Legitimate Problem: Hockey Home Opener or First Night?

[Yankees32123]

Hockey.

First night is fine, but it doesn't mean anything.

It does mean something. It's a spectacle that a lot of recruits will be at. You think someone like Hamidou Diallo is going to be impressed with a half empty Gampel on First Night because everyone went to a hockey game? He could go down to Rupp Arena and see 20,000 inbreds gawking over Drake and pick UK because that's going to be more alluring to an impressionable 17 year old than "Well there was a hockey game tonight, sooo...". I know there's a lot of die hards on this site who want support the whole spectrum of the athletic department, but basketball is first at UConn. Always first. First Night is even more important because we're in the American. If we were in the Big East still it may not be as big of a deal but we need to take advantage of the opportunities to assert ourselves as the elite of the elite programs with all the fan support, glitz and glamour that comes with First Night. Because a half empty XL Center against Tulane in February is not going to cut it. First Night is a big deal, and means a lot, especially when we're coming off a first round NIT exit last year and have the rumblings of a big bounce back year this year. The excitement needs to start on Friday at First Night. It's more important than a hockey game.

 

[Yankees32123]

Hockey trumps the first night side show.

You're so wrong.

 

[OkaForPrez]

I'm leaning hockey but I'm glad its at least a debate, means I'm not crazy for struggling with the call.

 

[Penfield]

Here's an idea - If you are going to first night grab 1 extra friend that wasnt already planning on attending to make up for the people going to the hockey game. Problem solved.

 

[ctchamps]

Find a teleporter and just go back and forth between the two venues. Or a time machine and problem solved.

 

[Kitaman]

Is there a wrong answer?

 

[johnhuskies95]

First Night just cause I don't like hockey.

 

[mauconnfan]

No matter what it's still hockey

 

[zls44]

Because you're a hockey fan. I get it, and we should be encouraging more people to follow UConn hockey, but we are a basketball school and need to be supporting our national championship contending basketball team before our hockey team, in my opinion.

If you are trying to claim I'm not a UConn basketball fan, you're even more out of your G-D mind than the rest of that rambling already indicates.

Oh, by the way I've attended First Night.

Eight times.

 

[zls44]

Is there a wrong answer?

Yes- the spectacle event that has a sub-zero effect on recruiting, no matter how much Yankees3123 thinks it matters.

 

[Yankees32123]

If you are trying to claim I'm not a UConn basketball fan, you're even more out of your G-D mind than the rest of that rambling already indicates.

Oh, by the way I've attended First Night.

Eight times.

Never said that. Don't be so sensitive.

 

[zls44]

Never said that. Don't be so sensitive.

 

[BleedHuskyBlu]

I voted the hockey game but im going to first night. First night is a 3 min walk and I would have to take a bus there and back and im just not feeling it this time.

 

[champs99and04]

It would depend on a couple things for me. The first thing I did after reading the OP was go to the UConn website to see who they were playing. Arizona State? Like @BigErnMcCracken I had no idea that they even had a hockey team. I had always thought of college hockey as more of a regional thing, with a ton of east coast schools involved and some from the Midwest. Does ASU have a good team? If I'm skipping first night, I'd want to make sure the game is competitive...otherwise it's really just a half-step ahead of first night on the intensity scale.

Proximity would probably factor in, too. If I could easily make it to the XL center, I'd probably go with the hockey game. If I'm a student on campus, and it's a Friday night, I'm probably not planning on taking a bus to Hartford.

 

[huskymedic]

Tough Decision For UConn Fans: Hockey Opener And Basketball First Night Both On Friday (M. Anthony)
http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...rst-night-scheduling-1015-20151014-story.html

 

[The Viking]

We're talking about three separate fan bases that do converge on a venn diagram (probably mostly hockey/mens hoops)...but between the hockey, men's hoops and women's hoops fanbases, there's no excuse for there not being 15,000-17,000 combined between the two venues.

I'm doing hockey, but if there was no hockey I'd take the kids up to first night.

 

[zls44]

For those who aren't aware: this is Arizona States first year as a DI program.

 

[4in16]

For those who aren't aware: this is Arizona States first year as a DI program.

To add on to that, their program was essentially paid for by a donor's gift of 32 million dollars to the school and are the first major d1 school on the west coast.

 

[Phorcys]

My suggestion: Give the hockey ticket to your doppelganger and attend First Night.

The ASU matchup is a “should win”, and though First Night will likely be less competitive, it should be more fun…

…unless of course there is a spaghetti-and-meatballs incident on campus.

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly, this is a lay-up decision - go to the hockey game. I am old school about First Night - I have basketball season tickets but have never gone to First Night. Now that First Night is combined with the Woman's celebration there is even less reason to go from a basketball perspective.

