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The Country’s Newest and
Most Modern College Football Stadium
The 2005 football season will mark the third year of play at Rentschler Field, the country’s newest and most modern college football stadium. UConn has posted an 11-2
record at Rentschler Field and played before sellout crowds in six of the seven home
games played there last year.
In just two years of play, the UConn football team has drawn almost half a million fans
to Rentschler Field. UConn
played to a 96% capacity last
year, a figure that ranked 26th
in the country and first in the
BIG EAST Conference.
Student support is a tremendous asset
to the UConn football team as the
“Dog Pound” provides vocal inspiration for the Huskies.
The UConn football team enjoys state-ofthe-art facilities at Rentschler Field,
including a spacious lockerroom.
Football Saturdays are an important
part of the social scene in Connecticut
as the tailgating begins four hours
before kickoff and a FanFest is held
before each game.
he UConn football team made history
in 2004 as it played in its first bowl
game and defeated Mid-American
Conference champion Toledo by a 39-10
score in the Motor City Bowl. The game was
played at Ford Field – the ultra-modern
home of the Detroit Lions of the NFL.
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UConn student-athletes and staff members enjoyed a number of bowl-related
activities while in Detroit – including a
luncheon with bowl teams, a night out at a
local amusement center and a Lions vs.
Chicago Bears football game.
The UConn football team was honored
at the State Capitol following the Motor
City Bowl victory. Connecticut Governor
M. Jodi Rell is joined here by head
coach Randy Edsall, Dan Orlovsky and
Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway.
The Hyatt Regency-Fairlawn in Dearborn
made the Huskies feel welcome right away
when it spelled its name in lights.
The Husky traveling party celebrated the
Christmas holiday together “on the road”
which included a visit from Santa Claus.
UConn’s faithful fans were in full force at a
reception that day before the game,
which featured head coach Randy Edsall
and a number of players.
More than 6,000 Motor City Bowl
tickets were bought by Husky
fans as UConn established itself
as a school that “travels well” to
a bowl game.
The University of Connecticut has been ranked
the top public university in New England for six
consecutive years and is now considered among
the top public universities in the country by U.S.
News and World Report. UConn has advanced to
a position of national leadership in public higher
education and is the only public university in New
England with its own schools of law, medicine,
dental medicine and social work.
UConn is renewing, rebuilding
and enhancing its campuses
through an unprecedented $2.3
billion, 20-year state investment in
the University’s infrastructure.
UCONN 2000/21st Century UConn
is the most ambitious publicly
financed university building program in the country. It’s an initiative The New York Times reports as
being “a building boom that
would be the envy of most university presidents.” Now in its 11th year, the program has
invigorated the University’s living and learning environment, helped advance faculty
research, and stimulated public and private investment.
UConn encompasses 17
schools and colleges offering eight undergraduate
degrees in more than 100
majors. UConn’s faculty
members are among the
most impressive scholars in
the U.S. Many are recognized worldwide as leaders
in education, research, and
scholarship.
UConn enrolls more than 26,000 students representing nearly every state in the nation and more
than 100 countries. Increasingly, record numbers of high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds are making UConn their school of choice. Since 1997, UConn’s freshman and minority
enrollments have risen dramatically as SAT scores for incoming students have soared.
he University of Connecticut football
team will soon enjoy the finest oncampus football facilities in the country – thanks in large part to the building of
The Burton Family Football Complex.
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The Burton Family Football Complex will serve as
the on-campus home of UConn football and will
complement Rentschler Field in East Hartford. The
lead gift for the facility is a $2.5 million contribution by Robert G. Burton, the chief executive officer of Burton Management Group, LLC, of
Greenwich, Connecticut. Burton’s son, Michael,
was the captain of the 1999 Husky football team.
Burton has also donated in excess of $1 million to
establish two endowed scholarships for UConn
student-athletes.
Construction on the facility began in the fall of
2004 and the building will open in the summer of
2006.
“The Burton Family Football Complex will play a
crucial role as our program continues to make
national strides and enters the BIG EAST
Conference,” says UConn head football coach
Randy Edsall. “Our entire football program is
thankful to Bob Burton and his family for assisting
us in our continuing journey for excellence.”
“The Burton Family Football Complex will be a
key part of our continuing rise to national prominence in football,” says UConn Director of
Athletics Jeff Hathaway. “All of us at UConn are
very grateful to Bob and Paula Burton, along
with the entire Burton family, for their generosity
to our school.”
The Burton Football Family Complex will house
coaches’ offices and will also include an academic resource center, team meeting rooms, a
team locker room, a state-of-the-art sports medicine area, video facilities, a team dining hall, a
student-athlete lounge and an equipment room.
The University contracted with the Hartfordbased firm of Jeter, Cook and Jepson and with
HOK Sport + Venue + Event, an internationallyrenowned architectural firm based in Kansas
City, to provide architectural and engineering
services for the building of The Burton Family
Football Complex.
The Burton Family Football Complex will
become the University’s first project certified as
meeting the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) standards for
“green” buildings. LEED designation is a process
certifying that a building project meets a wide
range of environmentally friendly criteria. This
new construction will mark the first college or university athletic project in the nation to earn the
designation.
The ground breaking for the Burton Family Football Complex was held on
Sept. 3, 2004. The Burtons posed for a family photo after the event: Rob
Burton with his daughter Olivia and his wife Stacy, Joe Burton, Paula
Burton holding Mike Burton, Jr., Bob Burton, Mike Burton (UConn football
team captain in 1999) with his wife Tiffany and daughter Emma.
“Coach Edsall, his coaching staff and studentathletes have all done a wonderful job in establishing UConn football as an outstanding Division
I-A program,” says Burton “It is my hope that this
facility will serve as a catalyst for UConn to enjoy
even more success for many years to come.”
