2011 Connecticut Huskies football team

The 2011 Connecticut Huskies football team represented the University of Connecticut as a member of the Big East Conference during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Paul Pasqualoni, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 3–4 in conference play, placing sixth in the Big East. The team played home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.

2011 Connecticut Huskies football
Conference	Big East Conference
Record	5–7 (3–4 Big East)
Head coach	Paul Pasqualoni (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	George DeLeone (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Don Brown (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Rentschler Field
Seasons ← 2010 2012 →

2011 Big East Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 17 West Virginia $+		5	–	2					10	–	3
No. 25 Cincinnati +		5	–	2					10	–	3
Louisville +		5	–	2					7	–	6
Rutgers		4	–	3					9	–	4
Pittsburgh		4	–	3					6	–	7
Connecticut		3	–	4					5	–	7
South Florida		1	–	6					5	–	7
Syracuse		1	–	6					5	–	7
$ – BCS representative as conference champion + – Conference co-champions As of January 11, 2012 Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	12:00 pm	Fordham*	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	ESPN3	W 35–3	34,562
September 10	7:30 pm	at Vanderbilt*	Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN	SNY	L 21–24	32,119
September 16	8:00 pm	Iowa State*	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	ESPN2	L 20–24	37,195
September 24	6:00 pm	at Buffalo*	University at Buffalo Stadium Buffalo, NY	SNY, Big East Network	W 17–3	18,215
October 1	3:30 pm	Western Michigan*	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	SNY	L 31–38	36,648
October 8	12:00 pm	at No. 16 West Virginia	Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, WV	SNY, Big East Network	L 16–43	56,179
October 15	3:30 pm	South Florida	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	SNY, Big East Network	W 16–10	37,162
October 26	8:00 pm	at Pittsburgh	Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA	ESPN	L 20–35	40,219
November 5	12:00 pm	Syracuse	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT (rivalry)	ESPNU	W 28–21	38,769
November 19	12:00 pm	Louisville	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	Big East Network	L 20–34	34,483
November 26	12:00 pm	Rutgers	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	ESPN2	W 40–22	37,857
December 3	12:00 pm	at Cincinnati	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPN	L 27–35	27,930
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[1][2][3]

Before the season

Coaching changes

The day after the Fiesta Bowl Head Coach Randy Edsall left the University to accept the same position at Maryland.^[4] Paul Pasqualoni was hired to replace Edsall. George DeLeone was brought in as the new offensive coordinator, with former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead being demoted to quarterbacks coach.^[5][6] Don Brown was brought in to replace Todd Orlando at defensive coordinator.^[7] Orlando left to take the same position at Florida International.^[8]

Roster changes

The Huskies lost six starters from the 2010 team to graduation. In addition to the graduation losses All-American RB Jordan Todman entered the NFL Draft a year early.^[9]

Recruiting

On February 2, 2011, Paul Pasqualoni announced that 16 student-athletes had signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Connecticut.^[10] Four; Kenton Adeyemi, Dalton Gifford, Michael Nebrich and Sean McQuillan; entered school in January to participate in spring practice.

College recruiting information (2011)
Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Kamal Abrams WR	Dover, DE	Dover HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	–	Jul 11, 2011
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (74)
Andrew Adams FS	Fayetteville, GA	Woodward Academy	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.57	Dec 30, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (66)
Kenton Adeyemi DT	Wethersfield, CT	Fork Union Military Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	–	Dec 20, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (74)
Jefferson Ashiru LB	Powder Springs, GA	McEachern HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	4.7	Jan 27, 2011
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (78)
Julian Campenni DT	West Pittson, PA	Wyoming Area HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	–	Jan 30, 2011
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (75)
Tyree Clark CB	Tampa, FL	Alonso HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	–	Sep 23, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (74)
Max DeLorenzo RB	Berlin, CT	Berlin HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	4.5	Jun 23, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (67)
Deshon Foxx RB	Lynchburg, VA	Brookfield HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.4	Nov 29, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (45)
Dalton Gifford OT	Fairhaven, MA	Bridgton Academy	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	–	Nov 28, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (72)
Xavier Hemingway OT	Powder Springs, GA	McEachern HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	–	Jan 24, 2011
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (77)
Wilbert Lee SS	Brooklyn, NY	Boys and Girls HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	–	Jul 17, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (45)
Sean McQuillan TE	Glastonbury, CT	Avon Old Farms	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	252 lb (114 kg)	4.6	Aug 24, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (74)
Michael Nebrich QB	Fairfax Station, VA	Lake Braddock Secondary School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.5	Jun 6, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (74)
Paul Nwokeji OT	Randolph, MA	Thayer Academy	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	265 lb (120 kg)	–	Jun 22, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (45)
David Stephenson CB	Stone Mountain, GA	Stephenson HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.5	Jun 23, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (74)
Marquise Vann LB	Cincinnati, OH	Fairfield Senior HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	223 lb (101 kg)	–	Dec 16, 2010
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    (78)
Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 79    Rivals: >50
‡ Refers to 40-yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Connecticut Football Commitment List (16)". Rivals. Retrieved February 5, 2011. "UConn College Football Recruiting Commits". Scout. Retrieved February 5, 2011. "Connecticut Huskies Commits". ESPN. Retrieved February 5, 2011. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout. Retrieved February 5, 2011. "2011 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved February 5, 2011.

