Last year, Tyler Lorenzen needed to learn his teammates’ instincts. In his first year with Connecticut, he didn’t know how his receivers would run their routes.

But in his second year with the Huskies, he knows the plays, he knows the players, and it’s showing.

This season, Lorenzen has completed 50-of-85 passes for 519 yards in his first four games. With his success this year, Lorenzen has led UConn to an undefeated start.

UConn (4-0), the top team in the Big East, will face the Cardinals (2-1) again on Friday night at Louisville, hoping for the same outcome from the 2007 game.

Last season against Louisville, Lorenzen rushed for a career-high 62 yards and threw for 130 yards with no interceptions. Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe noticed Lorenzen’s efforts.

‘When you watch and watch UConn’s tapes you’ll notice they do not make mistakes,’ said Kragthorpe, the second-year head coach. ‘They will not turn the ball over on offense and will create turnovers on defense. They make you beat them.’

Lorenzen said he focuses on limiting turnovers and other mistakes. That didn’t hold true in the first two games of the season when Lorenzen threw four interceptions. The next week, he responded with zero picks against Baylor. Last season, Lorenzen threw just six interceptions over 13 games.

It’s the first Big East game of the season for Louisville and UConn. Lorenzen said head coach Randy Edsall has not changed anything in practice before entering Big East play, sticking with the fundamentals and game-situation drills in practice.

The repetitions in practice have Lorenzen a lot more comfortable at the helm.

‘I know how a lot of the guys react in certain situations now,’ Lorenzen said. ‘I understand the offense a lot better than I did last year so I learned a lot and am putting it into action this season. After playing so many games, I understand the execution a lot better.’

Prior to becoming the Huskies’ starting quarterback, Lorenzen spent the 2006 season playing football at Palomar Community College in San Marcos, Calif. He was named Offensive Player of the Year for California Junior Colleges after completing 229-of-332 passes for 2,960 yards, 26 touchdowns and three interceptions

With his team at the top of the Big East, Lorenzen said he is excited to play Louisville again.

‘Louisville is a much better team than the one they had on the field last year,’ Lorenzen said. ‘I’m excited to go down there for the first time and get a feel for their great environment.’

Mompremier released from hospital, will miss at least two games

Brouce Mompremier collided with teammate Carlton Williams during the third quarter of South Florida’s game against Florida International, on Saturday. The USF linebacker remained on the turf for 20 minutes before he was airlifted to a Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

Mompremier spent the night at Jackson Memorial for observations. He was released Sunday and returned to South Florida. USF officials said he would miss at least two games.

‘Brouce is back in town. He’s fine, we are just letting him settle down a bit,’ said USF head coach Jim Leavitt. ‘We are trying to get an idea what he can and can not do right now. We are kind of waiting to make sure he is okay before letting him get back in the game.’

South Florida defeated Florida International, 17-9. Mompremier had two tackles in the game before the injury.

Let the Games Begin

The first Big East Conference games of the season will take place this weekend. Louisville (2-1) will play Connecticut at home on Friday at 9 p.m. and Pittsburgh (2-1) will travel to Syracuse (1-3) on Saturday for a noon bout.

South Florida and UConn are the only teams in the Big East that remain undefeated. Rutgers has yet to win a game and will take on Morgan State, Saturday at home.

mkgalant@syr.edu

Published on September 23, 2008 at 12:00 pm