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2014 FOOTBALL FAN GUIDE
HEAD COACH BOB DIACO
RISE UP. TOGETHER.
2014 UCONN FOOTBALL
WELCOME
HUSKY FOOTBALL FANS Dear Husky Football Fans: I want to welcome you to the 2014 season of UConn football here at Rentschler Field. I am extremely excited to be the head coach of this program that represents our world-class university. My family and I are very grateful for the warm welcome that all of you have shown us since we joined the Husky community. The support of our fans is critical to the success of our football team. Our student-athletes and coaches feed off the energy of the crowd and it helps them to perform at a high level. I am excited about some gameday elements we have added for 2014 — including a new route for the Husky Walk and our team entering through the student section for pregame warmups. Our student-athletes have been working very hard since the end of last season to get ready for 2014. I think you will enjoy an exciting brand of football that will be highly entertaining. We need to have you in the seats before kickoff and at the end of the game when we can all celebrate as one family. Thank you again for your support! Bob Diaco Head Football Coach
Dear UConn Fans: Thank you for your support of Husky football at Rentschler Field as we enter the 2014 campaign. I want to welcome our new head coach Bob Diaco and his family to UConn as we look forward to watching his team take the field. We hope that this Fan Guide will help you make your time at Rentschler Field more enjoyable and answer any questions you may have. Our loyal UConn fans have helped us gain a tremendous home advantage during our time at Rentschler Field and we look forward to that being the case again in 2014. The American Athletic Conference is a highly-competitive and entertaining league with teams that have had bowl game success and enjoyed national rankings. In addition, we are building a high-quality non-league home schedule with games against BYU and Boise State this season, Army (2015), Virginia (2016), Illinois (2019) and Indiana (2020). The entire UConn family thanks you for attending games at Rentschler Field and appreciates your support of UConn Athletics. GO HUSKES! Warde Manuel Director of Athletics
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2014 UCONN FOOTBALL
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GAMEDAY TICKET INFORMATION Ticket Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Location of Office: On the campus of the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. Online Ticketing Center: UConnTickets.com Mailing address: University of Connecticut Athletic Ticket Office 2111 Hillside Road, Box U-1078 Storrs, CT 06269 Office Phone Number: Toll free from anywhere in the United States 1-877-AT-UCONN (1-877-288-2666) or 860-486-2724 Fax Number: 860-486-9396 E-mail Address: athtickets@uconn.edu.
GAMEDAY RUNDOWN 4 HOURS PRIOR TO KICKOFF Parking lots open FanFest opens 2.5 HOURS PRIOR TO KICKOFF Huksy Walk occurs from the Grey Parking Lot To Gate B 2 HOURS PRIOR TO KICKOFF Suite and club levels open (Tower A) 1.5 HOURS PRIOR TO KICKOFF Rentschler Field gates open 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO KICKOFF UConn Marching Band pregame show 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO KICKOFF Player intros/UConn takes the field
2014 Schedule BYU Friday, August, 29 7 p.m. (ESPN) Rentschler Field Home Opener Stony Brook Saturday, September 6 Noon (SNY) Rentschler Field Connecticut Day Boise State Saturday, September 13 Noon (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2) Rentschler Field Fan Appreciation Day *USF Friday, September 19 8 p.m. (ESPN or ESPN2) Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla. *Temple Saturday, September 27 Rentschler Field Military Appreciation Day *Tulane Saturday, October 11 Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, La. *East Carolina Thursday, October 23 7 p.m. (ESPNU) Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, S.C. *UCF Saturday, November 1 Rentschler Field Homecoming Army Saturday, November 8 3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y. *Cincinnati Saturday, November 22 Rentschler Field Family Day *Memphis Saturday, November 29 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn. *SMU Saturday, December 6 Rentschler Field Senior Salute *American Athletic Conference Game
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STADIUM INFORMATION
RENTSCHLER FIELD A-Z A
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ALCOHOL POLICIES Beer is limited to one per purchase, 21 years or older with valid ID. Beer sales will be discontinued at the middle of the third quarter or earlier at management’s discretion.
