BOSTON, MA (August 28, 2012) – The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) announces its inaugural event, NVRQT Night, on Monday, September 24 at House of Blues Boston.  The event will be hosted by Red Sox Pitcher Jon Lester and wife Farrah, with actor Mike O’Malley as the emcee.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host the inaugural NVRQT Night,” says Jon Lester, Spokesperson for NVRQT. “The foundation supports such a great cause that Farrah and I are proud to be a part of.”

NVRQT Night will entail a number of attractions including, “3 Up, 3 Down”, a Hollywood Squares style game featuring national celebrities and various Boston sports stars as the squares. There will also be live and silent auctions as well as entertainment by musical guest, Universal Republic Records recording artist, Will Dailey. The evening is sponsored by major organizations such as People’s United Bank, Covidien, Mohegan Sun, JetBlue Airways and Transamerica and produced by Altus Marketing & Management, LLC.

The event begins at 6pm for VIP guests and 7pm for General Admission; with tickets ranging from $250 to $100 per person, which can be purchased at www.pcrf-kids.org. For more information, please contact PCRF at 949-859-6312 or visit www.NVRQT.org.

About NVRQT

NVRQT is the rally cry, cause and mantra in thefight against pediatric cancer. This fundraising arm of the PCRF is on a mission to raise awareness and funding for the research that is being conducted to find a cure for children’s cancer. For its first season, NVRQT partnered with Jon Lester by creating a campaign focused on his fight against cancer. For more information and to donate to NVRQT, log on to www.facebook.com/NVRQT or followus on Twitter at @NVRQT31.

About PCRF

The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF), is an independent, non-profit organization, wholly dedicated to supporting the highest quality pediatric cancer research.  Established in 1982, our founders – parents, doctors, friends, and community leaders had a common vision “To bring hope and lifesaving treatments to children battling cancer, and improve the care, quality of life, and survival rate of children with malignant diseases.”  Since 1982 we have raised almost $30 million dollars in support of laboratory research that translates into immediate treatment for children with cancer. More information is available at www.pcrf-kids.org.

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When Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine suspended Alfredo Aceves last week, it was because he threw a hissy fit after being passed over for Andrew Bailey in a save situation. So with Aceves returning from suspension last night, we still didn’t have a clue as to whether or not he’d be given another chance or if Bailey, the man they acquired for the closer’s role this season before an injury ruined that, would be the closer going forward.

Well, Aceves was given the opportunity to close out last night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and like the last time he pitched, the results were the same. He blew the lead and the game giving the Angels a 6-5 walkoff win over the visiting nine from Boston.

Given a 5-4 lead to hold on to, this is how his 9th inning went last night.

• Retired leadoff hitter Maicer Izturis
• hit Erick Aybar with a pitch
• Aybar steals second before a walk to pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo
• Mike Trout singles to bring in Aybar with Callaspo going to third base
• Torii Hunter hits sac fly setting off a frenzy on the field in Anaheim

That folks is the anatomy of a blown save.

I’d have to think going forward as the Red Sox play out the rest of the 2012 season that Bailey gets all the save chances going forward. After all, that’s why they gave up Josh Reddick, Miles Head and Raul Alcantara.

Clay Buchholz started this one last night for the Red Sox and wasn’t great. He wasn’t bad either. If we were take one thing from his start, it’s the fact that he was able to go seven innings. Since returning from the disabled list on July 14th, he’s gone at least seven innings in seven of his nine starts. The only two he hasn’t gone that far were his first start back and last start against the Angels.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was a big part of the Red Sox offense on Tuesday night as he knocked in two runs. The first one came on a solo home run in the 2nd and an RBI single in the 4th. James Loney, back on the west coast three days after the big trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, knocked in his third run with a single in the 4th as well.

Jacoby Ellsbury added two hits last night and his 10th stolen base of the season as he hit out of the three spot in the lineup. It remains to be seen whether or not Ellsbury is part of the plans for next season though.

He’ll be in his final arbitration year and with Scott Boras as his agent, you know he’ll be getting a big pay day. Whether the Red Sox want to give it to him remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain, we know they have the money to do it.

