Friday, November 28 against the College of Charleston and will face either Minnesota or Vanderbilt on Saturday.  Sunday’s contest will pit the Huskies against either Georgia Tech, Green Bay or Villanova.  SNY will have complete coverage of the Huskies during the event.

UConn has won 52-straight regular-season tournament games dating back to a 57-37 loss to Vanderbilt on December 29, 1992 at the Hilton Head Super Shootout.

The Huskies will partake in the Jimmy V Classic for the fourth-straight season when the team travels to South Bend, Ind. on December 6 for a showdown with Notre Dame.  The Irish finished the 2013-14 season with a 37-1 overall record and won the ACC regular season and tournament crowns before falling, 79-58, to UConn in the national championship game.  The Irish had beaten the Huskies four-consecutive times before losing each of the last two matchups between the two teams.  Game time is set for 3:15 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

UConn will welcome DePaul to the Nutmeg State on Friday, December 19 in a contest between two former conference rivals.  The Blue Demons posted a 29-7 record last year and won the Big East regular season and tournament championship before advancing to the Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.  The Huskies are 11-1 all-time vs. DePaul with the only blemish coming during Ronald Reagan’s first term as president.

Next up for the Huskies is a contest against UCLA on Sunday, December 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena as part of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Women’s Holiday Showcase.  The contest is set to tip at 5 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.  UCLA suffered through an injury-riddled 2013-14 season and finished with a 13-18 overall mark, including 7-11 in the Pac 12.

After breaking for over a week for Christmas, the Huskies will welcome Duke to Connecticut on Monday, December 29.  The Blue Devils finished last season ranked No. 9 nationally and were 28-7 before exiting the NCAA Tournament in the second round.

Next on the docket is a meeting with St. John’s on Sunday, January 4 in the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden.  This will mark UConn’s second-consecutive appearance in the Maggie Dixon Classic and St. John’s finished last year with a 23-11 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The12-game non-conference slate will be rounded out with a game on Monday, February 9 against South Carolina in the Constitution State.  USC finished last season ranked No. 8 nationally and won the SEC regular season title before bowing out in the NCAA Regional Semifinal.

Game times, home game locations and television information are TBA. A complete SNY broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.

2014-15 Non-conference Schedule Notes
– 12 total games
– Four home games, three road contests and five at neutral sites
– Four games against teams in last year’s RPI top-10
– Four games against teams that won a conference championship in 2013-14
– Four games against teams that advanced to the 2014 NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal
– Two games against teams that advanced to the 2014 NCAA Tournament Regional Final

*Does not include matchups for Naples Tournament

Wednesday Red Sox Delight – 8/6/14

Joe Kelly (L), Shelby Miller (R)

After seeing their bullpen falter late in the game last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on track in the middle game of a three-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Cardinals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Midwest. If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as ESPN will have coverage of the game (outside of Red Sox and Cardinals television markets). You can also catch the game online at WatchESPN or the WatchESPN app where available. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Joe Kelly makes his first start for the Red Sox and eighth overall this season. In his previous seven starts, all with the Cardinals, Kelly is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA. Obviously, he’s never faced the Cards before. He’s made 35 appearances (20 starts) at Busch Stadium and is 9-7 with a 2.90 ERA.

Shelby Miller makes his 22nd start (23rd appearance) of the 2014 season. In his previous 22 appearances (21 starts), Miller is 8-8 with a 4.14 ERA. He has never faced the Red Sox before.

Boston Red Sox49-63 St. Louis Cardinals60-51
1. Brock Holt 3B 1. Matt Carpenter 3B
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B 2. Kolten Wong 2B
3. Yoenis Cespedes LF 3. Matt Holliday LF
4. Mike Napoli 1B 4. Matt Adams 1B
5. Daniel Nava RF 5. Jhonny Peralta SS
6. Xander Bogaerts SS 6. A.J. Pierzynski C
7. Christian Vazquez C 7. Oscar Taveras RF
8. Mookie Betts CF 8. Jon Jay CF
9. Joe Kelly 3B 9. Shelby Miller CF
Joe Kelly SP Shelby Miller SP

NOTES:

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

Boston Red Sox @ St. Louis Cardinals Batter/Pitcher Matchups

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

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

Jon Lester’s potential return to Boston could follow Mike Lowell template [rob bradford – weei.com]

Sox: ‘Nothing physical’ with Clay Buchholz, ‘no red flags’ before trade of Allen Craig [clubhouse insider]

Kelly to make Sox debut against best friend [espn boston]

Buster Olney on MFB: ‘Unlikely’ Tom Werner would become next MLB commissioner [full count]

John Farrell on D&H: ‘Getting [Clay Buchholz] back on track might be the No. 1 objective as far the rotation goes’ [full count]

