Daily Archives October 31, 2007

Fairfield and Sacred Heart both understand that it will take more than just one game to build a rivalry. But the two universities will try to start the process as the men's and women's teams both play each other for the first time as Division I opponents this season.

We are red! We are white! We are dynamite! But are we really "dynamite" when it comes to school spirit at basketball games? The only real way to explore it to see how the Red Sea stacks up against other groups of loud and intoxicated students. Probably the best model for school spirit in the MAAC came last March as the conference championship rolled into Harbor Yard.

As a not-so-recent Fairfield graduate (1973), I find it very disappointing to see the lack of school spirit and student participation at Stag games on campus and at Harbor Yard. I understand that today's college student has many more distractions and entertainment choices than we did, such as cable television, computers, the Internet, DVDs and video gaming, but the pride, excitement and just plain fun of cheering for your school and your fellow students is part of the college experience that too many of today's Fairfield students seem to be missing out on.

One of the most anticipated days in the life of a college sports fan is the release of the upcoming men's basketball schedule. Once revealed, brackets are made, teams are laid out and national rankings begin. For Fairfield, it's no different. With a tough non-conference schedule including Wake Forest and cross-town rival Sacred Heart, the schedule is demanding on all accounts.

Find out more about some of your favorite basketball players in a more personal edition of Mirror Sports 3x5.

Read what facts the players themselves want you to know about men's and women's basketball at Fairfield.

A heartbreaking last second shot by Siena ended the Stags' season last year as the women's basketball team was upset in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament. Expectations are high this season as the Stags lost only one key contributor, Cara Murphy '07, from last year's fourth place squad, which finished 15-16 overall, but 10-8 in the MAAC.

Joe Frager is not a typical basketball coach. He is thoughtful, soft-spoken and could pass for an average dad. No one would compare him to Bobby Knight or even Ed Cooley. Not only that, he played baseball in college at UConn, then moved on to coach a women's high school basketball team - not exactly the best way to become Division I head basketball coach.

During the Civil War, blacks referred to slave catchers as "soul catchers," due to the idea that they were not only capturing the physical body, but taking the soul back to oppression as well. Fairfield English professor Michael C. White used this idea as the premise for his fifth novel, "Soul Catcher," which he presented at the Author's Forum in the Quick Center on Oct.25.

A temporary power failure leads this week's short list of crimes and mishaps on campus.