May 22, 2013

For Immediate Release

American Athletic Conference Strides Confidently Into The Future

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. — In its first full meeting as the American Athletic Conference, the league made important strategic decisions and addressed many pertinent issues as its membership moves forward together in the reinvented Conference.

The Conference’s Presidents, Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Head Football Coaches and Head Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches participated in the meetings.

“I am pleased and proud to be a part of a group that is dedicated, optimistic and effective,” said Commissioner Michael Aresco. “We have accomplished a great deal and are moving ahead with great confidence. We have a strong new name that has been well-received. Our soon-to-be-released new logo will support our new name. The American is going to be a prominent force in college athletics.”

Among the subjects addressed by the league’s Presidents and Athletic Directors:

Agreed on a financial distribution plan for the member institutions
Approved a new conference logo, which will be revealed in the near future
Further developed a branding, marketing and public relations strategy
Narrowed the search for men’s and women’s basketball postseason tournament venues
Discussed plans for a digital network
Met with television partners to discuss scheduling and promotional plans
Discussed The American’s position in the College Football Playoff
Agreed to pursue the creation of its own bowl game and maintain an outstanding Conference bowl lineup

The Conference Presidents chose R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, as their new Chair. Susan Herbst, President of the University of Connecticut, will serve as Vice-Chair. Outgoing Chair Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida, will remain on the Executive Committee, ensuring continuity in governance. Genshaft provided outstanding leadership in the transformation of the Conference.

“The American Athletic Conference has tremendous institutions that are committed to excellence in academics and athletics,” said Genshaft. “We are moving forward as a Conference with great resolve.”

“I am honored to help shape the future of the American Athletic Conference,” said Turner. “Everyone is excited about our extremely bright future and working together.”

“We are moving quickly on all fronts and I am so pleased with the progress,” said Herbst. “UConn is proud to be building this new league and thrilled to be part of all the excitement that comes with creating a bold new vision for student-athletes and our fans. Our exposure will be greater than ever, and we look forward to showing our championship ways to even broader audiences.”

The American has television agreements with ESPN and CBS Sports, two of the most prestigious media organizations in sports. The contracts will provide unprecedented national coverage for the league. All football and men’s basketball conference games will be televised.

More from Q&A with American conference commissioner Mike Aresco

Q:  Also Mike, for clarity’s sake, can you explain the route to the playoffs when that system kicks in next year? It’s been presented as though your conference will be frozen out of the mix. It will be more difficult sure but there is access.

A:  We have every bit as much access to get into the playoffs. This is a tiered system. We have the four team playoff that’s going to determine the national champion. We have the ability to get into that just like anybody else. In fact, Cincinnati, was No.3 under Brian Kelly a few years ago, well, they would have been in it. We are going to compete. We have just as much of an opportunity as everybody else. The other opportunity if we don’t make the four-team playoff, is to potentially end up on New Year’s Day or New Year’s Eve in one of those important system bowls. One of those and three we could potentially be in are the Fiesta, the Cotton or the Chick-Fil-A and there our conference champion would need to be the highest ranked of the group of five conferences which includes Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt and Mid-American. As you know, we’ve got our sights set on competing with the other five, the ACC, Big Ten, nobody is the SEC, but we want to compete with that group guys. We hope that our champion is the highest ranked of the other five then our champion on New Year’s Day or New Year’s Eve. If that champion doesn’t then we would also want a top-tier program but we have every bit of as much opportunity as anybody else. We have to do on the field. Strength of schedule is key. The makeup of the selection committee is going to be key here as well.

