EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 15th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.
Date with West Virginia: Friday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Site: Rentschler Field (40,000, grass), East Hartford, Conn.
Coach: Randy Edsall (12th year, 66-65)
Checking them out
Does anyone realize just how close this team was to being exceptional last season?
Even dealing with the tragic midseason death of Jasper Howard, the Huskies suffered their five losses by a total of 15 points, including last-minute touchdowns by West Virginia and Rutgers and that 47-45 thriller at unbeaten Cincinnati on consecutive Saturdays. The others came on a holding call in the end zone (for a safety) against North Carolina and a last-play field goal at Pitt. Ouch.
The mood heading into 2010, though, isn't one of regret over wasted opportunities, but of hope after finishing the season with four straight wins, including the overtime victory at Notre Dame and the thrashing of South Carolina in the bowl. Eight starters return on each side of the ball.
Offensively, 6-4, 235-pound Zach Frazer gives the Huskies their first established quarterback in years and Cody Endres (12 career starts) provides a more than capable backup. Tailback Jordan Todman ran for almost 1,200 yards last season - despite splitting carries with the departed Andre Dixon - and he'll run behind a line with four starters returning, including 6-7, 325-pound guard Zach Hurd. The question mark is at receiver, where the top two graduated (including Marcus Easley, who had five catches for 157 yards against West Virginia), but Isiah Moore and Kashif Moore are ready to step into bigger roles.
On defense, the front end is terrific with two returning tackles and linebackers Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus, but the ends have to be replaced. One candidate is former standout linebacker Greg Lloyd, who is coming back from a knee injury at a new position. The secondary is young, with three sophomores, but all have starting experience.
All-conference candidates
Offense: RB Jordan Todman, OG Zach Hurd, C Moe Petrus
Defense: LB Scott Lutrus, LB Lawrence Wilson, DT Twyon Martin
Notes
Even in one of those three-home-game years, UConn's schedule couldn't be much better. The three home games are against arguably the best Big East teams - West Virginia, Pitt and Cincinnati in a span of four games - and aside from opening the season in front of more than 100,000 at Michigan, the non-conference slate isn't daunting. ... Nine of UConn's 13 games last year were decided by a touchdown or less.
2010 schedule
Date Opponent 2009
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WVU Game 8: Connecticut
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 15th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.
Date with West Virginia: Friday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Site: Rentschler Field (40,000, grass), East Hartford, Conn.
Coach: Randy Edsall (12th year, 66-65)
Checking them out
Does anyone realize just how close this team was to being exceptional last season?
Even dealing with the tragic midseason death of Jasper Howard, the Huskies suffered their five losses by a total of 15 points, including last-minute touchdowns by West Virginia and Rutgers and that 47-45 thriller at unbeaten Cincinnati on consecutive Saturdays. The others came on a holding call in the end zone (for a safety) against North Carolina and a last-play field goal at Pitt. Ouch.
The mood heading into 2010, though, isn't one of regret over wasted opportunities, but of hope after finishing the season with four straight wins, including the overtime victory at Notre Dame and the thrashing of South Carolina in the bowl. Eight starters return on each side of the ball.
Offensively, 6-4, 235-pound Zach Frazer gives the Huskies their first established quarterback in years and Cody Endres (12 career starts) provides a more than capable backup. Tailback Jordan Todman ran for almost 1,200 yards last season - despite splitting carries with the departed Andre Dixon - and he'll run behind a line with four starters returning, including 6-7, 325-pound guard Zach Hurd. The question mark is at receiver, where the top two graduated (including Marcus Easley, who had five catches for 157 yards against West Virginia), but Isiah Moore and Kashif Moore are ready to step into bigger roles.
On defense, the front end is terrific with two returning tackles and linebackers Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus, but the ends have to be replaced. One candidate is former standout linebacker Greg Lloyd, who is coming back from a knee injury at a new position. The secondary is young, with three sophomores, but all have starting experience.
All-conference candidates
Offense: RB Jordan Todman, OG Zach Hurd, C Moe Petrus
Defense: LB Scott Lutrus, LB Lawrence Wilson, DT Twyon Martin
Notes
Even in one of those three-home-game years, UConn's schedule couldn't be much better. The three home games are against arguably the best Big East teams - West Virginia, Pitt and Cincinnati in a span of four games - and aside from opening the season in front of more than 100,000 at Michigan, the non-conference slate isn't daunting. ... Nine of UConn's 13 games last year were decided by a touchdown or less.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 15th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.
Date with West Virginia: Friday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Site: Rentschler Field (40,000, grass), East Hartford, Conn.
Coach: Randy Edsall (12th year, 66-65)
Checking them out
Does anyone realize just how close this team was to being exceptional last season?
Even dealing with the tragic midseason death of Jasper Howard, the Huskies suffered their five losses by a total of 15 points, including last-minute touchdowns by West Virginia and Rutgers and that 47-45 thriller at unbeaten Cincinnati on consecutive Saturdays. The others came on a holding call in the end zone (for a safety) against North Carolina and a last-play field goal at Pitt. Ouch.
