Like any fan, a true Binghamton University athletics fan must know his rival inside and out. Since Binghamton competes in the America East in most sports, including the revenue sports of soccer, basketball and lacrosse, the BU fan must know his AE enemies above all else. Over the next four weeks, Pipe Dream will be presenting a primer on the AE teams so that by the time basketball season runs around, you fans will be a well-oiled machine.
This issue: University at Albany
The Basics
Location: Albany, N.Y.
Colors: Purple and Gold
Nickname: Great Danes
Nickname conjures up: Images of noble mystery-solving dogs like Scooby Doo.
Mascots: Damien the Great Dane and his little brother, Lil’ D.
Mascot conjures up: Images of scared mystery-solving dogs like Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo.
Reputation: Big time athletics (once ranked No. 2 in the nation in men’s lacrosse), bigger time partying (once ranked No. 1 in the nation in partying).
The dirt
We hate them because: It was our safety school yet they continue to dominate in athletics (we’d like to think) thanks to their lower academic standards; their fans didn’t come out until the recent success; everyone knows someone from there and they like to rub their success, such as almost being the first No. 16 seed to win an NCAA tournament game, in our (much smarter) faces.
Our rivals in: Everything. They are our upstate SUNY rivals and a team we must beat in everything. But it’s best beating them in men’s basketball and lacrosse because of their recent success in them.
They rule in: Unfortunately also everything. The Great Danes took home America East Championships last season in: men’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, men’s indoor track, and men’s and women’s outdoor track. That’s in one season alone.
When can you root for them: This one’s debatable, but I’m going to go out and say that it’s OK to root for our sworn rivals in the national tournaments because any attention they get is good for the America East and SUNY schools.
Professional comparison: New England Patriots ‘ like the Patriots, the Danes had a history of futility in athletics until this century and have suddenly risen to the top of the conference. Not much history there, but a nice story to support (if you’re into that sort of thing).
The history
Brag about: The 2005 AE volleyball championship that BU won on their court, handing then No. 6 in the country Albany its first AE loss last season at the East Gym Complex, Binghamton’s 11-1 record in the past 12 women’s soccer matches.
Cringe when they mention: Upsetting the regular season champion Bearcats in last Spring’s AE baseball championship, 2004 upset of the undefeated regular season conference champion Binghamton men’s lacrosse team in the AE championship, back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for men’s basketball, national exposure for both their men’s basketball and lacrosse teams.
Names to remember for 2007-2008: Brett Wilson and Brian Lillis (men’s basketball), Ashley Crenshaw and Amanda Crowley (volleyball), Jordan Levine and Brett Queener (men’s lacrosse).
Next chance to see them on campus: Oct. 27 men’s soccer senior day versus Albany.
Bottom line: This is the team to beat every season, but Albany’s success should inspire BU. They moved to Division I with us, have been along with Binghamton every step of the way and are now a very respected mid-major program. They’re going to be very good at everything again, especially men’s lacrosse, volleyball and men’s basketball so a win over them in any sport is huge and should be celebrated accordingly. And any victory over Albany is special, if only because they are a bunch of safety school front-runners.