“In tems of our conference we basically have to work to make it the best conference it can be and the chips fall where they may,” Aresco said “We want to make sure anyone in our conference feels that the conference is being well run, is maximizing their potential, which in UConn’s case is in both sports, it’s making sure the conference innovative, state of the art is well run that it’s a conference the members in it can be proud of and then there’s always issues, always currents about this and that, money. Well, let the chips fall where they may. We’re focused on the future and we’re focused on our conference. UConn has been a big part of that. Suasn [UConn president Herbst] has been very strong. She’s been a big part of what we’re trying to do. She’s been heavily involved in the name, the branding, all the decisions that we’ve made. And Warde [athletic director Warde Manuel] is one of our leading ADs. Warde is a strong AD. They and Cincinnati obviously the Big East name had been with them a long time. They like the new name. They’ve adapated to the new name. That’s important. We’re hopeful that the fan bases will understand that this is good football. We think this football conference has more potential then the old one has.  ”It was concentrated in the north east. We’ve got a wider footprint with some schools in big markets, football hotbeds that we think can really develop. Even Memphis is a sleeper because Memphis really putting resources into its program and they want to be good. Tulane in football, had a good football tradition and they are spending the money. They have a band new stadium. They think they’ve got the right coach. That’s a rich recruiting area let’s face it, Lousisiana and Florida, of course. And that gives UConn a chance now when UConn plays UCF now and USF to recruit key places. UConn-Cincinnati is going to be a good rivalry; UConn-Temple down the road and then UConn playing games in Texas. These are, look, it’s not like the Big 12 is going to get all the players in Texas – or Oklahoma. And Tulsa is a great addition as you know they have a long history of being good in both sports. It’s a small good, really high quality academic institution…you know, Danny Manning, new coach [in basketball] is really going to make a difference. Kevin Ollie, Danny Manning, Larry Brown [SMU] Mick Cronin [Cincinnati], go down the list. I have mentioned the Florida schools and East Carolina will build their basketball program.

“And Navy [coming in 2015 when the conference championship game comes too] everybody loves Navy. Navy coming to play UConn in football and UConn going down there will be a special game.

I also asked Aresco about East Carolina which packs a fanbase like nobody’s business, win, lose or draw and that base will travel far and wide for the Pirates. I’ve always described theirs fans as gnats – in a good way. They’re just in a frenzy about their football program. It’s fun to see and tingling to be around. Anyway…

“See, you know. You know your stuff. A lot of people don’t know this. East Carolina in bowl games that we’re in will bring a lot of people. I have a long history with Terry Holland. When I was at ESPN I did a national deal with East Carolina. East Carolina’s games were featured nationally on ESPN back in 1991 through 1995 or ’96, a five-year deal. I’ve been there 50,000 people show up. I’ve been to their spring game, 15 to 20,000 show up there. The 50,00 is a regular occurrence. The history wih Ernest Byner, Jeff Blake. It’s a great program and look at the exposure they’re going to get that they didn’t get before.”

“I told our staff that whatever happens, we’re going to keep our poise , we’re going to make sure we’re deliberate, we’re going to make whatever decisions we have to make and we’re not going to take it personally because people have reasons for doing what they do whether it’s for finanacial or this reason or that reason and in the end, the high road is always the best road. It just is, period,” Aresco said.

“And it’ll benefit us I think but that’s just the way we wanted to do it. It’s the right way to do it. Ir creates a good feeling, a feeling that you’re cooperating. We had presidents and ADs that supported the way we were going to approach it all. We do have the ability now to have these relationships in the future. If you have acrimony and rnacor and bitterness then it ain’t gonna work. And by the way, my fellow commissioners, John [Swofford of the ACC] have been friends for many years. Jim Delany [of the Big Ten] and I have been friends many years, Mike Slive [SEC], too, we had to go after teams from other conferences. Britton Banowsky [Conferece-USA] and I are very good friends and I would talk to him and be very clear with what we were thinking about. John Swofford was very honest with me with what they were thinking about when they decided ultimately, we knew we they were going to take somebody. The commissioners all get in the room and  they all get along. Look, the Big 12 almost imploded. The Big Ten has taken a team from the ACC. The Pac-12 had the issue with the Big 12 at one point remember and did end up with Colorado and yet the commissioners get in the room and they talk things over and there’s a collegiality because you can’t take it personally and I think that’s very important. You have to focus on building.

“Keeping relationships with schools that left is part of it. That’s absolutely part of it and the rest is to be very intent on competing, have a real fierce determination to be relevant and to compete and I think our presidents and ADs have that and it’s up to me and our conference staff to make sure we give our schools those opportunities that’s why we’re working hard bowls, we’re working hard on venues, we worked hard on making sure financially,  everybody was happy with the way we were going to do business in our conference, making sure that we have good relationships among our own schools….we’re looiking ahead. We’ve got a lot to do. We’ve got a lot to do but we’ve gottent through a lot. I think everybody is pleased we got through it but we have a lot to do.”

SNY was on campus with the football team the final week of spring practice…

From UConn….

