Well it’s been a while since I updated this ol’ thing but in that time UConn has won one game that they should have (Syracuse) and one that might not have been so easy (Notre Dame).
UConn's win over Notre Dame was instrumental in getting Charlie Weis fired after another 6-6 season.
The Huskies currently stand at 6-5 and are bowl eligible for the third straight season, quite a feat when you consider this was a program that was playing in the FCS playoffs just a decade ago. With all the off the field troubles that have surrounded the program this season to get to the 6 win mark is a feat in and of itself. UConn’s win over Notre Dame may not have been their best in terms of taking down a tougher opponent (the Huskies beat No. 10 South Florida at home two seasons ago and Notre Dame is on a down year) but it was their most historic. To think that this program would walk into South Bend and come out of Notre Dame Stadium with a victory was preposterous a few seasons ago.
But onward to the bowl projections. ESPN currently has the Huskies projected to go to the Papajohns.com bowl (yes the bowl is named after a Web site of the franchise, not the franchise itself) with a matchup against an SEC team, likely Kentucky on January 2nd. If UConn fails to beat South Florida on Saturday they could be on their way to the St. Petersburg bowl against UCF on December 19th. While Florida might be the better travel destination, UConn fans should be hoping for a trip to Birmingham (you never thought you’d hear that one right?)
One of two Bowl Games played this year named after pizza franchises.
Well here’s why:
1) We’re playing against the SEC
While Kentucky doesn’t jump off the map as a big time SEC football school, there are other teams UConn could potentially play such as South Carolina or Georgia. For UConn to travel down south and play a program with decades of history and tradition will be a good way for them to gauge just how far the program has come since making the jump to Division I. Even if UConn walks away with a loss it will be a treat for fans to experience a big time game environment similar to what was experienced in South Bend.
2) We’ll travel better
December 19th is the Saturday after final exams so don’t expect many students to make the treck down to Florida. Also, how many diehard fans are going to make the long journey to Florida to see UConn play a MAC team that they will likely dismantle in a similar fashion to the way that they beat Buffalo in the International Bowl. Birmingham against an SEC team will likely draw a bigger crowd and it is a shorter travel than Florida. Not to mention that given final exams we likely won’t see the band or the cheerleaders in St. Pete’s. The band and cheerleaders made the trip out to Notre Dame and it helped add to the atmosphere and the excitement of UConn’s victory.
So that’s it for now. Enjoy the six wins and start making your bowl plans.
The other, less prestigious, pizza-based bowl game.
