Guest Post: An Ode To Connecticut Fans (A Syracuse rebuttal)

by Kevin Meacham on Feb 9, 2010 8:43 PM EST Comment 39 comments

Badly-made Photoshops: the official sponsor of Syracuse Hate Half-Week.

Here at TheUConnBlog, being fair to other teams' fans is job one. We strive to be a 100 percent accurate chronicler of all things Syracuse, and to help us out, we solicited the help of notable Syracuse bloggers. In the grand tradition of Syracuse Hate Half-Week, we now bring you an Orange rebuttal from Brian Harrison of Orange:44. Last year at this time, he wrote about being petrified of Jim Calhoun. This year, he speaks of his past experiences with UConn fans in exceptional detail. Take it away, Brian:

Here we are again. A little older and I'm sure most of us are a little wiser. My last submission to this notebook was a tawdry tale of Jim Calhoun and his poor outlook on life. It seems some of that has sadly caught up to the man. I wish him well and a speedy recovery. However, the simple fact remains that UConn fans, much like their head coach, have mostly poor relations with fellow Big East basketball fans. This is especially true for a rival. It is especially true for Syracuse.

Why this is, I don't know. I would like to think that for the most part Syracuse fans have a happy-go-lucky attitude. I'd like to think that is especially the case when travel is involved. Sports are supposed to be fun, and some good natured ribbing is a part of that fun. Connecticut fans seem to miss the "good natured" part of my last statement. At least the ones that were and are in New York City. Every time I have been there, even when nothing is going on, and I am spotted with SU gear on, some UConn fan has to say something to me. I guess I have that "talk to me about my sports team and be sure to harass me without due cause, because clearly you're more important than me and I'm not really doing much while waiting for the subway" look on my face.

Sure I was harassed mildly at Gampel last season. You expect that on campus at a hostile venue. I wouldn't have it any other way. You know damn well if you enter the Carrier Dome and walk right by the student section you'll get some boos if you are wearing the opposing teams jersey. And that's part of what makes college sports great, and in my opinion superior, to the pros. And in that hostile territory I'm not a moron so I can give it back. That's the fun of it.

Much like a rivalry game, if one team is far superior than another, there is a little bit of fun missing. [Ed.: I see what you did there.] But UConn fans don't respect the boundary of the game. The arena is one thing. On the street outside the arena is another. Pretty much any other place is a completely different story.

What I now unfold for you is a trilogy of incidents in the city that never sleeps, each progressively worse, but all distinctly UConn in the city.

Part I

The first started late on a Saturday as I tried to make my way from Manhattan to Brooklyn, literally trying to catch the last train so I didn't have to hail a cab or walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. So there I am standing in a subway platform waiting for the train, when I look down and see just two other guys. I assume, much like me, they were out enjoying the city and such. I look back and am just waiting when all of a sudden I hear "U C O O N N UCONN UCONN UCONN!"

I look back and this guy has the biggest shit eating grin I've ever seen a drunk guy in a subway platform have. Somehow from 50 yards away, and a three second glance, he saw the orange block S on my hat and decided to let me know that he was a Connecticut fan at some early morning hour. A delightful way to end an evening, especially since I was minding my own business.

And that was just a random night in town. During the Big East Tournament is even worse.

Part II

The Hotel Pennsylvania, right across the street from MSG, is usually the hotel of choice for athletic departments to house their cheerleaders, dance team members, and pep band players. This was the case when I was in school, and is still the case. And in walking the halls of that hotel during that magical week in March you encounter fans from most, if not all, of the Big East schools.

As I walked with a friend to another friend's room we end up passing two Connecticut fans, who I assume were students. We were more than content to just stroll on by, passing them in the narrow and drab hallway of the hotel when, without prompting or instigation, proclaimed "we're gonna fucking destroy you." This was not in a "la de dah, let's have fun with the rival fans" way either. This was a "I'm a future serial killer and if I had my way you would be hanging in my basement from hooks right now" kind of way. I was so shocked I just stood there with my mouth open wide and my hands up. They walked on and I was stunned. Another classy encounter with fans of Connecticut.

Part III

But then there is the most shocking fan experience I've had with Connecticut. For this story we need some context. This was the Big East Tournament in 2006. Syracuse entered as the #9 seed that year. Syracuse was set to face the #8 team Cincinnati. They played a game in which Syracuse was trailing with just over six seconds left. Gerry McNamara drove down the court, splits two defenders, and nailed a three point runner to put Syracuse up by one with less than two seconds left. They hold on to face #1 seed Connecticut.