It wouldn’t surprise me to hear his name come up in trade rumors over the offseason. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the Red Sox don’t move him and milk every ounce of baseball out of him next year and at the very least come away with compensation draft picks if he decides to leave.

I think in the end, no matter if Boras is his agent, that it comes down to whether or not Ellsbury wants to play in Boston for the long run or does he want to Chase Greener pastures.

Whatever the case may be, he needs to stay healthy. Given how much time he missed this year, it would also be nice to see him finish out the season on a strong note.

And it appears he’s on that course.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take a look at the overnight links from the media.

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

A mix of relief and reality [boston globe]

Loney free, easy [boston globe]

Morales to DL; Stewart gets a start [boston globe]

Alfredo Aceves melts again [boston herald]

Despite loss, Sox still playing to win [boston herald]

Red Sox no match for Mike Trout [boston herald]

Josh Beckett explains how (and why) he found himself leaving Boston [rob bradford – weei.com]

Aceves blows save in return as Sox lose to Angels, 6-5 [csn new england]

Valentine: Aceves’ extra work due to lack of options [csn new england]

Iglesias makes first start of season for Sox [csn new england]

Rapid reaction: Angels 6, Red Sox 5 [espn boston]

Closing Time: Ace’d out — Alfredo Aceves blows save in return as Angels walk off past Red Sox [full count]

Mazz’s Top 5 most detestable Red Sox teams [tony massarotti – boston globe]

Next Red Sox manager needs to command respect [tony massarotti – boston globe]

Bobby Valentine, Red Sox Look for Positives in Bizarre, Frustrating Ride of Season [nesn.com]

Aceves reinstated, but appears to lose closer’s role [redsox.com]

Shoulder inflammation lands Morales on DL [redsox.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the LA Daily News, LA Times and Orange County Register websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother Monkey With a Halo.

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

photo credit: ap photo

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

Highlights From Coach Paul Pasqualoni Pre-UMass Presser [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Kashif Moore En Route To Indianapolis [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Paul Pasqualoni talks a little about naming of captains [jim fuller – new haven register]

Tuesday teleconference [john silver – sny]

SNY Is Your Television Home For UConn Football In 2012 [uconnhuskies.com]

Connecticut Opens 2012 Season Against Massachusetts Thursday Night [bigeast.org]

Christen, UConn’s new kicker, has field experience on his side [ct post]

UConn football notebook: Tough choices for captains [ct post]

Colts pick up Moore, Raiders waive Hurd in UConn NFL news [ct post]

Pasqualoni Talks About Task Of Picking Captains [hartford courant]

Theory Of Evolution: In Second Year, Don Brown’s Defense Should Straighten Out [hartford courant]

Year II? Same Point Of View: Paul Pasqualoni’s Second Season At UConn [hartford courant]

At 100, Joe McCormick Believed To Be Oldest Living UConn Football Player [hartford courant]

Looking Back At 2011 Season [hartford courant]

Ranking the Big East football stadiums [usa today]

UMass Football Coach Charley Molnar: ‘No Pressure, Just Excitement’ For FBS Debut [cbs boston]

UConn Football 2012 Preview: Huskies Try To Put The Pieces Together [sb nation]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Expect A Nice New Deal For Geno Auriemma Soon [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Up Next For UConn’s Geno Auriemma? How About A New Contract [hartford courant]

Former UConn women’s basketball player is First Friday artist [indianapolis star]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Notes/Quotes from Gampel: “It probably won’t fully heal for anywhere between 5-6 weeks.” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Calhoun more eager to talk about Huskies than his own health [ct post]

Calhoun making progress [the day]

Setbacks, uncertainty at UConn not likely to tarnish storied program [si.com]

Other UConn related links

W. Cross Country. Women’s Cross Country Prepares For 2012 Season [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Rowing. Rowing To Hold Walk-On Information Meetings [uconnhuskies.com]

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

After taking three-of-four from the Kansas City Royals, the Boston Red Sox embark on a nine-game west coast road trip. Tonight, they’ll kick it off with the first game of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports West. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Clay Buchholz makes his 23rd start of 2012 for the new look Red Sox. In his previous 22 starts, Buchholz is 11-4 with a 4.47 ERA. His lone start against the Angels came his last time out when he took the loss after allowing seven earned runs in 5.1 innings. Overall in his career, Buchholz has made eight starts against the Halos and is 5-3 with a 4.81 ERA. Two of the those starts have come at Angel Stadium where he is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA (5 ER/11.2 IP).

