Storrs — Senior David Pindell always looks forward to every moment, every practice and every game as a member of the UConn football team.

Even during this gloomy season.

"I just love the sport of football," Pindell said after Tuesday's workout. "I just like playing and showing people what I can do. I wake up every morning and go out there and give it my all."

Pindell plays his final game as UConn quarterback on Saturday, facing Temple in an American Athletic Conference game at Rentschler Field in East Hartford (3:30 p.m., ESPNU). The Huskies (1-10, 0-7) are trying to avoid their worst record in the program's FBS era and most overall losses in a season. They went 1-10 in 1977.

Almost lost as the lopsided losses have piled up is Pindell's productive play.

Pindell's set the program single-season record for rushing yards for a quarterback with 1,115 yards. That number also leads all QBs this season in the Football Bowl Subdivision and ranks ninth overall among all rushers. He's the first Husky quarterback to record multiple 100-yard running games (six) in a season as an FBS program.

Pindell has accounted for 25 touchdowns (10 rushing, 15 passing) and thrown for 1,862 yards despite being the primary focus of other teams' defensive game plans.

More importantly, Pindell set an example for his teammates.

"You'd love to have 85 David Pindells," coach Randy Edsall said. "He loves football. That's one of the problems, we don't have enough guys that love football. David loves it. He gives everything that he has. You wish you had him for two more years.

"I love the kid to death. I love just his approach to doing the things that he has to do to play each and every week. If you take a look at the productivity that he's had this year, it's impressive. ... I would hope he was a great inspiration to a lot of guys."

No player has been more valuable to UConn this season than Pindell.

UConn asked Pindell to do everything, and he's carried that heavy workload and responsibility without complaining. He's accounted for 150 of the team's 259 points.

Offensive coordinator John Dunn calls Pindell, "The Eraser."

"He's a guy that has gotten us out of trouble," Dunn said. "He's a guy that's made defenses adjust and game plan us a little different. He's a guy that doesn't say anything and taken on the role of carrying this offense.

"I understand the win-loss record, certainly. But we certainly wouldn't be where we are offensively without him. ... He's meant the world. Love him to death. Works hard. Does all the right things. Shows up. The thing I preached all year is consistency. The biggest thing he's been is consistent for us. ... I hope it's not lost because he certainly has contributed a lot here."

Perhaps the most impressive statistic is the durable Pindell will start every game this season, playing through a nagging ankle injury.

"A lot of quarterbacks don't play all 12 games," Pindell said. "I'm proud about staying healthy."

Pindell fought through his share of adversity during his short career at UConn. A junior college transfer, he earned the starting job last season but struggled in the opener, being replaced by Bryant Shirreffs. Pindell appeared in just four games overall.

He just kept working hard and returned this season a much improved quarterback.

"He didn't pout, didn't mope, he didn't stop working when he was replaced," Edsall said. "Then continued to work harder through the winter, through the summer and then as we've gone through the fall. He should be a great example to a lot of these guys because if you work hard and take advantage of your abilities that you have, then you can have success."

What Pindell will miss the most is the relationships with his coaches and teammates, especially best friend T.J. Vernieri, the first player that Pindell met on campus.

"Everything happens for a reason," Pindell said. "I don't regret making the decision to come here at all. ... A lot of relationships I made here, that's why I cherish everything and every moment being here. I'll miss all that."

News and notes

• Edsall said he'll release on Wednesday or Thursday the list of players — seniors and redshirt juniors — that will be honored at the regular season finale. "We're still working through that," he said. ... Running back Zavier Scott had successful knee surgery on Friday. "He's just now in the rehab mindset and started on that," said Edsall. ... Freshman quarterback Steve Krajewski has moved up to second on the depth chart. He's yet to play this season.

g.keefe@theday.com