Think you know a lot about Â鶹ÊÓƵ? Let’s find out if we can stump you with this Patriot Pop Quiz.
Question:
One person has portrayed three different Â鶹ÊÓƵ mascots over the years, including the tricorn-hat Gunston (1993), the brief Gorilla period (1994), and the fuzzy Gunston (1996).
He is still a Â鶹ÊÓƵ employee. Who is it?
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Answer:
George Malenich, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Square plumber, Facilities Management
“I loved being the mascot at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. The exposure opened doors for me. I did the play-by-play for Â鶹ÊÓƵ women’s basketball and hosted a sports talk show at WGMU radio with several students. We had great guests, including legends like Dick Vitale, Arnold Palmer, and Gus Johnson. [Former Â鶹ÊÓƵ Men’s Basketball Coach] Jim Larrañaga was a frequent guest, too," said Malenich, also a Â鶹ÊÓƵ alum.
"Being the mascot helped me land the job as a plumber here 26 years ago, which is a position I love," he said. "I was courtside for the Final Four run in 2006. One of my greatest thrills was being in the second row of the press section for the UConn upset—in regular clothes, not dressed as a mascot."