UConn to play Army at Yankee Stadium

[kibblesnbits]

when I was younger I saw Army vs Pitt when Dan Marino was playing. Can't remember much except that Pitt won pretty handidly. what i do remember is the tour of the campus, meeting the cadets, and seeing all the history and tradition. Just went back last year almost exactly 30 years later. same exact feelings walking the campus, talking with the cadets, and learning more about the history of the school and its football traditions. Was also very cool to see the parade formations in the morning where they play the visiting schools fight song along with a bunch of others.
I don't think you have to really adore the armed forces to appreciate Westpoint. Maybe an appreciation of history, tradition and a little college football.

you can look at schools like ole miss, alabama, texas, michigan, and osu etc and say they have history and tradition. they learned their traditions by following army. and to me, playing army is more valuable to the fans and the players by playing at Westpoint.

If you've been to a game at Michie Stadium and weren't impressed I think maybe you did miss something. Then again, maybe you didn't. everyone is different.

Michie Stadium embodies what college football should be all about. Since my brother is a senior Army officer and my nephew is a recent graduate of West Point, I usually go to one game per year at Michie. Last year it was against Air Force, when an Army team that by all measures should have taken a whupping somehow managed to beat the Falcons. Seeing the cadets, who had never won a Commander in Chief Trophy game during their time at West Point, storm the field brought tears to my eyes. Right then and there I decided to attend my first Army-Navy game last December and it was a tremendous experience - albeit one that ended with a crushing fumble as Army was moving down field poised to win its first CiC Trophy in about 20 years. No one can watch those games and not be caught up in kids putting their hearts on the line just for the thrill of football and playing for their academy.

Having said that, this game undoubtedly does have greater meaning for UConn in establishing itself as possessing a key piece of the metro-NYC fan base. It is crucial that the on-field and in-stands Huskies make a good showing. Army will bring their 20K. It's up to UConn to pack the place.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

While not a P5 school, Army is a high-profile name playing at a high profile location in a market (NYC) that will likely determine UConn’s athletic fate should there be another round of realignment.

I’m going. Caught one of the soccer matches at Yankees and it was a lot of fun.

I am a Navy fan (except for when the play UConn); but I agree that catching a football game at West Point, which I did a few years back when UCOnn played there, is an experience. Tailgating along the Hudson in the fall with the foliage, the military pomp etc. was an excellent experience. Its how college football should be.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Taking a nice ride on an upstate tree lined NY parkway, through the Hudson river valley hills, and fall foliage, to a football game in the hills at MIchie, is a totally different thing than taking whatever route it is your personal choice into the Bronx and down the Major Deegan Expressway to the paved lots and concrete jungle lining the Harlem river. No doubt.

I'm looking forward, to raising up my UCONN flag and fire up the grill down there. I'm happy with this news. We've played at Michie many times before. I will be curious to see what kind of presence UCONN brings to Yankee Stadium once it rolls around on the calendar.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

All I need to know is what time to arrive at the train station in New Haven. Those complaining.....just find a high ledge and jump. Playing one of our Service Academies in the home venue of the New York Yankees will draw attention. This is a win, and I don't see a counter argument.

 

[freescooter]

If we can somehow play a basketball game in NYC that weekend (like we are doing this year), that would really make this an amazing NYC sports weekend for UConn fans.

Don't give Warde any ideas please. He'll probably try to schedule one in Yankee Stadium at the smae time as the football kickoff...

 

[whaler11]

A direct train from Hartford to Yankee Stadium. Is that a shovel ready project? Maybe they can make it one of those Japanese bullet trains.

 

[whaler11]

thanks.

This is the kind of thing, that UCONN fans need to rally around. You cannot tell me that there aren't enough UCONN fans, fans of the University of Connecticut - in the NYC area to fill Yankee Stadium to capacity. If you set up a hardcourt and played UCONN basketball in the middle of yankee stadium it would sell out in a heartbeat.

Got to find a way to connect the dots and fill that stadium with UCONN Huskies, and then publish the hell out of it. Make Penn State, Michigan, Southern California, etc....look to schedule games with us in the Big Apple - because with great demand, comes great amounts of money in driving up ticket prices.

Yes a UConn basketball game would sell out Yankee Stadium. Sure it's three times bigger than MSG and UConn didn't come close to selling out for NCSU last year even with fans of three other schools... But sure.

 

[Limbo Land]

If we get invited to a P5 conference we will be able to get out of games after 2015. Next year hardly matters who we play since we are going to have to wait a year to get out of the AAC if we get invited to B1G. Earliest we play a game outside of current parameters will be 2016. season. Good get for next year and visible to B1G. Now if we could only be a traveling fan base...

