2026 UConn Football Spring Game - Saturday, April 11 @2p at Rentschler Field

[huskymedic]

-> For the most part, however, Candle didn’t reveal much. He said he doesn’t even have a depth chart yet. Spring is about acclimating players, and the fall camp will decide lineups. So what is next between now and fall camp?

“I am not a guy that takes a couple weeks off and says, ‘Go catch your breath,’” Candle said. “We are going to be in the weight room Monday morning ready to roll. That first group at 7 a.m. will be on the line running and ready to move into the weight room. We have to get stronger. We have to get faster. We have to improve in so many ways that time is not on our side.” <-

 

[BlueWolf25]

I went today. First time I had been to an event like this but wanted to support the start of the Candle era.

Are these usually more of a “game”? It was definitely more of a big practice with a bit of a complicated scoring rubric. Couldn’t really tell what was going on at most times.

Kids seemed to really enjoy running up to players to get autographs after the game. Was a good community event - hope they keep things like this up but perhaps the advertising could use a little tweaking.

This is how they’ve run these spring “games” for a while now, we haven’t had a true Blue-White game in years

 

[huskymedic]

 

[jostar1]

 

[Gburyhusky]

Overall a good day for the program. Solid attendance with alot of tailgating. Since I had been to prior spring events I wasn't surprised by the format (lack of real game) but agree that they could have done a better job of engaging fans during the various drills. Looks like we got better attendance than the Colorado State event today, which is ironic since Mora apparently did not support our spring game when he was here. It was nice to see some of the Lady Huskies (Jana, Ashlyn Schade, Allie Ziebell) in attendance.

 

[huskyblooz]

Nice crowd. Coaching staff dont feel like rah-rah guys. More old school.
Tucker McDonald was the most accurate of the QB's. Time to get back to work.

 

[Viet Vet]

This is how they’ve run these spring “games” for a while now, we haven’t had a true Blue-White game in years

As previously stated, then do not promote and advertise it as a “Spring Game”.

 

[Nameless]

If Merk was injured (or at least out for precautionary measures) wouldn't this tweet be a little off? McDonald would be the 2nd teamer and Osborne the 3rd teamer as the other account in this thread tweeted at the start?

Either way interesting McDonald is ahead of Osborne on the depth chart

 

[Nameless]

Overall a good day for the program. Solid attendance with alot of tailgating. Since I had been to prior spring events I wasn't surprised by the format (lack of real game) but agree that they could have done a better job of engaging fans during the various drills. Looks like we got better attendance than the Colorado State event today, which is ironic since Mora apparently did not support our spring game when he was here. It was nice to see some of the Lady Huskies (Jana, Ashlyn Schade, Allie Ziebell) in attendance.

Pretty sure Mora didn't support the spring game so he could spend his time in Idaho.

Will always be grateful to him for reviving the program but he did seem to do the bare minimum in the offseason every year

 

[Viet Vet]

Over the years I’ve been to several (men’s and women’s) basketball preseason practices. None was ever promoted/advertised as a “game”.

 

[BlueWolf25]

If Merk was injured (or at least out for precautionary measures) wouldn't this tweet be a little off? McDonald would be the 2nd teamer and Osborne the 3rd teamer as the other account in this thread tweeted at the start?

Either way interesting McDonald is ahead of Osborne on the depth chart

Yeah I wouldn’t read toooo much into who took reps with each team, Candle said there’s no true depth chart yet and he’s been rotating each QB throughout the spring

 

[Rewster]

Merk did injury the hand on a defender running past him on the play. He was shaking it off and I believe had at least one more rep afterwards but then came out. He was standing with Bo for a bit after the pads came off.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ScottVib]

I do think it would've been nice during the team v team segments if they announced the plays like they do during the season, that would've helped the fans who were there get to know the new players (at least at the skill positions); as well as following back up when there was a play that scored points in those plays.

 

[uconnbill]

Field was in great shape. Merk threw three passes then was done for the day. Thought the big satety, Jayden Price looked pretty good.

View attachment 119540

You were really close to us as we were a few rows back.

Fun day was nice to get some football in

 

[whiffnutmeg]

Over the years I’ve been to several (men’s and women’s) basketball preseason practices. None was ever promoted/advertised as a “game”.

That might be attributable to just some differences between how the sports are run vs. anything UConn-specific.

NCAA basketball has a pretty established system for preseason games that football doesn't, so the practices kind of go alongside that. In football, "Spring Game" seems to be pretty established nomenclature which is why it seems to get used even for what's more of an open practice than any sort of organized contest.

I do wish the marketing was a bit more accurate as well. But hey, at least we ended up with a pretty basketball-esque final "score."

 

[Blades]

Candle said there is no depth chart at this point, in his post "game" interview.. But I put together the first and second group out on the field ...( 1's and 2's ?)as well as I could with all the traffic moving in and out. Seemed like alot of interchanging, with RB's and WR's. As mentioned the first QB, Merk, was out at the start with the first OL, for the 2pt conversion work and then that was it for him...

 

[Blades]

Here's what I marked down for the D-

 

[FightOnCT]

If enthusiasm is a marker I think crowds will be great! Best crowd is can remember atva spring game! Also where was the other 200 members of the band? Seemed like the basketball pep band.

It was the entire pep band + drumline.

 

[NEforceUConn]

I think I will have a lot of time for Madi Shields' videos.

 

[huskymedic]

-> “A lot went through my mind (when Mora left),” McDonald said. “I had some options, I went into the portal when it opened. I stayed here and I’m really happy about it. My conversations with Coach Candle were great, he kind of showed me his vision of what he was planning on doing here, he’s had a really good track record at Toledo. The coaches he brought in and what they were planning on doing, was really appealing.” <-

-> “I hope they see a dynamic playmaker, a relentless competitor,” McDonald said. “I’ll do anything to win for this team and this program. I learned a lot of great things from Joe. The preparation. He was a pro about everything he did, how he took care of his body, how he ate, how he prepared for a game. He was my roomate the night before in the hotels, so I saw how he prepared for each game and learned a ton from him.” <-

 

[huskymedic]