The University of Connecticut has taken proactive measures ahead of the Final Four celebrations, especially after last year’s chaotic scenes following the men’s basketball team’s NCAA title win.
In anticipation of potential celebrations, UConn has removed light poles from its Storrs campus and replaced them with alternative lighting options. This decision comes after last year’s championship celebration saw students damaging aluminum light poles along Fairfield Way, even ramming them through buildings on campus.
To further ensure safety, alcohol will not be served at Gampel Pavilion, where watch parties for both the men’s and women’s Final Four games are planned. These events, exclusively for UConn students, require separate tickets for each game, with no re-entry permitted.
“Given the prevalence of damage to the aluminum campus light poles along Fairfield Way last year, the University is temporarily removing them and has installed wall lights in that area,” a UConn spokesperson said. “They provide the same amount of illumination without being vulnerable to being removed and misused, as occurred last year.” via TMZ Sports.
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During last year’s championship celebration, students were observed tearing light poles out of the ground and forcefully ramming them through campus buildings, as documented in videos capturing the chaotic scene.
Some social media users believe UConn is getting ahead of themselves with the removal of the light poles, potentially jinxing themselves:
This year marks the fifth time that both the men’s and women’s teams have reached the Final Four simultaneously, with both aiming for national titles. Notably, this achievement is mirrored by NC State’s men’s and women’s programs.
The women’s basketball team, seeded third, faces the Iowa Hawkeyes in their record 23rd Final Four appearance on April 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET. The men’s team, making their second consecutive and seventh overall Final Four appearance, takes on Alabama on April 6 at 8:49 p.m. ET. The matchups also include games between South Carolina and NC State’s women’s teams, as well as Purdue and NC State’s men’s teams.
We’ll have to wait and see if this preemptive move ends up paying off for the Huskies.