UConn Football Welcomes EBV Participants, Notes

The football team welcomed participants of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program to practice on yesterday and had dinner together following the practice.

UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni spoke passionately about having three of the gentlemen at practice – and put things here in perspective.

“We’re over here playing a kids game and they’re over there making every sacrifice you can make putting their lives on the line. You just can’t be appreciative enough,” Pasqualoni said Tuesday.

Courant columnist Jeff Jacobs is supposed to hit this pretty hard this week. It’s worthy that’s for sure.

I thanked each and every one of those dudes for their service and sacrifice…

Working on this story for tomorrow but here’s a comment from sophomore wide receiver Tebucky Jones Jr. and playing, which, for the most part he’s not after a fine spring and preseason.

“This year, my redshirt sophomore year, I thought I was going to play,” Jones Jr. said. “Last year I was behind Kash [Kashif Moore] and all that. Obviously, this year I worked hard in the offseason and stuff and you work so hard and you go expecting big things. The playing time-issue, you have to ask the coaches, but from my understanding I thought I was going to go out and play and be a big contributor to the team this year. I mean, I guess the plans are otherwise, so…”

Jones is a local product with talent and name recognition; decided to stay home to play for State U….

- Despite the disappointment with his playing time Jones is extremely happy for his friend and position-mate, Geremy Davis. Jones tried to tease Davis through a media crush around the receiver Tuesday after a breakout game against Western Michigan with catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.

“I felt really good, came into the game prepared,” Davis said. “I had my mind set for the weather so I was out early trying to catch a few wet balls. Luckily it got sunny so it was a lot easier to catch the ball. I felt real comfortable out there but it sucks we didn’t get the win, you know? That’s the most important outcome you want to have.”

Davis looked like a big-time receiver Saturday. It was one game. The trick is to string these kinds of performances together but one does wonder how much more the 6 foot 1, 214-pound Davis is capable of. Again, one game but potential is there to big things.

“I feel like I can do a lot more because I want to get the win,” Davis said. “I feel like I didn’t do as much despite my stats because we didn’t so I feel like I have to do more than what I did last week to win. I have to do more than I did last week. I’m not going to be satisfied with my play because we didn’t win.

“I could have fought for that extra yard, maybe run that route one yard deeper.”

Davis said the game was good for his confidence.

- Angelo Pruitt found himself starting at defensive end opposite Trevardo Williams. Leading up to the game we were believed the position, after Jesse Joseph (Achilles) was lost for the season at Maryland, would be shared between Tim Willman E.J. Norris. Pruitt started against Western Michigan and played primarily on running downs and that’s the way it’s going to stay for now. Willman and Norris will come in during pass-rushing situations.

“I feel more relaxed but I had to adjust to a different position, knowing different plays, knowing the responsibilities which sort of was on my mind on every plays,” Pruitt said. “Grading myself watching film, there were times when I was just hesitant. I need to just play football and be more aggressive. I have some progress to make.

“I felt good about giving it my all, giving everything coach asked for every play.”

DC