Fairfield Country Sports Hall of Fame To Induct Giaquinto and Hunters
STAMFORD, Conn. (June 13, 2008) -- The Fairfield
County Sports Hall of Fame has announced its next class of honorees to be
recognized in the Hall of Fame’s University of Connecticut wing, which pays
tribute to athletes from the county that went on to stellar careers at the state
university. The UConn wing is sponsored by People’s United Bank, and is housed
at the UConn Stamford Campus.
Former UConn athletes to be feted at a Saturday, June 21
reception at 6 pm at the Hall of Fame are football’s Nick Giaquinto
(Stratford) and men’s soccer stars Paul Hunter and Tim Hunter,
brothers from Westport. The induction ceremony and reception is open to the
public.
 Giaquinto was a running back for the Huskies for two
seasons (1975-76), and still holds the school record for rushing yards in a game
with 277 versus Holy Cross in his final game in a UConn uniform. He also is tied
for the school mark for longest kickoff return (100 yards) for a touchdown. The
Stratford High graduate spent four years in the NFL (1980-83) and is the only
UConn player to own a Super Bowl ring as he was a member of the winning
Washington Redskins’ team in Super Bowl XVII over Miami, where he started his
pro football career with the Dolphins. Giaquinto just completed his 19th
season as head baseball coach at Sacred Heart University.
 Paul Hunter was a hard-nosed defender for three seasons on
the UConn men’s soccer teams of the mid-70’s that built the foundation for one
of the Huskies’ most successful athletic programs. Hunter, a Staples High
graduate, was a two-time All-American (1975 and ‘76) and was also twice named
the recipient of the Squires Award, which goes to the Husky voted the consummate
team player. Hunter captained the 1976 squad, and then played professionally in
the North American Soccer League from 1977 to1981, including a stint with the
legendary New York Cosmos as a rookie in ‘77.
 Tim Hunter left large footsteps for his brother to follow
as he started the Hunter family legacy at UConn by earning All-American honors
twice (1972 and 74) and being the captain of the 1974 side. A three-year
letterman, Tim was a speedy, left-footed goal scorer, who is still in the top 20
all-time school scoring list with 22 goals and 20 assists for 64 points. The
elder Hunter, whose four assists in one game is still tied for a school record,
also played professionally for three seasons.
Both Hunters were elected to the Connecticut State Soccer
Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame plans to recognize
UConn athletes again later in 2008. The Hall of Fame is open six days a week
from 9 am-5 pm Monday thru Friday and 9 am-12 noon on Saturday.
The Fairfield County Sports Commission is a 501c (3)
non-profit organization whose mission is to educate county residents to lead a
healthy, active lifestyle, and to promote sports as a vehicle for personal
development. For more information visit
www.fairfieldcountysports.com or email to: tomc@fairfieldcountysports.com. |