UConn Athletic Communications — May 15, 2013 – SNY To Debut “UConn Football All Access” Documentary

 NEW YORK (May 25, 2013) – SNY will premiere an exclusive, one-hour documentary titled “UConn Spring Football All Access” on Thursday, May 16at 9:30 p.m.  This in-depth show lifts the curtain on this  UConn’s football program as SNY’s cameras followed the team and coaches on and off the field during the final weekend of spring practice – allowing viewers to get a glimpse of what it is like to be a part of the Huskies’ football program. 

 The show will also air on Friday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m., Monday, May 20 at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 25 at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m. and Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day) at 3:00 p.m.

 The documentary is produced in a similar fashion to SNY’s Huskies All-Access program – which followed the UConn women’s basketball team during the intense first week of practice as they prepared for their 2012-13 championship season. 

 “UConn Spring Football All Access” delivers viewers the ultimate insider’s perspective as this behind-the-scenes documentary brings fans into the closed-door coaches meetings – providing an intimate look at head coach Paul Pasqualoni and his coaching staff.  The show features detailed footage from team and positional meetings to the UConn coaches discussing player recruitment, player development and coaching techniques in order to get the team properly prepared for the season.

SNY’s camera’s also followed several players – who were wired for sound – around campus to give fans a glimpse into a typical day-in-a-life of the student-athlete.  “UConn Spring Football All Access” will also showcase team practices, player weight-room sessions and even team meals to provide a comprehensive, all-access look at the program leading up to UConn’s annual Blue-White Spring Football Game.

“I have seen an advance version of this documentary and I want to let all sports fans know how exciting I think this show will be for them to watch,” said Pasqualoni. “Everyone who views it, especially Husky fans, will appreciate all the hard work that our players and coaching staff put into preparation during spring practice. It also highlights everything that is offered at UConn academically and how beautiful our campus is.”

SNY is the official television home of the New York Mets and Jets. SNY features unparalleled, exclusive access to the New York Mets with more than 130 live telecasts each season – all produced in HD – as well as other Emmy Award winning Mets entertainment programming.  As the official TV home of the New York Jets, SNY delivers more than 300 hours of exclusive year-round content devoted to Gang Green.  As New York’s leader in local sports TV coverage, SNY delivers the most comprehensive access to all of the Tri-State area’s professional and collegiate sports teams through five nightly sports and entertainment programs – broadcast in state-of-the-art HD – from SNY’s street-level studio in the heart of Manhattan.  SNY’s programming roster also includes classic sports programming, critically acclaimed original entertainment shows and exclusive interview and magazine programs.  Founded by Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, Time Warner and Comcast, SNY is available to viewers throughout New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania, and nationally on DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast Cable and AT&T U-Verse. For additional details on the network, visit www.sny.tv.

Two starting corners in Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz; two starting linebackers in Sio Moore and Jory Johnson; a starting defensive end in Trevardo Williams and a defensive tackle in Ryan Wirth.

Right now UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni is anxious to see who steps up – because several players need to really, on both sides of the ball but the D lost the most.

“The play of the overall defense whether it’s the defensive front, the linebackers or the secondary, ok, we’ve got to have dependable, consistent play out of every one of those units and where we stand right now that’s got to improve,” UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni said. “That’s got to improve for us to have the kind of success we want to have.
“On the other side of that pancake I like the approach, I like what the offense got done this spring. I think they really improved. I think there was significant improvement there. I think the fact they’ve been together now and understand each other and understand what’s expected, the scheme, etc., so I would say on the other side of the pancake I’m pleased with how far the offensive line has come. I’m anxious, kind of excited to see them start preseason.”

The spring game set up was certainly different than in past years. It didn’t include any scoring or a lot of scrimmaging.

That wasn’t the point.

“It was an opportunity to more evaluate the consistency and fundamentals, assignments and techniques than it was the overall how many plays can you run and how many different defenses and blitzes you can be in, so the emphasis was more making sure that when the players heard the play or the defensive call they knew exactly what their assignment was because you’re playing a lot of younger players and I didn’t want anybody confused. I didn’t want any mental paralysis, not knowing what to do, and not being able to play full speed.

