Saturday will be the first, and perhaps the only, time that UConn football takes on the storied Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
While a multiple-game series was in the works earlier this year, it looks like any future games between the Huskies and the Irish are mere speculation. Despite the prospect of playing in front of more than 100,000 fans and millions more watching at home on national TV, UConn head coach Randy Edsall is telling his team this game is no different than the last nine.
"It is just another game," Edsall said. "It's just the 10th game of the season."
The bigger story this week is that of starting quarterback Zach Frazer. Frazer, a redshirt junior, transferred to UConn after riding the bench for one season in South Bend behind Jimmy Clausen.
"I'm happy where I am, but I'm excited to play against a team where I once was," Frazer said. "But it's just another game."
As Frazer tired of answering numerous questions at yesterday's press conference about returning to South Bend Saturday, the mood got a little lighter when a reporter asked Frazer what he thought of the movie "Rudy."
"I've seen it twice, I think it's a good movie; its alright," Frazer said. "I think it inspires people. Some of the stuff you see in the movie and you get to the campus and you go 'oh, that was so Hollywood,' but overall a good movie."
Frazer wasn't alone in not being intimidated by the daunting task of running through the tunnel into a packed Notre Dame Stadium. Wide receiver Marcus Easley, who has tallied at least 80 yards and a score in each of the Huskies' five games, reiterated that the team wouldn't be nervous Saturday.
"We know we're playing Notre Dame, which is known on a national scale," Easley said. "They're a big-time program and a big-time opportunity for us to get back on the winning side of things. They're Division I athletes just like us and we're going to go there looking for a win."Welcome back Todman
After playing behind Andre Dixon on the depth chart for the past three weeks, Jordan Todman has earned the starting running back spot all to himself for Saturday. Todman has been performing well for the Huskies the last three weeks on special teams as well as on offense. Todman's 162 yards and four touchdowns were one bright spot from UConn's 45-47 loss at Cincinnati.
In addition to his continued excellence at breaking around the corner, Todman has shown a newfound ability to run between the tackles as well. Todman hopes he can be a key to a UConn victory Saturday and an end to their three-game skid.
"There comes a point and time where you get fed up with [losing]," Todman said. "I play to win every game. Every time I touch the ball I run hard, I want to score. I've been doing whatever it takes to get on the field, and when I'm on the field I work hard and want to be successful."
Bowl games?
The big elephant in the room this week is the notion that the Huskies must go 2-1 if they want any chance of making a bowl game. This means UConn needs to notch a win either over Notre Dame or South Florida.
If Notre Dame can win the rest of their games, they will finish the season 8-4 and likely take the Big East spot in the Gator Bowl. If this happens and the Big East has six bowl-eligible teams, including UConn at 6-6, the Huskies would be fighting for an at-large bowl bid and have no guarantee of making one.
Quick hits
Notre Dame and the Huskies are a combined 1-5 in their last six games … Many UConn players, including Jordan Todman, weren't born the last time the Irish won a National Championship (1988) … Andre Dixon, Meme Wylie and Sio Moore are all probable with injuries; Wylie and Dixon are likely to play, but if Wylie can't play, freshman Nick Williams will be UConn's third back … UConn got a verbal commitment Monday from Staten Island running back Lyle McCoombs, who had 26 TDs and more than 1,600 yards rushing as a senior. McCoombs also had offers from Syracuse, Albany and Hofstra.
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