I challenge you to not get weepy at this...today's speech in Storrs

[bschwartz]

 

[UCONNfan1]

Just wow...

National champions in Men's basketball, Women's basketball, and Field Hockey. And our soccer program is no slouch either - both the men and women. Warde is right - a National Championship University... Maybe we should change our name?!!

 

[luckyhusky7]

"Coach, I love you so much. I won't be the person I am today, without you" - Bria the best compliment a player could say to a coach.

 

[sarals24]

Awwww. Those two are just the best.

 

[UConnChapette]

It has finally hit me...We have seen Bria and Stef play for the last time in UConn national blue and white. All good things come to an end and these past four years went by in a blur. They will be missed. Geno knows how to coach, but he also knows how to recruit really special kids and build them into really special adults.

Now, I need to go get a tissue...

 

[Nostical]

Warde Manual just threw down the gauntlet to the Football Team. Their time is coming as well. Go Huskies!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Thanks a whole lot for posting that for us now expatriates. It was a real treat to share the thoughts and genuine emotions of two great young people. I'm glad that Bria had the courage to share that with all of us.

 

[RadyLady]

Thanks a whole lot for posting that for us now expatriates. It was a real treat to share the thoughts and genuine emotions of two great young people. I'm glad that Bria had the courage to share that with all of us.

I echo with heartfelt thanks. That was an honest, awesome thing that Bria shared. I love these two kids and I don't even know them personally, but MAN, am I gonna miss them.

You can well imagine why Geno is emotional - that Stef is just walking sunshine -

 

[Icebear]

Simply beautiful.

 

[CL82]

Not going to lie, that one got to me. Great kids, I wish them all the best.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Geno was a protector and teacher, they played basketball at an elite level. They were strong to take on the challenge

 

[Sonny44]

Warde Manual just threw down the gauntlet to the Football Team. Their time is coming as well. Go Huskies!

How's that going to happen? The best players don't want to come to the Northeast. Possibly over 10 -15 years like Geno did it, but not in the near future.

 

[msf22b]

I wept with Bria.

 

[cferraro04]

Here I am a 9th degree blackbelt, sitting at my computer in my Karate dojang listening to Steph and Bria and I am wiping tears from my eyes... So much for the macho, karate grandmaster stuff... lol

 

[sdhusky]

Warde Manual just threw down the gauntlet to the Football Team. Their time is coming as well. Go Huskies!

Coach Diaco has quite a bit of Geno/Ollie in him.

I expect we are going to see some great football over the next few years.

 

[RadyLady]

Here I am a 9th degree blackbelt, sitting at my computer in my Karate dojang listening to Steph and Bria and I am wiping tears from my eyes... So much for the macho, karate grandmaster stuff... lol

aw, man - I KNEW you have a soft heart...

 

[Geno-ista]

It has finally hit me...We have seen Bria and Stef play for the last time in UConn national blue and white. All good things come to an end and these past four years went by in a blur. They will be missed. Geno knows how to coach, but he also knows how to recruit really special kids and build them into really special adults.

Now, I need to go get a tissue...

get me one too pls!

 

[Geno-ista]

Well - I have been fortunate to have a few meetings with those two, and some great pictures, and each of the meetings they were as gracious, friendly and appreciative of the attention, and the desire for the pics----- classy and unbelievably talented and disciplined young women. The reason I, and probably everyone on this board is consumed by this program is because we would be proud to call almost every player that has come through this program our daughter. It gets redundant- but we are so fortunate to witness this stuff every year- Nat Championship or not!

 

[UConnCat]

Coach Diaco has quite a bit of Geno/Ollie in him.

I expect we are going to see some great football over the next few years.

Love this from Coach Diaco about bringing his team to the rally for the women's team:

"Coach A hit me up, 'Thanks for bringing the team [to the rally],'" Diaco said. "The reality of it is, honestly, we got more than we gave. We're listening to those two young ladies [Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley] at the end, sobbing, just pouring out their hearts about how much they love the game, how much they love their school, how much they love their teammates and their coach. It was priceless for our guys to hear, for me to hear. It was well worth the missed practice time, 10 times more important."

 

[Geno-ista]

Love this from Coach Diaco about bringing his team to the rally for the women's team:

"Coach A hit me up, 'Thanks for bringing the team [to the rally],'" Diaco said. "The reality of it is, honestly, we got more than we gave. We're listening to those two young ladies [Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley] at the end, sobbing, just pouring out their hearts about how much they love the game, how much they love their school, how much they love their teammates and their coach. It was priceless for our guys to hear, for me to hear. It was well worth the missed practice time, 10 times more important."

Wow- he sounds like another Kevin Ollie!