So something tells me that UConn will beat Pitt today and that Donald Brown will out do LeSean McCoy.
Greg M has brought to my attention the fact that I also met met the Olympian Jessica McCormack. She is a UConn women's basketball center who played for New Zealand this year in Beijing. She is just starting to get back on the court from her injuries. She transferred from Washington so she can't play this year, or travel with the team. She can suit up for home games.
I find it really interesting that the Women's Ice Hockey team does several different things to get ready for games. A couple players played ping pong before the game. (As Greg M pointed out, that could be good for goalies and their reflexes) Several other players were tossing around a football. Jennie Bellonio and Jessica Lutz played soccer at one of the games I was working at. I was impressed, they both might be able to play soccer at the college level too. As a side note, I think it's interesting that they hit their sticks on the ice together when they announce starting line-ups. They look like they are in the military. If you want to see something funny then just watch Coach Linstad walk on the ice before every period.
I love comedy and good impersonations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBW7ysPcbT0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uOnUib3tFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvnp-8yGS4o&NR=1
I felt bad for Jody Sydor. No one picked her to score the first goal at the women's ice hockey game. Last year I picked Katy Ryan to score the first goal of the game vs Cal I think. I was right, she did. I didn't win anything, I didn't even get one of the 20 shirts thrown into the stands when UConn scored. Ryan Grace picked Whitney Michele that game. However, he still got a free T-Shirt. Meanwhile Erin Clark from women's soccer has her own fan club at games. To be fair she isn't the only one to have a fan club on the team, but her fans definitely have the most passion. They often come up to the marketing table for goal of the game and go "I'm writing Erin Clark!" One guy even made eye contact with me for way too long telling me about his vote. I think next year her fan club may even distribute pamphlets to people walking into Morrone to let them know who to vote for in the goal of the game contest. With all of her fan support there could even be a tent called Friends of Erin Clark at games. Clark's fan club also reminds me a little bit of West Virginia fans because they sometimes struggle to spell a 4 letter word. We occasionally get A-I-R-A-N, C-L-A-R-K. Airan Clark. I bet you had no idea how popular she is. At men's soccer if you didn't put Akeem Priestley or O'Brian White it was shocking. About as shocking as someone writing down that 1 + 1 equals 3. I do think that Dori Arad got a vote here and there and that was a good under the radar choice.
I also mentioned two of some of my favorite athletes at UConn. Katy Ryan has the greatest personality maybe ever. Always upbeat, energetic and crazy. There are 3 or 4 songs that remind me of this lacrosse player who was in my Husky Sport class. She has more energy than the entire world combined at 7 in the morning. Erin Clark also impressed me because she took the time to watch a men's soccer game with a huge UConn soccer fan who is slightly handicap. I also love O'Brian and Akeem, they are so down the earth and they always say hello to me. I will miss them next semester when they are in the MLS.
Did you know??? Katy Ryan was the leading goal scorer for UConn lacrosse last year. Erin Clark had the game winning goal or an assist on the game winning goal in UConn's first four wins of her career.
A lot of people ask me why I take the time to watch sports other than men's basketball and football at UConn. The answer is simple, I like good people. I like rooting for good people, plain and simple. I am much more impressed by a hard working and honest person than by just a freakishly good athlete. Often times those athletes don't get the recognition or support that they deserve from fellow students and the media. By attending their games and following them, I hope they realize that people really do notice and respect the work that they do. To me watching them is the least I can do. These sports also have great and memorable plays just like football and basketball. The greatest ending to a game ever was the women's soccer game vs Yale where we tied the game on a Cory Bildstein goal at 89:59 and won in overtime. Lauren Aird had a game winning OT goal in field hockey in several straight games. The Men's soccer game against Cincinnati was insane. Akeem Priestley and O'Brian White each scored in the final 6 minutes to give UConn the win. White's goal against Tulsa to tie it up at the end was also terrific.
Did you know that the limit for Men's Soccer scholarships in NCAA Division 1 is 9.9? It's 4.5 for Golf and Tennis.
http://www.petersons.com/education_planner/paying_article.asp?sponsor=2859&articleName=NCAA_Scholarship_Limits
I felt bad for Sam Kelley of women's soccer. At one of the games the NBC 30 weatherman Bob Maxon brought his girls soccer team from Simsbury to a game. (They almost get as many celebrities as the Tree Hill Ravens) He told them to look for number 17, Meghan Cunningham, because she was from Simsbury. I hope he pointed out 27 (Kelley) too because she's also from Simsbury
Yes I read and re-read Media Guides. Thats how I know facts like that. At times I even check and re-check the facts in them. I have found a mistake here and there.
Isn't it funny how big of a deal a college athlete is to a really young kid. I remember thinking that Fairfield basketball players Deng Gai and Darren Phillips were so nasty. They were going to be the next Dikembe Mutombo and Karl Malone in my mind.
Another random women's soccer - marketing connection. I watched Jessica Diakun, in a cast after tearing a leg muscle I think, out limp all of her teammates across Gampel Pavilion to try and get a free t-shirt. I don't think she got one, but I admire her hustle.
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