We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

[thesportsguru11]

Final 2017 UConn Statistics

UConn Huskies Stats - 2017
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
Bryant Shirreffs	187-277	2819	15.1	187.9	66	17	18
David Hamilton	4-7	40	10.0	2.7		1	2
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD	YDS/G	FUM
Josh Marriner	423	2032	4.8	42	11	24	135.4	5
Ron Johnson	85	346	4.0	17	0	6	23.0	0
Bryant Shirreffs	73	238	3.2	18	0	3	15.8	4
Jeff McNeal	19	115	6.0	42	1	2	8.8	0
Arkeel Newsome	3	19	6.3	14	0	0	1.4	0
David Hamilton	1	16	16.0	16	0	0	1.2	0
Alfred Hart	6	14	2.3	4	0	2	0.9	0
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	DROPS	YDS/G	YAC
Thomas Lucas	35	754	21.5	7	65	2	50.2	207
Jon Haden	34	416	12.2	2	26	5	27.7	106
Damon Mitchell	34	513	15.0	1	51	0	34.1	202
Tommy Myers	30	505	16.8	4	66	7	33.6	201
Josh Marriner	16	163	10.1	0	42	2	10.8	118
Rashad Harris	14	192	13.7	0	28	3	12.7	86
Jeff McNeal	9	110	12.2	1	26	1	8.4	43
Alec Bloom	7	71	10.1	2	29	0	5.0	28
Alfred Hart	3	21	7.0	0	12	1	3.6	1.4
Steve Hashemi	3	22	7.3	1	9	0	3.1	11
Blocking					PCAKE		SACK
Tommy Hopkins					7		7
Tommy Myers					7		0
Trey Rutherford					5		2
Brian Thompson					5		0
Ryan Crozier					3		4
Thomas Lucas					3		0
Damon Mitchell					2		0
Josh Parrish					2		2
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
Junior Joseph	70	1	71	5	18	0	0	0
Luke Carrezola	56	2	58	1	16	0	0	1
Vontae Diggs	49	1	50	2	12	1	1	0
Ross Sinclair	47	2	49	0	0	2	3	0
Quintin Harrell	48	1	49	3	12	2	4	0
Derek Robinson	45	2	47	0	5	2	1	0
Jamar Summers	39	1	40	0	3	4	11	1
Sam Rourke	32	0	32	7	20	0	0	0
Cam Stapleton	30	1	31	17	20	0	0	0
Javon Hadley	22	2	24	0	1	2	6	1
Travis Lumpkin	20	0	20	1	3	1	0	0
Sammie Leonard	16	0	16	1	3	1	0	0
Mike Stokes	13	1	14	0	0	1	0	0
Anthony Watkins	12	0	12	0	1	0	0	0
T.J. Newell	12	0	12	3	4	0	0	0
Cole Ormsby	6	0	6	1	2	0	0	0
Tashawn Coleman	5	0	5	0	1	0	0	0
Gene Jackson	3	0	3	1	1	0	0	0
Rick Stewart	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
James Atkins	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	0
Jabari Wright	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
	Kickoffs					Punts
Returning	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD	RET	AVG	TD
Arkeel Newsome	54	1465	27.1	95	1	43	10.0	0
	Field Goals				Extra Points
Kicking	FGM	FGA	PCT	LONG	XPM	XPA	PCT	PTS
Mike Miller	15	16	93%	37	50	50	100%	95
Tyler McCray	4	5	80%	32	5	7	71%	17
Punting	PUNTS	YDS	LONG	AVG	NET	BP	IN20	TB
Tyler McCray	30	1282	54	42.7	32.5	0	7	9

Guru's Final Thoughts:

This is the third time in NCAA history a team has gone into the season unranked and won the National Title that same year. (1983 Miami and 1984 BYU are the others).

Not a huge surprise to see Johnson and Shirreffs' rushing numbers drop when Marriner gets the ball 430 times. I think Johnson has the early edge to be the starter next year, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the move to McNeal, a similar runner to Marriner except about 5" taller.

Our receivers have too many YAC. That's not a bad thing.

Really surprised to see Carrezola as our #2 tackler, despite hitting the pine when we went to our nickel and quarter packages against teams like Houston and UCF. I am likely going to slide an outside 'backer into the middle next year to replace Junior, so if it's Carrezola, look for those stats to rise --- big time.

Quintin Harrell is a manimal. I am infatuated by versatility...this guy has it. Too bad I only had him 2 years.

