Rich Rodriguez's Big East experience with West Virginia should help entering Saturday's game against Connecticut.



He and the holdovers from his West Virginia staff know only success from their four matchups against the Huskies, winning all four by a decisive 179-64 margin and scoring at least 30 points in all four games.

He downplayed the connection, citing the veteran nature of those West Virginia groups.

"It's been three years since we played them, they've grown up, they're an older team now, and we're a younger team," Rodriguez said, though Connecticut still has the same coach, Randy Edsall. "I don't know how much that relates. But we certainly know some of the things they do. But they've changed some defensively and some offensively since that time."

He does know what opposing Big East stadiums are like and understands nothing compares to what they'll experience in Ann Arbor.

Michigan is hoping the rededicated Michigan Stadium with its pregame ceremony and estimated 30% increased noise factor will be an asset. Though experienced, Connecticut played in front of two crowds larger than 45,000 last year -- 58,000 at West Virginia and 80,000 at Notre Dame.

"I think one of the toughest places to play in the whole country is Morgantown (W.Va.) and Mountaineer Field, and I think their fans are very loud there so I don't think the crowd will be intimidating to them," Edsall said. "I think we just have to go out and play the way we're capable of playing. And if we don't, it's probably because of self-inflicted wounds or something Michigan would do to us," not the crowd.

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