What is the loudest you've ever heard Gampel Pavilion?
That clip is from the first game ever played at Gampel Pavilion. The arena was a little different then -- it only seated about 8,000 people until 1996 -- but it was still loud as hell and an imposing place to play. Gampel has been kind to the Huskies over the years, this is its 23rd season and going into Saturday's Gameday matchup the Huskies have posted a 129-18 record within its walls.
I imagine it'll be loud this Saturday as well. It's opening its doors twice, at 8 a.m. for ESPN's Gameday pregame show and again at 6 in the evening for the main event, and I can only imagine that the students will spend the time between both events getting prepared to raise all sorts of hell.
But before we look forward, I'm interested in looking back and sharing some Gampel memories. Specifically, I'm interested in your memories of Gampel at its loudest.
I know what my loudest game was: Feb. 26, 2006, No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 UConn. It was a 2 o'clock tip on CBS but it was so cold outside that the school opened up Gampel at mid-morning to let in the throngs of waiting students. It was a rowdy wait for the game to start as security spent a lot of time removing inappropriate signs from the crowd (the acrostic "Calhoun Banged Sumpters Mom" and a desecration of the Villanova logo in Gampel stick out most clearly in my mind) but I remember the noise most of all. I was convinced there was no way in hell UConn could lose in that environment, and they didn't. And when the Huskies went on an 18-3 run in the second half I was pretty sure the roof was going to collapse.
Another game I expect to see mentioned in the comments is the last time ESPN brought Gameday to a men's game at Gampel. It was the first ever Gameday and UConn was hosting Pittsburgh. The only problem? A massive snowstorm that kept most ticket holders from Gampel. UConn's solution was ingenious -- season ticket holders who couldn't make it called in, and their seats, 3,000 in total -- went to students. I wasn't at UConn at the time, but I've heard the environment was incredible.
Now I want to hear from you, leave your loudest Gampel stories in the comments.
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Loudest, most batshit crazy experience I've ever been a part of in person:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LekI2Dn7Nso
"I don't get defeated by things." - James A. Calhoun
Have to agree with you there..
Thought the roof was going to come down after the back to back steals/dunks to take the lead.
by HuskyHardcore2012 on Feb 23, 2012 8:22 PM EST up reply actions
The timeout after Dyson's layup put us up 58-52
I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a louder, more sustained roar.
"I don't get defeated by things." - James A. Calhoun
by Kevin Meacham on Feb 23, 2012 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
That was ridiculously loud on TV
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
OT
But Andrew owes Kevin 20 bucks.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
by derbyguy on Feb 23, 2012 8:43 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
20 bucks and we still got a national title out of the deal! Truly, everything came up Milhouse.
"I don't get defeated by things." - James A. Calhoun
by Kevin Meacham on Feb 23, 2012 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
Two recs?
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
Oh
I see how it is. Using your special managing powers to delete your first post and now make me look like an idiot.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
Loudest I was ever a part of was the 1-2 matchup against Nova
I have a crappy cell phone video of it on my old computer that I will try and get and post.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
I wasn't there
But I remember listening to Rashad Anderson be interviewed after the game.
Denham Brown had a huge game after taking Anderson’s starting spot (to foster Brown’s confidence, not because Rashad was struggling). When asked about it Rashad said, “With Denham it’s all confidence, once he gets going and gets his confidence he can do anything.”
The interviewer asked, “But what about you, Rashad?”
“I just shoot.”
One of my favorite quotes of all time.
110% AGREE
Resident Photoshoper @ TheUConnBlog
"...Don't talk black to me. How do you even talk black? End words with izzle..." Modern Family
by kemba walker is my hero... on Feb 23, 2012 9:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think this was the loudest for me because we actually won
And it’s the only game I camped out for to make sure I was in the lower bowl area behind the net.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
Found it!
But I also realized that my memory was incorrect. This was only a #2 vs. #3 matchup, so its the same game Peeple’s Camp is referencing below.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
'04 and '11 ain't shit compared to '99.
Assuming viewing parties count instead of actual in-person games. ‘99 is the only one where I genuinely feared for my life (and didn’t care). Though I do still have a pair of jeans I’ve hung onto from ’04 with burn marks all over the cuffs…
First in line if Pat Calhoun wants a sister wife
by Lady Nutmeg on Feb 23, 2012 8:51 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
The Pitt snowstorm game
was the loudest I’ve ever heard in person at Gampel. Full of students. It was freakin’ amazing, and the first time I felt like the administration cared about students with regard to seating at basketball games.