Founded in 1983, HOK created the first practice
devoted to the design of sports facilities and is
now recognized as a world leader in the field. Its
client list includes 75 colleges and universities, 24
Major League Baseball franchises and 30
National Football League franchises. The company has been involved with over 600 sports projects, including on-campus football facilities for
several major universities, along with professional
stadiums such as Gillette Stadium (New England
Patriots), Reliant Stadium (Houston Texans) and
SBC Park (San Francisco Giants).
UConn Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway presents Bob Burton with The
UConn Club’s Outstanding Contribution Award before the UConn vs.
Murray State football game on Sept. 4, 2004. Joining Hathaway (far
right) is Mike Burton, Tiffany Burton, Paula Burton and Bob Burton.
hanks to alumnus Mark R. Shenkman,
the University of Connecticut will soon
join the ranks of major universities
nationwide with an indoor training facility
that will be utilized by the football program,
recreational services and other varsity sports.
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His $2.5 million gift, one of the largest ever to the
UConn Division of Athletics, will help build an intercollegiate, intramural and recreational facility that will serve
the entire UConn community.
The 85,000 square foot Mark R. Shenkman Training
Center will rival similar facilities at other large universities
that have traditionally been dominant in college football.
Construction on the facility began in the fall of 2004
and The Mark R. Shenkman Training Center will open
in the summer of 2006.
Featuring a 120-yard long synthetic playing surface,
an 18,000 square foot strength and conditioning area,
and state-of-the-art video capabilities, the indoor training center provides UConn’s football team with the
most technologically advanced training equipment.
“The Mark R. Shenkman Training Center will be a huge
breakthrough in the growth of our football program,”
says UConn head football coach Randy Edsall. “Now
we’ll have the advantage of year round training, which
is a necessity for any team serious about competing for
conference championships and bowl victories.”
The University has contracted with the Hartfordbased firm of Jeter, Cook and Jepson and with HOK
Sport + Venue + Event, a internationally-renowned
architectural firm based in Kansas City, to provide
architectural and engineering services for The Mark R.
Shenkman Training Center.
Founded in 1983, HOK created the first practice
devoted to the design of sports facilities and is now rec-
ognized as a world leader in the field. Its client list
includes 75 major colleges and universities, 24 Major
League Baseball franchises and 30 National Football
League franchises. The company has been involved
with over 600 sports projects, including on-campus football facilities for several major universities along with professional stadiums such as Gillette Stadium (New England
Patriots), Reliant Stadium (Houston Texans) and SBC Park
(San Francisco Giants).
The Mark R. Shenkman Training Center will become the
University’s first project certified as meeting the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
standards for “green” buildings. LEED designation is a
process certifying that a building project meets a wide
range of environmentally friendly criteria. This new construction will mark the first college or university athletic
project in the nation to earn the designation.
A resident of Greenwich, Connecticut, Shenkman
graduated from the Wilbraham & Monson Academy in
Wilbraham, Mass. He received a bachelor’s degree in
political science from UConn in 1965 followed by a master’s degree in business administration from The George
Washington University. Shenkman is the founder and
president of Shenkman Capital Management, Inc., a
registered investment advisor with offices in New York
City and Stamford, Connecticut. He has served on the
UConn Foundation’s Board of Directors for eight years
and is a member of its investment committee.
Shenkman was elected to the UConn School of Business
Hall of Fame in 2002 and has endowed a classroom and
the e-Commerce Chair for the business school.
The ground breaking for the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center was held
on Sept. 10, 2004. Taking part in the ceremony were: UConn football captains Alfred Fincher, Dan Orlovsky and Ryan Krug, Director of Athletics Jeff
Hathaway, George Shenkman (father of Mark Shenkman), who was celebrating his 90th birthday that day, Mark and Rosalind Shenkman, UConn
head coach Randy Edsall and UConn President Philip Austin.
Acknowledging the gift, UConn Director of Athletics
Jeff Hathaway praised Shenkman’s generosity.
“We are very grateful to Mark Shenkman and his entire
family for this significant enhancement to our athletic
program,” says Hathaway. “Thanks to this gift, and the
opening of the newest and most modern college football stadium in the country at Rentschler Field last year,
our football program’s training and playing facilities are
among the best in the nation. In addition, this landmark
facility will provide all of our varsity teams with an outstanding training venue while adding to our recreational
services offerings.”
“There is a special place in my heart for the University
of Connecticut,” says Shenkman. “With this gift, I hope to
see our football program achieve the same standard of
excellence as the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
It’s also gratifying that the UConn student population as
a whole will benefit from this leading edge facility.”
UConn Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway (center) presents a rendering
of the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center to the Shenkman family at halftime of the UConn vs. Duke football game on Sept. 11, 2004. Joining
Hathaway are Mark and Rosalind Shenkman on the left and Greg
Shenkman and Justin Slatky on the right.
new era of BIG EAST Conference football
begins in 2005.
Joining Connecticut,
Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia
are three conference newcomers – the University of
Cincinnati, University of Louisville and University of
South Florida. A league that quickly established itself
as a national force after its inception in 1991, now
becomes that much stronger.
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In 2004, five of the seven BIG EAST teams participated in bowl games. Two of the five emerged victorious,
including UConn, which went to its first bowl game
and came home with a 39-10 victory over Toledo in
the Motor City Bowl. Louisville and Cincinnati also
earned bowl victories last season, with the Cardinals
defeating Boise State, 44-40, in the AutoZone Liberty
Bowl, and the Bearcats beating Marshall, 32-14, in the
PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl.
Over the last five seasons, the BIG EAST has compiled one of the best winning percentages of any BCS
conference in bowl games. BIG EAST Conference teams are
15-10 in postseason play since 2000.
The BIG EAST has been a frequent contender for the
national championship. Eight times in the league’s 14 seasons a BIG EAST squad has been in a bowl game, playing
for a claim to the national crown. A BIG EAST team has
competed in the BCS championship game in three of the
last six years.
