Dixon suspended after DUI

Andre Dixon's season came to an early end after he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence early Tuesday.

Dixon was initially stopped by UConn police on North Eagleville Road for following too close to an officer's car. He was administered a field sobriety test, which he failed, according to the police report. Dixon posted bail and will face a Dec. 15 court date.

UConn coach Randy Edsall announced that the junior running back from New Brunswick, N.J., was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules, but did not give any other details.

Dixon, who was the UConn offense's 2007 co-MVP, injured his ankle days before the Aug. 30 season opener and never found his way onto the field when he recovered.

In 2007, Dixon was named second-team All-Big East, with a stat line of 167 carries for 828 yards, 24 receptions for 280 yards receiving and four total touchdowns.

In 2008, due to the injury as well as the emergence of Donald Brown and freshman Jordan Todman, Dixon has had only nine carries for 42 yards and two receptions for eight yards.

Dixon will miss the season finale Saturday versus Pitt, and Edsall didn't set a timetable for his return.

"The young man made a mistake," Edsall said. "He came in and talked to me about it, it's unfortunate, but he made a mistake."

Brown's magic number at 97

UConn's star running back is closing in on history.

Brown, who is second in the nation in rushing with 1,633 yards, is on the cusp of joining an elite group of backs - NFL stars Larry Johnson, LaDainian Tomlinson and Ricky Williams included - who have claimed the NCAA rushing crown.

Brown is just one game away from cementing his name in the record books, one game away from having more yards than the other 117 starting running backs in Division I-A. So the big question is: How many yards does he need Saturday against No. 23 Pittsburgh?

"I have no idea," he said.

Take a guess.

"100, maybe?"

Close enough.

UConn's junior tailback needs 97 yards to surpass Iowa's Shonn Greene, whose team wrapped up its regular-season schedule Nov. 22, and secure the rushing title. And, as exemplified by his lack of research - or interest - in the matter, Brown couldn't care less.

"Honestly, it would mean more to me if we walked off that field on Saturday and got a win for our seniors than it would to be the rushing leader," he said.

Modesty is a term that is often thrown around in the field of athletics, and Brown's modesty sometimes teeters on complete apathy. But, according to his teammates, Brown's extreme selflessness is what makes him great.

"I've never been around someone like him," said senior defensive end Julius Williams. "He's one of the best team players I've played with."

And that's why Williams will do his part to make sure that Brown claims the rushing crown.

"We're all rooting for him," Williams said. "As a defense, we're going to make sure we get [Pittsburgh's] offense off the field so [Brown] has the chance to get his 100 yards."

Baltimore to graduate

Terrence Baltimore is listed as a junior on UConn's roster, but Saturday's match-up with Pitt will be his final game at Rentschler Field.

Baltimore will forgo his final year of football eligibility and graduate in the spring with a degree in sociology. According to Edsall, he won't necessarily have to use that degree to make a living.

"I think Terrence is ready to embark upon a career in entertainment," Edsall said. "He's a very talented young man. He's got a great voice, he's a great singer. When you look at him, you know he's going to be a model. He wants to get into all kinds of different things."

Edsall added that Baltimore often concludes double-session practices with a song that he writes and sings himself, and that the team always looks forward to his post-practice performance.

"Really, that's what I'm going to miss the most," Edsall said. "It's not always about what these kids do on the field, but the kinds of situations you deal with them off of it."

Senior walk-on to start at LB

UConn's top two middle linebackers on the depth chart - Greg Lloyd and C.J. Marck -will miss Saturday's game due to personal reasons, according to Edsall. Senior walk-on Aaron Bryant, New London native, will get the start.

Edsall sounds off

Oklahoma or Texas?

The two 11-1 Big 12 powerhouses have been the talk of college football for the past few days. Oklahoma, which lost to Texas, 45-35, on Oct. 11., leapfrogged the Longhorns in the BCS standings Monday after defeating then-No. 11 Oklahoma State, 61-41. Now, the Sooners control their own destiny, needing only to defeat Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Saturday to reach the BCS title game.

Edsall didn't necessarily agree with the way things played out.

"I voted Texas ahead of Oklahoma because they beat them on the field and that's the true barometer of what goes on," Edsall said. "That's why we need a playoff. I don't get to see every team play; I don't have time. There are just so many variables that go into these polls. I think it's coming to a time where we need to end the controversy."