UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco addresses the crowd before the 2014 Blue/White Spring Game at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

On Thursday night, we saw some of the outside changes in culture that UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco has brought to the school and football program with the holding of a pep rally on campus.

But what about on the inside the program, you know, the nuts and bolts of it all.

The overwhelming sense I got when speaking with the players was the sense of brotherhood, being a family.

Having been around them since Diaco took over, I can say unequivocally that what they are saying is right. This is them being honest.

You can see it. And I think you’re going to notice it when they’re on the field this season as well.

Watch below as the players talk about the culture change:

Huskies All Access host Erika Wachter sits down with UConn Football Head Coach Bob Diaco, Captain Byron Jones and Analyst Joe D’Ambrosio to preview Week 1 against BYU.

As part of the culture change around the UConn Huskies football program, which I’ll have more on on Friday morning, head coach Bob Diaco has the players staying on campus the night before a home game in East Hartford, CT.

Usually the team bussed into Hartford the night before a game. But that’s now a thing of the past.

Another thing Diaco has introduced is having a pep rally the night before each home game.

And while Thursday night was the first one, about a 1,000 fans, mostly students, showed up to Fairfield Way on campus in Storrs to listen to Diaco, WR Geremy Davis and LB Marquise Vann speak and pump everyone up for Friday night’s game against BYU.

editor’s note: I apologize for the shakiness of the video. I was trying to shoot photos in a few spots.

Here are some of the sights and sounds from the pep rally that was held for the UConn Huskies football team on campus in Storrs, CT on Thursday night.

Stay tuned for head coach Bob Diaco, WR Geremy Davis and LB Marquise Vann speaking to the crowd.

UConn Huskies head football coach Bob Diaco answers a question during his press conference on August 25, 2014 for the upcoming game against the BYU Cougars.

For the first 34 minutes or so of his first pregame press conference as a college head football coach, the UConn Huskies man in charge, Bob Diaco, was pretty subdued.

But when asked an excellent question from John Silver of the Journal Inquirer (“What do you want to see from your team on Friday night? What demeanor do you expect?”), Diaco’s tone changed and he became more fired up.

Watch below to get Diaco’s answer to the question.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

UConn Huskies center Alex Mateas (73) blocks as QB Casey Cochran (12) attempts a pass against Memphis at Rentschler Field on December 7, 2013.

As we know, UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco named his four captains on Thursday and amongst them was Alex Mateas.

The Ottawa, Ontario, Canada native and Penn State transfer came to UConn in 2011 after redshirting his freshman year with the Nittany Lions. After sitting out in 2011 due to NCAA transfer rules, Mateas saw action in eight games in 2012, starting four of them.

In 2013, Mateas was one of only three Huskies to start to start every game on the offensive line (center).

Watch below as Diaco talks about Mateas as well as Mateas’ reaction to being named a captain.

Marquise Vann (46) tries to help his teammates make a tackle during the 2014 UConn Football spring game at Rentschler Field.

As we know, UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco named his four captains on Thursday and amongst them was redshirt junior Marquise Vann.

Vann, the only junior of the four captains, saw action in eight games, three of those being starts, in 2013 before missing the final four with an injury. He ended up making 17 tackles on the season. He also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery against the Cincinnati Bearcats last season.

Watch below as Diaco talks about Vann as well Vann’s reaction to being named captain.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

Byron Jones (16) and the UConn defense celebrate after stopping Devin Gardner (not pictured) on a 4th and 2 in the 4th quarter at Rentschler Field on September 21, 2013

As we know, UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco named his four captains on Thursday and amongst them was redshirt senior Byron Jones.

The New Britain, CT native and NFL prospect converted from safety to cornerback last year and finished fourth on the team with 60 tackles while leading in interceptions with three. He’s played in 36 games over his three seasons and has started in 32 of them.

Watch below as Diaco talks about Jones as well Jones’ reaction to being named captain.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

UConn WR Geremy Davis looks on during the stretching drills at practice on Wednesday, August 6, 2014.

As we know, UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco announced the four captains for the 2014 team and amongst them was redshirt senior wide receiver Geremy Davis.

Davis had a breakout season in 2013 and was the first UConn receiver to break 1,000 yards (1,085) since the move to FBS football. He also had three touchdown catches.

The NFL prospect is also on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List for 2014.

Watch below as Diaco talks about the traits of Davis as well as Davis’ reaction to being named captain.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

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 football coach Bob Diaco kicked off the 2014 version of media day at the Burton Family Football Complex by naming his four captains for the 2014 season.

They are WR Geremy Davis, CB Byron Jones, LB Marquise Vann and C Alex Mateas. The four were picked by the entire football organization at UConn to lead the team.

I’ll have more from each captain as well as more from Diaco on each player as over the next few days.

Watch below as Diaco names the 2014 UConn Football captains: