There's nothing like a weather report to change perspectives.
Temple officials said Friday they are expecting heavy rain and wind gusts from 35 to 60 mph from Tropical Storm Hanna even before the Owls (1-0) and UConn (1-0) take to Lincoln Financial Field for their nonconference matchup at noon.
Anybody still want to talk about The Play?
It's probably safe to assume there are more pressing issues for both teams, like trying to figure out how they'll successfully cut through the conditions to win.
As far as a game plan, settle in because running the ball is the way UConn offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose has said he'll go; you won't see him calling plays to chuck the ball all over the field in the wind.
With tailbacks Donald Brown and Andre Dixon, UConn might not need to throw, and you don't have to look any further than last year for proof.
"It's great to have Dre back. It's only going to help our offense," Brown said. "It's another weapon we have in our arsenal."
Dixon missed the season opener with an ankle injury and will return in conditions that would challenge a back with healthy ankles.
"You don't know how hard it was coming out of that tunnel the other night knowing I wasn't going to play," Dixon said, alluding to UConn's 35-3 victory over Hofstra on Aug. 28. "I want to play."
Dixon, a second-team All-Big East performer in 2007, ran for 115 yards against Louisville and 167 against South Florida, a couple of bad weather games. And he had 129 against Temple in UConn's controversial 22-17 victory, after which the Mid-American Conference admitted its officials made a mistake by ruling Bruce Francis' catch in the end zone incomplete in the final minute, securing a victory for the Huskies at Rentschler Field. Temple's marketing department has billed today's game as the Owls' chance to make sure there is "Justice."
Brown got his season off to a big start with 146 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Hofstra.
Though Owls coach Al Golden is excited about his defense, it gave up 210 yards rushing to Army on a dry track last week. UConn is not Army.
The conditions may or may not allow for either back to go off like they can, but one thing is certain: The Huskies better protect the ball. Five turnovers in this one ? like they had last week ? could mean a "1" in the loss column.
The Owls took advantage of three Army turnovers to take a 21-0 halftime lead en route to a 35-7 victory, avenging a 37-21 loss to the Black Knights last year.
"I think we can run on defense," Golden said. "We have everybody back from last year's unit, but at the same time we're still young; we only started one senior on defense. It seems like a defense that runs around for us, that likes to make plays, gets excited about the game."
UConn coach Randy Edsall said the Huskies didn't harp on ball security any more than they usually do after last week (three of the five turnovers were interceptions thrown by Tyler Lorenzen).
"We've always stressed from day one that we can't turn the ball over," Edsall said. "We talked about it after the game that we can't turn the ball over, give field position or give points away to anybody. You see [Temple] caused three turnovers against Army. We caused three turnovers against Hofstra. Problem is, [Hofstra] had three turnovers and we had five, so it doesn't mater who you're playing. It's every week ... we have to be conscious of ball security."
Temple officials said Friday they are expecting heavy rain and wind gusts from 35 to 60 mph from Tropical Storm Hanna even before the Owls (1-0) and UConn (1-0) take to Lincoln Financial Field for their nonconference matchup at noon.
Anybody still want to talk about The Play?
It's probably safe to assume there are more pressing issues for both teams, like trying to figure out how they'll successfully cut through the conditions to win.
As far as a game plan, settle in because running the ball is the way UConn offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose has said he'll go; you won't see him calling plays to chuck the ball all over the field in the wind.
With tailbacks Donald Brown and Andre Dixon, UConn might not need to throw, and you don't have to look any further than last year for proof.
"It's great to have Dre back. It's only going to help our offense," Brown said. "It's another weapon we have in our arsenal."
Dixon missed the season opener with an ankle injury and will return in conditions that would challenge a back with healthy ankles.
"You don't know how hard it was coming out of that tunnel the other night knowing I wasn't going to play," Dixon said, alluding to UConn's 35-3 victory over Hofstra on Aug. 28. "I want to play."
Dixon, a second-team All-Big East performer in 2007, ran for 115 yards against Louisville and 167 against South Florida, a couple of bad weather games. And he had 129 against Temple in UConn's controversial 22-17 victory, after which the Mid-American Conference admitted its officials made a mistake by ruling Bruce Francis' catch in the end zone incomplete in the final minute, securing a victory for the Huskies at Rentschler Field. Temple's marketing department has billed today's game as the Owls' chance to make sure there is "Justice."
Brown got his season off to a big start with 146 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Hofstra.
Though Owls coach Al Golden is excited about his defense, it gave up 210 yards rushing to Army on a dry track last week. UConn is not Army.
The conditions may or may not allow for either back to go off like they can, but one thing is certain: The Huskies better protect the ball. Five turnovers in this one ? like they had last week ? could mean a "1" in the loss column.
The Owls took advantage of three Army turnovers to take a 21-0 halftime lead en route to a 35-7 victory, avenging a 37-21 loss to the Black Knights last year.
"I think we can run on defense," Golden said. "We have everybody back from last year's unit, but at the same time we're still young; we only started one senior on defense. It seems like a defense that runs around for us, that likes to make plays, gets excited about the game."
UConn coach Randy Edsall said the Huskies didn't harp on ball security any more than they usually do after last week (three of the five turnovers were interceptions thrown by Tyler Lorenzen).
"We've always stressed from day one that we can't turn the ball over," Edsall said. "We talked about it after the game that we can't turn the ball over, give field position or give points away to anybody. You see [Temple] caused three turnovers against Army. We caused three turnovers against Hofstra. Problem is, [Hofstra] had three turnovers and we had five, so it doesn't mater who you're playing. It's every week ... we have to be conscious of ball security."
