Connecticut had just beaten Syracuse, advancing its scorching season to 4-1. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees – Connecticut fans’ two baseball teams – were both in the playoffs. It was a Friday on the UConn campus that comprised what was probably the most fun the Nutmeg State could enjoy without two hoops and hardwood.

Since that Oct. 7 night, though, the Huskies have been hurting. Literally.

Seventeen of the Huskies’ preseason first and second-teamers are sidelined. Between the Syracuse game and a matchup against Cincinnati on Oct. 14, UConn lost a combined eight starters, including quarterback Matt Bonislawski and star kick returner Larry Taylor.

‘I let the doctors and trainers tell me who’s available each week, and we go from there and put the best plan together,’ UConn head coach Randy Edsall said. ‘I sit down with the doctors after each practice and every Saturday or Sunday, and he tells me where we are and who can play.’

The quarterback slot has been particularly hurt. Backup D.J. Hernandez followed Bonislawski with an injury, forcing true freshman Dennis Brown to start behind center in UConn’s last two games.

Brown’s been the epitome of mediocrity, completing a hair more than 50 percent of his passes and throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions. Problem is, Brown’s lost both games he’s played and the Huskies dropped their last three overall.

‘(Brown) shouldn’t be playing,’ Edsall admitted. ‘It’s not his fault; it’s no one’s fault. It’s just the situation we’re in. We’re trying to give him the best situation to go out there to be comfortable. You change your protections, you change everything. Our offense is totally different than it was at the beginning of the season.

‘What we were doing early in the year we can no longer do because of the fact that we had a quarterback (Bonislawski) with a lot of experience in the system. He knew what he could do from a check standpoint, a protection standpoint. We’ve had to change drastically in regards to our offense.’

The Huskies play Pittsburgh on Saturday, with the Panthers having won three of their last four and motivated to win their final two games to possibly earn a bowl bid.

Still, Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt understands his team’s preparation will be more difficult, since he doesn’t know who to prepare for at quarterback. Edsall hasn’t revealed his starter yet, though Hernandez is healthy enough to suit up again.

‘They’ve got a little bit of a dilemma going on at quarterback,’ Wannstedt said. ‘Who we’ll see, we’re not even sure. … Experience (is the main difference between the two). They’re both good athletes. They both can make a lot of yards running the ball.’

UC prepares for big test

Cincinnati played No. 6 Penn State on Sept. 10, but Saturday’s showdown against No. 18 West Virginia might be the Bearcats’ most important game this season.

UC head coach Mark Dantonio said the national television exposure and the Mountaineers’ conference supremacy gives the Bearcats an opportunity to enhance their stature in the Big East. Problem is, UC’s strength – its rushing offense – plays right into WVU’s strength – its rush defense.

‘They stop the run and they make the game one-dimensional,’ Dantonio said. ‘More things can happen for them when you have to throw the ball down the field.’

The Mountaineers are 7-1 with their lone loss to No. 8 Virginia Tech. Dantonio, who coached on Ohio State’s 2002 national championship team, sees similarities between what the Mountaineers are developing into and what the Buckeyes were that season.

‘You have to have depth, someone making plays at quarterback and you have to have a good tailback and have a great defense,’ Dantonio said. ‘(West Virginia) has a lot of those things going.’

Game to Watch

Rutgers at Louisville, Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN2

If someone suggested at the beginning of the season that Rutgers and Louisville would have the same number of wins (six) when they met this season, the comment would be laughed away. Rutgers, despite a 45-31 hiccup against South Florida last Saturday, has outperformed expectations. Louisville, including a hiccup against South Florida on Sept. 24, has underperformed expectations. Both of these teams will probably get bowl bids. The winner, though, will go to a superior game.

Around the conference

The Big East extended Commissioner Mike Tranghese’s contract on Nov. 3 through the 2009-10 academic year. Tranghese is in his 15th year as commissioner and has worked for the conference since its inception in 1979. … South Florida’s win over Rutgers helped two Bulls earn conference honors. Running back Andre Hall was the top offensive player after rushing for 168 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Terrance Royal intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble for a touchdown, earning him defensive honors. The top special teams player was Louisville kicker Art Carmody, connecting on all four of his field goals. … The Bulls advanced to 2-1 in the conference, giving them sole possession of second place. When USF head coach Jim Leavitt was asked whether he’s thought about the prospect of winning the league title – if USF wins out and beats West Virginia on Dec. 3, it’d go to a BCS bowl – he laughed. ‘Right now I’m hoping everyone makes it to our meeting today at 2:30,’ Leavitt said. ‘If everyone shows up, that’s a good start.’

Published on November 8, 2005 at 12:00 pm