“I wanted to evaluate the guys on the defensive line guys like Julian Campenni, Mikal Myers, Angelo Pruitt, Andreas Knappe, Tim Willman. I wanted to see a basic approach and see exactly where they are. The linebackers, Graham Stewart, Jefferson Ashiru. The offensive line I wanted to see Tyler Samra. I wanted to see Richard Levy. I wanted to see where those guys were when they knew exactly what to do, you know? That was more the emphasis of the spring game and I thought we got done what we needed. From an evaluation standpoint, it gives me a good picture. Now you go back and ask me the question what’s my concern? I just told you what my concerns were. That’s based on 15 practices culminating with the spring game so I know exactly where we are right now going into the summer. So when I have exit meetings with every player on what I think they have to do to get better and what we have to do collectively to get better as a team I’m able to give them facts that are backed by evidence on film. So I think that’s an important process you go through so everybody is clear on what they have to do and what we need to do to start this preseason camp.”

What didn’t need to be said is that this is a big year for the program and third-year coach Paul Pasqualoni. No shock there coming of two 5-7 seasons and no bowl games following a BCS appearance. On the heels of all that the 2013 schedule is the toughest UConn has seen. Bottom line: the Huskies won’t go 5-7 again without major changes but any change in the pattern of how Pasqualoni handles it all personally could be an issue too – so don’t expect any changes in how he handles it all personally.     

What’s your approach to 2013? Coming off a pair of 5-7s are you feeling it, personally?

“When you’re at this level of competition I think you’re a pretty competitive individual and that’s not just me I think that’s the nature of this game in it attracts very, very competitive people,” Pasqualoni said. “So you compete on a daily basis. You compete on a weekly basis and you’re working and preparing the team I think with every hour that you have, every ounce of energy that you have, trying to do the best job preparing and teaching and managing the program every single day. So I think there’s an approach that you have, a philosophy that you have; I think that you stick with what you believe in; that you work as hard as you can work at it and you try to manage the program, attract the best players, have the best players you can in your program and you work on getting the kids ready to play this tough schedule we have beginning with Towson State which is not going to be any box of chocolates.

(“You know I’m watching the LSU film and they’re giving LSU all they can handle at LSU…don’t you guys in the media be surprised when you see a good Towson State team come in here. Every player on their offensive line is a senior and played last year and are very good players. They’ve got a good program there, very good ).  But you’re trying to compete, you’re trying to prepare, you’re trying to leave no stone unturned. That’s how you approach it and you do the absolute best you can do and you believe in what you’re doing. If you do those things everything else will take care of itself. You can’t worry about all that other stuff. You can’t. That’s always been my approach.”

DC

You have to win though, right, coming off a pair of 5-7 seasons and now facing the toughest schedule the program has ever had. Given all that what is the approach for 2013?

“Hopefully we can put the team together and everybody in the right position where with their skill set we can maximize what they can do for us and get this secondary, the corners, on defense, replace the linebackers the corners, replace Ryan Wirth up front,” Pasqualoni said. ”The offensive line has been together now. That unit is back. Jimmy Bennett is back. The approach is to put the thing together to maximize the talent we have and to move forward and play smart football, not turn the ball over and not give up big plays. At the end of the day, the goal is to score more points than they do. That’s what’s important. I like our approach to football. We’ve just got to get into these games and play smarter than we’ve played and when I say smarter we just can’t…we’ve got to have a high regard for the ball. We can’t turn the ball over and we can’t have dumb penalties and we can’t have lapses and inconsistent play on defense and give up a big play.”

DC

Final exams finished at UConn on Friday and the majority of the Huskies have gone home until June 1 when they will come back for summer school  but also the always-important strength and conditioning workouts.

“It’s one of the great times of the year where you can focus on strength and speed,” UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni said Tuesday morning. “I’ve always viewed that time as important for two reasons: 1) you can never be strong enough in this game and the second reason, and it is as important, is the durability factor because the stronger you are, the more flexible you are, the more you work through the full range of motion in exercise in the weight room, the more durable you become and the less likely you’re going to have one of these injuries that’s a shoulder or an elbow, a knee and those types of things.  I’m hopeful as they’re home through May – and I saw kids who are still on campus yesterday lifting weights on their own voluntary time – I’m hopeful  that they get something done even on their own the next three weeks.

With the understanding that you like to have recruits at your camps for deeper evaluations, still, is it concerning that with top targets committing, that you don’t have a player committed to the Class of 2014 yet? (Note: Pasqualoni, like any coach, NCAA coach is prohibited by that body to talk specifics of recruiting until the player(s) have signed a letter of intent which for football isn’t until the first Wednesday in February).  

“No,” Pasqualoni said. “Obviously the high-level guy you’re absolutely sure of, you always welcome. You know that. But this year we don’t have a large group of seniors this year. I think our senior count is 11. So our philosophy has always been, the ideal condition, is to have them in your camp over the summer. We’re working very, very hard on the actual recruitment process of having them come into our camp and the response to that has been very good as it has been. Last year 13 of the 25 we signed were in our camp so that’s where our focus is right now. The staff is out this week. This is the last week of the actual being out on the road and then we come back in. We try to do our due diligence every day in keeping it current, getting the offers out…so I think we’re where we want to be in the overall evaluation process. I think we know who the top guys are in our key areas. I think we have a real good handle on not only the top guys, I would go so far to say those players who are in the Division I prospect category. The staff has done a great job, the big picture, overall evaluation process. Between now and the end of June we’ll try hard to get these guys on campus and work with them and be sure of what we’re doing and try to get some commitments.

What are you hearing from the recruits? Have they talked about concerns surrounding UConn’s future, the conference, etc?

“In conversations it comes up,” Pasqualoni said. ”There’s no question it comes up – but our schedule and who we play is really what’s discussed. The approach here and obviously the goal here is to be the best we can be and win the games on our schedule, focus on the Huskies being the best we can be regardless of what conference we’re in. If we can do that we’ll be in great shape and that will answer a lot of these questions that are asked. I think when you look at our schedule we have seven home games. If we’re able to put together a successful season with the teams we play I think that, without saying a word, answers a lot of questions.”

DC

May 13, 2013

ESPN Regional Television Announces 2013 Bowl Information

ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN, has determined the date, time and network for each the company’s seven owned and operated bowl games for the upcoming season. The Gildan New Mexico Bowl will kick off the bowl season on Saturday, Dec. 21, and will conclude with the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
The eighth edition of the Gildan New Mexico Bowl will be played Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN from University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M. The game will feature a team from the Mountain West Conference against a team from the Pac-12 Conference.

Las Vegas Bowl
The Las Vegas Bowl will be played Saturday, Dec. 21, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. The 22nd annual game will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas and feature the top choice from the Mountain West Conference against the fifth pick from the Pac-12 Conference.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg
The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg will be played Monday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. on ESPN. From Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, the game showcases a team from the American Athletic Conference (formerly the BIG EAST) against a team from Conference USA.

Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl
The Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl will be played on Christmas Eve for the ninth time – kicking off at 8 p.m. on ESPN from Aloha Stadium. In its 12th year, the bowl will pit a team from the Mountain West Conference against a team from Conference USA.

Texas Bowl
The Texas Bowl will be played Friday, Dec. 27, at 6 p.m. on ESPN. The game is played at Reliant Stadium in Houston and features teams from the Big 12 and Big Ten Conferences.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
The 11th edition of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will be played Monday, Dec. 30, at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN. Played at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, the game will feature a team from the Mountain West Conference vs. the U.S. Naval Academy, pending bowl eligibility.

BBVA Compass Bowl
The eighth annual BBVA Compass Bowl will be played Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1 p.m. on ESPN. The game is played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., and will pit a team from the American Athletic Conference (formerly the BIG EAST) against a team from the Southeastern Conference.

A: Hey Dave. I would say no need to get nervous now but I know realistically that’s not enough. I would say the staff is extremely confident in its ability to evaluate talent, trusts their own eyes. What I’m getting at is they will really bear down on who they want after they get them to camp on campus next month. They will work like heck to get kids to camp, evaluate and go from there and my guess is you may see things pick up after that because it happened last year. Really there’s nothing to be nervous about today unless youre a nervous person by nature like me. Also, kids may have made their choices today but I’ve been doing this long enough and you’ve probably been a fan long enough to know that choice may not be the same tomorrow. Have a good weekend Dave…

A: I’m doing allright Tom thanks for asking. How are you? Yes you will be able to participate in the mailbag and chats without being a Facebook user and you can catch me on twitter as well @desmondconner…Coaches are on road now. It was quiet last year too and then all of a sudden…

A: Hey Ryan – thanks for asking. I’m getting there. I most certainly do. Can you send me your stats (email, phone) and we’ll patch it up: dconner@courant.com. Thanks

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A: Jesse will be back. Click here to read our story on Jesse, the first day of spring practrice last month.