The mood heading into 2010, though, isn't one of regret over wasted opportunities, but of hope after finishing the season with four straight wins, including the overtime victory at Notre Dame and the thrashing of South Carolina in the bowl. Eight starters return on each side of the ball.
Offensively, 6-4, 235-pound Zach Frazer gives the Huskies their first established quarterback in years and Cody Endres (12 career starts) provides a more than capable backup. Tailback Jordan Todman ran for almost 1,200 yards last season - despite splitting carries with the departed Andre Dixon - and he'll run behind a line with four starters returning, including 6-7, 325-pound guard Zach Hurd. The question mark is at receiver, where the top two graduated (including Marcus Easley, who had five catches for 157 yards against West Virginia), but Isiah Moore and Kashif Moore are ready to step into bigger roles.
On defense, the front end is terrific with two returning tackles and linebackers Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus, but the ends have to be replaced. One candidate is former standout linebacker Greg Lloyd, who is coming back from a knee injury at a new position. The secondary is young, with three sophomores, but all have starting experience.
All-conference candidates
Offense: RB Jordan Todman, OG Zach Hurd, C Moe Petrus
Defense: LB Scott Lutrus, LB Lawrence Wilson, DT Twyon Martin
Notes
Even in one of those three-home-game years, UConn's schedule couldn't be much better. The three home games are against arguably the best Big East teams - West Virginia, Pitt and Cincinnati in a span of four games - and aside from opening the season in front of more than 100,000 at Michigan, the non-conference slate isn't daunting. ... Nine of UConn's 13 games last year were decided by a touchdown or less.
2010 schedule
Date Opponent 2009
Sept. 4 at Michigan DNP
Sept. 11 Texas Southern DNP
Sept. 18 at Temple DNP
Sept. 25 Buffalo DNP
Oct. 2 Vanderbilt DNP
Oct. 8 at Rutgers* (Fri.) L 24-28
Oct. 23 at Louisville* W 38-25
Oct. 29 West Virginia* (Fri.) L 24-28
Nov. 11 Pitt* (Thur.) L 21-24
Nov. 20 at Syracuse* W 56-31
Nov. 27 Cincinnati* L 45-47
Dec. 4 at South Florida* W 29-27
* Big East Conference games
2009 record: 8-5 overall, 3-4 Big East (Won 20-7 over South Carolina in Papajohns.com Bowl)
Dropped: Ohio (W 23-16), North Carolina (L 10-12), Baylor (W 30-22), Rhode Island (W 52-10), Notre Dame (W 33-30)
Article Preview
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
WVU Game 8: Connecticut
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 15th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.
Date with West Virginia: Friday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Site: Rentschler Field (40,000, grass), East Hartford, Conn.
Coach: Randy Edsall (12th year, 66-65)
Checking them out
Does anyone realize just how close this team was to being exceptional last season?
Even dealing with the tragic midseason death of Jasper Howard, the Huskies suffered their five losses by a total of 15 points, including last-minute touchdowns by West Virginia and Rutgers and that 47-45 thriller at unbeaten Cincinnati on consecutive Saturdays. The others came on a holding call in the end zone (for a safety) against North Carolina and a last-play field goal at Pitt. Ouch.
The mood heading into 2010, though, isn't one of regret over wasted opportunities, but of hope after finishing the season with four straight wins, including the overtime victory at Notre Dame and the thrashing of South Carolina in the bowl. Eight starters return on each side of the ball.
Offensively, 6-4, 235-pound Zach Frazer gives the Huskies their first established quarterback in years and Cody Endres (12 career starts) provides a more than capable backup. Tailback Jordan Todman ran for almost 1,200 yards last season - despite splitting carries with the departed Andre Dixon - and he'll run behind a line with four starters returning, including 6-7, 325-pound guard Zach Hurd. The question mark is at receiver, where the top two graduated (including Marcus Easley, who had five catches for 157 yards against West Virginia), but Isiah Moore and Kashif Moore are ready to step into bigger roles.
On defense, the front end is terrific with two returning tackles and linebackers Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus, but the ends have to be replaced. One candidate is former standout linebacker Greg Lloyd, who is coming back from a knee injury at a new position. The secondary is young, with three sophomores, but all have starting experience.
All-conference candidates
Offense: RB Jordan Todman, OG Zach Hurd, C Moe Petrus
Defense: LB Scott Lutrus, LB Lawrence Wilson, DT Twyon Martin
Notes
Even in one of those three-home-game years, UConn's schedule couldn't be much better. The three home games are against arguably the best Big East teams - West Virginia, Pitt and Cincinnati in a span of four games - and aside from opening the season in front of more than 100,000 at Michigan, the non-conference slate isn't daunting. ... Nine of UConn's 13 games last year were decided by a touchdown or less.
