UConn fans cheer in Sunday’s victory parade for the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams, who each won national championships earlier this week.
HARTFORD, April 13 – Geno Auriemma is no stranger to victory parades.
The University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach has been to eight parades, including the 2004 parade to celebrate with the UConn’s men’s basketball team, which also won a national championship that same season.
There are always smiles and cheering at UConn victory parades but the mood on Sunday was different.
Auriemma, whose undefeated UConn women’s team won an NCAA record ninth straight national championship on Tuesday beating Notre Dame, noticed. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “The passion. The love. The outpouring of affection. You had to be there to feel it.”
Auriemma’s team was cheered along with coach Kevin Ollie’s UConn men’s team, which captured the fourth NCAA national championship in school history on Monday with a win over Kentucky.
Thousands and thousands of fans were lined up along the entire parade route. Some spilled into the streets. There were no gaps on the sidewalks. Fans were everywhere.
“It was sustained (cheering) through the entire route,” Auriemma said. “It’s never been this vocal or this passionate.”
The two teams held a victory rally at the state capitol afterward. Thousands swarmed around the capitol trying to get a glimpse of their heroes. A large video screen was installed for those who couldn’t get close to the stage.
UConn’s Shabazz Napier thanked the fans for their support. “Without you guys, we’re nothing and we love you for that.”
Ollie praised fans for their support. “Thank you for believing in us when others didn’t,” he said. “Thank you for being part of our family. You’re not fans, you’re family.”
Auriemma praised the culture of excellence and success at UConn that is prevalent throughout the two programs. “We have a passion to win and it’s not just when we get to the Final Four,” he said. “It’s 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.” And he thanked everyone that has a hand in the two programs to help them succeed.
On the parade route, there were plenty of smiles and thank you’s from the fans to members of both teams. Getting a chance to say thank you and cheer the Huskies just for a few minutes as the buses with the players and coaching staffs crawled down the street was enough.
The weather was outstanding in the 60 degree range — a welcome afternoon of sunshine after a long, hard and cold winter in the Nutmeg State. The two UConn teams brought smiles to the faces of their fans all winter long. Now, it was a chance for the fans to give a little back.
“There is a passion for basketball in Connecticut,” Auriemma said. “And that passion comes out over and over again as thank you, thank you.”
Fans are thrilled to see the UConn mascot.
Thousands of fans crowded the streets of Hartford for Sunday’s parade.
Remember when the Huskies won the national title? They celebrated under a shower of confetti. Fans got a little taste of that as the team buses approached.
UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma, Gov. Dannel Malloy and UConn men’s coach Kevin Ollie celebrate on the podium.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login