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. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

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

Pittsburgh coach raves about UConn's defense [jim fuller – new haven register]

Sean Mulcahy’s Report Card [sean mulcahy – sny.com]

Huskies wear brave face [john silver – sny.com]

As losses mount, UConn tries to stay positive [ct post]

UConn Football Needs To Roll Some Sevens To Get On Winning Track [hartford courant]

UConn Woes: Protect QB, Open Holes In Running Game [hartford courant]

Chad Christen will keep on kicking [new haven register]

UConn Women's Basketball links

No stopping Auriemma now [carl adamec – sny.com]

Breanna Stewart preps for debut [graham hays – espnw]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Notes and Quotes from UConn Practice: R.J. Evans Provides Instant Energy [dom amore – hartford courant]

Are Alex Oriakhi, Shabazz Napier Worth a Gamble? [david borges – new haven register]

UConn Ready for Its Trip to the Rheinland [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes: November 5th [kevin duffy – ct post]

Where will Omar Calhoun fit among UConn’s top freshmen? [kevin duffy – ct post]

Deutschland bound [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

UConn Ready For Ultimate Road Trip [hartford courant]

Jim Calhoun to serve as commentator [norwich bulletin]

Other UConn related links

M. Ice Hockey. Bruce Marshall To Take Medical Leave of Absence [uconnhuskies.com]

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While we are still waiting for Nike to put out the official press release announcing the camo uniforms for this Friday's UConn Huskies men's basketball game against the Michigan State Spartans in Germany, Neill Ostrout of the Journal Inquirer brings us our first look at the uniforms.

So what do you think folks?

Personally, I'm a big fan of them.

We'll have more details and pictures when Nike puts out the release.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: neill ostrout – journal inquirer

As we learned late Friday night, the Boston Red Sox and David Ortiz agreed on a two-year extension worth $26 million with a chance to make up to $30 million with incentives. On Monday, the Red Sox made it official.

Here's the release:

BOSTON —The Boston Red Sox and star slugger David Ortiz agreed today on a two-year extension through 2014.  Known to all as “Big Papi,” Ortiz, 36, played key roles in the World Championships of 2004 and 2007 and has amassed 401 lifetime home runs.  In 10 years with the Red Sox, he has been an All-Star eight times.

“David Ortiz has made immeasurable contributions to the Red Sox for the past decade,” said Executive Vice-President/General Manager Ben Cherington, who made the announcement.  “He is an historic figure, a beloved hero, and an important player as we build our team for 2013 and beyond.”  

In 2012, he batted .318 with 23 home runs and 60 RBI, despite being limited to 90 games due to an injured right Achilles.  The left-handed batter, primarily a designated hitter, led all Major Leaguers (with at least 350 plate appearances) in slugging percentage (.611) and led the American League in OPS (1.026).  His eighth All-Star season in the past nine years ties him with Derek Jeter for the most in Major League Baseball during that time.

On July 4 in Oakland, he hit his 400^th career home run to become just the sixth ever to reach that mark while playing for the Red Sox.

“David Ortiz has been one of the most positive influences in Red Sox history,” said Principal Owner John Henry.  “He has been a leader among his teammates, a favorite among the fans, and a powerful force in the middle of lineups that have produced so much joy and happiness for New England.  He has our gratitude and respect as he continues a career that could culminate in Cooperstown.”

At the time he first went on the disabled list in 2012, Ortiz’s 65 runs scored were tied for the Major League lead.  Among AL leaders, his extra-base hits ranked second (48), his home runs seventh (23), his RBI tied for 10^th (58), his walks tied for fourth (56) and his total bases third (195). 

To continue reading, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

“We have all had the good fortune to have been Red Sox fans for more than ten years and to have seen David Ortiz transform from a baseball player into a revered hero,” said Chairman Tom Werner.  “He connects with people, he cares about people, and is a role model not just for New England but for all of baseball.  We are all thrilled that he will be continuing his stellar career with the Red Sox.”

With the Red Sox, Ortiz has hit 343 home runs, a total that trails only Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, and Dwight Evans.  His 1,088 RBI trail that same group plus Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr. 

