I agree that the unexpected win over GTown by the Dream Team was easily the loudest that place can possibly get, but last night wasn't too shabby. I haven't had that much fun in person at a UConn game in a long time.
ETA: Do I feel really old or what. I just realized that most of the UConn students of today either weren't born or were in diapers when that G'Town game was played. They think Dove is Jonathan Mandeldove.
I was at the game and last night was one of the best crowds in some time. My throat hurt and voice was shot by the end of the game. In fact it wasn't until I was walking out of the XL that I realize my voice was at about 20%. That tells you something about how loud it was in there when you don't even realize your voice box is all but torn up until you get outside.
I too was at the GU game back in the day and ditto, that crowd was among the best ever. Not only was my voice shot in that game, but also my ears. I can remember walking out of the HCC and my ears were ringing for quite some time afterwards. Wasn't the SU and SJU games at HCC that year? Those crowds were great as well.
This crowd reminded me of a ND game I was at a few years ago as well as a Big Each conference clinching game against Pitt back in the 90s. I have no idea what years those were, but the crowd was similar to last night.
Over the past couple years, I have all but given up that we'd ever hear a crowd like last night in the XL. Consider that this spoiled fan base is coming off NC #3, I'm pleasantly surprised that in addition to the students the suits and just about everyone were up on their feet with about 6 minutes to go, cheering like nutcases.
The live experience the past couple seasons has made me wonder if it was really that much better watching the game live over watching it on my HD TV with the frig full of food and drink a few steps away. Last night reminded me how mind blowing it can be watching the game live with thousands of other screaming fans. Just an A+ experience. I hope the team continues to give the fans something to cheer about and the fans likewise do their part in picking up the team.
Sometimes the fans can be simply reactive to the team doing something spectacular. Last night was something special because the team did something that got the fans to realize that they could make a difference and the cheering wasn't simply reactionary but had an element of cheering this team up to and across the finish line. You could tell the crowd noise not only inspired the team, but also got into the heads of the WVU players. They went from looking confident to scared, and part of that was due to the crowd noise.
