Barstool Sports is bringing its college football show to Elicit Brewing in Manchester on Thursday, turning the UMass vs UConn buildup into a live pregame stop a day before the teams meet on the field. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Adams Street, with admission complimentary for fans ages 21 and up.
The timing is the point. UConn plays UMass on Friday at 7 p.m. at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, and Barstool said its personalities will be at the brewery to talk about the game, hand out swag and offer a chance to go backstage at the Barstool College Football Show during the game itself. For fans looking for something to do before kickoff, the Thursday gathering gives the matchup a second stage.
That stage lands in a rivalry that still carries more history than the records might suggest. Dave Portnoy said growing up in the northeast, UMass and UConn do not like each other, calling them bitter, bitter rivals. Yet the all-time series stands tied at 38-38-2, which makes the setup feel less like a novelty and more like another chapter in a series that has been stubbornly even over time.
For Randy Mirander, the draw is partly the surprise of seeing Barstool make the trip. He said he sees those guys on his Instagram all the time, but never expected them to come to UConn. Garrison Nanke said Barstool representing UConn is a big step, especially since they usually do big schools like Alabama, and he said that kind of attention can bring UConn to light the same way the basketball team does.
The game itself gives the week some edge. UConn is coming off a big win over Temple on October 10th and enters at 3-3, while the Huskies have beaten the Minutemen in their last three matchups. Portnoy said he expects a cool Friday night environment, and with the pregame show set for Thursday and kickoff set for Friday, the next thing readers need to know is simple: if they want the Barstool event, they go to Manchester; if they want the game, they go to East Hartford.
