PETA Blasts UConn for Handling of Goat at Geno Auriemma’s Ceremony for Wins Record

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVNovember 22, 2024

Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images

Animal rights group PETA expressed displeasure Friday over a live goat being used as part of a postgame celebration after University of Connecticut head women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma’s 1,217th career win on Wednesday.

The victory broke a tie with former Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, making Auriemma the winningest head coach in NCAA history.

UConn celebrated Auriemma and his career after the game, and one aspect of the festivities was a goat joining Auriemma on the court, which signified his status as the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) in the realm of college basketball coaching:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportHuskies brought out a LIVE GOAT to celebrate Geno making history 🤣🐐 pic.twitter.com/hzf187tuVn

Per TMZ Sports, PETA released a statement condemning the goat’s involvement, saying: “The University of Connecticut can’t ‘conn’ people into thinking it’s okay to subject a stressed-out animal out to the chaos of bright lights and screaming fans.”

PETA also expressed its belief that the goat was “visibly anxious” and that its handler “either didn’t notice or didn’t care that his collar was digging into his neck.”

UConn told TMZ that the goat was returned to the local farm it was borrowed from following Wednesday’s celebration.

Goat controversy notwithstanding, it was a huge night for the UConn women’s basketball program, as it further cemented the legacy of Auriemma, who has 23 Final Four appearances and 11 national championships, in addition to the 1,217 wins.

The No. 2 Huskies took down Fairleigh Dickinson 85-41 on Wednesday to improve to 4-0 on the season, and they look to be serious contenders to win their first national championship since 2016.

UConn has a long road ahead between now and the NCAA tournament, but it can take another step forward with its next game Monday when Auriemma and National Player of the Year candidate Paige Bueckers lead the Huskies into a Baha Mar Women’s Championship tournament game against Oregon State.