Kelly Johnson to be activated, Mookie Betts might be odd man out [providence journal]

Shane Victorino expected to be ready for spring training [providence journal]

Henry Owens unlikely to pitch in majors this season [providence journal]

Why the Red Sox didn’t come close to trading Koji Uehara [providence journal]

Kelly returns to St. Louis to face best friend Miller [red sox]

A Semi-Educated Guess on What the Red Sox’ Starting Rotation Will Look Like in 2015 [touching all the bases]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Tuesday Red Sox Delight – 8/5

Rubby De La Rosa (L), Lance Lynn (R)

After going 1-5 on the homestand, the Boston Red Sox head out on an eight game, nine day road trip. Tonight, they’ll kick it off with the first game of a three-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Cardinals television market, you can catch the game onFox Sports Midwest. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Rubby De La Rosa hits double digits in starts for the Red Sox this season. In his previous nine starts, De La Rosa is 3-4 with a 3.64 ERA. He has never faced the Cardinals.

Lance Lynn makes his 23rd start of 2014 for the Cards. In his previous 22 starts, Lynn is 11-8 with a 2.98 ERA. He has never faced the Red Sox during the regular season in his career.

Boston Red Sox49-62 St. Louis Cardinals59-51
1. Brock Holt CF 1. Matt Carpenter 3B
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B 2. Kolten Wong 2B
3. David Ortiz 1B 3. Matt Holliday LF
4. Yoenis Cespedes LF 4. Matt Adams 1B
5. Daniel Nava RF 5. Jhonny Peralta SS
6. Xander Bogaerts SS 6. A.J. Pierzynski C
7. Christian Vazquez DH 7. Oscar Taveras RF
8. Will Middlebrooks 3B 8. Jon Jay CF
9. Rubby De La Rosa 3B 9. Lance Lynn CF
Rubby De La Rosa SP Lance Lynn SP

NOTES:

RP Heath Hembree and OF Corey Brown have been called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. RP Steven Wright was optioned back to the PawSox to make room for Hembree. Allen Craig was placed on the 15-day DL with a foot injury to make room for Brown.

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

Boston Red Sox @ St. Louis Cardinals Batter/Pitcher Matchups

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

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

Shane Victorino to undergo season-ending back surgery today [clubhouse insider]

Sox newcomer Allen Craig put on DL with ankle injury [clubhouse insider]

Report: Tom Werner among finalists to replace commissioner Bud Selig [clubhouse insider]

Lackey ‘wasn’t surprised’ by trade to Cardinals [csn new england]

Red Sox pitching prospects and their changeups [providence journal]

Unsentimental John Lackey excited to be a Cardinal [providence journal]

De La Rosa leads Sox vs. Cards in World Series rematch [red sox]

On the clock? Making sense of Henry Owens’ likely big league timetable [alex speier – weei]

It’s Time to Move on From Clay Buchholz, and Other Thoughts on the Revamped Red Sox [touching all the bases]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

UConn Men To Open Puerto Rico Tip-Off With College of Charleston

This in from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The bracket has been set for the 2014 Puerto Rico Tip-Off and the defending NCAA Champion UConn Huskies will open the holiday tournament against College of Charleston on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 12:30 p.m. (EST) at Coliseo Roberto Clemente (capacity: 10,000) in San Juan. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

PUERTO RICO TIP-OFFThe eighth annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off will be played on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Nov. 20, 21 and 23. Additional schools competing in the early-season tournament are Boston College, Dayton, George Mason, New Mexico, Texas A&M and West Virginia. The three-day, 12-game  event will be televised by ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3. The final two Puerto Rico Tip-Off contests on November 23, including the championship game, will be showcased on ESPN2.

In the opening Puerto Rico Tip-Off games on November 20, Texas A&M will play Dayton at 10:30 a.m. (EST), followed by the UConn-Charleston game at 12:30 p.m. – both games will air on ESPNU.  The evening session on Thursday begins at 5 p.m. (EST) with New Mexico facing Boston College on ESPN2, followed by George Mason meeting West Virginia on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. Locally, San Juan is on Atlantic Standard Time, one hour ahead of Eastern Time.

The losers of the opening two games will meet on Friday, Nov. 21, at noon (EST), while the winners will play in the first semifinal at 2:30 p.m. The second semifinal will begin at 5 p.m., while the second consolation game starts at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 22, will be an off-day, with four games scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 23, including the championship game at 6:30 p.m. (EST).

UConn is 2-0 all-time against College of Charleston, defeating the Cougars, 68-52, on Nov. 24, 1990, in Gampel Pavilion and 77-60 on Dec. 27, 1995, in Charleston. Against the remainder of the teams in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, the Huskies are 0-2 against Dayton, 2-1 against Texas A&M, 55-35 against Boston College, 1-1 against New Mexico, 0-1 against George Mason and 16-5 against West Virginia.