For the casual fan this activity is fine - bring the whole family and it's free. However, from a basketball perspective it's worthless and the spectacle of it can be annoying. Again, if you enjoy this type of thing - please go and have fun. I know Calhoun tolerated First Night as opposed to liking it - some of the players and recruits do seem to enjoy it. But, it's no longer even appropriately named - since practice has been going on since early this month.

 

[Phorcys]

Quite frankly, this is a lay-up decision - go to the hockey game. I am old school about First Night - I have basketball season tickets but have never gone to First Night. Now that First Night is combined with the Woman's celebration there is even less reason to go from a basketball perspective.

For the casual fan this activity is fine - bring the whole family and it's free. However, from a basketball perspective it's worthless and the spectacle of it can be annoying. Again, if you enjoy this type of thing - please go and have fun. I know Calhoun tolerated First Night as opposed to liking it - some of the players and recruits do seem to enjoy it. But, it's no longer even appropriately named - since practice has been going on since early this month.

Seriously?

Your recommendation is to watch a “should win” hockey game against a team that practices by roller-blading over concrete in the sands of Arizona?

Shouldn’t the OP instead watch the birth of UConn basketball championships number 15 and 16?

 

[Leebo]

Maybe it's because I'm not an alumnus, but there isn't another sport at UConn that would ever eclipse basketball for me. I'm a fan of the basketball teams for reasons that have nothing to do with the fact that they belong to a university that has other teams. I get the fact that success for all teams helps the athletic department generally, and that some people are fans for reasons other than mine, but it's not crazy to not have interest in hockey (or any other sport the school participates in).

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

It does mean something. It's a spectacle that a lot of recruits will be at. You think someone like Hamidou Diallo is going to be impressed with a half empty Gampel on First Night because everyone went to a hockey game? He could go down to Rupp Arena and see 20,000 inbreds gawking over Drake and pick UK because that's going to be more alluring to an impressionable 17 year old than "Well there was a hockey game tonight, sooo...". I know there's a lot of die hards on this site who want support the whole spectrum of the athletic department, but basketball is first at UConn. Always first. First Night is even more important because we're in the American. If we were in the Big East still it may not be as big of a deal but we need to take advantage of the opportunities to assert ourselves as the elite of the elite programs with all the fan support, glitz and glamour that comes with First Night. Because a half empty XL Center against Tulane in February is not going to cut it. First Night is a big deal, and means a lot, especially when we're coming off a first round NIT exit last year and have the rumblings of a big bounce back year this year. The excitement needs to start on Friday at First Night. It's more important than a hockey game.

Are you going to first night?

 

[Husky25]

It occurs to me that the basketball-only fans are losing sight that the OP IS a hockey fan and his/she has a genuine desire to go to both.

By the way, a "should-win" regular season game beats a no-win scrimmage every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I've already made my opinion known. Just wanted to point that out.

 

[Waquoit]

Now that First Night is combined with the Woman's celebration there is even less reason to go from a basketball perspective.

Oh, snap. I think the fact that the women have a program worthy of a combined event is a feature, not a bug.

 

[Chief00]

Seriously?

Your recommendation is to watch a “should win” hockey game against a team that practices by roller-blading over concrete in the sands of Arizona?

Shouldn’t the OP instead watch the birth of UConn basketball championships number 15 and 16?

First night isn't competitive basketball. If it helps with recruiting - whatever works I am for. As I stated - it's great and fun for the casual fun - and we need lots of them. Go and have fun! But, you won't find Chief00 there!

The real "First Night" happened in Guyer Gym. But, granted it is not a lot of fun.

 

[Phorcys]

First night isn't competitive basketball. If it helps with recruiting - whatever works I am for. As I stated - it's great and fun for the casual fun - and we need lots of them. Go and have fun! But, you won't find Chief00 there!

The real "First Night" happened in Guyer Gym. But, granted it is not a lot of fun.

You didn't respond to my main point, the final line:

"Shouldn’t the OP instead watch the birth of UConn basketball championships number 15 and 16?"

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Go and have fun! But, you won't find Chief00 there! .

Perhaps another reason to pick first night.

 

[Huskybass]

I learn lots of things on the Boneyard and apply them to other situations. UConn Basketball is like Pepe's pizza. UConn Hockey is like Greek pizza. The best Greek pizza is not as good as any New Haven pizza. Therefore, UConn basketball is an easy choice.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Seriously?

Your recommendation is to watch a “should win” hockey game against a team that practices by roller-blading over concrete in the sands of Arizona?

Shouldn’t the OP instead watch the birth of UConn basketball championships number 15 and 16?

Yeah, an ASU team that the Big Ten is considering adding to its hockey league. Might we want a large crowd as we kick their asses? Just maybe?

First night is a sideshow of no importance whatsoever. The birth of the next championship occurs when we play a game that counts, not at a pep rally. I think regular season hockey likely trumps even pre-season basketball games.