Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame Inducts Giaquinto and Hunters

STAMFORD, Conn. (August 11, 2008) -- The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame inducted its latest class of honorees on June 21 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.

The former UConn athletes feted were football’s Nick Giaquinto (Stratford) and men’s soccer stars Paul Hunter and Tim Hunter, brothers from Westport. The three are pictured at the ceremony at the top (left to right): Paul Hunter, Giaquinto, Tim Hunter.

Giaquinto was joined at the ceremony by former Husky footballers Michael Ings, Roger Ings, Dennis O'Connell, 2007 inductee Brian Usher and Nick Devito. Former Husky Art Christiani was also at the ceremony.

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 19^th 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.

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The Sports Commission also held a breakfast on May 29 in Norwalk with several Husky notables in attendance.

Head football coach Randy Edsall is joined by current men's basketball player Craig Austrie of Stamford and former women's basketball star Maria Conlon, originally from Derby.

Edsall is joined by his former kicker Matt Nuzie of Trumbull, former football player Brian McGillicuddy and Giaquinto.

All photos by Lisa Smith