“Signing David Ortiz was a critical piece of our off-season planning,” said President/CEO Larry Lucchino.  “It was one of our highest priorities.  We hope and trust he will complete his career as a member of this franchise and will be associated with the Boston Red Sox for years to come.”

Ortiz also ranks in the Red Sox Top 10 in extra-base hits (5^th, 730), total bases (6^th, 2,899), doubles (6^th, 374), walks (6^th, 825), runs scored (9^th, 909) and hits (9^th, 1,470). 

He ranks fourth in team history (min. 3,000 PA) with a .573 slugging percentage and a .962 OPS behind only Williams (.634, 1.116), Jimmie Foxx (.605, 1.034) and Manny Ramirez (.588, .999). 

Since joining the Red Sox in 2003, Ortiz ranks second among Major Leaguers in slugging (min. 3,000 PA), trailing only Albert Pujols (.612).  The Red Sox signed him as a free agent on January 22, 2003, after Minnesota released him.   

Ortiz earned 2004 ALCS MVP honors after winning Games 4 and 5 with walk-off hits in Boston’s historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series versus New York.  He is the Red Sox career leader in postseason runs (39), hits (61), doubles (15), homers (12), RBI (43), total bases (116) and walks (41).

Ortiz, Pujols, and Alfonso Soriano are the only three Major Leaguers to tally at least 20 homers in each of the last 11 seasons (starting 2002).  He is the only Red Sox player ever to record at least 20 home runs in 10 consecutive campaigns (starting 2003).  He has hit at least 30 home runs in six seasons with the Red Sox, tied for second on the club’s all-time list behind Williams (8).  His 10 grand slams with Boston rank second in club history after Williams (17) while his 37 multi-homer games are tied with Williams for the team record.

Ortiz owns a .285 batting average (1,863-for-6,539) with 482 doubles, 16 triples, 401 home runs, 1,326 RBI, 1,124 runs and 1,011 walks in 1,832 Major League games over 16 seasons with the Twins (1997-2002) and Red Sox (2003-12).  His 401 home runs rank 50^th on baseball’s all-time list, ninth among active players and 20^th in American League history.  Among actives, only Jim Thome (13) has more regular season walk-off home runs than Ortiz’s 10.

Ortiz garnered three consecutive Thomas A. Yawkey Awards as the Red Sox MVP from 2004-06 in a vote of Boston BBWAA members, and was the only player to rank among the top five in AL MVP voting in each season from 2003-07.  This past September, Ortiz was named as the starting designated hitter on the All-Fenway Park Team as part of the ballpark’s 100^th Anniversary season. 

Among designated hitters, he is the all-time Major League leader in doubles (410), home runs (353), extra-base hits (778), total bases (3,101) and RBI (1,147).  Ortiz has earned the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award a record six times from 2003-07 and 2011.  His five Silver Slugger Awards as DH (2004-07, 2011) are the most ever at the position.

He won the 2005 AL Hank Aaron Award, given to the top offensive performer in each league, after leading the Majors with 148 RBI.  In 2006, he received the Josh Gibson Award, presented by the National Negro Leagues Museum to each league’s home run champion, after breaking Foxx’s Red Sox single-season home runs record with 54.  

Known as much for his heart as his brawn, Ortiz won the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball’s highest honor for those who best represent the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field.  That same year, he won the Boston BBWAA’s Tim Wakefield Award for his charitable spirit.  

He created the David Ortiz Children’s Fund to provide critical pediatric services in New England and in his native Dominican Republic.  In the Dominican, he has hosted an annual eponymous golf classic the past four years to benefit his foundation.  In Boston, he has provided his time and other resources to Mass General Hospital for Children, donating tickets to patients from the hospital over the last four years as part of his “Papi’s Pals” program.

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photo credit: getty images

UConn Huskies football coach Paul Pasqualoni has released his depth chart for Friday night's home game against the Pitt Panthers.

After looking at last week's depth chart against South Florida, there are some changes.

With E.J. Norris out after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery, B.J. McBryde goes from backing up Ryan Wirth at defensive tackle to backing up Angelo Pruitt at defensive end. True freshman Mykal Myers is now the back up for Wirth at defensive tackle.

