OT: Where were you when Tate George hit “the shot”?

[ninety-nine]

I'd graduated the previous spring, so I was at home with my family to see that ending (they're all UConn and/or CCSU people). One of my dad's UConn grad friends even showed up with a bottle of champagne a half-hour later. Then I was on campus for Saturday's regional final hanging in my old dorm with my friends who still lived there to watch Laettner's gut punch. I kind of wish I'd been on campus for Tate's shot too. He was friends with a couple of my more casual friends who were also still in the dorm, so I'd imagine they were pretty out of their minds during the mass celebration.

 

[dvegas]

Went to a dive bar in Noroton Heights (as unrealistic as a dive bar in Darien may sound) because a friend knew the owner and convinced a few of us to watch the game there.

Benny's in Norton Heights (corner of Norton Avenue & Heights Road) made Ernies across from the Darien Train Station look like Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria. There's a Chase bank branch on the site now.

 

[AreBee1969]

Six of us in room 21, Windham Pit. First to the quad with TP wheel, a coffee table and a lighter.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Benny's in Norton Heights (corner of Norton Avenue & Heights Road) made Ernies across from the Darien Train Station look like Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria. There's a Chase bank branch on the site now.

Damn that’s a throwback. A few of us would go to Benny’s occasionally after Friday night softball at Calf Pasture at the suggestion of one of our old timers (Freddy Santorella) who’s since passed.

 

[alphasigko]

In some bar in Upper East Side of Manhatten.

 

[twiceahusky]

I watched the game on the big screen inside Gampel. After the game headed back to the jungle to celebrate a fire …

 

[NCHusky91]

At a friends place off Separatist Rd. Then after, high-fiving people in their cars cruising up and down Hillside.

 

[NCHusky91]

…

I got back and got to see a replay of The Shot over in the library. There was a kiosk with a video reply in the lobby. Not much studying got done.

Lol I worked on that kiosk at Travelers that summer as an intern, couldn’t wait to program that freshly pressed videodisc (!) with The Shot on it.

 

[JB75]

I remember it vividly. I was a freshman at New Britain high - watching the game with my parents in the den -Thursday night 715 game- dick Stockton on the call. Jim nantz and Mike Francesa in the cbs studio. After Tate hit the shot, I ran out up the stairs into the front yard and started screaming. My neighbor who was a little bit conservative but a nice guy. came out side to see what was happening and he said “great game Jimmy” in a flat tone - kind of funny looking back on it - then my boy and his brother called me on our landline phone and we talked about it. Never forget the Hartford courant the next day. Headline was “it’s late, it’s great , it’s Tate !” Ahh. I grew up in the perfect time. When it all just began.

 

[Dave04]

I was in second grade and don’t remember watching the game but I grew up in Willington and sometime after the tournament he visited our class and I got his autograph. Been a fan ever since.

 

[Inyatkin]

This thread is just an excuse to ID all the old people isn't it

 

[Baltic]

East Rutherford, mid court lower level.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Dorm room on Hale 5th. A bunch of us watched our dinky TV in disbelief as we choked away a huge lead.

I think we all had some sliver of hope, but we were already trying to find ways to accept the brutal loss as the end to the Dream Season. Then the shot went in!

The whole floor erupted, everyone ran out of their rooms, going nuts.

We all pretty much knew the whole campus was going to go nuts, so we piled in cars for starters.

I had a crappy Chevette hatchback, so we drove a few laps around campus with the hatchback open and like 8 dudes piled inside, making all kinds of noise. Then we headed over to the Jungle for the bonfire and general mayhem that continued long into the night.

Will remember it fondly for the rest of my life!

 

[TerryBoyz]

Lol I worked on that kiosk at Travelers that summer as an intern, couldn’t wait to program that freshly pressed videodisc (!) with The Shot on it.

Ha! I interned at the Travelers in the mid 90s and worked on that kiosk as well in the fall semester.

 

[bristol rises]

Porky's Cafe, Shelton

 

[Shamon30]

Burger King parking lot listening to the car radio

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Standing on a couch in Knolldump (Knollwoods).

 

[Lanphoon]

I watched the game on the big screen inside Gampel. After the game headed back to the jungle to celebrate a fire …View attachment 118631

And what a fire it was. lol. I was there too.

 

[Mr. Hand]

I was still in high school. Watched it on my dad's tiny living room tv. He wasn't a basketball fan so he sat in the kitchen smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee.

When Tate's shot went in I let out a howl that sent him running in to see if I was ok, lol. I had him watch the replay as I was too verklempt to try to explain it.

 

[Husky1972]

At the game near half-court.

They had been set to inbounds the ball, but Calhoun called a time-out. When they came back on the court I noticed that they had switched to Burrell to make the pass. I remember turning to my friend and saying "Scott was drafted as a pitcher, he's got the arm to get it where it needs to go........

 

[ju6381]

At home in Trumbull in the basement of our house. My dad had given up but I made him come watch the last second and he's glad I did...

 

[twiceahusky]

This thread is just an excuse to ID all the old people isn't it

Another way to identify the old people … go to the XL Center and find the loudest and drunkest folks!

 

[Deepster]

My daughter, a current senior, thought I was pulling her leg when I told her I watched games in the field house.

 

[JungleBoy]

Top floor Belden Hall, Alumni. Don't remember why the place was almost empty, was it start of that year's spring break maybe? My roommate wasnt there, and only a handful of people were on our floor. After "The Shot" all of us engaged in an unabashed hug fest.

 

[Hoopcrazee]

At the game.. lower level..foul line directly across from "THE PASS and CATCH and THE SHOT"... It's late, it's great, it's Tate!!!

 

[Dibbie]

Watched game at Sigma Chi fraternity house then headed to jungle to feed the bonfire. Greatest time ever

 

[SL Husky]

Twelve years old watching at our house in Seymour with my dad. Spent the rest of that spring and summer trying to reenact the shot with friends in various driveways around the neighborhood.

 

[formerlurker]

Off campus house for the game, caravan to the Jungle and eventually a swim to the island in mirror lake.

4 days later, deadly sick for a week sitting on the john while puking in the tub and I swear I saw the light.

 

[Candyman]

Freshman in high school and my friend called me during the timeout (RIP Mook) and we were saying great season tough loss. I said well I’m going to watch this last second and go to bed. Jumping up and down with my parents and even my brother a Syracuse fan a few moments later. Great memory. .

 

[KembaRunner]

And people say lawyers are spoiled. Calling an establishment in Darien a dive bar is the equivalent of my wife telling her sisters she’s going camping, when what she means is we’re staying at a Hilton or Sheraton because the ABA picked that hotel for a convention.

Clearly you’ve never been to Ernie’s.

Darien Dive Bar