Yes, UConn Football was certainly a "regional" program in the 1940's. But they were a team to be reckoned with under longtime multi-sport Coach J.O. Christian. In 1942, 1944 and 1945 (No Football in 1943), The Huskies went 20-4 with 13 shutouts. The Dropo Brothers, Walt and Milt were key cogs, as was Bridgeport's own, Walt Trojanowski. In his time on campus, Trojanowski ran the ball 311 times for 1, 356yds and rushed for 25 career touchdowns.
After a 6-2 record in 1942 and 7-1 in 1944, Trojanowski was about to demonstrate front and center how good he was. Born in Bridgeport, he attended Bridgeport Central H.S. and then Marianapolis Prep in Thompson before attending UConn. Opening day of the 45' season, Walt Trojanowski scored 6 rushing TD's in a 46-0 rout of Worcester Tech. The lone defeat of that season came in game three, a 19-0 loss to Franklin & Marshall of Lancaster, PA. Following an 18-12 victory over Maine, UConn was never challenged as over the final four games, outscored Lehigh, Amherst, Maine and Boston University 173-6. Trojanowski scoring four TD's in the Season Finale victory over B.U.
In the 1945 season, Walt Trojanowski ran for 722yds and rushed for 22 TD's. He threw for another 401yds. The 22 rushing TD's and 6 rushing TD's against Worcester Tech remain school records to this day. And he led the country, along with Army's Great Back, Doc Blanchard, each led the country in scoring with 132 points.
Following his senior season, Trojanowski was selected to play in the annual East-West Shrine Game. And in 1969, was named to UConn's All Century Team. But Trojanowski has the honor of being UConn's first football player to be selected in a pro football draft. Selected in the 6th round by Washington in 1946. However there doesn't seem to be any records indicating Trojanowski ever played a down for the Redskins.
In early January, 2003, Walt Trojanowski passed away at his home in Ocala, Florida at the age of 83. A World War II Vet, and a star football player at UConn.