For a full look at the UConn Huskies depth chart for the Pittsburgh Panthers click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

OFFENSE

LT: 72 Jimmy Bennett (RSr., 6-9, 309)
78 Dalton Gifford (RFr., 6-5, 297)

LG 69 Steve Greene (RJr., 6-5, 309)
60 Tyler Samra (Fr., 6-3, 250)

C: 50 Tyler Bullock (RJr., 6-4, 302)
73 Alex Mateas (RSo., 6-3, 293)

RG: 65 Gus Cruz (RSo., 6-2, 306)
68 Bryan Paull (RSo., 6-3, 298)

RT: 77 Kevin Friend (RJr., 6-6, 295)
75 Xavier Hemingway (RFr., 6-4, 262)

TE: 89 John Delahunt (RSr., 6-3, 243)
94 Ryan Griffin (RSr., 6-6, 247)

WR: 6 Michael Smith (Sr., 6-0, 201) OR
31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
84 Tebucky Jones (RSo., 6-0, 185)

FB: 47 Reuben Frank (RSo., 6-3, 239)
25 Martin Hyppolite (RJr., 6-0, 214)

QB: 10 Chandler Whitmer (RSo., 6-1, 191)
18 Johnny McEntee (RSr., 6-3, 208)

TB: 43 Lyle McCombs (RSo., 5-8, 166)
44 Max DeLorenzo (RFr., 5-11, 213)

WR: 85 Geremy Davis (RSo., 6-1, 214)
8 Shakim Phillips (RSo., 6-1, 200)

DEFENSE

DE: 48 Trevardo Williams (Sr., 6-2, 233)
51 Tim Willman (RJr., 6-4, 270)

DT: 53 Ryan Wirth (RSr., 6-3, 271)
92 Mykal Myers (Fr., 6-0, 300)

DT: 59 Shamar Stephen (RJr., 6-5, 317)
90 Julian Campenni (RFr., 5-11, 281)

DE: 56 Angelo Pruitt (RSo., 6-3, 296)
97 B.J. McBryde (RSo., 6-5, 301)

OLB: 3 Sio Moore (RSr., 6-2, 229)
32 Jefferson Ashiru (RFr., 6-1, 227)

ILB: 33 Yawin Smallwood (Rso., 6-3, 235)
46 Marquise Vann (RFr., 6-0, 224)

ILB: 28 Jory Johnson (RSr., 6-1, 227)
52 Ryan Donohue (Sr., 6-0, 242)

CB: 5 Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSr., 6-2, 190)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

S: 16 Byron Jones (RSo., 6-1, 192)
22 Andrew Adams (RFr., 6-0, 186)

S: 15 Ty-Meer Brown (RSo., 6-0, 193)
39 Jordan Floyd (Fr., 6-1, 205)

CB: 7 Dwayne Gratz (RSr., 6-0, 198)
12 David Stevenson (RFr., 5-8, 173)

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: 13 Chad Christen (RJr., 6-1, 202)
17 Bobby Puyol (Fr., 6-0, 170)

P: 86 Cole Wagner (RJr., 6-2, 211)
13 Chad Christen (RJr., 6-1, 202)

HL: 86 Cole Wagner (RJr., 6-2, 211)
17 Blaise Driscoll (Sr., 6-1, 189)

KR: 31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

PR: 31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

LS: 67 Adam Mueller (Jr., 6-1, 225)
66 Dominick Manco (RFr., 6-0, 239)

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Here's a press release from SNY announcing their television plans for the upcoming 2012-13 UConn Huskies women's basketball team:

NEW YORK – SNY, the official television home of the UConn Huskies Women's basketball program, today announced its all-access programming lineup for the 2012-13 UConn Women's basketball season.  Featuring an unprecedented 340+ hours of exclusive programming, SNY will tip off its comprehensive coverage on November 8^th at 7:00pm with the UConn Women's Basketball Preview show, presented by Connecticut Lighting Centers. 