A: Mmmm

In recent weeks Gratz has opened up on his personal story here. This is tremendous news on top of all the rest lately for him and his family. Good stuff…

Congratulations to both D-Gratz and Dana ….

DC

A: Alex: He – Greg McKee I’m assuming we’re talking about? – was recruited to play here, signed a letter of intent to play here and was at the school before the incident. The fact he never played is irrelevant. The incident is not. Maybe it should come down now I don’t know. I do know it’s not my decision what goes up, comes down, how long it stays etc. but if I could suggest maybe looking at another story on the page or Courant pages if it bothers you that much? Just a suggestion – Thanks Alex

Anyway…

“I thought the draft went good for our guys and I liked the fit for each of the guys,” Pasqualoni said. “I think Sio [Moore] being out with Oakland they’re a little bit more of a 3-4 team so there’s things there that he can do and rush the passer on third down. I like the fit for Trevardo [Williams] a lot down in Houston. They’ll make him a 3-4 outside linebacker so he’ll be in a two-point stance on first and second down which we tried to do a little bit with here and on third down he’ll put his hand down in the ground and rush the passer.

“I think with the people down in Houston [linebackers coach] Reggie Herring and [defensive coordinator] Wade Phillips, I think in that system, if Trevardo is going to be able to make the transition to the outside linebacker position I think the 3-4 scheme that the Texans are in is as good as it gets for him.

“Ryan Griffin down there [also in Houston] with all the tight ends, obviously they’ve got a Pro Bowl tight end in [Owen] Daniels. Brian Pariani, the tight ends coach, liked the flexibility and how many different things that Ryan Griffin did here as a tight end. He played the regular tight end spot, he played the fullback spot and he played the wide receiver spot which are all the things in the [head coach Gary] Kubiak system that the tight ends have got to be able to do. The terminology will be different but the concepts will all be the same so I think they feel like Ryan Griffin is going to go in there and learn this stuff right away so they can see what he can do.

“Nick Williams getting a chance with the Redskins as a returner and slot receiver I think that’s good. I think Mike Smith [also with the Texans] getting an opportunity is good as well. I like the fit for Blidi [Wreh-Wilson] the Titans are more of a man-to-man, bump and run team. That’s what they want to do. I think that’s Blidi’s strong suit. Jacksonville wants a mixed zone along with some man and I think that’s what [Dwayne] Gratz does well.

“I think these guys in the NFL did their job. They knew the kids well and I think for our players it worked out and I just a call from the Ravens and they’re going to bring [defensive tackle] Ryan Wirth in on Thursday. They’re going to bring him in with the rookies and see what he can do.”

And now to this draft picks/talent/wins deal we’ve been hearing and talking about.

“Well if you turn the ball over [on offense] and you give up a big play at an inopportune time [on defense] regardless you’re chances of winning are slim,” Pasqualoni said. “That would be my first response to it. The biggest factor in winning football games, still, and it’s no revelation, nothing new and it’s not anything anybody doesn’t know, it’s that the turnover…if you turn the ball over in tight games you stand a good chance of losing, No.1.”

That answer won’t be good enough for those who simply don’t like Pasqualoni so then we’ll go to the facts which are challenged more today than they’ve ever been but… 

Did you know UConn was tied for 88th in the country for the most turnovers lost by the offense with 26? Did you know UConn ranked 110th in interceptions thrown with 18? Idaho was the worst in Division I-A with 22. Did you know the UConn was ranked 100th in the nation allowing 2.75 sacks per game? We already know about rushing attack, ranked 117th of 120 schools, 88 yards per game. QB Chandler Whitmer (222 yards per game) ranked in the top 60 throwers but he only had nine touchdown passes.

If you want to know why UConn didn’t win more games, folks? Start with the offense. If you want to know how and why the Huskies stayed in games and had opportunities to win them it was because of the defense led by four players who got drafted. The people who saw the games know that.

“No.2,” Pasqualoni said. “Over the last two years we’ve had good representation of defensive players at the Combine. We’ve got to get to the point where we’re sending offensive players to the Combine but we need more playmakers and we need more production on offense and hopefully as we move forward that will happen for us.” 

