Wilson added to another watch list

Senior linebacker Lawrence Wilson was added to the Bednarik award, given to the nation's best defensive player.

Wilson, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., led the Huskies with 140 tackles last season en route to an All-Big East first team selection. He also had five sacks and 11 tackles for a loss.

What the SNY deal really means

If you heard me this morning on Sports Talk with Bill and Mike on 104.7 FM, you know why the TV deal between UConn and SNY is so important.

If you didn't, here it is:

When all Hades was breaking loose this summer with schools talking relocating to different conferences and such, one of the sticking point to what made Rutgers so appealing to the Big Ten was its place in the New York City market.

Guess what?

That's gone. It now belongs to the Huskies.

Here are the details from the press release:

►Comprehensive UConn Huskies Football Season Preview Show

►Randy Edsall's Weekly Press Conference

►In-Depth Post-Game Shows [Following all SNY-televised UConn football games]

►UConn Huskies Season-in-Review/Bowl Preview Special

►UConn's "Football Signing Day" Press Conference

►Re-airs of every UConn Huskies Football Game [subject to availability]

►Huskies Power Hour: A 60-minute cut-down version of that week's game.

► SNY Spotlight with Head Coach Randy Edsall. SNY Spotlight is an exclusive signature series - created by SNY's Original Entertainment Division - that features in-depth interviews with New York's most influential leaders in sports and entertainment


It's not just football. It's men's basketball and a little bit of women's, which is a shame.

►Comprehensive UConn Huskies Men's basketball Season Preview Show

►In-Depth Pre-Game Shows Prior to Select SNY-Televised UConn Basketball Games

►UConn Huskies Season-in-Review Special

►Re-airs of Every UConn Huskies basketball Game Shown on SNY

► SNY Spotlight with Men's Head Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun and Women's Head Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma

This has two effects.

The first is, as mentioned earlier, the Big East has a school not named Rutgers, embedded in NYCs TV market. If schools start looking to move again, and they will, the Big East suddenly looks more appealing. Now, don't be too shocked to see Rutgers pop up on YES, but if you are a school looking to make the jump up to the Big East or from another large conference to the Big East, the exposure on SNY is a nice perk.

The second is that should the Big East fail at securing its future, UConn is now positioned itself to jump ship if the right opportunity strikes. So if the Big Ten or even the ACC came calling, UConn has a major bargaining chip.

On a side note to the SNY deal, the rest of Connecticut should be receiving the network on Comcast before the season opener at Michigan.

More from Big East Media Day

The big topic in the conference and really, in the nation, this summer has been the talk of conferences expanding. These so-called super conferences would have put the likes of the Big East in jeopardy.

The temporary dust settled and the big piece in all the talk -- Notre Dame -- chose to remain an independent for the time being. Had the Irish moved it would have led to a chain reaction that very likely would have doomed the Big East.

Because these rumors will pick up again and at some point in time become inevitable, the Big East has spent time and money to study what is in its best interests.

The eight football coaches were instructed to not discuss the conference shuffle matter while in Bridgeport, but listening to commissioner John Marinatto talking you get the feel there will be big changes.

The Big East brought in former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as a consultant. It will also announce a new TV partnership -- different than what's in place -- with SNY next week at Rentschler Field.

But the one thing unsaid that I got the impression will happen is expansion.

This is the course many of the conference's fans want to see as do many of the coaches because it gives a balanced schedule.

Let's look at the possibilities, at least in my opinion, and in no particular order.

1. Notre Dame
This makes the most sense and secures both the conference's future, increased revenue, greater national exposure and higher bowl quality.

But...

This is NEVER going to happen. The Irish would prefer to remain an independent, and if it were to join a conference, the Big Ten (12) makes the most sense.

2. Central Florida
UCF is the most likely because it gives South Florida an in-state rival and improves the Big East's visibility in a football hotbed.

3. East Carolina
This is a strong, southern program that fits the bill for the teams that entered the last time the Big East shuffled its deck.

4. Temple
Are they still mad?

It is an up-and-coming program as long as Al Golden remains there. It's in a major city, which gives the Big East schools in the New York and Philadelphia markets.

