football
29/7/2022 22:42:00
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UConn Athletic Communications / July 29, 2022
STORRS – Jim Mora knows exactly how long it’s been since he coached his last football game.
“I hadn’t practiced on a football field since November 18, 2017,” the UConn football coach recalled instantly. “We (UCLA) played USC in the Coliseum and the next morning they fired me.”
And he knows exactly how long it will be until they practice their next one: It will be August 27, 2022 at 4 p.m., when UConn opens the 2022 season at Utah State.
“I know exactly how long it’s been since I went out and got ready for a game, and it’s great,” Mora said. “I feel like it’s what I was made to do: be a father, be a brother, be a son, be a husband, be a friend and be a coach. That’s it for me.”
So on Friday, the first day of UConn’s fall camp, Mora was about to be the first person on the practice field.
“I came here early because I wanted some time,” he said. “It’s special to me. It’s emotional for me to have the opportunity to do this again, especially here.”
But because he oversaw a three-hour practice Friday, Mora had no more time for nostalgia and excitement. Clearly, there is a lot of work to be done over the next four weeks to get the Huskies ready.
“It was a good start. It’s been a long road to catch up,” Mora said after practice concluded. “I think it went well. Obviously, we have a lot of work to do, but the most encouraging thing is that it’s a group of young people who want to improve. I think they’re very motivated, I think they’re selfless.” I think they like hard work, I think we will improve every day.
“I know outside these doors, people don’t think much of us and that’s fine with me. I think a lot of us and I’m excited to see where we go.”
Mora was careful to draw conclusions after a day of practice, but some things about the Huskies are already clear to him, like the leadership he can expect from star linebacker Jackson Mitchell.
“Jackson, you talk about a non-vocal leader, a lead-by-example guy and he’s the ultimate,” Mora said. “He’s not a tall guy, but when he says something, he makes an impact. He makes an impact because of the way he carries himself on the field, off the field, in the locker room, in the weight room, in the media room. , a the lunchroom. He’s a man. He’s the guy. And most of all, he’s a great football player – I’ll use that term and I’ve been fortunate enough to coach a lot of great linebackers. Jackson has the qualities of those great “.
McFadden lost for season
One negative note on the first day of practice was the news that sophomore kicker and safety Joe McFadden is out for the season after undergoing surgery Friday for a torn ACL.
“In our last offseason practice here, Joe got his foot stuck in the turf and tore his ACL in his kicking leg,” Mora explained. “She’ll be out for the season. Obviously that’s a big blow. He’s an outstanding kicker. He’s also a guy who could be a backup punter for us. He’s a team leader and someone the players respect a lot.
“I know he’s going to continue to make an impact on this team, even though he can’t do it on the field. He’s going to be in the meetings, he’s going to be in the locker room, he’s going to be with these guys.” ears. We wish Joe the best.”
McFadden hit 12 of the Huskies’ 17 field goals last season, including a season-long 47-yarder, and made 19 of 19 extra point attempts. He also punted 61 times for 2,326 yards, dropping 14 of them inside the 20-yard line.