Couple of odds and ends

[John]

Just some odds and ends on the general game experience –

*THAT* is why you play big games at the XL. The crowd last night was A+ and on-point. It was one of the best game experiences I’ve had in quite a while, and while I enjoyed the hell out of the evening, it did make me a little melancholy for the old Big East days. Back then we’d have at least a couple games every year at the XL like that. We do not belong in this backwater low-rent conference (not saying anything new).

Susan – my God, we have a great looking President (who’s respectable on the foul line too)

Halftime – that juggling kid was something special. We’ve come a long way from the Youtube Dance Guy debacle.

Piped in music – holy sheet that was loud, especially the AC/DC Thunderstruck. Between the music, the band, and the crowd, I think we made the XL a real hellhole for SMU last night.

 

[WhartonHusky]

Interesting. I watched on TV and despite some pre-game flashes to the raucous student section, I found it hard to get a feel for how "into it" the crowd was. I've been attending UConn Big East games since Calhoun became coach -- so I know the place can rock, but I certainly didn't get that sense through the TV last night.

 

[gtcam]

Just some odds and ends on the general game experience –

*THAT* is why you play big games at the XL. The crowd last night was A+ and on-point. It was one of the best game experiences I’ve had in quite a while, and while I enjoyed the hell out of the evening, it did make me a little melancholy for the old Big East days. Back then we’d have at least a couple games every year at the XL like that. We do not belong in this backwater low-rent conference (not saying anything new).

Susan – my God, we have a great looking President (who’s respectable on the foul line too)

Halftime – that juggling kid was something special. We’ve come a long way from the Youtube Dance Guy debacle.

Piped in music – holy sheet that was loud, especially the AC/DC Thunderstruck. Between the music, the band, and the crowd, I think we made the XL a real hellhole for SMU last night.

A great looking president and on first name basis????
This one caught me off guard - almost sounds like a reply to a Watchersweb amateur posting!!!
To each their own, I guess

 

[uconnell]

Interesting. I watched on TV and despite some pre-game flashes to the raucous student section, I found it hard to get a feel for how "into it" the crowd was. I've been attending UConn Big East games since Calhoun became coach -- so I know the place can rock, but I certainly didn't get that sense through the TV last night.

It was rocking at the XL last night and the crowd was really into the game the second half. Don't know what you were watching.

 

[Waquoit]

Piped in music – holy sheet that was loud, especially the AC/DC Thunderstruck. Between the music, the band, and the crowd, I think we made the XL a real hellhole for SMU last night.

My one quibble is the poor use of "Living on a Prayer". The crowd likes to sing the chorus. Fine. But last night was the second time they used it late in the game when the opponents had the ball. Using it then takes the masses attention off the important matter at hand. Terrible timing, IMO.

 

[Waquoit]

It was rocking at the XL last night and the crowd was really into the game the second half. Don't know what you were watching.

Again with someone not there, critical of fans who were.

 

[Matt1010]

Interesting. I watched on TV and despite some pre-game flashes to the raucous student section, I found it hard to get a feel for how "into it" the crowd was. I've been attending UConn Big East games since Calhoun became coach -- so I know the place can rock, but I certainly didn't get that sense through the TV last night.

You must have been watching a different game...

 

[WhartonHusky]

I wasn't being critical of fans at all....just didn't think it translated well on TV. Maybe I'm going deaf in my old age.

 

[Tacodrone]

AC/DC needs to be retired from sporting events which don't involve fuel, bad beer & mullets.

 

[mauconnfan]

Again with someone not there, critical of fans who were.

I was also not there and agree with Wharton. The crowd was passive until the end according to the audio on the TV. I've "heard" it a ton better. But let me guess what your reply will be Waq? LOL

 

[Kitaman]

Bravo to the fans, it was good for a few points.

I really think they would have had a problem on the road when SMU kept fighting and a few heads were down including DHam. The crowd lifted them back up. Now the team knows they can beat a quality team late in the season, lets take the confidence and energy on to Ohio.

 

[Ts5034]

I wasn't being critical of fans at all....just didn't think it translated well on TV. Maybe I'm going deaf in my old age.

I was at the game last night but also set the DVR for when I got home. I agree with you that the noise of the crowd didnt translate well on TV. Thats on ESPN because for some reason the audio of the crowd was toned down and the audio for the broadcasters was turned up. Thats how It looked to me, but that crowd was really alive in the second half.

 

[Towney007]

Yeah I was there and it was pretty loud in the 1st half but borderline bedlam almost all second half. Right up there with Georgetown earlier this year - and easily the nuttiest the place has been in a long, long time.

 

[FeedTheDove]

I was at the game last night but also set the DVR for when I got home. I agree with you that the noise of the crowd didnt translate well on TV. Thats on ESPN because for some reason the audio of the crowd was toned down and the audio for the broadcasters was turned up. Thats how It looked to me, but that crowd was really alive in the second half.

