The stats are in and the Stags are on top. For the first time in 15 years, the men’s basketball team ranks as the number one team in the MAAC regular season conference. Despite lack of prior commitment from the Red Sea, fans and fellow Stags have stood up while “stag pumping” at the most recent games in Harbor Yard and a continued bus-load of support is expected for this weekend’s tournament kickoff game.
The debate between playing games in on-campus venue Alumni Hall versus off-campus spectacle Harbor Yard has finally reached a cease-fire. Either the busses leaving Alumni Hall have turned into the most successful pre-game, or those Stag in the Stands shirts are the hot commodity. Regardless, the Red Sea is growing.
And if being featured on ESPN2 wasn’t enough, Yorel Hawkins’ defensive play on Sports Centers “Top Ten” is more news worthy than the number one ranking. Alongside professional athletes, Hawkins shines on our small laptop screens and if the ESPN link is in your Facebook status, you’ve tested Stag positive.
Let’s face it. Despite what Fairfield likes to advertise, our school has never been great at the school spirit thing. But why not? Besides being fun to go to, they promote a sense of community and unity among students. Before the game on Friday the anticipation of the game was palpable. In almost every class we heard, “Are you going to the game?” being whispered around and resounding yeses answering.
But we can’t rest yet Stags, we have not proved ourselves yet. Going to one, high-profile game is easy to do. In order to be taken seriously as a team and as a school among our peers we must support our team through every game. Small games, home games and away games.
And we’re not just talking men’s basketball, we mean women’s too, as well as volleyball, soccer, lacrosse and baseball among others. When someone sees us as students who aren’t proud of our school it should offend you, and we hope that our current basketball standing will cause a rebirth in spirit.
So welcome to stag country Chris Elsberry. You better get used to seeing us at the Yard because Stags will be in the stands.
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