....So this game not being played has everything to do with money, pride, control and things that have nothing to do with the merits of the game or the rivalry. I don't object to the game being played but I depart from others that it will ever be a true "rivalry" game. Uconn never considered us a rival when they beat us 27 times in a row, even though we say it as a rivalry game. The SHU contest won't be a true rivalry until the programs become equal, something I hope never happens.
By the way, why can't we create the SHU Buzz with Quinnipiac? Couldn't we promote it the same way with a home and away series? If I were in marketing, I would have done that since those game have to be played every year.
Agree, when this series began years ago promoted by many on this board, I never looked at this as a rivalry game. Dominance by one team is not a rivalry as noted above.
I was always opposed to this game as I believed it benefited SHU more than FU. They already get more than their fair share of attention in the area. And if we win, it's "so what, you beat SHU". You lose and it becomes local news.
What punched a hole in my position was when I saw the attendance.These games were consistently the best crowds we had at the WBA. As always, SHU did a better job promoting as demonstrated by the mix of attendees. And, also added some fun when their figure head AD, Bobby V. (another brilliant PR move) went out and got their fans fired up at one game.
So, I guess I land in the camp of play them on our terms. We always struggle with scheduling OOC games and here is one we can tick off with no travel costs no matter where it's played. But I would draw a red line at the Pitt Center. Based on past attendance, it just can't accommodate it.
Also agree, Quinny is a more natural rival. We are in the same conference seeking the same title every year. And, as typical in the MAAC, most teams are a whisker from landing in the PIG round. That's what creates a rivalry.
Last Edit: Jul 15, 2021 6:38:41 GMT -5 by paulie74
Agree. I feel Q is our biggest rival with Manhattan second. Not sure what’s more aggravating, losing any game to Q or sitting in Draddy for a Stag loss.
The TOT and Gonzo years had a Manhattan/Fairfield rivalry but Manhattan/Fordham is their biggest rivalry series. I think that Iona is and should be a bigger rivalry with the Stags plus Iona fans travel to the away games.
Sacred Heart is 6 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 7-0 since (2007-08) Quinnipiac is 34 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 6-8 (2011-12) Iona is 37 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 45-69 (1949-50) Fordham is 44 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 13-30 (1961-62) Manhattan is 47 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 50-56 (1953-54) St. Peter's is 70 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 58-60 (1950-51) Marist is 70 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 39-25 (1979-80) UConn is 85 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, 5-28 (1969-70) Holy Cross is 120 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 20-22 (1949-50) Providence is 127 miles from the Arena & Convocation Center, vs 5-32 (1948-49)
The Fairfield/SHU rivalry goes well beyond a basketball game. And anybody who was at the game, and walked the concourse, saw that was it a special. It brought out more than a game for that day. ...... both CT Post stories, Both Chearleaders, ..... fans for both schools, Videos for the week .
Just not excited about the possibility of playing SHU. Not to minimize the attendance uptick which has really had no impact on the program, IMHO I'd rather time and resources be spent on playing an old-time rival like a Fordham.
Then again, I guess I'd rather play SHU then some other NEC team.
Just not excited about the possibility of playing SHU. Not to minimize the attendance uptick which has really had no impact on the program, IMHO I'd rather time and resources be spent on playing an old-time rival like a Fordham.
Then again, I guess I'd rather play SHU then some other NEC team.
Yea, pretty much how I feel. No objection, just nothing to gain, still probably better than a home game versus St. Francis or mount saint mary's.....
Both teams are local. It's the most likely to draw consistent interest. SHU may even be a school on the rise. Not everything has to be about strength of schedule.
I'd rather play a series with Yale than SHU to be honest. No offense to the Pioneers, but Yale is the better program right now, plus they've always felt more like a rival to me than SHU.
Going to New Haven is also fun, I like getting some Pepe's pizza before the game, then hitting the bars around Yale afterwards.
Also, if you are a fan of 'classic' old-time venues, then the unique sight-lines and sounds of the John J. Lee Amphitheater is the perfect place to watch a game. However if you only like the newer modern arenas I'm sure you would feel differently. But that aside, concerning the Yale team and program, in the last half decade of play they have quite frankly been a lot better than the Hearts, the Stags and all the other mid-level D-1 schools in the state. Indeed from the time of their NCAA tournament victory over Baylor in 2016 the Bulldogs have been constantly close to or in the top 25 of the MM polls and have produced a few professional players including one in particular in Miye Oni who has played in the NBA. But moving forward it will be interesting to see how much damage will have occurred to their squad and all the other Ivies because of this last season when the league shut down and didn't play thereby causing a lot of defections of players. Anyway no matter how strong they are in their return post Pandemic, a home and home contract between the two schools would be a great thing IMO. However to this point I have heard zero talk about something like that actually happening.
Last Edit: Jul 19, 2021 17:51:36 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Fairfield vs Yale (13-10), first played in (1976-77).
Last game was Nov. 13 2015, a 57-70 loss in CIT at New Britain (CCSU).
Wasn’t that a CT6 game, not a CIT game.
You are correct. In fact in the previous meeting before that one between the two schools, the Stags defeated the Bulldogs in the CIT in a game played in Bridgeport in 2012 (Sydney Johnson's first season).
76, Yup, my bad, my typo. CT6 not CIT but at least I had two of the three letters correct.
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The statistics did not merit what the final result really was. Keeping the opposition to a field goal percentage under 40 percent and to a three-point field goal percentage under 30 percent would seem enough to win the game. But foul trouble and a deficit in rebounding proved too much for the Fairfield University men's basketball team to overcome in its season opener with Yale University as the Stags fell to the Bulldogs by a 70-57 count in the first game of the Connecticut 6 Classic. The setback was the first time that the Stags did not come out on a top in the seven-year history of the Classic.....