Ryan, the ultimate team player, to cherish his days at UConn

Storrs — These are reflective times for Dan Ryan and all of UConn's senior football players.

Yet as Ryan, a fifth-year senior from Norwich Free Academy, sat in the Burton Family Football Complex cafeteria - a building that was still under construction when he arrived in 2005 - he still can't quite fathom that a major part of his young life is nearing an end.

"These five years flew by," said Ryan, one of 16 seniors who will be recognized prior to the start of Saturday's regular-season finale against South Florida at Rentschler Field (8 p.m., ESPN2). "It felt like just the other day we were coming into (training) camp as complete strangers and now we're heading out as big brothers.

"The bonds that you form, it's awesome. I wouldn't change a thing."

Ryan, 22, has become the ultimate team player since arriving on campus.

The 6-foot-8, 316-pound offensive tackle redshirted in 2005, started 12 games in 2006 and 2007, and then saw his playing time limited his junior and senior years because UConn's talent level has improved dramatically.

This year, for instance, the Franklin resident started the first four games at left tackle before the coaching staff decided to move redshirt freshman Mike Ryan (no relation) into the starting lineup.

"Obviously I would like to be playing more," Dan Ryan said. "But this is a team game and I want to contribute to a successful team in any way possible."

He's done just that, contributing on special teams and even spending part of the 2008 season as a blocking tight end - earning the nickname "Ocho Ocho" after he temporarily switched from No. 73 to 88 after then-senior Steve Brouse broke his leg early in the season.

"There might have been times around here in the early years when some of those guys can be malcontents and might be disruptive in the locker room," UConn coach Randy Edsall said. "But Dan Ryan just went out and did his job, and was always ready and prepared to play."

Ryan has also been here during a special time in UConn's growth as a FBS program. He has been part of the Huskies' first Big East championship team (2007), will play in his third consecutive bowl game later this month and was a member of the first UConn team to play - and defeat - Notre Dame, a feat the Huskies accomplished Nov. 21 with a 33-30 double-overtime win.

The Notre Dame game was particularly emotional for Ryan because he spent his childhood near Chicago rooting for the Irish, two of his uncles attended ND (one played hockey) and when he left the locker room at Notre Dame Stadium there were 16 family members waiting with smiles and embraces.

His grandfather, Bob Ryan, wasn't part of that group, however.

"He was supposed to be there," Dan said. "But I found out my grandmother was sick."

Josephine Ryan - Jo to those who knew her - died two days later. She was 90. Dan Ryan didn't return to Connecticut after the game in order to see his grandma one last time.

"You're at the very top and then you're brought down just like that," said Ryan, who also had deal with the death of teammate Jasper Howard a month earlier. "It's just one of those things that really makes you realize that life's not just about football.

"All of the guys supporting me with calls and reaching out … again, that's the bond that you form while you're here."

As Ryan and the rest of his teammates await UConn's bowl destination, another important date is coming - Dec. 20 - the day Ryan will graduate with a sociology degree.

"There were a lot of people that didn't give him much of a chance, who didn't think he could play at this level coming out of NFA," Edsall said. "Again, that just goes to show you he had the character, the determination and the work ethic to come here and do the things he was asked to do academically and athletically … and he's going to leave here with his degree and a lot of memories."

Edsall said Ryan might even get a chance to play in the NFL, too.

"He's a big guy who's got size, so we'll see what happens," Edsall said.

Ryan will prepare for UConn's Pro Day while weighing his options. He said he also plans to take a break before entering the next phase of his life, wherever that leads him.

And he plans to cherish his days at UConn.

"It was awesome to come in here with the rest of these guys and really become the building blocks of this program," he said. "The sky's the limit with this place. It's going to be great to come back some day and tailgate with (Mike) Hicks and (Alex) Molina, watch the team and know that we were part of that.

"We were here when we beat Notre Dame. We were here when we won the Big East. We'll remember that double-overtime win over Pitt, and beating South Florida when they were ranked No. 10. We were part of all these milestones, and we're going to have a lot of great stories to tell our kids and grandkids."

c.banning@theday.com