The BIG EAST has always been proud of its football studentathletes for their academic achievements. In 2004, the BIG
EAST had one of the eight national winners of the National
The FedEx Orange Bowl is one of four bowl games that
comprise the Bowl Championship Series, which
UConn is part of through its BIG EAST membership.
Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award. Four players
were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team.
Since its birth, the BIG EAST has been a national power,
both on and off the field. Commissioner Michael Tranghese
served as coordinator of the BCS for two years from 2002-03.
He has spearheaded the development of BIG EAST football
since its beginning.
The BIG EAST Conference’s entrance into football was
announced on February 5, 1991. The league gained instant
notice and credibility with its level of excellence on the field
and with its television and bowl relationships. The BIG EAST
has been a charter member of each of the major
bowl agreements with conferences, beginning with
The Bowl Coalition in 1992 followed by The Bowl
Alliance in `95. The Bowl Championship Series began
in `98 and will continue through the 2005 season.
Recently, it was announced that the BIG EAST will
continue as a founding member through the end of
a new BCS agreement that will begin in 2006.
Extensive television exposure and the BIG EAST have
been synonymous terms. For football, the league
established its own regional television package in
1991 before it had played a game. The BIG EAST
Television Network immediately was the largest
regional college football network in the country.
BIG EAST commissioner Mike Tranghese visited a UConn
football practice during preseason camp in 2004 to officially welcome head coach Randy Edsall and the Huskies
to BIG EAST football
The BIG EAST has television agreements with ABC
and ESPN that run through the 2007 season. Both
agreements ensure that ABC or ESPN telecasts a
BIG EAST game virtually every week of the year.
ESPN Regional Television owns broadcasting rights
for all telecasts not assigned to ABC or ESPN. ERT,
which took over for the BIG EAST Network in 1996,
produces and distributes additional games, including a BIG EAST Game of the Week, through syndication, local markets and pay-per-view.
The BIG EAST has always aligned itself with prestigious bowl games. The league champion plays in
the Tostitos Fiesta, FedEx Orange, Nokia Sugar or
Rose Bowls as part of its membership in the Bowl
Championship Series.
Michael A. Tranghese
Nick Carparelli Jr.
John Marinatto
Commissioner
Associate Commissioner
for Football
Associate
Commissioner
The BIG EAST and the Toyota Gator Bowl in
Jacksonville, Fla. have a multi-year pact, which
allows the Gator Bowl to select a BIG EAST bowl-eligible team after the league’s representative in the
Bowl Championship Series has been determined.
The Insight Bowl, which is held in Phoenix, Ariz., is in
its eighth year as a partner with the BIG EAST. The
Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. is in its
fourth year with the BIG EAST in 2005.
BIG EAST teams have enjoyed plenty of success in
recent years. League squads have played in 23
bowl games on or after New Year’s Day.
Tom Odjakjian
John Paquette
Jon Gust
John Soffey
Associate
Commissioner
Associate Commissioner
for Communications
Director of
Communications
(Football)
Coordinator of
Football Officiating
The Bowl Championship Series national title game will take
place this year at the Rose Bowl. The champion of the BIG
EAST Conference receives an automatic berth in the BCS.
he Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes, a unit
within the Division of Academic Affairs, is the academic
support program for The University of Connecticut's 650
student-athletes. The primary goal of the program is to assist student-athletes in reaching their educational goals while they compete in intercollegiate athletics. As academic affairs officers, CPIA
counselors function as liaisons between the athletic and academic
communities. Our counselors work closely with coaches, faculty
and a variety of campus resources in order to help facilitate students' successful transition into college life by instituting academic and social support programs, including but not limited to
Counseling, Pre-Advising, Tutorial and Life Skills Programs.
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Tutoring Program
At the beginning of each semester, student-athletes request and
are assigned tutors based on their individual needs. Tutoring is
done on an individual basis so that each student-athlete can
receive the best help available. Our tutorial staff consists of well-
trained graduate and undergraduate students who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency in their respective subject areas.
Study Hall
All freshmen and transfer students as well as some upperclassmen are required to attend study hall ten hours a week. Study hall
is an interactive environment where students meet with their
tutors and work on their assignments in their respective courses.
Weekly Academic Meetings
All freshmen and at risk students will meet with their CPIA
counselor once a week to review their course work, assignments,
attendance and tutoring plan.
Weekly Meeting with Coach Edsall
Coach Randy Edsall meets with Ellen Rennie, the CPIA
Football Program Director, on a weekly basis. Together they
review each student-athlete’s academic progress. This provides
valuable information for Coach Edsall and
his staff regarding each student-athlete’s
academic performance.
Life Skills
Our student-athletes can enroll in two Life Skills courses during
their freshmen and junior year. The Freshmen Life Skills course is
designed to provide the information, knowledge and confidence,
which will enable the student-athlete to feel secure in a new environment and promote a successful transition from high school to
college. The course helps develop a set of adaptive, coping, critical
thinking and problem solving skills. It also acquaints the studentathlete with the resources that are available to balance the myriad of
academic and athletic demands and adjust to college life.
The primary goal of the Life Skills for Junior Student-Athletes
Course is to provide information, techniques and strategies that will
help students feel confident while making decisions about their
future, post-collegiate lives. The focus of the class is to help students
make a successful transition from college to the working world.
Learning Disability Services
If a student-athlete enrolls at the University of Connecticut and
has a diagnosed learning disability, CPIA works with that particu-
UConn Honored By AFCA For Graduation Rate
The University of Connecticut football program was once
again honored by the American Football Coaches Association in
its annual graduation rates survey of all Division I-A schools.
UConn was just one of 25 schools nationally – and the only one
in the BIG EAST Conference -- to be singled out for graduation
excellence in this year’s survey, which was based on the incoming
freshman class of 1999-2000.
UConn was also recognized
for its graduation rate in the 2003
AFCA survey.
lar student-athlete, the Learning Disability office and Disability
Services to provide the student with the best support possible.
