Lyle McCombs altercation

[Oxford Bob]

If you've been to Storrs anytime int eh past few years then, you know that back then, the entire region was very much different than it is now. Thumpers was a way off campus, and when things went down there, it wasn't like the Upper Deck or Huskies. More mature crowd there, whatever that means. Things never really went down at Ted's because in my days there, which were probably the same as yours, the bartender/bouncer that ran the place was a bare knuckle fighter that fought for cash in underground rings in the New London, and newly minted Foxwoods casino area. Not a lot of people knew that, but the few times the guy cleared house, it got around that nobody messed around at Teds. But upper deck and huskies, guaranteed fight every weekend. Mostly football players but basketball players too. Different times. In so very many ways. Not just the lack of internet and tweeter and facebook posts and camera phones to document everything.nobody was worried about idiot, wannabe tough guys, carrying guns or knives back then, and didn't have to be.

Don't forget the Dean's Office in Willimantic, the night was never complete without a brawl.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Thumpers was one of the creepiest places I have been. If I remember correctly, they let in 18 and over and then had a separate 21+ area, but once you were in, you could kind of mill about, especially if you were female. This dynamic, together with the fact that it was not right on campus, made it a magnet for creepy 30+ and even some 40+ guys from the area trying to score with college girls. I went there once with a bunch of freshmen/sophomore girls, and we had to get out of there in about an hour.

I didn't know that about the Ted's bartender from the early 90's. That would explain why the bouncers at the door were so unimpressive. Everyone knew the score about who was behind the bar. I was friends with one of the door bouncers, and he had no intention of taking a punch from anyone.

Huskies had some big bouncers in the early 90's. I was not a fighter, but I had a few friends carried out of Huskies with ease after they started to act up.

Upper Deck was for idiots. I don't think I went there more than 10 times the entire time I was at UConn. It was a lumberyard with 5 guys for every guy, and all that testosterone with no outlet resulted in what seemed like 2 major scuffles a night. The only reason to go there was if one of your crew had a weak ID and couldn't get into Huskies or Ted's.

Carriage House has not changed. You don't go to a party there unless you have at least 10 guys in your crew. Too dangerous otherwise.

 

[Chuck]

Thumpers was one of the creepiest places I have been. If I remember correctly, they let in 18 and over and then had a separate 21+ area, but once you were in, you could kind of mill about, especially if you were female. This dynamic, together with the fact that it was not right on campus, made it a magnet for creepy 30+ and even some 40+ guys from the area trying to score with college girls. I went there once with a bunch of freshmen/sophomore girls, and we had to get out of there in about an hour.

I didn't know that about the Ted's bartender from the early 90's. That would explain why the bouncers at the door were so unimpressive. Everyone knew the score about who was behind the bar. I was friends with one of the door bouncers, and he had no intention of taking a punch from anyone.

Huskies had some big bouncers in the early 90's. I was not a fighter, but I had a few friends carried out of Huskies with ease after they started to act up.

Upper Deck was for idiots. I don't think I went there more than 10 times the entire time I was at UConn. It was a lumberyard with 5 guys for every guy, and all that testosterone with no outlet resulted in what seemed like 2 major scuffles a night. The only reason to go there was if one of your crew had a weak ID and couldn't get into Huskies or Ted's.

Carriage House has not changed. You don't go to a party there unless you have at least 10 guys in your crew. Too dangerous otherwise.

Nelson, if you went to UConn in the early 90's, how do you know Carriage House hasn't changed? Have you actually been? I don't know that I'd think to make off campus housing one of the areas I visited if I went back to campus, but it's not a bad call. So much good (and bad stuff) happened at after-hours parties (since "after-hours" started at like 10pm). I don't think I'd want to look at those places now though. They must look like Aleppo. I remember Celeron being where some of the wealthier kids lived. I'm assuming I'd be unimpressed these days.

Thumpers was good for what it was. The occasional run for nickel night. Get in, give the bartender a $5 bill for your 5 drinks, and then he'd hook you up for the next hour+ of nickel drinks. Then head back to Ted's or Huskies. The Upper Deck had potential because of its sheer size, but it attracted people that couldn't find a home at Ted's or Huskies. So it always had a weird mix of people that didn't seem to mesh. I always assumed it would find its groove sometime. I don't know if it has yet.

Its amazing how "small" Storrs was in the 90's. I haven't been in a while, but it certainly seems from newer stories that the campus and area have more options now. The fact that everyone here can rattle off just a couple locations where everyone went was a strength and weakness for Storrs.

