Connecticut Huskies football under Randy Edsall
Encyclopedia
Randy Edsall
was the 27th head coach
of the Connecticut Huskies football
team, which represents the University of Connecticut
, and participates in the Big East Conference
. Since he was hired in 1999, Edsall led the Huskies from Division I-AA to Division I-A. Under his lead, the Huskies compiled a record of 74-70 (including a record of 65–45 since 2002 when they became full-fledged FBS members) and advanced to five bowl games, including one BCS bowl game, the 2011 Fiesta Bowl
, his final game with the team.
. It finished with a record of 4–7.
. Despite a slow start, the Huskies finished with a record of 6–6, the first time in its short FBS history that it did not compile a sub-.500 record. Although not selected, it also marked the first time that the school was eligible for a bowl game
.
The Huskies were led by consensus Freshman All-American, Terry Caulley
, who led all freshman in rushing with 1,247 yards. Despite sitting out two games with injuries, Caulley's rushing total was only fifteen yards short of the team's single season record.
The turning point in the season came after a hard fought loss at . Led by Caulley and sophomore quarterback
Dan Orlovsky
, the Huskies tore through the remainder of the schedule by defeating the opponents by a combined 199–55. The winning streak began with the final two games played at Memorial Stadium. They closed the stadium with their two highest point totals in the stadium's history (61 against Florida Atlantic
, and 63 against .) They finished the season with their first ever victory over a bowl-bound opponent by defeating Iowa State
37–20 in Ames, IA
.
Randy Edsall
Randy Douglas Edsall is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Maryland. Edsall was the head coach at the University of Connecticut from 1999 until the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, and oversaw the program's promotion from the NCAA Division I–AA level to...
was the 27th head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Connecticut Huskies football
Connecticut Huskies football
The Connecticut Huskies football team is a collegiate football team that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big East Conference. Connecticut first fielded a team in 1896, and participated in Division I-AA until 1999. The Huskies began their two-year Division I-A transition period in 2000, and...
team, which represents the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, and participates in the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
. Since he was hired in 1999, Edsall led the Huskies from Division I-AA to Division I-A. Under his lead, the Huskies compiled a record of 74-70 (including a record of 65–45 since 2002 when they became full-fledged FBS members) and advanced to five bowl games, including one BCS bowl game, the 2011 Fiesta Bowl
2011 Fiesta Bowl
The 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game played as part of the 2011 Bowl Championship Series of the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
, his final game with the team.
1999 season
The 1999 Connecticut Huskies football team completed its final season as a member of both Division I-AA and the Atlantic Ten ConferenceAtlantic Ten Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference is a college athletic conference which operates mostly on the United States' eastern seaboard. It also has two member schools in Ohio: Dayton and Xavier, located in Dayton and Cincinnati, respectively. Another member, Saint Louis is located in St. Louis, Missouri...
. It finished with a record of 4–7.
2000 season
The 2000 Connecticut Huskies football team was the school's first as a member of Division I-A. The Huskies competed as a transitional member as they increased the scholarship count to the Division I-A level of 85. The team was not a member of a conference, and competed as an independent. They finished the season with a record of 3–8.2001 season
The 2001 Connecticut Huskies football team was the school's second season as a member of Division 1-A, and its final as a transitional team. It competed as an independent. It finished with a record of 2–9.2002 season
The 2002 Connecticut Huskies football team marked the school's first as a full-time member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The team was not part of a conference, and played as an Independent. It also marked the team's last season at its on-campus football stadium, Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium (Storrs)
Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Storrs, Connecticut. It was primarily used for American football, and was the home field of the University of Connecticut football team between 1953 and 2002, before the opening of Rentschler Field. The stadium holds 16,200 people and was built in 1953. It was...
. Despite a slow start, the Huskies finished with a record of 6–6, the first time in its short FBS history that it did not compile a sub-.500 record. Although not selected, it also marked the first time that the school was eligible for a bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
.
The Huskies were led by consensus Freshman All-American, Terry Caulley
Terry Caulley
Terry J. Caulley is an American Football running back. He played college football at Connecticut. Despite sitting out the second half of 2003 and the entire 2004 season with a knee injury, he has racked up 3,187 rushing yards including 31 touchdowns. In 2003, Caulley had a breakout game against...
, who led all freshman in rushing with 1,247 yards. Despite sitting out two games with injuries, Caulley's rushing total was only fifteen yards short of the team's single season record.
The turning point in the season came after a hard fought loss at . Led by Caulley and sophomore quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Dan Orlovsky
Dan Orlovsky
Daniel John Orlovsky is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. The Detroit Lions drafted Orlovsky in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, the Huskies tore through the remainder of the schedule by defeating the opponents by a combined 199–55. The winning streak began with the final two games played at Memorial Stadium. They closed the stadium with their two highest point totals in the stadium's history (61 against Florida Atlantic
2002 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
The 2002 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. The Owls competed in the NCAA's...
, and 63 against .) They finished the season with their first ever victory over a bowl-bound opponent by defeating Iowa State
2002 Iowa State Cyclones football team
The 2002 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented the Iowa State University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team captains were Zach Butler, Jordan Carstens, Seneca Wallace, and Chris Whitaker. The Cyclones were quarterbacked by Seneca Wallace. Seneca is among many former...
37–20 in Ames, IA
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
.