As the #9 seed facing the #1 seed with the first round bye the game was slated for a nooner. Therefore, after an enjoyable evening out in the city the night before, we needed to arise and grab anything to soak up the alcohol to make it to wait in line to pick up our tickets. We went to a nearby McDonald's with the thought that it was quick and cheap, and should be hassle free. As I and two other compatriots in orange sat, a small, elderly woman managed to shuffle up to one of my friends without any of us noticing.

All of a sudden this tiny, innocent voice proclaims "I don't think you're team's going to win today" in the meanest tone I've ever heard uttered from an elderly lady. Upon immediate glance you knew she hadn't purchased a new piece of UConn apparel since 1991. She had a hat with the old Jonathan logo without the red tongue. You know the one. Clearly this woman could recite the entire starting starting lineup from the 1995 UConn ladies team, but wouldn't have known Marcus Williams if he broke into her place and took something electronic. We'll say a laptop for this narrative's sake.

What possessed her to get tickets to this team's Big East Tournament one can only guess, but it was probably just because she thought she should go because she has more money than she knows what to do with and the team was the #1 seed. Similar to the last fan encounter we were stunned that this woman would even care to harass us, let alone actually going through with it. It's as if this woman had a compulsion to ruin our morning, or at the very least our meal. My friend Brian, who is known to be more fired up than most about these sorts of things, came about as close to hitting a woman I've ever seen [Ed.: Guess you never hung around Devendorf. Hey, you made a Marcus Williams reference.]. We all took a breath, swallowed the urge to choke this woman, smiled awkwardly, and ate on.

Of course I'm guessing you know how that game ended. Connecticut has embraced the "get off the bus, play the game, get on the bus, go home" mentality ever since then. Syracuse won in overtime and went on to win that Tournament as the lowest seed to ever do such a thing, and the first team to win four games in four days. They were also the first team to win an overtime game and win the next day as well. Mostly thanks to an overrated guard named Gerry McNamara.

But the point of all this is simple: Connecticut fans love to ruin any Syracuse fan's happiness for no reason. They can't help themselves. They have to interject and feel that wearing something orange gives them the right to do so. It doesn't, but they think it does. And it would be another thing if I or my friends were actively trying to harass or annoy, but we weren't. We were just living our lives and someone thought it would be fun to steal some joy from us in that moment. Because that is what Connecticut fans not working for The UConn Blog do. And that is especially true in New York. Which is funny, because they haven't won in New York since 2005. But that doesn't stop them from running their mouth. They can't help it.

So the next time you Syracuse fans get harassed from a Connecticut fan just walk on because we have the better team, the better coach, and can actually win in New York City. Which is even funnier because Connecticut is closer. And to all you UConn fans out there, you stay classy. Because karma, especially in New York City, definitely comes back around.

-------------------------------------------

Thank you to Brian for your excellent tales, although I'm not sure if I'm comfortable spreading lies like "Syracuse has the better coach." Because children might be reading this, and we shouldn't lie to children.

Still, excellent work, and even though UConn will probably get thrashed tomorrow night, we look forward to returning the favor in the Carrier Dome next football season.

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Comments

Wow

Is this guy sensitive or what. Those “encounters” amounted to 17 words in total. Pretty much a waste of time. Nothing to see here.

by Champs9904 on Feb 9, 2010 9:04 PM EST reply actions

The good news is...

it is apparent he got a good Syracuse education. Very well written!

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 9:16 PM EST reply actions

PS

That is about the best compliment I could have hoped for. Thank you for brightening my day.

by Orange::44 on Feb 9, 2010 11:37 PM EST up reply actions

SUislame!!

I thought I would be just as creative as you Cuse fans and use the laptop comment seven million more times!!
On a side note I’m not happy that our UConn bloggers are just giving up on this game saying, “UConn will probably get thrashed tomorrow night.” Remeber WE DO have the better coach and we weren’t born from the produce isle.

by JJSHusky25 on Feb 9, 2010 9:46 PM EST reply actions

Better coach?

Definitely debatable. I do like Calhoun and think he is a great recruiter but I wouldn’t say he is the better coach by any stretch.

You don’t have to be creative to speak intelligently about the off court problems UCONN players have had in recent years. Your accusations about the SU squad is like the pot calling the kettle black. And it is sad that a UCONN fan would admit defeat already. It shows what they don’t know about college basketball…that anything can happen especially in the Big East. Maybe you weren’t born in the produce aisle but it is apparent that some of the people in this blog write like they are vegetables!

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 9:58 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed...

