Mora's vision coming into focus

Nov. 12—When UConn Athletic Director David Benedict sat down with Jim Mora for a five-day meeting at Mora's home in Idaho last year, the two men discussed every aspect of the school's football team, including the investments in staffing and facilities needed to match the veteran coach's ambitious goals for the program he was taking over.

Mora envisioned building the team from the ground up into a consistent winner, and signed a five-year contract for approximately $1.5 million per year.

UConn invested resources into the program, adding 11 full-time positions and some part-time jobs. It bulked up its recruiting efforts and brought in social media strategists and analysts to assist the coaches.

"I think it's mandatory," Mora said. "And I don't even think we're close yet. You read about some of these visits the big schools have, we're not able to provide that yet, but we're working toward that. But in terms of social media presence and presentation of this building, we're capitalizing on all we have. We're looking for ways to get better and we have good people in place. Recruiting is the lifeblood of your program."

UConn had already fallen behind when Mora took over, with one bowl appearance and no winning seasons since 2011 and a 1-11 record in 2021.

But the veteran coach has engineered a dramatic turnaround, leading the Huskies to a 5-5 record entering their second-to-last game of the season against nationally ranked Liberty (8-1) at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford today (noon, CBS SN).

UConn needs one win in its final two games — Liberty and at Army in the season finale — to reach the six-win mark for the first time since 2015 and for only the second time since 2010. It would also be bowl eligible for the first time since 2015.

"Everything has been great, the support has been tremendous," said Mora, whose contract calls for an $8.5 million buyout for UConn if he were to leave before the end of 2022, $5.25 million if he were to leave in 2023. "I just think it's important that we always keep our eye on the future. As expectations rise, commitment has to rise with it. ... Next year at this time we want to be sitting here way above .500."

UConn currently lists 36 coaches and support staff, including seven full time and two part-time employees spearheading the Huskies' recruiting efforts.

The ability to reach recruits and stage more appealing visits helped the program add 40 new players, many of them battle-tested veterans acquired through the transfer portal, for Mora's first season.

"I don't think we're anywhere close yet to where we need to be to get the top guys," Mora said. "If this university wants to continue to build a good football program, much more substantial and further investments are going to be necessary. And that's just a fact. And if they're not made, then we'll be, you know, what we are, a .500 team. I'm not satisfied being a .500 team. I didn't come here to be a .500 coach, so I'm hopeful that everyone understands that if they want to put the energy and the effort and the money into this program, we can build something special and if we don't, then it won't be special."

Liberty, ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25 with an 8-1 record, suffered its lone loss to then-No. 19 Wake Forest by one point on Sept. 17 after a failed 2-point conversion attempt late in the game.

"We've been playing well so far defensively and as a team, obviously this is a chance to get to six wins, bowl eligibility against a top-25 team at home," UConn linebacker Jackson Mitchell said. "It's really kind of scripted. It's exciting, it's a good moment for anyone who likes to play college football."

The Huskies played back-to-back games against ranked opponents Michigan and NC State in late September and lost by a combined score of 110-10. But the Huskies believe this ranked matchup has a different feel to it. Mora certainly believes.

"We have probably a little more confidence, a little more belief that we can compete just because we've gone through that," he said. "We've seen what it's like to play that caliber of opponent with Syracuse, Michigan and NC State, and now Liberty is up there. We've had some success, a little bit of success after that and I think that builds some confidence."

Liberty's defense is ranked No. 34 in the FBS against the run, allowing opponents an average of 125.6 yards per game. The Flames held Arkansas, the No. 10 rushing offense in the FBS, to 3.4 yards per carry.

UConn, the No. 38 rushing offense in the FBS averaging 187.6 yards per game, has relied on the ground game even after losing starter Nate Carter to a season-ending injury in its game against Michigan.

In his place, Devontae Houston, Robert Burns and freshman Victor Rosa, the team's leader in touchdowns, have carried the load in the backfield.

Houston ran for 84 yards on seven carries against UMass, including a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He leads the team with 434 rushing yards on 59 caries this season. Houston and receivers Cam Ross and Keelan Marion all appeared to be healthy enough to return against UMass last week, but the medical staff limited Houston and gave Ross one chance at a punt return. Marion didn't play.

Since being thrust into the starting quarterback role 11 plays into the season after Ta'Quan Roberson tore his ACL, freshman Zion Turner has grown increasingly comfortable leading the offense.

"I wouldn't say it was overwhelming because this is everything that I wanted," Turner said. "I'm definitely very grateful to be in the position that I am now and to be able to learn and to get the experience at such a young age."

When he studies film, Turner can see a change in the way he has played since the last time he took on a ranked opponent.

"I would say I'm not playing timid. I'm not playing afraid to mess up, I'm just out there playing loose. I'm really out there having fun, trying to make the best of my opportunities," Turner said.

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