EAST HARTFORD?
? Shabazz Napier developed a strong relationship with Jim Calhoun during his first two years at UConn, so his mentor's decision to retire shook the junior.
"When I heard the news, I kind of broke down," Napier said Saturday. "I wanted Coach to stay another year, but that's just me being biased. But I still go to his office every single day. I feel like our bond is still so strong. I'll still depend on him."
Napier and his UConn teammates were at Rentschler Field Saturday, signing autographs outside the stadium before the Buffalo-UConn football game. The Huskies were also introduced on the field in the first quarter.
New coach Kevin Ollie wasn't at Rentschler ? he was watching is son play for the Glastonbury High football team ? but the players accommodated a line of fans for about 90 minutes before the game. And Napier, who is recovering from foot surgery, talked about the coaching change.
The transition, he said, has been smooth.
"It's been actually easy," Napier said. "Coach Ollie, we all feel like he's a great coach and he's going to be a great coach. He's been tough on us, just like Coach Calhoun. That's why we felt like he was one of the best candidates to be the head coach. It's been hard because he strives for perfection."
Napier has worked closely with Ollie, a former guard. So answering to Ollie as the head coach isn't unusual.
"He's a friend," Napier said. "You can call on him anytime. He's a great guy to talk to. He's always been that person I turned to besides [Calhoun]. Seeing that he came in when I was a freshman, we just created a bond since then. There's been a lot of times I've been sitting in his office and talking with him. We've already created that bond."
Napier said he hoped Calhoun would return and he'll miss hearing the bellowing voice at practice. But Calhoun will still be around the program and Napier will continue to talk to him.
"It will be weird, but we've got Coach Ollie and Coach [Glen] Miller and Coach [George] Blaney ... they've all learned from Coach Calhoun," Napier said. "They understand how to strive for perfection."
As for Ollie's job status, Napier endorsed him as the coach for this year and beyond. Napier compares Ollie's one-year contract as head coach to the one-year deals he had as an NBA player.
"He's used to circumstances like this," Napier said. "I think that's what makes him a better man and it's why he's so mentally strong. Coach says to understand that you have to be mentally strong no matter what the circumstances are. You can't change the circumstances. He'll be great because he has such a passion."
Hyppolite Breaks One
Running back Lyle McCombs gained 97 yards on 29 carries, continuing his heavy workload. McCombs had 93 carries in the first four games and has been UConn's primary running threat.
But backup Martin Hyppolite made a bid for more touches after running 50 yards for a touchdown Saturday. Hyppolite, from Wakefield, Mass., is 214 pounds and provides a different look than the 166-pound McCombs.
"He's a bigger guy and there's some situations and some plays where we think that maybe bringing a guy in there who's a little bit bigger, you know, packs a little bit more lead in his pencil, so to speak ... we're trying to use Martin a little bit," coach Paul Paqualoni said.
Defensive Holes
UConn had just one sack (Trevardo Williams) and the lack of pressure could be attributed to injuries on the defensive line.
Jesse Joseph and Teddy Jennings are out. "We lost a lot of experience out there," Pasqualoni said. "It certainly is a factor. We're rotating different people in and out, based on down distance situations. ... Williams has 22.5 career sacks, second in school history. His 34.5 tackles for loss is ninth on the all-time list. ... Linebacker Jory Johnson had a career-high 14 tackles, including two for a loss. ... UConn is 16-4 against Buffalo and 19-4 against MAC opponents. ... Chandler Whitmer's 36-yard pass to Ryan Griffin was his longest completion of the season. ... As part of the Connecticut Day celebration, the NCAA Division III champion Trinity women's lacrosse team was honored between the first and second quarter. UConn also honored the New Haven-based Walter Camp Football Foundation during the second quarter while participants in the "Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities" took part in the pregame coin toss and were honored at halftime. There was also a local Boy Scout troop parading through Rentschler at halftime. ... Former UConn linebacker Scott Lutrus, a Brookfield native, was at the game. Lutrus, a member of the Indianapolis Colts, is on injured reserve with a torn ACL. ... Attendance was announced at 34,666, but the 40,000-seat stadium seemed about three-quarters full. The best home attendance this season was 35,270 for the opener against UMass. N.C. State drew 34,202.
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