Today is moving day for the newest class of our prime advertising demographic UConn students. In this week’s mailbag, we’ll offer some tips for making the most of your first weekend in addition to our usual nonsense.
Remember: If your question wasn’t answered or you’ve been living under a rock and are just hearing about this, you can submit your questions here or on Twitter (@ADimeBack).
Daniel asks: Best (real) tips for freshman move-in day at UConn?
- Get your dorm crap ahead of time. The co-op is going to be a g-d zoo.
- Include in your dorm crap a pair of flip-flops and a shower caddy, because showers are a situation now.
- After you move your stuff in, leave your door open. Make popcorn. You’re welcome for all of your new friends.
- Make friends with the RA. They’re generally pretty cool (mine certainly was), and a good relationship with the RA will make your life a lot easier.
- Someone will ask you to go to the dining hall with them (probably your roommate). Say yes. In fact, say yes to all requests to get out of your dorm for the first 3 months of school. Even if you just ate, you can always go back for ice cream.
- Go to the soccer game tonight. Sports are fun, going out is fun, and you can yell funny stuff at the other team. You can be the funny guy now, Dan. These people don’t know you. You can be anything you want.
Nick asks: 5 on 5 basketball tournament of current UConn head coaches. What does the lineup look like?
PG: Kevin Ollie, Men’s Basketball
Ollie is essentially the Magic Johnson of this squad.
SG: Katie Woods, Women’s Lacrosse
Woods is young, was a star athlete (CT Lacrosse Hall of Famer) and played basketball at South Windsor High.
SF: Geno Auriemma, Women’s Basketball
You just know Geno has that Old-Guy-At-The-Gym-Fifteen-Footer game. It’s also a certainty that he plays downright dirty defense. All elbows.
PF: Bob Diaco, Football
Diaco was a very good linebacker at Iowa. I have no idea if he has ever even seen a basketball but I feel pretty confident that he could be this team’s Johnny Selvie, run around like a lunatic and generally act terrifying. If nothing else, his handsomeness could distract opponents.
C: Kris Grunwald, Women’s Volleyball
Grunwald was a star volleyball player at George Mason. I’m banking on volleyball skills being somewhat transferable to basketball. Really, I’m hoping he can jump high and block shots Walsh Jennings style.
Gavin Keefe asks: If you could create your dream 12-team all sports conference, what schools would be in it?
Russ answered a variation of this question a few weeks ago, but Russ’s answer was, well, Russ’s answer, so clearly I had to step in and give you my superior list. I like thinking about overall athletics departments, not just football (or even just basketball), but top to bottom, what schools field great teams? My preferences in creating a conference are as follows:
1) It has great basketball, because obviously.
2) Preserves (or reignites) longstanding rivalries – I’m looking at you, Cuse.
3) Provides great competition for our Olympic sports. Who are we going to play in soccer, baseball, field hockey and lacrosse (because in my scenario, UConn has brought back varsity lax)? Hockey stays in Hockey East.
4) Has great academics, because we’ve been hanging around Memphis for too damn long.
5) Gives UConn the chance to beat BC many times a year.
6) Has no Florida schools because Florida is awful.
My conference: UConn, Syracuse, Penn State, Duke, UNC, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Notre Dame, Virginia, and BC (which never wins any games ever).
I was basically unconcerned about geography (though this footprint isn’t that large), but we’ve got great football, outstanding basketball, and as a bonus, a sick 10-team lax conference (BC and Michigan State don’t sponsor lacrosse). I would watch all of the games in all of the sports.
