If football doesn't work out, Andre Dixon can always become a runway model.

You may remember Ryan Phalen as the winner of the fourth annual Runway Challenge football picks contest this past fall. He actually took me up on my offer to take over the blog for a day. I am planning to run the challenge again this season, and am looking into the possibility of a cash prize or gift card from a sponsor, if that's something you might be interested in.

Anyway, Ryan has been working tirelessly to organize a bus trip from Connecticut to Michigan for the Huskies' season opener on Sept. 4. (I am reminded of "The Simpsons" episode where Homer organizes a bus trip to the Super Bowl...but don't worry about counterfeit tickets being printed on crackers. You have to get those on your own.) The trip has been quite a big hit, and there's now a second bus that will make a stop in North Haven to pick up anyone from the Greater New Haven area. Ryan also has a block of hotel rooms, with some remaining. He emailed me the details this morning, and are as follows:

Chip-

As a follow-up to my blog post a few months back, I’ve been meaning to send you information on my Michigan bus trip and hotel info. We have two buses, with one bus that will be stopping in North Haven (at the Exit 10 commuter lot off I-91). The first bus will stop in Torrington and Waterbury (I will be on this one) and the second bus will stop in Simsbury, Manchester, and North Haven (a very good UConn friend of mine will be running this one).

The buses will have the following itineraries on Friday, Sept 3rd:
Torrington-Waterbury: Torrington at 6am; Waterbury 6:30am
Simsbury-Manchester-North Haven: Simsbury 5:15am; Manchester 5:45am; North Haven 6:30-6:45am

For those that have seen my posts elsewhere, the Four Points is totally sold out (55 rooms! Way to go UConn), but I still have 8 rooms available (for bus people only at the moment) at the Holiday Inn Near U of M for $139/night plus tax for the two nights (about $300 total when I booked it). Also, if anyone wants to share rooms to keep the cost down let me know- I have a few singles that asked if anyone else wanted to split a room.

Both buses will arrive in Ann Arbor around 7 p.m., stopping first at the Four Points and then at the Holiday Inn. The bus will take us to the game around 11-11:30am so we can tailgate (food included! Location TBD), to the hotel after the game, and then back to CT on Sunday morning arriving in CT between 7 and 9pm.

If anyone wants to join a bus please let me know as soon as possible- payment ($150/pp) is due in the next week or so (August 15th at the absolute latest) in order for me to make the final payment on the buses. Also please note that this does not include tickets- people will have to grab their own from UConnHuskies.com. Right now I have 60 people spread across two 56-person buses- come join the largest UConn contingent on the road!

Thanks Chip! Look forward to seeing you out there.

Ryan Phalen
Phalen@ironwoodcap.com

Edsall gave an update today.

• Incoming freshman Geremy Davis had surgery, and he isn't expected to play this season.

• Brett Manning is now on scholarship. He is a backup fullback who plays special teams. He has one semester left, and will be on scholarship for that semester.

• Edsall confirmed D.J. Shoemate is transferring here from USC. "He is an outstanding athlete, and a good person. I had the opportunity to meet him on an official visit. And he's going to be a tailback. My job, is I'm always trying to better our team." Edsall said Shoemate declined the option to speak to the media today. He will do that after first practice.

Shoemate will get the opportunity for carries if he shows he deserves them in practice. "Jordan has shown what he can do. He's a 1,200-yard rusher. D.J. coming in to compete for carries, and whoever the best guy is will play. It's competition, it's guys who can do that, and its every position. He has the opportunity to come in and win carries, just like Robbie, Martin, JJ, Meme...We've got to have more than one guy at that position."

Edsall said Shoemate, listed at 6-feet, 220 pounds, has shiftiness and speed and told Edsall all he wants to do is win.

ESPN Los Angeles reports that USC junior fullback D.J. Shoemate is leaving the Trojans for the chance to play tailback at UConn. "At UConn I will have an opportunity to play right away and hopefully contribute to an up-and-coming program," Shoemate told ESPN.com. USC has now lost four players since NCAA sanctions. Shoemate was a teammate of backup UConn quarterback Johnny McEntee at Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif.

News from today's teleconference with Randy Edsall

• Malik Generett is ineligible for the season due for failing to adhere to NCAA standards. Marcus Aiken of Bristol was dismissed by the university for university policy issues. Edsall wouldn't specify, but said it wasn't a legal issue and strongly hinted it was academics. Edsall said Aiken wants to be back at school, and plans to rectify his status. He said there will be no position switches.

• Aiken is a wide receiver, but the loss of Generett is a real blow to the depth at the position. Though listed as a second-stringer behind Michael Smith on the post spring depth chart, he showed his potential. He has size (6-4, 210) and great athleticism. Generett had seven catches for 60 yards in the spring game before suffering a sprained A.C. joint in his shoulder.

• The injury report is promising. Jimmy Bennett, Jesse Joseph and Blidi Wreh-Wilson are all cleared to begin at full strength for the first day of camp on August 9. Nick Williams (hip) is expected to be back sometime in August. Alex Polito should be cleared by the end of camp. Emmanuel Omokoro is targeting a late September return. Greg Lloyd is in position to be ready by August, but Edsall made sure to point out, "it depends on how hard Greg works...if he works hard, he should be OK."

• The team is awaiting the results of an MRI to see if incoming freshman WR Geremy Davis will need knee surgery. All of the freshmen recruits reported and are "adjusting well".

• Edsall will open three practices to the public: Friday, Aug. 13 from 3:15-5:35 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 19 from 8:10-10:15 a.m. and Tues. Aug. 24 from 9:10-11:30 a.m.