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Jim Mora continues to see fighting spirit in Connecticut

MattCarterby:Matt Carter•09/20/22•

TheWolfpacker

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(Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Recent times have not been easy or fun for Connecticut football. In the prior 5 seasons that the Huskies competed (UConn sat out the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic), their combined record is 10-50.

Over the past 3 years they played, Connecticut had failed to win more than 2 games in a season.

That’s the program that Jim Mora inherited when hired in the offseason.

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Mora, the son of well-known former NFL coach Jim E. Mora, coached 3 seasons for the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-06, leading them to the NFC Championship Game in his first year. In 2009, he received a second chance as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks but lasted only 1 year and went 5-11.

In 2012, Mora was hired as head coach at UCLA, and his first 4 seasons went well. The Bruins went 37-16 overall in that span (23-13 in the Pac-12) and twice finished the season ranked, including No. 10 in 2014. Back-to-back losing seasons in 2015 and 2016, however, led to Mora’s termination.

Those expecting overnight success from Mora coming to Connecticut has faced a reality check. The Huskies are 1-3 after back-to-back lopsided losses at home to Syracuse and then at No. 4 Michigan.

As Mora traveled home from Ann Arbor, he had already turned the page to No. 11/12 NC State. The Wolfpack hosts UConn for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday evening.

“Another big challenge,” Mora stated. “Another top-ranked team, but another opportunity for us to continue to see this program grow.”

Mora called NC State “a fantastic football team.”

“You watch them, and they don’t have holes,” Mora added.

While Mora suspects that his offensive coordinator Nick Charlton may disagree, the head coach particularly enjoyed watching the Wolfpack defense.

“They are a fun team to watch for defense. … [For] someone that appreciates good defense, they are fun to watch,” Mora said.

Further adding to the challenge for Connecticut, Mora confirmed that starting running back Nathan Carter will be out with a significant shoulder injury suffered in Ann Arbor. Carter had been an impressive performer early in the season, rushing 65 times for 405 yards (6.2 yards per rush).

Connecticut had already lost starting quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson during the Huskies’ season-opening loss at Utah State. Freshman Zion Turner has taken over in Robinson’s absence.

Trying to rebuild against a challenging early schedule with multiple significant injuries has put Mora’s squad back against the wall. If this week has been any early indication, NC State can expect to see a team coming out swinging.

Mora noted that his experience shows that in moments like the current one for Connecticut, teams either descend or accept a challenge and ascends.

“I think you are going to see a football team that continues to fight to get better, continues to fight to compete for better results on the field,” Mora noted. “I made a challenge to them on Sunday, and what I saw [Monday] is they accepted that challenge.”

More added that he is not discouraged while acknowledging the competitor in him that expects to win every game has “some disappointment.”

The coaches are still tinkering to find an identity and consistency. Against Michigan, UConn unveiled a 4-3 defensive alignment compared to the 3-down front previously employed. Mora anticipates to continue to try 4-man fronts.

He also expects to see his program built in his vision of “the right way.” That involves a consistent approach regardless of win-loss records or game outcomes.

“Losers let their circumstances dictate their effort and their attitude,” Mora noted. “Winners don’t.”

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