For new coach Jason Candle, team building takes shape as the UConn football season draws near

The UConn football team is set to begin a new season with a total of 87 new players, a significant challenge for head coach Jason Candle. Coach Candle's priority is to foster team bonding and camaraderie among the new players, which he believes is essential for building a strong football team.

Coach Candle has initiated various activities to help players get to know each other off the field, such as fishing, bowling, paintball, and paintball. These activities, he believes, are crucial in creating a well-connected and cohesive team. Quarterback Jake Merklinger, a transfer from Tennessee, echoes this sentiment, stating that the team bonding experiences have been incredibly beneficial. "We hang out a lot, we bond, so I feel like it’s gone really well."

The quarterback room, in particular, represents a diverse mix of players from different backgrounds, including those who were previously coached by Candle, transfers from other schools, and those who transferred from UConn under former coach Jim Mora. Quarterback Kalieb Osborne, who transferred from Toledo, highlights the importance of these team-building activities, stating, "Everybody knows each other, and coach Candle set up things where he mixed up the groups, so we came together."

Brad Bichey, who joined UConn from Toledo to implement the strength and conditioning program, has been instrumental in supporting Coach Candle's vision. "The great support we have here, the resources we’re going to put into that part of the program and will continue to put into that part of the program, it’s only up from here," Candle said.

As the Huskies prepare for the upcoming season, Coach Candle remains focused on building a strong team foundation. The team will hold an open practice for fans at Rentschler Field next Saturday, and the season begins with a home game against Lafayette on September 5.