Temple vs UConn 2012: Connecticut native Addazio says trip is no big deal

Temple head coach and Connecticut-native Steve Addazio is looking at this weekend's game against UConn like it's just a normal road game and not a homecoming.

"This is my home right now," Addazio said Tuesday of Philadelphia. "Am I proud of where I'm from? You darn right, I'm proud of where I'm from. Do I think that Connecticut did a lot for me? There's no question the state of Connecticut did a lot for me.

"But right now, I live in Philadelphia. I work for Temple and I love it. And what I want to do is make sure our kids are all playing on a high, high level. That's my job. That's my passion on top of it.

The second-year coach was born in Farmington, Conn., and played at Central Connecticut State. His first college coaching job was as an assistant at Western Connecticut. He also turned Cheshire (Conn.) High School into one of the best programs in the nation.

But none of that is on Addazio's mind: "This is no social trip," he said.

The game is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.