University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Host South Florida For Homecoming
10/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
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THIS WEEKS GAME-- The University of Connecticut Football team returns to Memorial Stadium for Homecoming 2000 and a match-up with the Bulls of the University of South Florida on Saturday, October 28 at 1:30 p.m. The Huskies come off a come-from-behind upset win at Akron (38-35) on October 21 and have a record of 3-4 on the year. South Florida is 4-3 following a 44-6 thrashing of Liberty
SERIES HISTORY-- The Huskies and Bulls have never met in the sport of football.
GET YOUR TICKETS-- Tickets are still available for the remaining three home games (10/28 vs. South Florida, 11/4 vs. Middle Tennessee, 11/11 vs. Rhode Island) left on the UConn schedule and can be purchased by calling the UConn Ticket Office at 1-877-AT-UCONN. The first two UConn home games in 2000 were advance sellouts.
CONNECTICUT HEAD COACH RANDY EDSALL-- Randy Edsall (7- 11 overall record in two seasons) became the 27th head coach in UConn Football history on December 21, 1998. Edsall, 42, brings 20 years of coaching experience to the UConn program, including 16 seasons at the Division I-A level and three seasons in the NFL. He came to UConn after spending one season as the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech. Prior to that he spent three seasons as the secondary coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He began his coaching career in 1980 at his alma mater, Syracuse, where he spent 11 seasons before moving on to Boston College, where he coached for three seasons before going with coach Tom Coughlin to the Jaguars.
WEEK SEVEN RECAP-- UConn overcame a 14-point first quarter deficit and used a 17-point fourth quarter to post a stunning 38-35 win over Akron. Sophomore kicker Geoff Heyls 30-yard FG with four seconds remaining provided the final margin of victory. UConn finally got its running game in gear, as junior Taber Small scored three touchdowns and true freshman back-up Evan Benson gained a career-high 70 yards, including 51 in the fourth quarter. Junior QB Ryan Tracey threw for 293 yards and one TD, while rushing for another.
WELCOME TO RENTSCHLER FIELD-- Stadium site work has begun at the future home of Connecticut Football, now known officially as Rentschler Field. An official groundbreaking was held on October 20, 2000. The name commemorates the history of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company and its founder, Frederick B. Rentschler. The stadium address is 615 Silver Lane in East Hartford, CT. The name Rentschler Field will remain on the stadium for a 15- year period beginning with the first event in the stadium. The name can then be sold with stipulations. The first football game at Rentschler Field is scheduled for August 30, 2003 when Connecticut hosts Rutgers University.
WILKINS TIES RECORD-- Senior defensive end Jamar Wilkins enters the game with South Florida needing one tackle for a loss to become the UConn career record holder for tackles- for-loss. Wilkins has 26 career TFLs, tying the record of 26 held by former All-American and Green Bay Packers standout John Dorsey (1980-83). Wilkins tied Dorsey when he snuffed out a fake field goal attempt by Akron on October 21. Wilkins has 11 tackles for a loss in 2000, tied for fourth on the single season list. The single season record is 18, set by Khalid Riley in 1998. Senior defensive tackle Ronel Jumpp is currently fourth on the career list with 22 TFL.
WILKINS TRANSITION IS SMOOTH-- Senior defensive end Jamar Wilkins was UConns leading tackler the past two seasons from the middle linebacker position, so his move to defensive end in the spring of 2000 was certainly noteworthy. Wilkins seems to have made a smooth transition based on his four game totals in 2000. Wilkins has 43 tackles, fifth on the squad, has 11 tackles for loss (second in 2000) and leads the squad with four sacks. He also had an interception in the loss to Louisville.
LUNDY LEADS A YOUNG SECONDARY-- Sophomore safety Jamal Lundy is seven games into his second college season, but is already a grizzled veteran by UConn standards on the defensive unit. Lundy has started 14 consecutive games, including the final seven as a true freshman in 1999. In 2000, Lundy leads the Huskies with 62 tackles, five for a loss, and has one interception. The other seven players in the Husky two-deep in the secondary have a total of 22 career starts between them.
