Video: The Blitz Episode 5 – Temple

Huskies All-Access Host Erika Wachter sits down with Head Coach Bob Diaco, standout linebacker Marquise Vann and media personality Joe D’Ambrosio to discuss UConn Football’s upcoming game against Temple University.

Mueller Looking to Ride Wave from Exciting 2013-14

By Bob Crawford

Centerman Chris Mueller brought nearly 400 games of pro experience with him when he signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers July 1, and he is fresh off of a 2013-14 season that was full of highlights.

In his sixth pro campaign, and his first with the Dallas Stars organization after four years in the Nashville Predators’ system, Mueller scored 25 goals and had 57 points in 60 AHL games with the Texas Stars last year, got his first taste of NHL playoff action with Dallas, and helped lead the Texas club all the way to its first Calder Cup championship.

“It was great,” Mueller said of his 2013-14 ride, in an interview after a Ranger training camp skate. “Going to a different organization for the first time in four years, a little nervous, just don’t know anybody, not even like security guards at the rink or the equipment manager, so just getting to know everybody in Dallas and down in Austin (where the AHL Stars are based), they’re first-class, just great people. And we started winning right away in Austin, that makes things good, and I got my handful of games with the big club. I was up and down a lot, then I finished with Dallas in playoffs, and that was an experience, my first NHL playoff experience.

“I can’t say enough about Dallas, the staff and, even more so, the team, the guys. I still stay in contact with them, they’re great people, and then to go all the way in Austin was just awesome. You always want to be in the NHL, but when you get into playoffs in the American League it’s like playing in the NHL, and you want to keep winning. It’s a great place to be, it’s great weather down there, so it was a special year for all of us.”

Mueller had played 46 regular-season games of NHL action by the end of last year, but had never before experienced playoff action. That changed when Dallas called him up for the last four games of their first-round series against Anaheim, which the Ducks ended up winning in six games.

“It’s definitely more intense,” Mueller said of the major-league postseason atmosphere. “Every game in the NHL is intense and it’s high-paced, and it’s pretty special when you’re out there and you take advantage of your opportunity. But being in playoffs, especially in Dallas since it was our first playoffs in six years, and our building, it was pretty crazy down there, and the city really rallied behind us. Great fan base, it was one of the loudest buildings I’ve ever played in. Games Three and Four, when we won those games, it was pretty special, and just to see the intensity and the approach, the way the guys approach the game up here (the NHL) is unbelievable, but in playoffs it’s even a little different level, and it’s pretty special to be a part of.”

After that adventure, it was back to Cedar Park, the Austin suburb where the Texas Stars make their home, for Mueller, and the thrills kept on coming. After sweeping Oklahoma City in three games in the first round, Texas beat defending-champion Grand Rapids in six games in the second round, won a seven-game thriller over Toronto in the Western Conference Finals and then knocked off St. John’s in a five-game Final, winning the last three games in overtime to capture the Calder Cup.

“It was awesome,” was Mueller’s assessment of his time with the AHL Stars. “Cedar Park, they do a great job down there. We probably averaged 5,500 fans a game and I think it seats 6,000. So it’s a pretty special place to play, great following, great arena, great people and great weather. That’s always a positive, and it keeps your spirit up. I have nothing but great things to say, and it was a really special year.”

Now, Mueller changes organizations for the second time in two years, and after his entire pro career has been under the banner of Western Conference NHL teams with Western Conference AHL affiliates, he will move his act east. He will either be skating in Manhattan for the Rangers or in downtown Hartford for the Wolf Pack, and that represents a homecoming of sorts for Mueller.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’ve already met some great people and continue to meet good people, and being originally from Buffalo, New York, obviously I’m very familiar with the area and familiar with the Rangers. It’s a lot closer to home for my family.

“I’m basically an East Coast kid, so it’s no real change for me, except for the team I play on, but obviously with the success they (the Rangers) had last year, and their looking to build upon that and turn the page and continue that success, I’m excited to be a part of it.”

And, after adding last year’s Calder Cup to the NCAA title he won as a collegian at Michigan State (in 2006-07), and making his NHL playoff debut, what does Mueller see as the next step in his career?

“Hopefully become an NHL regular, hopefully crack this (the Ranger) lineup,” he responded. “That’s my goal coming out of training camp, hopefully stay here and see the success the Rangers had last year. Obviously the final goal is the Stanley Cup, but my first goal, before I get ahead of myself, is to establish myself as a regular in the NHL. And hopefully I do that with this camp.”

In addition to whatever further strides he can make in his own career, Mueller has taken some joy as a fan, in the fact that his hometown Buffalo Bills have been purchased by Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula. That was after a group fronted by rock star Jon Bon Jovi had been close to buying the NFL team, and was rumored to be planning to relocate the Bills to Toronto.