5. Memphis
Not a great football program, but the basketball program would have the conference in the news for all the wrong reasons.

6. Any school left hanging by a future purge.
It's called westward expansion.

Happenings from Big East Media Day

Greetings from Newport!

An odd thing happened today -- the Huskies were respected. In the past, UConn was generally dismissed by the voting media, but this year was different. UConn finished fourth in the poll, its highest finish ever.

Here are the results with first-place votes in parenthesis:
1. Pittsburgh (22) 190
2. Cincinnati 142
West Virginia (1) 142
4. UConn (1) 131
5. Rutgers 99
6. South Florida 79
7. Syracuse 41
8. Louisville 40

Usually the Huskies say things such as they are insulted and have a chip on their shoulder. But this year it was more about living up to the expectations and exceeding them.

Edsall on ESPN

Ian Bethune over at Sox and Dawgs generously provided links to UConn coach Randy Edsall's day on ESPN's various brands.


http://soxanddawgs.com/huskies/video/uconn-football-randy-edsall-on-first-take.html

http://soxanddawgs.com/huskies/articles/audio-uconn-football-coach-randy-edsall-on-the-herd.html

http://soxanddawgs.com/huskies/articles/randy-edsall-sportsnation-chat.html

http://soxanddawgs.com/huskies/video/uconn-football-coach-randy-edsall-on-espnews.html

http://soxanddawgs.com/huskies/articles/audio-uconn-football-coach-randy-edsall-on-espn-1250-pittsburgh.html

http://soxanddawgs.com/huskies/video/uconn-football-coach-randy-edsall-on-the-scott-van-pelt-show.html

Randy Edsall Day

The coach will be all over ESPN's properties Thursday. Here's the schedule:

10:50 a.m. – Appear on First Take with Jay Crawford, Dana Jacobson, Jay Crawford and Reischea Canidate

11:05a.m. – Interview with SportsCenter.com

11:20 a.m. – Interview With ESPN Rise

11:40 a.m. – Appear on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio, ESPNU and ESPN.com

1:00 p.m. – ESPN.com chat

1:20 p.m. – Interview with ESPNW

1:40 p.m. – Appear on ESPNU

2:10 p.m. – Appear on ESPNews

2:40 p.m. – Radio interview on 1250 ESPN Radio in Pittsburgh

3:10 p.m. – Appear on the The Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 and ESPN.com

3:30 p.m. – Appear on College Football Live with multiple airings on ESPN and ESPNU

Interesting story...

from my colleague Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant. Apparently, a Boston College assistant coach, in an attempt to lure a Virginia high school QB who had committed to UConn, told the kid via e-mail that Huskies coach Randy Edsall and his staff will be gone by January.

Talk about playing dirty.

Read more here:
http://articles.courant.com/2010-07-22/sports/hc-uconn-football-recruit-0722-20100721_1_uconn-coaching-staff-coach-edsall-bc-coach

Summer, Summer, Summer time

Coach Randy Edsall and staff just wrapped up camps and are heading on vacation, but not before providing updates on the goings on around Huskyville.

Jimmy Bennett will be "full-go" for camp;Jesse Joseph (shoulder), Blidi Wreh-Wilson will also be ready for the start of camp. Greg Lloyd's availability will be based on "how hard" he wants to work. Sounds as if the son of the former Pittsburgh Steeler is not working hard.

"I'm very pleased with what we got there," Edsall said of the depth at defensive end. "I think guys are working hard and showed some things in the spring. If Greg's there, he's there. If he's not, he's not there."

Nick Williams (hip) will be good, Alex Polito "should be cleared toward the end of camp, and Emmanuel Omokaro (late September).

Freshman Geremy Davis may miss time due to an injured knee sustained during a workout. Right now, there is no word until results come back from an MRI.

All of the incoming freshmen reported Sunday for summer school and are getting acclimated and "doing well," said Edsall.

Three open practices for fans: Fri Aug. 13, Thurs. Aug. 19 and Aug. 24.

Marcus Aiken dismissed by UConn due to violation of school policy. Edsall denied to specify whether this was academic or conduct related. His departure does not open up any positional changes at safety. What Edsall did say is that "nothing legal" was in the papers, so we can "figure it out."

