IT’S TAILGATE TIME
UConn fans revel in perfect weather, the return of football
EAST HARTFORD — The climate was ideal for celebrating, pregame at least. UConn’s first home football game in nearly two years fell on a cool, clear Saturday morning and the tailgaters were out early at Rentschler Field.
“First time,” said Doug Taylor, who came from Montville with five friends and relatives and arrived at 8:30 a.m. for UConn’s noon start vs. Holy Cross — a 38-28 loss for the Huskies. He set up in a prime spot closest to the stadium. “Made a couple of cornhole boards. Was up this morning cutting up onions and peppers for sausage grinders. Didn’t really know what to expect, so we took it slow this time.”
Taylor, who said his girlfriend’s daughter is a cheerleader, bought season tickets for the Huskies’ first foray into nonconference football. Neither his spirit nor his charcoal was doused by UConn’s 45-0 loss at Fresno State last week.
“I support ’em,” he said. “Everybody supports the basketball team 100 percent. You’ve got to support it all. We’ll be here every week, win or lose, rain or shine.”
Not certain how many friends might stop by, Taylor and his friends brought 12 pounds of sausage, 16 hamburgers, 4 pounds of hot dogs and four rings of kielbasa.
Taylor’s corner patch was typical. By 9:30 a.m., the tailgating area was packed in tight, with smoke from meat cooking on dozens of grills filling the air, footballs flying, music blaring. The school said roughly 21,000 tickets were distributed for the game.