BENSON MAKES HIS MARK-- True freshman tailback Evan Benson entered the game with Akron with five carries for five yards on the season. Against the Zips, Benson took advantage of a second half injury to junior Taber Small and ran through Akron to the tune of 70 yards on 19 carries, 51 of those yards coming in UConns 17-point fourth quarter
TRACEY PILES UP THE 300S-- Junior QB Ryan Tracey is in the midst of a tremendous debut season as the Husky signal caller. His seven-game totals are 156-for-282 for 1,961 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has only thrown five interceptions. With four 300-yard passing games, Tracey continues to head into uncharted territory for UConn QBs. He has already tied the single season record for 300-yard games and is only two off the career mark.
All-Time 300-Yard Passing Game Leaders
Career Passer Season6, 95-98 Shane Stafford 4, 19984, 00-+ RYAN TRACEY 4, 20004, 87-91 Cornelius Benton 3, 19914, 87-90 Matt DeGennaro 2, 19882, 78-81 Ken Sweitzer 2, 1981
SUPER SOPHOMORES AT LB -- Sophomore linebackers Razul Wallace and Uyi Osunde have each continued their solid play at the linebacking position in their second season. Both players saw significant action as true freshmen in 1999. Wallace, who started one game as a true freshman, is second on the Huskies with 56 tackles and 12 tackles for a loss. His 12 tackles for a loss is tied for second on the all- time UConn single season list (single season record is 18, set by Khalid Riley in 1998). Osunde, who started the final four games in 1999, is third on the team with 50 tackles and has had three double-digit tackle efforts.
THE STREAK CONTINUES-- Senior flanker John Fitzsimmons enters the South Florida game having made a catch in 33 straight contests, dating back to his freshman season of 1996. The record for consecutive games with a catch is 35 games, held by Alex Davis (1989-92).
Consecutive Games w/Reception
1.) 35 Alex Davis, 1989-92
2.) 33 John Fitzsimmons, 1996-present
2.) 33 Carl Bond, 1996-98
2.) 33 Mark Didio, 1989-91
5.) 31 David Dunn, 1985-87
THE OTHER STREAK ENDS FOR FITZ-- Senior John Fitzsimmons went scoreless against BC, snapping his streak of games with a TD catch at five. He had a TD catch in each of the first five games in 2000, the second such streak for Fitz in his Husky career and one that matches the school record. Alex Davis is the only other Husky to catch a TD pass in five straight games, doing so in the 1992 season. Fitzsimmons also had a TD catch in the first five games of the 1998 season.
DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLERS-- Sophomore linebacker Uyi Osunde has totaled three double-digit tackle efforts on the season, including two straight games. Osunde leads the team in that category with his efforts against Eastern Michigan (ten tackles), Boston College (11) and Akron (ten). Sophomore linebacker Razul Wallace and sophomore safety Jamal Lundy each have two double-digit tackle efforts, while junior linebacker Justin Cook and true freshmen defensive backs Terrance Smith and Chris Meyer each have one.
WALKING WOUNDED-- Three key defensive performers and starters for the Husky defense have been lost for the season due to injury. The latest of the casualities is junior linebacker Jamie Lenkaitis, who suffered a torn right MCL in the loss to Northeastern and will miss the remainder of the season. Junior cornerback Roy Hopkins suffered a torn MCL in his left knee against Eastern Michigan and will miss the rest of the season. He will apply for a medical redshirt at the end of the season and is expected to return in 2001 with two years of eligibility remaining. Senior linebacker Brandon Smith, the 1999 Team Defensive MVP, suffered a concussion during pre-season and has decided to end his playing career rather than risk further serious injury.
GAME CAPTAINS-- During the 2000 season, UConn will have game captains for each contest. This weeks game captain is senior defensive lineman Ryan TImko.