Malik Generett is not eligible to play due to school policies. He "did not meet NCAA" requirements.

On the environment at UConn: "We tried to eliminated all excuses for failure."

Big East Media Day is a month away and the season is two months away. How quickly time flies.

More honors for Hurd and Wilson

UConn LB Lawrence Wilson and OG Zach Hurd were both named to the preseason All-America third team by the Sporting News.

Wilson, too

Hurd’s UConn teammate, senior Lawrence Wilson was named to watch list for the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy by the FWAA and the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club. It is awarded to the nation’s best defensive player.

Wilson led the Huskies with 140 tackles — 11 for a loss — to go along with five sacks. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native averaged 10.8 tackles per game, first in the conference and 10th nationally. His efforts earned him first team All-Big East honors.

Waterford's Hurd named to watch list

UConn senior offensive guard Zach Hurd was named to the 2010 Outland Trophy watch List on Monday by the Football Writers Association of America. The award is given annually to the nation’s top interior lineman.

Hurd, a former standout at Waterford High School, was a first-team All-Big East selection last season after starting 13 games and has made 26 consecutive starts for the Huskies. He is also one of the team’s four captains for the 2010 season.

Two more times announced

UConn's games on Sept. 11 against Texas Southern and Sept. 18 at Temple will kickoff at noon. 

Kickoff times have been finalized for three of UConn's six home games. In addition to the season opener versus Texas Southern, the West Virginia game on Friday, Oct. 29 is at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2 and the Pittsburgh game on Thursday, Nov. 11 is at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

What Nebraska moving to the Big 10 means to UConn and the Big East

There has been so much talk over the past few months about this school moving here or there and the creation of super conferences. The first piece has appeared to have fallen into place Wednesday.

Word that Nebraska will leave the Big 12 and head to the Big 10 should be a sign of relief for the Big East, at least initially.

If nothing else, Nebraska might be a big enough of a deterrent to Notre Dame, which doesn't want to be in a conference bigger than 12 teams, to remain an independent. This saves the Big East. Even if Rutgers, Pitt or Syracuse defect, there won't be an issue replacing them with Central Florida or Memphis.

As for the Big 12, they look to replace Nebraska with Texas Christian. But if the conference can't hold itself together, all bets are off and the Big 10 may try to take several Big 12 and Big East teams.

The fallout could produce a Big East raid of Conference USA or should the SEC expand, the Big East and ACC could produce a super conference of their own.

Right now, the Big East looks safe.

Depth chart

2010 University of Connecticut Post-Spring Practice Depth Chart

Offense

LT

Adam Masters (RSo., 6-4, 270)

Jimmy Bennett (RSo., 6-8, 301)

Greg McKee (Fr., 6-5, 299)

LG

Mathieu Olivier (RSr., 6-6, 276)

Erik Kuraczea (RSo., 6-2, 315)

Steve Greene (RFr., 6-4, 324)

C

Moe Petrus (RJr., 6-2, 292)

Gary Bardzak (RJr., 6-3, 297)

Ben Chapman (RSo., 6-2, 276)

RG

Zach Hurd (RSr., 6-7, 323)

Tyler Bullock (RFr., 6-4, 291)

RT

Mike Ryan (RJr., 6-5, 332)

Kevin Friend (RFr., 6-5, 287)

Stephen Brown (RFr., 6-4, 289)

TE

Ryan Griffin (RSo., 6-6, 240)

John Delahunt (RSo., 6-3, 243)

Corey Manning (RSo., 5-4, 255)

Alex Kaiser (Sr., 6-5, 238)

TB

Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 190)

Robbie Frey (RFr., 6-0, 199) OR

Kelmetrius Wylie (RJr., 5-10, 223)

Jonathan Jean-Louis (Sr., 6-0, 200)

Martin Hyppolite (RFr., 6-0, 210)

FB

Anthony Sherman (Sr., 5-11, 242)

Bret Manning (Sr., 5-11, 255)

QB

Zach Frazer (RSr., 6-4, 236)

