UConn superfan ‘Big Red’ documentary earns film festival award

The story behind Tom Emery, the UConn basketball superfan known as ‘Big Red,’ was recognized from coast to coast over the weekend.

Emery’s life as a supporter of UConn athletics was documented in a 26-minute film entitled “He is UConn – Big Red,” which was released on YouTube in April. The film, directed by Zeljko Mirkovic, received the Silver Award for short documentaries at the Hollywood Gold Award Film Festival in Los Angeles, adding to the Best Short Documentary Award it claimed at the International Gold Awards in New York.

UConn President Radenka Maric and Athletic Director David Benedict are listed among the Executive Producers in the film’s credits.

A Wallingford native, Emery has become known for his “U-C-O-N-N” chant and its coinciding arm motions, similar to the YMCA dance, a tradition that almost always comes after a highlight play or a surge in momentum at UConn home games. He started coming to games in the mid-1970s and first performed his chant at some point in the late-80s, when he noticed the team and its cheerleaders needed more support from the crowd.

If There’s A Run By UConn, Big Red Is Ready … U-C-O-N-N

“What is UConn without Big Red?” Andrea Hurley, wife of men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley, said in the film. “He’s a fan and he has so much power in that little tiny seat in the corner of the arena. I mean, come on, he gets that whole place to stand up and do that chant. One person, for how many years now. He is UConn. I love him.”

Emery has been recognized by the athletic department with multiple ‘Big Red Appreciation Days,’ and has often been featured on social media. He has turned into a celebrity walking the concourse at UConn games, regularly taking pictures and conversing with fans and even players and their families.

“He’s left a legacy that’s important to UConn basketball, to all of the athletes that played there, to the coaches, because he’s just as important as the players are and the coaches are at UConn,” former UConn men’s basketball player and current head coach at Southern Connecticut State, Scott Burrell, said in the documentary. “Big Red was there when we were down, when we were tired, that big cheer he started… it gave us so much energy. It gave us life. It helped us battle through tough times… gave us that energy that helped us come on top and get those victories.”

The documentary can be viewed on the Storrs Central YouTube page.