Connecticut Huskies
UConn showed last year that it not only belongs in D-I, but is also one of college football's rising programs winning nine games and deserving to go to a bowl. Now the Huskies are big-time joining the new Big East with a great shot at making up for last year's post-season snub by getting into the BCS.
So are the Huskies really that good, or have the surprising performances over the last two years the result of beating lousy teams? Outside of Wake Forest, UConn beat some of the worst teams in college football with some of the wins coming against Indiana, Army, Buffalo, Kent State and Lehigh. Yeah, you have to beat the teams on your schedule, but things are going to get a bit tougher now.
Fortunately, there's enough experience and enough good players to come up with a huge season highlighted by star QB Dan Orlovsky and a loaded running back corps working behind an all-star offensive line. All UConn wants is a chance to prove it's a burgeoning college football power, and it'll have it. Don't be shocked if the Huskies come through better than anyone could've ever expected. Anyone outside of UConn that is.
The Schedule: The Huskies could make an early big jump in the in the
Big East race getting Pittsburgh and West Virginia at home. The final game
at Rutgers might prove tougher than UConn might like in the hopes for a bowl
game. Getting Duke, Army, Temple and Buffalo helps ease some harsh road dates.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Dan Orlovsky. Player Profile ... Every
year there's always one quarterback that takes a giant leap up in production
and becomes an elite pro prospect. Carson Palmer took the next step two years
ago, Ben Roethlisberger did it last year, and now Orlovsky has all the skills
to be the next in line. No pressure.
Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Maurice Lloyd. Lloyd, along with middle
linebacker Alfred Fincher, should be the nucleus for one of the best linebacking
corps in the Big East combining for at least 200 tackles. With the defensive
line such a question mark, these two will need to have huge seasons.
Key player to a successful season: The offense will average over 30
points a game, so the defense doesn't have to dominant. Even so, the Huskies
are going to need to be strong against the strong running games of the Big
East meaning the inexperienced tackles will have to prove they can play. Junior
Deon McPhee and sophomore Rhema Fuller could be two of the most important
players in the Big East race.
The season will be a success if ... The Huskies win the Big East. They're
not going to have this overall experience again for a while, and they certainly
aren't going to have a talent at quarterback like Orlovsky. They need to go
for the championship right away.
Key game: October 13th vs. West Virginia. The Mountaineers have the
best returning team to the Big East now that Miami is gone, and UConn gets
them at home. A win is absolutely critical to any Big East title hopes.
2003 Fun Stats:
- Sacks: Connecticut 40 - Opponents 10
- Fumbles: Opponents 27 (lost 11) - Connecticut 17 (lost 6)
- Third down conversion percentage: Connecticut 41% - Opponents 32%
