Brad

I just pulled up the live scoreboard and it is still 8-2 Bulls.  Let's see if Eddie can protect a 6 run lead.  I hope so...I mean, it's a gift - 7 runs on 5 hits..

And when we were playing ECU they had the Tulane logo.. :

The contents of this thread have been moved [link=http://www.thebullspen.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=BigEast;action=display;num=1115441162]HERE[/link] by Bulliever.

By Pete Fiutak UConn spent the last five years climbing the ladder with last year's 39-10 Motor City Bowl destruction of Toledo putting a cap on an amazing building job done by head coach Randy Edsall and the Connecticut athletic department to make a D-I program from almost scratch. With 17 wins over the last two years, now it's time to see if UConn can not only maintain its recent success, but also push ahead to another level. It won't be a walk in the park with the loss of cornerstone stars who helped make the program what it is now. OT Ryan Krug, CB Justin Perkins, LBs Alfred Fincher and Maurice Lloyd, and of course, QB Dan Orlovsky, all need to be replaced with their loss leadership the toughest to overcome. Even so, don't write off the Huskies quite yet. The defense will be solid with enough experience and depth to once again finish on top of the Big East. The backfield is one of the most productive in college football thanks to the return of Terry Caulley from a knee injury to help out Big East rushing champion Cornell Brockington. The quarterback situation will turn out fine with two good prospects, Matt Bonislwski and D.J. Hernandez, each capable of keeping the offense moving. The offensive line could be the team's downfall, but there are two cupcake games to tune it up. If the painfully inexperienced line comes together, Edsall's club could climb the next step and become Big East champions. The Schedule: Thank goodness for Buffalo and Liberty to start off the season to get everything tuned up before the road trip to Georgia Tech. In Big East play, West Virginia and Pittsburgh are on the road, but Syracuse and Louisville have to come to Storrs. If the Huskies can split with the Mountaineers and the Panthers, they'll have a shot at the title and the automatic berth in a BCS game. Best Offensive Player: Junior RBs Cornell Brockington and Terry Caulley. It has taken Caulley almost two years to recover from a knee injury, but he's back joining the reigning Big East rushing champ to form the best 1-2 running back punch outside of USC. The downside could be their offensive line which won't open up too many big holes for a while. Best Defensive Player: Senior LB James Hargrave. Never getting any love in a linebacking corps with Alfred Fincher and Maurice Lloyd, now Hargrave can show off his All-Big East skills as the leader of the defensive front seven from his strongside spot. Key player to a successful season: The entire offensive line. Joe Akers might be supremely talented, but he's a true freshman starting at center. Craig Berry and Grant Preston are guards playing tackle, Matt Applebaum is a defensive tackle playing guard, and Brian Kersmanc has only a few plays of experience at the other guard spot. This starting five will make or break the season. The season will be a success if ... the Huskies win eight games. The offensive line is too green and too many stars need to be replaced to honestly think about the Big East title, but 2006 should be a huge season for this young team. Eight wins and a bowl game would keep the momentum of the last two years going. Key game: October 7th vs. Syracuse. UConn already established new Rentschler Field as a tough place to play with a win over Pittsburgh and a tough loss to West Virginia, and it can't lose the Big East home opener to an improved Syracuse if it wants to keep a home field advantage. 2004 Fun Stats: - First quarter scoring: Connecticut 103 - Opponents 59 - Punt return average: Connecticut 13.5 yards per return - Opponents 7.9 - Time of possession: Connecticut 31:24 - Opponents 28:36 Basically ... All the focus is on the quarterback situation where Matt Bonislawski and D.J. Hernandez will try to replace heart-and-soul leader Dan Orlovsky, but the winner of the derby will be more than capable of putting up big numbers. The backfield is the best in the Big East with Terry Caulley returning from a knee injury to join defending Big East rushing champion Cornell Brockington. The receiving corps is more than solid despite some key losses. And then there's the offensive line. The interior could be a nightmare early, there aren't any true tackles and there's no depth whatsoever. Returning Leaders Passing: Matt Bonislwski 4-7, 22 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT Rushing: Cornell Brockington 238 carries for 1,218 yds and 11 TDs Receiving: Jason Williams 44 catches for 661 yds and 4 TDs Star of the offense: RBs Cornell Brockington and Terry Caulley Player that has to step up and become a star: Guards Brian Kersmanc and Matt Applebaum Unsung star on the rise: Redshirt freshman WR Nollis Dewar Best pro prospect: Senior FB Deon Anderson Top three all-star candidates: 1) Brockington, 2) Caulley, 3) Anderson Strength of the offense: Running back Weakness of the offense: Offensive line Quarterbacks All Dan Orlovsky did was throw for 10,706 yards and 84 touchdowns as the face of UConn football as it entered the