The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/20/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brett Mickelson Terry Caulley leads a speedy Huskies squad.

This past weekend fans and sports writers alike got a sneak preview of the 2005 UConn football team. Although the game allowed some players to prove their worth, the majority of people walked away from Rentschler Fied without any idea who will take the field Sept. 1 against Buffalo. However, I was able to take out a number of things I would like to share with the general public. Therefore, I proudly present to you:


The 2005 Huskies: Fact or Fiction?


All of these issues that I will tackle are based largely on things I have overheard amongst students, fans and other writers.


Without last year's seniors, the UConn offense is dead.


FICTION: I can counter this argument with two words: "speed kills." The return of Terry Caulley and the presence of returning first team all-Big East back Cornell Brockington will give the Huskies a one-two punch from the backfield similar to that of Auburn's Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams this past season. Add the possibility of the explosive D.J. Hernandez calling signals at quarterback and you have a UConn offense that can rush for upwards 300 yards per game.


Without Dan Orlovsky, the UConn passing offense is seriously depleted.


FACT: But not for the reason you may think. The loss of Orlovsky unquestionably hurts the UConn passing game, but it was the loss of three wide receivers that will really hurt the Huskies. The loss of Matt Cutia, Keron Henry and Brian Sparks will seriously hurt the recieving corps in the fall. Henry and Cutia were one and three in receiving last year for the Huskies respectively and Sparks made some clutch receptions at the end of last season and in the Motor City Bowl. Matt Boneslawski is not Orlovsky, but his arm is strong enough that if Jason Williams and Dan Murray step up this year the passing game should be able to put up decent numbers.


The UConn defense is not as strong as it was last year.


FACT: There is no denying the Huskies lost a huge part of their defense last year. The losses of first team all-Big East performers Justin Perkins (cornerback) and Alfred Fincher (linebacker), as well as senior leaders Maurice Lloyd and Tyler King was unquestionably huge. The Huskies lost more than half of their starting defense from last season and unless Deon Mcphee, James Hargrave, Shawn Mayne and Taurien Sowell can step up, it may be a long year for the Husky defense.


There is no way that the 2005 Huskies
can make a bowl game.


FICTION: The biggest win in UConn football history was not the 39-10 trouncing of Mid-American Conference champions Toledo in the Motor City Bowl. The biggest win came against Rutgers on Thanksgiving. With that win the Huskies became bowl eligible without having to count their win over Division I-AA Murray State. According to NCAA regulations, Division I-A schools can only put one victory over a I-AA opponent on their bowl resume every four years. This year the depleted Huskies will need to count every one of their wins, as it is likely the 6-5 Huskies will use a potential win over I-AA Liberty to propel them toward a second straight bowl game. The Huskies are on the cusp of legitimacy right now in the eyes of college football experts and fans around the nation. Two straight bowl appearances would propel the Huskies to a whole new level.


christopher.licata@uconn.edu

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools