University of Connecticut Athletics
Fincher, Nuzie Earn BIG EAST Honors
10/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 4, 2004) - University of Connecticut linebacker Alfred Fincher (Norwood, Mass.) was named the BIG EAST’s Defensive Player of the Week on Monday morning while place kicker Matt Nuzie (Trumbull, Conn.) was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week. They are the first Huskies to ever receive those honors from the conference office. Last week, quarterback Dan Orlovsky (Shelton, Conn.) became the first UConn player to earn Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
The two were instrumental to UConn’s landmark 29-17 win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 30 at a sold out Rentschler Field. The win was UConn’s first ever in BIG EAST Conference play and came in front of a live national television audience on ESPN2.
Fincher tied his career high with 17 tackles in the win. He also chipped in 1.5 tackles for loss, broke up a pass and forced a fumble. The forced fumble was critical to the win as Fincher forced it early in the fourth quarter with UConn up 23-17 to end a Pittsburgh drive that had reached the UConn 24 yard line. Fincher is the BIG EAST’s leading tackler with 56 and his is fifth in the league with 1.20 TFLs per game (six in five games). He has helped the team to a tie for first in the BIG EAST, and 14th in the nation, in total defense.
Nuzie tied his career high with three field goals while hitting on both of his extra point attempts. The second of his field goals was comfortably good from 49 yards, topping his previous career-long of 38 by 11 yards. The kick came as time expired in the first half and gave UConn a 13-10 lead at the break. Nuzie also hit field goals from 24 and 20 yards against Pittsburgh. For the season, he leads the BIG EAST with nine field goals and ranks second with 1.80 per game. That 1.80 average ties him for 10th in the nation while the nine total field goals ties for 17th nationally.
UConn (4-1) returns to action next Wednesday night, Oct. 13 when the team plays host to No. 16 West Virginia (4-1) at Rentschler Field. The game will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. Less than 500 tickets remain for the game and they can be purchased online at TicketMaster.com.