In addition to NCAA Champion Connecticut (American Athletic), Elite 8 participant Dayton (Atlantic 10) and Mountain West postseason champion New Mexico played in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.  Other schools competing in the 2014 postseason were Texas A&M (Southeastern, CBI) and West Virginia (Big 12, NIT).  Boston College (Atlantic Coast), College of Charleston (Colonial) and George Mason (Atlantic 10) participated in their respective conference tournaments.

College of Charleston (2007), Dayton (2009), George Mason (2009) and West Virginia (2010) will be appearing in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off for the second-time. West Virginia advanced to the 2010 Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship game before losing 74-70 to Minnesota.

Charlotte captured the 2013 Puerto Rico Tip-Off as the 49ers upset nationally-ranked Michigan 63-61 in the finals.  In addition to Minnesota, other winners of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off include Miami (Fla., 2007); Xavier (2008); Villanova (2009); Alabama (2011) and Oklahoma State (2012).

For more information, please visit http://www.puertoricotipoff.com/.

Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Schedule subject to change,) 

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Thu, Nov 20 10:30 a.m. Texas A&M vs. Dayton ESPNU
12:30 p.m. College of Charleston vs. Connecticut ESPNU
5 p.m. New Mexico vs. Boston College ESPN2
7:30 p.m. George Mason vs. West Virginia ESPNU
Fri, Nov 21 Noon Consolation #1 ESPNU or ESPN3
2:30 p.m. Semifinal #1 ESPN2 or ESPNU
5 p.m. Semifinal #2 ESPN2 or  ESPNU
7 p.m. Consolation #2 ESPN3
Sun, Nov 23 11:30 a.m. 7th-place Game ESPN3
2 p.m. 5th-place Game ESPNU
4:30 p.m. 3rd-place Game ESPN2
6:30 p.m. Championship Game ESPN2

UConn Football Kicks Off 2014 Campaign Indoors

The UConn Football team gathers around head coach Bob Diaco before breaking into drills at the first practice of the 2014 season.

The UConn Football team gathers around head coach Bob Diaco before breaking into drills at the first practice of the 2014 season.

After having his charges woken up at 7 a.m. with an air horn on Saturday morning, Bob Diaco had hoped to lead his team up the stairs to the outside practice fields for the first time as head coach. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans and forced the UConn Huskies football team to practice indoors.

But when you have one of the finest facilities in the country at the Burton Family Football Complex, going indoors isn’t a big deal at all.

“It’s a great facility, a lot of space, a lot of room, high.” said Diaco. “PAT field specialists were working with the battery. Punters were working, long snappers. We got a look of work done today.”

The biggest difference though was not only how the players look due to the strength and conditioning and nutrition programs but was their retention of what was expected from them during a practice. One of those things was not seeing players with their palms up wondering what was going on.

According to Diaco, it wasn’t a thought.

“They got a better handle on the tempo of practice, what full speed should look like, when they are in movement teaching phase what that should look like and when they are in a truly walk and teach period what that should look like,” Diaco said. “A lot of time you go into full speed drills and people are flopping and flying all around banging into each other. This is not how professionals do their work.”

Diaco’s expectations of the first practice went as exactly as planned. Him and his staff wanted to keep setting the mentality it takes to play winning football.

“We wanted to see the things that cause losing eliminated or starting to be eliminated — 12 men on the field, 10 men on the field, ball security errors, penalties, offsides, things that lack discipline, lining up offsides, not getting aligned, not being in the stance before the ball is snapped. Those were all things we wanted not to see at practice.”

RECRUITS ON HAND

Four 2015 verbal commits to UConn took in the first practice of the season. QB Tyler Davis, LB Connor Freeborn, CB John Robinson and CB Justice Pettus-Dixon all watched their future head coach lead the team through practice.

QUARTERBACK NOTES

As we know, Diaco hopes to name a starting quarterback about two weeks before the opener against BYU on August 29. That leaves approximately two weeks for the competition to sort itself out. He has also said he’ll wants to play two quarterbacks. In Saturday’s first practice, they all got equal repetitions. The team ran 30 plays of 7-on-7 and 24 plays of 11-on-11.

NO PADS JUST YET

Due to NCAA rules, the Huskies cannot practice in pads until the fifth practice of the season which is Wednesday. They will also not have two-a-days until permitted by the NCAA.

CAPTAINS

Diaco would like to see the captains named by the team and would like to do it just before the first game of the 2014 season. My thoughts are that Geremy Davis and Byron Jones are likely to named two of the captains by their peers.