Community Service
CPIA feels that student-athletes should be actively involved in
the community that surrounds them. The members of the football
program serve as excellent role models and are very committed to
giving back to the community. Student-athletes visit the
Connecticut Children’s Hospital on a regular basis. Many students
are also involved with the Big Brothers program and work very
closely with the Nutmeg Big Brother/Big Sister organization.
CPIA/Director of Athletics
Honor Roll
3.0 Grade Point Average
or Better In A Semester
Joe Akers
Chris Bellamy
Brendan Borowski
Steve Brouse
Matt Cutaia
Dan Desriveaux
Shane Fogarty
Rhema Fuller
Keith Gray
D.J. Hernandez
Tom Hedus
Billy Irwin
Ryan Krug
Rob Lunn
Dan Orlovsky
Chris Pavasaris
Ken Rice
Taurien Sowell
Brian Sparks
Graig Vicidomino
Peder von Harten
Jermell Williams
Matt Wood
Indianapolis Colts scout Bob Guarini gives
some instructions to the Husky players.
Scouts and officials from 25 different National Football League
teams were present at UConn’s annual NFL Testing Day.
epresentatives from 25 different National Football League teams made
their way to the Storrs campus on March 24, 2005 for UConn’s annual NFL
Testing Day. It was a chance for UConn senior football players to show
off their stuff to top NFL officials in anticipation of the NFL Draft and free agent
signings. UConn’s NFL Testing Day is now a routine annual stop for NFL teams.
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Keron Henry crosses the finish line
at the end of an agility drill.
Former Husky All-American John Dorsey, now the Director
of College Scouting for the Green Bay Packers, shares
some numbers with UConn assistant coach coach Vinny
Marino and player Tyler King.
The New Orleans Saints made
Alfred Fincher a third round pick
in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Former UConn quarterback
Dan Orlovsky was a fifth
round pick of the Detroit
Lions in 2005.
Former Husky Brian Kozlowski is a 12year veteran of the National Football
League, played in the Super Bowl in 1999
and was a member of the Washington
Redskins last year.
he UConn football program has a long tradition of players who were drafted, signed free agent contract and
played for teams in the National Football League. Husky
players have also made their impact in the Canadian
Football League and the Arena Football League. UConn
had a pair of players selected in the 2005 NFL Draft.
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Four other Huskies from last year’s team signed
National Football League free agent contracts
KERON HENRY
TYLER KING
RYAN KRUG
JUSTIN PERKINS
New Orleans Saints
Arizona Cardinals
New England Patriots
Kansas City Chiefs
s University of Connecticut football continues to
progress as a NCAA Division I-A team, the roots of
the program have not gone forgotten.
In fact, UConn football alumni are more active and
involved in the program than ever. Andy Baylock, a former UConn assistant football coach and longtime Husky
baseball head coach, is the Director of Alumni and
Community Affairs for the football team.
Baylock organizes a number of events during the year
to bring alumni back to the program and also has social
events at road games for local alumni.
All former UConn football alumni who are interested in
re-connecting with the program should call Baylock at
860-486-2458.
In an effort to help members of UConn’s football team
enhance their prospects for employment following college, the UConn football program sponsors a Career
Information Fair twice a year.
These events feature many UConn football alumni
from a wide range of professions and geographical
areas.
Working with these former UConn football players allow
students to gain exposure to a wide variety of career
opportunities that may interest them. This type of exposure gives students the opportunity to not only learn
about different career paths, but it will also help them to
draw parallels between specific paths of academic
preparation (majors, etc.) and corresponding career
opportunities.
Former UConn football players also guide current student-athletes through the networking process by putting
them in contact with other professionals who may provide them with shadowing, internship and full-time
employment opportunities.
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Pat Moag, a 1983 football captain, lives in the Detroit area and visited
with head coach Randy Edsall and Director of Alumni and Community
Affairs Andy Baylock at a practice prior to the Motor City Bowl.
Gene Campbell reunited with fellow Husky alumni at the
UConn vs. Wake Forest game in 2004 and is pictured with
Andy Baylock, Director of Alumni and Community Affairs.
Campbell, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., returned an interception for a touchdown against Yale in 1965 to give the
Huskies their first-ever win against the Elis.
Dewey Raymond ’82 visits with Mike Kodish and
Brendan Borowski at a Career Information Fair.
Offensive lineman Brian Kersmanc signs autographs for young fans at a “drug awareness rally”
at a local minor league baseball game.
he University of Connecticut Division of Athletics
believes that the responsibilities of student-athletes
reach beyond classrooms, libraries, fields and courts.
Community service is an integral part of the UConn
experience as Husky student-athletes contribute countless
hours each year to a number of worthy causes.
UConn football players perform numerous hours of
community service throughout the year by visiting children at local schools, hospitals and other activities.
Much of the community service by UConn studentathletes is coordinated through the Student-Athlete
Advisory Council. The Council consists of representatives
from each one of UConn’s intercollegiate athletic teams
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UConn football players are frequent visitors
to the patients at the Connecticut Children’s
Medical Center.
Donnell Ford, Gary Mack and Deon McPhee signed
autographs for Cub Scouts in Ashford, Conn.
and in addition to community service, it promotes fellowship and camaraderie between student-athletes
from different sports.
The SAAC annually holds various “drives” at UConn athletic events that collect gently-used coats and books,
canned goods and other food items that are then distributed to worthy charities.
One of these drives was at the UConn vs. Temple football game last year on Oct. 23, where over 3,300 gentlyused coats were collected for charity.
The SAAC also holds an annual Talent Show for freshman student-athletes and an ice cream social at the end
of each semester during the study period for final exams.
Husky David Sanchez visits with local
school children on the Storrs campus.
he strength and conditioning
program for the University of
Connecticut football players is
coordinated and directed by
UConn Strength and Conditioning
Coordinator Jerry Martin. The UConn
strength and conditioning program
benefits all 24 of Connecticut’s intercollegiate teams. Chad Dennis, who
is in his first year at Connecticut as
an
Assistant
Strength
and
Conditioning Coach also works with
the football team.