Division I world. While there's no replacing Orlovsky right away, the new starting quarterback prospects offer something new to the mix: mobility. Matt Bonislawski has the inside track on the job because of his practice experience, but athletic all-around playmaker D.J. Hernandez is getting a shot to win the gig. Don't expect much to be settled until this fall. Player to keep an eye on: D.J. Hernandez, RFr. ... Quarterback Rating: 6.5 Projected Starter - Matt Bonislawski, Jr. - A very big, very strong passer, the 6-4 junior has a little bit of experience throwing for 22 yards on four of seven attempts last season. His main worth was as the holder on kicks, but he has seen plenty of practice time as the number two quarterback. "Bones" is athletic able to run better than Orlovsky did, but the key will to quickly establish himself as a leader. Top Backups - D.J. Hernandez, RFr. - A great dual threat, Hernandez ran for 45 touchdowns and throwing for 31 scores in high school. He's not all that big and isn't a polished passer, but he's being given every shot to win the starting job. The key is for him to keep improving and get better and better at fighting through his mistakes. - Perder von Harten, Jr. - The former walk-on is a big passer with a live arm, but he's battling to hang on to the number three spot. He's not all that mobile and doesn't have anywhere near the skills of Matt Bonislawki or D.J. Hernandez. Running Backs If Terry Caulley is the same back he was in 2003 before his knee injury, UConn will have one of the nation's best 1-2 rushing punches. Cornell Brockington was last year's Big East rushing champion and is more than good enough to handle the whole workload, but Caulley is a special sparkplug that can make a good rushing attack something amazing. Soon-to-be four year starter Deon Anderson is one of the best fullbacks in America able to do a little of everything well. The overall depth is promising with some big young backs waiting in the wings. The rating is assuming Caulley is 100%. Player to keep an eye on: Larry Taylor, Soph. ... Running back rating: 10 Projected Starters - Cornell Brockington, Jr. - The offense needed Brockington to have a big year, and he more than came through winning the Big East rushing crown with 1,218 yards and 11 touchdowns and a pounding 238 carries. He also showed he can be a top receiver with 34 catches for 231 yards and a score. He's a quick runner, but not a homerun hitter, with excellent power and a nose for the goal line. - Fullback Deon Anderson, Sr. - The three year starter has established himself as one of the nation's unsung run blockers paving the way for several big seasons. Even though he's a strong 240 pounds, he won't see too many carries being used more as a receiver. Even so, he has 91 career runs for 342 yards and a touchdown. Top Backups - Terry Caulley, Jr. - A devastating knee injury cost Caulley over two years, but now he finally appears back and ready to go. He ripped through a great freshman season with 1,247 yards and 15 touchdowns and tore off 607 yards and seven scores in 2003 before the injury. He's not big, but he's very, very quick with a six-yard-per-carry average and great hands as a receiver. - Matt Lawrence, Jr. - Lawrence is a big backup with a little bit of starting experience and 267 career yards with three touchdowns. His workload will decrease with the return of Caulley, but he'll have to stay ready in case Caulley isn't the exact same back he was before the knee injury. - Larry Taylor, Soph. - A superstar kick returner, the 5-6 Taylor averaged 14.6 yards per punt return and 31.3 yards on kickoffs. He's lightning fast and will see a little more time in the offense to get his speed involved, but he'll still make the most noise on special teams. - Fullback Lou Allen, RFr. - Allen is a big, fast option at fullback behind Deon Anderson, He has to prove he can be a steady blocker, but he'll be a key player next year. Now he has to learn the ropes. Receivers The loss of leading receiver Keron Henry and his steady running mate Matt Cutaia would leave a gaping hole if Brandon Young wasn't coming back off a year spent recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident. Jason Williams goes from being a good third option to a potentially dangerous go-to receiver, while Nollis Dewar will stop tearing it up as a scout teamer and be a new playmaker. Dan Murray is a rising star tight end. Player to keep an eye on: Nollis Dewar, RFr. ... Receiver rating: 6 Projected Starters - Brandon Young, Jr. - Young missed all of last year after getting into a car crash, but he's back and ready to pick up where he left off in 2003 as one of the team's top midrange threats. He's physical with elite deep speed with 50 career catches for 668 yards and six touchdowns. Expect him to quickly emerge as a number one target. - Jason Williams, Sr. - Williams was a good number three receiver and spot starter over the last three seasons breaking through with 44 catches for 661 yards and four touchdowns in 2004. He came up with a 90-yard touchdown against Temple showing off his track star speed. - Tight end Dan Murray, Jr. - Murray was a good, but not consistent starter last year turning into a strong deep receiver averaging 14.1 yards per catch with five touchdowns, but having a few problems as a steady blocker. He'll once again be a top