Game summaries

Fordham

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	0	3	0	3
• Huskies	7	14	14	0	35

• Date: September 3, 2011
• Location: Rentschler Field
  East Hartford, CT
• Game start: 12:00 pm EST
• TV announcers (ESPN3): Bob Picozzi, Christian Fauria

See also: 2011 Fordham Rams football team

This game was originally scheduled to be played on September 1 at 7:30 pm. However, due to Rentschler Field being used for relief efforts for Hurricane Irene, the game was moved to Saturday. The team discussed playing the game at the Yale Bowl in New Haven if the field did not become available in time, but on Wednesday, August 31, the team announced the game would be played in East Hartford on Saturday at noon.

Vanderbilt

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	3	0	10	8	21
• Commodores	14	0	0	10	24

• Date: September 10
• Location: Vanderbilt Stadium
  Nashville, TN
• Game start: 7:30 pm EST
• Game attendance: 32,119^[11]
• TV announcers (SNY): Matt Stewart, Chris Doering, Sandra Golden

See also: 2011 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

Iowa State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Cyclones	0	7	10	7	24
Huskies	10	0	3	7	20

• Date: September 16
• Location: Rentschler Field
  East Hartford, CT
• Game start: 8:00 pm EST
• TV announcers (ESPN2): Mike Gleason, John Congemi

See also: 2011 Iowa State Cyclones football team

Buffalo

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Huskies	0	10	0	7	17
Bulls	0	3	0	0	3

• Date: September 24
• Location: University at Buffalo Stadium
  Buffalo, NY
• Game start: 6:00 pm EST
• TV announcers (SNY/Big East Network/ESPN+): Jim Barbar, John Gregory

See also: 2011 Buffalo Bulls football team

Western Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Broncos	0	17	0	21	38
Huskies	0	7	10	14	31

• Date: October 1
• Location: Rentschler Field
  East Hartford, CT
• Game start: 3:30 pm EST
• TV announcers (SNY/Big East Network): Bob Picozzi, John Bunting

See also: 2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team

West Virginia

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	3	6	0	7	16
• No. 16 Mountaineers	3	7	23	10	43

• Date: October 8
• Location: Mountaineer Field
  Morgantown, WV
• Game start: 12:00 pm EST
• TV announcers (SNY/Big East Network): Mike Gleason, John Congemi, Eamon McAnaney

See also: 2011 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

South Florida

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulls	3	0	7	0	10
• Huskies	3	3	10	0	16

• Date: October 15
• Location: Rentschler Field
  East Hartford, CT
• Game start: 3:30 EST
• TV announcers (Big East Network): Jim Barbar, Christian Fauria

See also: 2011 South Florida Bulls football team

^[12]

Pittsburgh

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	0	3	10	7	20
• Panthers	14	7	7	7	35

• Date: October 26
• Location: Heinz Field
  Pittsburgh, PA
• TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore, Mark May, Lou Holtz, Quint Kessenich

See also: 2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Syracuse

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Orange	0	7	14	0	21
• Huskies	7	0	7	14	28

• Date: November 5
• Location: Rentschler Field
  East Hartford, CT
• TV announcers (ESPNU): Pam Ward, Dan Hawkins

See also: 2011 Syracuse Orange football team

Louisville

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Cardinals	14	0	7	13	34
Huskies	0	10	0	10	20

• Date: November 19
• Location: Rentschler Field
  East Hartford, CT
• Game start: 12:00 EST
• Game attendance: 34,483
• TV announcers (Big East Network): Mike Gleason, John Congemi, Eamon McAnaney

See also: 2011 Louisville Cardinals football team

Rutgers

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	10	0	12	22
• Huskies	14	10	16	0	40

• Date: November 26
• Location: Rentschler Field
  East Hartford, CT
• Game start: 12:00 EST
• TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins, Mike Bellotti

See also: 2011 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Cincinnati

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	0	6	6	15	27
• Bearcats	14	14	7	0	35

• Date: December 3
• Location: Nippert Stadium
  Cincinnati, OH
• Game start: 12:00 EST
• TV announcers (ESPN/ESPN2): Dave Pasch, Chris Spielman, Quint Kessenich

See also: 2011 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

NFL draft

The following Husky was selected in the 2012 NFL draft following the season^[13]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL team
2	49	Kendall Reyes	Defensive tackle	San Diego Chargers