UConn football players have the use
of three different weight rooms – two in
Gampel Pavilion and one in the Hugh
S. Greer Field House. In all, there are
nearly 11,000 square feet of weight
training facilities, which provide the
Husky players with the best opportunity to improve in the areas of strength
and conditioning. In addition to
weight training, the team can do conditioning year-round
both in the Greer Field House indoor track and on both the
outdoor track at the George S. Sherman Family Sports
Complex and its AstroTurf infield.
The UConn football team will move into a new state-ofthe-art strength and conditioning facility with the opening of
The Mark R. Shenkman Training Facility in the summer of 2006.
Martin supervises a specific strength and conditioning program for each individual player for year-round training. Each
program is manipulated to fulfill the specific needs of the
individual based upon the demands of their position and the
individual’s present fitness levels. Specific testing is done to
each student-athlete to monitor progress in strength, power,
speed, anaerobic conditioning and agility. These tests provide the coaches and medical staff with an accurate athletic profile on each player.
There is much more to enhancing the performance of
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Husky student-athletes than merely
strength and conditioning, though. The
saying goes that “you eat to compete”
and the athlete’s daily diet is of equal
importance and receives exceptionally
high care at Connecticut.
The relationship between nutrition
and performance is well recognized by
the UConn sports medicine staff where
there is an integrated approach in the
provision of nutrition services to the student athlete. The comprehensive sports
nutrition program is under the direction
of Dr. Nancy Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez
and members of the sport nutrition
team provide sport-specific lectures
regarding nutrition and performance to
the athletic teams and develop nutrition education materials for the student
athletes. Student-athletes have the
opportunity for one-on-one nutrition
counseling, individualized diet design
for enhanced performance, gains in lean body mass, and
weight management. The sports nutrition program assists
student athletes in developing healthy eating patterns that
they can maintain throughout their lives.
Dr. Rodriguez works closely with dining services on behalf
of the athletic teams to implement performance-based
menu options and to set up the training table for
Connecticut football. Menu recommendations have been
developed for teams during extended road trips and performance nutrition directives are in place for competitive
performance and optimal recovery. A unique aspect of the
sports nutrition program is the consistent integration of nutrition services with those provided by strength and conditioning and athletic training personnel. In fact, an athletic performance cookbook was created to take into count the
special nutritional needs and time constraints assoicated
with being a student athlete.
he Department of Sports Medicine in the University of
Connecticut Division of Athletics works as an integrated
multidisciplinary team whose purpose is to provide the
optimal, safe environment for the football student-athletes
to train and participate in their sport.
The staff takes great pride in the individual attention
paid to each student-athlete. They are devoted to preventing injury, rapidly diagnosing and treating injury and
maximizing athletic performance. The disciplines of athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports medicine,
orthopedic sports medicine, optometry, nutrition, exercise
physiology and psychology work in concert to provide
comprehensive care.
The team is spearheaded by Robert Howard, MA, ATC,
the head athletic trainer. Howard is assisted by Andrew
Godek, MA, ATC and graduate assistants Christopher
Hagemann, ATC, and Michael McCormick, ATC.
Physician coverage is led by Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, the
Director of Sports Medicine, and Team Physician, Dr.
Thomas Trojian. The Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Specialists for the team include Dr. Edward Collins of the
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Connecticut Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in
Willimantic; Dr. Michael Joyce of the Orthopedic Sports
Specialists in Glastonbury; Dr. Barry Messinger of Sports
Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery in Manchester; and Dr.
Robert Arciero of the University of Connecticut Health
Center Department of Orthopedics in Farmington.
The Department of Sports Medicine works closely with
the Departments of Kinesiology and Nutritional Sciences
on the University of Connecticut campus. This affords the
student-athletes with the input of several nationally recognized exercise scientists. This cooperation also keeps
the sports medicine staff at the cutting edge of developments in the fields of human performance and sports
nutrition. Members of the sports medicine staff are actively engaged in research that directly benefits the care of
the football student-athletes.
The UConn Sports Medicine team is housed in facilities
in the Hugh S. Greer Field House and the Harry A. Gampel
Pavilion, as well as an expanded sports medicine treatment center located in the UConn Football Facilities
Building.
UConn football student-athletes enjoy state-of-the-art
medical facilities at Rentschler Field and will have the same
with the building of the Burton Football Family Complex and
the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center on the Storrs campus.
The Rentschler Field facility includes x-ray equipment on site
as pictured on this page.
In addition to providing the finest in medical care for
the UConn football program, the Department of Sports
Medicine at the University of Connecticut administers to
the daily needs of 650 male and female intercollegiate
student-athletes, who are in 24 different varsity programs.
The Department of Sports Medicine at the University of
Connecticut plays a critical role in assuring that all UConn
student-athletes have access to the best medical support
and health care possible. Through patient care and
ongoing research and education, the department continues to provide Husky teams a competitive edge from
the medical perspective.
he University of Connecticut football equipment
room, under the leadership of Director of
Equipment Services Larry Hare and Assistant
Equipment Manager Chris Stasaitis, is designed to handle
the everyday equipment needs of all 105 players along
with the team’s coaches and support personnel and is
responsible for the transport of 6,000 pounds of equipment to games.
On game days, Hare and his staff enjoy generous
space in Rentschler Field’s modern equipment room,
which was specially designed with high counters to allow
for extra storage, convenient access to trunks and easier transitions in and out of the facility. The large-sized
equipment area, which also includes a support staff
locker room and meeting space, allows for direct access
to both the team’s locker room and also the equipment
truck loading area.
On a daily basis, Hare and his staff work out of the
recently refurbished Football Facilities Building, which
T
features a pro-style double locker for each player and
two locked storage spaces for valuables. Each locker
features a nameplate with the player’s name and number on it, as well as a color photo of the player in uniform. The lockers also feature a nameplate with the
name of the donor that helped make the locker room
refurbishment possible.
