Yankee Conference Football Memories Special
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Cyan Magenta Yellow Black SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2009 SPORTS THE ADVOCATE B5 Yankee Conference football memories special hree weeks earlier, Joe to coach Doug Flutie at Boston Markus was a jack-of-all-trades the third best at UConn. season in the newly created Big Markus had been standing College — decided to punt. Like he player for Nadzak at UConn. He And on Wednesday night at the East Conference. There was a huge Tin the middle of football had been doing all season, UConn returned punts. He returned UConn-Stamford branch, you can groundswell to upgrade the football heaven. There were 35,000 to 40,000 coach Walt Nadzak sent Markus kickoffs. He was a running back find Markus, Rashamel Jones, Tom program to Division I. people in the Yale Bowl that Satur- out to return the punt. and a wide receiver. He was shifty Penders and Rita Williams being “They had the dream to go day afternoon watching the Bull- Sixty-five yards later, Markus and fast, a perfect piece in the inducted as the newest members of Division I, especially with the Big dogs run all over the Huskies. Now, found himself in the end zone. That Huskies’ wishbone attack. the UConn Sports Hall of Fame. East basketball coming around, Markus was on a bus, in the middle day Markus totaled 145 yards in “I got there as a freshman. We “I’m a little overwhelmed,” that started the whole university of an eight-hour trip to Orono, punt returns, still a UConn single- ran the ’I’ formation and we had Markus said about the honor. “I’m going,” Markus said. “My fresh- Maine, and a game record. The Huskies won 19- too many good tailbacks and a honored, I’m humbled. A little man year, we opened up with Yankee Conference 7, one of just three wins on the good, running quarterback in nervous, to be honest.” Army, Navy, Yale and Rutgers. Of football date season. In Markus’ sophomore Kenny Switzer. Coach Nazdak Markus played his high school course, we lost them all. The against the Black year, UConn would post a 7-3 figured the best way to get all his football at Trumbull under coach program did not have the money or Bears. record, but losing seasons returned skill people on the field was to go to Jerry McDougall. When he was a the facilities (to go to Division I). To When game in 1981 and 1982. the wishbone,” Markus said. “So I junior, the Golden Eagles lost in the see where the program is today is time came, there Still, it was a time Markus will was the back that happened to go first-ever CIAC state championship just unbeliveable.” CHRIS might have been 20 never forget. From seeing people out on third down as flanker and, game to Fitch. On the bus trip After UConn, Markus went ELSBERRY people in the dragging kegs of beer to “freebie of course, return punts and kicks. home, Markus said the juniors on straight into the business world. stands. Maybe less. hill” for Husky games on Saturday That’s how it came about.” the team vowed to win the state For the last 25 years, he’s worked “I remember seeing a guy sitting afternoons to visiting just about You can still find Markus’ name title next year. for the Connelly Insurance Agency on a tractor near one of the end every college campus in the North- scattered around the record book “I don’t think Jerry even be- in Fairfield. There are times, zones,” said Markus, remembering east, those four years still give portion of the UConn media guide. lieved we’d do it,” he said. though, when he quietly wishes he the 1979 moment like it was yester- Markus goose bumps when he The 138 yards rushing against But Trumbull did. The team had thought more about continuing day. “Every now and then, some thinks about them. Rhode Island in 1979, along with went 11-0 and edged Hamden 21-20 his football career. dogs would run across the field. It “I loved my time at UConn,” the 145 punt-return yards against to win the Class LL title. “They (pro scouts) doubted my was a little bit different venue (than Markus said. “It was Yankee Con- Maine. The 637 yards in kickoff “I didn’t score but I had about speed a little bit,” he said. “Maybe I the Bowl).” ference football. My family used to returns in 1981. The 124 yards 150 yards (rushing),” Markus said. should have taken a crack at it. But There were about 10 seconds left follow me when I played at BU, rushing against Northeastern in “We finished No. 1 in the state and that was a long