UConn's Chandler Whitmer was at a crossroads in his career following a frustrating football season last fall.

He had lost his starting quarterback job, then his desire to play. He was ready to leave the program.

"I was done with football," Whitmer said recently. "I was out the door."

A conversation with new coach Bob Diaco changed Whitmer's mind.

And it's a good thing Whitmer returned.

With starter Casey Cochran sidelined with what sources say is a concussion, Whitmer will be at the helm for UConn's game against Stony Brook today at Rentschler Field in East Hartord (noon, SNY).

As part of his two quarterback system, Diaco rotated Cochran and Whitmer in the season-opening 35-10 loss to Brigham Young. Neither had much success consistently generating offense or producing in the red zone.

Whitmer, a redshirt senior, guided the Huskies on both of their scoring drives, finishing 8-for-17 for 113 yards.

Diaco learned during the middle of the week that Cochran was injured against BYU, leading him to name Whitmer the starter.

Last season Whitmer started the first four games - all losses - and went 71-for-129 for 896 yards with five touchowns and six interceptions overall. He was replaced by Tim Boyle and before Cochran eventually took over.

Armed with a fresh attitude this season, Whitmer accepted his role as Cochran's backup.

"I was happy with whatever I could get," Whitmer said. "I wanted to come back and set the record straight and not leave UConn the way it ended last year. I grew as a man and I credit that to coach Diaco."

It's unclear how long Cochran, redshirt sophomore, will be out. This isn't his first concussion, according to sources, sustaining at least two others during his playing career dating back to his youth football days.

Making his 17th career start, Whitmer will be backed up by Boyle, a sophomore who was considered a redshirt candidate prior to the injury.

Odds clearly favor the Huskies today against Stony Brook, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school. The Seawolves dropped their season opener, 13-7, to Bryant University on Aug. 28. They're 1-5 all-time against FBS programs, defeating Army in 2012.

Stony Brook belongs to the Colonial Athletic Association, the same conference as Towson. Towson shocked UConn in last year's season opener, so the Huskies won't take Stony Brook lightly.

"I played against Towson last year so I don't disregard any team," linebacker Graham Stewart said. "We could have a Springfield or Western Connecticut come and play us and you just have to treat every team like they're Alabama or somebody like that. Anybody on any given day can get beat."

During the early stages of the rebuilding process, Diaco's focus is on improvement, not winning. He pays attention to every little detail, right down the look of the locker room.

"I'm not going to let anything go," he said. "I'm not going to worry about winning the game Saturday. Players have got to go to class. If a key starter doesn't go to class this week, he's not going to play.

"Every little portion of our program right now, we're going to get right. ... The opponents right now are not a main focus for us. In terms of articulation to the team, it's about us and what we need to do. It's about getting better and correcting our mistakes."

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe