Sean McDonnell will be back on the UNH sidelines on Friday night for the first time in over two years as the Wildcats head coach in the special short spring season opener vs. UAlbany at Wildcats Stadium. (UNH Athletaics courtesy photo)

DURHAM – The first Friday in March is a day away, so are you ready for some football?

In this strange COVID world, they are at the University of New Hampshire, which opens up an abbreviated six-game season Friday night at Wildcats Stadium vs. the University of Albany at 7 p.m.

After sitting out the 2019 season while battling cancer, and seeing the fall season cancelled due to the pandemic, the game marks the return for longtime UNH head coach Sean McDonnell since the end of the 2018 season, more than two years.

But he’s not getting sentimental. Instead, there’s a sense of urgency.

“The nervous energy I’ve had is how do we get so and so to practice, how do we get kids back in the building, what do we do for COVID protocols, how do we do the testing.

“I haven’t had a moment to just sit there and say, ‘OK, what’s it going to be like to get back out there.’ Again, it’s a six game season. There’s no opportunity to ease into something, we’ve got to be good. And we’ve got to be good starting Friday night.”

There won’t be any fans allowed at the game due to pandemic protocols but the game will be televised on NBC Sports Boston.

Locals on the UNH roster include senior wideout Nick Lorden, a Bishop Guertin alum; sophomore safety Joe Eichman of Merrimack and Milford freshman corner Gavin Urda.

But a lot of the spotlight will be on the return of McDonnell.

“It’s been a real long time,” McDonnell said. “I’m excited to get back out there. I’ll let you know how it feels after Friday night. Just have the opportunity to be back out there and compete, be with the kids, be with the other coaches, it’s been a long time.”

“He’s definitely been tuning up the dial a couple of notches,” UNH defensive end Brian Carter said. “Every practice up until game week, he’s super fired up. You could just see the whole team is feeling that and is getting energy off of that. It’s a good presence to have back.”

McDonnell, of course, will know more about his football team after Friday. “You look at it, how will these kids react when they’re in the hot water?” he said. “You get a feel for it in practice, you get a feel for it in drills. … but when you get to a game, you’ve got to do it.”

McDonnell says he’s dialed things up this week.

“I’ve been a little ornery the last couple of practices,” McDonnell said. “I want more from them. When I was away, I was able to look at kids body language, their reaction to things, how they took to coaching. And I really feel I need to do a better job in these next two days, these next five weeks, of going back to being that guy.”

But it’s good that he’s back, period. And so is UNH football.

“It’s definitely exciting,” UNH running back Carlos Washington said. “I’m definitely trying to find ways to keep myself calm. It’s been a long time coming.”

Newsletter