ELEVATORS Located at Gates A and B. Suite Patrons and Club Section Ticket Holders must use the elevator at Gate A. For guests with disabilities, utilize Gate B for field-level accessible seating.
ATM MACHINES ATMs are located at Gates B, C and D.
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FAN SERVICES Disabled services, guest relations, and lost and found are located near Gate B inside the stadium.
CAMERA POLICY No video cameras and/or recording devices. Camera admission policy varies per event, please visit RentschlerField.com website for more information.
FIRST AID The First Aid Room is located by Gate B behind Sections 103 and 104 on the concourse.
CLUB AND SUITE TICKET HOLDER ENTRANCE Located to the right of Gate A facing the field. Suite and Club holders may enter the stadium two hours prior to kickoff.
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CONCESSIONS Full-service concession stands are located around the stadium concourse. Concession services are managed by OVATIONS.
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CONFIDENTIAL FAN HOTLINE AND TEXTING SYSTEM The University of Connecticut and Global Spectrum LP, have a confidential fan hotline and texting system at Rentschler Field to ensure that all patrons have an enjoyable experience at the stadium. The hotline and texting system is for fans to call to report any behavior that impairs or otherwise interrupts their enjoyment both in the parking areas and during the game. Ticket holders should call 860-610-4884 or text to 860-861-8100 during UConn football games to reach a Fan Service Representative. Concerns will be addressed as they are reported. Fans are encouraged to save these numbers in their mobile phones to make reaching Fan Services easier on game days.
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GPS For GPS and other navigational systems, please enter 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT, to locate Rentschler Field.
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS General Information: (860) 610-4700 Guest Relations: (860) 610-4730 Emergency: (860) 610-4888 (incoming calls on event days only) Emergencies can also be reported at 911 to a dispatcher inside the stadium.
P PARKING LOTS AND STADIUM GATES Public parking lots at Rentschler Field open four hours prior to kickoff, and the stadium gates open 90 minutes before the game. Suite and Club Ticket holders can enter the stadium two hours before kickoff. PROHIBITED ITEMS Umbrellas, coolers, outside food and beverage, Thermos bottles, flasks, banners, signs or flags, horns or other noisemakers, laser pointers, animals (except
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2014 UCONN FOOTBALL
STADIUM INFORMATION
RENTSCHLER FIELD A-Z
assistance animals) or weapons of any kind are prohibited. Other items deemed by management to be dangerous or inappropriate also will not be permitted. All patrons and bags are subject to search.
U UCONN STUDENT ENTRANCE UConn students enter Rentschler Field at Gate C and must have a student season ticket AND matching valid UConn ID.
R RESTROOMS Located throughout the concourse. Family restrooms are located throughout the concourse at buildings 1, 4, 8 and 9.
S SEATS When sitting in your seat, facing the field, Seat 1 always is located to your right.
T TICKET SALES The main box office is located outside of Gate B. Advance ticket sales are available behind section 105 inside the stadium near Gate B.
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W WEBSITE www.RentschlerField.com WILL CALL LOCATIONS General Will Call — Gate B Opens three hours before the game UConn Student-Athlete Guests — Gate C Opens 90 minutes before the game Visiting Team Student-Athlete Guests — Gate D Opens 90 minutes before the game Photo ID required to pick up all tickets.
THERE IS NO SMOKING OR RE-ENTRY
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
RENTSCHLER FIELD PARKING eason parking passes were allocated based upon seat type (Club, Chairback, Preferred, Reserved, Family, Young Alumni) and UCADF priority point totals. The Gold Lot was assigned first to Club season ticket holders, followed by assignments in the Blue, Gray and Red Lots. There are seven individual parking passes, one for each home game. Keep in mind that passes cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Please safeguard your passes.
