The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After review, Uconn coach out immediately
Uconn coach Randy Edsall has left the program, a day after announcing he would retire at the end of the season.
Edsall, whose teams have gone 6-32 since he returned to the Huskies for a second stint as coach in 2017, will be replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Lou Spanos, the school announced.
“Upon further reflection by both Randy and I, and after having the opportunity to visit with Randy today, we are both in agreement that it is in the best interest of our student-athletes to have a new voice leading Uconn football,” athletic director David Benedict said
Edsall, 63, was the Huskies’ coach from 1999 through the 2010 season, leading Uconn into what is now the bowl subdivision. He took the Huskies to five bowl games and won Big East titles in 2007 and 2010.
He was rehired by Uconn in 2017 despite going 22-34 at Maryland, where he was fired six games into his fifth season.
His rehiring puzzled many Uconn faithful who were still upset that he had left the Huskies after the team’s 2011 Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma, without notifying his players or flying home with the team.
Uconn went 3-9 during Edsall’s first season back, then went 1-11 and 2-10 before sitting out last season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Huskies, in their first season as an independent after leaving the American Athletic Conference, are 0-2 this season. They lost their opener 45-0 at Fresno State before falling 38-28 to Holy Cross, an FCS team, on Saturday at home.
Spanos, a 26-year coaching veteran in both college and the NFL, has served as Uconn’s defensive coordinator since the 2019 season.
Clemson assistant seeking answers
One thing is certain for Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott — he has to find a way to improve the offense to stay on top in the Atlantic Coast Conference. And the clock is ticking for the third-ranked Tigers.
Clemson failed to score a touchdown in the 10-3 loss to fifth-ranked Georgia, something the Tigers hadn’t experienced since falling to Alabama 24-6 in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs after the 2017 season.
That was before quarterback Trevor Lawrence and tailback Travis Etienne were in full control of an explosive attack the past three seasons. With both off to the NFL, Clemson came up far short of the level Elliott knows they must reach to return to the CFP.
Elliott acknowledged he has received some unpleasant emails and texts from fans.
“Yes, there’s a feeling of hurt, but we can’t wallow in our pity right now,” Elliott said. “We got to change our perspective.”
That starts with improved play from new starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who was sacked seven times by the Bulldogs. Uiagalelei said the reason for the loss was simple: “I just didn’t play well.”
Uiagalelei completed 19 of 37 passes for 178 yards and threw a costly pick-six interception just before halftime that proved the difference.
Elliott said he thought his team played tough and fierce but made some mistakes in technique.
“You are going to lose some one-on-one matchups,” Elliott said. “The biggest thing we’ve got to realize offensively is just focusing on details, the little things, and everybody being on the same page.”