What does it mean to be a UCONN fan to you?

[UconnU]

Just kind of a general question for you guys. For me.... when my son is born later this year his first shirt he will wear will be a UConn Tee, Our family dog (named Kemba) is a Siberian, I fall asleep in UConn Tees every night... It pretty much means the world to me.

I think most of you would agree we kind of have a smaller fanbase than other major programs. Which I view as a good thing. When I run into another UConn die hard Its kind of like running into a relative. It's a relatively exclusive club and we're winners. Winners on the most important stage. 350+ some odd teams start the year maybe 40 have a legit shot at winning it all. We've won it all at an ridiculous 25% clip over the last 15 years. It's basically us and Bama in our respective sports who have dominated the modern era and we did it way more organically. We don't have the #1 recruiting class every year. We don't play a sport where only 10 teams have a legit shot. We don't get massive media attention. But we're kind of spoiled and I am so proud to say I'm a UConn fan and that I bleed blue.

 

[UConn3432]

Everything.

 

[huskyharry]

Very important part of my life for the past 46 years...from Tony Hanson to Shabazz Napier

 

[Scot-e]

WINNING! But Doomed!!!

 

[OkaForPrez]

Its Midnight in August, I've read every post on the board.

 

[huskiesnyc]

It means everything. Nothing motivates me more than UConn basketball. In my opinion we have the best program since the 80's and we do it the right way.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

We do have the most organic fan base of a team with this much success I believe. We are the most underrated program in college basketball history with our success combined with the way we did. Through developing recruits who weren't highly rated McD AAs out of high school into lottery picks and many stars on the collegiate level. As a UConn basketball fan I feel like we would know more about the game than say a UNC fan because we get to watch all the little stuff that wins us games especially on the defensive end of the court rather than watch us out-talent guys. We see our guys grow and what areas they improve on to go from baby pups their freshman years into full grown huskies as upperclassmen. It's really special to be a UConn basketball fan and it's an exclusive club. No bandwagon fans like the Duke, UNC, Kentucky, or Kansas program has. I wouldn't trade the moments we've had in our history with any other team in any sport.

 

[mauconnfan]

From the ECAC tourneys of the 70's to the NIT title of the 80's, the Dream Season and now NCAA Championships……….I live for UConn basketball I really do. Love my family but my plans are made around UConn basketball once the season starts and the Boneyard has added to the pitiful life I lead LOL…….

As said above, pretty much "Everything" is what it means!

 

[Deepster]

I've followed UConn, the Mets and the Jets for 40 years each. In 80 yrs of the Mets and Jets, I have 1986 and really nothing else. And that is now 28 yrs into the rear view mirror.

UConn has provided me with so many memorable sports moments that I'm almost numb thinking about it. They've almost validated watching sports for me and allowed me to actually enjoy it.

 

[Greathusky]

I have followed the Huskies since the late 60's. I remember shoveling the driveway so I could practice hoops imitating Wes.

It is in my blood and soul.

 

[uconnfan68]

I am so proud to say I'm a UConn fan and that I bleed blue.

Been a fan since early 60's. Only college I applied to, and didn't go for school. Might have had something to do with not getting through, but the draft lottery gave me an excuse to get out. Wish I could have gone back, but commuting for night school would have been a killer (CCSU was far enough).

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

I have followed the Huskies since the late 60's. I remember shoveling the driveway so I could practice hoops imitating Wes.

It is in my blood and soul.

I did the same but with Rip Hamilton. I always made the game winning shot.

 

[Horatio]

I've been a fan since the NIT championship. I remember watching Uconn games at my school and Syracuse , St. John's and George Town fans giving me complete hell about our guy, Dan Cyrulik. " You guys suck , how are you gonna win with guys like that". Look at us now. We get it done with less and that's why we're the best.

 

[intlzncster]

It means I get to celebrate a National Championship every 4-5 years or so.

As a bonus, I get to celebrate all the women's championships in between.

So I guess the answer is: "pretty easy".

 

[BankShot]

I'm with Deepster, being a Vikings/Twins fan, I have experienced very little joy and a lot of heartbreak over the years. It would have been different if the teams were never in it but for a while the Twins competed every year with stellar talent and for the Vikings, well 87, 98, 00, 09 Championship game losses plus numerous other playoff defeats have left my sports heart hardened.

UCONN on the other hand for me, outside of 06, NEVER CHOKES. Being a NY'er who didn't attend the school and surrounded by Oranges, my love for the Huskies had to remain strong during the darker UCONN years, but I'd never give up the Huskies. The fact that we have had dominate teams that won it all 99 and 04, plus numerous STARS and dominate regular/tournament games has been amazing. Add into the fact of truly magical years like 11' and 14', it's been a full gamut of emotions being a fan but overall a vindicating and great experience.

We've felt being the strong favorite and winning (04), strong favorite and losing (06), being an up and coming team on the rise 98 and 02, a team out of nowhere playing dominate against the best stretch of competition (14) and a truly awesome run, doing something that had never been done in the best conference in the land, 5 games 5 nights then to cap it off with 7 tournament game wins was unbelievable (11).

It's been good.

 

[jibsey]

There are special moments in life, like for example when your child is born, you get this adrenaline rush that almost has you floating in air with joy. Or something else extraordinary happens for you. UCONN basketball has provided great thrills and not just the 4 titles. All real college hoop fans love the process, the recruiting, the chase, but we are a bit different because we get to cash our chips in for the rewards and not everyone gets to do that. I know this because I just checked with my friend who's a Pitt fan!

 

[Kitaman]

I would have to say many here are not fans but fanatics.

It means google searching UConn after each game (particularly victories). It means scheduling my life around game times. It means getting frustrated at so called fans who don't know our recruits or bench players. It means skipping important meetings and commitments to watch the game. Or leaving functions early to catch tip off (not the 2nd half).

It means not getting to bed in time on 'late' game nights to get laid.

On a negative note I still can taste Laetner's shot and Donyell's missed free throws.

The best is having the best natural high after each Championship game!

I guess after re-reading my post it means that I should start a Husky Anonymous program or find one.

 

[CallMeBruce]

My parents (married 40 years this year) met at UConn, and neither my sister nor I so much as applied to any other school. UConn basketball was the first sport I followed, and Chris Smith was my first favorite athlete. In the interim, I've been mildly to profoundly obsessed with UConn sports. My girlfriend thinks I'm weird because I can't sit down and enjoy a tight UConn game; I'm always pacing or standing on furniture or just generally losing my mind.

 

[John]

It's a long time thing for me. Started as a kid due to an Uncle who brought me to field house games (I'm 47 now). It also means I can laugh at other punk ass programs.

 

[sparky]

From Toby and Wes to Bazz and Boat from Geno to Steph Maya DT and the rest I've been Bleeding Blue. I wear my UC stuff with pride, stuck here in GA

 

[intlzncster]

I'm with Deepster, being a Vikings/Twins fan, I have experienced very little joy and a lot of heartbreak over the years. It would have been different if the teams were never in it but for a while the Twins competed every year with stellar talent and for the Vikings, well 87, 98, 00, 09 Championship game losses plus numerous other playoff defeats have left my sports heart hardened.

UCONN on the other hand for me, outside of 06, NEVER CHOKES.
It's been good.

Guessing your weren't around for Donyell's free throws?

 

[intlzncster]

It's a long time thing for me. Started as a kid due to an Uncle who brought me to field house games (I'm 47 now). It also means I can laugh at other punk ass programs.

This part is particularly satisfying, especially given the North Eastern location of several of these punk ass programs. I know you are supposed to act like you've been there before at some point, but I'm not there yet. Don't plan on being there anytime soon either.

 

[David 76]

1) I no longer hate winter.
2) Unbelievable pride in my college and both of their basketball teams.
3) People know what to get me for presents.
4) No longer have to suffer my nephew's rants on UNC.

 

[Dove]

I have often said that if Sadaam Hussein came out of that rat hole in a UConn shirt I would have been sympathetic to him.

From Jim D'Orsanio to Todd Kryger to Pat Lenahan...I bleed Blue.

EDIT: National flag blue

 

[intlzncster]

I have often said that if Sadaam Hussein came out of that rat hole in a UConn shirt I would have been sympathetic to him.

From Jim D'Orsanio to Todd Kryger to Pat Lenahan...I bleed Blue.

EDIT: National flag blue

Good catch there at the end, Dove.