Oct. 19, 2001
Fairfield, Conn. -- More than 1,500 Fairfield basketball fans were welcomed to the 2001-02 season with a new home, a new look and their first peek at this year's edition of Fairfield University basketball.
The men's and women's basketball teams scrimmaged in front of the public for the first time this year, as part of the University's Arena Madness. The event took place at the Arena at Harbor Yard, a 9,500-seat arena which will serve as the Stags' new home.
"It was fun playing at Alumni Hall last year," sophomore Rob Thomson said. "But this place blows it away."
The night began with an introduction to the crowd, which the teams followed by sharing the court during 10 minutes of drills. Then, the women's team took the court and scrimmaged members of the women's basketball alumni. Fans were excited to see the likes of Jess Grossarth and Jen Natale back in a Fairfield uniform.
The men's team split itself in two for a red-black scrimmage. Head Coach Tim O'Toole watched his team delight the crowd with acrobatic dunks and long-range shooting. Fans gained their first glimpse of the Stags' newcomers, including transfer Ajou Deng.
Plus, the court featured Fairfield University's new basketball logo, which was unveiled to the media and public for the first time yesterday. "The new Stag is mean," Ayanna Brown said. "He's a lot more intimidating than the other stag."
The women's basketball team opens its season in the Arena on November 16 when it hosts Boston College. The men's basketball team begins the home portion of its schedule on November 27 when it plays the University of Rhode Island.