target whose blocking appears to have improved. Expect him to be more physical. Top Backups - Nollis Dewar, RFr. - A great prospect at 6-2 and 189 pounds, Dewar was a star high school high jumper who was a killer scout team performer last year. Now he'll likely be the number three receiver playing behind Brandon Young. - Brandon McLean, Soph. - McLean is small at only 157 pounds, but the 5-10 sophomore is a tremendous athlete with a little bit of experience catching 14 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. He was used in short patterns and end-arounds to utilized his speed in open space. - Tight end Steve Brouse, RFr. - Brouse is a good runner who beefed up 25 pounds in the off-season to handle the job at tight end. He'll have to battle for the number two spot, but he looks like a good receiver and a nice backup behind Dan Murray. Offensive Line Uh oh. This is going to be the team's biggest problem over the first half of the season with two returning starters, Grant Preston and Craig Berry, who were solid guards last year, but nothing special. They now have to move outside to give the line a little bit of experience at the two key spots. The interior will be a nightmare for a few games with former defensive tackle Matt Applebaum getting the first look at left guard and career backup Brian Kersmanc starting on the other side. Center Joe Akers is the most talented lineman of the bunch, but it's never a positive when you have to start a true freshman. Forget about any reliable depth. Player to keep an eye on: C Joe Akers, Fr. ... Offensive line rating: 5 Projected Starters - Tackle Grant Preston, Sr. - Only a bout with pneumonia kept Preston from the starting lineup over the last few years. The 6-4, 307-pound senior has started 35 games at right tackle and will now move over to the left side. He can play guard if needed, but his primary job will be to perform as the steadiest force on the young, inexperienced line. - Guard Matt Applebaum, Jr. - The former defensive lineman after making three tackles as a reserve defensive tackle. He's strong, but he has to prove he can be a steady pass blocker against quicker tackles. - Center Joe Akers, Fr. - Akers graduated from high school early to join the team and get his feet wet. He's smart and strong for his age at 6-1 and 297 pounds, but he'll have to handle a lot of responsibility early on taking over for Billy Irwin in the middle. On the plus side, he has a great résumé as the first player in Maryland history to earn consensus all-state honors for three straight seasons. - Guard Brian Kersmanc, Soph. - At 6-5 and 299 pounds, the coaching staff is looking for him to be a big presence inside right away as the team's most experienced guard. He only saw action in a few plays last year, but that qualifies him to be the crusty veteran of the interior. - Tackle Craig  Berry, Sr. - Berry started every game at guard last year as the green newcomer to a veteran line. Now he'll move to right tackle to use his experience and 6-6, 324-pound frame. Top Backups - T Donald Thomas, Jr. - Thomas made the move from the defensive line to give the line another big body. The 6-3, 274-pound junior is the only non-freshman reserve who'll play a big role - G Pat Shortell, RFr. - At 305 pounds, Shortell is one of the team's biggest backups and needs to play a key role behind Matt Applebaum at left guard. Basically ... Is this the Big East's best defense? It'll be close with a deep and experienced front four and secondary. While the numbers are there as far as good retuning players, the star quality is gone with the departure of LBs Alfred Fincher and Maurice Lloyd along with CB Justin Perkins. Even so, don't expect much of a drop-off from the D that finished 27th in the nation last year unless there's a major fallout from losing five players to suspension due to the shooting of a vehicle window with a pellet gun. Returning Leaders Tackles: James Hargrave, 88 Sacks: Shawn Mayne, 5.5 Interceptions: Ernest Cole, James Hargrave, 1 Star of the defense: Senior LB James Hargrave Player that has to step up and become a star: Senior MLB Taurien Sowell Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore DT Afa Anoai Best pro prospect: Hargrave Top three all-star candidates: 1) Hargrave, 2) DT Deon McPhee 3) DE Shawn Mayne Strength of the defense: Depth, defensive line Weakness of the defense: Linebacker experience, defensive backs who pick off passes Defensive Line This is a good looking line with veterans and talented depth. Expect this group to be even stronger against the run after finishing second in the Big East last year, but the key will be to generate more of a pass rush. The linebackers were the sacking stars with little production from the ends after Tyler King got knocked out midway through the season. Shawn Mayne has to grow into a terror on the edge, while Deon McPhee and Rhema Fuller have get in the backfield more from the inside. Player to keep an eye on: DT Afa Anoai, Soph. ... Defensive Line rating: 7.5 Projected Starters - DE Shawn Mayne, Jr. - 41 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss ... Mayne was the team's most productive defensive lineman finishing sixth on the team in tackles and leading the way with his 5.5 sacks. When he's on, he's devastating with a good first step and enough strength to handle the bigger tackles. - DT