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Rivalry Renewed: The UConn-Yale matchup of 1973

Two-time all-American, Rich Foye reflects on UConn's third victory all time against Yale.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — After 16 straight losses, UConn beat Yale in football for the first time in 1965. The victory was short-lived, however – it took the Huskies another four years to beat their rivals to the south.

As the years went on, despite winning a Yankee Conference championship in 1971, UConn still had troubles with Yale.

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In 1973, the Huskies prepared for another run at a conference title – and preseason camp that summer set the tone early.

“It was very hot those first two weeks, into the 90s, high humidity,” Rich Foye, who was a captain on that team, told FOX61. “It was a difficult camp physically, and I think it helped us come together."

The Huskies started the season 1-1 leading into their matchup with Yale, but due to recent history, public sentiment didn’t exactly favor UConn.

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Nevertheless, when all was said and done, the Huskies prevailed 27 to 13, and everyone across Connecticut was singing a different tune.

Foye, a two-time all-American, remembers just how much people celebrated.

“The state was excited,” he remembered. “The governor went into the locker room after the game, but I didn’t get back for that. I was just enjoying the walk back to the locker room.”

The present-day Huskies host Yale at Rentschler Field on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 12 noon.

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Nkwa Asonye is a sports reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at nasonye@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

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