How did you become a huskie fan?

[CL82]

Yes, in 1981, I recall sitting in my dorm room tuned into WHUS and listening to the UConn men's soccer game where they won the national championship that season. And a couple weeks earlier, as I have mentioned before on these threads, I remember walking past the old football stadium on the Storrs campus where UConn field hockey beat UMass for the national championship. I remember ending up watching a big chunk of that game up on the hill across the street from the stadium.

We’ve talked about this from time to time, but I was there as well. My roommate and I had just walked out of the gym and saw the crowd so we watched for a few minutes at what was the end of the game. The final buzzer went off and the the team charged out on the field, he and I looked at each other, and by silent mutual agreement, ran out on the field and started jumping up and down, pumping our arms, picking up players, and generally celebrating. After a minute, we walked back up to our dorm and only found out that it was the first woman’s NCAA championship in any sport the next day in the daily campus. Someone posted the picture online a while back. Sure enough, we were in it along with one other yarder if I recall correctly.

 

[dbmill]

We’ve talked about this from time to time, but I was there as well. My roommate and I had just walked out of the gym and saw the crowd so we watched for a few minutes at what was the end of the game. The final buzzer went off and the the team charged out on the field, he and I looked at each other, and by silent mutual agreement, ran out on the field and started jumping up and down, pumping our arms, picking up players, and generally celebrating. After a minute, we walked back up to our dorm and only found out that it was the first woman’s NCAA championship in any sport the next day in the daily campus. Someone posted the picture online a while back. Sure enough, we were in it along with one other yarder if I recall correctly.

Yup, I certainly remember you posting about this before, and we figured out I wasn't your roommate or someone you knew at the time. I do recall that picture of you being posted online at some point.

 

[AgStatesman]

I was hiking in the Yukon when I fell in a crevice in a glacier. I was rescued by a pack of wild husky’s and the rest is history.

 

[slug25]

People forget that Joe Marrone was UConn’s first superstar coach. Are running joke about what we were going do over the weekend was “watch the soccer team win, and the football team lose. I was there for the championship in 81. It was a crazy run and the stadium was packed for the games.

Joe coached at Middlebury where I played in the late 60’s Before moving to UConn in 1969. Joe Jr and Bill were ballboys at our games. My time at UConn was 72-76, when Sunday soccer got its start. Highlights include the rivalry with Brown, New England championships, and playing St. Louis in the football stadium. I don’t know how Joe ever got John Toner to approve the use of that hallowed ground.

 

[CTinLA]

I am a longtime lurker on the BY and am happy to finally come out of hiding so I can comment and ask questions. I grew up as a fan of the UCLA men’s team, but I needed a local team to root for when I moved to CT for grad school in 1997. I was aware of the 1995 team, so one of the first things I asked the department admin was how to get tickets for women’s basketball. Fortunately, one of the professors bought season tickets for the department to share so I was able to get tickets for 4-6 games a year. With every other game on CPTV, I was set! I loved watching Svet play and then Sue B., but it was DT who turned me into a lifelong fan (my favorite Geno quote is “we have Diana and you don’t”). I haven’t seen a game in-person since moving home to the west coast 20 years ago, but I watched every game that was on ESPN then every game on ESPN3 and now Fox Sports. And I am very grateful that the BY has such great commentary and provides links to replays and to so many great stories. Glad to officially be here.

 

[HCCForever]

I have been a UConn Sports fan forever. I started watching and listening to Football and Mens Basketball since the late 60s. I remember watching Bob Staak and Doug Melody and I watched games played at the Curry Hicks Cage in Amherst. Most of those games were watched on a little black and white 13 inch TV. I really became a fan when John Thomas, Jimmy Foster and Al Weston played in the 70s.

I also remember reading about the baseball team in the College World Series in the 70s. This continued when I made it to UConn as a student in 1976. Many in our dorm attended soccer games.

