Mora having fun coaching team: ‘Future is very bright’
STORRS — UConn football players, coach Jim Mora could tell, were a little nervous in front of fans and under the lights Friday night at Morrone Stadium for the Blue/White Showcase, the ceremonial close to the spring practice session.
“We could hardly get through pre-game, which we worked on,” Mora said. “So it’s a good thing we’re doing this and we’ll do it several more times, dress rehearsals.”
The prologue to whatever becomes of Mora’s story in the coming years has been scripted and submitted. Friday’s showcase, mostly situational football, was the last of 15 practices. There were no winners or losers, no score kept, just another 90 minutes spent trying to push this massive project forward another yard or so.
“I’ve had more fun with this team than any team I’ve ever coached, so far — so far,” Mora said. “We’re undefeated. And you know what? No matter what, I’m winning tonight.”
This was at “halftime,” a short break at the midway point of Friday’s event, which was preceded by a concert outside the Rizza Performance Center. Gov. Ned Lamont appeared, high-fiving players as they took the field, and a few thousand fans milled about, some splitting time between the football showcase and the UConn baseball team’s 4-1 victory over Villanova at adjacent Elliot Ballpark.
Hired in November, Mora is trying to turn around a program that is 10-50 over the past five seasons. The spring period was not necessarily about identifying strengths and weaknesses, starting to develop a depth chart or anything more specific than laying a foundation for what lies ahead.
Mora has won the only places he can win so far, in areas of exposure and perception. He has covered most areas of the state, trying to build relationships and was aggressive in recruiting high school players.
Several who have signed on to join the program were in attendance Friday. Mora also used the transfer portal to bring in players that might be able to help as early as the 2022 season.
A couple of those players have already stood out. Ta’Quan Roberson, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Penn State, worked as quarterback with the firstteam offense. He’s shown great arm strength and mobility throughout the spring.
“We talk about a brotherhood,” Roberson said. “I don’t even feel like I transferred in two, three months ago. I feel like I’ve been here forever. … We’re a very talented team. We’ve got guys from all over who are just hungry and want to get better every day.”
Steven Krawjewski was the quarterback for the second-team offense. The competition will be open in preseason camp. Redshirt freshman Tyler Phommachanh, the starter for three games last season, continues to recover from torn knee ligaments. True freshman Zion Turner from St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and redshirt sophomore Cale Millen are expected to compete, as well.
“I wish I could give you a good answer,” Mora said about the position in general. “We’re trying to just build consistency. Sometimes the throws that look like they’re on the quarterback, aren’t. Maybe the route’s not exactly crisp, maybe there’s pressure. What I see is guys competing hard, guys that need to become more consistent and then have players around them become more consistent.”
Roberson connected with UConn’s biggest receiver, Nigel Fitzgerald, a 6-foot-3 graduate transfer from Old Dominion, in the back of the end zone early in Friday’s workout. Fitzgerald, who played despite aggravating an old groin injury last week, has arguably been the best player at UConn’s deepest position.
“He’s a big target and he stretches out and can go over people and make catches like that,” Mora said “That’s what we need.”
UConn, 1-11 last season, opens the season in about four months, Aug. 27 at Utah State. The Huskies were a little “sloppy” Friday night, Mora said, but he was pleased that few penalties were committed. What he’s examining more closely is approach.
“The most important thing I’ve learned is their willingness to do what it’s going to take to become a good football team,” Mora said. “Their attitude is outstanding, their work ethic is outstanding, the way they talk to each other is outstanding, the culture we’re building is really good. We just have to keep developing. ... We have to keep adding talent and refining our operation. But in terms of their attitude and their effort, which are the things we can really control, they’ve been really good.”
Mora coached the Atlanta Falcons in 2004-06 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2009. His most recent job before UConn was as coach at UCLA in 2012-17.
Asked why he’s enjoyed working with the Huskies more than any other team, he said, “Because there’s zero entitlement on this team. Everybody on this football team and everybody in this building is willing to work for it. And that’s a nice thing, when no one expects it to be given to them. They want to work for it. We have a lot of work to do, a ton of work to do, developing the men on our team, getting these recruits that have signed … here in early June. I think the future is very bright, but it’s a process to get there.”