![F-15 aircraft fly over Pratt & Whitney Stadium before the game on Sept. 3, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)](http://today.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Football_flypast150903d208-e1441380523574.jpg)
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)](http://today.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Football_tunnel150903d339.jpg)
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)](http://today.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Football_PW150903d520.jpg)
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)](http://today.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Football_eagle150903d230.jpg)
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)](http://today.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Football_group150903d511.jpg)
“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)](http://today.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Football_cheerleader150903d351.jpg)