In the near future, the Huskies will move into a spacious
new on-campus facility with the opening of the Burton
Family Football Complex and the Mark R. Shenkman
Training Center.
The UConn equipment room is stocked with products
from Nike, Riddell and Schutt. Nike is the official uniform,
apparel and footwear supplier of UConn football.
n order to lay a foundation for his program, University
of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall
can take no member of his team for granted.
With the number of scholarships each NCAA
Division I member is allowed and the highly competitive nature of high school recruiting around the country, the UConn coaching staff knows it can not afford
to make a mistake.
With that in mind, Edsall relies heavily on those who
choose to walk-on to the Husky football program in order
to add reinforcement to the foundation.
Although walking on to the team does not guarantee
that one will become a scholarship player, the potential
is there.
Brian Sparks, a Plainville, Conn., native, is a prime
example of walk-on success at UConn. Sparks was a
three-year walk-on member of the Huskies and was
rewarded with a scholarship before his senior season of
2004. He was the fourth member of the UConn receiving
rotation and made 19 receptions for 169 yards and two
touchdowns during the regular season. He closed out his
career in fine form with a touchdown reception in
UConn’s Motor City Bowl win over Toledo.
David Sanchez is a walk-on on the 2005 Huskies that
has earned a letter in the past and sophomore Chris
Pavasaris is a walk-on who is looking to become the
teams starting punter.
I
Brian Sparks joined the Huskies as a walk-on and
earned a scholarship before his senior year. He
caught a touchdown pass in the Motor City Bowl.
One of the most successful walk-on stories during Randy
Edsall’s career at UConn is Shaun Feldeisen – a captain for
the 2003 Huskies. Feldeisen decided to come to UConn
without a scholarship and worked at both wide receiver
and placekicker -- just looking for a role on the squad.
Feldeisen’s chance came during the 2001 season as a
wide receiver and the following year his hard work was
rewarded with a scholarship.
Feldeisen led the Huskies in receiving in ’03 with 65 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns. Feldeisen was
also named a second team Academic All-America pick
by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
C.J. Hessel, a Fairfield, Conn., native who finished his
UConn career in 2001 is another example of walk-one leaving a mark in Husky blue and white. He joined the team as
a walk-on and wound up being voted a team captain.
The 2002 Husky seniors also had a pair of walk-ons who
became prominent players --- Cliff Hill of Wallingford,
Conn., who is now the fourth-leading punt returner in
school history; and kicker Mark Hickok, who joined the
team as a walk-on prior to the 1998 season and earned a
scholarship for the 2002 season.
Junior David Sanchez is a walk-on for the UConn football team and earned a letter in 2003 as a punt returner.
he UConn Video Department, under
the leadership of Director of Video
Services David Kaplan, helps to service
the video and technological needs of the
Connecticut football program, with its top of
the line equipment.
Kaplan and his staff videotape every second of all practices and games during the
year, from the opening of preseason camp
through the season and including all of
spring practice as well. The video department also produces the annual UConn football highlight tape.
The work of the video department provides the coaches and players with the best in
scouting and teaching through thousands of
hours of video that they shoot during the
course of the year.
During the past seven years, Kaplan and his staff
have implemented many technological advances to
improve the level of assistance that the video work provides to the coaching staff.
All work in the UConn Video Department is currently
done with the R.O.S. Technologies Advanced Digital
Video Analysis System. The system is universally recognized as the best in the business and gives the UConn
football staff the best preparation for scouting oppo-
T
nents, self-scouting and player development.
The system also enables each member of the UConn
coaching staff to have their own video digital viewing
system at their desk. It gives the coaching staff endless
possibilities for cut-ups and gives them the ability to tailor
videotapes to any specific player on the team. In addition to their duties to the coaching staff, Kaplan and his
assistants help provide video support for the Husky Vision
video boards above the courts at both Gampel Pavilion
and the Hartford Civic Center during men’s and
women’s home basketball
games and at Rentschler Field
for football games.
The UConn Video Department
includes
Kaplan,
Assistant
Director of Video Services Jason
Isenberg and Video Services
Coordinator Keith Anderson.
ince Randy Edsall arrived at UConn as the head
football coach in December 1998, the Husky student-athletes have not only received a direct
benefit from his own personal tutelage but they also
have had an exceptional cast of assistant coaches to
draw expertise from.
Showing their value, many of the assistants who
have worked on Edsall’s staff over the past few years,
have moved on to prominent positions in both college
and professional football. Darrell Bevell, Edsall’s wide
receivers coach during the 1999 season, moved on to
join the Green Bay Packers’ staff where he is now the
team’s quarterbacks coach, working closely alongside
three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre.
Two of Edsall’s former Husky helpers are now head
coaches. Mike Toop, who served as UConn’s defensive
coordinator in 1999 and 2000, spent four years as the
head coach at Davidson College in North Carolina
and is now the head coach at his alma mater – the
United States Merchant Marine Academy. Kent Briggs,
who took over for Toop as defensive coordinator in
2001, is entering his second year as the head coach at
Western Carolina, his alma mater.
Denauld Brown who spent two falls as UConn’s
defensive graduate assistant, is an assistant coach for
the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe. He works under
former Boston College coach Jack Bicknell.
Husky defensive backs learned their trade from
Torrian Gray who brought a wealth of experience
gained while playing at Virginia Tech, where he was a
three-time All-BIG EAST selection, and also for the NFL’s
Minnesota Vikings. He is now an assistant coach with
the Chicago Bears under Lovie Smith.
UConn’s current crop of assistant coaches, all of
which return from the 2004 season, bring a wealth of
football knowledge to the table and have produced
some great accomplishments along the way.
The staff’s veteran member, Dave McMichael has
coached in 12 bowl games in his career, one with
UConn last year at the Motor City Bowl and the rest at
West Virginia. Twice during McMichael’s tenure in
Morgantown, the Mountaineers played in a January
bowl game for the national championship.