Jered Weaver makes his 24th start of 2012 for the Angels. In his previous 23 starts, Weaver is 16-3 with a 2.74 ERA. He was matched up with Buchholz his last time out and he picked up the win after allowing two runs in seven innings of work. He’s made 12 career starts against the Red Sox and is 3-5 with a 4.23 ERA. Five of those starts have come at Angel Stadium where he is 2-2 with a 1.65 ERA.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.8

Here are today’s lineups:

62-67		66-62
1. Scott Podsednik	LF	1. Mike Trout	CF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Torii Hunter	RF
3. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	3. Albert Pujols	DH
4. Ryan Lavarnway	C	4. Kendrys Morales	1B
5. James Loney	1B	5. Mark Trumbo	LF
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	DH	6. Howie Kendrick	2B
7. Ryan Kalish	RF	7. Maicer Izturis	3B
8. Jose Iglesias	SS	8. Erick Aybar	SS
9. Pedro Ciriaco	3B	9. Chris Iannetta	C
Clay Buchholz	SP	Jered Weaver	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

NOTES: Zach Stewart will be called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start tomorrow night. Franklin Morales has been placed on the 15-day DL. Alfredo Aceves was activated from his three-game suspension.

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

Sox, Ellsbury have decisions to make [boston herald]

Report: Red Sox place Daisuke Matsuzaka on revocable waivers [clubhouse insider]

Alfredo Aceves rejoins Red Sox, offers no public apology for tantrum [clubhouse insider]

State of the Red Sox Notebook: August 28 [csn new england]

SRO Exclusive: Fenway Sellout Streak [csn new england]

Gomez named International League MVP [csn new england]

First pitch: More of the same from Beckett in Dodgers debut [csn new england]

Bailey looks to finish strong, make his mark next season [csn new england]

Aceves back with Sox after three-game suspension [csn new england]

Stewart to make Red Sox debut on Wednesday vs. Angels [csn new england]

Bill Simmons on Sox hitting reset button [espn boston]

Spitballing a Farrell-for-Bard swap [espn boston]

Sox start road trip in Anaheim [espn boston]

Union does not appeal Aceves’ suspension [espn boston]

Morales goes on DL with ‘tired’ shoulder [espn boston]

Wrong turn for the Red Sox and Angels [extra bases]

Podcast: The trade [extra bases]

Stewart gets the start on Wednesday [extra bases]

Webster makes organizational debut [extra bases]

Will the Red Sox Finish This Season Above or Below .500? [nesn.com]

Mauro Gomez Should Be Seeing At-Bats Over James Loney as Red Sox Evaluate Players for 2013 [nesn.com]

Josh Beckett May Not Have Ever ‘Got It’ During Time in Boston but Pitcher’s Contributions Impossible to Forget [don orsillo – nesn.com]

Former Sox prospect Casey Kelly shines in MLB debut [projo sox blog]

Mauro Gomez named International League MVP [projo sox blog]

Aceves set to return, but who closes? [projo sox blog]

Franklin Morales lands on DL [projo sox blog]

Iglesias in lineup for first time since call-up [projo sox blog]

Red Sox kick off West Coast trip in Anaheim [redsox.com]

Aceves on conduct: ‘The past is the past’ [alex speier – weei.com]

A reasonable so-long to Josh Beckett [touching all the bases]

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

photo credits: getty images, getty images

We all know the playoffs are probably a lost cause for our team, the 2012 Boston Red Sox. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still baseball games to play.

For some of the younger guys, it means getting a chance to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot in 2013 or at least a chance of making the team in 2013.

For the free agents to be, it means two things.

One, it’s a chance to show the Red Sox they can be a valuable part of the new look for next year. Two, it’s a chance to prove to all of MLB that they could help their team out next year and for years to come.

One of those free agents to be, Daisuke Matsuzaka, got that chance yesterday.

Now we all know Dice-K’s time here in Boston has been a disappointment. Sure there’s been some highs but the lows outnumber them 2-1. And right now, he’s pitching for his next contract whether it be with the Red Sox or any of the other 29 teams.

