UConn National Title Celebration: From Bobbleheads To Avocados

STORRS, CT — From commemorative bobbleheads to a welcome home street-side reception to avocados, the aftermath of the fifth national title for the University of Connecticut men's basketball team was widespread in terms of celebration Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled two officially licensed, limited-edition bobbleheads celebrating the UConn’ five men’s national championships. On Monday night, UConn defeated San Diego State 76-59 in Houston to capture the school’s fifth men's title.

Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, said the museum was granted official licensing permission Tuesday afternoon.

The first bobblehead features UConn’s mascot, Jonathan the Husky, standing on a ladder and holding the net after cutting it down. The second bobblehead features Jonathan showing off the headline "Huskies Win Fifth Title!"

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, is located in Milwaukee and opened to the public in 2019. The HOF and museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit the museum online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for ordering information.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and the gubernatorial chefs will be getting their fill of guacamole.

Lamont and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the national championship game, for which Lamont bet a basket of Connecticut Grown beer and wine and a collection of Munson’s Chocolates against a crate of California avocados.

Lamont was even talking a little trash beforehand.

"The Huskies remain the most powerful and most energetic basketball team in the nation, and I am confident they have what it takes to bring a fifth NCAA championship trophy back home to Connecticut – the basketball capital of the world," he said. "The Aztecs are a formidable team and Governor Newsom is a terrific governor and friend, however I have a feeling that pretty soon a shipment of goods will be traveling from Sacramento to Hartford."

The Huskies returned home to Storrs on Tuesday afternoon with a "Welcome Home" rally at Gampel Pavilion.

Fans and students were asked to "claim" a free ticket to the event online, with doors to Gampel opening at 4 p.m. The team arrived at about 5:30 p.m.

The Huskies landed at Bradley International Airport at about 3:30 p.m. with the team buses and an escort making their way to campus via I-91 South to I-291 East to I-84 East, and Exit 68 onto Route 195 and then to the campus.

The last 7 miles were not boring. Tolland residents rallied for a sidewalk welcome home party along Route 195. Fans lines the road to cheer on the team buses and motorcade as they passed.