A discussion about transporting students to the game on another thread got me thinking- why not make the trip an `event` for the students? Could tie in with marketing, make a splash on campus, on the highway and at the stadium. Here's the idea: Have a FLEET of buses painted national flag blue, and covered with huskies, block C`s and paw prints. Have em line the whole damn street in front of Gampel. They should leave as a convoy with the team bus leading the way. Hell, give a state police motorcycle escort too. They can have a player walk to the buses, and also do some promotions to garner student interest. Maybe some give-aways to the first 100 or 200 or 500 students that board/ T-shirts, hats, noise makers or something. Leave them right in the seats for the students as they board. Maybe have a stand to give away coffee/energy drinks to get the students jacked up (especially for early or cold weather kick offs). The the whole convoy heads down I 84 like a TRAIN- with Johnathan clearly visible in the front window (observing all safety laws and regulations of course) and led by the Connecticut State Police. Hell, even a state police HELICOPTER.
When they arrive at the stadium, the UCMB should ALREADY BE THERE to greet them. When the buses arrive, they start playing. The students pore out of the buses and run to the team buses. The team then exits past the band and the students. I think the best thing about this is that it would make the students part of the spectacle even before they enter the stadium. Other fans would be gathering to hear the band, see the team AND the students arrive. Cripes if I was a student I would love it. IF the school did that I`d drive to Storrs to see if I could buy an empty seat on a bus (assuming any were available). Instead of crying about not having an on-campus stadium, turn a disadvantage into an opportunity. To up the ante, offer any student that paints their car NF blue a spot in end of the convoy, complete a place to park and police escort on the highway.
I`m sure UConn leases transportation, so this would require a smart sales/marketing person to work out the details with a bus company, but I imagine it would be doable. I can hear Brent Musberger`s voice doing the pre-game now:
`Here comes the UConn Blue Convoy, players and students arriving at the stadium from Storrs. The band is playing, the students are running to the team buses... and here come the players! Thats the tradtion here at the University of Connecticut folks. Now fasten YOUR seat belts as we get ready for the BiG conference championship game- 2nd-ranked Connecticut versus 6th-ranked Ohio State...`
DREAM BiG