Deon McPhee, Sr. - 24 tackles, 4 tackles for loss ... The leader on the line and a team captain, McPhee is a hard-nosed tackle who has grown into a good run stopper. While not a true anchor, he's good enough to occupy two blockers. - DT Rhema Fuller, Jr. - 31 tackles, 2 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss ... The Academic All-Big East honoree also shines on the field where he was the team's best interior pass rusher. At 283 pounds, he's strong against the run and should shine with the rest of the good line taking away some attention from blocking schemes. - DE Jason Ward, Jr. - 15 tackles, 2 tackles for loss ... Ward got a little bit of starting time when Tyler King went down with a broken leg. While not a strong pass rusher, he's physical against the run and will see plenty of one-on-one situations with teams looking to stop Shawn Mayne on the other side. Top Backups - DE Dan Davis, Soph. - 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks ... The 280-pound Davis was looking more and more like he could find his was somewhere on the line as a starter, but he was suspended from the team in the case of a window of a parked car being shot out by a pellet gun. - DT Afa Anoai, Soph. - 7 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 tackles for loss ... The rising star in the middle, Anoai got a ton of work as a true freshman backup. At 6-1 and 284 pounds, he's strong against the run and showed surprising quickness. - DT Ray Blagman, Jr. -  8 tackles, 1 sack ... At 322 pounds, Blagman is by far the biggest tackle on the roster. He's good in short-yardage situations and is a nice backup behind Rhema Fuller. Linebackers There's no replacing the leadership of Alfred Fincher and Maurice Lloyd and their 257 tackles of last year, but there are several good pieces to work with. James Hargrave is on the verge of All-Big East stardom, but he needs Taurien Sowell to step up in the middle and Johnathan Smith to be a producer on the weakside now that Danny Lansanah has been suspended. The reserves need time to develop. Player to keep an eye on: Julius Williams, Soph. ... Linebacker rating: 6 Projected Starters - James Hargrave, Sr. - 88 tackles, 4 sacks, 15 tackles for loss ... The All-Big East candidate had a tremendous season on the strongside finishing third on the team in tackles and was great at getting into the backfield. He's the team's most productive returning defender with 208 career tackles, ten sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss. He's not all that huge at 5-11 and 224 pounds, but he can move. - Taurien Sowell, Sr. - 4 tackles ... A special teamer so far, it'll be up to Sowell to try to replace the 140 tackles of Alfred Fincher in the middle. At 236 pounds he's big enough to play inside, and quick enough to see action on the weakside if needed. - Johnathan Smith, RFr. - With Danny Lansanah suspended, it'll be up to Smith to take over on the weakside. He's only 218 pounds, but he's tough with decent speed. Top Backups - Julius Williams, Soph. - 7 tackles ... Williams saw a little bit of action at linebacker as a true freshman, but he spent most of his time on special teams. He's 6-2 and 232 pounds and expected push for playing time behind Taurien Sowell in the middle. - Johnathon Smith, RFr. - Smith is only 218 pounds, but he has good speed on the weakside. He'll use his speed as a pass rusher on the outside. - Danny Lansanah, Soph. - 23 tackles .. Lansanah saw enough backup time behind Maurice Lloyd to have been ready to step in and take over on the weakside. At 247 pounds, he was the team's biggest linebacker with moves like a safety, but he was suspended from the team in the window shooting incident. Defensive Backs There's some rebuilding to do in last year's best Big East secondary. The Huskies finished 19th in the nation in pass defense thanks to playmakers like Justin Perkins and John Fletcher, but Ernest Cole appears ready to fill in quickly. There's excellent depth with three good looking sophomores ready to push for playing time. The key will be to make more interceptions and break up more passes to make up for everything Perkins was able to do. Player to keep an eye on: CB Tyvon Branch, Soph. ... Secondary rating: 7.5 Projected Starters - CB Allan Barnes , Jr. - 14 tackles ... Barnes was a key backup for the first half of the season before getting hurt. He's a sure tackler and one of the team's fastest players, but he has to make more plays when the ball is in the air. - FS M.J. Estep, Jr. - 66 tackles, 4 broken up passes ... A big hitter and great athlete, Estep will be one of the leaders in the secondary after finishing fourth on the team in tackles. He isn't much of a ball hawk, but he's strong against the run. - SS Rickey McCollum, Soph. - At 217 pounds, McCollum is the team's biggest defensive back. He spent most of last year on special teams, but he now has to take over for Donta Moore at strong safety. - CB Ernest Cole, Jr. - 25 tackles, 1 interception, 4 broken up passes ... Cole has been a strong corner for the last two seasons with 69 career tackles, but he only has one interception. He'll get the starting slot again and has to be more of a pickoff artist as the team's number one corner. Top Backups - SS Donta Moore, Jr. - 12 tackles, 1 broken up pass ... Moore spent most of his time on special teams and was going