I agree that college basketball (especially the BigEast) is very unpredictable and that is the exact formula which makes it so great and the NBA totally unenjoyable. My favortism, I believe, towards Coach Calhoun is completely appropriate. I never said Boeheim isn’t a great coach becuase he is and I have respect for him. But, I am a college student & fan and having hatred and respect to me go hand in hand. I think sometimes were taking this bashing a little to seriously when all I’m trying to do is have some fun with one of our hated rivals….Hey, whats sports, college baseketball, or any competition without someone to root against, compete, and HATE. Can’t wait for this great game against two great programs. GO HUSKIES!!

by JJSHusky25 on Feb 9, 2010 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

Burn...I guess?

I did said “probably”.

Orange Bowl/dual Final Fours or bust in 2011. We're going all-in.

by Kevin Meacham on Feb 9, 2010 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

good point

I actually think it will be a close game and UCONN often has our number. You really need a big win. I don’t want it to be against SU but I do root for the Big East overall.

And as for the bashing, it is all in good fun. I just like a good debate. It is virtually impossible to say Syracuse doesn’t have the better squad this year or for most years the last quarter century. However, kudos to UCONN for having a great decade and then some w/ 2 national Titles.

GO ORANGE!!!!!!!

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

WHOA

This year? Fine, you can have that.

Most years in the last quarter century? Thats not going to fly around these parts.

by Andrew Porter on Feb 9, 2010 10:47 PM EST up reply actions

The facts speak

Take a look at the last 3 decades and tell me who has gone to more NCAA tourneys, who has more wins overall or which team has the most wins vs. one another.

Answer

SU
SU
SU

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

Who has more national championships? (not in lacrosse or rowing)

Answer

UCONN
UCONN
UCONN

by Russell Blair on Feb 9, 2010 11:25 PM EST up reply actions

You are a masters course in selective statistics unto yourself.

The 30-years probably gives ‘Cuse an advantage, because it predates the Calhoun-era. Let’s take your original 25. In that time:

National Titles: UConn 2 – Syracuse 1
Final Fours: UConn 3 – Syracuse 3
Elite 8: UConn 8 – Syracuse 3
Sweet 16: UConn 12 – Syracuse 9
BE Regular Season Champs: UConn 10 – Syracuse 5
BET Champs: UConn 6 – Syracuse 4

by Andrew Porter on Feb 9, 2010 11:29 PM EST up reply actions

And if you want to make it 3 decades

you pick up 1 Sweet 16 and 1 BET win.

by Andrew Porter on Feb 9, 2010 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

Since no one seems to acknowledge this post, I will.

SCOREBOARD
SCOREBOARD
SCOREBOARD

by Andrew Porter on Feb 9, 2010 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

AHHHHHHH

I imagine you giving an Adrien chest-thump after making this post

by llimllib on Feb 10, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

safety school.

Jim Boeheim for Coach of The Year

by ryanwk628 on Feb 9, 2010 11:01 PM EST reply actions

Not

if you want to study puppetry.

by Andrew Porter on Feb 9, 2010 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

SOunds like

UCONN has a good puppetry school!

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

Hi

Hello, first of all. I’m going to be much more polite because frankly, you guys have been. Georgetown, on the other hand, had a lot of fans that were pretty much idiots. You already knew that though.

I guess my story is pretty simple. My current roommate is from Maine. His brother, who I have never met, went to UConn. At the time, he didn’t know my hometown team. He just told me his brother went to UConn. I just simply say “UConn sucks.” He said something like “what”, to which I replied with an answer that makes me a psychic, or just someone with common sense.

“If he went to UConn it probably took him 5 years to get a 4 year degree. He’s probably unemployed anyway even if he did graduate.”

My roommate’s laugh was somewhat genuine, but also had a hint of “how could you say that” in it. He responded with perhaps the perfect answer that gives me the reason for telling the story.

“It did take him 5 years to graduate. He doesn’t have a job, he just plays poker online right now.”

Also, quick question. Muhammed El-Amin on Stony Brook. Any relation?

by actioncuse on Feb 9, 2010 11:17 PM EST reply actions

OK, that's a funny story

See, we CAN all get along in mutual hatred.

As for Mr. El-Amin, I don’t believe they are related. Khalid’s from Minneapolis, this Stony Brook fellow appears to be from Lansing, MIch.

Welcome aboard, polite sir. We trust you’ll find us more gracious hosts than any Hoya.

Orange Bowl/dual Final Fours or bust in 2011. We're going all-in.

by Kevin Meacham on Feb 9, 2010 11:25 PM EST up reply actions

I stand corrected...

UCONN and SU are virtually tied 31 to 30 over the last 3 decades.

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 11:22 PM EST reply actions

The one thing that bothers me about other big east fans...

I really can’t stand the whole “Marcus Williams and A.J. Price stole laptops” thing. Price is gone and Williams has been gone for a few years now. Please come up with something more clever to make fun of us for. The fact that we can’t shoot the 3, the fact that Stanley Robinson has 2 kids, I don’t care, just something new and refreshing.

