Dino's Game 2 Press Conference | UConn

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Stephen Bailey @Stephen_Bailey1
Dino Babers opens his press conference with confirmation that both FB Chris Elmore and LB Stephon Thompson will miss the rest of the season with lower body injuries. Babers added that both players will be welcome back and that the decision is up to them. In Elmore’s case, that may take some maneuvering given that he’s already redshirted.

Babers was unsure how Elmore would be eligible for a seventh year. I believe he’d need to count last year’s redshirt as a medical (vs. elective) and I’m not sure that’s possible if the injury happened in the back half of the season. In any case, two rough losses in Week 1.

Babers says that Louisville’s defense was doing things that “they are not supposed to do” to draw penalties from the Syracuse offense. “We need to handle it better and I believe we will.”

Babers agreed that TE Max Mang has gotten stronger since last year, but the German has also improved his understanding of the game and that’s factored into his play.

While Mang is in line to see more action with Elmore out, LB Derek McDonald is likely to take Thompson’s spot in the starting lineup. Babers said McDonald is “up and coming” but will be challenged by opponents as they accrue film on him.

Babers believes that the Orange safeties had a strong performance against Louisville. He hopes Jason Simmons Jr. will be back soon, though he didn’t provide a timetable.

Babers says Oronde Gadsden's celebration after his touchdown will be talked about in house, and something he doesn't want to see again.

A team spox confirmed that the program, if Elmore wants, can apply 2 two medical hardship waivers (2021 and 2022). If both are granted, he can come back. In the past, the NCAA was very rigid with redshirt rules (remember Terrel Hunt’s public appeal?). Could be more gray area now

 

[GoSU96]

Stephen Bailey @Stephen_Bailey1
Dino Babers opens his press conference with confirmation that both FB Chris Elmore and LB Stephon Thompson will miss the rest of the season with lower body injuries. Babers added that both players will be welcome back and that the decision is up to them. In Elmore’s case, that may take some maneuvering given that he’s already redshirted.

Babers was unsure how Elmore would be eligible for a seventh year. I believe he’d need to count last year’s redshirt as a medical (vs. elective) and I’m not sure that’s possible if the injury happened in the back half of the season. In any case, two rough losses in Week 1.

Babers says that Louisville’s defense was doing things that “they are not supposed to do” to draw penalties from the Syracuse offense. “We need to handle it better and I believe we will.”

Babers agreed that TE Max Mang has gotten stronger since last year, but the German has also improved his understanding of the game and that’s factored into his play.

Not good

 

[UnknownOrange]

Louisville was definitely imitating the snaps to draw false starts based on Dino’s comments. I expect just based off that alone, we’ll see vast improvement on penalties against UConn.

Sucks for Elmore & Thompson. Great work for McDonald and a chance to prove himself now, but curious how the offense will look with Elmore out. I have a lot more faith with Anae and getting creative, but you spend all summer planning with Elmore there, and now he’s gone. Time to adjust!

 

[All4SU]

What a shame. First game. Have to feel badly for those kids.

 

[kingtidge]

Louisville was definitely imitating the snaps to draw false starts based on Dino’s comments. I expect just based off that alone, we’ll see vast improvement on penalties against UConn.

Sucks for Elmore & Thompson. Great work for McDonald and a chance to prove himself now, but curious how the offense will look with Elmore out. I have a lot more faith with Anae and getting creative, but you spend all summer planning with Elmore there, and now he’s gone. Time to adjust!

Imitating snaps or "Disconcerting Signals" is illegal for a defense to engage in...

If that is indeed what was going on, why wasn't it called?

Is it something that's so rarely done that the refs don't look for it?

I can't say I'm surprised it was from L'ville. My opinion of Shatterfield is that he can be classless and petty.

 

[rocfan44]

“Oronde Gadsden's celebration after his touchdown will be talked about in house, and something he doesn't want to see again.” Anyone elaborate on what he did?

 

[Cusefan69]

What did I miss on the Gadsden td? I recall him catching it and once it was whistled he either dropped it or tossed it up. Did he do something after that?