“It’s awesome,” enthused Mueller about the Pegula purchase. “I was going to boycott Bon Jovi, I can tell you that, along with the whole city of Buffalo. But it’s great that they’re going to stay there, they’re so important to Western New York. And I’m pretty much a die-hard Bills fan and we started 2-0, so now we all think we’re going to the Super Bowl. So I’m going to stay on that bandwagon for sure.”

photo credit: dallasstars.com

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox Pitching Matchups: 9/26-9/28

Note: Pitching matchups are subject to change

Friday, September 26 @ 7:10 PM

Chris Capuano, LHP (2-4, 4.67) vs Steven Wright, RHP (0-0, 3.38)

TV: NESN, MY9, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Gameday Audio

Saturday, September 27 @ 1:05 PM

Masahiro Tanaka, RHP (13-4, 2.47) vs Joe Kelly, RHP (3-2, 4.00)

TV: FOX

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Gameday Audio

Sunday, September 28 @ 1:35 PM

Michael Pineda, RHP (4-5, 1.93) vs Clay Buchholz, RHP (8-10, 5.31)

TV: NESN, YES, TBS, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Gameday Audio

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 9/26/14

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 – Temple Owls (2-1, 0-0) @ UConn Huskies (1-2, 0-1) Preview [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Football Coach Bob Diaco & Junior Lee On Lee’s Special Teams Play [sox & dawgs]

Freshmen making an impact on defense for UConn [jim fuller – new haven register]

The big comparison: Yale vs. UConn [steven lewis – the republican-american]

Mueller Named Semifinalist For Campbell Trophy [uconn huskies]

Special Teams Standout Junior Lee A Rare UConn Bright Spot [hartford courant]

Matakevich At Rent, But LB From Stratford Wears Temple Uniform [hartford courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Collier looking forward to the home stretch [carl adamec – sny uconn]

Final Day Of Prep Work For Team USA [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Calhoun talks about film “Born to Lead,” to work for ESPN [william paxton – ct post]

Other UConn related links

W. Volleyball. Volleyball Continues Conference Play With Road Match at East Carolina [uconn huskies]

W. Soccer. McGuire’s OT Winner Lifts UConn Past ECU In Conference Opener, 2-1 [uconn huskies]

M. Soccer. Huskies Open Conference Play Saturday Against South Florida [uconn huskies]

W. Ice Hockey. UConn Women’s Ice Hockey: Season Preview [uconn huskies youtube]

UConn’s Gampel Pavilion to get new lighting [ap]

In The Red Zone: New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs Preview Week 4

This Week

The New England Patriots visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday at 8:30 p.m.

The Patriots		The Chiefs
Overall Record	2-1	Overall Record	1-2
Road Record	1-1	Home Record	0-1
AFC West	1-0	AFC East	1-0
AFC Conf	1-1	AFC Conf	1-2

John Parry is the referee for the game

The Line/Prediction

As of Thursday the line on the game from sportsbetting.ag via Yahoo Sports has the Patriots at MINUS 3. The over/under is 44.5.

My prediction is Patriots 24, Chiefs, 20. Give the points (Patriots) and take the under. I am 2-1 against the spread and 1 of 3 on calling the over/under in 2014.

Tickets

Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.

Getting to the Game

If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Kansas City MO make sure you check out the links.

Kansas City Road Trip Travel Guide

Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Kansas City MO

Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking information and map and an Arrowhead Stadium seating chart.

Tailgating

Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.

And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.

Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember drive sober or get pulled over.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

ESPN is televising the game nationally, Mike Tirico will do play by play while Jon Gruden will provide the game analysis and Lisa Salters will work the sidelines.

In the Boston MA market you can also watch the game on WCVB Channel 5.

In the Kansas City MO market you can also watch the game on KMBC Channel 9.

There is no DirecTV designation as the game is broadcast nationally.

Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules; flex scheduling and commercial breaks.

Radio

The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Bob Socci handles the play-by-play and former Patriots QB Scott Zolak will do game analysis. It all starts with Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh with the pregame show at 5:30 p.m. on the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.

The Patriots Radio Network call is available on Sirius Channel 93, XM Channel 225 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 818.

The Chiefs Radio Network has Mitch Holtus calling the game while Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson provides the game analysis and Kendall Gammon covers the sideline via their flagship station KCFX-FM, 101 The Fox.

Their call is available on Sirius Channel 92, XM Channel 226 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 815.

Westwood One will carry the game nationally to its affiliates. Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner and Laura Okmin will call the game.

Their call is available on Sirius Channel 88, XM Channel 88 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 88.

Patriots All Access

Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team. It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.

Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
Portland ME on WMTW Saturday at 5 a.m.
Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.

You can also watch it anytime on the teams website in the media section.

Last Week

The Patriots struggled to get past the Raiders, 16-9 in their home opener.

The Chiefs crushed the Dolphins in Miami, 34-15.

History

This is the 33rd meeting between the Patriots and the Chiefs since 1960 in the AFL when the Chiefs were the Dallas Texans.
Kansas City leads the overall series 16-13-3.
The Patriots have won 6 of the last 8 meetings dating back to 1998.
New England beat Kansas City in their last meeting in 2011 at Gillette Stadium, 34-3.

Patriots Team Notes

Here is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.

2014 Patriots Schedule/Results

The Patriots overall franchise record is 440-374-9. They have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in seven appearances. Overall they are 25-18 in the post season.

They last appeared in the playoffs in 2013 when they beat Indianapolis in the AFC Divisional Round 43-22 and lost at Denver 26-16 in the AFC Championship Game.

It was the 3rd consecutive AFC Championship game appearance for the franchise and 10th overall. They are 7-3 in those AFC title games.

The Patriots were 12-4 (1-1 in playoffs) in 2013 and are the defending five-time AFC East Champions. They have won the division 11 times and the conference 5 times since 2000.

