Miraculous run has done the school's namesake proud

ESPN ^ | March 27, 2006 | Andy Katz

[detsaoT]

WASHINGTON -- Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage, the much-maligned NCAA Tournament selection committee chair, stood up to observe George Mason's on-court celebration Sunday afternoon and said, "Maybe we seeded them too low."

He was kidding. But even if George Mason were a single-digit seed instead of a No. 11, that probably wouldn't matter for historical purposes. This was the greatest run ever to the Final Four. End of discussion.

It's hard to gauge what this historic win has done for this university located just 20 miles from here, one that is named after one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, an idealist who refused to sign the document because he wanted the abolishment of slavery included (history lesson courtesy of head coach Jim Larranaga). Given that history, though, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the basketball team that bears George Mason's name has plenty of passion.

...

[detsaoT]

Ok, not to spoil the moment—I'm as happy as anyone that my future Alma Mater has had such a good run this season, but...

Check out the highlighted passage. From everything I've read, George Mason refused to sign the Constitution because it did not contain a specified Bill of Rights, an invention he brought into Virginia governance a little over a decade before. NEVER before have I even remotely heard this assertion.

Any historically-minded Freepers care to comment? Am I missing some of the historic record? Did Al Gore put it away in his mystical "Lock Box"?

I suspect this is yet another wonderful case of political-correctness run amok... but then again, if I had to work with a bunch of basketball players, I'd probably end up saying the same stuff... ;)

[I got the rope]

George Mason...slave owner.

[IRememberElian]

GMU's libertarian dominated econ dep't was shaped by Walter Williams. I'm sure most FReepers find this voice of freedom offensive.

[jocon307]

GMU BUMP! Who really cares about all that history stuff now?

FINAL FOUR BABY!!!!!!! FINAL FOUR!!!!!!!!!

You just gotta know G. Mason himself is doing the "woop there it is" dance in heaven, showing off to his fellow founding fathers.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. as Aretha sang!

[catholicfreeper]

True lol. I hate to root against Mason but I have to show some SEC pride and root for Florida. Even though Florida imho is the most dangerous team in the final 4 and LSU's biggest worry if they turn out to be the opponent if we beat UCLA

[catholicfreeper]

This would be a nice addition to any school's Trophy case. One nice piece of crystal. Even though this naming rights now for trophy's show this trend is getting out of hand. From there web site: Siemens Corporation today announced that it acquired naming rights for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) trophy awarded to the national men's college basketball champion. The prestigious Waterford Crystal "Siemens Trophy" will be displayed throughout the country at some of the biggest games of the 2004-2005 season and will be presented to the top ranked team in the ESPN/USA Today/Coaches poll during a press conference Tuesday morning, April 5 following the Monday night championship game.

[subterfuge]

The prestigious Waterford Crystal "Siemens Trophy" will be displayed throughout the country at some of the biggest games of the 2004-2005 season and will be presented to the top ranked team in the ESPN/USA Today/Coaches poll during a press conference Tuesday morning, April 5 following the Monday night championship game.

In my best "Vitalese", that hardware will be going to the University of Florida BABEEEEEEEEEEE!

[subterfuge]

Nice run for GW, but prepare yourself for the big BEATDOWN on Saturday!