The 2011 schedules have been released. Here's what it will look like for UConn.

CONNECTICUT

Thu., Sept. 1: Fordham
Sat., Sept. 10: at Vanderbilt
Fri., Sept. 16: Iowa State (8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Sept. 24: at Buffalo
Sat., Oct. 1: Western Michigan
Sat., Oct. 8: at WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Oct. 15: USF
Wed., Oct. 26: at PITTSBURGH (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 5: SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 19: LOUISVILLE
Sat., Nov. 26: RUTGERS
Sat., Dec. 3: at CINCINNATI (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

And the rest of the Big East

CINCINNATI

Thu., Sept. 1: Austin Peay
Sat., Sept. 10: at Tennessee
Sat., Sept. 17: Akron
Thu., Sept. 22: North Carolina State (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 1: at Miami (Ohio)
Sat., Oct. 15: LOUISVILLE
Sat., Oct. 22: at USF
Sat., Nov. 5: at PITTSBURGH
Sat., Nov. 12: WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Nov. 19: at RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 26: at SYRACUSE
Sat., Dec. 3: CONNECTICUT (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)


LOUISVILLE

Thu., Sept. 1: Murray State (ESPNU)
Fri., Sept. 9: Florida International (7 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 17: at Kentucky
Sat., Oct. 1: Marshall
Sat., Oct. 8: at North Carolina
Sat., Oct. 15: at CINCINNATI
Fri., Oct. 21: RUTGERS (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 29: SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 5: at WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Nov. 12: PITTSBURGH
Sat., Nov. 19: at CONNECTICUT
Fri., Nov. 25: at USF (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)


PITTSBURGH

Sat., Sept. 3: Buffalo
Sat., Sept. 10: Maine
Sat., Sept. 17: at Iowa
Sat., Sept. 24: Notre Dame (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
Thu., Sept. 29: USF (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 8: at RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 15: Utah
Wed., Oct. 26: CONNECTICUT (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 5: CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 12: at LOUISVILLE
Fri., Nov. 25: at WEST VIRGINIA (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Dec. 3: SYRACUSE (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

RUTGERS

Thu., Sept. 1: North Carolina Central
Sat., Sept. 10: at North Carolina
Sat., Sept. 24: Ohio
Sat., Oct. 1: at SYRACUSE
Sat., Oct. 8: PITTSBURGH
Sat., Oct. 15: Navy
Fri., Oct. 21: at LOUISVILLE (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 29: WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Nov. 5: USF
Sat., Nov. 12: at Army +
Sat., Nov. 19: CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 26: at CONNECTICUT
+ at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.

USF

Sat., Sept. 3: at Notre Dame (3:30 p.m., NBC)
Sat., Sept. 10: Ball State
Sat., Sept. 17: Florida A&M
Sat., Sept. 24: UTEP
Thu., Sept. 29: at PITTSBURGH (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 15: at CONNECTICUT
Sat., Oct. 22: CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 5: at RUTGERS
Fri., Nov. 11: at SYRACUSE (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 19: Miami (Fla.)
Fri., Nov. 25: LOUISVILLE (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
Thu., Dec. 1: WEST VIRGINIA (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

SYRACUSE

Sat., Sept. 3: Wake Forest ^
Sat., Sept. 10: Rhode Island
Sat., Sept. 17: at Southern California
Sat., Sept. 24: Toledo
Sat., Oct. 1: RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 8: at Tulane
Sat., Oct. 22: WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Oct. 29: at LOUISVILLE
Sat., Nov. 5: at CONNECTICUT
Fri., Nov. 11: USF (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 26: CINCINNATI
Sat., Dec. 3: at PITTSBURGH (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
^ date subject to change

WEST VIRGINIA

Sat., Sept. 3: Marshall ^
Sat., Sept. 10: Norfolk State
Sat., Sept. 17: at Maryland
Sat., Sept. 24: LSU (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Oct. 1: Bowling Green
Sat., Oct. 8: CONNECTICUT
Sat., Oct. 22: at SYRACUSE
Sat., Oct. 29: at RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 5: LOUISVILLE
Sat., Nov. 12: at CINCINNATI
Fri., Nov. 25: PITTSBURGH (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
Thu., Dec. 1: at USF (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
^ date subject to change

Most of you knew this already, as Randy Edsall announced as much during Fiesta Bowl week. But here is the UConn release.

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 24, 2011) – Six former University of Connecticut football players will participate in this week’s NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, that runs from February 23 through March 4. The six players are offensive guard Zach Hurd (Waterford, Conn.), linebacker Scott Lutrus (Brookfield, Conn.), linebacker Greg Lloyd (Clermont, Fla.), running back Jordan Todman (North Dartmouth, Mass.), fullback Anthony Sherman (North Attleboro, Mass.) and linebacker Lawrence Wilson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).

The NFL Network will provide extensive coverage of the combine at www.nfl.com/combine/live.

The six invitees is an all-time high for the UConn program in one year. UConn ties with Pittsburgh and West Virginia for most invitees at this year’s combine among BIG EAST schools and only six schools in the country have more players at the combine than UConn.

Todman was an All-American selection this past year and was the unanimous BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He declared for the NFL Draft with one year of college eligibility remaining. He became the first UConn player ever to rush for more than 1,000 yards in two different seasons and had 1,695 this past season.

Hurd was a two-time All-BIG EAST first team selection as both a junior and a senior and started all 40 of UConn’s games over the past three seasons.

Lloyd made 178 tackles over his four-year collegiate career with 14 tackles for a loss and earned second team All-BIG EAST in 2009.

Lutrus was a second team All-BIG EAST selection in 200 and made 40 starts over his Husky career and had 341 career tackles.

Sherman was a consistent performer for the Huskies as a starting fullback and also on special teams. He played in 51 games over his career with 29 starts and made 62 tackles on special teams.

Wilson was a first team All-BIG EAST pick in 2011 and led the conference in tackles. He is the second-leading tackler in UConn history with 449 and started a school-record 50 games.

Tailback Robbie Frey will not return to play football at UConn this fall. He will receive his undergraduate degree in May (history and political science) and use his fifth year of eligibility to enroll at a Division II school to play the 2011 season there while beginning his graduate studies. Frey is expected to enroll and play at Kutztown (Pa.).

“This is a personal and life decision for me,” Frey said through a UConn athletic department press release. “I was going to be able to begin my graduate studies at UConn this fall and play another season for the school. I want to thank everyone associated with the University, who gave me the opportunity to come back for the 2011 season.”

The quote didn't make complete sense until it was explained to me that there were some rumors that Frey was leaving because he wasn't accepted to UConn's graduate program. That isn't true, and it's why Frey said what he said.

Frey certainly would have been a big component once again, not just as a special teams weapon but as the team's most experienced returning tailback it's possible he could have been in for a larger role at the position, if not fighting for the starter's job.

Here at Rentschler Field for today's outdoor game between UConn and Sacred Heart. The set-up is terrific. They carved through a couple of feet of snow and ice on the turf to install the rink, which runs width-wise from the 50-yard line to just across the sideline where the visiting team stands for football. Rentschler is small enough that it makes for a great view for everyone. It's too bad there's only a handful of people on hand to watch the game. Too bad they couldn't get Yale and Quinnipiac to play here on Friday instead of the TD Bank Sports Center. Not sure if they could sell 40,000 tickets for it, but I bet they could come close. Instead, the crowd today looks to be about 103,000 short of the 104,000 they got at Michigan for the outdoor game at the Big House in December.

Should be fun, none the less.

Don Brown, a defensive coordinator at Yale from 1987-92, was hired to the same position at UConn on Friday. Brown is close with Mark Whipple, and was expected to join the UConn staff had Whipple been hired.

New UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni plucked Brown from Randy Edsall’s staff at Maryland. Edsall took Huskies’ special teams coordinator Lyndon Johnson with him when he abruptly left UConn for Maryland last month, and planned to retain Brown as the team’s defensive coordinator, a position he had held there since 2009.

An eye for an eye? Unlikely. But landing Brown is a coup for UConn, which lost longtime defensive coordinator Todd Orlando in the wake of Edsall’s departure. Orlando is now at Florida International.

Brown, a Spencer, Mass. native, was the head coach at Massachusetts from 2004-0
8, and led the Minutemen to the 2006 Division I-AA national final. He also served as head coach at Northeastern (2000-03) and Plymouth State (1993-95).

“We will have a defense that is aggressive, fast and physical,” Brown said. “I believe
in big pressure and penetration and that is what I am going to give the UConn defense. I am excited to get to the campus and work hard to get better every day.”

Connecticut Football Signs 16 Student-Athletes To National Letter Of Intent
2011 Husky Signing Class Represented By 10 Different States
Feb. 2, 2011

STORRS, Conn. - University of Connecticut head football coach Paul Pasquaol
oni announced on Wednesday that the Huskies have signed 16 student-athletes
to a National Letter of Intent to join the UConn program.

Student-athletes in UConn's 2011 signing class hail from 10 different state
s – Georgia (4), Connecticut (3), Massachusetts (2), New York (1), Virgin
ia (2), Delaware (1), Florida (1), Ohio (1) and Pennsylvania (1).

Four of the signees have already enrolled at UConn for the spring 2010 seme
ster – defensive tackle Kenton Adeymi (Wethersfield, Conn.), offensive ta
ckle Dalton Gifford (Fairhaven, Mass.), quarterback Michael Nebrich (Fairfa
x Station, Va.) and tight end Sean McQuillan (Glastonbury, Conn.).

The following is a full signee roster:
Name Pos. Ht. Wt.
Hometown/High School/Prep School
Kamal Abrams WR 6-0 178
Dover, Del./Dover
Andrew Adams FS 5-11 185 Fa
yetteville, Ga./Woodward Academy
Kenton Adeyemi DT 6-4 255 We
thersfield, Conn./Kingwood-Oxford/Fork Union (Va.)
Jefferson Ashiru LB 6-3 230
Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern
Julian Campenni DT 6-0 285
West Pittson, Pa./Wyoming Area
Tyree Clark CB 5-10 170
Tampa, Fla./Alonso
Max DeLorenzo RB 6-0 200
Berlin, Conn./Berlin
Deshon Foxx RB 5-10 175
Lynchburg, Va./Brookfield
Dalton Gifford OT 6-5 275
Fairhaven, Mass./Barnstable/Bridgton Academy
Xavier Hemingway OT 6-4 255 Powd
er Springs, Ga./McEachern
Wilbert Lee SS 6-1 205
Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys and Girls
Sean McQuillan TE 6-2 252
Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury/Avon Old Farms
Michael Nebrich QB 6-1 190 Fairfax Station, Va./Lake Braddock Secondary School
Paul Nwokeji OT 6-5 265
Randolph, Mass./Thayer Academy
David Stevenson CB 5-9 175
Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson
Marquise Vann LB 6-0 223
Cincinnati, Ohio/Fairfield Senior

KAMAL ABRAMS – Honorable mention all-state pick and first team all-confer
ence…played quarterback in high school, but projects to be a wide receive
r at UConn…as a junior, threw for over 1,300 yards and 13 TDs…also had
534 rushing yards and eight TDs…will play in the 56th Annual DFRC Blue-Go
ld All-Star Football Game in June..two-time team captain…Kamal Deshawn Ab
rams…born August 28, 1993.

ANDREW ADAMS --Andrew Tyler Adams…earned First Team All-City/South Fulton
County by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution…played in 2009 GISA All-Star
Game…had ten tackles, two interceptions and two TDs in first round state
playoff game in 2010 vs. Ridgefield HS…team had a 10-2 record in senior s
eason…Andrew Tyler Adams…born August 28, 1993.

KENTON ADEYEMI – Enrolled at UConn for spring 2010 semester…played high
school football at Kingwood-Oxford (Conn.) and then prepped for a season a
t Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia…was an honorable mention all-le
ague selection in high school...an outstanding track and field performer wh
o was second in New England in the discus and foruth in the shot put...name
d to the Honor Roll at Fork Union...Kenton Adetoye Adeyemi…born January 1
3, 1992.

JEFFERSON ASHIRU – Played in Cobb County All-Star Senior Bowl…two-time
Cobb County Player of the Week in 2010…team posted an 11-2 record as a se
nior…three-sport athlete…. high school teammate of UConn signee Xavier
Hemingway…Jefferson Ashiru…born May 25, 1993.

JULIAN CAMPENNI – Named to the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 2A all-s
tate second team…named (Wilkes-Barre) Times-Leader All-Wyoming Valley Con
ference First Team…WVC Small School MVP… made 106 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and forced seven fumbles this past season…team went 8-4
in senior season…will play in the Big 33 Football Classic for the Pennsy
lvania team on June 18…also played for the North team in the Chesapeake B
owl all-star game and had one tackle…Julian M. Campenni…born August 26,
1993.

TYREE CLARK – Team captain who was two year starter…made 85 tackles as
a senior…posted four interceptions as a senior with two forced fumbles an
d two fumble recoveries...as a junior had six interceptions to lead the Tam
pa Bay area…named Honorable Mention All-Hillsborough County by the Tampa
Tribune..Tyree Deandre Clark…born April 18, 1993.