to take over for John Fletcher with good size and has the potential to be one of the team's top five tacklers. But he was suspended from the team in the shooting of a vehicle window. - CB Tyvon Branch, Soph. - 20 tackles ... Branch spent most of his freshman year on special teams, but he also showed some good skills in the secondary. He's lightning fast with decent size for a corner. He can also play free safety if needed. - FS Marvin Taylor, Soph. - Taylor got some good experience as a key reserve, and now he'll push for time behind M.J. Estep at free safety. He also played on special teams finishing with 12 tackles. Special Teams If Shane Hussar can have a stronger punting season, the UConn special teams will be among the best in the nation. Larry Taylor is an All-American waiting to happen after averaging 14.6 yards per punt return and 31.3 yards per kickoff return. The coverage units should be good again. Special Teams rating: 8.5 - Placekicker Matt Nuzie, Jr. - 20-28 FGs, 37-42 extra points ... Nuzie has a great midrange led, but not a deep one despite hitting a 51-yard shot last year. He struggled from behind 35 yards, but he can get hot nailing ten in a row in the middle of the season. He'll be one of the Big East's best. - Punter Shane Hussar, Soph. - Hussar struggled a bit as a freshman only averaging 36.9 yards per kick, but he put 16 inside the 20. He needs more blast, and more consistency, to keep UConn from being 106th in the naiton in punting again. With a fresh set of downs… 1st and Ten – Embarrassment of Riches or Trouble in Paradise? – Harken back to 2002.  Yes, go all the way back with me for a moment.  Freshman Terry Caulley was one of the biggest surprises in the nation, rushing for just over 1,200 yards.  But, a few weeks into his 2003 season at Virginia Tech, Caulley went down with an ACL tear, and hasn’t gotten back on a football field in a regular season game since that tragic day in Blacksburg.  But, the Huskies found themselves one heck of a running back in 2004.  Cornell Brockington was the leading rusher in the Big East, piling up 1,218 yards and helped lead the Huskies to the Motor City Bowl.  Brockington was as impressive as any running back not named Peterson, Benson, Williams or Brown.  He was quick to the hole, ran with power and was extremely consistent.  The Husky offense has lost its share of quality football players, including QB Dan Orlovsky, but not only have they not lost a starting RB, they’ve gained another.  Caulley was as close to 100% this spring as he had been since before the injury and the word ‘or’ has suspiciously popped up on the spring depth chart next to Brockington and Caulley’s name as first string starter.  Oh man, this is Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams all over again (maybe just a little bit different).  Except it’ll be up to Norries Wilson, Husky offensive coordinator, and not Al Borges (who should be on Wilson’s speed dial for assistance), to find a way to utilize his two big time running backs as much as possible together.  With Brockington in the fold, Caulley doesn’t have to be rushed if he’s not quite ready, but the quickness and shiftiness that he runs with is a tad different than the power downfield running style that Brockington possesses.  If played right, the two can feed off of each other and give teams a multitude of problems stopping the run.  If selfish egos get in the way, it could be trouble in paradise. 2nd and Seven – Fearsome Foursome – Last year, the Huskies’ defensive front was perceived to be a massive weakness, and was the one area on the defense that could have held that defense back.  However, DT Deon McPhee, DT Rhema Fuller, DE Shawn Mayne and DE Jason Ward piled up a total of 42 starts last year, and all return together for another season.  The reason that linebackers Alfred Fincher, Maurice Lloyd and James Hargrave had such great output last year was due in large part to the havoc that this foursome generated. 3rd and Three – Bonafide Bonislawski? – The Connecticut machine had been driven for four years by QB Dan Orlovsky.  Quite simply, Orlovsky owns just about every passing record in Connecticut football history, and he’s left the building, so to speak.  In steps Matt Bonislawski to take over for the decorated but departed Orlovsky.  With so much upheaval on offense, expect OC Wilson to rely on the running game, until Bonislawski can get his ‘sea legs’, if you will.  Hopefully for Husky fans, that won’t be too long in coming. 4th and One – Where Now? – It’s sad that there hasn’t been much mention of the job that head coach Randy Edsall has done at the University of Connecticut.  U Conn had been a Division 1 program for only five years before Edsall led his troops to Detroit’s Motor City Bowl for, perhaps, a program changing win over Toledo.  In a state that lives and dies for both of its hoops programs, Edsall has quietly, perhaps too quietly, turned this program into one that can vie for bowl games and Big East championships year in and year out.  Just like the, gulp, basketball program.  Sure, national prominence is a bit far off, but then again, when Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma took over, no one thought the Husky hoops programs were on the verge of becoming national powers on an annual basis.  Boy, were those people wrong Link and Depth Chart