I didn't start following the Women's Basketball team until around 1990 when the team included Kerry Bascom, Laura Lishness, Debbie Baer, Wendy Davis and Megan Pattyson. 1995 was a very special time to watch. Even my aunt and uncle, who were not big college fans, were really into the Women's team that year and loved Jamelle.

 

[phil sampieri]

Channel surfing one Saturday in1995 and saw Jen crossover to layup while guarded by Marciiak ? Spellig

 

[Zinethar]

I was looking for a game to watch and happened to view the MLK game between UConn and Tennessee. Absolutely loved the game, how it was executed, and the real joy after. Have been a UConn fan since and a women's basketball game fan. I lost interest in the men's game around the time the rent a player (one-and-done) began and haven't looked back.

 

[divots]

I became a fan of women’s basketball back in the 70’s when coaching a high school boys basketball team. We never had to share our gym until Title IX finally caught up to the school district and a girls team was founded. One of their first coaches was none other than Tara VanDerveer whose parents were school administrators and her younger sister played on the team. One of my students and the sister of one of my players was also on the team and I would occasionally watch Tara desperately try to instill a sense of passion and discipline into her players which was beyond an arduous task for most of the girls. This said, Tara opened my eyes to a number of details from teaching basic skills to a sound pedagogy for implementing offenses and defenses. Sadly, Tara’s time with us was short. I did, however, learn that going to Nike Clinics featuring legendary coaches such as Rollie Massamino and Joe B. Hall weren’t going to help me become a better high school boys coach and that I should check out the clinics being presented by the small handful of women’s coaches as our respective player heights and skills were far more comparable. I left high school basketball after 16 seasons; the last 6 of which were in Connecticut and eventually found myself coaching high school track and field where developmental meets were held at UCONN which gave me opportunities to watch practices and even parts of some game at the old Greer Fieldhouse. I liked what I saw and followed the women as they moved into Gampel. Both the Women’s and Men’s teams were on an upward trajectory with coaches who shared the same passion and discipline that I saw in Tara but, this time, with players who bought into what their coaches were selling. The synergy was electric and contagious and I was sold. I will admit that although I cheer hard for both teams, I much prefer watching the women as I can appreciate real plays that are run below the rim and require the execution by all team members rather than a one-on-one game too often found in the men’s game. I apologize for my novella but my appreciation of the women’s game and my love of UCONN basketball had its roots planted outside of Connecticut and spans decades…Go Huskies!

 

[Waquoit]

When I was a kid in the 60's, the first Christmas present with a plug I ever received was a clock/radio. AM-only of course. And the first thing that came out of it a few days later when we got home from grandma's was UConn basketball. Been listening ever since. The men had their "Dream Season" in 1990. But they surprised the next year as well, making the Sweet 16 as a 12 seed. That follow-up season helped keep Huskiemania alive and after they lost, folks weren't ready to call it a year. But wait, the women's team made the Final Four! I, along with many others jumped on the bandwagon right there. And they proceeded to get absolutely jobbed by the refs that game but it wasn't enough to stop the juggernaut that was to come.

 

[mordecai]

In the 94-95 season when Lobo and Geno won the first championship.. been a fan of UConn women’s basketball ever since.. the women’s game for the most part still resembles basketball.. Go Huskies!

 

[visitingcock]

On the day we finally beat y'all in 2020, I became a secondary UConn fan. I no longer hoped for somebody else to beat y'all so we could slip in the backdoor like our previous championship. I began pulling for y'all to be at the top for our annual matchups so that the effect of a loss to our team would be minimal in the NET and the effect of a win would be maximized. Playing for the championship increased my feelings.

May the annual "rivalry" (If I may call it that) game be played forever between my now two favorite teams.

 

[Stinger92860]

I was born and raised in Bridgeport. I was tired of seeing great talent leave the state on the men’s side. John Garris, Wes Matthews, John Bagley, plus may others. I became a fan of the Women when Geno was hired. Having 3 daughters, 2 of which played high school basketball also helped.