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Date Posted: 13:04:59 01/30/03 Thu
Author: StagHer86
Subject: "Resurgence of the Red Sea"-Fairfield U. Mirror article

From today's Fairfield Mirror, let's hope the students make it out tonight--we need their spirit!


Resurgence of the Red Sea?
By Mike Pignataro

"They [the student body] haven't been there all year, it was a great environment to play in tonight."

Freshman forward Dewitt Maxwell made the comment after the men's basketball game last Thursday that drew 5,251 fans, the second largest-ever.

It was a great environment to be a part of.

Too bad it doesn't happen more often.

The Stags have grown accustomed to playing in front of a couple thousand fans, including former NBA star Manute Bol, but very few students this year.

But why? The team is off to its best start in almost two decades. The team has one of the nation's leading shot-blockers and best defensive player in the league. The team is in first place and even considered a possible Cinderella team by ESPN.com.

When's the last time Fairfield and Cinderella team were used in the same sentence?

One would think that it's a no-brainer to go out and support the team, right?

Wrong. The apathetic nature of Fairfield students prevents them from taking the initiative and getting on the bus to the game.

No kidding, Alumni Hall was more convenient for students to attend. But the arena provides an improved venue that has attracted more fans in general, but has just lacked the support from the students.

Whatever happened to the days of Alumni Hall when the place was packed with screaming Fairfield students faces painted in red in the bleachers behind the basket?

Whatever happened to that "red sea" of students that came out game-in and game-out, no matter how bad the Stags were or what night of the week it was?

Those same students erupted to see now part-time Fairfield assistant coach Chris Rivers torch Canisius for 40 points, the second most in school history, on a Monday night two years ago.

Those same drunken students antagonized the opposing fans that created mocking chants that went back and forth.

That's the atmosphere The Arena at Harbor Yard has been lacking this year.

But last Thursday's student turnout gave us all a glimpse of what was and made one think that it still can be.

"The whole campus was buzzing ... It's been a long time since I remember that kind of excitement," said head coach Tim O'Toole after the Manhattan game.

Return of the Red Sea?

Not quite. But with five out of the next six games at home, students have the opportunity to revitalize the "superfans" of old and bring back the electric atmosphere of Alumni Hall.

The ball is in your court.

It starts tonight.

Will you be there?

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