Well DW, I have to give you credit for being a good sport with us over here. Being newbies in the BE doesn't seem to affect our manners much (mine especially). Glad you visit often and you have an accepting sense of humor. I'll be back over at your home, bigeastboards.com, later tonight. By the way, don't waste time on your avatar yet...we may have some changes upcoming that might effect the avatar. That Jonathan is so cute.

OFFICIAL RELEASE Courtesy of the USF SID Office: USF Finalizes Three-Game Series With Florida International  (May 3, 2005) Tampa, Fla. -- The University of South Florida football team will host Florida International in 2006 and 2009 with a third game scheduled for 2008 in Miami. The Bulls, who join the Big East this fall, will meet the Golden Panthers September 2, 2006 and September 19 or 26, 2009 in Raymond James Stadium. The two teams will play at FIU Stadium, September 20, 2008.

I think the locals would do that voluntarily...I'd plan to get out of dodge...afterall, if the Bulls win, I am sure Eric is buying drinks for all on the bus ride back... There's my feedback... ;D

I hope people jump all over this opportunity. If I were in the Tampa area, I would. This is exactly what we need. This could be a lot of fun and with the FIU deal now, and those yahoo Gators in '08 and '09, this could become a regular function. Oh, I almost forgot those Knights next year too. Meet some other Bulls fans and support your team. Can't get too much better than that. If there were an upset at Miami, what a ride back that would be....