New England is the only NFL team to finish .500 or better in each of the last 13 seasons (2001-2013).

They have 11 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins.

They are the first team in the free agency era (1993) to win more than half their games in a 13-season span.

Since 2003 the Patriots have the NFL’s best record at 140-39.

Overall against the AFC West since the 2002 realignment New England is 19-11 including playoffs.

They are 8-8 vs. the AFC West on the road since 2002.

The Patriots are 3-10-1 on the road in the series since 1960. Their last win at Arrowhead was in 2004 on MNF.

They are 22-23 on MNF in the franchise history. They are 11-15 overall in road games on MNF.

Last year they were 0-1 on MNF losing at Carolina, 24-20.

This is New England’s first visit to Arrowhead since 2005.

New England has 30 penalties this season in three weeks and has been penalized 322 yards. That ranks 30th in the NFL.

In week 3 the Patriots held the Raiders to 67 rushing yards after holding the Vikings to 54 rushing yards in Week 2.

The Patriots have a takeaway in each game in 2014 and are on pace for 43 takeaways which would be third highest in the team history.

They have a league high 8 takeaways in 2014.

Since 1994 the Patriots lead the NFL in turnover margin with a PLUS163. The Chiefs are second in that time frame with a PLUS 91.

New England is PLUS 6 in turnover differential tied for 1st in the NFL. They have 6 INT and have recovered 2 fumbles while they have thrown 0 INT’s and lost 2 fumbles.

The Patriots are tied for 14th in points scored averaging 22.0 points per game and are tied for 4th in fewest points allowed with 16.3 points per game.

This is the 21st season of Patriots ownership by the Kraft family. Since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994 they:

Have the most Super Bowl wins, 3.
Have the most regular season wins, 219.
Have the most wins including playoffs, 240.
Have the most conference titles, 6.
Have the most division titles, 13.
Have the most playoff wins, 21
Have played the most playoff games, 33.
Are tied for the most playoff seasons, 15.
The fewest head coaches within the division, 3.
Have drafted the most Pro Bowl players, 20.

From 1960 to 1993 the New England/Boston Patriots won a total of 225 games.

Patriots Staff Notes

This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Chiefs.

Bill Belichick is 7-2 against Kansas City, 5-1 as the head coach in New England.

He is 16-9 on MNF, 15-6 as the Patriots head coach. With New England he is 8-5 on the road on MNF.

Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 201-106 in his 20th NFL season as a head coach. He is 165-62 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland. He is 19-9 in the playoffs, 18-8 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 220-115.

Belichick’s 220 wins are good for 5th all-time. Hall of Fame member Curly Lambeau is 4th with 229 wins.

He has won 5 conference titles; he needs one more to tied Don Shula’s record of 6.

He is the first head coach to have had 4 teams that scored at least 500 points in a season.

Belichick is one of five head coaches in NFL history whose father (Steve Belichick) played in the league. The others are former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley (Dick Haley), former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan (Dick Nolan), former Cincinnati head coach David Shula (Don Shula) and former NY Jets head coach Joe Walton (Frank Walton).

Belichick is one of just four coaches to win three Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll (4), Joe Gibbs (3) and Bill Walsh (3). Those men are all in the Hall of Fame.

He is the only coach in NFL history to win three championship titles in four seasons.

No coach either as the head coach or an assistant has appeared in more Super Bowls than Belichick who has been to 8 (five as a head coach).

He is the only coach in NFL history to have led his team to 10+ wins in 11 consecutive seasons.

He has been NFL Coach of the Year three times he and Chuck Knox are the only three time winners, while Don Shula won four times.

Tight ends coach Brian Daboll served as the Chiefs offensive coordinator in 2012, helping them rank fifth in the NFL with 149.7 rushing yards per game.

Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea broke into the NFL as a volunteer special teams assistant with the Chiefs in 2003. He then assisted with special teams and linebackers from 2004-05.

Patriots Possible Starters

Offense:

LT: Solder
LG: Cannon
C: Stork
RG: Connolly
RT: Vollmer
TE: Gronkowski
WR: Edelman
WR: LaFell
QB: Brady
RB: Ridley
RB: Develin

Defense:

DE: Ninkovich
DT: Wilfork
DT: Vellano
DE: Cha. Jones
LB: Collins
LB: Mayo
LB: Hightower
LCB: Revis
RCB: Arrington
S: Chung
S: McCourty

Patriots Players Notes

Tom Brady Notes:

This is his 15th NFL season he is 4-1 vs. the Chiefs in his career. He is 66-31 on the road in the regular season.

Brady is 13-5 on MNF with 42 TD passes and 15 INT’s. On the road on MNF his is 8-4 with 24 TD’s and 14 INT’s.

Overall he is 150-44 as a starting QB and is 18-8 in the playoffs for an overall record of 168-52. He is a 9 time Pro Bowl QB; 3 time All-Pro selection; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP. He is also listed as the 21^st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.

He now has 41 wins in his career (34 in the regular season and 7 in the playoffs) in which the team was trailing or tied in the fourth quarter. He had 5 comeback wins in 2013.

The 5 comeback wins in 2013 tie his career best set in 2003.

Has not thrown an INT in first three weeks of the season.

362 TD passes in his career makes him 5th in NFL history 3 TD passes behind John Elway.

150 career wins are 3rd all-time behind only Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

He has thrown for 2 or more TD’s in 115 games; the team’s record is 98-17.

Needs 229 passing yards for 50,000 in his career. He is 6th all-time in passing yards.

Rob Gronkowski notes:

Has caught a pass in 53 consecutive games it’s the 4th longest streak all-time for a tight end. Heath Miller is 3rd with a catch in 82 consecutive games.

Leads team in TD’s with 2.

He is 10th in points in franchise history.

Is 7th in team history with 45 touchdowns.

He is 4th in team history with 44 TD catches.

Julian Edelman notes:

Has a streak of 9 consecutive games with at least 6 catches.

Has 4 career games with 10 or more catches after a 10-catch game Week 3 vs. Oakland.

Leads team in receiving with 22 catches for 260 yards.

Had a 34-yard punt return at Minnesota Week 2 it was the 11th punt return of 30 yards or more in his career. That ranks third in team history.

Opened the season with a 95 receiving yards at Miami and added 81 yards receiving at Minnesota Week 2.

Had 156 total yards Week 2 at Minnesota (81 receiving, 9 rushing and 66 on punt returns).

Stevan Ridley notes:

Had his first 100- yard rushing game of the season Week 2 at Minnesota when he ran for 101 yards on 25 carries and had 1 TD.

Leads team in rushing with 176 yards on 52 carries.

Stephen Gostkowski notes:

Has converted 27 consecutive 4th quarter field goals.

Has not missed an extra point since Week 17 2006 at Tennessee in his rookie season. He has made 366 consecutive extra points. He is 405 for 406 in his career for 99.8%.

The 367 XPA converted in a row is fourth longest streak in NFL history.

Lead NFL in scoring in both 2012 and 2013.

Has scored at least 1 point in 110 consecutive games a franchise record.

He is 3rd in team history in points with 1,053 trailing only Gino Cappelletti (1,130) and Adam Vinatieri (1,158).

Has team record of 12 career field goals of 50+ yards.

Vince Wilfork notes:

Played only 4 games in 2013 after suffering a torn Achilles.

Prior to 2013 had played in all 16 games in 5 of the previous 6 seasons.

Had his 3rd career INT vs. Oakland Week 3. He is the first Patriots lineman to have 3 career INT’s.

Has an INT against the Raiders in each of the last two games against them.

Has 7 fumbles recoveries since 2010 the second most in the NFL in that span behind teammate Rob Ninkovich.

Darrelle Revis notes:

Has 22 career INT’s and is one of the top shutdown corners in the NFL.

Since 2007 has the most passes defensed in the NFL with 110 including a record 31 in 2009.

In Patriots debut Week 1 at Miami had 1 tackles, 2 passes defensed and recovered a fumble.

Had his first Patriots INT Week 2 at Minnesota against Matt Cassel. Also had 3 tackles and 1 pass defensed.

Jerod Mayo notes:

Leads team with 29 tackles (18 solo).

Had streak of five consecutive 100+ tackle seasons snapped last year due to injury. He has led the team in tackles in those five seasons (2008-2012).

Shares franchise record for leading team in tackles for 5 seasons with Steve Nelson and Vincent Brown.

Week 1 at Miami he had 12 tackles and the teams only sack.

Rob Ninkovich notes:

In 6 seasons with New England has only missed one game.

Week 2 at Minnesota had 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 2 QB hits.

Dont’a Hightower notes:

Second on team in tackles with 18 (15 solo).

Tied for first on team with 2 sacks.

Along with Chandler Jones he led team with 8 tackles and 2 sacks Week 2 at Minnesota. He also had 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB hits and 1 pass defensed.

Had his first career 2-sack game Week 2 at Minnesota.

Chandler Jones notes:

Third on team in tackles with 16 (9 solo).

Tied for first on team with 2 sacks.

Scored his 2nd NFL TD Week 2 at Minnesota when he blocked a field goal attempt and returned it 58-yards. His first NFL TD was Week 16, 2013 at Baltimore on a fumble recovery. It was his second blocked field goal attempt (2013 Week 8 vs. Miami).

Had the 5th blocked field goal returned for a TD in Patriots history Week 2 at Minnesota, first since 2010 when Patrick Chung returned one at Miami.

Now has 5 career 2-sack games with a pair at Minnesota in Week 2.

Along with Dont’a Hightower he led team with 8 tackles and 2 sacks Week 2 at Minnesota. He also had 3 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, the blocked field goal attempt and return for TD.

Kyle Arrington notes:

Week 2 at Minnesota had 3 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

Dominique Easley notes:

The 2014 1st Round pick (Florida) had his first NFL INT Week 2 at Minnesota. It was his first INT since high school.

There are only two players on the team who played on at least one of the Super Bowl championship teams, Brady (3) and Wilfork (1).

Roster moves this week:

none

Patriots team captains for 2014:

QB Tom Brady
G/C Dan Connolly
WR Matthew Slater (special teams)
DT Vince Wilfork
LB Jerod Mayo

Former Chiefs on the Patriots:

DL Kona Schwenke (Practice Squad)

Players with New England roots:

none

Players with Missouri roots:

C/G Dan Connolly – St. Louis

Players from New England based colleges and universities:

RB James Develin – Brown

Players from Missouri based colleges and universities:

C/G Dan Connolly – SE Missouri State

The Patriots have 6 retired numbers:

20 – Gino Cappelletti
40 – Mike Haynes
73 – John Hannah
78 – Bruce Armstrong
79 – Jim Lee Hunt
89 – Bob Dee

Chiefs Team Notes

Here is the Chiefs roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.

