The University of Connecticut will welcome Syracuse University back to Rentschler Field on Saturday for a 12 p.m. ET showdown in East Hartford live via ESPNU.
Dubbed the 'Pasqualoni Bowl,' the Huskies (3-5, 1-2 Big East) will try to continue their dominance over the Orange (5-3, 1-2 Big East), having won the last four times these clubs have faced.
Assuming UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni (via Wall Street Journal) doesn't become a "distraction:"
"When you're distracted - and the fact that I worked at Syracuse is a distraction - it's not fair to the team, not fair to the coaches or the players. It has absolutely nothing to do with this game."
Despite a record of 107-59-1, one that included four Big East titles, nine bowl appearances and six bowl victories, Pasqualoni was fired from Syracuse at the conclusion of the 2004 season under questionable circumstances.
Now he has the opportunity to avenge his pink slip -- but will it come at the expense of his coaches and players? UConn quarterback Johnny McEntee says the team wants to win this one for "Coach P.:"
"We know it's a big game for him. Every game is a big game. It's a big game because it's our next game. But, yeah, we know it's a big game and yeah, we'd like to get a win for him."
If the Huskies want to win the "big game," McEntee needs to break out of his funk and take advantage of the Orange, who are weak in the secondary. Can UConn get back to its winning ways in tomorrow's showdown?
Time will tell.