GAME BALLS-- For each Husky win in 2000, the UConn coaching staff will award three game balls, one each for offense, defense and special teams. The recipients for the win over Akron were junior tailback Taber Small, junior linebacker Jamie Lenkaitis and junior kick returner Carl Bradford.
2000 UConn Game Ball Recipients
Game Off. Def. Spec.Colgate Tracey Wilkins ColesBuffalo Small Lenkaitis BradfordAkron Benson Stroman Heyl/Richmond
SCOUT TEAMERS-- For each game in 2000, the UConn coaching staff will pick offensive and defensive scout team players of the week. These players will travel to that weeks game if it is on the road or stay at the team hotel on Friday night for home games.
2000 UConn Scout Team Players of the Week
Game Offense DefenseEMU Richard Bellina Ken WilsonColgate Justin Spence Frank QuaglianoBuffalo ONeil Wilson Tyler KingNEastern Barry Crable Bill NeumannL'ville Brian Krause Walt VillelaBC Chris Bellamy Warren SpiveyAkron Justin Spence Nedvonne Young
SPREADING THE WEALTH-- A trademark of the Husky offense in 2000 has been the ability of junior QB Ryan Tracey to use all of his available options. The Huskies have ten different players with a reception and eight of those ten have caught at least nine passes. Seniors Steve OConnor (32 catches, 478 yards, two TDs) and John Fitzsimmons (30 catches, 522 yards, seven TD) lead the unit.
HEYL CONTINUES SOLID KICKING -- Sophomore Geoff Heyl won the placekicking job with a solid pre-season and has continued his stellar play through seven games. Heyl hit the game-winning 30-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the win over Akron. He has hit on seven-of-ten FGs in 2000 and 17-of-19 PATs. He made a career-best 48- yard FG in the loss to Boston College. With Heyl handling the placekicking duties in 2000, he has become the eighth placekicker in the last six seasons to handle the starting kicker role. The Husky kicking carousel looks this way: 1995-- David DeArmas, 1996-- Jon Cohen, Mike Morelli, 1997-- Robb Myers, 1998-- Jim McManus, 1999-- Jeff Cammuso, Marc Hickok, 2000-- Geoff Heyl.
COLES CHALLENGES SEASON MARK-- Freshman punter Adam Coles continues his impressive play as the Husky punter. Coles, a 24-year old former Australian Rules Football player, is averaging 41.6 yards per punt on 38 kicks. He had a long of 56 yards vs. Colgate and had kicks of 53 and 54 yards against Akron. The UConn single season mark for punting average is 41.7, set by Jim Carriere in 1988.
TOP PASSERS THROUGH FIVE GAMES-- Junior QB Ryan Tracey now holds the mark for passing yards in the first five games of a season with 1,493, breaking the mark of Cornelius Benton, who threw for 1,474 yards to start the 1991 season. Benton had a pair of 400-yard games and one 300-yard effort in that stretch. Traceys 14 TDs are also a five-game best. In 1998, Shane Stafford had 12 TD passes through five games. Tracey fell just short of the six-game mark with his total of 1,668. The six-game mark for passing yards is 1,692, held by Benton in 1991. Traceys 14 TDs in six games also surpasses any six-game total in school history.
TOUCHDOWN TOMMY-- Sophomore fullback Tommy Collins proved to be a goal-line weapon out of the Husky backfield in their first three games. Collins, a converted tight end, caught a touchdown pass in each of the first three games. He had a two-yard TD catch vs. EMU, a four-yarder for a score vs. Colgate and a six-yard TD reception vs. Buffalo. He has seven total catches for 47 yards from the fullback spot. He does not have a rushing attempt in 2000.
