UConn coach Lou Spanos talks to field judge Jay Brown in the first half against Vanderbilt earlier this season.
Mark Humphrey / Associated PressLou Spanos still can only participate in practice virtually following a COVID-19 outbreak, but the UConn football interim coach hopes to be back on the field Saturday when the Huskies rekindle their rivalry with Yale.
“I’m doing everything remotely until I get the clearance and I’m good to go from there,” Spanos said Tuesday during his weekly media session.
The 50-year-old Spanos, who is fully vaccinated, was one of five members of the program to test positive for the virus last week, forcing him to miss the 27-13 loss to UMass. Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Frank Giufre, tight ends coach Corey Edsall, and offensive linemen Ryan Van Demark and Will Meyer also tested positive and remain in isolation.
Saturday at Rentschler Field (noon, CBS Sports Network) will mark the 50th meeting between UConn and Yale, but the first since 1998. The Bulldogs hold a 32-17 edge in the series dating to 1948, though UConn has won 14 of the last 16 meetings.
As the Huskies (0-7) prepare for this latest matchup, Spanos is overseeing practice from behind a computer screen. It’s been only a minor inconvenience for the former defensive coordinator, who is still able to interact with his team during drills and meetings.
“I can interrupt (practice),” Spanos said with a smile. “We have a speaker and all that, like an old-school speaker. They hear my voice. … I can speak freely.”
In that sense, it’s been business as usual for the Huskies.
“Coach Spanos, he still finds ways to be around us virtually,” freshman wide receiver Keelan Marion said. “He’s still keeping the energy as he was when he was in-person. There’s no adjustment, he’s just on the screen. He’s keeping that same energy, keeping the guys motivated. Coach Spanos is a great guy.”
Defensive line coach Dennis Dottin-Carter coached the UMass game in Spanos’ absence. Spanos and the others who tested positive watched it via Zoom.
The Huskies’ 11th consecutive loss ended a 16-game losing streak for lowly UMass and represented another stain for the program and its beleaguered fanbase. Now the Huskies, who have already lost to one FCS team this season, must beat neighboring Yale, or face the prospect of further embarrassment.
The Bulldogs, picked second in the Ivy League preseason poll, are 2-2 and coming off a 24-17 loss to Dartmouth.
“No matter the team, no matter where they’re from, we go into every week the same,” freshman wide receiver Aaron Turner said. “We’ve got to come out and execute and get a win. It’s as simple as that.”
The Huskies won’t have freshman quarterback Tyler Phommachanh available. Phommachanh injured his knee against Vanderbilt on Oct. 2 and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Redshirt sophomore Steven Krajewski, who has thrown for three touchdowns and five interceptions in six games, remains listed as the starter over sophomore Jack Zergiotis.
They may also be down junior cornerback Jeremy Lucien (concussion) and Van Demark.
“We’re going to follow (Connecticut) Department of Health and CDC protocol,” Spanos said regarding the status of Van Demark, his starting left tackle.
dbonjour@ctpost.com; @DougBonjour