I got off point, but many (not all) of the football players were d-bags. Big enough to kick arse, but not big-time enough to be at a D1 school. On the whole, the basketball players knew they were under a microscope and stayed out of public trouble. The hockey players, however, were regularly looking to fight. There was a lot of fighting in general at UConn. Never saw a fight at Ted's, plenty at Huskies, tons at frat parties, dozens in random quads and dorm rooms. I was generally the guy that quietly walked back to the bar as people were mouthing off. Sorry if I was supposed to "have anyone's back" on the is forum.

 

[J187Money]

Only trouble I ever had was with the baseball team at a Hunting Lodge party. On campus I didn't see a whole lot of nonsense from the athletes. Other than Toraino Walker getting bombed nearly every night at Ted's.

 

[NEforceUConn]

I though Shaboo was the big UConn nightclub?

 

[Ronpatz11]

Carriage House has not changed. You don't go to a party there unless you have at least 10 guys in your crew. Too dangerous otherwise.

Uhhh yeah, going to wager a guess that you haven't been to Carriage in the past decade. Other than Spring Weekend, with mostly non-UConn students, I wouldn't call it a "dangerous" place. That all changes Spring Weekend, or at least used to. Lived there in the mid aughts and never felt threatened. You must have been one tough guy if you had to roll with ten dudes just to go to a party at Carriage...

 

[UConn '89 "98]

Sometime during the late 80's, can't remember which year, the football team was actually banned from Ted's for awhile. Funny, don't remember Upper Deck at all. Spent most of my time at Ted's and never had a problem. Anytime we ventured to Huskies though, it seemed like there were issues. Usually over a game of pool. Thinking back, guess we had some issues at Hooligan's, Thumpers and Twisters too; innocent snow ball fights among a few turning into thousands heading over to the Jungle and leading to broken windows and police cars. Those were good times........

 

[ATLDYKA]

I got to say I had a few run in's with the football team in the early 90's. For a mediocre 1-AA team they sure felt like they were privileged. Once with WR Alex Davis outside of Huskies and then after I graduated and went back for a visit with an OL at one of the clubs. In the case with the OL at the club I was just trying to go up to the bar an order a drink and he felt like he owned the bar and wouldn't let me slid in to order and then with Alex I remember it being a frigid night and everybody waiting a long time to get into the bar and he just walked up and cut in line, well I took exception to that.

 

[TRest]

I got to say I had a few run in's with the football team in the early 90's. For a mediocre 1-AA team they sure felt like they were privileged. Once with WR Alex Davis outside of Huskies and then after I graduated and went back for a visit with an OL at one of the clubs. In the case with the OL at the club I was just trying to go up to the bar an order a drink and he felt like he owned the bar and wouldn't let me slid in to order and then with Alex I remember it being a frigid night and everybody waiting a long time to get into the bar and he just walked up and cut in line, well I took exception to that.

The team in the early '80's were asshats at most dorm keg parties and local bars. Size, beer and testosterone.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

There were a lot of good guys on the team to be fair. Let's not characterize an entire time period by the actions of some. Craig Murray, the RB from Hamden, was a friend and a great guy. Unfortunately he passed away a few years back from an apparent heart attack. Was a state trooper at the time.

 

[RichCTBB]

Different media time but the UConn cops would respond to jaywalkers with guns drawn back then.

I once found myself surrounded by cops because my flip flop flew off my foot towards the firehouse as I walked back from the civic pub.

 

[ATLDYKA]

There were a lot of good guys on the team to be fair. Let's not characterize an entire time period by the actions of some. Craig Murray, the RB from Hamden, was a friend and a great guy. Unfortunately he passed away a few years back from an apparent heart attack. Was a state trooper at the time.

Oh I agree 100%, actually Craig lived on my floor, 2 big, 2 bad, 2 north McMahon. He was roommates with Doug Harkins a linebacker on the team who was also a great guy.

 

[huskymedic]

There were a lot of good guys on the team to be fair. Let's not characterize an entire time period by the actions of some. Craig Murray, the RB from Hamden, was a friend and a great guy. Unfortunately he passed away a few years back from an apparent heart attack. Was a state trooper at the time.

Oh I agree 100%, actually Craig lived on my floor, 2 big, 2 bad, 2 north McMahon. He was roommates with Doug Harkins a linebacker on the team who was also a great guy.

Another Hamden kid... (as was his brother Mike).

 

[uconnfan68]

I though Shaboo was the big UConn nightclub?

Way back in the day... 1973? went there with some friends. Was already in the service and none of them were Uconn, so I don't know who the clientele was, but I'll never forget it. Bouncers were huge, and chiseled. Were wearing turtlenecks and by the end of the night only the neck remained. Saw bartenders leaping over bars to join in the fracas. We were too buzzed and just tried to stay in the shadows. Was quite the zoo.