// June 4th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized
“Hooray, new uniforms! Hooray”The University of Connecticut football team is updating its look.
The story out of Storrs is that coach Randy Edsall has approved new uniforms after meeting with team captains on Tuesday morning.
Read the rest HERE
// March 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
In the news there has been a lot of talk about UConn’s (potentially) starting quarterback, Zach Frazer saying that in the offensive scheme they “will score 40 points a game.” The first quote was a reaction from head coach Randy Edsall saying that he had to “reel Zach in.”
I’d like to offer a different perspective. Yes, talk is cheap (and free advice is worth the price you pay) but don’t fault the guy for having a little moxy. It is a nice change to see a quarterback confidently regarding the new offensive scheme (in the face of losing the nation’s leading rusher, Donny Brown). So I wouldn’t “reel him in”, infact I’d turn him loose.
Read the rest HERE
// February 26th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized
Jim Calhoun won his 800th game yesterday. Sadly, the bigger story was that the post game press conference did not hold any of the theatrics that the South Florida game did. (Not a dime. Not a dime!). There have been some developments in the days past, when Jodi Rell (Governor of Connecticut) said that if there was a “do over” Calhoun would probably choose his words better, or something to that affect. Well my advice? Jodi Rell should realize that while she is a nice lady, and looks like “everybody’s grandmother” (and has some interesting Christmas sweaters),
more people in CT know who Calhoun is than Jodi Rell. Secondly, Calhoun is one of only three state employees that actually pays his own salary. You know what else? Jim Calhouns initials are JC. You know who else he shares those with? Well after 800 wins he is the Jesus Christ of Storrs, CT. (…cause you know, who’s footsteps better to follow in than JC’s?)
The good news, is I did score an exclusive interview with another famous UConn coach , in one sit down. So here you have it,
FWG: Its so incredible to have you guys here right now. I can’t believe we could get the logistics worked out. Although I did have to pay a small fee. Jim, have you received my check?
JC: Not a dime.
RE: Not a dime!
FWG: hmmm thats weird. But not unusual for me. Moving on, this next question is for Coach Edsall. You utilized Reggie Mclain this year on “Nickle Package” defenses. Some experts suggest moving another safety in the mix, called the “Dime package.” Will you run that this coming season?
RE: Not a dime!
FWG: Well that solves that. Coach Calhoun, I have some change in my pocket, its not a nickle, its…
JC: …not a dime!
FWG: Thats right, its a quarter. Randy, how much do you make a year?
RE: Not a dime!
FWG: Incorrect, you make over a million a year also. Don’t lie to the media, Randy. Or we’ll get Jeff Jacobs on you again. By the way, how much do you think Jeff Jacobs is worth?
RE: Not a dime.
FWG: Agreed.
JC: Not a dime!
FWG: Its not your turn yet. I want to thank you both for your time, granting me this exclusive. Anything you want to tell our readers before we go?
JC/RE: Not a dime!
FWG: That doesn’t really fit there, it’s almost as if this interview was totally made up..
Final Thoughts:
It is 9:20am, I leave for New York today (then its off to Europe). There is a plumber in my basement. The most awful noises are now coming out of there. I can only imagine that it looks like a scene from “Saw” right now.
// February 6th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized
The UCONN Huskies are not (yet) in a position to start pulling in recruiting classes chock full of 4 
and 5 star recruits (those days are coming though). But guess what? It doesn’t matter.
Coach Edsall has built the premier program in New England, from the ground up, using players that, basically, no one else wanted. Who was Darius Butler, or Cody Brown, or Alfred Fincher coming out of high school? Deon Anderson (starting fullback for the Dallas Cowboys) was an absolute nobody.
He and his staff work tirelessly to find the best recruits. Not based on what Rivals.com has to say (cancel your subscription now) or what any other “scout service” thinks. Fortunately and unfortunately dropping the name “UCONN” to a potential recruit doesn’t always get them all hot-and-bothered. UCONN is not USC (there’s just something about Pete Carroll that does it for me).
Instead the UCONN Football staff weeds through tape after tape to find not only players that can compete and succeed at Divison I levels, but also young men of character.
It doesn’t matter if you are from the suburbs of New York (that’d be me), the ghettos of Miami, or the Tundra of Canada. If you can play football well, and you are of high work ethic and moral caliber then you will be found by Randy Edsall.
I am the first to say that over my five years at UCONN the sheer quality of athlete has improved. However, one thing has remained constant: men of character. Edsall believes it, and it is true, you can win with character.
The old adage “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard” couldn’t be truer than it is in Storrs. The practices are the toughest, the training the hardest, and the facilities the absolute best. The result is guys that can turn heads on Saturday afternoons.
However, this process is not air-tight, no one is perfect. And Coach Edsall is the first to take these “problems” head on. The 2006 season Edsall took a lot of heat from the media for kicking players off the team throughout the season. These individuals were just that: individuals. And while they were my friends, at the end of the day, they were a cancer doing nothing but bringing the team down.
It paid off. The 2007 UCONN Huskies were the Big East Champs. 
The 2008 Huskies won the International Bowl.
So with all this hoopla and fanfare surrounding National Signing Day, and the relative inattention paid to the University of Connecticut, I’d like to offer this:
It’s the quiet ones you got to watch.
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