Orlovsky more than happy to give back to UConn program
Storrs — Dan Orlovsky's list of fond memories from his UConn football days stretches from Storrs to Stamford.
There's one that especially sticks out.
"My best memory is walking into Rentschler Field that opening game against Indiana," Orlovsky said recently.
For a Shelton kid, living out his dream playing for UConn before a full house was an emotional and exhilarating experience. It also was a monumental day for a football program on its way to establishing a foothold in Division I-A.
Orlovsky delivered a stellar performance on that late August day in 2003, throwing for three touchdowns and 307 yards in a lopsided win. At the time, he call that magical first game at The Rent, "the best feeling that I've had at a football game."
Now the 12-year NFL veteran back on campus for the first time in seven years, Orlovsky, 33, is trying to do his small part to restore the football program's shine that has dulled considerably in recent years. The Huskies have suffered six straight losing seasons.
While completing his undergraduate degree this spring, Orlovsky is serving as a student assistant under his former head coach Randy Edsall, who's back for his second stint in Storrs. He's working with quarterbacks, offering tips on technique, mechanics, playing the position as well as the mental aspect of the game.
But Orlovsky won't limit himself to just his position. He plans on imparting words of wisdom to the entire team.
"I've been around a lot of football," Orlovsky said, "so I'm not going to hold it just to quarterbacks . ... I've been fortunate to be around a long time and I've been around some really good players, too. There's just a lot of information and tidbits that I can share with them that hopefully hit."
Orlovsky, who still holds numerous school records including career net yards (10,706) and career touchdown passes (84), is clearly enjoying his first extended time on campus in years.
"It's been fun to be back on campus," he said. "Campus is totally different. But it was a little bit emotional coming back because I haven't been back in such a long time and it brought back a lot of good memories."
So much has changed since Orlovsky's playing days.
Memorial Stadium is gone. So is the old facilities building that housed the football locker room. Spring practices are now held inside at the stateof-the-art Mark R. Shenkman Training Center.
Former players like Orlovsky, who helped lay the foundation for the program's move to Division I-A, can offer
“It's important for these guys to see people from the past that were successful here, did it the right way and can still be successful . ... it's important to have that bloodline going through.” DAN ORLOVSKY, EX-UCONN QUARTERBACK
important perspective.
"This place is important to me," he said. "It's important to people like Donald Brown and Alfred Fincher and Sean Mulcahy, and the list goes on and on of guys that have been a part of this program and built it from the ground up.
"These kids walk around and they laugh, they're like, 'What was it like when you were here?' And I'm like, 'You don't want to know, dude. You guys get to practice inside. I remember shoveling fields before we had to practice.'
"... It's important for these guys to see people from the past that were successful here and did it the right way and that can still be successful, that they're not all too different from us. So it's important to have that bloodline going through."
Several assistant coaches have UConn ties. Assistant head coach Terry Richardson, who works with running backs, was on Edsall's first staff. Wide receivers coach Aaron Smith played at UConn as did linebackers coach Jon Wholley, who also previously coached in Storrs.
Wholley is a former UConn teammate of Orlovsky's and they're still good friends.
Coaching is likely in Orlovsky's future. But he hasn't iced down his throwing arm for the last time just yet. A free agent, he's hoping to hook on with an NFL team after spending last season with the Detroit Lions.
Orlovsky has his home base in Philadelphia where he lives with his wife and four children, including triplets.
"I've played for a dozen years," Orlovsky said. "It's been amazing. I've played with guys who are some of the best in the history of the game and shared locker rooms with them. I've played in blowouts on the good side and I've played in blowouts on the bad side. I've played in every stadium in the NFL. I've played Monday Night football and Sunday Night football. I've been a part of a lot of cool stuff.
"I haven't bought sneakers in 16 years. I haven't bought Gatorade since I was 10. So it's been awesome. I don't have a regret . ... I know I've given it everything I've had. I've really taken pride and appreciated the role I've had." g.keefe@theday.com