UConn picked first in Yankee Conference > Maine ranked 4th

BOSTON – Thanks to a nucleus of 13 returning starters, including 1988 Offensive Player of the Year Matt DeGennaro at quarterback, the University of Connecticut was picked to finish first in the Yankee Conference in a preseason poll of media representatives at the nine-team league’s annual press day at Boston University Monday.

The Huskies of Coach Tom Jackson picked up 21 first-place votes and a total of 251 points from the 30 media members on hand at BU’s Case Center. Connecticut was 8-3 last season, 6-2 in the league, which gave them a share of the title.

Delaware was picked second with four first-place votes and 224 points, followed by Massachusetts with 190 points and no first-place votes.

Maine, defending league champion, was picked to finish fourth, picking up three first-place votes for 169 points. Following the Black Bears were Villanova, New Hampshire, Boston University, Rhode Island, and Richmond.

“I don’t put a lot of stock in preseason polls,” is how first-year Maine head coach Kirk Ferentz reacted to the results of the poll. “Based on what I’ve seen, you have to go with UConn and Delaware as favorites just based on what they have coming back.”

What UConn has coming back is DeGennaro, a 6-foot-2 senior who completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,472 yards and 17 touchdowns last season with 15 interceptions. He is the conference’s top returning statistical passer. But the Huskies also return the conference’s No. 2 rusher in junior tailback Kevin Wesley, who picked up 1,162 yards in 10 games a year ago.

“Everyone looks at your quarterback and your tailback when they pick you,” said Jackson, now in his eighth season at UConn. “But the trick is getting the other guys on the field to come through and play at a high level. We just hope our guys play up to the level of our skill people.”

The real question areas for UConn, according to Jackson, are in the offense line, where three starters must be replaced, at fulllback, and at inside linebacker on the defensive side of the ball.

Delaware earned its No. 2 pick on the basis of 16 returning starters, including nine on defense. Top players include sophomore quarterback Bill Vergantino, fullback Daryl Brantley, and linebacker defensive end Todd Eller. The Blue Hens of Tubby Raymond were 7-4 a year ago, 5-3 in the conference.

Coach Jim Reid’s UMass team, 5-5-1 and 3-5 YC a year ago, returns 15 starters, including QB Gary Wilkos and tailback Jerome Bledsoe.

Maine has 15 starters back from last year’s I-AA playoff team. The Bears are led by junior tailback Carl Smith, who led the nation with 1,885 yards and 22 TDs in 12 games. Maine must replace graduated quarterback Mike Buck, however.

Maine opens its preseason camp when freshman report Aug. 12. The Black Bears, 9-3 a year ago, open the season Friday night Sept. 7 at Villanova.