SNYUConn.com @johnfsilver-blog-blog - Tumblr Blog

Goodbye from John Silver

John F. Silver

I am not one for goodbyes.

I find it antithetical to the role of a journalist who should be neither seen nor heard. I’ve always attempted to stay out of the story at all costs and provide balance and perspective. I’ve failed at that at times, but that’s the business.

In that sense, this is a bit of a change for me. I am leaving the Journal Inquirer, where I’ve spent the last 13…

View On WordPress

Camp preview: Running backs

Connecticut Huskies running back Arkeel Newsome (22) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

John F. Silver

Terry Caulley, Jordan Todman, Andre Dixon and Donald Brown.

UConn fans know good running backs. They’ve known elite running backs and elite run games. UConn enters camp in 2015 with the goal of getting back to…

View On WordPress

Camp Preview: Linebackers and secondary

East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies linebacker Graham Stewart (2) sacks UCF Knights quarterback Justin Holman (13) in the second half at Rentschler Field. UConn defeated UCF 37-29. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

John F. Silver

Linebacker remains a critical component of UConn’s 3-4 defense, which is set up for the second line to make plays.

There were growing pains in…

View On WordPress

Camp Preview: Offensive line

v 1, 2014; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies running back Ron Johnson (3) drives the ball ion for a touchdown against UCF Knights linebacker Terrance Plummer (41) in the second half at Rentschler Field. UConn defeated UCF 37-29. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

John F. Silver

The offensive line and the running game.

You can’t have one without the other and UConn’s 2015…

View On WordPress

Camp Preview: Wide receivers and tight ends

Nov 1, 2014; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Noel Thomas (5) runs the ball for a touchdown against the UCF Knights in the second half at Rentschler Field. UConn defeated UCF 37-29. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

John F. Silver

Noel Thomashad 335 yards and four TDs last season. That isn’t a lot of yards or production, but when looking at the UConn…

View On WordPress

Camp Preview: Defensive line

Connecticut Huskies defensive lineman Mikal Myers (92) and defensive tackle Julian Campenni (90) warm up before the start of the game against the Boise State Broncos at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

John F. Silver

UConn NGs Julian Campenni and Mikal Myers aren’t the prototypes in a 3-4 defensive system.

The nose should be big and massive and eat up space.…

View On WordPress

Camp Preview: Quarterbacks

Tim Boyle will vie for the UConn starting quarterback job in camp this summer.

John F. Silver

It starts and ends at quarterback. It always has for the UConn football team.

UConn’s never had consistent quarterback plan — a decade and counting in fact — and head coach Bob Diaco got his first taste of UConn instability last year in game 1 when his starter Casey Cochran had to retire from the sport…

View On WordPress

Camp Preview: 5 burning questions for 2015

Nov 29, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Bob Diaco during the game against the Memphis Tigers at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

John F. Silver

UConn has won 5 games in two years and judging by the preview magazines, not much is expected from the Huskies. UConn has designs on a marked improvement from last year’s 2-10 season. It’s…

View On WordPress

Napier traded to Magic

John F. Silver

One year after drafting former UConn star Shabazz Napier to pair with LeBron James, the Heat are set to send him off for a second round pick.

Citing sources, ESPN is reporting that the Heat are sending Napier, who won two national titles at UConn, to the Magic for a future second round pick.

Napier was a favorite of LeBron James, and the Heat drafted him prior to James leaving Miami…

View On WordPress

Rentschler Field gets another name

John F. Silver

Rentschler Field is getting a longer name.

The field, located on a former air strip in East Hartford, Conn., will now be named Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field per the Hartford Courant.

Pratt and Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies, is located on the property where Rentschler Field is located. The defunct air strip was one time used by P&W and was donated to…

View On WordPress

Stewart named to Lombardi Watch List

John F. Silver

UConn linebacker Graham Stewart was named to the Lombardi Trophy watch list for nation’s top linebacker.

East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies linebacker Graham Stewart (2) sacks UCF Knights quarterback Justin Holman (13) in the second half at Rentschler Field. UConn defeated UCF 37-29. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Stewart started all 12 games at…

View On WordPress

Former UConn star Scott Burrell named head coach at SCSU

John F. Silver

UConn coach Kevin Ollie is far from the only former player of coach Jim Calhoun to gain a head coaching job.

The latest is Ollie’s teammate — Scott Burrell — who was named the head coach at Division II Southern Connecticut State University.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my close friend and former UConn teammate Scott Burrell as he takes charge of the outstanding basketball program…

View On WordPress

UConn men pickup PG Alterique Gilbert

John F. Silver

UConn picked up a major piece to the Class of 2016 with Miller Grove, Georgia point guard Alterique Gilbert giving his commitment to play for the Huskies.

Gilbert is a top 25 prospect for the Class of 2016 and picked UConn over Louisville, Illinois, Syracuse and Texas (ESPN, July 4). Larrier is regarded as a scoring point guard in the mold of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright.

The…

View On WordPress

#Alterique Gilbert #Mamadou Diallo #UConn

American welcomes Navy

John F. Silver

The American is now as 12-team football conference.

Only July 1st, Navy joined the conference and will play in West division of the American along with Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulane and Tulsa.

The West makes sense for Navy, as a national program and the strong military presence in the area.

The Huskies do host Navy this season at Rentschler Field and it’s a game that is popular…

View On WordPress

Commit No. 5: Tahj Herring, CB, Suffield Academy

//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/863778/highlights/216497377

John F. Silver

UConn’s goal this recruiting season was quality over quantity. With only 13 scholarships to play with when the recruiting season began the Huskies are targeting players with options.

That focused targeting is starting to pay off.

UConn pick up its fifth commit of the season with Suffield Academy corner Tahj Herring,a 6-1,…

View On WordPress

Commit No. 4: Quayvon Skanes, WR, Chicago

//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/1534559/highlights/173340375

John F. Silver

UConn picked up its fourth commit and added another wide receiver to the class in Quayvon Skanes of Chicago,

Skanes is a 5-9, 156 pound dynamic receiver who will be a slot receiver in Storrs. He committed to UConn over Northwestern and many others and had 15 offers in hand.

The Huskies went big at wide receiver last year,…

View On WordPress

Commit No. 3: Eddie Hahn, DB, Red Bank, N.J.

//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/2371129/highlights/218837378

John F. Silver

UConn added its third commitment in a week to the Class of 2016 as Eddie Hahn, an athlete out of Red Bank Catholic (NJ) has committed.

Hahn had offers from Buffalo and NC State and the 6-3, 200-pound safety prospect and others of major interest.

2016 Class

QB Donovan Williams, Woodbridge Va.

WR Kevin Dixon, Glastonbury,…

View On WordPress

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

SNYUConn.com