-- It is about to get much more interesting.
The predictable and mundane course charted by the UConn football team this season will careen for better or worse tonight against Syracuse.
After four games to develop an identity and build some self-confidence, the Huskies (3-1) finally plunge into Big East play against the Orange (1-3, 0-1) at sold out Rentschler Field. UConn is favored by 6?.
The game should provide the best insight yet to the type of team the Huskies will be and the sort of season they will have.
No matter how much the Huskies protest that every game is the same, there is a different feel to this game.
"There's a different atmosphere," UConn free safety Marvin Taylor said. "It's a new mind-set going into the game. We're playing a team in our conference and every game counts and this one is going to count big."
The won-loss records don't mean too much. As expected UConn dispatched Buffalo, Liberty and Army with ease and lost at Georgia Tech.
Syracuse has faced much tougher opposition, losing to West Virginia, Virginia and Florida State. The Orange also defeated Buffalo easily.
But Syracuse would be in a precarious position as it relates to postseason aspirations if it stumbles against UConn.
"They're all must wins from this point on," Syracuse coach Greg Robinson said. "We have to win this game, absolutely. This is the next step and we need to have success to achieve what we want to achieve."
There is scant history between Syracuse and UConn. The Orange won the only meeting, 42-30 last season at the Carrier Dome.
Both teams have changed significantly since. The Orange have a new coach in Robinson, who, besides being defensive coordinator, has installed the West Coast Offense and built it around running back Damien Rhodes.
"You have to be able to stop Damien Rhodes if you're going to be successful," UConn coach Randy Edsall said. "He's an outstanding ball carrier and they've been getting him the ball out of the backfield in a receiving situation."
The Huskies have a new quarterback in Matt Bonislawski, an inexperienced offensive line and resurrected running back Terry Caulley. Caulley didn't play last season while recovering from a knee injury.
"They have a well-balanced team," Robinson said. "They lead the Big East in just about everything."
UConn must avoid the mistakes it made against Syracuse last season - three lost fumbles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown - in order to have a chance to win. The Huskies also gave up five sacks.
"It wasn't anything special that they did," UConn left tackle Grant Preston said. "They were just real good pass rushers. They did a lot better job rushing the passer than we did protecting the passer. We've seen them on film. We know how good they are. We know how well we have to play if we want to win.
"I think it's a real big game for us. We're coming home after not being there for a month. It's at night. It's exciting for us. It would be a big win for us. It's going to be a dogfight. They know what it takes to win. They've been around. They beat us last year. We had them on the ropes early and they don't quit."
UConn (3-3 in the Big East last season) must win at least three of its last seven games to be bowl eligible again.
"All your games are important," Edsall said. "But when you get into conference play, it's a little more important because of all the goals that are out there. The things you do in your conference puts you in a position to be able to reach the benefits that college football has to offer."
Said Preston: "We have a chance to win every game on our schedule if we prepare the right way and if we play well enough. This will be a test for us."
The predictable and mundane course charted by the UConn football team this season will careen for better or worse tonight against Syracuse.
After four games to develop an identity and build some self-confidence, the Huskies (3-1) finally plunge into Big East play against the Orange (1-3, 0-1) at sold out Rentschler Field. UConn is favored by 6?.
The game should provide the best insight yet to the type of team the Huskies will be and the sort of season they will have.
No matter how much the Huskies protest that every game is the same, there is a different feel to this game.
"There's a different atmosphere," UConn free safety Marvin Taylor said. "It's a new mind-set going into the game. We're playing a team in our conference and every game counts and this one is going to count big."
The won-loss records don't mean too much. As expected UConn dispatched Buffalo, Liberty and Army with ease and lost at Georgia Tech.
Syracuse has faced much tougher opposition, losing to West Virginia, Virginia and Florida State. The Orange also defeated Buffalo easily.
But Syracuse would be in a precarious position as it relates to postseason aspirations if it stumbles against UConn.
"They're all must wins from this point on," Syracuse coach Greg Robinson said. "We have to win this game, absolutely. This is the next step and we need to have success to achieve what we want to achieve."
There is scant history between Syracuse and UConn. The Orange won the only meeting, 42-30 last season at the Carrier Dome.
Both teams have changed significantly since. The Orange have a new coach in Robinson, who, besides being defensive coordinator, has installed the West Coast Offense and built it around running back Damien Rhodes.
"You have to be able to stop Damien Rhodes if you're going to be successful," UConn coach Randy Edsall said. "He's an outstanding ball carrier and they've been getting him the ball out of the backfield in a receiving situation."
The Huskies have a new quarterback in Matt Bonislawski, an inexperienced offensive line and resurrected running back Terry Caulley. Caulley didn't play last season while recovering from a knee injury.
"They have a well-balanced team," Robinson said. "They lead the Big East in just about everything."
UConn must avoid the mistakes it made against Syracuse last season - three lost fumbles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown - in order to have a chance to win. The Huskies also gave up five sacks.
"It wasn't anything special that they did," UConn left tackle Grant Preston said. "They were just real good pass rushers. They did a lot better job rushing the passer than we did protecting the passer. We've seen them on film. We know how good they are. We know how well we have to play if we want to win.
"I think it's a real big game for us. We're coming home after not being there for a month. It's at night. It's exciting for us. It would be a big win for us. It's going to be a dogfight. They know what it takes to win. They've been around. They beat us last year. We had them on the ropes early and they don't quit."
UConn (3-3 in the Big East last season) must win at least three of its last seven games to be bowl eligible again.
"All your games are important," Edsall said. "But when you get into conference play, it's a little more important because of all the goals that are out there. The things you do in your conference puts you in a position to be able to reach the benefits that college football has to offer."
Said Preston: "We have a chance to win every game on our schedule if we prepare the right way and if we play well enough. This will be a test for us."
