East Hartford — Cue the Cold Water Committees of Connecticut (CWCC) for the gloomy refrain to news of the UConn Huskies' first 2-0 start in football since 2008:

What, they've beaten Alabama and Oregon?

It's Villanova and Army.

So there.

They're the people who can't be bothered to show up to Rentschler Field. Tailgating, sunny weather, better football ... they might actually have fun, which would interfere with their time to complain. And so they'll sit back like Statler and Waldorf and await the result of this week's assignment — at Missouri — to determine whether the Huskies are truly for real.

Let's leave it here: Any skepticism aimed at UConn today completely misses the point. The Huskies aren't a finished product? Duh. They're 17-33 since Randy Edsall left, 2-10 last year. They're barely a product. But their record to date, following Saturday's 22-17 over Army at Rentschler Field, isn't nearly as significant as their progress.

Whether you view it as modest or significant, there's no denying things are better. Two games in after 2-10, is it really reasonable to ask for more?

"Adversity isn't really affecting them for extended periods of time," UConn coach Bob Diaco said. "They've bought into 'hey make a play, somebody step up and make a play.'"

Example: What felt like a comfortable 22-10 lead midway through the fourth period Saturday turned into an unnecessarily anxious ending. Obi Melifonwu attempted to intercept a pass near the UConn sideline and did everything right. Except catch the ball. It went through his hands as if they were goalposts. Army's Joe Walker became Joe Runner, going 71 yards for a touchdown, bringing the Black Knights within five.

UConn's offense followed with failure on third and short, giving Army the ball deep in its own territory with 2:29 left (thanks to Justin Wain's boomer of a punt). Still, it's not like Army hadn't broken a few big plays. It's not like this group of UConn kids is versed in winning. Gulp. Palms might have grown more moist among the crowd of 28,260, not to mention a few here-we-go-agains from the sideline.

"We'd have thought that last year, definitely, and it was evident," UConn linebacker Luke Carrezola said. "You could see it everywhere. This year, we go on to the next play. It's not going to affect us this year. I can name a whole bunch of guys who are giving us great leadership. We just go on to the next play."

Or in this case, the play after the next play: Andrew Adams' interception sealed the game and sent the Huskies off to Mizzou unbeaten.

It's easy to suggest the Huskies should be unbeaten, given the degree of difficulty: An FCS school and Army. But then, this is a program that lost to an FCS school in 2013 (Towson State) and to Army last year at Yankee Stadium.

"I feel like 2-0 is where we should be," Carrezola said, "but that's not based on who we were playing, but based on how we've been preparing. It's been a fun experience."

And there are two words – fun experience – that haven't been associated with UConn football since Dave Teggart's kick ripped through the uprights one fateful night in Tampa.

And that's the point. The experience is getting better. They're understanding concepts better. They are throwing the ball better. Better third down conversions. Only two turnovers in two games. Diaco called it "an overall clarity."

"It feels great to be in the locker room with the guys. They feel like winners. They are winners," Diaco said. "Nobody was created to lose. There are no babies on the planet that are losers. That happens somewhere along the line. To see these guys feel winning and get back to winning ... and what campus is going to feel like Monday, that's the best."

The Huskies have an interesting next four games: at Missouri, home for Navy, at Brigham Young, at Central Florida. The high rent district is here. But there's a reason for hope now, more than in a few years. This just in: 2-0 sure beats 0-2.

"We have a long way to go," Diaco said. "We're not even close to being what we're going to be. But the production is on the rise for sure."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius