scene in Glendale, Ariz., on Saturday, one former captain of the team was greeting early arriving UConn fans at TD Homer's restaurant and sports bar.
Desi Cullen 's heart was with his former Husky teammates, who were getting ready to take on Oklahoma, though his checkbook couldn't handle making the trip.
"It's bittersweet not being there with the guys, but I couldn't afford to make that trip on a school teacher's salary," said Cullen, a punter who played for the Huskies in 2006-09.
Cullen was in Connecticut for the holidays with his fiancé Alicia, who is from Rocky Hill. The couple will be married in Connecticut in May.
"I'd love to be in that atmosphere cheering on my guys at the game, but if I was there it would probably be killing me watching because I'd be wishing so bad that I was on the field playing," Cullen said. "In that way, I can enjoy it more from home I guess."
Cullen now teaches 10th and 11th grade special education students in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., while working to complete his master's degree in education at Spalding University in Louisville.
"I never told the kids I played college football," Cullen said. "Now they're starting to Google me and find out some stuff about me, it's kind of cool. I'm glad I never screwed up in college so they can't throw that at me."
Cullen said doing volunteer work in the East Hartford school system during his playing days at UConn pushed him to teach special education.
"When I came to UConn I knew I wanted to teach," Cullen said. "I thought I wanted to teach history, but the more I volunteered in East Hartford, I realized that special education might be my thing."
The scene at TD Homer's was quiet early, but came alive about 45 minutes before the Fiesta Bowl kickoff. By the time UConn took the field it was shoulder to shoulder in the bar area, with Husky fans angling for room against hockey fans watching the NHL Winter Classic and fans on hand to take in the Ultimate Fighting pay-per-view card.
"The crowd is great; they're pulling for their team, great atmosphere here for the biggest bowl game in UConn history," said TD Homer's manager Paul Motta. "It all worked out great for it being a Saturday night, we couldn't have planned it any better. Everybody got to party on New Year's eve and then get a great night here watching UConn football ."
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