CSNbbs

Just thought I would let you know. If there is anything else you need, let me know.

RobertN Wrote:Just thought I would let you know. If there is anything else you need, let me know.

Ohio played up in UConn in 2002 in the old on campus stadium. I have to say that Storrs doesn't have much to offer as a college town.

It was my first trip there and my Grandpa's first trip after living in Conn. for 50 years. "Never a reason to go" was how my Grandpa felt about Storrs. Of course he lived clear down in the corner of the state near New York City until 4 years ago when he decided to retire up near Hartford.

Now my uncle has moved to Avon, Conn for a new job, the same town my Grandparents moved to. My cousin plays High School Football for Avon High. He said it was a big down grade from Westport (Staples High) football.

Kit-Cat Wrote:

RobertN Wrote:Just thought I would let you know. If there is anything else you need, let me know. 

Ohio played up in UConn in 2002 in the old on campus stadium. I have to say that Storrs doesn't have much to offer as a college town.

It was my first trip there and my Grandpa's first trip after living in Conn. for 50 years. "Never a reason to go" was how my Grandpa felt about Storrs. Of course he lived clear down in the corner of the state near New York City until 4 years ago when he decided to retire up near Hartford.

Now my uncle has moved to Avon, Conn for a new job, the same town my Grandparents moved to. My cousin plays High School Football for Avon High. He said it was a big down grade from Westport (Staples High) football.

THat is really wierd. I was just working on a map of the electrical system right by that school(Staples High) today. Talk about coincidence that you should mention it. I went to UConn once and there is nothing out there(nice campus though). THeir old football field was probably worse than most MAC fields. I may try to catch the Buffalo game at the new field.

One of my cousins graduated from Staples last June.

We had a family reunion last year and he told me, his stated career objective was to go to a club and get Fcked up. He crashed his dad's car into a tree Junior year. Walks around with a Reservoir Dogs T-Shirt. Not a straight A student.

When making his college choice, he chose Vanderbilt University...... The reputation of Staples High School delivered, and he got in with a 3.5 average in basic classes.


I'll see him at a Wedding next week. I hope he's going to class.

Quote:I have to say that Storrs doesn't have much to offer as a college town.

Even my in-laws, many of whom are UConn alums, will agree with this statement. There's a reason the hoops teams play most of their home games at the Hartford Civic Center, a good 50 minute drive away from campus. That's also why there was no movement to keep the football team on campus once that stadium in Hartford, originally intended for the New England Patriots, became available.

I've been to Storrs on a couple of occasions (including one of BSU's football games out there), and I've actually been quite surprised that the campus isn't that picturesque, given its setting and remote location. It's actually kinda bland. Reminded me of BG.

And I thought the charm of Bowling Green was unmatched anywhere.
Whoduhthunk?

I went to the UConn-West Virginia game this year, and I can tell you that that that the new stadium, while pleasant enough on the inside, is in the middle of nowhere. There used to be an airport where it now sits, so unless you have a special parking pass, you actually have to drive around the stadium, down an old runway and park on the edges of the runway.

The stadium food is nothing to write home about, so if you see a decent place before you get off the highway, that would be your best bet.

Sadly, I can say from experience that Hartford doesn't have much in the way of "decent" places to eat. Two hours from NYC and two hours from Boston, two of the great restaurant cities of the world, and you've got bupkes. Hell, I even think New Haven has more culinary aspects going for it than the greater Hartford metroplex.

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:I've been to Storrs on a couple of occasions (including one of BSU's football games out there), and I've actually been quite surprised that the campus isn't that picturesque, given its setting and remote location. It's actually kinda bland. Reminded me of BG.

Storrs reminded me of nothing. I had never seen a big college campus plopped down in the middle of nowhere without being in a college town. All they have is a bookstore and pizza pub a half mile from campus. Beyond that into the hills is where the professors live which supposedly create the "town" for the college but its nothing more than back country estates for the professors. There isn't any fabric that ties where the professors live with campus life. And all the students appear to be stuck living in Apartment complexes right next to campus. Not a house party town. Not a party school. Vastly overrated place.


NC State reminds me a lot of BG, regarding the architecture and campus feel. Like UConn, also plays off-campus in a stadium catering to the community more than the college.

Yeah, I was surprised to find that their stadium and arena were a good five or six miles away from campus at NC State, at the state fairgrounds. The ABC/ESPN crews always managed to paint it like they were right in the heart of campus.

South Carolina is the same way... their stadium is in the middle of an industrial park about three miles south of campus. And Wake Forest's stadium is a good mile or so from campus, although their arena is right across the street, and several student-oriented bars and apartment complexes are just down the block.

I'm always taken aback by this for some reason...

Well that's just the same as them showing Niagara Falls everytime there is a sporting event in Buffalo...you'd think the falls were right across from HSBC Arena the way they always show it...

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:I've been to Storrs on a couple of occasions (including one of BSU's football games out there), and I've actually been quite surprised that the campus isn't that picturesque, given its setting and remote location. It's actually kinda bland. Reminded me of BG.

Take it you have never been to a Ball State home game?

Kit-Cat Wrote:Beyond that into the hills is where the professors live which supposedly create the "town" for the college but its nothing more than back country estates for the professors. There isn't any fabric that ties where the professors live with campus life. And all the students appear to be stuck living in Apartment complexes right next to campus. Not a house party town. Not a party school. Vastly overrated place.

Well, as a UConn grad, I must congratulate KitCat on making it clear that he knows nothing of what UConn really is. Some brief thoughts:

1. UConn is very much a party school. Very much a house party school. There aren't many bars or greek houses in Storrs because there's not much need for them. The social party atmosphere is healthy enough that greek life & crappy bars aren't really needed. Campus isn't dry. Campus isn't dry. Campus isn't dry.

2. UConn isn't as big as you might think it is. This isn't Columbus A&M w/ 50k students. Much smaller state in New England w/ lots of private schools = much smaller school.

3. Above someone said that "A majority of basketball games are played in Hartford" .. it's actually near half of them. This has nothing to do with Storrs being inadequate. It has to do with State politics. CT state government knows that UConn hoops is the best / only game in town. During the 90's recession, were it not for UConn men's & women's hoops, nobody would go to downtown Hartford. Therefore, when Gampel was built (late 80's / early 90's) the size of the building was kept low (8241 at the time) so that the Mall would still be needed for a portion of the big East schedule.

4. I think when I was there, well over half of the students lived on campus for at least 3 years, so the off campus housing needs aren't as significant as other campuses (again, see #2).

5. Cant' comment about the football team / stadium. When I was a student there, I went to one game & it was free. Football was irrelevant to the students then, and remains so to most of the alumns that I keep in touch with. It's a basketball school, then soccer .. in most of our minds.

In the end, KitCat .. if Storrs seemed quiet and lifeless to you .. it's probably because you weren't invited to any of the house / floor parties that weekend. After all, one hallmark of the UConn student is good taste