MAX DeLORENZO – Rushed for 2,154 yards as a junior and 5,040 for his care
er to set school records…named Class M MVP this year by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association…a two-time all-state pick by the CHSCA and
the New Haven Register..also played cornerback and had 58 tackles and two
fumble recoveries as a senior…also plays basketball…rushed for 1,397 ya
rds as a senior with 21 TDs as team advanced to Class M quarterfinals…had
a school record 334 yards of rushing with three TDs in Class M championshi
p game win over Bethel as a junior…Maximillian Joseph DeLorenzo…born Ju
ne 18, 1993.

DESHON FOXX – Team captain who earned Associated Press Group AA All-State
honors …named All-Area by the (Lynchburg, Va.) News and Advance ….scor
ed 29 touchdowns as a senior…team went 12-2 in senior year and advanced t
o state Division III semifinals…Deshon Cameron Foxx…born November 27, 1
992.

DALTON GIFFORD -- Enrolled at UConn for spring 2010 semester…enjoyed stan
dout high school career at Barnstable (Mass.) before spending a semester at
Maine's Bridgton Academy...at Barnstable, team won Old Colony League title
in 2009..an All-OCL pick as a senior and played in Eastern Massachusetts S
hriners' All-Star Classic...earned high honor roll accolades at Bridgton...
Dalton Michael Gifford..born June 8, 1992.

XAVIER HEMINGWAY – First Team All-State for Class AAAAA by the Georgia Sp
orts Writers Association… named All-Area by the Atlanta Journal-Constitut
ion for Cobb County...team captain played in the Cobb County All-Star Senio
r Bowl…team went 11-2 in senior season…high school teammate of UConn si
gnee Jefferson Ashiru…Xavier Hemingway..born March 4, 1993.

WILBERT LEE -- Named to the New York Daily News All-City team as a senior
…two-time New York Post All-City selection…rushed for 964 yards and 12
touchdowns in senior year…also had 75 tackles with two interceptions on d
efense…had an injury-shortened junior season , scored five touchdowns –
three through the air, one rushing and another on special teams…also had
40 tackles with three interceptions and a sack with a fumble recovery…ha
d a game-clinching 70-yard run in first round victory in state playoffs in
2008 against Campus Magnet HS…had an interception for a TD and a receivin
g TD in second round playoff win over Sheepshead Bay…Wilbert Daniel Lee
…born February 10, 1992.

SEAN McQUILLAN -- Enrolled at UConn for spring 2011 semester…high school
standout who was a two-year all-state and all-conference honoree...was team
captain at Glastonbury...had career totals of 1,900 rushing yards with 1,4
00 passing yards and 43 touchdowns...team won 2008 Class LL state champions
hip...prepped for a fall 2010 semester at Avon (Conn.) Old Farms….William
Sean McQuillan…born July 12, 1992.

MICHAEL NEBRICH -- First team all-state player and player of the year who e
nrolled at UConn for the spring 2011 semester after graduating from high sc
hool...named Metro Player of the Year by Washington Post, covering the Wash
ington D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas...named the Fairfax (Va.) Times Ma
le Athlete of the Year... ...first team all-region and player of the year honors...all-district and player of the year...in his senior season, broke t
he Virginia state record for all-purpose yards with 4,968 and also scored 5
9 TDs...team won its second consecutive Northern Region and Patriot Distric
t titles... passed for a state record 3,831 yards and state record 262 comp
letions along with 38 TDs (tied for seventh in state history)...had 235 rus
hing carries for 1,136 yards and 21 TDs... in his junior season, led team t
o its first-ever state finals appearance.... passed for 3,290 yards and 22
TDs...had 265 carries for 1,231 yards and 24 TDs...is fourth in state histo
ry with 10,740 yards of total offense(7,963 yards passing and 2,777 yards r
ushing) along with 113 TDs...also earned three letters in baseball as team
won Patriot District title in his junior year...Michael Alan Nebrich…born
April 3, 1993.

PAUL NWOKEJI – Team captain who was first team All-Independent School Lea
gue….Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team member…earned All-New England an
d Lineman of the Year honors from the New England Preparatory School Athlet
ic Council…Paul C. Nwokeji…born June 16, 1993.

DAVID STEVENSON – First-team all-region pick…was MVP of Atlanta Combine
…played in National Underclassmen Combine's All World Gridiron Classic in
December…team went 9-2 in senior season…David Dontae Stevenson…born
December 26, 1992.

MARQUISE VANN – Had 75 tackles and an interception as a senior…was a te
am captain…earned first team All-Greater Miami Conference…also picked u
p all-county honors and second team all-region….Marquise Jourdain Vann…
born November 23, 1992.