Before every FIU offensive play, Dallas Connell squats across from and in between roughly 600 pounds of defensive tackles who would love nothing more than to run him over and get to the quarterback.
It’s nasty in the trenches – there’s sweat, spit, snot, stench and just about everything else you can imagine in a sport as physical as football. But Connell, who had never played center before this season, remains calm, and he’s a big reason why FIU’s offensive line leads Conference USA with the fewest sacks in the league (nine in 11 games).
“It’s a team effort,” Connell said humbly.