Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- Fairfield Stags Hoops Forum

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Date Posted: 06:20:26pm 12/11/05 Sun,
Author: Loyola211
Subject: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics

Does it seem that even though we are on the move up in academics (with rising SAT scores, except this past year), and in athletics with our recent winning seasons and some sports like soccer and lacrosse starting to take hold, we fail to really breakout of the mold?

When can this school finally achieve excellence? Especially with our most visible and popular basketball program, we need to start consistently finishing in the top 3 and winning the MAAC championship.

I would assume that vonArx was brought on to strengthen the reputation of this school. If that is the case, he will need to start cleaning house and making some stiff performance requirements so that the school can start on a fastrack to success...

In many of the college guidebooks, there is always a note that says we are an upcoming school, but the lack of visibility from any competitive sports program (NCAA Div 1 basketball) is whats holding us back.

Cheers to hoping that this will change in the near future.

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Replies:

[> Re: Athletics and Academics -- DFW HOYA, 09:14:02pm 12/11/05 Sun, [1]

At a distance, I think dropping football set Fairfield's momentum back. The school's academics and athletics were beginning to draw the interest of the Patriot League for football, and while PL basketball may not be everyone's first choice, the idea of Fairfield being paired alongside Holy Cross instead of Iona or St. Peter's might have further elevated the school's image outside of the Tri-State area.

Sadly, the stature of MAAC basketball has retreated over the years (outside the sMAAC board, of course.)

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[> [> Xavier, Gonzaga and Marquette don't play football -- FUAlum, 01:45:30pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

Dropping football has had no effect on our school other than save us money because no one cares about Div. 1-AA unless you live in the South or Montana. More than 80% of them lose money big time, including Villanova. You don't need a football team to succeed in hoops, just ask other Catholic powers like Xavier, Gonzaga, DePaul and Marquette.
There are high schools in Virginia and Maryland that outdraw Hoya football games.

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[> [> Huh? -- DFW HOYA, 09:30:08pm 12/19/05 Mon, [1]

"There are high schools in Virginia and Maryland that outdraw Hoya football games."

There are high schools that outdraw basketball games too, so what? When your campus has less than 100 above ground parking spaces, you're not expecting 20,000 to show up.

The argument wasn't about succeeding in basketball, it was about visibility and building a well-rounded athletics program. Fairfield was on its way to doing so before dropping sports, and pinning all its hopes on MAAC basketball is not a time-tested strategy.

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[> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- Stags57, 11:52:50am 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

I couldn't agree more of the mediocrity of Fairfield athletics and what a drain the athletic program is on the academic status of the University. The3 administration just cannot seem to connect the dots. An excellent athletic program, especially in the most visible sports, generates a great deal of publicity, which in turns helps name recognition, which results in more interest in the University and a greater number of applicants, which results in more selectivity and a higher rating. Again, look at the schools that Fairfield applicants also apply to; Villanova, B.C; Holy Cross, Uconn, look at their name recognition and selectivity and tell me what they know that Fairfield doesn't. I think we should bring back football and hockey, build a nice on-campus arena, and demand excellence in each of our sports. I know that the alumn i association would support these moves, financially as well as emotionally.

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[> [> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- cmaynstag, 11:59:09am 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

Agree with hockey but D-1 AA football at FU is just not a big deal. If you're Furman, Maine or Youngstown State, then maybe but CT. is hardly a football hotbed. Your point on Holy Cross, Nova, BC, etc. is right on the money though!

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[> [> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- Rave, 12:28:11pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

Football had much more of a following than Hockey. Hockey was very expensive due to a lack of a facility. Football also helped in getting a better balance of male and minority students at the school. Football makes much more sense than hockey.

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[> [> [> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- cmaynstag, 12:46:44pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

How much was attendance at football games? Maybe 1,500? Most High Schools outdraw that in OH, PA, TX, and FL.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- Rave, 02:00:36pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

Most games were more than 2500 with a couple like Georgetown and Duquesne over 4000. While you are on the subject, how much did hockey draw? I don't think it drew flies; kind of like women's basketball.

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[> [> [> [> [> BRING BACK FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY -- Antman, 02:12:05pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- Stagophile, 02:37:17pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

I don't think you are asking the right question. Who cares what we drew in MAAC football and Atlantic Hockey. The question is what would we be drawing now in Patriot League football and ECAC Hockey. The decision to drop these sports made finanical sense at the time, however, they were terrible strategic decision in retrospect given the clear indication that the Patriot League is looking for another football school and Quinnipiac is playing in the elite ECAC Hockey league. I wish the administration had taken their time and gone to the alumni to see if the financial support existed to cover the gap that lost state funding created. I think most agree here that it was a knee jerk reaction especially in light of the record number of years the school has been run in the black. It's not like Fairfield is in financial straits.

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[> [> [> [> [> RAVE: Hockey actually drew quite well... -- campion109, 02:46:55pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

Wonderland holds like 1500 and it was packed for almost every home game when I was there. Furthermore, the club hockey team draws extremely well NOW.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Sorry but a correction -- Stags32, 12:09:33am 12/13/05 Tue, [1]

my friends and i go to every hockey game because our housemates play on the team. there has been more than 60 students at only one game, the first home one. the rest of the time its a group of 20 students. we tailgate in the parking lot and make a ruckus during the games. its a great time, but to say they draw extremely well is way off the charts as there have been games where there were 4 of us present

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Sorry but a correction -- Reality check, 07:49:43am 12/13/05 Tue, [1]

Some people on this board take a topic and run with it without any facts. Hockey college does not draw well at most schools, and it doesn't draw at Fairfield. Maybe if a rink was on campus and we shared it with the Prep, then maybe we would get about 500. Football drew OK at the beginning but after while attandance started to wane as the MAAC started to disintegrate. Going to the Patriot League could have saved it, but that was a major expenditure. Students will support athletics for meaningfull games irregardless of the sport. However, basketball does not have any special significance over other sports to most students. And I know that breaks many of your hearts. Sure more students go to basketball games than other sports, but winning is where its at.

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- cmaynstag, 03:35:35pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

Well said Stagophile. It would be nice to have both but...

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[> [> [> [> [> [> More Fuel to the fire -- Antman, 05:00:53pm 12/12/05 Mon, [1]

Georgetown has no trouble with Fairfield

That is the center headline when you go to the Men's College Basketball section in Yahoo Sports

There has to be some silver lining to the loosing. Maybe the Admin will come out with some statements and some actions to ensure students and alumni that they are behing a strong atheletic program at FU.

It is time to stop sleeping at the wheel and time to get to work.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: More Fuel to the fire -- Running Man, 02:10:59pm 12/13/05 Tue, [1]

Don't hold your breath!

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[> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- Loyola211, 11:25:54am 12/18/05 Sun, [1]

Did anyone have a chance to speak with President Fr. vonArx at the pre-game reception to ask him about his thoughts on the program?

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[> Re: Fairfield University: Mediocre Athletics and Academics -- Paulie74, 07:09:31pm 12/18/05 Sun, [1]

Guys, I wish the FU administration had the passion the folks on this forum have. I agree with one of the statements--time to clean house, frame and execute the vision and resource it right. Need some serious business people running sports and let the academics run the curriculum. Problem is the sports decisions are being made by the academics who don't have a clue about the real world.

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