TESTING THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

Though they are separated by years of football history, both UConn and Notre Dame are having strikingly similar seasons. The Huskies' (4-5) five losses have been by a combined 15 points while the Fighting Irish's (6-3) four losses have been by 18.

Both teams will be looking to break losing streaks when the Huskies travel to South Bend, Ind. to play Saturday at 2:30 p.m. to play Notre Dame for the first time in the school's history. Although the Fighting Irish are not nearly the powerhouse they were in decades past, the fact that UConn football is playing at Notre Dame Stadium speaks volumes about how much progress the program has made since its transition to a Division I program.

"I don't know if anybody ever thought that there would be a day when UConn football would have the opportunity to play such a storied program and tradition filled program as Notre Dame," said coach Randy Edsall. "For a lot of the fans it's still 'pinch me is this happening.'"

But it's not just an opportunity to play at a big time program's stadium; it is essentially a must win for UConn if they have any hopes of making it to a bowl game for the third consecutive year, winning at Notre Dame is no easy task.

"We have to go out there and treat it like just another game" Edsall said.

The Irish have a wealth of offensive talent, typified by the big play threat posed by quarterback Jimmy Clausen and receiver Golden Tate. Tate has more than 1,100 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns on the year and is averaging just over 16 yards a reception. He can also run the ball as evidenced by his 159 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

"Golden Tate is a guy you've got to be concerned with all the time in terms of where he is and what he can do with the football," Edsall said.

Similarly, Clausen has lived up to his expectations coming into the year - tossing 21 touchdowns to only four interceptions while completing over 67 percent of his passes.

"Jimmy Clausen is as good a quarterback we'll face this year," Edsall said. "He's got a tremendous arm and shows great poise in the pocket and knows where to go with the football."

Big plays have hurt UConn in almost every game this season and are something the defense will need to eliminate, especially against such an explosive offense.

"The biggest challenge that we've got to do defensively is make sure to eliminate the big plays," Edsall said. "We've got to do a better job of minimizing our big plays."

The Huskies are coming off a bye week and it could not have come at a better time. Along with everything that's been happening to them off the field, on the field has been disheartening as well. It would be hard to argue that three straight close losses didn't take their toll and junior linebacker Scott Lutrus was thankful for the time off.

"The bye week definitely helped, physically and emotionally." Lutrus said. "Getting football off your mind and being able to relax."

The game has extra meaning for UConn quarterback Zach Frazer - who transferred from Notre Dame - and is facing his old team for the first time.

While the temptation to go out and prove something to his former teammates might be there, Edsall was sure to remind him to stay focused for Saturday's game.

"I told him what he needs to do is play like he did against Cincinnati," Edsall said. "That's all he needs to do. I know that he has good friends out there and he's got good memories but once he hits that field it's just another game."