Hungry Huskies will play underdog role in football season opener at Utah State
Aug. 27—The most anticipated UConn football season in recent memory kicks off Saturday in Logan, Utah.
UConn's season opener at Utah State's Maverick Stadium also marks the start of the Jim Mora era. Game time is 4 p.m. (FS1).
The Huskies, in their second season as an independent, are a huge underdog playing against the defending Mountain West champions on the road.
"It's going to be an amazing test for us," Mora said. "We're big, big, big underdogs. We should be at this point in time."
Mora has taken on a herculean task of trying to turn around a program that hasn't had a winning season since 2010. He's off to a good start, laying a strong foundation through successes on the recruiting trail and by injecting much-needed energy, enthusiasm and passion.
Mora will find out Saturday how that all translates on the football field.
So, what can fans expect from the Huskies this season?
"I think if they come out to the Rent or turn on the TV on Saturday and watch this team play, I think they'll see a team that plays with a lot of passion and a lot of grit, they play disciplined and they compete like crazy on every single down," Mora said.
"I'm never one that predicts results. I'm a 1-0 type of guy and just focus on the game that we're playing. But I think it will be a brand of football where you walk out of the stadium and go, OK, I see that they're doing some things. That's how I feel as the coach, so I hope they feel that. I hope they come out and support them.
"I will tell you this, that these young men are committed, have a great work ethic and represent their school well. They want to compete and they want to be good. It is really important for them to feel supported."
There is certainly an easier way to open the season than facing the Aggies, who return a number of talented skill players from a team that posted a school record-tying 11 wins and won its first Mountain West title last season.
Graduate quarterback Logan Bonner powers a potent offensive attack that will severely test UConn's defense. He set five school records last year, including most passing yards (3,628) and touchdown passes (36) in a season.
UConn's defense, which allowed 38.5 points per game last season, has a long way to go to be able to contain an offense of Utah State's caliber.
Utah State relies on an attacking defense that ranked sixth in the nation in tackles for loss last season.
The Huskies are ready for the challenge.
"We're excited to go out and face a very, very good Utah State team ... certainly one of the top teams in the country," Mora said. They play solid defense and they're very well coached. Offensively, they like to go fast. They go at a high tempo and spread the field well. ... They're very, very balanced.
"On defense, they're aggressive. They come after you and they bring pressure. They have a lot of confidence in their ability to play their scheme and adjust. ... We're going to have to play our best. Our objective is to go out there and compete every single play like it's the last play that we'll ever play."
Working in its favor: UConn is a bit of a mystery.
Almost half the players on the rebuilt roster are in their first season in Storrs. Several transfers will play key roles, including quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson (Penn State). While Mora didn't name a starting quarterback, Roberson will likely get the nod.
UConn's defensive coordinator duties will be split between several assistant coaches due to the fact that Lou Spanos took a leave of absence from the team last week for personal reasons. Mora called it a collaborative effort.
"UConn presents some problems because we really don't know what to expect," Utah State coach Blake Anderson told reporters at his weekly press conference. "I've been asked several times, how do you prepare for a team with a new head coach, new coordinators, really no film to go off of? That is a real problem.
"We don't really know what to expect. We're going to have to adjust very quickly."
It also will be an adjustment for Mora, who will be coaching a game for the first time since 2017, his final season with UCLA.
Mora started feeling butterflies about two weeks ago. He admits that he's a little bit nervous but expects to fall right back into coaching mode on game day.
He has faith in his players. He's watched them make huge strides since the spring.
The players are desperate to win, according to Mora.
"Obviously, they're motivated to win," Mora said. "And they're going to be excited to go out and play and be wound up. One thing we've talked a lot about last week and this week is handling adversity. Sometimes when you get so amped up, if something bad happens early, it can take all the air out of your sails.
"So, we've talked about how we're going to handle adversity and how we're going to handle success as well. By kickoff, they'll be in a very good place emotionally, and they'll be in that place because they've done the work. They've prepared. They're ready to go. Now they just get to go out and perform, which is what they love to do."
UConn has never beaten a Mountain West opponent, falling to 0-5 with a 45-0 loss at Fresno State and a 24-22 loss to Wyoming last season.