2014 Chiefs Schedule/Results

Kansas City’s all-time record is 416-395-12 they are 8-15 in the post season with their last post season appearance coming in 2013 when they lost on the road to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wild Card game.

They have played in two Super Bowls, winning one Super Bowl IV vs. Minnesota 23-7.

They also have won 3 AFL Championships (1962, 1966, 1969).

They were the AFL representative in Super Bowl I vs. Green Bay on January 15, 1966 and lost 35-10.

Originally started play in the AFL in 1960 as the Dallas Texans before Lamar Hunt moved them to Kansas City for the 1963 season.

A Guinness World Record auditor will be on hand as the Arrowhead crowd will attempt to reclaim their title as the loudest outdoor stadium, currently held by the Century Link Field crowd in Seattle.

3M Corp is donating 36,000 pairs of earplugs for those who want them.

Kansas City got its first win of 2014 in Miami Week 3.

Chiefs had 4 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 6 QB pressures at Miami Week 3.

This is the 4th MNF meeting between the Chiefs and Patriots and 2nd in a row. The Chiefs are 0-3 vs. the Patriots on MNF.

The Super Bowl IV Champion Chiefs were on the second ever MNF telecast at Baltimore on September 28, 1970.

Kansas City is 22-17 on MNF. They are 12-7 as the home team.

Since 2003 the Chiefs have the 3rd most rushing TD’s with 177 behind San Diego (191) and New England (200).

Offensively the Chiefs are better than the Patriots in yards per game, rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per play, third down pct and red zone TD pct.

Since 1994 Kansas City is second in the NFL in turnover margin at PLUS 91, New England is first with PLUS 163.

Kansas City has 14 penalties this season in three weeks and has been penalized 110 yards. 4th fewest in the NFL.

The Chiefs are 22nd in the NFL in points per game with 20.3. While they allow 21.7 points per game good for 13th in the NFL.

Kansas City is MINUS 5 in turnover differential, 32nd in the NFL. The offense has given up 3 INT and 4 fumbles, while the defense has 0 INT and 2 fumble recoveries.

Chiefs Staff Notes

Hear what Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had to say to the media about the match up.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is in his 16th season as a NFL head coach, 2nd in Kansas City. Overall in his NFL career Reid is 142-100-1 as a head coach. He is 12-7 with Kansas City and was 130-93-1 with Philadelphia. He is 10-10 in the playoffs, 0-1 as head coach of the Chiefs in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 152-110-1.

He is the 13th head coach in Chiefs franchise history he succeeded former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel after the 2012 season.

Reid is 1-4 vs. New England including a loss in Super Bowl XXXIX.

He is the winningest coach in Philadelphia Eagles history.

Of Reid’s 10 playoff losses, 4 were in NFC Conference Championship games and 1 was in the Super Bowl.

His teams have won 6 division championships and 1 conference championship since 1999.

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey played linebacker at UConn from 1980-83, where he was named two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the now-defunct Yankee Conference.

Kansas City’s Director of College Scouting Marvin Allen was drafted by the Patriots in the 11th round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with New England and then joined their front office for 12 more.

Doug Pederson is in his second season as the offensive coordinator. Prior to that he was the quarterbacks and offensive quality control coach under Reid in Philadelphia from 2009-12.

Bob Sutton is in his second season as the defensive coordinator. He was previously the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets under Eric Mangini from 2006-08.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub was an offensive lineman at Springfield College from 1980-81.

Chiefs quality control coach Mark DeLeone served as director of football operations/assistant offensive line coach at New Hampshire in 2009.

Assistant offensive line coach Eugene Chung was drafted by the Patriots in the first round (13th overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft and played forthree seasons with the team, earning all-rookie honors in 1992.

Defensive line coach Tommy Brasher served in the same capacity for the Patriots from 1982-84.

Chiefs Possible Starters

Offense:

LT: Fisher
LG: McGlynn
C: Hudson
RG: Fulton
RT: Harris
TE: Fasano
WR: Avery
WR: Bowe
QB: A. Smith
RB: Charles
RB: Sherman

Defense:

DE: Walker
DT: Poe
DT: Bailey
DE: Houston
LB: Mauga
LB: Johnson
LB: Hali
LCB: Cooper
RCB: S. Smith
S: Coleman
S: Abdullah

Chiefs Players Notes

Alex Smith notes:

Drafted Number 1 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Utah.

He is in his 10th season in the NFL. This is his second season with the Chiefs and he is 12-6 in the regular season and 0-1 in the post season. In his career he has a 50-42-1 record in the regular season and is 1-2 in the post season for an overall record of 51-44-1.

He has never face New England.

He made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2013, his first season with Kansas City.

He has 13 career game winning drives, 17th among active QB’s.

Since 2010 has thrown only 30 INT’s the fewest in the league in that time span.

Is second among QB’s in rushing yards (95) in 2014.

Has the 3rd best QB winning pct since 2011 behind only Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

Jamaal Charles notes:

Has three 20-yard games rushing in his career. They are the top three marks in Chiefs history.

