Breaking out of oblivion: UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky, the unknown player most worth knowing, has arrived, His team is a winner, and his NFL stock is high

Sporting News, The, Sept 13, 2004 by Tom Dienhart

Always competing. But Orlovsky needs to learn when to say "when))' His inner fire often results in forced passes. Call it a case of I can make that throw. That mind-set can lead to interceptions; he threw 14 picks last year and had 11 in each of the previous two seasons.

Some whisper Orlovsky has done most of his damage against the Lehighs, Armys and Buffalos of the world. Elite quarterbacks should be able to carry their teams against the good teams. He'll get several shots at the big boys this fall, including a visit from West Virginia on October 13.

Orlovsky wolfs down his food, his hair still wet from a post-practice shower. There's no time for a leisurely meal or to hop in his 1995 Voikswagon Jetta--"The whole thing is bad; it's falling apart; it has 130,000 miles"--to see girlfriend, Heather, for a relaxing visit. The coaches were on him for holding the ball too long in practice. A nit-pick, but he has to check it out--he just has to.

Soon, he's reviewing practice tape from a two-a-day session that day. Were the coaches right? If so, what was he doing wrong? Forward, reverse. Reverse, forward. Pause. Forward, reverse. Pause. Sure enough, there's the evidence staring back at him from the screen: Orlovsky is double-clutching, waiting, waiting. His delayed release means he isn't hitting receivers at the correct point in their routes, ruining the timing.

"He wants to do it right all the time" says UConn coach Randy Edsall. "We have to kick him out from watching film. We tell him, 'You have studying to do and other things. That's enough. Go.'"

Hey, it's all part of getting that elusive ghost.

Non-BCS All-Americans

Offense                                             Class

WR            J.R. Russell, Louisville               Sr.
WR            Josh Davis, Marshall                   Sr.
TE            Garrett Mills, Tulsa                   Jr.
T             Nick Kaczur, Toledo                    Sr.
T             Mike Kracalik, San Diego State         Sr.
G             Chris Kemoeatu, Utah                   Sr.
G             Steve Subia, New Mexico State          Sr.
C             Ryan Cook, New Mexico                  Jr.
QB            Charlie Frye, Akron                    Jr.
RB            DonTrell Moore, New Mexico             Jr.
RB            Patrick Cobbs, North Texas             Sr.

Defense

E             Trent Cole, Cincinnati                 Sr.
E             Brady Poppinga, BYU                    Jr.
T             Albert Means, Memphis                  Sr.
T             Evan Cardwell, North Texas             Sr.
LB            Michael Boley, Southern Mississippi    Sr.
LB            Andy Avalos, Boise State               Sr.
LB            Kirk Morrison, San Diego State         Sr.
CB            Mark Walker, TCU                       Sr.
CB            Alphonso Hodge, Miami (Ohio)           Sr.
SS            Jamaal Brimmer, UNLV                   Sr.
FS            Josh Smith, Navy                       Sr.

Specialists

K             Nick Hayes, UAB                        Sr.
P             Adam Anderson, Western Michigan        Sr.
KR            John Eubanks, Southern Mississippi     Jr.