It’s only the middle of January and I am consumed by an early case of March Madness. No, it’s not spring break I’m looking forward to, but the NCAA Tournament, with big time college basketball games with the likes of Duke, Florida, Maryland, and Kansas.
And this season, even the overlooked Fairfield Stags have the NCAA Tournament on their mind. With the heralded addition of Ajou Deng to the Stags lineup, the only piece of the puzzle still in question is the sixth man, the home court advantage provided by the fans.
I don’t know about you, but whenever I turn on ESPN and there’s a college basketball game, the thing that strikes me the most is the arena full of fans. At the tip-off, the fans are always on their feet, screaming and jumping up and down until the first basket is scored.
Clearly what comes to mind is the Cameron Crazies, the Blue and White-clad fans at Duke University. During the recent Duke game against Maryland, the players on the court could feel the court shaking underneath their feet as the game started.
I know Duke is a great basketball team with national prominence and our team is below .500 in one of the weaker conferences, but all that aside, there is no reason we can’t have nearly the same fan support that Duke and many other colleges enjoy.
This year’s squad is very talented and will only get better as the season progresses. At the Jan. 14 game both Ajou Deng and Deng Gai put on a show with many impressive rejections and three near successful alley-oop tries. These two big men, along with Co-Captain Sam Spann and the rest of the supporting crew, bring to the court an explosive array of talent and skill that puts Fairfield in a position to dethrone last year’s conference champion Iona.
The difference may come down to the fans and the atmosphere at the new Arena at harbor yard. Much credit should be given to the so-called “super fans” that show their Stag spirit at games dressed in black and red. But their efforts are not enough.
We need more people to come to home basketball games. You don’t have to be a super fan with a painted face, all I ask is that you bring you vocal support. You as a fan can make a difference and this is how it works. If the arena is full of people rooting for the home team, yelling at the other team and trying to distract them as they shoot free throws at the foul line, then you will not only have given up two hours of your day for your university, but you can then take pride in the fact that you helped your team win.
I have been to all the home games as a member of the pep band and, take it from me, you will not be disappointed if you go to a game. You will be entertained by blocks, dunks, and fast-paced action of Fairfield basketball along with its Red Sea of fans. So come support your Fairfield Men and Women’s basketball teams in their quest to reach the NCAA tournament.
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