SMALL BALL-- Junior tailback Taber Small has 428 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2000 season. In his career, Small has 1,204 rushing yards, 21 rushing TDs (tied for sixth all- time at UConn) and he has had six multiple TD games in his career. He has cracked the 100-yard mark in a game on two occasions. In 1999, Small had a school record streak of eight straight games with a rushing touchdown and he finished the year with 757 yards on the season and 14 rushing touchdowns. He had 15 touchdowns overall. He averaged 8.2 points per game, placing him tied for 27th in the country in the final Division I-AA statistics. His 14 rushing touchdowns and 15 total TDs are both tied for third on the UConn single season list. Walt Trojanowski totaled 22 TDs in 1945, all rushing and Wilbur Gilliards 17 rushing TDs in 1993 was the best I-AA total in Husky history.
TRACEY TIES SINGLE GAME TD MARK-- Ryan Traceys four TD passes against Northeastern tied a single game UConn mark, held by five other QBs. Shane Stafford threw four TDs in a game four times in his career, Matt DeGennaro did it twice, and Brian Hoffmann, Larry Corn and Ken Sweitzer also tossed four TD passes in one game at UConn.
TRACEY VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN-- Junior quarterback Ryan Tracey made his first appearance as a Husky vs. Eastern Michigan and, statistically, his debut was among the top quarterbacking performances in school history. His 340 passing yards were the ninth highest single game total in UConn history and the most-ever by a QB in his first game. His 49 pass attempts were the fifth most by a Husky QB and his 55 total plays rank tenth in school history. Tracey completed 23-of-49 passes, threw three TD passes and had one interception.
RECORD CROWDS-- UConn set a single game attendance record of 16,632 in the win over Colgate, breaking the old mark of 16,464 set in 1970 vs. Rhode Island. The game was the first advance sellout in UConn Football history. The game vs. Northeastern was the second straight advance sellout and the attendance of 16,549 is the second largest crowd in school history.
TRUE FRESHMEN DEBUTS-- A total of 12 true freshmen have seen action in 2000, five earning starts on defense. Ten saw action for the Huskies vs. Eastern Michigan, marking the second straight season that UConn has had ten or more true frosh see action in the opener. Last season, 12 true freshmen played in the opener vs. Hofstra. In 2000, the following first-year Huskies have seen game action: Evan Benson, Chris Clarke, Adam Coles, Jason Dellaselva (three starts), Davion Dixon, Trenton Jones (three starts), Terry McClowry, Chris Meyer (three starts), Sean Mulcahy (two starts), Chandler Poole, Terrance Smith (four starts) and Michael Ziccardi. UConn had 17 true freshmen see action in 1999.
PLAYING THE NICKNAME GAME-- UConns 2000 schedule is noteworthy in part because of the team nicknames their opponents seem to share. UConn plays two Eagles (Eastern Michigan & Boston College), two Cardinals (Louisville & Ball State), two Bulls (Buffalo & South Florida), the Red Raiders and Blue Raiders (Colgate & Middle Tennessee) and also has the always popular battle of the Huskies with Northeastern. Akron (Zips) and Rhode Island (Rams) lend little to this note, but both do have four letters in their nickname.
UCONN ON TV IN 2000-- The Huskies enter the 2000 season with a minimum of five games currently scheduled to be televised. The opener at Eastern Michigan was carried by Connecticut Public Television, as was the week three match- up at Buffalo. The contest at Boston College on October 7 was carried throughout the New England region on NESN. The October 28 game vs. South Florida will be broadcast by ESPN Regional, seen locally on NESN and in Florida on Fox Sports Net and WMOR-TV in Tampa. The game vs. Rhode Island on November 11 will be broadcast by Cox Communications of Rhode Island, with local television plans also undetermined at this point.
RANDY ON RADIO-- During the 2000 season, UConn head football coach Randy Edsall will join Joe DAmbrosio for a weekly radio show on WTIC-AM 1080. The show will be on Monday nights, beginning at 6:00 p.m. and all of the shows will be held at Rookies Sports Bar in Cromwell.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE-- UConn continues its three-game homestand with a 12:30 match-up against the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee at 12:30 p.m.