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GOLD PARKING • Club season ticket holders qualified for the Gold Parking Lot. VEHICLES WITH A GOLD PARKING PASS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE MAIN OR EAST GATE ENTRANCE. Upon entering through the Main Gate, please keep to the LEFT.
BLUE PARKING • All Chairback (lower, mezzanine and upper) season ticket holders who ordered their parking by June 25 qualified for the Blue Parking Lot. • All Preferred season ticket holders who ordered their parking by June 25 qualified for the Blue Parking Lot. • VEHICLES WITH A BLUE PARKING PASS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE MAIN GATE OR EAST GATE ENTRANCES. If entering through the Main Gate, please keep to the LEFT and if entering through the East Gate, please keep to the RIGHT. THERE IS NO ACCESS TO THE BLUE PARKING LOTS VIA THE WILLOW STREET ENTRANCE.
GRAY AND RED PARKING • All Reserved, Family and Young Alumni season ticket holders who ordered their parking by June 25 qualified for the Gray Parking Lot. • VEHICLES WITH A GRAY PARKING PASS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE EAST GATE ENTRANCES • VEHICLES WITH A RED PARKING PASS MAY ENTER THROUGH ANY GATE.
BROWN PARKING (RV & NON-ALCOHOL) • VEHICLES WITH A BROWN (RV OR NON-ALCOHOL) PARKING PASS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE EAST GATE ENTRANCE ONLY. If you have any questions regarding your parking assignment, please contact the UConn Athletic Ticket Office at 1-877-AT UCONN, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
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2014 UCONN FOOTBALL
GAMEDAY PARKING INFORMATION
RENTSCHLER FIELD PARKING • All Rentschler Field parking lots open four hours prior to kick-off. • For SATURDAY GAMES, all parking entrances (East Gate, Main Gate and Willow Street Gate) will open FOUR hours prior to kick-off. For WEEKNIGHT GAMES, Main Gate and Willow Street Gate entrances will open THREE hours prior to kick-off; East Gate entrance will open FOUR hours prior to kick-off. • Handicap Accessible Parking is AVAILABLE in Parking Lots (color coded PINK on enclosed map) adjacent to the stadium to assist patrons at Rentschler Field. • PLEASE ENTER THROUGH MAIN OR EAST GATES for Handicap Accessible Parking. • Entry gates to Rentschler Field open 90 minutes prior to kick-off. • Parking lots close two hours after day games and immediately after night games. • Illegal parking on area streets will result in your vehicle being ticketed and towed. • Overnight parking is not permitted. Game day parking is located in the Red Parking Lot at a rate of $15 per automobile, $25 per RV and $30 per bus or limo. LAZ Parking administers all aspects of game day parking at Rentschler Field and LAZ representatives are available on-site to assist with vehicle parking.
2014 UConn Football Parking at Rentschler Field
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TAILGATING POLICIES
AT RENTSCHLER FIELD ailgating is an exciting part of the UConn Husky football experience and we want every fan to enjoy their visit to Rentschler Field. To ensure your safety, comfort and enjoyment, and that of your fellow football fans, we ask that you adhere to the following guidelines: • Day Games: Tailgating is permitted four hours before and no more than two hours after day games. • Night Games: Tailgating is permitted four hours before night games. Out of respect for residents near the stadium, tailgating is not permitted after night games. • To ensure that fans not miss a minute of the UConn Huskies in action, tailgating is not permitted once a game begins. Anyone remaining in the parking lots once a game begins must either enter the Stadium or leave the property. • Please leave room for your fellow tailgaters — tailgating activities should be confined to the area immediately adjacent to your vehicle. Grills, coolers, etc., should be set up in front of or behind your vehicle. • Fans wishing to park together should enter the parking lots at the same time — saving spaces for other vehicles is not permitted. • Show your Husky colors — canopies and flags are
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permitted with the exception of those requiring supports pounded into the ground. • An “Oversized Vehicle” Lot is available for fans with motor homes or other oversized vehicles. These vehicles should not park in any other lots. • Unauthorized use of handicapped parking spaces will not be tolerated. • Keep that barbeque safe — no charcoal fires or open flames are permitted. • Caterers, other than the official caterer of Rentschler Field, are not permitted on the property. The unauthorized sale of merchandise, food or beverage is prohibited. • Ball-playing and frisbee tossing in the parking lots and roadways are safety hazards and not permitted. • Portable restrooms are available throughout the parking lots for your convenience. • Alcohol is permitted in the parking lots, but please drink responsibly. • Fans will not be allowed to enter the Stadium if they are visibly intoxicated. • Kegs and drinking games are not permitted in the parking lots. • Help keep Rentschler Field clean and green — please utilize trash bags, trash receptacles and recycling bins available throughout the parking lots.