 

[orangepassion]

Louisville was definitely imitating the snaps to draw false starts based on Dino’s comments. I expect just based off that alone, we’ll see vast improvement on penalties against UConn.

Sucks for Elmore & Thompson. Great work for McDonald and a chance to prove himself now, but curious how the offense will look with Elmore out. I have a lot more faith with Anae and getting creative, but you spend all summer planning with Elmore there, and now he’s gone. Time to adjust!

I remember Dino talking about this happening in a previous year. I don't believe it accounts for all the pre-snap penalties, particularly the Vettorello infractions.
With zero insider knowledge, I'd be very surprised if Thompson doesn't come back next year.

 

[David321]

I know we often say that we don’t really have a true rival, but for me it’s Louisville.

 

[BigNastyJon]

Feel so bad for Thompson and Rhino

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

What did I miss on the Gadsden td? I recall him catching it and once it was whistled he either dropped it or tossed it up. Did he do something after that?

He chucked the ball straight up on the air. I would be more concerned about penalties if I were Dino but oh well.

 

[David321]

He chucked the ball straight up on the air. I would be more concerned about penalties if I were Dino but oh well.

We have a classy team and Dino wants to keep it that way, I can respect that.

 

[AAM62]

Man, losing Thompson is bad news

 

[SUforme]

What was actually wrong with Gadsen TD he tossed the ball and yelled lfgo ok and?

 

[SUbear]

He chucked the ball straight up on the air. I would be more concerned about penalties if I were Dino but oh well.

He could have been flagged for throwing the ball, rather high, into the air. Would fall under excessive celebration, rules state ball should be dropped or handed to an official. Potentially a problem if done in future.

 

[GoSU96]

What did I miss on the Gadsden td? I recall him catching it and once it was whistled he either dropped it or tossed it up. Did he do something after that?

He tossed the ball way up, I don’t know if it was in the stands or towards the ceiling

 

[SuFTW]

He chucked the ball straight up on the air. I would be more concerned about penalties if I were Dino but oh well.

Did Dino actually say he was more concerned about Gadsden than the penalties?

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

Did Dino actually say he was more concerned about Gadsden than the penalties?

No. It was more tongue in cheek comment by me. It probably should have been called a celebration penalty by rule. I personally like touchdown celebrations and bat flips.

 

[orangeinohio]

The Louisville game is being replayed again right now and I just watched saw Gadsden’s TD.
He threw the ball straight up into the air. It didn’t seem terribly disrespectful by most standards but Dino seems to have a different code than a lot of other coaches.

 

[AAM62]

Mcdonald may actually be good in coverage but losing that pass rush ability from Thompson really sucks.

 

[SuFTW]

No. It was more tongue in cheek comment by me. It probably should have been called a celebration penalty by rule. I personally like touchdown celebrations and bat flips.

Yeah, when I saw him toss the ball, the first thing I thought was penalty.

 

[hoopsupstate]

The Louisville game is being replayed again right now and I just watched saw Gadsden’s TD.
He threw the ball straight up into the air. It didn’t seem terribly disrespectful by most standards but Dino seems to have a different code than a lot of other coaches.

Anae said something when he came off the field. I was shocked when the official let it go.

 

[kingtidge]

The Louisville game is being replayed again right now and I just watched saw Gadsden’s TD.
He threw the ball straight up into the air. It didn’t seem terribly disrespectful by most standards but Dino seems to have a different code than a lot of other coaches.

Well, I'd say I agree, but I don't.

If we were playing any of the traditional ACC tobacco road schools, the zebras would be whistling that in unison.

We need to get in good habits and not give the refs a choke collar on us on seemingly benign actions that technically meet the bar for a call in those games. If they can blow a whistle on little stuff on us in those games, they will. We have enough history to know this and we simply have to be more disciplined in this league. Call it carpet-bagger syndrome or whatevs... It's real and the one thing I really dislike about us in this league.

 

[LAOrange]

He could have been flagged for throwing the ball, rather high, into the air. Would fall under excessive celebration, rules state ball should be dropped or handed to an official. Potentially a problem if done in future.

It was straight up. I expected a penalty.