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NEW YORK, N.Y. -- More than 100 alumni, friends, and fans came together in the Big Apple to celebrate the upcoming Fairfield University men's and women's basketball seasons and honor two legendary college basketball writers at the annual Stags annual New York City Friends of Basketball reception.
University President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., Director of Athletics Gene Doris, Head Women's Basketball Coach Joe Frager, and Head Men's Basketball Head Coach Sydney Johnson hosted the reception as friends of the program gathered in downtown Manhattan. The night included season previews by the two head coaches as well as a panel discussion with WFAN Radio (660 AM) Mark Malusis, Rich Ackerman, and Bob Heussler, who also serves as the men's basketball team's play-by-play announcer.
But everyone would agree that the highlight of the night was the debut of the Leader of the Herd Award which was established to honor individuals for their lifetime achievement in the sport of basketball. The inaugural awards went to Jim O'Connell and Dick "Hoops" Weiss. The legendary writers have a combined 80 years of award-winning coverage of college basketball including a total of 77 N.C.A.A. championships..
"This was a great night for Fairfield basketball," Doris said after the event. "In addition to previewing the upcoming basketball seasons, we were also able to honor the careers of OC (O'Connell) and Hoops. This is a great way to celebrate the game of basketball while bringing together our alumni and friends."
The two basketball teams have an exciting season ahead as both teams will play national powers in the state of Connecticut this year. The women's team, which opens the year against UAB at the Texas A&M tournament on November 8, hosts the University of Oklahoma at Webster Bank Arena on December 18. The men's team, which starts the campaign against Sacred Heart University on November 9 at Webster Bank Arena, will play defending national champion University of Louisville on November 23 at Mohegan Sun Arena, a game that is part of the Naismith Hall of Fame Tip Off.
Season tickets, mini ticket plans, and individual game tickets are now on sale. For season and mini plans, please call the Fairfield University ticket office at (203) 254-4136 or email Helen Smaldone at hsmaldone@fairifield.edu. Women's basketball individual tickets can be purchased online through Ticketleap, while men's basketball individual tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
