UConn Huskies Deliver at PapaJohns

The University of South Carolina should make Steve Spurrier spend the next week delivering pizza.

His first stop should be at Randy Edsall's home.

Spurrier, the old ball coach, watched Saturday as Edsall's UConn Huskies beat the game out of the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks got cold-cocked by Edsall's guys and in the end, it was a 20-7 one-sided victory for college football's Cinderella team of the season.

UConn put a feather in the Big East football cap, knocking out an SEC team. Perhaps Spurrier underestimated these UConn guys, but he shouldn't have.

UConn used the feet of Andre Dixon, who churned out 126 yards with 33 carries and was the game's MVP. But this UConn team was full of MVPs.

"The character, the will, the perseverance, this is a special group," Edsall said as he described his band of winners after the victory. As for Dixon, "what a guy he is..." Edsall said with a smile.

Defensively, the Huskies made South Carolina look stupid. USC quarterback Stephen Garcia looked beyond confused. He put up 38 passes and only 16 found their mark for a measley 130 yards. On the ground, the Gamecocks mustered 75.

"Our defense rose to the occasion," Edsall proudly declared.

Yes, this was a proud UConn team this season that overcame so much. It overcame the murder of one of its standout performers, Jasper Howard. His jersey graced the sidelines once again, as it did for every game he would have played in.

This eighth win capped a winning final run by the Huskies in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season.

Instead, it was a special season, filled with joy and sorrow.

But as 2010 begins, there is joy and hope for the future.