:: Let me guess, he won at Gainesville because they have a nice facility...  "We just feel prettier" Bulliever - the beastiebull of Bulls Baseball....

Jonathan "goes formal" in his quest for most ferocious:

Outstanding first post - welcome aboard!

I saw some interesting information in something my kid was reading the other day. It said that the Jags practice field is built at the same longitude and oritentation as Alltel so that the elements eperienced during practice replicate the elements experienced in the game. (sunlight specifically mentioned). It has to be beneficial to practice in like environments. Not saying this is good or bad for UCF or USF (who practices in afternoon, but plays home games at night), but it does make sense to me beyond the "learning" issue, that at least some practices towards the end of the year take place in your home field environment.

The way this thread is headed sort of reminds me of that old Eddie Murphy joke about the bear and the rabbit... That little beanie baby of a mascot would play the role of the rabbit.

How many Huskies does it take to screw in a lightbulb? ;D

Yes, shun is probably the wrong word to use...although I believe there are many who view it as a shun. Omission is probably a better word to use.

Yep, KR, being a Pirate fan I can recall multiple occasions of Barry just freezing in the outfield as the ball bounced of the wall...no effort at all. He did the same thing at the plate. He had some of the longest singles and doubles in the league. He'd take too long admiring what he thought was a home run only to see it carom off the wall. I hope he never comes back - he is a disgrace to the game - regardless of his ability.

Barry was a good baserunner a 30-30 guy as I recall with Pitt...or early SF maybe. He also won gold gloves. Of course much of this took place before his neck grew a waist.

I didn't say anything about your capabilities as they relate to attacking people.. The attendance figures I quoted did not come from a forum, they came from the UConn official site. Doesn't have to be a promotion - tickets are often distributed to charities, potential recruits and their families, high schools, alums, politicians, etc. The many that say it is closer to 10k are quite uninformed.  The worse on memory was the last game last year at 11 a.m. for a game against Pitt that few cared about (postponed because of the hurricane).  That game I do not have the official count, but I heard it was one of our most poorly attended games.  Should any dunderhead wish to use that as an average, they'll certainly be wrong...Official reported (distributed) was 23,417 - I heard actual was closer to 15-16K for a game slated originally to be the season opener... Don't go on offense about your attendance, I'm only asking how exactly 40K were distributed each time.  It's sort of funny - you still didn't answer and obviously you've never questioned it yourself.  No big deal.

That looks to be the case...here is the mascot prototype I finagled from a MU server...