This one-hour special will feature Head Coach Geno Auriemma live in-studio along with former UConn greats and current analysts Meghan Culmo and Kara Wolters, play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon, John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant and host Gary Apple.  The show will take an in-depth look at the upcoming season, and include exclusive interviews with players as well as provide analysis of the key storylines and players to watch.  

Immediately following the UConn Women's Basketball Preview show on November 8^th, SNY will premiere Huskies All-Access at 8:00pm.  Huskies All-Access takes a behind-the-scenes look at the UConn Women's Basketball team during the intense first week of practice.  SNY's cameras follow the team and coaches on and off the court, offering fans an insider's view of the nation' top women's basketball program. 

Throughout the season, Huskies fans can also tune into SNY for the following lineup of exclusive women's basketball programming:

►Geno's Legacy:  hosted by Head Coach Geno Auriemma and set in a round-table format for a lively conversation – Geno's Legacy will feature former Huskies basketball stars reminiscing about their time and experiences as student athletes while at UConn.  The show will debut in January, and include the following guests in the first three shows:     

• Episode #1:  Jen Rizzotti and Rebecca Lobo
• Episode #2:  Chris Dailey, Shea Ralph and Jamelle Elliott
• Episode #3:  Kerry Bascom and Nykesha Sales

►The Geno Auriemma Show:   

Kerith Burke, SNY's sideline reporter, will host The Geno Auriemma Show – which will feature a candid conversation with the head coach of the nation's top women's basketball program.  The weekly program will provide viewers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the coach and his team both on and off the court.  The Geno Auriemma Show will also dissect the previous week's games and provide an in-depth look at the week's upcoming match-ups.

SNY also plans to produce a special on the All-Time Greatest UConn Women Basketball Players, a Tournament Preview Show and a Season In-Review Show.  For daily coverage of the UConn Huskies, fans can tune into GEICO SportsNite from 10:30pm-1:00am.  For up-to-the-minute information about the team, fans can log on to www.sny.tv and snyuconn.com – which will provide complete coverage with game highlights, press conferences and interviews.

For the 2012-13 season, SNY will feature 20 live UConn Huskies games.  All Big East Conference basketball games will be wrapped with comprehensive pre-game, half-time and post-game shows.  The network's game schedule will tip-off on November 11^th at 1:30pm when the Huskies – eyeing their 17th straight season-opening win – host the College of Charleston Cougars.  Prior to the game, SNY will air a special pre-game show.

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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. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

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

Big East bowl projections: Week 11 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East power rankings: Week 11 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni: The Day After South Florida [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Trevardo Williams would have taken win over sack record [jim fuller – new haven register]

Losing Faith? [john silver – sny.com]

UConn's offense sinks to new depths [ct post]

Five Things: 3-9 Not Out Of The Question [hartford courant]

UConn Defense Keeps Up The Good Work [hartford courant]

UConn Needs To Find Running Game Friday Night Vs. Pitt [hartford courant]

Huskies having hard time finding any silver linings [new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

UConn 100, UMass-Lowell 62: Kevin Ollie’s Take [dom amore – hartford courant]

UConn 100, UMass-Lowell 62: Wrapping Things Up From XL [dom amore – hartford courant]

UConn Impressive; Competition Now Goes from NE-10 to Big 10 [david borges – new haven register]

UConn's Tentative German Itinerary [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from UMass-Lowell: “No one can really guard us in transition” [kevin duffy – ct post]

UConn improving, beats UMass-Lowell 100-62 [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

UConn 100, UMass Lowell 62 [john silver – sny.com]

The Final Tune-Up [uconn huskies basketball]

Huskies Top UMass-Lowell In Final Preseason Tuneup [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn breezes past UMass-Lowell, 100-62 [ct post]

UConn Puts In Full Effort In 100-62 Win Over UMass Lowell [hartford courant]

Huskies beat UMass-Lowell to close exhibition season [new haven register]

Daniels has followed the road Ollie has taken [the hour]

Other UConn related links

W. Volleyball. Huskies Sweep Orange Behind Quayle's 16 Kills [uconnhuskies.com]

Field Hockey. UConn Field Hockey Wins BIG EAST Championship [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. UConn Downs Villanova, 1-0, To Advance To BIG EAST Semifinals [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.