Although the 2008-2009 academic year is just a few months old, it has already been a great year for Fairfield athletics.
It seems as if every week another team accomplishes another feat. From the rugby team making the playoffs to the basketball teams being ranked second in the conference to the soccer teams making the NCAA tournament, it has been a season of success.
The men’s soccer team was just the latest to make news as the Stags defeated Loyola, the No. 6 ranked team in the country and Fairfield’s biggest rival, to win the MAAC Championship and advance to the NCAA tournament. It is always a good thing for a university to send its athletic teams to the national tournament, as it puts the school’s name on the map.
For the second time in three years, Fairfield will face in-state rival UConn in the NCAA tournament. Last time the Stags played against UConn, they were able to pull off one of the most important victories in school history, defeating the Huskies 2-1 to advance into the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Now Fairfield has a chance to do it again.
Although it is difficult to measure Fairfield against a large state school like UConn, it is a good sign that the University’s athletic teams are succeeding. Often success on the athletic fields leads to success in the classroom; as a team’s name becomes more well-known, the visibility of the school grows.
UConn itself is a perfect example. Back in the 1980s, the sports programs were an after-thought and the academics were low. It was jokingly referred to as a safety school within the state. But now it can boast one of the best athletic departments in the country and it is also one of the most academically successful. Donations have increased rapidly and so have applications.
While advancing to the NCAA tournament in soccer may not have the same effect as winning a couple National Championships in men’s and women’s basketball, such as is the case at UConn, making the NCAA tournament in any sport is still a good thing.
It has been a golden year for athletics and it is not yet close to being over. The volleyball team heads to Albany for the MAAC Championship this week and is favored to win. The expectations are high for men’s and women’s basketball.
It is a great time to be a Stag.
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