STORRS, Conn. -- UConn, one of several programs being mentioned as a potential candidate for expansion by the Big 12 Conference, is dealing with something new in Bob Diacos third season as its head coach: higher expectations.The Huskies, who went 2-10 in 2014, improved to 6-7 last season. They also handed Houston its only regular-season loss before falling to Marshall 16-10 in the St. Petersburg Bowl -- UConns first bowl game in five years.The team returns 15 starters this season and fans are hoping the Huskies can make a statement loud enough to be heard by those making the expansion decisions in Texas. Diaco said hes not paying attention to what is being said outside the program but embraces the enthusiasm.If you cant get excited about people really wanting you to achieve, then youre in the wrong business, youre in the wrong game, Diaco said. Its the best. I love that.The Huskies ranked just 117th in the nation in total offense last season, but return four starters from its offensive line, and will get back center Ryan Crozier, who missed last season with a knee injury.Junior quarterback Bryant Shirreffs threw for 2,078 yards and nine touchdowns, and ran for 503 yards, a year ago. He is back and so is his top target, Noel Thomas, who caught 54 passes for 719 yards and three TDs.Diaco said Shirreffs isnt a lock to be the teams starting quarterback and is being pushed by senior Garrett Anderson, a junior-college transfer who played some receiver last year.The defense, which gave up just 19.5 points per game, is expected to be the teams strength, led by safety Obi Melifonwu.We have a base, a foundation and a building, said linebacker Matt Walsh. Now were just putting a whole other floor on it.Here are some of the other things to watch for in advance of UConns season opener on Sept. 1 against Maine:KEY GAMESUConns position in the American Athletic Conference could be decided during a key stretch that begins with a Sept. 29 visit to Houston, which lost to the Huskies 20-17 in East Hartford last year. UConn then returns home to face Cincinnati on Oct. 8. Both programs have been mentioned in Big 12 expansion talks. The Huskies also renew their rivalry with Boston College at Chestnut Hill on Nov. 19.RUNNING BACKSThe tailback tandem of Arkeel Newsome and Ron Johnson are back after combining for 1,016 rushing yards last season. Backup Josh Marriner transferred to Old Dominion during the offseason. Two freshmen on the roster, Nate Hopkins and JaKevious Vickers, could also get some carries.DAVIS SWITCHTyler Davis has switched positions. Recruited as a quarterback, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound redshirt freshman will instead be catching passes and running out of the F or slot-back position this year. Diaco said it didnt make much sense to have someone as athletically talented as Davis sitting on the bench as a backup quarterback.Theres so many jobs he can do for the team more than just stand on the sidelines and wait to go in at quarterback after two or three guys have a problem, he said. Get him in a spot where he can be an impact player.GAMEDAY EXPERIENCEAthletic director David Benedict says he wants to improve the game-day experience to get more fans to Rentschler Field. He has cut the prices of some concessions and eased parking restrictions in an effort to encourage tailgating. He also announced that plans for a ticket surcharge that would help pay for new soccer, baseball and softball fields at the school wont be implemented this season.PREDICTIONA 7-5 season and a second consecutive bowl game would be another step forward for UConn, though it may not be enough to convince the Big 12 that UConn football is worth adding.---This story has been corrected to show 2014 record was 2-10.Stitched China Jerseys . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. China Jerseys Online . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. https://www.chinajerseysreview.com/ . 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Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City.ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Raiders cornerback David Amerson wont take it personally if Saints quarterback Drew Brees targets him frequently in Sundays season opener.If anything, Amerson wants it that way and is preparing for it to go down just like that. It might be, he said, the only way to stop New Orleans nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback.As a corner every play you have to go out there like the balls coming your way, Amerson said Wednesday. You cant worry about whats going on on the other side of the field. You have to think every play (my receiver is) going to get the ball. I just lock in on my guy.The Raiders secondary definitely has its hands full facing Brees and the Saints after undergoing a serious makeover in the offseason.In 10 games between the two teams, Brees has passed for 19 touchdowns with only four interceptions, a small chapter in the future Hall of Famers career.Drew is a great quarterback, a Hall of Fame quarterback, Oakland safety Reggie Nelson. He just does a great job of leading his group and hes been doing that for a while now.Nelson is in his first year with the Raiders after spending the previous six seasons with Cincinnati. The veteran safety led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2015 and has squared off against the Saints three times previously. Nelson has picked off Brees once, in 2010.I just have to be patient, Nelson said. Communication is the number one key. When I got here that was my main thing, communicate with me. Guys have been doing that. As long as were on the same page nobody can stop us.On paper it seems like a complete mismatch in the Saints favor.Brees led the NFL with 4,870 passing yards last year and was tied for seventh with 32 touchdowns despite a down year for New Orleans, while Oakland ranked 26th in pass defense in Ken Norton Jr.dddddddddddd first season as defensive coordinator.Brees will be facing a much different pass defense than the Raiders had last year and one that is vastly changed from the one he faced in 2012 when the two teams last played. Not a single starter in Oaklands secondary was on the team then, and one -- Amerson -- wasnt even in the league at the time.Amerson, signed early last year after being abruptly dumped by the Washington Redskins two weeks into the regular season, entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2013 and has never faced Brees. Facing a quarterback of Brees unquestioned caliber, Amerson said, is an ideal litmus test for the new-look Raiders.As a secondary if you want to test yourself and see how good you are right now and how good you could be, its the perfect game to go out there and go after it, Amerson said.Oakland first-round draft pick Karl Joseph wont be in the starting lineup against Brees but figures to get playing time against the Saints multiple-receiver looks. Joseph had been taking a majority of reps with the first-team defense in the preseason and during training camp before the change was made to go with veteran Nate Allen.For us, its all about competition, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. Guys competing and then you basically get what you earn. We like the way Karl is working.Note: Right tackle Austin Howard sprained his ankle in the final preseason game and was held out of practice.---Online: AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