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DRIVING DIRECTIONS
TO RENTSCHLER FIELD Address: 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 FROM THE NORTH
FROM THE EAST
Take I-91 South toward Hartford to Exit 35A. Follow I-291 South to I-84 West to Exit 58, Roberts Street/Silver Lane. On the exit ramp, turn left and continue over I-84 and straight through the Silver Lane intersection into the Rentschler Field main gate.
Interstate 384: Take Route 6 West or Route 44 West to I-384 West. Follow I-384 West toward Manchester. Take Exit 1, Spencer Street. Turn left at end of exit ramp onto Spencer Street. Follow Spencer Street onto Silver Lane in East Hartford. Follow Silver Lane to Rentschler Field East Gate. Interstate 84: Take I-84 West toward Hartford to Exit 58, Roberts Street/Silver Lane. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Roberts Street and follow to Silver Lane. Merge into one lane and continue straight through Silver Lane intersection into the Rentschler Field Main Gate.
FROM THE SOUTH Take I-91 North toward Hartford to Exit 25, Route 3 North. Merge left onto Route 3 North. Merge into left lane. Exit Route 3 North onto Route 2 West. Follow Route 2 West to Exit 5A, Main Street. Merge onto Main Street and continue straight through the Brewer Street intersection. Continue on Main Street and turn right into the Rentschler Field Willow Street gate. GOLD, BLUE and GRAY season parking passes continue on Route 2 West to Exit 4. At bottom of ramp turn right onto East River Drive and continue straight through the Main Street intersection onto Silver Lane to the Rentschler Field Main Gate or East Gate.
FROM THE SOUTHWEST Take either I-84 East or I-91 North. Follow directions above from the South. From Route 15 North take Exit 91, Silver Lane toward Roberts Street. Bear right onto Silver Lane to the Rentschler Field Main Gate or East Gate.
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FROM THE SOUTHEAST Take Route 2 West toward Hartford. Take Exit 5A, Main Street. Merge onto Main Street and continue straight through the Brewer Street intersection. Continue on Main Street to the Rentschler Field Willow Street gate. GOLD, BLUE and GRAY season parking passes continue on Route 2 West to Exit 4. At bottom of ramp turn right onto East River Drive and continue straight through the Main Street intersection onto Silver Lane to the Rentschler Field Main Gate or East Gate.
FROM THE WEST Take I-84 East toward Hartford. Follow I-84 East to Exit 58, Roberts Street/Silver Lane. On the exit ramp, keep to the right and continue straight through the Silver Lane intersection into the Rentschler Field Main Gate.
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GAMEDAY
Conn fans of all ages will enjoy visiting “FanFest” before every UConn football game at Rentschler Field. “FanFest” begins four hours before kickoff and concludes 30 minutes before the game. The offerings at “FanFest” change each game and often include inflatable games for children, promotional giveaways and UConn student-athletes from various teams signing autographs. Come out and join the festivities.
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Pregame Festivities Husky fans should show their school spirit by wearing their UConn colors to all games. Pregame festivities begin approximately 20 minutes before kickoff at Rentschler Field. Check-out the opening show featuring the University of Connecticut Marching Band just before your Huskies take the field. Arrive early, cheer loud, and get ready for some hard-hitting UConn Football.