Linebackers coach Todd Orlando was a senior
member of Wisconsin’s mesmerizing run to the 1994
Rose Bowl, claiming the Badgers’ first Big Ten
Championship and trip to Pasadena since 1963.
Running backs coach Terry Richardson played in
three bowl games while an undergraduate at Syracuse
and as a senior was chosen to wear the fabled number
44, a great honor bestowed upon fortunate Syracuse
ball carriers. Offensive coordinator Norries Wilson was
also a part of two bowl teams as an offensive lineman
and captain at Minnesota. Former UConn Director of
Football Operations Don Corzine recently joined the
scouting staff of the Arizona Cardinals.
S
The Media Spotlight
Is On The Huskies
T
he UConn football program receives an incredible amount of media attention
from television, radio and print media. The Connecticut television market is considered the 12th-largest in the country, when the total number of television house-
holds that receive programming from the state is calculated. Connecticut is also situated between two of the biggest media markets in the country – No. 1 New York City and
No. 6 Boston.
All UConn football games are broadcast on the
UConn Football Radio Network and its flagship station – WTIC-1080 AM radio in Hartford. The strong
50,000-watt station can be heard in many states on
both the East Coast and the Midwest. On game
days at Rentschler Field, WTIC broadcasts upwards
of 12 hours of programming around UConn football.
The games can also be heard worldwide on
UConnHuskies.com.
UConn athletics has always been famous for the number
of daily newspapers that follow its teams. Whether its home
or away, practice or gameday, Husky sports always makes
the news on a state, regional and national level.
The UConn football team is quickly becoming one of the most televised programs in the nation.
Last year, UConn appeared on either ESPN or ESPN2 a total of five times, including two primetimes games at Rentschler Field and the win in the Motor City Bowl. This season, UConn will
appear on the Bristol, Conn.-based ESPN “family of networks” a minimum of five times.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONNECTICUT FOOTBALL
The Rentschler Field Experience......................................2-3
A Bowl Winning Program..................................................4-5
This is UConn ......................................................................6-7
The Burton Family Football Complex ..............................8-9
The Mark R. Shenkman Training Center ....................10-11
The BIG EAST Conference ............................................12-13
Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes......14-15
NFL Testing Day ..................................................................16
UConn and the National Football League ....................17
UConn Football In the Community ..................................18
UConn Football Alumni......................................................19
Strength and Conditioning................................................20
Sports Medicine ..................................................................21
Equipment Services............................................................22
UConn Football and Walk-Ons ........................................23
Video Services ....................................................................24
Coaching Alumni ..............................................................25
Media Market ................................................................26-27
Table of Contents..........................................................28-29
Quick Facts ........................................................................30
31
87
105
2005 PREVIEW
COACHING STAFF
2004 IN REVIEW
Season Preview ....................32-40
Depth Chart ..............................41
Squad Breakdown................42-43
Alphabetical Roster..............44-45
Numerical Roster ..................46-47
Player Profiles ........................48-84
Incoming Freshmen..............85-86
Head Coach Randy Edsall ....88-91
Hank Hughes..................................92
Norries Wilson ................................93
Todd Orlando ................................94
Rob Ambrose ................................95
Lyndon Johnson ............................96
Scott Lakatos ................................97
Vinny Marino ..................................98
Dave McMichael ..........................99
Terry Richardson ............................96
Support Staff ........................101-104
2004 Season in Review ........106-112
2004 Statistics........................113-115
2004 Game Summaries ......116-122
151
123
129
2005 OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
Buffalo ........................................124
Liberty ..........................................124
Georgia Tech..............................124
Army ............................................125
Syracuse ......................................125
Cincinnati....................................125
Rutgers ........................................126
West Virginia ..............................126
Pittsburgh ....................................126
South Florida ..............................127
Louisville ......................................127
Series vs. Opponents ................127
Bowl Games................................128
Year-by-Year Records ................130
All-Time Coaches ........................131
Letterwinners ........................133-139
Historical Timeline ................140-143
UConn and the NFL ............144-145
First Team All-Americans ............146
All-Americans ..............................147
All-Conference ....................148-149
All-ECAC/All-New England ........150
Individual Career Records ..152-155
Year-by-Year Leaders ..................156
Seasonal Records..................157-160
Single-Game Records ..........161-162
Single-Game Superlatives ..........163
100-Yard Performances ........164-165
The Last Time..........................166-167
Return Touchdowns......................168
Opponent Records ......................169
Seasonal Team Records ......170-171
Single-Game Team Records ......172
Division I-A Era Records ........173-176
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
MEDIA RELATIONS STAFF
The 2005 University of Connecticut Football Media Guide is a
publication of the UConn Division of Athletics:
Jeffrey Hathaway, Director
Written and edited by UConn Athletic Communications:
Mike Enright
Associate Athletic Director Communications
Kyle Muncy
Assistant Athletic Director Communications
Alissa Clendenen
Assistant Director Athletic Communications
Randy Press
Assistant Director Athletic Communications
Leigh Torbin
Assistant Director Athletic Communications
Luanne Dunstan
Athletic Communications Secretary
Jennifer Hildebrand
Athletic Communications Assistant
Lydia Panayotidis
Athletic Communications Assistant
Editorial Assistance: Sheri Bonnell, Grant Preston and Lauren Stowell.
Layout and Design by: GO media
Printing by: AM Lithography of Chicopee, Mass.
