Well, this is certainly not what Paul Pasqualoni wanted -- or needed -- headed into his first season as UConn’s head coach.
By way of Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant, Pasqualoni announced Thursday morning that wide receiver Michael Smith has been declared academically ineligible and will miss the entire 2011 season. Smith, who has yet to use his redshirt year so will retain one year of eligibility if he wants to use it, will be permitted to practice and workout with the team as he attempts to get his academic house in order.
“Michael will be, obviously in the program,” Pasqualoni said. “He will be in practice each day. He just will not participate in games.”
“I do think this is a year that he can use to improve himself all the way around and then still have a final year of eligibility.”
The loss of Smith is obviously a big one; in 2010, the Houston native led the Huskies with 46 receptions for 610 yards.