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

[SCNCHuskie]

I have the absolute worst “Tate George The Shot” story!

I was in East Rutherford, New Jersey at the Meadowlands. I walked out of the building and got in my car and was so disappointed that I attempted to throw my tickets for the next game out the car window.

I drove back from New Jersey to my house in Connecticut, where my son’s mother was sitting up, waiting for me all excited, saying something along the lines of, “what a great game, what a great game.”

It might’ve been the first and only time I ever cussed at her in my life as I said something along the lines of, “what the % are you talking about, we blew an 18 point lead and lost the game!”

She looked at me like I had two heads and explained that UConn had won the game. We stayed up and flipped channels until we found the highlights so I could discover that UConn had actually won on the Tate George shot.

I grabbed a flashlight and headed to the car and searched for the tickets which I found in the backseat as thankfully they didn’t leave the vehicle in my futile attempt to discard them.

Until today, the only two people that knew I left the game prior to the shot was my son‘s mother and myself because I always just say I was at that game.

 

[SarasotaDog]

Thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane.
Where did you watch the shot?
I had to study for a test but took a break to watch the final minutes. Was in my living room by myself yelling and screaming when it went in.

In my bed in a hotel in Edinbrough, Scotland but no TV, no radio, nothing. Didn’t know what happened until I called the my office in CT the next morning and I had to wait 5 hours for it to open since I was in Europe. Tried to get back to the US on Friday so I could go to the game on Sat but couldn’t get a flight. Was in the air when Laettner hit that horrible shot to sink us….oh the pain when my wife told me what happened when I called her from JFK. Seems like yesterday but it was 36 yrs ago….

 

[Scrutineer]

In the arena a few rows behind the bench bit_hing about Calhoun sitting on the lead.... again....
Felt so good to win but it was crushing to lose the way did two nights later.

 

[NIT88]

I was in Sweden on a semester abroad my junior year. I knew things were changing in a big way when people recognized my UConn sweatshirt and did not ask if we were a territory in Canada. I was the only UConn student over there that semester, and a most many were from California and UCLA fans. They were blown away by our accent in the rankings.

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.

 

[c29328]

@ RPI ?

Yup. Finishing up at the Tute.

 

[B1GEast]

Watching in my living room. I couldn't take it. I put the volume down, no sound and just watched the pass from Burrell to George and the shot over Eldem Campbell in disbelief.

The dream season continued. I went out to shoot hoops with a buddy and blew my ankle out. Third degree sprain in a cast, but still a great memory.

 

[ArizonaHsky]

Thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane.
Where did you watch the shot?
I had to study for a test but took a break to watch the final minutes. Was in my living room by myself yelling and screaming when it went in.

I was watching the game with my brother, on our big screen, in the basement. I was in high school. My parents were at the game. Me and my brother were bummed that we were about to lose and then the shot. We went crazy. My friends started calling me, on our duck phone in the basement, quack, quack! I was on cloud 9.

 

[willie99]

In the house. Just like Kemba's shot vs Pitt in the BET, the ball was coming straight at me. The hoop was in between the shooter and the fanatic, and I went wild

 

[tennmike]

In a bar in Manchester, CT.

 

[dvegas]

UCLA student section, which was next to the UConn student section

 

[Kembacity]

I was 8 years old, so I was at home. I can remember thinking this was the best thing that would happen with UConn hoops.

Nowadays when I’m at a game or watching on TV and see so many fans who look the same age as me, I realize that for those of us who grew up in CT, liked basketball and came of age in the 90s… how could you not be obsessed with UConn basketball?

We watched our team be a regional little cute darling “keep striving little guys!” And now we’re at the top of the throne with #s 5-6 recently hung in the rafters.

Let’s go get #7!

 

[Hoophound]

The greatest thing about that shot was that we all realized without a doubt that it was in fact “doable”.

Thank God for Jim Calhoun. Remove my love for UConn basketball from my life and it’s staggering the size of the void I envision.

 

[cullaville]

It legitimately was a dive bar. Not sure when it opened, it was gone (and the building demo'd) a couple years after that game.

was this the place om the corner near the train station just up the street from palmers near 95?

 

[80shusky]

Woodhaven Apartments with about 20 other drunks watching the game.

 

[thekollieman]

Mom’s ovary

 

[TheShot1990]

In my buddy's living room with 2 non-UConn fans. I was telling them how great this team was and how awesome the year was going. After they blew the 18 point lead they were giving me all kinds of ribbing. I was distraught. Then...the shot! You can see by my moniker that it had an impact on my life. That moment is etched in my memory forever. I was always a fan but now, I've been a die-hard fan ever since.

 

[Deepster]

I wish I could remember but, I can't. I just can't.

 

[Deepster]

I was at Ground Round in Rocky Hill. I was beside myself and not at all optimistic. In fact, I said "We're done. If we pull this one out, I'll get up and "dump" on this table".

I still have a friend that tells me I owe Tate George a "dump" on a table (it's now Wood N' Tap).

 

[wildman13]

10 rows behind the basket where the shot went in!! What a great ending to a game that looked like it slipped through our fingers.

 

[Grab 1]

Spring break in Daytona Beach at the Lodi Motel. When he hit the shot the entire motel went crazy!

 

[FfldCntyFan]

was this the place om the corner near the train station just up the street from palmers near 95?

It was right on Noroton Ave, between the gas station and the bank (which has since been replaced by a Chase bank, which is in a new building, same location).

 

[GlastonTim]

Was also at the Spigot, with my younger brother. Remember Clemson taking the lead and the place groaned. Told my bro we can win this and then “the shot”. Place went crazy!!!!

 

[Chin Diesel]

In a dorm room sophomore year up in Rochester watching with several other students from CT.

 

[huskyjawz]

I have the absolute worst “Tate George The Shot” story!

I was in East Rutherford, New Jersey at the Meadowlands. I walked out of the building and got in my car and was so disappointed that I attempted to throw my tickets for the next game out the car window.

I drove back from New Jersey to my house in Connecticut, where my son’s mother was sitting up, waiting for me all excited, saying something along the lines of, “what a great game, what a great game.”

It might’ve been the first and only time I ever cussed at her in my life as I said something along the lines of, “what the % are you talking about, we blew an 18 point lead and lost the game!”

She looked at me like I had two heads and explained that UConn had won the game. We stayed up and flipped channels until we found the highlights so I could discover that UConn had actually won on the Tate George shot.

I grabbed a flashlight and headed to the car and searched for the tickets which I found in the backseat as thankfully they didn’t leave the vehicle in my futile attempt to discard them.

Until today, the only two people that knew I left the game prior to the shot was my son‘s mother and myself because I always just say I was at that game.

Ouch. Appreciate the honesty. Did it feel good to get it off your chest?

 

[businesslawyer]

I was at Ground Round in Rocky Hill. I was beside myself and not at all optimistic. In fact, I said "We're done. If we pull this one out, I'll get up and "dump" on this table".

I still have a friend that tells me I owe Tate George a "dump" on a table (it's now Wood N' Tap).

Used to go to the Ground Round all the time when at Trinity (77-81). It was the nearest place to campus where you could get Knicks and Rangers playoff games that weren't on national television.

 

[Hoophound]

Used to go to the Ground Round all the time when at Trinity (77-81). It was the nearest place to campus where you could get Knicks and Rangers playoff games that weren't on national television.

Was just talking to an old friend about how we'd play basketball in the park in the summer during high school and college then head to The Ground Round for a burger or French Dip and eventually some beers too. We loved that place. Food quality at the chains was so much better 20-30 years ago before chicken loaded up with saline solution and frozen burger patties.

 

[Larry67]

I was at the game sitting in the lower level about even with Scott Burrell when he threw the pass. My friend I was sitting with couldn't believe that I thought we could still win the game. So after the game ended he went to the souvenir stand and bought me a Regional T shirt (that I still have).

 

[JohnFSilver]

Great story. Sixth grade, this team got me into sports and why I became a sports writer (Darn you Tate!). But, my father was always a pessimistic man and he left with 20 seconds to go, probably to head out to get cigarettes. He left, and then Tate hits the shot and my house starts screaming. LOL.

 

[Deepster]

10 rows behind the basket where the shot went in!! What a great ending to a game that looked like it slipped through our fingers.

Can you see yourself on the replay?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Challenges sports pub in Hartford, next to the Russian Lady. I was in the basement, standing, watching on a big projection screen. The mood was wild, because winning, winning, winning....oh no we're going to lose then....the shot was a wild roller coaster of group emotions. Got a lot of hugs from strangers, everyone just jumping up and down and screaming in joy. It's a fantastic memory.

Side Story: we ran into the Clemson team at the Russian Lady itself the week before when they played in Hartford in the first two rounds.