George Mason Patriots

George Mason Patriots
University George Mason University
Conference Atlantic 10 Conference
NCAA Division I
Athletic director Brad Edwards
Location Fairfax, Virginia
Varsity teams 22
Basketball arena EagleBank Arena
Baseball stadium Spuhler Field
Soccer stadium George Mason Stadium
Lacrosse stadium George Mason Stadium
Mascot The Patriot (formerly Gunston)
Nickname Patriots
Colors Green and Gold[1]
         
Website www.gomason.com

The George Mason Patriots are the athletic teams of George Mason University (GMU) of Fairfax, Virginia.[2] The Patriots compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference for most sports.[3]

History

The Patriots began to move from NAIA and NCAA Division II status into the NCAA Division I ranks with men’s basketball in the 1978-1979 season. According to the History of George Mason basketball, both the men's and women's basketball program have been fixtures of campus life. Within a few years, all other sports also were elevated to Division I status. George Mason reached its current level of 20 varsity sports with the addition of women’s lacrosse (1993–1994), women’s rowing (1997–1998) and men’s and women’s swimming & diving (1999–2000). In addition, George Mason has fielded a varsity club football team since 1993 that competes intercollegiately. Their opponents range from other club teams to NCAA Division I-FCS programs. GMU was a founding member of the CAA but joined the Atlantic 10 in 2013.

Teams

A member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, George Mason University sponsors teams in eleven men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[4]

Championships and titles

National Championships

The Patriots have won 2 NCAA team championships, 23 George Mason student-athletes have claimed 35 individual national championships, and 13 George Mason teams have made more than 117 NCAA postseason appearances since the school opened.

Men's

Women's

NCAA Tournament appearances

Men's

Women's

  • Soccer
  • Volleyball

Colonial Athletic Association titles

Mason athletes have captured 280 individual CAA championships.

Men's

  • Baseball (2)
  • Basketball (4) Regular Season Championships and (4) Conference Tournament Championships
  • Soccer (4)
  • Track & field (6)
  • Wrestling (5)

Women's

  • Cross Country (4)
  • Soccer (1)
  • Swimming & Diving (4)
  • Track & Field (9) (all consecutive from 1990–1998)
  • Volleyball (7, including 5 in a row from 1992–1996)

Atlantic 10 titles

Mason has captured 4 team A-10 championships.

Men's

  • Soccer (1)2013
  • Baseball (1)2014
  • Cross Country (1) 2014

Women's

  • Indoor Track & Field (1)2014
  • Outdoor Track & Field (1)2014

Baseball

Basketball

Men's basketball

While many of the school's athletic programs have had historical seasons, the men's basketball program remains the flagship sport at the University. The men's basketball team has played at the Patriot Center since 1985 and played the prior years in the PE Building on the west side of the Fairfax Campus. The men's basketball team has made the NCAA tournament six times (1989, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2008, and 2011) and the NIT tournament four times (1986, 2002, 2004 and 2009). The Patriot basketball team is most famous for its 2006 NCAA run to the Final Four. GMU beat perennial powers UNC, Connecticut, and Michigan State, as well as a highly ranked Wichita State team, before losing to eventual National Champion Florida in the Final Four.

The program's largest rivals include conference foes George Washington, Virginia Commonwealth, and James Madison. With new rivalries forming with their induction to the A-10.

The best-known player in Patriots history is George Evans, a Gulf War veteran who played from 1997–2001 and was a CAA player of year three consecutive seasons. He shares the CAA record with NBA legend David Robinson for winning the award three straight times. Other Patriot standouts include Andre Gaddy, Carlos Yates, Kenny Sanders, Curtis McCants, Nate Langley, Robert Dykes, Robert Rose, Jason Miskiri, Jai Lewis, Lamar Butler, Tony Skinn, Gabe Norwood, Folarin Campbell, and Will Thomas.

Women's basketball

Soccer

Men's soccer

Men’s soccer was one of the first varsity sports to be offered when the then George Mason College began its athletic program in the late 1960s. Since then, it has become one of the most successful programs among the 22 NCAA Division I sports currently offered. In the 39-year history of George Mason soccer, the program has a record of 377-264-76 for a winning percentage of .579. The Patriots have posted at least 10 victories in 23 of those seasons, including 14 in a row from 1980–93, and they have finished a season nationally ranked nine times (1981, '82, '84, '85, '87, '88, '90, '92 and '96) in the last 24 years. At George Mason Stadium, the team’s 5,000-seat home field which opened for the 1982 season, the Patriots have a record of 140-61-26 (.674 winning percentage). The men's team has reached the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship eight times (1985, '86, '87, '89, '90, '96, 2006 and 2008). Notable former players include Joe Addo, Denis Hamlett, Ritchie Kotschau, Bob Lilley, Tamir Linhart, Anthony Noreiga, John O'Hara, Mark Pulisic, Conor Shanosky, John Borrajo, Sean Kelley , and Brent Brockman.

George Mason won the A-10 conference championship their first year in the league (2013).

Track and field

Notable athletes

Club sports

Spuhler Field at George Mason University

In addition to its NCAA Division I sports, George Mason fields club teams in the following sports:[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Color | The George Mason University Brand Profile". Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  2. ↑ "Welcome to George Mason University". Gmu.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  3. ↑ "Atlantic 10 Conference Official Athletic Site". Atlantic10.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  4. ↑ "The Official Athletic Site Of George Mason University". George Mason Athletics. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  5. ↑ http://www.ncaa.com/history/trackfield-indoor-men/d1
  6. ↑ http://www.ncaa.com/history/soccer-women/d1
  7. ↑ George Mason fields club teams
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