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Some thoughts on the Spring Game that I didn't watch because UConn is not good at letting fans see things

I wanted to do a fair amount of writing about the football team this weekend. I'm not nearly as big a football guy as I am a basketball one, but I realize that spring football matters (at least some what) and can help set the tone for what is to come. I had planned to have an OpenThread up, along with a nice little recap, but I didn't wind up watching the game, and I doubt you did either, to quote Shawn Courchesne: " By my count, really, I counted, there's about 780 people at the UConn Blue-White spring scrimmage at Rentschler Field."

Why didn't I watch the game? Because UConn's athletic department proved to be exactly as adept as I've always suspected it is and didn't broadcast it online (nor was it on SNY for you East coasters). That's not because they lack the technology, after all last year's game was online, it was just because.... well, I don't know. I can just say that there isn't a whole lot UConn actually controls the rights to show, it's basically pre-season basketball, the blue/white game and baseball. They chose not to show the B/W game and for baseball they want me to subscribe to their HuskyVision service (not going to happen and c'mon, do you expect me to believe Bob's Discount Furniture can't pony up the money to sponsor it?), so yeah, great job UConn.

Anyway, I had to resort to following Meacham on the twitter feed (he was listening to WTIC) and today's papers to get my coverage. The gist of it? Nothing went well, the offense might somehow be more boring than last year and of UConn's five possible quarterbacks the only one who showed any spark was 5th-stringer Blaise Driscoll had 43 yards on two completed passes and a last-second touchdown. That 43 yard number is pretty sobering when you realize the other four QBs combined to throw for 69 yards in the other 59 minutes of the game. At least the defense might be good.

Oh, and if you cared, Blue won 16-14.

The best of Meacham's tweets and an assortment of links after the jump (and you want to read the tweets).

Star-divide

  • Plus side: ESPN could continue getting tons of mileage out of that QB carousel graphic from last year
  • Somewhere, Randy Edsall is manipulating his Paul Pasqualoni voodoo doll to call inside handoffs and cackling.
  • The lack of excitement in this game prompts me to once again call for the Blue & White game to be played at Memorial Stadium on campus [editors note: please god yes]
  • We've got a running clock in the second half. Something something junior varsity something something.
  • Congrats to today's winners: apathy RT @JoePerezSports Driscoll to Teddy Baker for the win!!!! Blue 16, White 14. FINAL

UConn's passing attack doesn't exactly take off - GreenwichTime
UConn's quarterbacks were a combined 11-for-37 for 112 yards. They threw three interceptions and one just touchdown pass -- though two of their other throws did result in scores, pick-sixes for the defense.

Dave Solomon: Plenty of Need for Work for UConn Football - StamfordAdvocate
So all things considered, there’s plenty of room for the UConn football team to grow.

College Football: QB contender shines in final minute of UConn spring game - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin
Heading into its annual Blue-White Spring Game, UConn had four options at quarterback for next season. After the final minute of the exhibition, the list may have grown to five.

College football, UConn, Blue-White Spring Game - Courant.com
It could have just been the suffocating defense that made moving the ball a challenge for the offense throughout 15 spring practices, culminating in a 16-14 win for the Blue over the White team in UConn's spring game in front of 2,500 brave-hearts.

Breaking Down UConn's Blue-White Spring Game - Courant.com
That the UConn defense has the potential to be pretty darned good. Both the offense and defense ran basic packages all game, but the defense was outstanding.

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The spring game matters?

Spring football is for putting walk-on quarterbacks on the top of the depth chart for motivational tactics and writing articles about tall receivers who likely won’t ever make an impact. (Not that anyone would ever do that.)

Also, why didn’t you just listen to it on WTIC?

by UConnBlog Justin on Apr 17, 2011 7:45 PM EDT reply actions  

Because while I'm willing to debase myself to watch spring football

I won’t go so low as to just listen to it, especially since I don’t know who anyone is.

And yes, its maybe, probably very pointless, but with 4 QBs in the mix (five now) I feel like there is some value in seeing them in front of a live defense, before a crowd in as game-ish a situation as you can have in April.

by Andrew Porter on Apr 17, 2011 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

memorial field

would be an ideal spot for the Spring Game. it seats what, 15,000? very easy for us students to get to.

the problem is, of course, that Memorial won’t exist in a few years because that’s where the new basketball practice facilities are going to be built. the turf behind the field house wouldn’t be an awful alternative if they go ahead with that plan.

by mp_UConnBlue on Apr 17, 2011 7:59 PM EDT reply actions  

I'd settle for the great lawn in front of Wilbur Cross/across from East Campus

Anything to actually get the students to actually feel a connection to the football team and maybe drum up some interest among a student body that I imagine is still getting over its hangovers from two weeks ago.

TheUConnBlog.com

Thoroughly enjoying life atop the Big East.

by Kevin Meacham on Apr 17, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

When Memorial's gone

they’ll have built a new soccer stadium. It’d take some gerry-rigging but you could get the game done in there. It should be on campus.

by Andrew Porter on Apr 17, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Wait, we're building a new Morrone?

When did that happen? Also, I’d rather see us build a new baseball stadium since we’re the new BEAST OF THE EAST in that sport, too (two games ahead of whoever’s in 2nd place!).

TheUConnBlog.com

Thoroughly enjoying life atop the Big East.

by Kevin Meacham on Apr 17, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Correct

If I’m not mistaken Memorial is being torn down and a new soccer stadium is being built there and Morrone is being torn down for the basketball practice facility.*

*All of this depends on people donating money to the school, which, well, doesn’t happen much.

by Andrew Porter on Apr 17, 2011 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

it definitely

needs to be on campus. there aren’t excuses for it not being there.

as it stands right now, memorial would be the best venue. even Morrone seats about 4000, and the turf behind the field house (i looked it up) seats 2k. Move some of the temporary bleachers around memorial over and you’ve got a reasonable capacity in a pinch.

also, i’d thought the new bball facilities were switched from morrone to memorial. could be wrong, but that was the last i’d heard.

by mp_UConnBlue on Apr 18, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

I was there...

But only because I was desperate to tailgate. It was probably a better day for the fishermen in the morning (16th was opening day).

It was a bit miserable in both weather and execution. The good news is that we have 15 practices in now under the new coaching staff. The D was up in the O’s grill all day.

Not a lot of success in the air was because drops as well as poor throws. Some catchable balls that we saw last year. We’ll see if we get all ‘high-powered’ in September…

Otherwise, we are young or inexperienced (or both) at QB… somebody did tweet or comment that they should send out the WR with trash cans while JM was at QB… those internet videos can come back to haunt you!

Best part of the day: the kid doing the ‘dress like a husky’ promotion who, upon getting to the end zone, spikes the ball and flexes for the crowd. Great crowd presence at 7(?) yrs old. (Delone was later interviewing him to see if he could go in at QB.)

Don't touch it, it's EVIL!

by uconnfbfan on Apr 18, 2011 5:27 AM EDT reply actions  

Inside handoffs

I’ve been calling it since DeLeone was hired. It’s his bread, butter, meat, potatoes, dessert, and beverage of choice.

Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange

by bigbluethruandthru on Apr 18, 2011 4:41 PM EDT reply actions  

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