This is the first time in the history of organized sports that the guy pulling the tarp on and off the baseball field is more famous than the players who will later benefit from the landscaping. But then Dave Teggart isn't merely some tarp-puller.

He's the Connecticut Tigers mascot some nights, too.

He sells tickets. Concessions. He paints. Who knew? Dave Teggart has gone from Da Man to Everyman in just a few short months.

And he's loving it.

"Well," Teggart, who you perhaps know better as the owner of the most famous kicking leg in Connecticut sports history, was saying Monday, "to graduate, you need 600 hours of an internship. I want to stay involved in sports."

And so he is. Dave Teggart, UConn kicker by fall and winter, Connecticut Tigers intern by spring and summer.

Teggart did something last December on a piece of Tampa real estate every bit as significant as Tate George's turnaround and Sue Bird's mad dash. He kicked a 52-yard field goal on the last play of the regular season's last game, sending the UConn Huskies into nirvana, otherwise known as the BCS.

Except that a few months later, nobody could recall seeing Tate digging ditches for the summer or, you know, Sue plowing fields.

"Dave's been great," Tigers general manager Andrew Weber said. "Whatever we need, he's happy to do it. I've been telling him to get ready for the Lou Groza Award."

Indeed, Teggart is a preseason nominee for the Groza Award, given to the nation's top kicker. He manages to practice kicking on non-game nights for the Tigers, the Class A, New York Penn League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, who play 38 home games. His days begin at 6 a.m. in Storrs for the team's summer workout program and sometimes don't end till midnight on game nights.

Why all this work?

Part of the deal at UConn. It began with Randy Edsall and continues today: Tomorrow has this uncanny habit of showing up. And if the National Football League doesn't come calling, you better have Plan B. UConn football gets a straight A in Plan B for its players. The program is often lauded for academic achievement, even beyond its other endeavors such as an in season Career Night, where current players network with successful program alumni.

"When we were freshman, we were told that how your teachers perceive you is important," Teggart said. "If you show up late for class wearing football gear and looking like you don't care, they'll attribute that to 'football player.' We try to dress like regular students and be on time. Otherwise, it reflects badly on the team."

Ah yes. The team. Next season gets here soon. And Teggart will be among UConn's most important players. Figure that with Jordan Todman gone from an offense that wasn't exactly the Dan Fouts Chargers last season, Teggart's responsibilities will be huge.

Last season, he made 16 of his last 17 attempts. They came in the team's last six games. They were more important than a lung. Consider that in that span, UConn scored 10 offensive touchdowns. That's 10 touchdowns and 16 field goals. Do the math.

"No one kick defines you," Teggart said. "No one kick makes or breaks you. Consistency makes a great kicker. My focus is having a good year this year."

But for old time's sake ... can you just take us back to the South Florida game once more?

"For a lot of the game, I thought the defense was going to shut them out," Teggart said. Then a lot of stuff went haywire. They tied it and it felt like overtime mode. But I thought if we could get a good return a make a few pass plays, I better be ready."

Then Teggart saw Robbie Frey's return. Kashif Moore's catch. Suddenly, history was 52 yards away.

"I was glad (South Florida coach Skip Holtz) called timeout. It gave me a chance to relax," Teggart said. "It doesn't always work that way, but it did on that day."

Teggart said he looked at the goalposts.

"I knew I hit it hard enough," he said. "Then when I looked up, it was going straight."

Straight to the Fiesta Bowl.

Not bad for the tarp puller/painter/ticket seller/concessionaire extraordinaire on display nightly now at Dodd Stadium. All this and getting his education, too.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.