SAD END TO SHOEMATE’S CAREER

Senior running back D.J. Shoemate’s career as a collegiate football player is over. The 6-foot, 219 lbs. California native told The Hartford Courant that he can no longer play due to his injured shoulder. He received arthroscopic surgery last week, and the doctors recommended that he discontinue playing football to avoid future problems.

Shoemate transferred to UConn from USC prior to the 2010 season. Because the NCAA placed sanctions on USC that banned them from postseason play for two years, Shoemate was eligible to play immediately at UConn. He finishes his career as a Husky with 28 rushing attempts, 115 rushing yards and a touchdown. Shoemate was the leading rusher of the 2011 Spring Game with 110 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

UConn Club dinner

Fifteen UConn student-athletes were honored Monday night at Gampel Pavilion and received Outstanding Senior Athlete Awards at the 59th Annual Awards Dinner. Center Muhammed Petrus, defensive tackle Kendall Reyes, and kicker David Teggart receieved awards.

Petrus earned All-Big East honors as a senior. He was named to the Big East All-Academic team in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Reyes was picked as All-Big East his junior and senior years. As a senior, he made 46 tackles and 13.5 tackles for a loss. Reyes is projected to be drafted in the first couple rounds of the NFL draft on April 26.

Teggart was All-Big East as a junior and a senior. He sets school records for field goals with 74, extra points with 128 and total points with 349. Teggart’s 52-yard field goal to beat USF with 17 seconds left earned the Huskies the Big East title and sent them to the Fiesta Bowl, the school’s first-ever BCS bowl game.

Spring game on Saturday The annual UConn Blue vs. White Spring Football game will take place Saturday at Rentschler field at 1 p.m. Roy Lawrence and Tony Casarella, captains of the 1967 and 1969 UConn teams, respectively, will serve as the Blue’s coaches. 1981 captains Ken Sweitzer and Dewey Raymond will be the White team’s coaches.

Admission and parking to the game are free. SNY will broadcast the game on television, and WTIC will air the game on radio.