 DC

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The Texans called former UConn receiver Mike Smith in the sixth round of the NFL Draft Saturday…

He had worked out for the team earlier this month.

“They called me about the sixth round, Coach Kirksey did – [Texans receivers coach Larry Kirksey] - and he was telling me they were really interested in me and stuff like that,” Smith said a short while ago. “They told me they wouldn’t be able to draft me because they didn’t have a seventh round pick but that they wanted to sign me immediately after the draft if I didn’t sign anywhere else or get drafted.

“I’m going to get a great chance to go out there and do what I’ve got to do, impress these coaches. Coach Kirksley likes me so i have to go in there and do what I’ve got to do. It doesn’t matter who is in front of me. I’m going to go in there work. You can’t go in there star-struck like ‘oh man there’s this guy or that guy’ when you’re trying to make a team you can’t have that type of mindset. You have to go out there and eat just like everybody else.” 

You know Mike is from Houston.

He said the Texans facilities are about 30 minutes from where he lives. Nice.

Teammates Trevardo Williams and Ryan Griffin drafted in the fourth and sixth rounds respectively by the Texans should really make Smith even more comfortable as he tries to find himself a place on the final 53-man roster.

The Texans start OTA (Organized Team activities) May 21, Minicamp start June 12.

“I talked to Trevardo after the draft I said, ‘Trevardo guess who just signed with the Texans? When I told him he was like, ‘shut up!’ he couldn’t believe it. I haven’t talked to Griff yet but I’m going to be pretty excited to see him down here, too.”

DC

UConn Athletic Communications — April 26, 2013 — UConn NFL Draft Quotes

Dwayne Gratz, Jacksonville Jaguars Cornerback

Description of waiting to be drafted:

“I was very nervous not knowing where I could end up. We haven’t played since December 1, so I’ve just wanted to get back on the field. It was a long process and I was just waiting for it to be over with.”

On prospect of going to Jacksonville:

“[Jacksonville] came to [UConn] to work me out and I knew that they really believed in my abilities to grow as a player and a person. I’m looking forward to going out there and playing again.”

On where he fits as a NFL cornerback:

“Right now, [Jacksonville] needs help at the cornerback position, so if they’re looking for someone to come in and compete as a starter, I consider myself becoming a starter soon. I’m going to compete and continue what I’ve been doing, which is working hard. I think I’ll be in a good position and everything will work out.”

What it was like to see Sio Moore and Blidi Wreh-Wilson drafted soon after:

“It was very exciting. We put in a lot of work playing for UConn for five years. We all wanted to see each other go and it didn’t matter who went first or last.”

Sio Moore, Oakland Raiders Linebacker

Thoughts of being a third round pick:

“You never know what’s going to happen in these situations. People say a lot of things and you can get your hopes up, but for me it’s what I’m used to. I always have a chip on my shoulder. The whole process has reinforced the entire thing. I’m glad to be a part of [the Oakland Raiders].”

Reaction to Gratz getting drafted:

“I was happy, man. That’s like my brother right there. It was just a blessing for him to pave the way for his future. There’s nothing I can do, but feel happy for Dwayne and I’m glad he got the opportunity.”

On finding out he was being taken by the Raiders:

“I just saw that it was a California area code and knew that they had a couple of picks. The GM, Reggie McKenzie, asked if I wanted to be a Raider and I said, ‘you’re dog-gone right’.”

On feeling anxious as the draft went on:

“After New York and Chicago had gone in the second round because I had met with Chicago the day before the draft and I thought that was going to be a sure thing. It didn’t happen and I’m just glad that the right organization picked me.”

Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Tennessee Titans Cornerback

On the waiting process:

“Minutes go by long…I’m not going to lie. My agent gave me a range [where I would be drafted] and I went in the range that they gave me, so I knew it was coming my way. Once I saw seven [Dwayne] and three [Sio] go, I knew seven [Blidi] was coming soon.”

On Tennessee’s level of interest:

“They had told me that they were disappointed that I didn’t work out for them. I thought that the pro day was the best way for me to show what I can do. At the end of the day they picked me and I’m just glad that they did.”

On being close with Dwayne Gratz and Sio Moore:

“We came in and we all were impact freshmen. Our redshirt-freshmen year, Sio had a heck of a year, Dwayne had a good year and I had a pretty good year. It was crazy that we all went so close in the draft. We all went third round and we all went to good teams.”