Photography by: Stephen Slade, Bob Stowell, University Communications,
University of Connecticut Photo Services, Dan Burns, Jim Percival, University of
Connecticut Thomas J. Dodd Research Center Archive and Special Collections, The
Hartford Courant, Athlon Sports, HOK Sport, The BIG EAST Conference, The
National Football League and its member franchises, Brennan Beer Gorman
Architects, National Airviews, Inc., Pratt & Whitney Corporation, Aerial
Photography, Pete Emerson, Wayne Paulo, Leigh Torbin, Andy Baylock, Rose Bowl
Committee, FedEx Orange Bowl Committee, Chad Turner, Basketball Hall of
Fame, Southern Connecticut Tourism District, Capital City Economic
Development Authority, Connecticut River Valley and Shoreline Visitors Center,
Bob Falcetti, ESPN, Davidson College, Syracuse University, Western Carolina
University, University of Wisconsin, Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors
Bureau and the New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
The University Connecticut ......................................178-179
UConn 2000/21st century ........................................180-181
President Philip E. Austin ..........................................182-183
Top 10 Reasons to Attend UConn ..........................184-185
Prominent UConn Alumni ........................................186-187
The “State” of UConn ..............................................188-189
Close to Storrs ............................................................190-191
Storrs Center Project ........................................................192
Greater Hartford ..............................................................193
UConn Athletics ........................................................194-195
Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway ............196-197
Administrative Staff and Head Coaches ......................198
Husky Traditions ................................................................199
Rentschler Field..........................................................200-202
Athletic Facilities ..............................................................203
J. Robert Donnelly Husky Heritage Sports Museum......204
UConn Athletic Development Fund ..............................205
Radio Coverage ..............................................................206
Television Coverage ........................................................207
Media Services ................................................................208
PREVIEW
COACHES
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
UCONN
QUICK FACTS
Location:
Storrs, Connecticut 06269
Founded:
1881
Number of Schools and Colleges:
17
Undergraduate Branches: Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford,
Torrington, Waterbury
Off Campus Professional Schools:
Law, Medicine,
Social Work, Dental Medicine
Total Enrollment:
27,579
Undergraduate at Storrs:
15,751
Total Undergraduate:
20,151
Graduate/Professional Students:
7,428
President:
Dr. Philip E. Austin
DIVISION OF ATHLETICS FAST FACTS
Director of Athletics:
Jeffrey A. Hathaway
Division of Athletics Address: 2095 Hillside Road, U-1173
Storrs, CT 06269-1173
Division of Athletics Phone:
(860) 486-2725
Division of Athletics Website:
UConnHuskies.com
Husky Sports Hotline:
(860) 486-5050
Varsity Sports:
24
Women’s (13): Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey,
Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer,
Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track
and Field, Outdoor Track and Field
Men’s (11):
Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country,
Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Soccer,
Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track
and Field, Outdoor Track and Field
2004 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
FOOTBALL RESULTS
DATE
OPPONENT
September 4
MURRAY STATE
W, 52-14
SCORE
September 11
DUKE
W, 22-20
September 17
at Boston College*
September 25
ARMY
September 30
PITTSBURGH*
October 13
WEST VIRGINIA*
October 23
TEMPLE*
L, 7-27
W, 40-3
W, 29-17
L, 19-31
W, 45-31
October 30
at Syracuse*
L, 30-42
November 13
at Georgia Tech
L, 10-30
November 20
BUFFALO
November 25
at Rutgers*
W, 41-35
December 27
vs. Toledo#
W, 39-10
W, 29-0
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOOTBALL FAST FACTS
Colors:
Nicknames:
Affiliation:
Conference:
Stadium:
Playing Surface:
2004 Record:
Base Offense:
Base Defense:
Football Office Address:
National Flag Blue and White
Huskies, UConn
NCAA Division I-A
BIG EAST
Rentschler Field
Natural Grass
8-4, 3-3 BIG EAST
Multiple
4-3
2111 Hillside Road, U-3078
Storrs, CT 06269-3078
(860) 486-2718
(860) 486-2197
Randy Edsall
Syracuse, 1980
32-37 (six seasons)
Football Office Phone:
Football Office FAX:
Head Coach:
Alma Mater:
Overall Coaching Record:
Assistant Coaches:
Asst. Head Coach for Defense/Def. Line: Hank Hughes, 5th Yr.
(Springfield ’79)
Off. Coord./Centers & Guards:
Norries Wilson, 7th Yr.
(Minnesota ’89)
Def. Coord./Linebackers:
Todd Orlando, 7th Yr.
(Wisconsin ’94)
Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coord.:
Rob Ambrose, 4th Yr.
(Towson State ’93)
Outside LBs/Special Teams Coord.:
Lyndon Johnson, 7th Yr.
(Connecticut ’92)
Defensive Backs:
Scott Lakatos, 2nd Yr.
(Western Conn. ’88)
Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coord.:
Vinny Marino, 4th Yr.
(Connecticut ’92)
Tackles & Tight Ends:
Dave McMichael, 5th Yr.
(Bowling Green ’74)
Running Backs:
Terry Richardson, 7th Yr.
(Syracuse ’94)
Offensive Graduate Assistant:
Chris Nugai, 1st Yr.
(Worcester State ‘92)
Defensive Graduate Assistant:
Eric Christian, 1st Yr.
(Connecticut ’05)
Director of Football Operations:
Doug Connelly, 1st Yr.
(Georgia Southern ‘01)
Dir. Of Alumni & Community Affairs:
Andy Baylock, 3rd Yr.
(Central Conn. ’60)
2005 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE
OPPONENT SITE
TIME
September 1
September 10
September 17
October 1
October 7
October 15
October 22
November 2
November 12
November 26
December 3
Buffalo
Liberty
Georgia Tech
Army
Syracuse*
Cincinnati*
Rutgers*
West Virginia*
Pittsburgh*
South Florida*
Louisville*
East Hartford, Conn.
TBA
East Hartford, Conn.
TBA
Atlanta, Ga.
6:45 p.m.
West Point, N.Y.
TBA
East Hartford, Conn. 8:00 p.m.
Cincinnati, Ohio
TBA
East Hartford, Conn.
TBA
Morgantown, W. Va. 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
TBA
East Hartford, Conn.
TBA
East Hartford, Conn.
TBA
* Denotes BIG EAST Conference games
# Motor City Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
30
* Denotes BIG EAST Conference games
2005 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE