Superfans
There’s school pride, and then there’s UConn Pride. There’s school spirit, and then there’s UConn Spirit. Among a seemingly endless tide of blue-bleeders, there are some Husky Faithful who take their fandom to still another level.
Category: Athletics
Banner Year: 2024
After the Huskies trounced Illinois to head to the Final Four, men’s player Alex Karaban said, “We know it’s not normal to go back to back. But there’s not a single normal person in this locker room.” We pay tribute to the 2024 banner year for our elite men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Extra? Extra Awesome!
Among thousands of season-ticket holders and a fan community that spans the globe, there are some faithful fans like Big Red whose presence stands out.
Prince Marvin
Alum Marvin Prince gives color commentary on his role as a producer and Danette on top sports broadcast “The Dan Patrick Show.”
The Moments That Made Sue Bird
Husky royalty and WNBA icon Sue Bird reflects on some of the most fateful moments in her 30 years of trailblazing. Think you’ve heard them all? Think again!
Baby’s Firsts
Follow in the adorable Jonathan XV’s paw prints as the mascot-in-training experiences his UConn milestones.
Which Cover Will You Get?
Watch your mailbox. We were so excited to celebrate our 5th men’s basketball national championship win that we created 5 commemorative covers and randomly distributed them to our readers. Want them all?
Basketball Capital of the World
We might as well just change Storrs’ name to this. As Jim Nantz writes here, “People don’t say Duke and UConn in the same sentence often enough, but they need to now.”
Tom’s Trivia — Summer 2023
See if you know as much as King of UConn Trivia and University Deputy Spokesperson Tom Breen ’00 (CLAS).
I’m With the Band
Hundreds of UConn Marching Band alums converged on the fall 2022 Homecoming weekend to give David L. Mills, longtime director, a proper send-off.
#32
From the court to the front office, Swin Cash ’02 (CLAS) brings a winning mindset.
The Kitchen QB
Cauliflower curry, plant-based chili, and how Jordan Mazur ’12 (CAHNR) helps keep the San Francisco 49ers in fighting shape.
Surviving “Survivor”
Chanelle Howell ’14 (CLAS) wanted her very presence on Season 42 of the long-running reality competition show to make a difference. It did.
Play Ball!
From spitballs to spin rates, these two alums have stayed with every curve thrown at them in a combined four decades of umpiring Major League Baseball.
Polo Win
Women’s polo brought home its 8th national title, the team’s first championship since 2008.
Bend it like Rembrandt?
Maria Yatrakis ’02 (SFA) was recruited for the Greek Olympic team while she was playing soccer for UConn.
How to Run a Marathon — or 5k
After her top-10 finish in the 10K final at the 2021 Olympic trials, Emily Durgin ’17 (CLAS) decided to take it up a notch.
Heritage Cards
There are many ways to identify the pinnacle in the career of an athlete. Money, fame, medals, and trophies are some of the obvious ones. Dating back to the 19th century, being pictured on a trading card is another one of those benchmarks.
Harrison ‘Honey’ Fitch
In 1934 UConn students rallied against racism shown UConn’s first Black basketball player.
Huskies Back in the Big East 2021 Bonanza
UConn became a charter member of the Big East in 1979. The Huskies left the league in 2013. But the 2020–21 season saw UConn rock its return to roots.
Olympic Flag Bearer
On the way to winning a historic fifth Olympic gold medal, Sue Bird ’02 (CLAS) was voted by fellow Team USA athletes to be the delegation’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The Long Game
Neag School of Education professor and former Major League Baseball star Doug Glanville has no right to be this good at this many things.
Curling
Leigh Ann Curl ’85 (CLAS) has been the head orthopedic surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens since 1998. Over and over, she has brought players back from injuries that appear career-ending.
Huskies Take Tokyo
Six former Huskies helped Women’s Basketball Team USA to its seventh straight gold medal. All told, 14 former Huskies represented six nations in these 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
Nothing Stops Paratriathlete Amy Dixon
Despite a significant health setback during her training period, Amy Dixon took on the ultimate competition this summer as a member of Team USA in Tokyo.
Bueckers Buzz
What previous WBB greats have to say about Husky phenom Paige Bueckers.
Sticking with It
Keith Worts ’88 MA knows how to stick with it. The “it” being exercise.
Husky Home Base
The new Husky Athletic Village and Rizza Performance Center.
The Activist Athlete
Stewie is an SI Sportsperson of the Year!
Steve Emt
Husky, coach, paralympian — and now author.
Tom Penders ’67 (BUS)
The latest award for a Coach Penders is Hall of Fame level.
Downhill From Here?
Co-captain and veep of UConn’s ski team Sydney Murner ’21 (ENG) talks slaloming in the Before Times and raising money for Connecticut Children’s Hospital now.
Cliff Robinson
Phil Chardis shares memories of former UConn basketball star Cliff Robinson who died in August at age 53.
Candy for Breakfast
Courtney Gaine ’00 (CAHNR), ’05 Ph.D. shares sugar and b-ball wisdom.
Husky Forward
Batouly Camara ’19 (ED), ’20 MA: “My ultimate purpose is to create spaces for women to dream.”
The Making of Champions — On and Off the Court
Thirty-five years ago Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey ’99 MA created a legacy of UConn players who continue to make an unmatched impact not just on the world of basketball but on the world at large.
A Million Miles in His Shoes
Javier Macias ’05 (CLAS) heads up P.R. for Adidas USA.
Soccer in Hartford
UConn men’s and women’s soccer teams are playing at the new Dillon Stadium this season.
Sarah Thomas ’04 (CLAS)
The marathon swimmer and breast cancer survivor became the first human to swim the English Channel four times nonstop.
Casey Cochran
Winning UConn QB Casey Cochran ’15 (CLAS) ’17 MS left the game after suffering his thirteenth concussion.
Success Is in the Cards
For more than a decade, Moises Rodriguez ’95 (CLAS), assistant general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, works to find the team’s Latin American baseball stars of tomorrow.
Now Playing: Elsa Nocton
Elsa Nocton has not quite hit teenagerdom and yet she has headlined the Hard Rock Café in New York City and is a member of the UConn Women’s Volleyball Team.
The Husky Ticket Project
Despite living in New York City for the past five years, true fans Kevin Solomon ’14 (BUS), Jeremy Longobardi ’12 (BUS), and Kevin Kortsep ’12 (BUS) have made it a mission to keep supporting UConn Nation.
Pucked
Seeing women’s hockey from a new perspective
The Knockout Doctor
Ringside, cageside, in the bullpen, and on the field, Dr. Anthony Alessi is on a mission to save as many human brains as possible
Welcome Back Jamelle Elliot
The former player and coach is back at UConn Athletics
We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do!
From the archives: football programs from 1928 to 1978
What’s Next
“My expectations are higher than those of the most delusional fan,” says men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley
Thanks for Four Years of Awesome!
Goodbye Kia and Gabby
Phylicia George ’10 (CLAS)
A chat with the medal-winning dual Olympian
A Swim for the Centuries
Sarah Thomas ’04 (CLAS)
Very Superstitious
Whether it’s to gain some control or out of simple superstition, athletes will do interesting things for a little extra luck, and UConn Huskies are no exception.
The Big Four for the Big Four
The UConn women’s basketball team made more than a little history this spring with their 82–51 win over Syracuse in the NCAA National Championship game.
Steve Emt, Curling His Way to South Korea
When a stranger approached Steve Emt and said, “I could make you into a Paralympic curler in one year,” Emt says he had two questions for the guy: What’s a curler? And where do I sign up?
Courtside Manner
“The irony is I’m not a sports fan,” says Brian McKeon ’88 (CLAS) about his work as chief medical officer and team physician for the Boston Celtics.
Band Camp
What happens during those 12 days in September?
Mascots
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry hosted an exhibit of celebrated mascot costumes and lore.
1,000 For Geno and C.D.
Can you name each of these WBB players past and present who celebrated with Geno and Chris ’99 M.Ed at Mohegan Sun Dec. 19?
Show Him the Money
Three Decades ago he played for Coach Calhoun. Today Greg Economou ’88 (CLAS) is a major Hollywood player. Many of the same principles apply.
The Small Price of Survival
With just a little knowledge and some very basic equipment, most sudden deaths in young athletes can be prevented. “How you respond in the first 10 minutes of a catastrophic incident is often the difference between life and death,” says Casa.
Rowe Gets Top Hall of Fame Honor
UConn basketball legend Dee Rowe awarded the most prestigious award by the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Welcome Back, Coach
UConn’s most successful football coach is back on the UConn sideline.
From the Editor
Confession: I enjoy watching many sports and playing far fewer, but I must admit to some unattractive internal smirking whenever members of my cheering section start high-fiving and chest-bumping and yelling, “We did it!”
In the Hot Seat with ESPN’s Molly Qerim
For most citizens, political debates are all about assessing the candidates. But not if you’re Molly Qerim ’06 (CLAS).
Shay Subramanian
This finance student from Trumbull, Conn., by way of India, lives his life in leaps and bounds.
Rebecca Lobo
Kudos Former women’s basketball star and current ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo ’95 (CLAS) talks with ESPN’s Jay Bilas about being named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The first UConn player to win the honor, she joins UConn coaches Geno Auriemma and Jim Calhoun. Lobo helped bring UConn its first national championship during the undefeated […]
The Quiet Genius of Coach Penders
Baseball is in the blood of Huskie’s longtime coach — not just figuratively, but also, one may argue, literally.