If we agree to stop making fun of Gerry Mac can you guys agree to drop the whole laptop thing?

Also, the whole academic argument doesn’t really hold any water since the quality of education is probably equal and it costs half as much to go to UConn.

And in a moment of humility, I really wish we had a D-1 lacrosse team and I hope the Big East lacrosse league works out.

by Russell Blair on Feb 9, 2010 11:23 PM EST reply actions

Keep McNamara...

I’ll trade you Marcus Williams and AJ Price for Eric Devendorf and a player to be named later. Deal?

by Orange::44 on Feb 9, 2010 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

NO!

The laptops are a cross we have to bear.

Just like they have bear this cross: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT4xc9F20vU

Fold the football program, and deposit monies previously budgeted for said program into a savings account in Coach Calbertus Magnus's name.

by gxpanos on Feb 9, 2010 11:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

(I'll take our cross any day, btw.)

Fold the football program, and deposit monies previously budgeted for said program into a savings account in Coach Calbertus Magnus's name.

by gxpanos on Feb 9, 2010 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

+1 million

by Andrew Porter on Feb 9, 2010 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

I'm not bothered by the fact that it happened

I just wish fans (not just Syracuse) could come up with something else to chant. I mean Providence was doing it at the Dunk for christ’s sake.

by Russell Blair on Feb 9, 2010 11:39 PM EST up reply actions

That might be the worst burn out of anything posted on the site today

Syracuse fans = Providence fans?

That’s way below the belt.

Orange Bowl/dual Final Fours or bust in 2011. We're going all-in.

by Kevin Meacham on Feb 9, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

get them some orange snuggies?

by llimllib on Feb 10, 2010 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

I feel like the illegitimacy of Stan's two kids

has way more potential than opposing fans realize.

by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 10, 2010 12:52 AM EST up reply actions

Lacrosse

it should be interesting to see how it pans out. SU has been dominant but the new league may cause parity in 5 or 6 years. It is an awesome sport.

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 11:34 PM EST reply actions

UConn

Has lady lax. You’d think with a little commitment from the school they could upgrade their club team and be successful in men’s lax. As successful as a non-Syracuse team in the league could be.

by Orange::44 on Feb 9, 2010 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

I like

you. Dont ever change.

Any other interesting tidbits about made-up sports?

Fold the football program, and deposit monies previously budgeted for said program into a savings account in Coach Calbertus Magnus's name.

by gxpanos on Feb 9, 2010 11:40 PM EST up reply actions

I jokingly compare Syracuse's lax to UConn's women's BB support,

But I do enjoy the game. I spent many a morning spring semester of my senior year watching random lacrosse on ESPNU, and I yearn for those days.

I do wish UConn had a men’s lax team, and as Orange:44 mentions, we have an OK women’s lax team. Ah well.

Orange Bowl/dual Final Fours or bust in 2011. We're going all-in.

by Kevin Meacham on Feb 9, 2010 11:40 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah Lacrosse is the #3 sport for the NCAA. Not quite made up. It’s pretty popular in CT overall.

by Orange::44 on Feb 9, 2010 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

I think gxpanos' signature can explain his response.

Orange Bowl/dual Final Fours or bust in 2011. We're going all-in.

by Kevin Meacham on Feb 9, 2010 11:46 PM EST up reply actions

Meacham is correct.

The real question here is not one of revenue or fans, but of Calbertus Magnus. So ask yourself, does Coach James C. Calhoun coach lacrosse?

If not, it’s made-up and irrelevant.

QED

Fold the football program, and deposit monies previously budgeted for said program into a savings account in Coach Calbertus Magnus's name.

by gxpanos on Feb 9, 2010 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

Remember...

Notre Dame has come out of nowhere (relatively) to be a great team as well.

by UCONNislame on Feb 9, 2010 11:36 PM EST reply actions

Here's my shocking Syracuse/UConn fan moment

As a Cuse native & fan who spent some time living in CT as a teen, I have a recollection of abhorrent UConn fan behavior I’d like to share with you.

When I was in 8th grade I was wearing a Syracuse sweatshirt, with Otto screen-printed on it, during the Big East Tournament. UConn was playing (I forget who) in the early afternoon, so they carted a TV into my Spanish class. Keep in mind, this is 8th Grade Spanish we’re talking about… legit baby talk.

Anyhow, when I walked in, all my classmates booed me and then my Hot Spanish Teacher said, “Sentarse, consolador!”

Then everyone laughed at me.

I was so shocked my jaw hit the floor and I think I pooped a little in my pants.

by TheRenegadePumpkin on Feb 10, 2010 9:46 AM EST reply actions