NEU » Torontos 3-3 draw with the Montr

STORRS, Conn. -- UCF visits UConn on Saturday for what may or may not be an annual rivalry game.UConn coach Bob Diaco received plenty of ridicule when he created a trophy for the series last year after the Huskies upset the Knights in 2014, handing UCF its only conference loss.UConn won again in Florida, routing UCF 40-13, and celebrated on the field with the trophy, winning what Diaco initially called the Civil Conflict and later revised to the ConnFLiCT (note the capital FL and CT). The Huskies (3-4, 1/3 American) have won two of the three games between the programs.It adds a little bit of excitement to the practice week itself, said UConn tight end Alec Bloom. Its different playing for a trophy in the regular season than it would be any other time. So, I think it adds a little bit of excitement, gets everyone a little more excited to play.But Diaco has been downplaying his creation this week, saying he planned to keep the discussion of the matchup internal.UCF (3-3, 1-1), meanwhile, simply does not consider this game to be special.Before I came here I was not aware of whatever they are calling the game, said first-year UCF coach Scott Frost. Listen, this is another game to us. Every single one of them is important. Were going to prepare for this one like we prepare for every one.Here some things to watch for as the Knights and the Huskies play the ConnFLiCT game:---BOUNCE BACK: Both teams are coming off conferences losses. UConn is looking to bounce back from a 42-27 defeat at South Florida. UCF, meanwhile, blew a 25-7 lead and lost in the final second at home to Temple, 26-25. Character doesnt show up when things are going right, but in times like this, Frost said.SLOW START: Diaco said UConn has changed some things in practice and team meetings in an effort to address its slow starts. The Huskies have scored just three points in the first quarter of games, a field goal during their opening drive last week. Diaco said part of the problem may be the emphasis coaches put on finishing games this year. We built the drills that way. We built the mentality that way, he said. And now weve come to a situation where you put your fingers and toes in the dam over here and then all of the sudden another little spurt starts squirting out on the other side.RUN AND RUN STOPPING: UCF comes into the game ranked No. 33 in the country in rushing, averaging almost 208 yards a game. The Huskies have the nations No. 26 run defense, giving up just 130 yards per contest.WEATHER OR NOT: UCF spent time this week discussing how to play in cold weather. The temperature in Connecticut on Saturday is expected to be in the low 50s with a good chance of rain. Frost said he considers that perfect football weather, but noted that in Florida there is a different perspective. There is something to the blood thinning out down here, he said.SIDELINED: Both teams lost their starting left guards (UConns Tommy Hopkins and UCFs Tyler Hudanick) for the season last week with leg injuries. The teams also have suspended players for this weeks game. No reason was given for the suspension of UCF receiver Tristan Payton. Two UConn redshirt freshmen, defensive linemen Felton Blackwell and linebacker Nazir Williams, were arrested this week after police found marijuana, alcohol and BB guns in a car they were in. Neither had played a snap for the Huskies. Authentic Football Wholesale . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Clearance Football Jerseys . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. http://www.cheapfootballchina.com/cheap-washington-redskins-jerseys-china_595w.html . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Cheap Miami Dolphins Jerseys China . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Cheap Oakland Raiders Jerseys China .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. TORONTO -- Toronto FC had no high-profile signing to announce Tuesday, no Diego Forlan or anyone resembling the Uruguay international. But the 2-8-7 MLS team did make a move to create some roster payroll flexibility for a new acquisition, trading attacking midfielder Luis Silva to D.C. United for allocation money. "Its really unfortunate, Luis has been so great for Toronto FC, hes been fantastic," head coach Ryan Nelsen said Tuesday after training. "But theres an opportunity I think, and the money that we get is extremely valuable." Nelsen said, with new players expected to be coming Torontos way, it was a move that was going to be made sooner or later. D.C. United, languishing in the league basement at 2-13-4, hopes Silva can spark an offence that has scored a league-worst eight goals in 19 games. "Luis is an exciting and creative young player with tremendous technical ability," D.C. United GM Dave Kasper said in a statement. "He has shown the capacity to manufacture and score goals." Silva, 24, was the fourth player taken in the 2012 Major League Soccer draft. A college teammate of Uniteds Chris Pontius at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Silva scored seven goals in 54 appearances in all competitions for Toronto. Silva is slated to make US$105,400 this season. Adding allocation money also helps the Toronto bottom line. "I wanted to make it a win for the player and a win for the club," Nelsen said. "Its not an easy decision by any means and I spent a long time contemplating it and thinking about it. Weve got young players that have really stepped up and we didnt know that they were going to, which does help. And obviously with potential additions coming in we needed to free up some cap room to improve the squad." With players away for international duty and with reinforcements yet to arrive, it could leave TFC a little short. The club plays at Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. "Its a wee bit awkward, the timing is not perfect," Nelsen said, "But we had to make a move, it was pretty much on the table, we had to do it. We might be hurting for one or two games but for the long run it will be better for the club."t; Nelsen did not get into specifics on possible new players.dddddddddddd "Everyone is working very hard and hopefully we can get something done pretty soon with numerous players," he said. There has been speculation that among the players Toronto is trying to bring in is Forlan. But Nelsen dodged the question. "Hes contracted with a club, isnt he down in Brazil somewhere?" Nelsen said. "Hes a player who is under contract so I cant really talk about him. But hes a good player." Forlan is playing with Internacional in Brazil and on Monday was quoted as saying that he wanted to stay with that club at least through the 2014 World Cup. Toronto FC striker Robert Earnshaw is in his first season with Toronto FC and the trading of Silva was a reminder of how things can be in MLS with the salary cap. "Its tough," Earnshaw said. "This is what Im learning about this league. "To see a good player not with us and a friend as well, this is what the tough situation is in this league. We wish Luis all the best because hes a great player, a great kid, a great guy. His brain is right. What I mean by that is that he wants to work and he wants to be successful and hes got that drive. "Hell be successful wherever he goes. Hes very much liked in the dressing room." Earnshaw, who missed Torontos 3-3 draw with the Montreal Impact because of an injured calf, said he is ready to return to action Saturday. Earnshaw has been able to resume training after resting the injury. "The last two days have done me very well, just fitness-wise and to get back into the swing of things," he said. "And just the pace of training, Im looking forward to getting into the game on the weekend." NOTES: Defender Richard Eckersley who has been out since early in the season with a hamstring injury is back training and could be ready for Saturdays game ... Striker Danny Koevermans did not training because of a calf injury ... Backup goalkeeper Stefan Frei is in California for visa reasons, according to Nelsen ... Veteran defender Danny Califf, sidelined with a back injury, is with his family in California, Nelsen said, "to re-evaluate things." ' ' '