Coach Paul Pasqualoni is returning to the Big East as head of the Huskies
Not according to the calendar, of course. The meteorological change of seasons is still weeks away, but college football teams are starting up practice all over the country – even in the brutal heat of Texas – and that means the fall sports season is very much upon us.
The Big East held its annual clambake Monday night in Newport, R.I., and media day followed the next morning at The Hotel Viking. Perhaps the most notable stat from both events belonged to South Florida offensive guard Jeremiah Warren, who consumed seven lobsters under the big tent at Fort Adams State Park. Those who keep track of such things said that tied a conference record. (Together, Warren and I ate about 7 ½ crustaceans. I actually prefer the coconut shrimp served during cocktail hour.)
The UConn Huskies hold their first practice Friday afternoon. A lot has happened since that 48-20 loss to Oklahoma on Jan. 1 and the Paul Pasqualoni era is about to officially begin in Storrs. The Huskies open the season Sept. 1 against Fordham at The Rent. On the thrill-o-meter, that ranks a bit lower than last year’s opener at Michigan.
But the program isn’t exactly in need of thrills right now.
Since the release of the Big East preseason media poll, much has been made of the fact that UConn was picked sixth in the eight-team conference. Last year’s BCS bid to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl apparently erased the memory of many in Connecticut. The Huskies were 5-2 in Big East play and not so far from fourth place (Syracuse at 4-3) or fifth (USF and Louisville tied at 3-4). The top isn’t too far from the bottom in the Big East.
And Pasqualoni heads into his first fall camp with absolutely no idea who will be starting at quarterback against Fordham. Quarterback issues are nothing new at UConn, but Coach P is really playing a game of spin the bottle this time. The restructuring of the offense – not to mention a new system – certainly had to contribute to the forecast that the Huskies will stumble toward the Big East basement.
“That’s legit, I am not embellishing anything,” Pasqualoni said about the QB situation at media day. “I’m not exaggerating. I do not know right now today who the quarterback is going to be. I know who the candidates are going to be. I like the candidates, but I don’t know which one it is going to be.”
The depth chart at QB looks like this heading into the first practice:
4 Mike Box OR
11 Scott McCummings OR
18 Johnny McEntee OR
2 Mike Nebrich
This isn’t a quarterback controversy. It’s a search committee headed by Pasqualoni, who knows the evolution at the QB spot and his ultimate decision will set an important tone for the entire season. Under Randy Edsall last season, the Huskies averaged only 151.1 passing yards a game. That has to improve.
Box, a 6-3 sophomore, is the only one of the candidates who has thrown a pass in college play. He was 6-of-17 for 65 yards last season behind Zach Frazer and Cody Endres. McCummings is a redshirt freshman. McEntee is a junior. Nebrich is a true freshman.
With D.J. Shoemate, the USC transfer, likely taking over at tailback and replacing All-Everything Jordan Todman, the Huskies really are searching for a new offensive leader. Shoemate is the favorite at tailback. Still, the competition there could be intriguing. And the coaching staff wants to get the offensive line set.
But the QB situation seems sure to dominate the news from camp, even though Coach P is preaching patience.
“I would like to make the decision as soon as I can,” Pasqualoni said. “What that means I am not sure, but I am prepared to go the distance. I am prepared to get it right. I want to get it right no matter what it takes.”
Pasqualoni said the last time he went through something like this was 1995 when he was at Syracuse and decided on a starter during pregame warmups before the opener at North Carolina. The winning candidate was named Donovan McNabb. He played every snap the next four years.
We can’t predict things will work out quite that well for the Huskies. But you never know.
Before Monday night, who knew one person could eat seven lobsters – all in one sitting.
– Ken Davis
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