Also has the two longest runs (91 yards and 86 yards) in Chiefs history both for TD’s.

Fifth in team history in rushing attempts.

Fourth in team history in receptions (227) and fifth in receiving yards (1,998) by a RB.

Dwayne Bowe notes:

Second in team history behind Tony Gonzalez in pass receptions with 478.

Fourth in Chiefs history in receiving yards (6,473).

Tamba Hali notes:

Third in Chiefs history in sacks (75.5)

Tied with Neil Smith for second most forced fumbles by a Chief with 29.

Former Chiefs WR Frank Pitts who played in Super Bowl I and IV is the grandfather of Patriots RB Brandon Bolden.

Kansas City’s captains for 2014 are:

Named on a weekly basis

Former Patriots playing for the Chiefs:

none

Players from New England colleges or universities:

RB Anthony Sherman – UConn
DE Mike Devito – Eastham MA

Players with New England ties:

RB Anthony Sherman – North Attleboro MA
DE Mike Devito – Maine

The Chiefs have retired ten numbers.

3 – Jan Stenerud
16 – Len Dawson
18 – Emmitt Thomas
28 – Abner Hayes
33 – Stone Johnson
36 – Mack Lee Hill
58 – Derrick Thomas
63 – Willie Lanier
78 – Bobby Bell
86 – Buck Buchanan

Next Week

Up next: Cincinnati Bengals – AFC North

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA

Date/Time: October 5 at 8:20 p.m.

TV Network: NBC

Paw Prints – Temple Owls (2-1, 0-0) @ UConn Huskies (1-2, 0-1) Preview

This week:

The UConn Huskies are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they’ll host the Temple Owls at Rentschler Field in an American Athletic Conference game. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The Line:

According to Rivals.com odds, Temple is favored by 5.5 points. The over/under is 45 points.

Tickets:

According to UConn Huskies ticket office, there are still plenty of tickets available to Saturday’s 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.

There is a new route for the Husky Walk as the team arrives for games at Rentschler Field this year and fans get a chance to greet the team as they get off their buses and make their way to the stadium. The Husky walk, which takes place approximately, two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, will now start in the Gray Parking Lots and the team will makes its way to the large tunnel near Gate B.

The UConn team will now do its pregame warmup in front of the UConn student section on the South End of the stadium – a change from previous seasons. The Huskies will enter the stadium for pregame warmups on the concourse of Rentschler Field and go through the student section.

Once again, FanFest takes place starting four hours before kickoff up until 30 minutes before the game 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 break between the third and fourth quarter will feature “Coach D’s Playlist” as fans during the game will get to select a song to play based on a list they saw earlier in the game.

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:

Saturday’s game will be televised nationally by ESPNews. Eamon McAnaney is on play-by-play with Dan Hawkins on color.

Radio:

The UConn IMG Sports Network is the home of Husky football on the radio. WTIC NewsTalk 1080 in Hartford serves as the flagship station and 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 Saturday’s game vs. Temple, “Breakfast at the Rent” with Ray Dunaway and Scott Gray will be on from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. followed by the UConn Tailgate Show from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with Nathan and Bob Joyce. The “UConn Football Magazine” pregame show starts at 2:30 p.m. on the entire network.

The Temple game will also be available on Sirius Radio Channel 137 and XM Channel 199.

Here is a full list of stations on the UConn IMG Radio Network.

Temple Owls Radio:

This season, all of the Owls football games will be broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic. Joining the broadcast team of Harry Donahue and Paul Palmer this season will be The Fanatic’s Harry Mayes, a Temple graduate. He will enhance the production as a sideline reporter.

Last Week:

UConn lost to South Florida 17-14 while Temple destroyed Delaware State 59-0.

History:

Saturday’s game will be the 15th time Temple and UConn have met. The series began in 1963 and currently has Temple holding a 9-5 all-time edge over the Huskies.

Connections:

UConn has nine players on its team from the state of Pennsylvania: TE Alec Bloom (Ligonier), LB Chris Britton (Harrisburg), DT Julian Campenni (West Pittson), LB Luke Carrezola (Langhorne), LB Jon Hicks (Palmyra), LB Junior Joseph (Sinking Spring), WR Brian Lemelle (Harrisburg), DE B.J. McBryde (Beaver Falls) and OG Zach Rugg (Windber).

Temple has three Connecticut natives on its roster – QB Malik Cummings (Monroe), LB Tyler Matakevich (Stratford) and OL Jaelin Robinson (New Haven).

UConn Notes:

Here is the video from UConn head coach Bob Diaco’s press conference. Here is a transcript of some his remarks from the press conference.

UConn head coach Bob Diaco made his UConn and collegiate head coaching debut on August 29th vs. BYU. Diaco served on the Notre Dame coaching staff as the defensive coordinator for the past four years and the assistant head coach for the past two. He was the 2012 winner of the Frank Broyles Award, given to the top assistant college football coach in the country and was the first Irish assistant to receive the prestigious award.

Here is UConn’s roster and 2014 schedule.

Here is UConn’s depth chart for the game.

There will be a pep rally for the UConn football team on Friday, September 26 at 6:30 p.m. on campus at Fairfield Way in Storrs, CT.