 

[thatguyed]

Are there parking options for tailgating? I've always taken the train the few times I've gone to see the Yankees lose.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I don't understand the infatuation with West Point. Unless you really adore the armed forces, I don't really see the pull. I personally prefer the tailgating atmosphere at The Rent and look forward to watching a game at Yankee Stadium after a nice short train ride from New Haven rather than driving up to West Point. Maybe I missed something.

You ever been there?

This just sounds like an ignorant statement from someone who has never been to Michie Stadium. Or, it's a comment made by a snot nosed New England liberal.

Unless you really adore the armed forces.....who makes those kinds of comments?

 

[CL82]

A little late to this party but...
Michie is a great place to see a game. It is just a terrific experience. That said, I'd rather be playing at Yankee stadium.

 

[sanchez42885]

Unlikely this would be the case for a typical weekend scenario, but I wouldn't be shocked if the MTA was smart enough to arrange for this for a UConn game.

They most certainly will. They have for the past few concerts at Yankee Stadium. It seems to be somewhat unknown too but you can drink openly on the metro north trains as well. Just used it a few weeks ago for a concert and it was a party train. I'd have to imagine a similar atmosphere for the Uconn game- the only issue then being where to tailgate until kickoff.

As far as a train from Hartford- you can take Amtrak to New Haven and hop on metro north from there- shouldn't be a big issue. Now the question being will Uconn make an effort to set up a deal with metro north/amtrak to get a game ticket/transportation ticket combo or even a couple buses.

 

[whaler11]

Michie is awesome but I can go whenever I want. No need to see UConn there again.

 

[CL82]

You think I don't know this!! It's still the house that Ruth built in theory!!! Don't rain on my parade!! LOL. The East 153rd platform is pretty much right across the street from the old stadium grounds which are now a baseball field and soccer/track field park. Need to walk through those grounds to get to the new stadium. I'm not sure what your Disney connection is to the stadium design, but I can tell you, that IMNSHO, what was lost with the character of the old stadium, is made up with the character of the new one. There was nothing like walking out of the small, dark tunnels into the old stadium, but the grand hall, makes you feel like you're in the Roman Colisseum, and the open design makes it near impossible to miss anything on the field, while you're up and about.

You also feel a lot more removed from the action than old Yankee stadium. Agree regarding the view lines, however.

 

[UConnMatt813]

Excited about this. It's a road game that's easy to travel to. Makes sense.

 

[Adios]

Chance to have another historic game for UConn football.

 

[Carl Spackler]

You ever been there?

This just sounds like an ignorant statement from someone who has never been to Michie Stadium. Or, it's a comment made by a snot nosed New England liberal.

Unless you really adore the armed forces.....who makes those kinds of comments?

I was going to make a comment here Jimmy, but I think it's better to just let it rest. This scheduling arrangement is a good thing for UCONN football, and a good thing for UCONN athletics in general, and the freedom of thought and expression, no matter how ugly or pretty it might be from varying perspectives, is what those armed forces fight for, whether or not the people that get to live with it, recognize it or not. Oh well, I guess I did comment. LOL. Can't help myself.

 

[kibblesnbits]

Here's the target we have to beat by a wide margin: 30,028

See: http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=313160349

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

You ever been there?

This just sounds like an ignorant statement from someone who has never been to Michie Stadium. Or, it's a comment made by a snot nosed New England liberal.

Unless you really adore the armed forces.....who makes those kinds of comments?

I have been there. It was fine. I guess if you really like watching cadets shoot guns and stand in straight lines it's pretty great. I'm pretty ambivalent about it. Sorry to be such a "snot nosed New England liberal." I didn't mean to feel different things than you about our armed forces.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I have been there. It was fine. I guess if you really like watching cadets shoot guns and stand in straight lines it's pretty great. I'm pretty ambivalent about it. Sorry to be such a "snot nosed New England liberal." I didn't mean to feel different things than you about our armed forces.

You are free to feel however you like about them. As I am free to comment on your said position.

It's just my opinion.....but instead of looking down your nose at them.....might want to thank them instead.

 

[UConn9604]

As far as a train from Hartford- you can take Amtrak to New Haven and hop on metro north from there- shouldn't be a big issue. Now the question being will Uconn make an effort to set up a deal with metro north/amtrak to get a game ticket/transportation ticket combo or even a couple buses.

At least for this year, the first weekend of Nov. 2013 has trains leaving Hartford at 7:08 am, 8:05 am and 8:37 am. Take those down to New Haven and get on one of the Metro Norths that pulls into the Yankee Stadium station, and you're golden.

The total trip should take about three hours from Hartford to the Bronx, which also means three more hours for people to sober up on the way home.

 

[Carl Spackler]

They most certainly will. They have for the past few concerts at Yankee Stadium. It seems to be somewhat unknown too but you can drink openly on the metro north trains as well. Just used it a few weeks ago for a concert and it was a party train. I'd have to imagine a similar atmosphere for the Uconn game- the only issue then being where to tailgate until kickoff.

