Former UConn tight end John Delahunt had a pair of catches and a special-teams tackle but it wasn't enough to enable the expansion Ottawa RedBlacks to win its first Canadian Football League game.

Delahunt had a 15-yard reception on Ottawa's third scoring drive of the first quarter and added an 11-yard catch on the opening possession of the fourth quarter. That drive ended with a field goal to put the RedBlacks up 28-20 but Winnipeg scored the game's final 16 points to came away with the 36-28 victory.

The other two former UConn products in the CFL will be in action today when Montreal faces the BC Lions. In Montreal's season-opening 29-8 loss to Calgary Larry Taylor returned two kickoffs for 25 yards and added 15 yards on three punt returns while Martin Bedard saw action as a long snapper in the game.

TV TIME FOR FORMER HUSKIES

For anybody who wants to see some UConn products in action, Monday's 8 p.m. Arena Football League game between Philadelphia and Orlando will air live on ESPN2.

Philadelphia's defense features three former UConn players led by rookie sensation Teddy Jennings, a defensive end who leads the Soul with eight quarterback sacks despite missing three of the team's 15 games. Jerome Williams has played in six games and had 12 tackles as well as 1/2 of a sack. Recent acquisition Julius Williams is also a member of the squad. Jennings wears No. 98, Jerome Williams is No. 90 and Julius Williams No. 97.

FORMER NOTRE DAME SIGNEE SYKES HEADED TO INDIANA
When I was reported that Nile Sykes, a linebacker out of Montini Catholic in Lombard, Ill., was planning to leave Notre Dame it definitely caught my eye since he was recruited to Notre Dame by current UConn coach Bob Diaco.

However, it looks like Sykes was focused on heading to Indiana after spending just a couple of weeks on the Notre Dame campus. Indiana officially announced that Sykes was heading there and would be eligible to play immediately.

Post practice updates...

• The injuries to Lindsey Witten and Mike Hicks aren't believed to be serious. Edsall expects them both to be back by Saturday. Receiver Kashif Moore didn't practice as a precaution with a tweaked hamstring. Erik Kuraczea is back at practice after having "his bell rung" last week.

• Kijuan Dabney was hurt during a blitz drill Wednesday. His status is unknown, pending more examinations, but in the meantime David Kenney has been moved up from defensive back to back-up Husky position. He'll remain there as long as Dabney is out.

• Michael Smith's grandmother passed, and he left campus to attend her funeral.

• Linebacker Jerome Williams suffered a burst appendix earlier in the summer, and underwent a difficult surgery that was touch and go. He is slowly working his way back, and will be limited much of this fall.

• Those who were at practice got to see how exciting a player Dwayne Difton really is; the rest of you will be pleasantly surprised this season. Difton evoked images of Donald Brown by stiff-arming Jasper Howard to the turf on one play. Howard got up and drilled Difton, who was already out of bounds, with Difton laughing at his "big brother". Howard has taken Difton, a fellow south Floridian, under his wing, and the two have become close. "It's the same thing Darius Butler did with me," Howard said. "I want to make him feel at home." Still, the pair like to go at it in practices. Howard has been impressed with Difton's ability. "Whatever he was, 4-star, 5-star, he's living up to the billing," Howard said. "He's doing a tremendous job."

• I, for one, keep forgetting Howard isn't a captain. He's such a natural leader, and has really been working with many of the younger players, not just Difton. He also wants to keep the UConn cornerback tradition of heading to the NFL alive. Bigger and stronger this fall, Howard also seems faster. "I can't slack off," Howard said, speaking about leadership as well as pro aspirations. "Tyvon did it, Darius did it. It's up to me and Reggie."

• There was a full referee crew on hand for today's practice, and if I didn't know better I swear the umpire was Tom Morello, the guitarist from Rage Against the Machine. Could have been his twin brother.


Bulls, err...Huskies on parade?



• Michael Box and Cody Endres got more action this afternoon simply because it was the second session of the day, so Zach Frazer got a bit of a break. Both looked good, Box in particular. He seems to be a heady player with lots of potential.

• Netflixed Iron Maiden: Flight 666 last night (which I watched by myself...the wife isn't as enamoured with 80s metal as I am). Great documentary. Iron Maiden is truly a global band, drawing crowds in excess of 100,000 for concerts in places like India, Costa Rica, Mexico and Columbia. In Brazil and Argentina, the band is revered as true rock gods. They were greeted by tens of thousands of fans both at the airport and hotel...incredible. The coolest part is lead singer Bruce Dickinson is also a commercial airline pilot, and personally flies the group and their entire road crew and equipment on a customized 757, known as Ed Force One. Worth watching if you're into that kind of thing. If not, I'll stop now.

Two .... minutes....to touch down...