Prior to this weekend’s college football action, the only game that excited me was the UConn at ND game. Normally, an Ohio State at Michigan game would be the headliner, but since Michigan has fallen off the map, the game lost a lot of its normal gusto. There were a few intriguing Pac-10 match-ups, but none with the compelling story of this UConn Huskies football team. As I posted yesterday, I had high hopes for a close game in South Bend, and the two teams did not disappoint.
For those of you who decided not to watch the UConn at ND game because you felt it was not worth your time, you missed out on one of the best games I have seen this entire college football season. UConn’s defense stepped up when they needed to and only allowed ND 6 points in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters combined (after allowing 14 points in the 1st quarter). UConn’s rush offense was outstanding with the tandem of Todman and Dixon combining for 245 yards and Todman also had a 96-yard kick return for a TD. After a few nice UConn drives, in a tie game, ND had the ball with a chance to win with 1:10 remaining in the 4th. Everyone in the state of Connecticut was collectively holding their breath, thinking here we go again. Instead, UConn forced a crucial fumble and got the ball back with 49 seconds remaining. After a few plays, UConn centered the ball and set themselves up for a game-ending David Teggart 37 yard FG with no time on the clock. Of course, to add suspense and drama, Teggart shanked the kick left and sent the game into OT. Once again, UConn fans everywhere were in shock and feared the worst would happen in OT.
ND won the toss and defered. UConn quickly put a TD on the board and put all the pressure back on Weis and Clausen. A few plays later, Clausen completed a TD pass, followed by the extra point to tie the game. Double-OT it is. Why not keep playing, right? This time, like they have all year, the UConn defense stood strong and held ND to a FG, opening the proverbial door for the UConn offense to come away with a victory. As it had all game, the dominant UConn running gamepushed aside the ND defense and walked into the end zone for a 3 point win.
For countless reasons, this UConn victory was one of the greatest triumphs this year. Unfortunately, most of the attention will be on Charlie Weis’s future with ND. I would like to take a moment to recognize the enormity of this win for the UConn Huskies program.
This UConn team and the UConn community have faced adversity and tragedy over the past 6
weeks and have handled every moment with grace and resiliency. To lose a member of their family and succeed the way they have is admirable. Coach Randy Edsall is one of the most underrated coaches in the country, and has been for the last few years. He has taken a poor division I-AA program and made them into a successful I-A team in just 7 years, but his greatest accomplishment to this date has been the way he has handled the most difficult situation any coach will ever face, the death of a player. He has said and done all the right things and has acted as a father to his players, putting the importance of family ahead of football.
After the dust has settled, and the tears have dried (for both Edsall and Weis, but for very different reasons), this will go down as the greatest win in the young history of division I football at UConn. Congratulations to Randy Edsall and the entire UConn team on a job well done.
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