UConn will play Michigan today before 113,000 strong

Ann Arbor, Mich. — Across the top of Michigan's football media notes appear four numbers: 11 (as in national titles), 39 (as in bowl appearances), 42 (as in Big Ten titles) and 131 (as in years of existence).

Oh, and don't forget: 113,000 (as in the number of fans expected to show up in the newly renovated "Big House" when the Wolverines open their 2010 season today against UConn (3:30 p.m., Chs. 6, 8).

These are daunting digits, especially when you are the little ol' Huskies and have been playing major college football for only nine seasons.

But the only number that matters to UConn is: 1 (as in one victory), and the Huskies are relishing this opportunity to play one of college football's most storied programs in a historic venue … even if coach Randy Edsall has stayed with his "one-game-at-a-time" mantra.

"I like it," said quarterback Zach Frazer, who made a recruiting visit to Michigan. "I'd rather play all of our tough games in the beginning. I like rising to the expectations. We're playing a great team. We're playing an elite program that has a lot of great athletes.

"It's going to be on (national) TV. There's going be a lot of people there and there's going to be a lot of people watching at home. I'm excited. It's about time people started noticing what we're doing here, how hard we're working and how we're striving to be one of the elite programs."

There is great anticipation for UConn's 2010 season, in part because the Huskies return 16 starters and in part because they won their final four games in 2009, including a win in their first trip to Notre Dame and an upset victory over South Carolina in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

But a win at Michigan, where the Wolverines are 107-18-2 all-time in home openers?

"We welcome the challenge right off the bat," said tailback Jordan Todman. "We are competitors and want to compete against any team in the country. I have confidence in myself and my teammates.

"We aren't scared of anything and we feel that we have something to prove. But being put on the big national stage the first game of year, we are excited and can't wait to get out there and show what we can do."

UConn will be facing a Michigan team that has been an un-Wolverine like 8-16 in two seasons under former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who never lost to the Huskies in four games with the Mountaineers.

But Michigan also returns a veteran cast (15 starters), including seven from an offense that averaged 29.5 points and 384.5 yards a year ago. There is some mystery at quarterback, however, where Rodriguez had chosen a starter and hinted he may play three players at QB against the Huskies — sophomore Denard Robinson, sophomore Tate Forcier or freshman Devin Gardner.

Regardless of who plays, Edsall didn't seem overly concerned.

"I don't think it's a big deal because we've seen (Robinson and Forcier) on film," Edsall said. "We got a chance to see some of their games on the Big Ten Network. There's things that each of them do that are better than the other. Rich's offense is pretty much what you see. The biggest thing is to go out and execute, and hopefully we'll be good enough to go out and tackle them if they do run the ball."

As for the players, Frazer, for one, can't wait to get started.

"I've been looking forward to this moment, I've been looking forward to this season and so has everyone on this team," he said. "I feel like everybody's coming together and we've got the same goal in mind and we're going to go to Michigan and be victorious."