Spring Break
Prepared for the Pride
Justin Verrier
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Sports
Head coach Randy Edsall remembers the Huskies' match-up with Hofstra in 1999 well.
It's hard not to.
In his debut as the leader of a Division I-AA team trying to keep its head above water in the Atlantic-10 conference, the Pride greeted him to the head coaching ranks with a 56-17 drubbing in Hempstead, N.Y.
"That wasn't a very good night, that's for sure," Edsall said.
But now, almost nine years later, the Huskies roll into their 2008 season-opener against Hofstra tonight at Rentschler Field (7:30, MyTV9) a different team, and Edsall, a different coach.
Coming off their best season in program history with three things fans thought could take decades to accomplish - a winning season, a bowl berth and a share of the Big East title - things have certainly changed.
Instead of trying to keep his job, Edsall, who signed a new, six-year contract in the off-season, now has the pleasure of trying to keep UConn amongst the elite in the conference and turning them into a legitimate Division I contender.
"A lot has changed since that," he said. "What I wanted to do was try to get to be as good as we could as quickly as we could, because if we didn't, I'd be somewhere else than being right here.
"I'm very pleased with where we're at, but what we want to do is just continue to make our program consistent year-in and year-out, and that's the challenge we have."
Following a 9-4 season that ended in a 24-10 loss to Wake Forest in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the challenge Edsall faces is even harder. With 16 starters returning, expectations are at an all-time high.
"Once you've tasted some success and gained a share of the Big East championship a year ago, you know what it was like and what it felt like to get to that point," Edsall said. "Now, what you want to do is you want to achieve at least that or more this year. I think the one thing is that our guys weren't happy with how we ended last year, and I think that has driven them a little more."
Last year's story almost read like a Disney movie, with the team defying odds and expectations as it progressed from ultimate underdog to eventual Big East champions.
With the losses of key veterans such as Danny Lansanah and Tyvon Branch, who are both now in NFL training camps, Edsall said the team doesn't have an identity at this point.
But what the coach said it does have may be more important.
"It's a team that has a mission for this season that I just see them really focused on what they want to try to do," Edsall said. "I've seen a team that's gone out and worked that way. They've had fun while they've done it, but they're very, very business-like in their approach as to what they want to accomplish."
A win over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent won't get them that goal, but Edsall and some of the players stressed the importance of setting a tone from the opening game.
Regardless, getting to see live action for the first time in eight months excites the players.
"Everyone [around campus] is like, 'Hey, we're going to the game!' It's great," said senior quarterback Tyler Lorenzen. "People are fired up. I actually went to the soccer game [Saturday] and it was packed, an exhibition match. The fans were going nuts there too, so I can't wait for Thursday."
What won't excite Lorenzen, though, is the potential loss of running back Andre Dixon.
One of the catalysts for the Huskies' turn-around season, Dixon turned an ankle in practice Tuesday and is listed as day-to-day.
While splitting carries with fellow junior Donald Brown, Dixon was named second team all-Big East after rushing for 828 yards and three touchdowns.
Also on the mend is true freshman running back Jordan Todman, who might miss the game after hurting his shoulder in practice last week. Todman is expected to be in the kick- and punt-returning mix.
But Edsall isn't too concerned if neither can play. Waiting in the wings is Robbie Frey, a redshirt freshman with blazing speed, serving as a testament to the progress of the program.
"We're closer to where we want to be from a depth standpoint - we're not all the way we need to be," Edsall said, "but I think there's a lot of pride and a lot of satisfaction from where we were back in 1999 to where we are in 2008."
Lorenzen agreed.
"This year, maybe a few more people expect we can do some stuff that we definitely couldn't do last year, but there's still a majority out there that doesn't believe we can," he said. "But I still believe we can, and we expect to do great things. It all starts on Thursday."
Justin.Verrier@UConn.edu
It's hard not to.
In his debut as the leader of a Division I-AA team trying to keep its head above water in the Atlantic-10 conference, the Pride greeted him to the head coaching ranks with a 56-17 drubbing in Hempstead, N.Y.
"That wasn't a very good night, that's for sure," Edsall said.
But now, almost nine years later, the Huskies roll into their 2008 season-opener against Hofstra tonight at Rentschler Field (7:30, MyTV9) a different team, and Edsall, a different coach.
Coming off their best season in program history with three things fans thought could take decades to accomplish - a winning season, a bowl berth and a share of the Big East title - things have certainly changed.
Instead of trying to keep his job, Edsall, who signed a new, six-year contract in the off-season, now has the pleasure of trying to keep UConn amongst the elite in the conference and turning them into a legitimate Division I contender.
"A lot has changed since that," he said. "What I wanted to do was try to get to be as good as we could as quickly as we could, because if we didn't, I'd be somewhere else than being right here.
"I'm very pleased with where we're at, but what we want to do is just continue to make our program consistent year-in and year-out, and that's the challenge we have."
Following a 9-4 season that ended in a 24-10 loss to Wake Forest in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the challenge Edsall faces is even harder. With 16 starters returning, expectations are at an all-time high.
"Once you've tasted some success and gained a share of the Big East championship a year ago, you know what it was like and what it felt like to get to that point," Edsall said. "Now, what you want to do is you want to achieve at least that or more this year. I think the one thing is that our guys weren't happy with how we ended last year, and I think that has driven them a little more."
Last year's story almost read like a Disney movie, with the team defying odds and expectations as it progressed from ultimate underdog to eventual Big East champions.
With the losses of key veterans such as Danny Lansanah and Tyvon Branch, who are both now in NFL training camps, Edsall said the team doesn't have an identity at this point.
But what the coach said it does have may be more important.
"It's a team that has a mission for this season that I just see them really focused on what they want to try to do," Edsall said. "I've seen a team that's gone out and worked that way. They've had fun while they've done it, but they're very, very business-like in their approach as to what they want to accomplish."
A win over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent won't get them that goal, but Edsall and some of the players stressed the importance of setting a tone from the opening game.
Regardless, getting to see live action for the first time in eight months excites the players.
"Everyone [around campus] is like, 'Hey, we're going to the game!' It's great," said senior quarterback Tyler Lorenzen. "People are fired up. I actually went to the soccer game [Saturday] and it was packed, an exhibition match. The fans were going nuts there too, so I can't wait for Thursday."
What won't excite Lorenzen, though, is the potential loss of running back Andre Dixon.
One of the catalysts for the Huskies' turn-around season, Dixon turned an ankle in practice Tuesday and is listed as day-to-day.
While splitting carries with fellow junior Donald Brown, Dixon was named second team all-Big East after rushing for 828 yards and three touchdowns.
Also on the mend is true freshman running back Jordan Todman, who might miss the game after hurting his shoulder in practice last week. Todman is expected to be in the kick- and punt-returning mix.
But Edsall isn't too concerned if neither can play. Waiting in the wings is Robbie Frey, a redshirt freshman with blazing speed, serving as a testament to the progress of the program.
"We're closer to where we want to be from a depth standpoint - we're not all the way we need to be," Edsall said, "but I think there's a lot of pride and a lot of satisfaction from where we were back in 1999 to where we are in 2008."
Lorenzen agreed.
"This year, maybe a few more people expect we can do some stuff that we definitely couldn't do last year, but there's still a majority out there that doesn't believe we can," he said. "But I still believe we can, and we expect to do great things. It all starts on Thursday."
Justin.Verrier@UConn.edu
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