I need to find new ways to use Arkeel Newsome.

Sammie Leonard is a name to watch next year. Limited PT, yet was still our #12 tackler, ahead of starters like T.J. Newell. Dude's fast, got a nose for the ball and, like Harrell, can be moved up to safety or down to end.

Congrats to UConn's Hall of Fame Inductees, Class of 2017-18

RB Josh Marriner
DE Cam Stapleton
CB Jamar Summers

Honorable Acceptant: LB Junior Joseph

I allowed Joseph in as an extra because this year's senior class was so deep, Joseph was the first man out. But he was our leading tackler the past 2 seasons, starter the last 3 1/2. Done so much for the team as captain and stud, I really can't leave him out.

Records and opening post information will be updated tonight. Table of contents with game index for all 4 seasons coming within the next 48 hours.

Offseason next folks. Season 5 starting soon!

[thesportsguru11]

Diaco turns down Alabama and UConn extension, will remain with Huskies in 2018

For the third year in a row, Bob Diaco has had to fend off questions about leaving UConn after a successful season.

Diaco's courting process began late in the 2017 season for most teams this year, as Diaco was asked for interviews from top institutions like Alabama, Maryland (uch), and Pitt, in addition to more NFL gigs. The top pro suitors this year were the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Alabama was figured on as Diaco's next destination, but he politely declined the offer and wished to stay at UConn.

But when UConn offered a 4 year extension on top of his contract through 2019 (discussed in his first extension from the end of 2015 but ultimately passed), he also declined, requesting he play out the rest of his contract and go from there. As UConn reluctantly agreed to cater to the whim of one of the best coaches in the nation, one has to begin to wonder....does Diaco want out? Does he want to go to his alma mater of Iowa or back to Notre Dame? Is Diaco at all unhappy at UConn, even with the impending move to the Big 12?

That much is unknown, but we definitely have a cause for concern now. However, UConn is good at keeping their coaches (thanks to RoundingThird for making this point, Calhoun and Auriemma were/has been there since the beginning of time), and with some extra cash from the success of 2017 in the athletics budget, A.D. Warde Manuel can afford to open the checkbook a bit.

We'll keep an eye on this over next season, but for now, the savior remains.

[thesportsguru11]

Hamilton shows up to team meeting drunk, late; discipline forthcoming

QB race now wide open; who else is competing?

Hartford Courant Report
E. Hartford, CT
Feb. 11, 2018

Rising sophomore QB David Hamilton may have just messed up his UConn career.

In a reportedly mandatory end of season meeting to discuss spring practice schedules and other miscellaneous information at UConn's practice facility yesterday, projected 2018 starting QB David Hamilton showed up late, but that wasn't the worst part.

The sophomore was clearly intoxicated, which Diaco noticed immediately. D-Ham was sent home, despite refusing to do so at first, according to a handful of players and staff.

Diaco instituted a no-tolerance policy for lateness early in his tenure as coach, but drinking or illegal substances was never brought up. However, the punishment is expected to be worse.

It is unknown if Hamilton will be dismissed, suspended or something else, but Hamilton's status is definitely in jeopardy. Discipline is forthcoming from Diaco and the university.

So what does this do for the starting QB race?

Good question. Right now there are 3 QB's on the roster (including Hamilton), and a 4th being targeted in Tanner Dean-Lowry. However, the quartet combine for 7 career passes, and all 7 were from Hamilton.

The top backup at the moment is former preferred walk-on Jarrett Rivero, who will be a 4th year junior next fall. Rivero is the fastest of the bunch, and the fastest QB Coach Diaco has had at UConn. He also stands at a healthy 6'5, 232 pounds. However, his accuracy leaves a little to be desired and he has never thrown a pass at the college level.

The other Husky already on the roster is redshirt freshman Isaac Jackson from Georgia. Recruited at the same time as D-Ham, Jackson took a seat last fall to develop, and the dual-threat has some potential. However, right now, he still has work to do and has lots of room to develop, and was even worse than Rivero throwing the ball in practices last fall.

Dean-Lowry has a lot of upside, and is similar to Bryant Shirreffs as well, but he too needs a little bit of time. However, he has the potential to be very special.

So there you go. Diaco better not be too harsh with D-Ham here. It's very clear we need him.

[kswgrad2012]

Well ****. D-Ham better kiss *** and make amends. If I become UConn's next OC, I need my dual-threat.

How's that situation looking, btw?

