Summer breeze on the Sound is slowly fading into memory. While not yet ready to embrace our vibrant New England fall, the cooled air is familiar. As Connecticut residents know, the chill triggers thoughts of gym-based mania by Husky fanatics around the Constitution state.
However, this fall is different. Before the madness of March and deafening screams fill the bowels of Gampel and XL alike, there is a stop off 84 which demands keen attention. That stop is the “Rent” home of UCONN Football – the 2024 Fenway Bowl Champions.
It has been quite the wait for the Husky gridders to return to post season glory. But gone are the days of mediocre play in East Hartford. These Mora-era Huskies have navigated a necessary roster turnover, conference uncertainty, and NCAA futility – all while strengthening their stance as an up-and-coming “force in the north.” This new force has gained tremendous momentum through a NIL treasure chest of support that would make many schools with “loftier status” raise an eyebrow.
Humbly tucked between Routes 9 and 71 lies the Central Connecticut State University campus. This unassuming plot of land has been the place where countless commuters, first time college students, and working-class learners have flocked for academic opportunity.
A quick drive past the campus would elicit a sense of nostalgic charm for a CCSU alum. But to the New Britain stranger, its presence on the state stage might come as a mystery. This is understandable given the lack of attention to the “front porch” of the institution – Blue Devil Athletics.
In 2024-25 Blue Devil Athletics secured an NEC record seven conference championships, multiple POY awards, NCAA qualifiers, and COY recipients. The outcomes would suggest they are maximizing their department potential. Results would point to a CSCU system that must be proud of their “Division 1” representative. The university president must certainly be in full support of the university’s athletic offerings. But in reality, they are simply doing more with less.
On August 30, the Huskies will meet the Blue Devils at Rentschler Field. Coach speak suggests that there is “no easy opponent” and to “respect all.” No doubt this will be the case for the players within the confines of the freshly painted sidelines. But it will hardly be the truth for the decision-makers who sit prominently in positions of influence governing the athletic finances of the respective institutions.
UConn holds no fault. Their administration has realized the vision of a premier institution – one worthy of intercollegiate competition within myriad sports and related venues. They have accomplished this with lofty support and the full weight of Hartford in their corner. Any resident should be proud of what has been done and what is still yet to come for the team in navy blue.
With a mere fraction of the athletic budget, Central Connecticut is in a continual fight for financial support from related stakeholders. All in the midst of a competitive landscape which seems to be escaping the intercollegiate “Davids” as the “Goliaths” grip on all the valuable plunder.
But what if…
What if:
The lack of fiscal support reveals the supreme loyalty and commitment to the student athletes of the Blue Devil coaching staff?
The constant financial struggle with internal stakeholders reveals the willingness of Blue Devil athletic administrators to fight for the experiences of their student athletes?
The self-inflicted financial challenges are actually the fertile ground for fiscal change?
All related decision-makers decided to adequately support CCSU athletics relative to the demands of the modern collegiate landscape?
What better place to invest? What better group to support? What better time than now?
On Saturday, there will be a football game in Connecticut. The attending crowd will all be wearing some form of blue. While your passion may lean more dog than devil, it’s that team in royal blue who likely represents the best of you. They put in the work without much attention, show up daily to work hard, fight an uphill financial battle, yet continually display toughness – fit for the nutmeg state.
So even if just for a moment, consider a cheer for CCSU, after all, they are your Connecticut D1 team too.
Dr. Craig P. DeAngelis is an active educational practitioner in the State of Connecticut. As a former student athlete and alumnus of Central Connecticut State University (‘06), he desires to advocate for the advancement of sport-based institutional initiatives. He can be contacted at craigdeangelis@yahoo.com.
https://www.courant.com/2025/08/27/opinion-why-you-need-to-consider-a-cheer-for-ccsu/
