UConn Clinches Win in Season Opener at P&W Stadium

UConn trumped the Villanova Wildcats 20-15 in the opening game of the season, which was also a celebration of the stadium’s new name.

Coach Bob Diaco and the UConn football run onto the field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Coach Bob Diaco and the UConn football run onto the field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

F-15 aircraft fly over Pratt & Whitney Stadium before the game on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)
F-15 aircraft fly over Pratt & Whitney Stadium before the game. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Against a backdrop of pink-tinged clouds Thursday, the UConn Huskies faced off against the Villanova Wildcats in their season opener at the newly named Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.

But the only color that mattered after sunset was blue.

Coach Bob Diaco and the UConn football run onto the field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)
Coach Bob Diaco leads the UConn football team onto the field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium for their season debut on Sept. 3. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

The UConn Huskies trumped the Villanova Wildcats 20-15 at the game, which was also a celebration of the stadium’s new name.

Throughout the evening, there were special tributes to the company that more than a decade ago provided the state with the land to build the sports facility.

A view of Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)
The Sept. 3 game against Villanova was the first game since the stadium at Rentschler Field was renamed for Pratt & Whitney. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Before kickoff, the UConn band formed P & W on the field as they played the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” As the song ended, two F-15 fighter planes flew over the stadium, which is located on land that until 1999 had been part of the former Rentschler Field airport. Moments later, trainers released a bald eagle that circled the field during the national anthem.

Challenger the bald eagle at Pratt & Whitney Stadium before the start of the football game on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)
Challenger the bald eagle makes a flight across the stadium before the start of the game. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Thousands of Pratt & Whitney employees and their families joined other UConn fans at the game, donning special blue jerseys with the company name. And, during a time-out in the first quarter, President Susan Herbst, Provost Mun Choi, and Larry McHugh presented Pratt & Whitney Vice President Tom Prete with a UConn football jersey.

Larry McHugh, left, chair of the board of trustees, President Susan Herbst, Tom Prete, Pratt & Whitney vice president of engineering, Provost Mun Choi, and Jonathan the Husky at Pratt & Whitney Stadium during the football game against Villanova on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)
Larry McHugh, left, chair of the Board of Trustees, President Susan Herbst, Tom Prete, Pratt & Whitney vice president of engineering, Provost Mun Choi, and Jonathan the Huskyduring the football game against Villanova. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

“Watching our Huskies win the first game of the football season last night was a thrill – and the energy of our fans at the game was amazing,” Herbst wrote to the University community afterward.

UConn football at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)
Cheerleaders and the UConn Marching Band set the tone for the fans. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)