[thesportsguru11]

Quote: Originally Posted by kswgrad2012

Well ****. D-Ham better kiss *** and make amends. If I become UConn's next OC, I need my dual-threat. How's that situation looking, btw?

It'll be interesting. I think I know where I am going with that storyline, so...we'll see what happens. The other thing about Rivero is that he is a southpaw, and I've only used one sparingly in 14. (Darius Wade with BC). But he opens up my offense with his mobility. Just need to be able to throw the ball, even a little.

Coach Carousel/CAC's I'll have up tomorrow. With 15 CAC's for 2018, I'm being held up a little.

UConn is losing their OC and DC *SPOILER*, but no CAC is coming here..... for those positions. (Hint, Hint...Maybe?)

There are at least three users with CAC's who will probably be very happy at their destination. Thing is, we'll see if they are the same three I'm thinking of. Additionally, there are going to be two users who will be pissed beyond hell. I know exactly who those two are.

[HARLEE23]

Congrats on the championship! Looking forward to the next season and all different storylines! and hopefully my coach having a better year!

[thesportsguru11]

A fan's guide to college football re-alignment, 2018 edition

Another round of college conference re-alignment. Crap. But anywho, there have been some changes this offseason, and we'll get you caught up on who's going where, and what it does for each conference.

Big 12: Added: UConn, Houston (American)
Winner or Loser? Winner

UConn is the national champion, so obviously that's good. While they lose all their stars from last year's team, they are in a good position to remain competitive for years. Houston did have a down year in 2017, but they were breaking in a bunch of new starters and have been recruiting well. They should be fine in about 2-3 years.

This also makes geography interesting. West Virginia and UConn are both on their own little island out there in the East division, and will make home field advantage even more important.

And, did I mention the new Big 12 title game is in Jerry World?

American: Added: Marshall (C-USA), Army (Independent) Lost: UConn, Houston (Big 12)
Winner or Loser? Loser

The American lost two of its best teams. Obviously that makes it a loser, but the old C-USA will be very intriguing with mid-major darling Marshall and lately sturdy Army.

Army fills UConn's spot in the East, and should be an immediate contender, as the only real competition it might have to face is USF and Temple for that East crown. UCF, Cincinnati and ECU are all trending downward, but once they re-emerge, the East will be very wild.

Marshall, meanwhile, jumps to the West, and has a strong chance to win the conference crown immediately. The Herd, who rolled to the national title game out of Conference USA two years ago and a Cotton Bowl win in January, needed a boost in competition and is getting it. Tulane, Navy, Tulsa and Memphis are all good and all 5 have a legitimate chance to win the AAC West this year.


Conference USA: Added: Texas St. (Sun Belt), Lost: Marshall (AAC), UAB (Independent)
Winner or Loser? Loser

C-USA takes another big blow, as another long-time (and its most successful) member in Marshall leaves for greener pastures, while UAB is in financial trouble. Texas St. has had some good seasons and a rising star in tailback Dre Johnson, but Texas St. faces an uphill climb in the West division. Rice, North Texas and Southern Miss are populating the upper half of the division.

In the meantime, Louisiana Tech slides over to the East. Same with the Bobcats goes for the Bulldogs, as Western Kentucky slides into the catbird seat at the top of the East. Florida Atlantic, Florida International and Old Dominion are all expected to compete for the East crown, while LA Tech slides back to the middle of the pack.

Sun Belt: Lost: Texas St. (C-USA)
Winner or Loser? Loser

Losing one and gaining another isn't always a good thing, but the Sun Belt is now down to 8 teams, retains their conference champion (New Mexico St.), and can still remain competitive.

CAC's next.

[RoundingThird]

Quote: Originally Posted by thesportsguru11

It'll be interesting. I think I know where I am going with that storyline, so...we'll see what happens. The other thing about Rivero is that he is a southpaw, and I've only used one sparingly in 14. (Darius Wade with BC). But he opens up my offense with his mobility. Just need to be able to throw the ball, even a little. Coach Carousel/CAC's I'll have up tomorrow. With 15 CAC's for 2018, I'm being held up a little. UConn is losing their OC and DC *SPOILER*, but no CAC is coming here..... for those positions. (Hint, Hint...Maybe?) There are at least three users with CAC's who will probably be very happy at their destination. Thing is, we'll see if they are the same three I'm thinking of. Additionally, there are going to be two users who will be pissed beyond hell. I know exactly who those two are.

You just made me scared beyond belief.