As far as a train from Hartford- you can take Amtrak to New Haven and hop on metro north from there- shouldn't be a big issue. Now the question being will Uconn make an effort to set up a deal with metro north/amtrak to get a game ticket/transportation ticket combo or even a couple buses.

You know, I don't think I like this line of thinking. It started with somebody else. I'm not sure if you're referring to students here, and I'm sorry for singling out this post for my diatribe.

I don't think it's the athletic department responsibility or the University administration to get students to an away game at Yankee Stadium (home games? different story - I think they're involved)

Back in the day, it was the students, and student government that organized the bus trips to Yale Bowl. The athletic department and university had nothing to do with it, except to dot the proper i's and cross t's for insurance, etc. But that was all handled through student government.

Hey - if our entitlement culture is going to change, it's got to start with the younger generations. Students, I think should be a little more resourceful and not expect handouts. It's about 60 miles to Yale Bowl. It's a 120 miles from Storrs to Yankee Stadium. How hard can it be to get a bunch of students there? Not hard if you're proactive and get working on it, instead of sitting on hands with thumbs inserted while you wait for somebody to give you a ride.

I wouldn't take a train from anywhere other than a New Haven line Metro North station. From Storrs, I'd get a bus either all the way to the stadium, or to New Haven and train it from there, and then have the buses for the ride back, although it's probably cheaper to get buses direct to the stadium rather than switch.

 

[chalk1]

Any game other than another Buffalo game is just fine with me. Tailgating in a train back and forth isn't a bad idea either, by the time you reach New Haven you should be under control for the ride north. Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

[ASweet3781]

LOL I am reading this thread and seeing a couple people complaining this game isn't at West Point.

Good. Lord.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I think it would behoove the University administration to check into the possibility of creating a "UCONN" gameday train schedule on Metro North New Haven line and advertise it to the Fairfield county demographic if the ticket sales and interest is there in the market. (don't think it's necessary on the Hudson or Harlem lines) but to expect the University to arrange for special packages that extend beyond that is a bit much.

For those that are interested or if anyone reading in the athletic department is completely clueless - here's a website to get started:

http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/yankees/yankee_service.htm

and then there's this website on mass transit and sporting events in the city. This isn't a new concept. !!

http://web.mta.info/mta/sports/

 

[huskymedic]

I think it would behoove the University administration to check into the possibility of creating a "UCONN" gameday train schedule on Metro North New Haven line and advertise it to the Fairfield county demographic if the ticket sales and interest is there in the market. (don't think it's necessary on the Hudson or Harlem lines) but to expect the University to arrange for special packages that extend beyond that is a bit much.

For those that are interested or if anyone reading in the athletic department is completely clueless - here's a website to get started:

http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/yankees/yankee_service.htm

and then there's this website on mass transit and sporting events in the city. This isn't a new concept. !!

http://web.mta.info/mta/sports/[/quote]

All aboard the Husky Express... worked from Chicago to South Bend!!

 

[Jerry27]

How do I know? They're not on the schedule,for next year. I don't have to know everybody open dates in the fbs/p5 conferences to see we don't have a single lined up against them next year.

Btw, that maybe the first time in our fbs history that has happened, which is no small thing.

BYU is a national program whether you care to admit it or not, Boise State is a very relevant program with a lot more clout than we have in football so adding a P5 game on top of that makes the out of conference schedule very difficult, but you would still have to have a P5 team with the same open date that Army had to make it work, so yes you would need to know who had the open dates. Otherwise it's just another HFD magic wand scenario; if you want it to happen just wave it and poof it's reality!

 

[joey3$trike$]

Think the boneyard should go to Billy's Sports Bar before the game. Yankee fans tradition, we can start a UCONN boneyard one.

 

[joey3$trike$]

Beat Michigan this year, and the NYC sports world will buzz. This is an important year for Uconn sports. New jerseys, best home schedule, basketball in Brooklyn, the time to Win is now! 3 more weeks, LETS GO!!! X-mas has come early for this NYC fan. Can't wait for Nov. 8 2014, when Uconn invades the Bronx!

 

[kingdobbs]

Unlikely this would be the case for a typical weekend scenario, but I wouldn't be shocked if the MTA was smart enough to arrange for this for a UConn game.

For what it's worth, the Yankees-E 153rd Street MTA station is an active stop at all times for the MNR's Hudson Line. A transfer from New Haven to Hudson at Harlem-125th St adds about 15-25 minutes to the commute, and a couple of bucks, but should work just fine if the MTA doesn't do direct New Haven or Harlem line trains for the game.

And of course the 4 Subway goes direct from GCT (and Harlem-125th too) to Yankee Stadium.