A Meaningful Game
Monday, November 23, 2009 22:51
With the top teams rolling–Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU and Boise State all crushed their opponents, while Cincinnati had a bye–only one game on this past weekend’s schedule delivered much intrigue.
The Connecticut Huskies defeated Notre Dame 33-20 in double overtime at South Bend.
Before we go into any of the greater meanings or implications of this game, it should be stated that it was an exciting tilt. Notre Dame leapt out to a quick lead; Connecticut came roaring back but then failed to score the go-ahead points after two touchdowns were called back by penalties, another drive sputtered with an interception in the end zone, and finally a game-winning field goal pulled left as regulation expired. The Huskies finally took their first lead of the game–and the only that mattered, when Andre Dixon found the end zone in the second OT.
For Charlie Weis, this game almost assuredly was the death knell to his tenure as head coach of the Fighting Irish. Enough said.
For the Huskies? Coach Randy Edsall summed it up best when he called it the program’s “best win” ever.
In more ways then one.
From a purely football standpoint, this was easily the biggest victory for the young history of UConn’s football program at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Huskies have only been playing on the NCAA’s top tier for a decade–a stark contrast from the Irish, one of college football’s most storied teams. Randy Edsall, who has coached the Huskies from their inception as a Division 1-A team, has led his squad to several successes in that short time, including two bowl victories (in three tries) and even national ranking. But to defeat Notre Dame, with that school’s history, on its home turf, was truly something special and a sign of how far the Huskies have come.
But the football importance for Connecticut paled in comparison to the emotional significance. It was UConn’s first victory since the tragic murder on campus of cornerback Jasper Howard. After the game, his teammates carried “Jazz’s” jersey around the field. Coach Edsall, with tears in his eyes, dedicated the game ball to Howard’s family. The weight on the Huskies’ shoulders could finally be partially lifted as they finally won one for their fallen comrade.
A lot was riding on this game, for both squads, not in terms of national championships, but in terms of everything else
Gairzo
says:
November 24th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Edsall is a great coach–and that will ultimately hurt the UConn program as will Cincinnati's Brian Kelley's success hurt the Bearcat program.
Both these guys recently signed contract extensions for big money, both pledged to remain loyal to their school and their kids–and both will leave fo bigger schools and bigger money because in the college game contracts mean nothing.
Just as in MLB the Prates, Royals, Twins, Reds, etc. serve as a defacto minor league for the bigger markets, small schools groom coaches for bigger universities.
Nate Barlow
says:
November 25th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Sad, but unfortunately usually true. To Edsall's credit, he has been with UConn for a decade, a lot longer than many coaches who become hot after some success, and his name has come up in the past for vacancies and he turned them down. Connecticut and Cincinnati have a better chance than most non-big programs in holding onto their coaches, since they are both in the BCS Big East. Not a guarantee by any means to be sure (Rodriguez jumping WVU's ship for Michigan), but better than most.