The first-ever UConn Fairfield County Day took place June 10 at the UConn Stamford Campus. Over 180 people attended the reception and program, which included the induction of the four newest members of the UConn wing of the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame. The event raised over $10,000 for student scholarships at the Stamford campus and for the UConn Fairfield County alumni chapter scholarship program. It also benefited the Fairfield County Sports Commission.
UConn head football coach Randy Edsall was the featured speaker and more than 20 former UConn athletes and coaches attended. The newest UConn Hall of Famers recognized were Rashamel Jones (Stamford), R
ita Williams (Norwalk), Tom Penders (Stratford) and Joe Markus (Trumbull).
Five Stamford restaurants donated food for the fundraising event: Kujaku, Garden Catering, Napa,Bobby Valentines' Sports Gallery Cafe and Buffalo Wild Wings. Hula Hank's and Coke provided the refreshments. People's United Bank and AT&T sponsored the event.
Sponsored by:
Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame
Names Next Class of Inductees for UCONN Wing
Nick Giaquinto, Paul & Tim Hunter To Be Feted at Reception on June 21
Release Date: June 3, 2008
The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame today announced its next class of honorees to be recognized in the Hall of Fame's University of Connecticut wing, which pays tribute to athletes from the county that went on to stellar careers at the state university. The UConn wing is sponsored by People's United Bank, and is housed at the UConn Stamford Campus.
Former UConn athletes to be feted at a Saturday, June 21 reception at 6 pm at the Hall of Fame are football's Nick Giaquinto (Stratford) and men's soccer stars Paul & Tim Hunter, brothers from Westport. The induction ceremony/reception is open to the public.
Giaquinto was a running back for the Huskies for two seasons (1975-76), and still holds the school record for rushing yards in a game with 277 versus Holy Cross in his final game in a UConn uniform. He also is tied for the school mark for longest kickoff return (100 yards) for a touchdown. The Stratford High graduate spent four years in the NFL (1980-83), and is the only UConn player to own a Super Bowl ring as he was a member of the winning Washington Redskins' team in Super Bowl XVII over Miami, where he started his pro football career with the Dolphins. Giaquinto just completed his 19th season as head baseball coach at Sacred Heart University.
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from left UConn Hall of Famers Paul Hunter, Nick Giaquinto, 2007 inductee Brian Usher and Tim Hunter |
Paul Hunter was a hard-nosed defender for three seasons on the UConn men's soccer teams of the mid-70's that built the foundation for one of the Huskies' most successful athletic programs. Hunter, a Staples High graduate, was a two-time All-American (1975 & 76) and was also twice named the recipient of the Squires Award, which goes to the Husky voted the consummate team player. Hunter captained the 1976 squad, and then played professionally in the North American Soccer League from 1977 to 1981, including a stint with the legendary New York Cosmos as a rookie in '77.
Tim Hunter left large footsteps for his brother to follow as he started the Hunter family legacy at UConn by earning All-American honors twice (1972 & 74) and being the captain of the 1974 side. A three-year letterman, Tim was a speedy, left-footed goal scorer, who is still in the top 20 all-time school scoring list with 22 goals and 20 assists for 64 points. The elder Hunter, whose four assists in one game is still tied for a school record, also played professionally for three seasons.
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Former UConn football players reunite at the Hall of Fame ceremony. |
Both Hunters were elected to the Connecticut State Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame plans to recognize UConn athletes again later in 2008. The Hall of Fame is open six days a week from 9 am-5 pm Monday thru Friday and 9 am-12 noon on Saturday.
The Fairfield County Sports Commission is a 501c (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to educate county residents to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, and to promote sports as a vehicle for personal development. For more information visit www.fairfieldcountysports.com or email to: tomc@fairfieldcountysports.com.
Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame
Selects First Honorees For UCONN Wing
Chris Smith, Moira & Tara Buckley, Brian Usher To Be Feted at Reception on May 12
Release Date: May 1, 2007
The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame today announced the initial four honorees to be recognized in the Hall of Fame's University of Connecticut wing, which pays tribute to athletes from the county that went on to stellar careers at the state university. The FC Sports Hall of Fame is housed at the UConn Stamford Campus.
Former UConn athletes to be feted at a Saturday, May 12 reception from 5-7 pm at the Hall of Fame are men's basketball's Chris Smith (Bridgeport), women's soccer standouts Moira & Tara Buckley (Trumbull) and football's Brian Usher (Stamford). The reception, which is open to the public, is sponsored by People's Bank, one of UConn's primary supporters of athletics.
"Taking the next step in expanding our Hall of Fame to include UConn athletes was a natural progression with the Hall being housed at UConn Stamford," said Tom Chiappetta, executive director of the Fairfield County Sports Commission, Inc. which oversees the FC Sports Hall of Fame. "We have identified hundreds of athletes from the county that went on to outstanding achievement at UConn, and we will now recognize them here on their home turf."
Smith is still the all-time leading scorer in UConn men's basketball history with 2,145 points. The former Kolbe-Cathedral High graduate was the first key in-state recruit for Coach Jim Calhoun, and was one of the catalysts of UConn's subsequent incredible success run, starting with the Huskies' first Big East Tournament championship in 1990. As a sophomore that year, Smith was named MVP of the Big East tourney.
The Buckley twin sisters set the foundation for one of UConn's most successful sports programs-women's soccer. The Trumbull High grads played four seasons (1980-83) when the program had just been formed and their accomplishments are still the standards for players today. As a sweeper-back, Tara is the only four-time All-American in UConn women's soccer history and Moira is still the all-time leading points and goal scorer with 166 points on 63 goals and 40 assists.
Usher's UConn ties are long and unique in that he was not only a star athlete, but a successful assistant coach and is now a UConn administrator. Usher, a Stamford High alum and former head football coach at Rippowam High in Stamford, was a three-year letter winner in football at Storrs from 1971-73, and was a starting linebacker on the Husky squad that won the '73 Yankee Conference championship with an 8-2-1 record. He also spent eight years as the school's defensive coordinator ('82-'89). He presently is associate director of admissions at UConn.
The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame plans to recognize UConn athletes twice a year, with the next ceremony to take place at a date to be determined in the fall.
The Hall of Fame is open six days a week from 9 am-5 pm Monday thru Friday and 9 am-12 noon on Saturday.
The Fairfield County Sports Commission is a 501c (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to educate county residents to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, and to promote sports as a vehicle for personal development. For more information visit www.fairfieldcountysports.com or email to: tomc@fairfieldcountysports.com.