UConn football team expects to report July 1

UConn football players will report to campus July 1, a significant sign that the Huskies expect to start the season on schedule.

Restrictions created to halt the spread of COVID-19 have left the upcoming college football season in doubt, but there are signs that things will proceed relatively normally.

UConn coach Randy Edsall said last month his team would require eight weeks of preparation to be ready for the opener Sept. 3 against UMass in East Hartford.

The Huskies are about to begin playing as an independent. They officially depart the American Athletic Conference July 1.

Details regarding coronavirus restrictions and precautions have yet to be finalized, a UConn spokesperson said Friday.

A date for arrivals for other UConn fall sports athletes, such as soccer, is likely to be announced in the coming days.

Although football teams don't stage full practices during the summer, UConn, like all programs around the country, has been forced to alter its offseason plans because of the coronavirus.

The Huskies were one of only a few programs to complete their allotment of spring practice as Edsall decided to take advantage of a new NCAA regulation and hold sessions extremely early. But UConn's offseason weight training program has been impacted by the shutdown of the campus.

The Huskies will likely begin weight training and other workouts soon after arriving on campus. The team typically begins training camp on or about Aug. 1.

— Journal Inquirer (TNS)