That's really disappointing because I was at the game and was eager to see what the crowd sounded like once the game gets up onto uconnhuskygames. Last night was the most lively I have seen the XL in a long time. I have been very critical of fan support this season and last night the students and everyone in the XL center made me eat my words. It's frustrating to hear it didn't translate well to TV though as I feel like this has been the case for A LOT of our most exciting games over the years.

Make no mistake though, the place was nuts. For the entire game.

 

[Kembacity]

I was also not there and agree with Wharton. The crowd was passive until the end according to the audio on the TV. I've "heard" it a ton better. But let me guess what your reply will be Waq? LOL

Weird because I don't agree, my wife and I were making numerous references to "that is how a college basketball arena should sound". Maybe the crowd wasn't up and screaming at every moment, but you'll never get that. Every time in the last say 30 minutes of game time that a UConn player made a great play like an Adams awe-inspiring layup, a Brimah alley-oop, or a big block, the crowd gave a sudden and short roar that was so intense it felt like the audio levels on the mic broke. I think they showed the omar to brimah alley oop from 4 different angles and you'd hear the huge screams right as he dunked it, and then I think an audio system reduces the levels so people aren't startled by the screaming.

I think it will come across on TCF's game replay, but it was definitely loud. I was thinking back to our game at Texas where theoretically its a big game at a big school, and their fans just don't care. They were there, but they don't scream and get into it the way the UConn crowd does.

 

[Waquoit]

I was also not there and agree with Wharton. The crowd was passive until the end according to the audio on the TV. I've "heard" it a ton better. But let me guess what your reply will be Waq? LOL

I heard it can make you go blind, but deaf too?

 

[UConnNick]

Weird because I don't agree, my wife and I were making numerous references to "that is how a college basketball arena should sound". Maybe the crowd wasn't up and screaming at every moment, but you'll never get that. Every time in the last say 30 minutes of game time that a UConn player made a great play like an Adams awe-inspiring layup, a Brimah alley-oop, or a big block, the crowd gave a sudden and short roar that was so intense it felt like the audio levels on the mic broke. I think they showed the omar to brimah alley oop from 4 different angles and you'd hear the huge screams right as he dunked it, and then I think an audio system reduces the levels so people aren't startled by the screaming.

I think it will come across on TCF's game replay, but it was definitely loud. I was thinking back to our game at Texas where theoretically its a big game at a big school, and their fans just don't care. They were there, but they don't scream and get into it the way the UConn crowd does.

That's because at Texas, basketball is just a temporary diversion bridging the gap between football and baseball seasons, like Dr. Naismith originally intended. It's something to do to pass the time. They don't have any fundamental understanding of the game, so they just watch while sitting on their hands.

 

[uconnell]

I was at the game last night but also set the DVR for when I got home. I agree with you that the noise of the crowd didnt translate well on TV. Thats on ESPN because for some reason the audio of the crowd was toned down and the audio for the broadcasters was turned up. Thats how It looked to me, but that crowd was really alive in the second half.

I think the noise was tempered some because a few games before the broadcasters could not be heard at all, even when they interviewed Jim Calhoun. Hopefully they will figure out how to get Audio figured out.

 

[CTMike]

Good crowd, great towards the end. I think it was more a factor of the flow of the game - tight, trading punches... Didn't have that "Big Red" moment until well in to the second half, if I'm not mistaken. There were multiple points where the place would have ERUPTED with a big 3, only to find SMU hitting it and quieting the crowd a bit.

 

[Dove]

Again with someone not there, critical of fans who were.

Don't get testy. He wrote about "the feel", not about gray hairs sitting on their hands.

 

[Dove]

AC/DC needs to be retired from sporting events which don't involve fuel, bad beer & mullets.

Swing and a miss.

 

[warbler1055]

Good crowd, great towards the end. I think it was more a factor of the flow of the game - tight, trading punches... Didn't have that "Big Red" moment until well in to the second half, if I'm not mistaken. There were multiple points where the place would have ERUPTED with a big 3, only to find SMU hitting it and quieting the crowd a bit.

It was a boxing match with punches and counterpunches until the very end when the DM rebound and SG's dribble ended the bout!!!!

 

[Tacodrone]

Swing and a miss.

Overestimated this crew.

 

[John]

It was a boxing match with punches and counterpunches until the very end when the DM rebound and SG's dribble ended the bout!!!!

speaking of punches and boxing, I love how they made Nic Moore fight just to run from one sideline to another. They were all up in his junk - made me shed a tear o' joy. (reminded me of ye olde Big East days)

 

[huskyhaven]

I think the noise was tempered some because a few games before the broadcasters could not be heard at all, even when they interviewed Jim Calhoun. Hopefully they will figure out how to get Audio figured out.

I think you're right. A few of those games you couldn't hear the announcers.