For those of you who do check in here or in the paper, I'll be gone for the next two weeks. During that time Matt Stout will cover the Huskies. He's a great writer and will do an outstanding job. Enjoy!

Bright and early, or at least early. Thanks to a 6 a.m. flight to Virginia, I made it in time for the game, but was minutes away from missing my plane. That would be because of a gathering of all the Patriots and Cowboys fans in New England flying out of Providence and a group of about 50 golfers heading to Myrtle Beach forcing the check-in line out to the curb.

If I was sleepy with just two hours sleep, the drunk Irishman who was wearing a little bit of his dinner on his sweater, made sure I couldn't doze off. Nothing like a real-life smelling salt. On second thought, smelling salt isn't half as shocking.

Anyhow, Scott Stadium is impressive. It holds 61,500 and the left endzone is seatless. It really is a fine facility and I'm curious whether playing in such a venue might intimidate the pups from UConn. Many of these guys played at Raymond James Stadium last season when South Florida issued a beating. But that stadium wasn't half filled. This is going to be a frentic, sold-out crowd on a college campus.

You might think that UConn is playing with the house's money because few expected five wins. I thought three. Maybe now that they haven't lost, there is mounting pressure.

We'll find out. Game time is 90 minutes away.

During today's media session, Huskies Coach Randy Edsall announced that the team is healthier than it's been all season. Tailback Donald Brown has recovered from an ankle injury against Akron. Lawrence Green is back on the two-deep, but was limping with a brace on his right knee, so who knows when or to what extent he'll be contributing. Aaron Bagsby and Gary Mack are out against Virginia, with Mack out an extended period of time.

Lorenzen hooks up with Andre Dixon on a 9-yard TD pass but how...HOW DOES TONY CIARAVINO MISS THE PAT??????

Thoughts so far...

The Huskies have looked horrible on offense. Tyler Lorenzen is making ill-advised passes and getting pressured and Donald Brown can't run against the 98th ranked run defense.

As I type this, Lorenzen connects with Steve Brouse on two passes for 47 yards.

The defense, with the exception of the final possession by Akron in the first quarter, has looked good.

NFA grad Dan Ryan did not start today's game against Akron. It remains to be seen if he plays.

In other injury news, Ellis Gaulden, who has yet to play for the Huskies may make an appearance Saturday. Lawrence Green's status is "up in the air."

During today's conference call, coach Randy Edsall said that the status of the offensive line has not changed from last weekend at Pitt. As for linebacker Ryan Henegan, Edsall sat down with Henegan to discuss where he is with his come back. Edsall said the two are in agreement about progress. Edsall called any talk of where Henegan fits in when he does return "speculation."

It's a quarter way through the season and I am interested in who y'all think is the team's MVP.

Vote on the poll to the right and leave comments for discussion. Maybe you think I failed to include someone. Maybe you want to make the case for one of the players selected. Whatever the case, chime in.

Happy 22nd b-day to Donald Thomas. Thomas said he got a few phone calls around midnight last night from family members but tonight his plans are not to exceed watching a movie or two in between his football and academic studies.

Coach Randy Edsall said that Dan Ryan should be good to go for Saturday's game against Akron but he may not start. Linebacker Ryan Henegan may or may not play.

The Huskies picked up three votes in the AP poll released Sunday. It's the first time since 2004 that UConn had done so. Also, the Huskies garnered 24 votes in the Harris Poll, one of the components of the BCS poll.

While they are two wins from bowl eligibility and I think they'll get those wins (Akron, Syracuse), I think UConn will need seven wins to get a bowl bid because of the weakness of its schedule

If seven wins were to happen, look at Virginia and Rutgers as possible wins.

No word on Dan Ryan, but Ryan Henegan has been practicing with the No. 2s and should see playing time at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh Saturday night.

Thursday coach Randy Edsall will be talking with local media and giving an update on the team's injuries.

Ryan Henegan, the Huskies' second-best linebacker coming into the season, has yet to play and practiced in full pads for the first time this week. His return will give the UConn four solid linebackers.

Local product Dan Ryan missed last week and from what I took out of Edsall's comments Tuesday, Ryan wasn't likely to play Saturday at Pitt. That's a shame because he is a major upgrade over Alex LaMagdelaine and quarterback Tyler Lorenzen is going to need as much help as possible on the line. If you saw the pressure Temple put on him last weekend, wait until you see what Pitt does.

If Lorenzen can get those quick, four-to-six yard dump passes going early and quickly transition into longer pass attempts down field, he should be able to force Pitt's defenders to back off and allow Donald Brown and Andre Dixon the chance to run for positive yardage.

Huskies punter Tony Ciaravino was named the Big East's Special Teams Player of the Week. Ciaravino kicked field goals of 24, 47 and 50 yards in UConn's 22-17 win over Temple Saturday.

UConn coach Randy Edsall said he anticipates linebacker Danny Lansanah to play Saturday. Fellow linebacker Ryan Henegan practiced in pads Wednesday but will not play against Temple.

Coach Randy Edsall announced that Corey Stringer and Andre Dixon have both been reinstated to the team and will be eligible to play next weekend against Temple.

No time like when Temple comes in to get people on the field.

The first game is in the past and the UConn Huskies now look ahead to the home opener. I know there are hopes of a bowl game now that the Huskies have defeated the mighty Blue Devils of Duke.

Let's go through the schedule and what I expect to see happen:

At Duke -- well, not as close as I thought, but a win nonetheless. (1-0)
Maine -- Should be an easy win (2-0)
Temple - If UConn loses this one, the program should go D-II (3-0)
At Pittsburgh -- This is the pivitol game of the season. My gut says the Huskies win (4-0)
Akron -- I think the Zips are better than expected, but UConn should win (5-0)
At Virginia -- No way UConn wins this one (5-1)
Louisville -- This will be the worst defeat of the season (5-2)
South Florida -- The middle game of the worst stretch this season (5-3)
Rutgers -- Close, but no cigar (5-4)
at Cincinnati -- I'd like the Huskies' chances at the Rent, but it's a tough road game against an improved Bearcats squad (5-5)
Syracuse -- Last chance for bowl eligibility (6-5)
At West Virginia -- That seventh win never seemed more distant than it will against the Mountaineers (6-6).

I'm of the mind that a six-win season gets you a bowl game, but it didn't happen for Pitt last year after dropping six straight and I don't think it happens for the Huskies because they play one of the weakest schedules outside of the BIg East. If I'm proven wrong and the Huskies beat Virginia, they go bowling. If not...baby steps.

The first quarter is complete in Durham, and thanks to a field goal and a safety, UConn now trails 7-5 against Duke,

On the first possession of the year, Duke dismantled the UConn defense, highlighted by a 53-yard pass. Duke leads 7-0.

Oddly it feels warmer in the press box, which has AC, then outside of Wallace Wade Stadium. But the potential for heat in Durham, NC, has led the Huskies to suit up in white jerseys and silver pants -- a look not seen since UConn went to Miami in 2002.

Another note of interest is LB Ryan Henegan is back in Storrs. That means Lawrenece Wilson gets the start at the Husky linebacker position.