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GAMEDAY HUSKY WALK Greet the UConn football players and coaches as they enter the stadium in preparation for the game. The Husky Walk takes place between the Grey Parking Lot and Gate B approximately two-and-a-half hours before each game and also features the UConn cheerleaders and members of the At the Husky Walk, you can become a kid again. Shake hands Husky marching band. with players and coaches before each home game.
WTIC’S DOG HOUSE WTIC NewsTalk 1080 AM, the flagship station of the UConn Radio Network, broadcasts before each Husky home game at Rentschler Field from the time the parking lots open. Live broadcasts take place at the station’s Dog House, which is located at Gate C. Stop on by and visit with WTIC’s Ray Dunaway and other personalities. You never know who will be around!
CONNECTICUT HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME Relive more than a century of sports excellence at the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame — which is located inside the stadium at Gate A. There are plaques for each member of the Hall of Fame in addition to other historical displays.
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Pregame Festivities Following each home game at Rentschler Field, stay in your seats as the University of Connecticut Marching Band “The Pride of Connecticut” presents a stirring postgame performance. The concert begins immediately following the game conclusion.
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THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC
CONFERENCE
ot entirely unlike the nation that provides its namesake, the American Athletic Conference was born from an ideal in which members with ambitious goals are provided with the means to succeed in their quests for excellence. With roots that extend to three conferences, the American Athletic Conference membership in 201415 consists of 11 institutions: UCF, Cincinnati, East Carolina, UConn, Houston, Memphis, USF, SMU, Temple, Tulane University and Tulsa. The 2015-16 season sees Navy join the ranks in football only. The American has immediately taken a place at the forefront of Division I athletics, with schools that have played in four Bowl Championship Series games, won four NCAA men’s basketball titles since 1999 and won nine NCAA women’s basketball championships since 1995. Two American Athletic Conference football teams were ranked in the top 15 of the final 2013 Associated Press poll and five were selected for bowl games. The American had four players chosen in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The success of The American in Year 1 was not limited to the gridiron. UConn won NCAA titles in both men’s and women’s basketball. The conference had the best postseason winning percentage of any league in men’s basketball, while The American produced top-10
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teams in baseball, men’s soccer and men’s golf. The American Athletic Conference holds television partnerships with ESPN and CBS Sports which will give the conference unprecedented national exposure. The football portion of the contract, which begins in the 2014 season, calls for nearly 90 percent of conference-controlled games on national broadcast or national cable platforms. The first American Athletic Conference Football Championship, which will be played in 2015, will be carried either on ABC or ESPN on Championship Saturday. American Athletic Conference teams will have access to the pinnacle of college football’s postseason structure. An American representative would be chosen for the College Football Playoff semifinals if it is among the top four teams following the regular season. Otherwise, the league would place its champion in either the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl or Peach Bowl if it is ranked higher than the champions of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. Additionally, The American has announced primary or secondary partnerships with 12 bowls for the next six-year cycle, ensuring multiple annual matchups against the nation’s top conferences and providing desirable postseason destinations to member institutions and their fans.
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HONOR he University of Connecticut is committed to honoring collegiate athletic competition by demonstrating pride, responsibility and respect. The UConn community, fans, alumni, students, coaches and studentathletes promote these core values as proud Huskies and first-class competitors.
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RESPONSIBILITY
PRIDE
RESPECT
• Wear your Blue and White. • Get inside Rentschler Field early and stay until the end of the game. • Have fun and cheer loudly for your Huskies.
• Respect all coaches, student-athletes and game officials. • Respect yourself and your fellow fans. • Respect the University of Connecticut.
• Drink responsibly in the parking lots and in the football stadium. • Sit only in the seat for which you have a ticket. • Refrain from the use of profanity. • Dispose of trash, recycle and keep Rentschler Field as clean as possible.
THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT RENTSCHLER FIELD!
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