I think shuns of this sort are things Bulls fnas should know about in the classic study of perceptions.

DW, I didn't call anyone anything - kettle or otherwise. First you didn't "sell" 40,000 - you distributed them. I just found it funny. I've not seen that anywhere else - and there are other schools that count tickets "distributed (not likely that all are sold)" and still don't distribute the same every game in their "sold out" stadiums. 40,000 just sounds presumptious and lazy, especially when I read about one thousand tickets sold during the Spring Game (and more remaining). Makes you wonder who settles on that number to report and why.

Well I don't know what the Sun Dome needs other than about 25 wins per year...Is it really that bad? I know it's not an NBA -caliber arena, but the Bulls (ours) are not either. Except for the scoreboards that need bulb changes and the tired looking seats (so I hear)...what is really so bad about it? The priority needs to be on WINS.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/index Louisville leading as favorite to win BE...USF not even a choice...

Brady inks extension By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer May 7, 2005 BOSTON (AP) -- The New England Patriots have signed quarterback Tom Brady to a six-year extension worth $60 million, a deal that for the first time brings the two-time Super Bowl MVP's salary in line with his accomplishments. The extension was reported by ESPN and confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday night by a football source, speaking on condition of anonymity. ``It's fantastic for the organization, for the city and for the team,'' Brady's backup, Doug Flutie, said while attending the Boston Celtics' playoff game. ``I'd love to see him play his entire career here.'' Brady had two years left on his previous contract that had a total value of about $30 million -- less than Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning got in signing bonus alone even though Brady has knocked the Colts out of the playoffs in consecutive years. ``I know that when I signed my deal a couple of years ago it was a darn good deal,'' he said at the Super Bowl this year. ``I feel good about the team's commitment and I think they feel good about what I have done for this team and this organization. Hopefully I'll be with the Patriots for a very long time.'' The deal had been in the works for months. But it reportedly hung up over provisions that could inflate Brady's salary cap number to a level that would make it difficult for the Patriots to maintain the roster balance that has helped them win three titles. ``It's a good thing they got it done,'' said Deion Branch, who caught a record-tying 11 passes from Brady in this year's Super Bowl. ``It would be good to keep everyone together. We know he'll be here, though.'' Patriots spokesman Stacey James declined comment, and coach Bill Belichick did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Brady's agent, Don Yee, also could not be reached for comment. ``He just very quietly got it done. Very classy,'' Flutie said. ``I just like the way he goes about his business. I've only been with the team a week and I can tell that Tom's a great leader for the team.'' A sixth-round draft pick and a fourth-stringer as a rookie, Brady took over the Patriots' starting job when Drew Bledsoe was injured in the 2001 season and has led New England to three Super Bowl victories in four years. Brady was the MVP of the 2002 and 2004 Super Bowls, twice leading the Patriots on game-winning drives in the final minutes. New England won its third Super Bowl in February, running Brady's playoff record to 9-0. ``The business side of this game is very different than the playing side,'' Brady said in Jacksonville before leading the Patriots to a 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. ``I work hard, I feel I work as hard as anyone in the league, any quarterback. I feel I'm prepared and that's what I really enjoy. ``There is also a team goal of trying to win Super Bowls, which is most important. Anyone that chooses to play on the Patriots realizes that goal supersedes any other individual player goal. You have to make decisions as an individual on whether you want to be a member of this team or not,'' he said. ``I know where my priorities are.'' While Brady's passing numbers might not be as eye-popping as Manning's, he has a 57-14 record as a starter -- the best of the modern era for any quarterback with at least 40 starts. The two-time Pro Bowl selection from Michigan was 288-for-474 last season for 3,692 yards, 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In his four-year career, he has thrown for 13,925 yards and 91 touchdowns, with 52 interceptions. Link

You are right Rebe...it's the athletic proposal that specifically addresses baseball among other sports. NCAA? In baseball? In Florida? At a major university? Should be in every year - without a doubt - and not a one and done ride. Miss a year occasionally.