Edsall: Orlovsky’s visit to UConn ‘impactful’
As UConn prepares for the start of the football season, Randy Edsall reached back in program history for some inspiration.
Dan Orlovsky, UConn’s quarterback when the program elevated to Division I-A two decades ago, was recently invited to address the team. Orlovsky, from Shelton, has emerged as an ESPN star since his 12-year NFL career ended and his speech to Edsall’s team left a mark.
“It was one of the most impactful speeches or messages that we’ve had from anybody that we’ve brought back to speak to our team,” Edsall said during the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce’s virtual breakfast Wednesday. “And it had nothing to do, really, about UConn or things like that. It was just the things that he’s learned while he was here, what he learned in the NFL, and what he’s learned over life that has made him who he is.
“Trying to give these kids the things that they need to help moving forward to make them the best they
can be.”
Edsall said Orlovksy told the story of struggling academically during his freshman year at UConn, when all he cared about was football.
“After his first semester, he told them what his grade point average was, which wasn’t very high,” Edsall said. “I brought him in and sat him down and said, ‘I don’t care how good you are. If you don’t do the things we want in the classroom, you’re not going to play here.’
“That made an impact on him.”
The “tall, skinny kid from Shelton” — as Edsall called him — was riveting. “If he goes on the speaking circuit he could probably make about $20,000 a speech,” Edsall said. “Especially with that message that he has because it was so great for everybody.”
The speech offered an important message for the current roster of Huskies, who are preparing for the season after missing 2020 because of the pandemic. The Huskies finished their preseason camp Tuesday and spent Wednesday studying film before beginning game-focused practice Thursday.
UConn opens its first season as an independent Aug. 28 at Fresno State. The team will spend a week practicing at home before traveling to Fresno on Aug. 26.
And who will be playing Orlovsky’s position?
Edsall said the quarterback competition is ongoing. Jack Zergiotis and Steve Karajewski played in 2019, while North Carolina State transfer Micah Leon missed that season with an injury. Also on the depth chart is freshman Tyler Phommachanh of Stratford (Avon Old Farms).
“Those guys have been competing and are still competing,” Edsall said. “When it’s time for us to put out a depth chart and everything else, I’ll be very comfortable with whoever the quarterback is but I’ll also know this — whoever the starter is going to be, the guy who’s the backup has got to be ready to play as well.
“We’ll be more than capable with our starter, we’ll be more than capable with whoever the backup is going to be. The competition has been good. We’ll continue to see where that all goes as we get in here with the game week.”
Edsall said he is pleased with the overall depth of the roster as the team moves out of preseason camp. The team is healthy and stronger, after a year away from competition.
And the vaccination rate is at 93% for the team.
“We did have some young men that didn’t want to be vaccinated,” Edsall said. “We’ve tried to give them all the information they need… but again, it’s a personal choice for them and I respect that, and I’ll always respect that.
“We haven’t had any issue here during camp and we hope to keep it that way.”