The captains of the 2014 UConn Huskies football team are Geremy Davis, Byron Jones, Alex Mateas and Marquise Vann.

Despite UConn having virtually an entire new staff this year, seven of the Huskies’ full-time coaches have previously worked games at Rentschler Field. Head coach Bob Diaco, defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter and assistant coach Wayne Lineburg were on the Virginia staff for a 45-10 Husky win on Sept. 13, 2008; Assistant head coach Don Patterson was on the Buffalo staff for a 24-17 UConn win on Sept. 29, 2012; Offensive coordinator Mike Cummings was on the Western Michigan staff for a 41-27 UConn win on Nov. 1, 2003; Assistant coach Kevin Wolthausen was on the Louisville staff for a 30-20 UConn loss on Dec. 3, 2005. UConn assistant coach Mike Foley is the lone holdover on the staff and is entering his ninth season.

UConn is now 9-4 in season openers since making the jump to then-Division I-A in 2002. UConn has won nine of its 12 season openers at Rentschler Field (2003-Indiana, 2004-Murray State, 2005-Buffalo, 2006-Rhode Island, 2008-Hofstra, 2010-Texas Southern, 2011-Fordham, 2012-UMass) and also downed Duke, 45-14, in Durham, to open the 2007 season and Ohio University, 23-16 in Athens, to open 2009.

UConn has an all-time record of 49-26 at Rentschler Field and a 27-13 mark in non-conference games.

The Huskies were picked to finish 9th in the American in 2014.

UConn is 0-2 in American league openers as it lost to USF last year to open conference play. UConn had a 3-6 record in league openers as a member of the Big East Conference

Head coach Bob Diaco and his staff have seen a large number of players get into games this season – many of them first time college performers. Diaco played 57 players against BYU, 55 against Stony Brook, 56 vs. Boise State and 55 vs. USF.

Here is a breakdown by class of Husky players who have seen their first collegiate action during the first four games of the 2014 season – a total of 22 players.

True Freshmen (8)
TE Alec Bloom, LB Luke Carrezola, OL Ryan Crozier, LB Vontae Diggs, TB Ron Johnson, RB Arkell Newsome, OL Troy Rutherford, CB Jamar Summers.

Redshirt Freshmen (10)
H Blake Feagles, DL Foley Fatukasi, OL Tommy Hopkins, LB Junior Joseph, WR Thomas Lucas, RB Josh Marriner, TE Tommy Myers, LB Cole Ormsby, LB Cameron Stapleton, LB Jalen Stevens

Redshirt Sophomores (4)
C Kyle Bocheloh, OT Andreas Knappe, DL Sean Marinan, P Justin Wain

WR Geremy Davis has made a reception in 30-straight games, dating back to the 2011 season, the 11th-longest such streak in the country.

Davis is 6th in the American in reception yards per game at 72.0 – which is 73rd nationally.

Senior cornerback Byron Jones (New Britain, Conn.) had a 70-yard interception return for a TD late in the first half of Friday night’s game vs. USF. Jones also has a career fumble return for a touchdown and became just the third Husky player to have a fumble return for a TD and an interception TD in a career. Jones fumble return for a TD also came against USF – in a 16-10 UConn win in 2011. The other Huskies to achieve this feat were Yawin Smallwood (2011-13) and Anthony Carter (1996-99).

Preseason Award Watch Lists:

Geremy Davis

Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Casey Cochran

Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

Notes from this week’s opponent Temple:

Here is video from Temple coach Matt Rhule’s weekly pregame press conference. Here are some selected quotes from his press conference.

Matt Rhule is in second season as the head coach at Temple after an experienced coaching career as an assistant on the collegiate and professional level. Rhule had been the assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants in 2012 before taking the Temple job. He was an assistant coach at Temple from 2006-11 working with a number of positions including defensive line, quarterbacks, offensive coordinator and tight ends.

Rhule also worked at Albright (1988), Buffalo (1999-200), UCLA (2001), Western Carolina (2002-05). He is a 1997 Penn State graduate and played four seasons at linebacker for the Nittany Lions.

Here is Temple’s depth chart for the game.

Here are Temple’s 2014 roster and 2014 schedule.

The Temple University football team will honor the memory of long-time Board of Trustee member Lewis Katz this season with commemorative “Lew” decals on the players’ helmets.

In 2013, the Temple Owls got back to a tradition of awarding single-digit jerseys to the toughest players on the team. This season, the coaches awarded four numbers and the players selected the balance.

Three players – Jalen Fitzpatrick, John Christopher and Tyler Matakevich – remained tough enough to retain their numbers from a year ago. The biggest surprise was that freshman Sean Chandler earned the respect of his peers as the players awarded him a single-digit jersey.

2 – Avery Williams 6 – Stephaun Marshall
3 – Sean Chandler 7 – John Christopher
4 – Kenneth Harper 8 – Tyler Matakevich
5 – Jalen Fitzpatrick 9 – Matt Ioannidis

Head coach Matt Rhule decided that the #1 jersey would be given to the toughest player of the week. Therefore, the #1 will be worn by a different player from game to game.

The Owls are one of only six teams in the FBS who have scored 40.0 points per game and allowed fewer than 15.0 (40.0/12.7). They join Baylor (59.3, 9.0), Texas A&M (55.3, 11.8), Ole Miss (44.0, 10.3), Duke (43.5, 11.5), and Alabama (42.0, 14.0).