Cody Endres (RJr., 6-4, 223)

Michael Box (RFr., 6-3, 194) OR

Leon Kinnard (Fr., 5-9, 179) OR

Johnny McEntee (RSo., 6-3, 216)

WR

Michael Smith (Jr., 6-0, 200)

Malik Generett (RFr., 6-4, 210)

Joshua Massey (Sr., 5-8, 186)

WR

Kashif Moore (RJr., 5-9, 177)

Nick Williams (So., 5-9, 182)

Dwayne Difton (So., 5-11, 171)

Eric Sawicki (RFr., 6-0, 189)

WR

Isiah Moore (RJr., 6-1, 183)

Gerrard Sheppard (RSo., 6-2, 205) OR

Marcus Aiken (RFr., 5-11, 191)

Defense

DE

Jesse Joseph (So., 6-3, 231)

Trevardo Williams (So., 6-1, 224) OR

A.J. Portee (RSo., 6-4, 236)

Jonathan Louis (Fr., 6-5, 241)

DT

Kendall Reyes (RJr., 6-4, 287)

Alex Polito (RSr., 6-6, 284) OR

Shamar Stephen (RFr., 6-5, 291)

DT

Ryan Wirth (RSo., 6-2, 275) OR

Twyon Martin (RJr., 6-2, 270)

Tim Willman (RFr., 6-3, 271)

DE

Marcus Campbell (Jr., 6-2, 227)

Greg Lloyd (Sr., 6-2, 234) OR

Ted Jennings (RS., 6-5, 238)

“Husky” LB

Jory Johnson (RSo., 6-1, 219)

Andrew Opoku (Fr., 6-4, 217)

Matt Edwards (RSo., 6-0, 189)

Emmanuel Omokaro (RJr., 5-10, 207)

MLB

Scott Lutrus (RSr., 6-3, 240)

Jerome Williams (RSo., 6-11, 248)

Michael Osiecki (Fr., 6-2, 225)

WLB

Lawrence Wilson (RSr., 6-1, 217)

Sio Moore (RSo., 6-1, 231)

Mark Hinkley (RSo., 5-11, 228)

CB

Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSo., 6-0, 184)

Tevrin Brandon (RFr., 5-10, 172)

S

Jerome Junior (RSo., 6-1, 208)

David Kenney (RFr., 6-0, 186)

Harris Agbor (RJr., 5-10, 192)

John Yurek (RJr., 6-0, 200)

S

Kijuan Dabney (Sr., 6-0, 214)

Mike Lang (So., 5-11, 186) OR

Chris Lopes (RFr., 5-10, 183)

CB

Dwayne Gratz (RSo., 6-0, 190)

Gary Wilburn (RJr., 5-11, 196) OR

Gilbert St. Louis (Fr., 5-11, 176)

Special Teams

P

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200) OR

Cole Wagner (RFr., 6-2, 197)

K

Dave Teggart (RJr., 6-0, 209)

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200)

LS

Derek Chard (Sr., 6-3, 234)

Stephen Brown (RFr., 6-4, 279) OR

Mark Hinkley (RSo., 5-11, 228)

H

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200)

Zach Frazer (RSr., 6-4, 236)

PR

Gary Wilburn (RJr., 5-11, 196) OR

Nick Williams (So., 5-9, 182) OR

Leon Kinnard (Fr., 5-9, 179)

KR

Robbie Frey (RFr., 6-0, 199)

Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 190)

UConn update

Robert McClain, a cornerback, was taken by Carolina in the seventh round, S Robert Vaughn heading to Green Bay and RB Andre Dixon signed with Pittsburgh.

First Husky

Buffalo selects Marcus Easley in the fourth round, 107th overall.

Easley is a great story; wasn't recruited, walked on at UConn and went from scout team his junior year to starter and best WR the school has seen in a long time.

2010 schedule

The Big East released its 2010 schedule, and of note for UConn are the three weeknight games -- which coach Randy Edsall is not a fan of. Those three games, as well as the regular season finale will aired nationally.

