GO BUTLER!
Posted on 04/04/2009 11:32:38 AM PDT by Perdogg
NCAA Champions To Be Honored On Wednesday At Bradley Airport, Gampel Pavilion at UConn
Women's Basketball Rally Set For Wednesday, April 8
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's basketball team travel party will leave St. Louis, Mo., via charter flight at 1:00 p.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. St. Louis time) on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. The team is expected to return to Bradley International Airport at approximately 3:15 p.m. EDT.
Upon arrival at Bradley, there will be a short public event - rain or shine. That event will include remarks from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and the team will also be in attendance.
UConn fans looking to greet the team at the airport event should take Route 75 in Windsor Locks and follow signs on Route 75 for the event. The public availability at the airport will take place in an area near the intersection of Route 75 and Firehouse Road.
The team will then return to Gampel Pavilion in Storrs for a Championship Pep Rally. The doors to Gampel Pavilion will open to the public at approximately 3:00 p.m. and the team is expected to arrive in Storrs at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The event at Gampel is free and open to the public. The program will include the introduction of the team and also include brief comments from Auriemma and other individuals.
Wish I could be at Gampel !
Whoo hoo!!!
I look forward to the celibrations up in Hartford also. Stay tune. :)
I'll look for any news about a parade in Hartford...
Their charter flight landed about 4:10pm, and their plane had a cool "water cannon" welcome as it pulled right in front of us. Cheerleaders and members of the UConn band exited the plane first, followed by Renee Montgomery toting the huge 2009 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship trophy. (Renee looks a lot smaller than 5'7" up close) The rest of the team and the coaches followed Renee. The fans cheered.
Gov. Jodi Rell greeted each team member with an individual bouquet of flowers, and the team lined up on a wooden stage behind a podium. Gov. Rell was introduced to a rousing round of applause (and some whistles and hoots) and she made a few brief statements, expressing her pride in the UConn Huskies' achievement.
Next, 'RAT Congresscritter Joe Courtney (why did he have to be there?) was introduced - to a smattering of applause - and what's the first thing he says? "Whew, the important thing about the UConn victory is that President Obama's brackets were protected... HaHaHa." (my paraphrase)
More "polite" applause for Courtney's dopey Obama comment (my arms were folded for Courtney - no applause from me... I wasn't alone).
Coach Geno Auriemma, Renee Montgomery, Tina Charles and Maya Moore all made brief remarks and were pretty generous with their time in posing for photos, and most members of the team signed autographs and shook hands with some in the crowd. Each team member seemed to be genuinely touched by the outpouring of affection from the fans.
The team then boarded buses to take them to Gampel Pavilion at UConn in Storrs for the "official" welcome home rally (we didn't attend that rally).
GO BUTLER!
Congrats to all of you winners - it has been an exciting Tournament and I’m sure the final four will be amazing too!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.