Yesterday, we saw a different Dice-K. We saw one who had a good tempo going. He got the ball, threw it, got it back and didn’t waste any time throwing it again.

He didn’t waste any pitches like he normally would trying to tinker around the strike zone. He just threw his pitches like he proabably did in Japan.

And when all was said and done, he picked up his first win since 2011 and the 50th of his career as the Red Sox beat the Royals 5-1. He allowed one unearned run over seven innings of work. He scattered five hits while walking two and he struck out six batters.

Now if he can pitch like this over his final starts of the season, there’s a chance he could be back in Boston next year. If not, at the very least, earned himself a job with another club in 2013.

Cody Ross is another one of those guys playing for a job in 2013.

He’s been told the Red Sox want him back next year and Ross has said he wants to stay in Boston. While no contract extension talks have happened as of yet, they could happen soon, if not immediately after the season ends if he is in fact in the plans for 2013.

Ross was a big reason why the Red Sox won yesterday as he was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. His single in the 3rd scored two runs and his double in the 6th scored Jacoby Ellsbury who had doubled earlier in the inning.

Even the newcomer James Loney contributed as he drove in Ross in the 6th. He’s another one playing for his next contract and to see whether or not he fits into the plans for the Red Sox for next year as well as the future.

Sure it’s not going to be fun at times watching this team but as fans we shouldn’t give up on them. Yes this is something to new to us. Something we haven’t seen probably since 2006.

But it’s part of baseball. It’s just how the game goes sometimes.

The Red Sox are on the west coast for the next nine days as they’ll make stops in Anaheim, Oakland and Seattle. So you know what that means. Late night baseball for the next nine days.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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

Arm strong [boston globe]

Ortiz to have PRP injection [boston globe]

Ross hasn’t let up with production [boston globe]

Dice turns back clock for Sox [boston herald]

Sox sellout streak goes on despite plenty of empty seats [boston herald]

Plagued by Achilles, Ortiz wants to stay [boston herald]

Careful on signing Papi [boston herald]

School of hard Sox [boston herald]

Bridge over Theo waters [boston herald]

Eastern Bank will miss partnership with ‘incredibly generous’ Gonzalez [boston herald]

Twenty-four hours that turned the Red Sox inside-out [rob bradford – weei.com]

Matsuzaka strong in return as Sox beat Royals, 5-1 [csn new england]

Mattingly welcomes change, challenge in late-season Sox acquisitions [csn new england]

Unfazed Gonzalez goes about business after trade to L.A. [csn new england]

The other guy: Punto surprised, disappointed by trade [csn new england]

Ross doing all he can to prove he belongs in Boston [csn new england]

Ellsbury powering up as health increases [csn new england]

Matsuzaka earns 50th career win in second return from DL [csn new england]

Valentine ‘very encouraged’ by Matsuzaka’s start [csn new england]

Aceves will not fly with team to California Monday [csn new england]

Aceves will fly separately to West Coast [espn boston]

Aceves will fly separately to West Coast [espn boston]

A sharp Dice-K opens new possibilities [espn boston]

Ellsbury, Ross provide three-four punch [espn boston]

David Ortiz wants to be back, not worried about injury’s impact on free agency [full count]

Closing Time: Daisuke Matsuzaka finally gets to 50 as Red Sox beat Royals [full count]

Daisuke Matsuzaka eyes a strong future, but isn’t contemplating free agency [full count]

Script has been flipped for Andre Ethier and Dustin Pedroia [full count]

After losing to Rockies, Josh Beckett takes on LA Times columnist T.J. Simers [full count]

Red Sox Nation Hits the Reset Button [grantland]

Alfredo Aceves Could Lose Closer’s Role After Being Suspended by Team [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Opts for PRP Treatment Over Surgery in Hopes of Returning This Season [nesn.com]

Red Sox’ Blockbuster May Mean Bobby Valentine Stays and Other Thoughts From the Week in Baseball [nesn.com]

Mark Melancon Buoyed by First Save of Season After Rocky Start With Red Sox [nesn.com]