9/4 at Michigan
9/11 Texas Southern (originally Northeastern)
9/18 at Temple
9/25 Buffalo
10/2 Vanderbilt
10/8 at Rutgers (Friday night, 7:30 p.m., on ESPN)
10/23 at Louisville
10/29 West Virginia (Friday night, 8 p.m., on ESPN2)
11/11 Pittsburgh (Thursday night, 7:30 p.m., on ESPN)
11/20 at Syracuse
11/27 Cincinnati
12/4 at South Florida (TBA, ESPN/ESPN2/ABC)

UConn's recruit list

Name                           Pos.     Hgt.      Wgt.     Hometown/High School

Alexander, Joshua         LB        6-3        215       Waldorf, Md./Westlake

Brown, Ty-Meer             DB        6-1        180       McKeesport, Pa../McKeesport

Cruz, Gus                     OG       6-4        256       Manchester, N.H./Kimball Union Academy

Davis, Geremy               WR       6-2        205       Lawrenceville, Ga./Norcross

Frank, Reuben               FB        6-2        229       Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie

Hansson, Mark              OT        6-5        256       Clearwater, Fla./Palm Harbour University

Jones, Byron                 DB        6-0.5     175       New Britain, Conn./St. Paul (Bristol)

Jones, Tebucky             WR       6-0        180       Farmington, Conn./New Britain

Louis, Jonathan             DE        6-5        240       Brockton, Mass./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.)

Mack, Taylor                 DB        5-10      170       Powder Springs, Ga./The Lovett School

McBryde, B.J.               DE        6-5        250       Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls

McCombs, Lyle             RB        5-8        175       Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph By The Sea

McCummings, Scott      QB       6-2        210       Natick, Mass./Natick

McKee, Greg                 OT        6-5        295       Chicago, Ill./Martin Luther King College Prep

Opoku, Andrew              DB        6-4        226       North Brunswick, N.J./Fork Union Military Academy (Va.)

Paull, Bryan                  C          6-4        290       Parkland, Fla./M. Stoneman Douglas

Pruitt, Angelo                DL        6-2.5     270       Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill

Smallwood, Yawin          LB        6-3        215       Worcester, Mass./Doherty

St. Louis, Gilbert            CB        5-11      175       Davie, Fla./Plantation

Steg, Brandon               LB        6-3        220       Coral Springs, Fla./J.P. Taravella

The following student-athletes each signed a Letter of Intent with UConn in 2009 and enrolled for the Spring 2010 semester

Name                           Pos.     Hgt.      Wgt.     Hometown/High School

Kinnard, Leon                QB       5-9        180       Reistertown, Md./Loyola Blakefield

Osiecki, Michael            LB        6-2        225       Seymour, Conn./ Seymour

Former Husky arrested

Fullback Deon Anderson, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys, was arrested:
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4881623

UConn's Big East All-Academic Team members

Name                          Year    Pos.     Hometown                  Major

Harris Agbor                So.       S          Mesquite, Texas           Political Science

John Apostolakos         Sr.        TE        Pittsford, N.Y.              Sports & Leisure/Finance

Jimmy Bennett              RFr.     OT       Alexandria, Va.            Undeclared

Derek Chard                Jr.        TE        Burlington, Conn.          Finance

Marcus Easley              Sr.        WR      Stratford, Conn.           Sport Management

Robbie Frey                 Jr.        RB       Lehighton, Pa.              History

Alex Kaiser                  Jr.        TE        Newington, Conn.        Economics

Brad Kanuch                Sr.        WR      Johnstown, Pa.             Sports & Leisure

Alex LaMagdelaine       Sr.        OG      Rumson, N.J.               English/Economics

Corey Manning             RFr.     TE        Tyrone, Ga.                  Undeclared

Alex Molina                  Sr.        WR      Waterford, Conn.         Psychology

Emmanuel Omokaro     So.       S          Danbury, Conn.            Sports & Leisure

Moe Petrus                  So.       C         St. Laurent, Que.          Psychology

Alex Polito                   Jr.        DT       Reading, Pa.                 Communication Sciences

Dave Teggart                So.       K         Northborough , Mass.   Sports & Leisure

John Yurek                   So.       S          Greencastle, Pa.           Biological Sciences