time ago. I’ve got no in what had been a scoreless first UMass, Holy Cross. I got to see the 1981, and the 315 yards in punt No. 1 in New England.” He headed regrets.” half when Maine coach Jack campuses across the Northeast. It returns in ’82. His 12.9-yard punt to UConn in 1979, and the school Contact Chris Elsberry at Bicknell — who would later go on was a great experience. No regrets.” return average in 1979 is still was preparing to play in its first [email protected] Kuznetsova wins French for 2nd major By Howard Fendrich ed Kuznetsova took control, yanking Safi- As mistakes accumulated, she mut- ASSOCIATED PRESS na from side to side with the same power- tered to herself or smacked her left palm PARIS — Svetlana Kuznetsova never ful groundstrokes that eliminated Serena with her racket. struck Dinara Safina as a Grand Slam Williams in the quarterfinals. On match point, Safina’s second serve champion in the making when they were More dispiriting to Safina, perhaps, hit the net tape and popped up, sailing be- kids in Russia. Kuznetsova showed up for was Kuznetsova’s defense. yond the doubles alley. matches toting a 2-liter bottle of soda and Time and time again, Safina — sister “I was, like, ’Oh, my God. Double- wearing rock band T-shirts. of two-time major champion Marat Safin fault,’” Kuznetsova said. As of Saturday, Kuznetsova owns two — delivered a hard, well-placed shot. When Kuznetsova would allow her- major titles — and that’s two more than And time and time again, Kuznetsova self to imagine winning the French Open, Safina. scrambled to get the ball over the net. If she always pictured herself dropping to Far steadier, if not all that spectacu- the champion seems to have a cyclist’s the clay in joy. But the anticlimactic way lar, Kuznetsova took advantage of the No. strong legs, it’s because she does: this one ended didn’t call for such a cele- 1-ranked Safina’s assorted errors and Kuznetsova’s father coached her mother bration. Instead, Kuznetsova simply won the French Open final 6-4, 6-2. Hard- to six world championships and her turned to make eye contact with her ly a work of beauty, the 74-minute match brother to an Olympic silver medal in coach and supporters in the stands, then ended, fittingly, with Safina’s seventh that sport. walked to the net for a handshake and double-fault. On a cloudy afternoon with the tem- kisses on the cheek. “She was too tight. She had so much perature in the low 50s, Kuznetsova also At the other end of the court, Safina pressure on her,” said Kuznetsova, who delighted spectators by showing off her covered her forehead with her left hand also won the 2004 U.S. Open. “I just played soccer skills, juggling a tennis ball off her — disbelief written all over her face — the match. It was just one more match. ... right foot and knee for several seconds. then spiked her racket. Definitely it was a lot of emotions inside Her best work came with her racket, and “I was a little bit desperate on the of me, but I control it.” she broke back at love to make it 1-all, court,” said Safina, who appeared to be LIONEL CIRONNEAU/ASSOCIATED PRESS Not at the outset: She lost the first then again to go ahead 5-3. Safina began fighting tears late in the match and dur- Svetlana Kuznetsova, of Russia, smiles while holding the three points and was broken in the first that eighth game with a double-fault and ing the on-court trophy presentation. trophy after defeating fellow Russian Dinara Safina in the game. Quickly, though, the seventh-seed- rolled her eyes. “Didn’t stay tough mentally.” French Open tennis finals Saturday in Paris. A UCONN COMMUNITY GATHERING UConn waits on NCAA probe S CHOLARSHIP F UND B ENEFIT Continued from B1 Greater Danbury Chamber his intentions were honorable. NCAA rules, have 90 days to of Commerce event, he “I truly believe in what UCONN respond to the allegations seemed to believe the school we’ve intended and tried to laid out in the official letter would be cleared. do as a program,” Calhoun of inquiry. They may, howev- “After 37 years, my record said at the time. “If we’ve er, request additional time. with the NCAA is clean,” the made mistakes, someone else Fairfield County Day The matter, it seems, coach said. “And you’ll see will judge that for us.” could be settled next month very shortly it is still clean.” Calhoun, 67, also doesn’t Wednesday, June 10,6-9PM or, more likely, could drag on Those words echoed his seem to be running away into the fall semester.