Ryan Lavarnway, Craig Breslow Leave Door Open to Following Up on Ivy League Educations After Baseball [nesn.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka Shows Signs of Confidence, Improved Health With Lights Out Return [nesn.com]

Cody Ross’ Uppercut Swing a Natural Fit for Fenway Park as Veteran Holds Lineup Together [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox Have No Reason to Show Ill Will Toward Each Other After Trade [nesn.com]

Clayton Mortensen, Vicente Padilla Rely on Light Work Outs To Adjust To Time Zone Changes [nesn.com]

Red Sox Free Up Money in Mega Deal, But Prospects Gained May Be Key to Blockbuster Trade [nesn.com]

Legacies altered forever following blockbuster deal [redsox.com]

Sox not sure who’ll get promoted in September [nesn.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, be sure to head over to the Kansas City Star and Topeka Capital-Journal websites.

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

photo credit: getty images

This week:

The UConn Huskies football team kicks off its 2012 schedule on Thursday night as they’ll host the UMass Minutemen at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

Here are the rosters for the Huskies and the Minutemen.

The Line/Prediction:

According to Rivals.com odds, UConn is favored by 24.5 points.

My prediction is UConn 45 UMass 17.

Tickets:

According to Ticketmaster.com, there are still some 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 and here is some general information for Rentschler Field.

The parking lots will open up 4 hours before kickoff. Here is a list of the tailgating rules at the Rent.

At UConn home games, FanFest takes place starting four hours before kickoff up until 30 minutes before the game. It takes place between Gates A and B outside the stadium gates.

The offerings change each game, but activities typically include inflatable games for children, live bands, promotional vehicles and UConn student-athletes from various teams signing autographs.

The “Husky Walk” is a chance for fans to welcome the UConn team as they get off the team buses and head to the stadium. That takes place approximately two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff between Gates A and B.

Once again this season at the end of home games, the UConn team will sing the “UConn Husky” fight song in front of the student section at Rentschler Field.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television:

Thursday night’s game is being televised live by SNY and ESPN Regional Television. Bob Picozzi is on play-by-play with former NFL offensive lineman David Diaz-Infante on color.

The game will also be replayed on SNY in a condensed mode on the “Husky Power Hour” on Friday, August 31 at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and Saturday, September 1 at noon. The game will be replayed it is entirety on Saturday, September 1 at 3:30 p.m. and on Sunday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Radio:

For the 21st consecutive season, WTIC 1080-AM in Hartford serves as the flagship station for the IMG/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 sidelines.

For Thursday’s opening game, WTIC will begin its programming at Rentschler Field with former Connecticut Governor John Rowland from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The UConn Tailgate Show will air from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Kevin Nathan and Bob Joyce. The pregame shows begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the game and then postgame “Husky Talk” with Kevin Nathan.

UConn football games are also broadcast over the internet at WTIC.com. Here is a  full list of stations on the WTIC/UCONN radio network.

The game will also be available on SIRIUS 137.

UMass Minutemen Radio:

All University of Massachusetts football games can be heard live on the UMass Sports Network, with WEEI 105.5 FM (Springfield/Western Massachusetts) serving as the flagship station.

Josh Maurer is in his fifth season as the play-by-play announcer. He is joined by veteran color commentator Matt Goldstein, now in his 10th season calling games at UMass.

Here is the list of this year’s affiliates on the UMass Sports Network:
• WEEI FM 105.5 FM (Springfield/Western Mass.)
• WVEI 1440 AM (Worcester)
• WATD 95.9 FM (Marshfield/Boston)
• All games will be streamed with live audio on UMassAthletics.com.
• In addition, WMUA 91.1 FM, the UMass student station, will carry most Minuteman football games during the season.

To continue reading the UMass Minutemen @ UConn Huskies preview, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Last Week:

This is the first game of the season for both teams. UConn went 5-7 last season while UMass was 5-6.

History:

The UConn vs. UMass series is the second-oldest intercollegiate series in the history of the Huskies. UConn and UMass have met 71 previous times and the Minutemen lead the series by a 36-33-2 count. They last met in 1999 which was UConn’s last game as a FCS team.

Connections:

UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown was the head coach at UMass from 2004-08 as the team advanced to the NCAA championship game in 2006 and also played in the I-AA tournament in 2007. Brown was the defensive coordinator at UMass in the national championship year of 1998 and also 1999.

