Not that he was a party animal, but like any kid in a new, and (ahem) more relaxed environment, there were some wild oats which Lansanah, a redshirt freshman linebacker at the time in 2004, did his best to try and sow. That didn't sit too well with Fincher, a senior captain.

He saw potential in Lansanah and he wasn't about to see the kid throw it all away by having too much fun.

So, he'd call Lansanah and basically tell him, "Hey, we're going running ... be ready in five minutes," and the two would pound the steps at Memorial Stadium. After that, Fincher would take him to the film room, where he would critique Lansanah's performances on special teams. Tough love? Maybe, but that tough love went a long way.

This week, Lansanah will be preparing for the biggest game of his career when UConn takes on Wake Forest in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. The 6-foot-1, 244-pound senior led the team this season with 116 total tackles, including 13� tackles for losses, and had four interceptions, numbers that earned him first-team All-Big East honors.

"Danny's done a good job in terms of his experience," coach Randy Edsall said. "He's pretty calm. He doesn't get too riled up or anything like that. He's kind of like the quiet guy and just tries to keep everything under control and I think that presence keeps everyone calmer on defense."

As the Huskies surprised the nation en route to a 9-3 record this season and a tie for the Big East regular-season championship with West Virginia, it was Lansanah who helped spark the surge, leading a defense that allowed just 18.5 points a game. In UConn's home sweep of Louisville, South Florida and Rutgers, Lansanah notched 15 tackles against the Cardinals, 16 against the Bulls and 12 against the Scarlet Knights. It was his interception of Cardinals' quarterback Brian Brohm in the final seconds that sealed the win over Louisville and he also returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown against Syracuse.

"He's got great instincts," Edsall said. "He's able to see things and communicate things, 'Be alert for this, be awake for that.' Just his overall knowledge of what's going to be happening."

That knowledge came from spending all that time in the film room with Fincher, who passed on his knowledge of opposing defenses, their tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. What also came from Fincher was a focus and determination that could have Lansanah possibly looking toward a future in the NFL, like Fincher, who plays for the New Orleans Saints.

"I think the dream of every college football player is to play in the NFL, but right now I'm just focused on Wake Forest and winning a bowl game for this program," Lansanah said.

But that dream could have become a nightmare if Fincher hadn't taken Lansanah under his wing. Lansanah said that he "got into a little bit of trouble" when he first came to UConn and later, after his sophomore season, he was a passenger in a car driven by Tyvon Branch and was arrested after Donta Moore fired a pellet gun at another car, shattering a window.

"The main thing he (Fincher) stressed was staying out of trouble because the first thing that happened when I got here was I got into a little bit of trouble and he got on me," Lansanah said. "I remember a lot of times when we were running and it was just me and him and I think that was the main thing, just helping me stay out of trouble and keep my focus on football and not other things."

And lately, Lansanah has tried to pass along his knowledge along to some of the Huskies' young linebackers, such as Lawrence Wilson and former Brookfield High star Scott Lutrus. He just hasn't done it the way Fincher would have.

"I don't think he's done it to the extent that Alfred did because Alfred's personality was so much different than Danny's. Alfred would grab you by the throat and tell you were doing something and Danny's not like that," Edsall said, smiling. "But I think in his own little way he's helped those guys out. His approach to it has been different. Alfred ... I don't think Alfred cared if they got mad at him, I think Danny is a little more subtle in terms of how he'd approach things."

And Fincher is still watching over his former teammate. He e-mails Lansanah at least two or three times a week and the two often talk after UConn games to discuss what Lansanah did right and what he did wrong.

"That relationship has worked well for me because a guy like him, he did everything right and that's why he's in the position that he's in now," Lansanah said. "Just having that relationship, he's been there, he knows what I'm going through, he knows the ins and outs of football and for him to pass it down to me meant a lot for my career."