Old-school fun for UConn football on campus

Apr. 23—STORRS — Before Friday, the UConn football team hadn't played a game on its campus in nearly 20 years, not since the Huskies beat Kent State 63-21 on Nov. 9, 2002 in the final game Memorial Stadium.

And what the Huskies staged Friday night wasn't exactly a game. It was more like a glorified practice.

Still, for new coach Jim Mora the Blue-White Showcase was the culmination of a spring practice that has in many was rekindled the veteran coach's love for the game. The 60-year-old Mora says he's enjoying this job more than any he's had in at least 20 years.

"I've had more fun with this team than with any team I've ever coached — so far," said Mora, whose previous head coaching experience included stops with the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and UCLA.

The Huskies, Mora insists, are lacking some of the major negative qualities that a lot of teams possess.

"There's zero entitlement on this team. Everybody on this football team and everybody in this building is willing to work for it," Mora said. "And that's a nice thing — when no one expects it to be given to them. They want to work for it."

There was no score kept while the Huskies worked out Friday at Morrone Stadium, the home of the school's soccer teams. Their practice included plenty of 11-on-11 action, though there were no big hits. Outside of the action in the trenches, there were nearly no hits at all.

In order to avoid any injuries, the scrimmage didn't include tackling.

"We're not tackling. So when you're not tackling, it's sometimes hard from afar to gauge what's going on," Mora said.

Quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson, the Penn State transfer who took the majority of the snaps with UConn's first team offense, knew exactly what was going on: His defensive teammates were taking credit for making plays they might not have actually made.

"They become referees. They become coach Mora. They're like 'Sack. Sack. Sack,' " Roberson, sporting a "no contact" red jersey, said with a laugh.

Of course, Roberson admits he didn't complain too much about the conditions of Friday's affair.

"I do have to give them the benefit of the doubt, though, because I don't want them to touch me," Roberson said. "I usually don't talk back."

The Huskies, who open the 2022 season Aug. 27 against Utah State, went 1-11 last season and got touched up plenty by its opponents.

But nearly everyone around the program expects much better performances in the coming season.

"We're very talented. We've got guys from all over who are just hungry. Hungry and want to get better every day," Roberson said. "Honestly that's all you can ask for."

Nigel Fitzgerald, a transfer from Old Dominion, has seemingly made UConn better. And the 6-foot-3 wide receiver had perhaps the play of the night when he caught a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone.

"He's done well. He's kind of fighting through a groin. He had groin surgery a while back and he pulled it a little bit the other day. But I've been impressed with the way he's fought through it," Mora said. "He's a big target and he can stretch out, go up over people and make catches like that. That's what we need."

The team's kickers combined to miss two of their first three field goal attempts, there were a couple of unforced fumbles, and a few tackles that look as if they would have been missed.

But all in all, Mora was glad the Huskies had a chance to get onto a slightly bigger stage again.

"Our players are loving it," Mora said during a break in the action. "We're a little sloppy right now, a little nervous. We couldn't even hardly get through pregame, which we worked on yesterday. It's a little shocking. So it's a good thing we're doing this."

In addition to the football event, there was a pregame concert, as well as the UConn baseball team's win over Villanova going on. There was no charge for admission and school officials said some 4,000 tickets were "claimed."

It seems likely that it won't be another 20 years before a game is played in Storrs again. The spring game, in whatever form it takes from year to year, has a good chance of being played again here.

"Let's get through tonight," Athletic Director David Benedict said. "But do we need a 40,000-seat venue (Pratt & Whitney Stadium) for this event? Probably not."

NOTES: Defensive end Kevon Jones, a senior from East Hartford, did not play in the game because he was ill. ... Some 50 former UConn players were on hand for the game, including wide receiver Marcus Easley, quarterback Bryant Shirreffs, tight end Tommy Myers, wide receiver Hergy Mayala, running back Andre Dixon, cornerback Roy Hopkins, and wide receiver Carl Bond.

Neill covers UConn men's basketball and UConn football teams, and he keeps a finger on the pulse of Connecticut sports. For live game updates, and more insight into UConn athletics, player transfers, and team changes, follow Neill on Twitter: @NeillOstrout, Facebook: JINeillO, and Instagram: @NeillOstrout.