The UConn roster has nine Massachusetts players on it: freshman DE Brendan Battles-Santos (Eastham), redshirt freshman WR Dalton Gifford (Fairhaven), redshirt junior RB Martin Hyppolite (Wakefield), redshirt sophomore DE Jonathan Louis (Brockton), redshirt sophomore QB Scott McCummings (Natick), freshman S Obi Melifonwu (South Grafton), redshirt freshman OT Paul Nwokeji (Randolph), freshman LS William Oldach (Hopkinton) and redshirt sophomore LB Yawin Smallwood (Worcester).

The UMass roster has three Connecticut players on it: sophomore WR Shawn Campbell (Woodstock), sophomore LB Ryan Delaire (Windsor) and junior defensive lineman Tyler Major (New London).

Other UConn News:

Here is the video of UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni’s press conference. If you don’t have time to watch, here are the quotes from Pasqualoni’s press conference as well quotes from some of the players.

You can also check out what Pasqualoni had to say on the Big East Coaches teleconference yesterday.

Here is UConn’s depth chart for the game.

Pasqualoni is the all-time winningest coach in BIG EAST Conference league wins with 65 and overall wins with 112.

Connecticut enters Thursday’s meeting vs. Massachusetts with a 17-3 record against opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) since making the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2002. The losses include a 30-16 defeat at Temple in 2010 and a 38-31 loss to Western Michigan last year.

The UConn football team has been bowl eligible for four times in the past five years and in sixth of the past nine. The 2010 UConn football team won the BIG EAST Championship and advanced to play in the school’s first-ever BCS game — the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

UConn is 8-2 in season openers since making the jump to then-Division I-A in 2002.

Connecticut boasts a 42-20 record against non-conference opponents in the regular season since making the move to the FBS in 2002.

UConn finished 4-3 at Rentschler Field in 2011.

Four members of the University of Connecticut football team were named to seven major award watch lists over the course of the 2012 preseason.

Senior Tight End Ryan Griffin

• John Mackey Award Watch List
• Lombardi Award Watch List

Sophomore Running Back Lyle McCombs

• Doak Walker Award Watch List
• Maxwell Award Watch List

Senior Linebacker Sio Moore

• Butkus Award Watch List
• Lombardi Award Watch List

Senior Defensive End Trevardo Williams

• Bednarik Award Watch List
• Lombardi Award Watch List
• Nagursky Trophy Watch List

Connecticut boasts a 42-20 record against non-conference opponents in the regular season since making the move to the FBS in 2002.

Notes from this week’s opponent UMass:

Here is the UMass depth chart for the game.

This is the first FBS game for UMass.

UMass will become eligible for the MAC Championship and will be Bowl-Eligible in 2013.

UMass joins UConn (Big East) and Boston College (ACC) as the only New England FBS schools.

UMass will play off all its home games at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.

Tuesday UConn Football Links:

Big East bowl projections: Week 1 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East preseason predictions [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East power rankings: Week 1 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Kashif Moore Talks About Being Waived Today By Bengals [desmond conner – hartford courant]

New Haven Gridiron Club to honor former UConn star [jim fuller – new haven register]

Football. Four Seniors Named Football Captains [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn’s McCombs goes from spectator to dominant force [ct post]

Big East Football Coaches Call: Several Teams, Including UConn, Meet Unfamiliar Foes [hartford courant]

New kid to block [journal inquirer]

Syracuse Orange Semi-Too Early Preview: Connecticut Huskies [Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician]

Next Week:

The Huskies stay at Rentschler Field next Saturday (Sept. 8) as they’ll host the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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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.

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UConn Football links

Today’s football links can be found in the Tuesday links section of the UMass vs UConn game preview. Also, the game previews will run two days before the game instead of one as in previous years.

UConn Women’s Basketball links

W. Basketball. Hartley and Strother Lead USA to 3×3 World Championship [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jim Calhoun Addresses Huskies: ‘Full of Drive, Determination and Direction’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

UConn’s Jim Calhoun Meets Team In Traditional ‘Start Of School’ Talk [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Field Hockey. Alicia Angelini Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week [uconnhuskies.com]

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