AAC Teleconference - Spring Game Preview: Randy Edsall
April 19, 2017

OPENING STATEMENT:

"It's good to be back here at UConn, excited about it. Our guys have been working really hard in the off-season program and through thirteen days of spring practice. The goals for me are to continue to get better, finish installing the things we want to get done from a base offense, base defense and special teams here on Thursday and then in the game we have on Friday and then make sure our guys are prepared to go and do the things they need to do on their own through the months of May, June and July."

COMING BACK TO CONNECTICUT, WHAT CAN YOU SAY NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN BACK AND THROUGH SPRING PRACTICE, HOW IT FEELS TO BE BACK IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY?:

"It's great to be back. You walk in and your offense is the same, lot of familiar people here. The facilities here are outstanding and we know we have a lot of work to do to get this program back to where it was six years ago. The players are willing to do those things necessary to work to make that happen."

WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THESE STUDENT ATHLETES THAT YOU INHERITED, HOW HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM THEM IN THE SPRING?:

"I see a group that is very willing, that wants to work, that wants to do the things the way we want them done. We are not where we need to be, but they have that want to and the willingness to do those things. If we can continue to do that and get bigger, faster and stronger over these next three months and we add new guys to our team for the Fall, then we'll have a chance to be competitive."

AS YOU STEP INTO THIS CONFERENCE, THERE WERE SEVERAL NEW COACHES HIRED, WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT COMPETING AGAINST THIS GROUP OF COACHES IN THE AAC?:

"I think it's a very good conference and there are outstanding coaches in this conference. I haven't had a chance to watch anyone on film, I've just been focused on our team and trying to get them the best they can be. I'm looking forward to competing against everyone and know it's going to be a tremendous challenge week in and week out. Right now, I'm just trying to focus in on our team and what we have to do to get better as we get into the season in September."

IN YOUR MIND, WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF HAVING AN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD?:

"I think the early signing period was something that was needed. There are a lot of flaws in the recruiting process as we know it today. There were some things passed in this new legislation that will be very helpful because now you'll find out if these offers are really real. It will be interesting to see how many young men that have offers that want to commit and sign paperwork in December, that schools will allow them to do that and how many will be told that they'll have to wait until February. That was something that needed to be done. The people that are really, truly committed, that allows you as a coaching staff and institution to get them signed. The ones that say they were committed that don't want to sign until February, then you know you probably need to move on because they really aren't committed. I think it's really good, will slow down some of the early offering that is going on because people feel they need to get into the game just because other people have offered and they haven't watched film on these guys. I think it's all good, something that was needed and still think they should probably slow the recruiting process down, but this is a step in the right direction."

YOU HAD A YEAR AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE GAME WITH THE LIONS, WHAT'D YOU LEARN WITH THE DETROIT LIONS LAST YEAR?:

"Jim Caldwell is an outstanding coach, outstanding person and Bob Quinn, general manager, put together a first-class operation there. I had the opportunity to work very closely with both of those men. Being able to take a step back and look at things was very good. We had success in terms of making the playoffs. The experience I had there was very good and having worked under Jim and Bob, it just furthered my beliefs in the values and things that I believe in as a coach and how to go about running a program."

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS HEADING INTO FRIDAY'S SPRING GAME?:

"I just want to see our guys go out and compete. We are still in the evaluation phase here. We are coming in and that will only be the fifteenth time we've seen the guys on the field. I'm just using this as another day to evaluate and form opinions of what some of these young men can do."

MATT SCHONVISKY / SITE CREATOR