When Geno Auriemma first heard that he was about to be inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame, he thought that was a nice honor. When he realized that Mark Twain, Harriett Beecher Stowe and Noah Webster were among some of the previous recipients and Auriemma was admittedly floored by the impressive company he joined on Wednesday afternoon.


"The Hall of Fame is something that was unexpected," Auriemma said. "When you first hear about it you aren't quite sure what it is and it probably doesn't get all the attention it deserves. Once you find out what the names are on that wall and what the history is, you really do get a sense of 'wow, these are some of the - forget some of the greatest people from Connecticut but the greatest people in the history of our country.' It is incredibly gratifying and rewarding that people feel your contribution is worthy of that."

Auriemma will take part in another ceremony on tomorrow and this one will be for the opening of Geno's Grille in Storrs Center.

Auriemma said that the restaurant has been opened for about three weeks and the response has been a positive one.