Today was the first of the weekly Big East teleconferences and here's a synopsis of what Paul Pasqualoni had to say in his 12 1/2 minutes on the call.

Many of the questions were repeats from yesterday since those on the call were not able to make it to Storrs.

He reiterated the workmanlike, nose to the grindstone approach that earned redshirt freshman Julian Campenni the start at defensive tackle against UMass in place of the injured Shamar Stephen.


"He's been very consistent, he's a young player, but he shown a high level of maturity" Pasqualoni said. "He has practiced very consistently, tended to all his business on the academic side of his career here, dependable so he is getting the start. Obviously we are going to need to rotate people in and out of there so Angelo Pruitt will see action as well as B.J. McBryde but Julian just based on overall grades, Julian based on overall performance and overall body of work since he has been here has been good."

Pasqualoni was asked a couple of questions about starting quarterback Chandler Whitmer and he said he likes the way that Whitmer is growing into a leader on the team and he is able to "rally the troops and keep everybody together. He is gaining respect of team little by little but he has a big opportunity to really solidify his position here and show he can be a quarterback at Connecticut."

That was the leadership part of the QB job. Pasqualoni also addressed the physical characteristics that won him the job.

"He's a true dropback quarter, he has a very good release and his feet are pretty good. He can make the throws.  There's not a throw there that as a coach you say 'well, we better not try that throw.' He gets it out quick, has pretty good pocket awareness and athletic enough where he has to pull it down and run  for a first down he can do that too. "

He also revisited the possibility to playing UMass in the future calling it a "win-win for everybody."

Pasqualoni was asked about the lack of Big East representation in the preseason national polls and predicted that there would be more than one Big East school in the top 25 at the end of the season.

He also revisited the fact that since UMass has a new coaching staff it is hard to know what to expect on Thursday night and most of the film study has focused on strengths and weaknesses of the UMass personnel rather than any tendencies in offensive or defensive play calling.