Through week four of the season, Temple leads the American Athletic Conference in nine categories: total defense, passing defense, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense, turnover margin, 4th down percent defense, red zone defense, net punting, and punt returns.

On a national scale, the Owls tied for the top spot in turnover margin, where they are tied with Florida and Notre Dame at 2.67, and 4th down percent defense, in which 13 teams are tied at 0.00. In seven other categories, Temple is ranked in the Top 10.

Temple players on Preseason Watch Lists:

QB P.J. Walker

Maxwell
Manning
Davey O’Brien
CFPA QB Trophy

RB Kenneth Harper

Doak Walker
AFCA Good Works

OL Kyle Friend

Rimington

LB Tyler Matakevich

Bednarik
Nagurski
Butkus
Rotary Lombardi
CFPA LB Trophy

Thursday UConn Football Links:

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

Video: UConn Football Coach Bob Diaco & Junior Lee On Lee’s Special Teams Play [sox & dawgs]

UConn, Temple Coaches To Wear Coach To Cure MD Patch [sox & dawgs]

Breaking Bread With Bob – 9/23 [sox & dawgs]

UConn’s Mueller a semifinalist for Campbell Trophy [jim fuller – new haven register]

Passed over by UConn, Matakevich ‘found a home in Temple’ [ct post]

Diaco Says OC Mike Cummings Still In Charge Of UConn Offense [hartford courant]

Next Week:

UConn has a bye week and returns to action on Saturday, October 11 as they’ll be in New Orleans, LA to take on the Tulane Green Wave.

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 9/25/14

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

Today’s UConn football links can be found in the Thursday links section of the Temple Owls vs UConn Huskies preview.

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Lobo and Jeter Find Their Roots On CPTV [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Special times for the Nurse family [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Ollie Speaking At Middlesex County Chamber Breakfast Oct. 1, Then Huskies Will Hit Ground Running [dom amore – hartford courant]

Born To Lead: Jim Calhoun [uconn huskies]

Other UConn related links

Despite Measly Resources, Toner Built Powerful UConn Empire [hartford courant]

John Toner set tone for UConn’s athletic successes [new haven register]

W. Volleyball. Volleyball Sweeps Temple in American Athletic Conference Opener [uconn huskies]

W. Cross Country. Women’s Cross Country Readies for Coast-To-Coast Battle in Beantown [uconn huskies]

M. Cross Country. Men’s Cross Country Gears Up for Coast-To-Coast Battle in Beantown [uconn huskies]

W. Ice Hockey. Women’s Hockey Hosts No. 10 Minnesota Duluth In Season-Opening Series [uconn huskies]

Field Hockey. No. 2 Field Hockey Hosts No. 9 Stanford on Friday Night [uconn huskies]

Video: UConn Football Coach Bob Diaco & Junior Lee On Lee’s Special Teams Play

UConn S #23 Junior Lee & #22 Obi Melifonwu look on Jefferson Ashiru makes the tackle against the Stony Brook Seawolves on September 6, 2014 at Rentschler Field.

One of the brighter spots for the UConn Huskies football team this has been the play of the special teams.

And we’re not talking about Bobby Puyol or Justin Wain. They are just two elements of special teams play.

We are talking about Junior Lee.

In the loss to South Florida last Friday night, UConn had five tackles on special teams. Lee had all five. Whenever there is a play on special teams, you’ll see his number 23 involved in the play.

Watch and listen below as UConn Football coach Bob Diaco talks about the play of Lee on special teams as well as Lee talking about what makes him great on special teams.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

Wolf Pack Announce Training Camp Schedule, Roster

HARTFORD, September 24, 2014: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld today announced the schedule for the opening of the Wolf Pack’s 2014 training camp, as well as the camp roster.

The Pack’s initial group of 30 players will undergo physicals this Friday, September 26, followed by on-ice testing at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT, beginning at 11:15 AM.

Training camp practices will start at Champions this Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 AM, and the Wolf Pack will also skate at Champions this Sunday, September 28 at 2:10 PM, and Monday, September 29 and Tuesday, September 30 at 10:00 AM.

The Wolf Pack’s preseason opener is Wednesday, October 1, a 7:00 PM game at Champions Skating Center vs. the Albany Devils.

Following is the Wolf Pack’s training camp roster of 19 forwards, 9 defensemen and two goaltenders.

Goal (2): Jeff Malcolm, Mackenzie Skapski

Defense (9): Nick Crawford, Troy Donnay, Sean Escobedo, Andrew Himelson, Dallas Jackson, Brandon Martell, Sam Noreau, Steve Spinell, Mikael Tam

Forwards (19): Tyler Brown, Mike Catenacci, Emerson Clark, Kyle Jean, Michael Kantor, Nick Latta, Paxton Leroux, Chris McCarthy, Pat Mullane, Chad Nehring, Logan Nelson, Richard Nejezchleb, Josh Nicholls, Shawn O’Donnell, Trevor Parkes, Michael St. Croix, Vinny Saponari, Justin Vaive, Andrew Yogan

The Wolf Pack will open the home portion of their 2014-15 AHL regular season Saturday, October 18 at the XL Center, hosting the Portland Pirates at 7:00 PM. Tickets for that game, and all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games, are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451.