I remember that
That was pretty loud as well. But didn’t we lose that game?
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
by derbyguy on Feb 23, 2012 9:52 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes we did.
I blame the Edsall speech at halftime. I sat right behind Dick Vitale and was basically courtside. That game was surreal. If only the end was sweeter!
Fucking Krauser
Man I hated that guy and his stupid X thing he would do with his arms after making a free throw.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
by derbyguy on Feb 23, 2012 10:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The first college game day was crazy, one of my all time favorites. For the 2004 title game they set up screens in Gampel and the place was just as nuts as I’ve ever seen it.
I second Lady Nutmeg though. Nothing beats a first title.
Marching to the beat of a different Drummond
Who Doesn't Like Icecreamcake?
by 1c3creamcake on Feb 23, 2012 9:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Yep
First college gameday was my freshman year. It was pretty loud for that. But again, fucking Krauser ruined that game also. And I just looked back on the box score. We blew a 17-pt lead. Ugghh.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
Texas in 2010
It’s a popular choice and a recent one, but the roof almost came off. I took a girl who had never been to a uconn game and she was in no way prepared for the kind of ruckus that went on in the student section. No one sat down out of principle during timeouts. Loudest I’ve ever heard that place.
by Monquencio Hardnett on Feb 23, 2012 9:26 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 UConn
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 UConn was the loudest I heard it. I was in my dorm room in McMahon North tower and my window faced the arena. It was atleast a block and ahalf away and you could hear the the cheers clearly in my room. I went to the Pitt Snowstorm game but I only remember a my roommate pushing his friend down the Northwest Stairs. Then its fuzzy
by The Peeple's Camp on Feb 23, 2012 9:44 PM EST reply actions
All excellent choices
I was at the first Gampel game, so it will always have a soft spot for me.
However, I’d like to think this Saturday will be the loudest. Come on, students. Take shit over.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
AMEN
I expect the ruckus to be brought. The 9pm start time means they ought to be approximately 2 hours more drunk than normal. I have very high hopes.
by Monquencio Hardnett on Feb 23, 2012 10:47 PM EST up reply actions
Definitely the 2-3 Nova game. Also, that game was when 40 year old virgin was out and someone had a great sign saying “Nardi loves Coldplay” that we passed all around the student section to prevent it from being confiscated
by Chewy59 on Feb 24, 2012 12:37 AM EST via Android app reply actions
Many greats that day
Calhoun
Banged
Sumpter’s Mom (as it was a CBS broadcast)
Under the scoreboard, next to the Villanova V…“AGINAS” the held up sign read
Resident Photoshoper @ TheUConnBlog
"...Don't talk black to me. How do you even talk black? End words with izzle..." Modern Family
by kemba walker is my hero... on Feb 24, 2012 8:58 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Nuck Fova
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
Daily Campus was all about “Someone loves coldplay” for weeks haha
by The Peeple's Camp on Feb 24, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
An oldie but a goodie
For you younger guys, you won’t remember this but the loudest I ever heard Gampel was Dec. 5, 1998 against Michigan State. Michael Buffer came out to announce the teams and then did the “Are Your Ready To RUMBLLLLEEEEEE”, and the place went nuts. State was one of the best teams in the country (as was Uconn) and the Huskies pounded them. The student section stood the whole game and so did most of the rest of the crowd. It was a wild game and everyone got the sense that year could end up being special. We were right.
My other favorite memory of Gampel was a couple of years later (I forget the year) when Uconn played Arizona, which was #1 at Gampel, and Calhoun made it a point to say that no one had rushed Gampel’s floor before….so everyone was geared up to do it if Uconn could pull off the upset…..which they did when a goaltending was called on a Tony Robertson shot….the place went nuts and everyone rushed the floor…..great memory.
Wasn't at the Arizona game..
…however, I WAS in a Boston bar surrounded by BC football players for the wonderful final minutes. The fact that I sang the UConn fight song at them after the final buzzer and lived made the whole thing worthwhile.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
Thats awesome
Pansy BC
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
by derbyguy on Feb 24, 2012 8:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

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