No football, no baseball, no problem for Loyola students

By Kyle Anderson Staff Writer

A walk around campus can tell you a lot about a school. When walking on the quad here at Loyola, one can not help but notice a myriad of Phillies hats and Red Sox sweatshirts. Those who previously donned the Orioles, Yankees and Mets caps now wear their Ravens, Giants and Jets apparel proudly. I think I might have even seen a Tampa Bay Devil Rays hat somewhere around, too.

Walking through the dorms on Sundays, one is certain to see dozens of students wearing their favorite football jerseys and probably hear dozens more screaming at their televisions after a crucial turnover. The day of a huge game for the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox or Orioles will surely be accompanied by a sea of team hats, shirts, sweatshirts or any other clothing item with a team logo. Needless to say, Loyola students love baseball and football.

Now this may seem obvious, but it is interesting to note that Loyola has no varsity football or baseball team.

College football is one of the most popular sports in the country, with millions of viewers tuned in every week to watch their alma mater take on its most hated rival. Likewise, college baseball also draws abundant fans, as the College World Series can be one of the most exciting playoffs, just ask Fresno State, the upset winner of the 2008 College World Series.

Seemingly every major school has a huge football or baseball program that has been established throughout the years. Schools like Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, Georgia and countless others are known primarily for their impressive football and baseball programs. Needless to say it seems Loyola will never be among the schools that pride themselves in their collegiate football or baseball programs.

So why don't Loyola students want their school to be like every other one? Why are Loyola students not clamoring for a varsity football or baseball team? The simple answer is, they don't have to.

Loyola does not need to have a football or baseball program when it boasts two excellent teams in currently less popular, yet quickly growing sports: soccer and lacrosse.

Presently the men's soccer team is ranked #12 in the country and is undefeated with a record of 10-0-1.

Last season, in 2007, the men's soccer team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship, and was narrowly defeated in the NCAA tournament. The two previous years, in 2006 and 2005, the men made it to the MAAC semifinals before being eliminated. It is clear that Loyola's men's soccer team is steadily improving and is currently making a name for itself in the national polls, and to a national audience.

The Loyola men's lacrosse team has experienced much success in its history and has most recently won the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship in 2008. The team is a perennial contender for a NCAA berth, and was most recently eliminated from the NCAA tournament by #1 ranked Duke in the 2008 NCAA tournament. The Greyhounds are also part of one of the most historic and exciting rivalries in college lacrosse, against Johns Hopkins. It is always certain that no matter who the men's lacrosse team is playing, they will surely give the fans something to cheer about.

The women's soccer team most recently made the NCAA tournament in 2007 and has previously made the tournament in 2004 and 2003. The women currently hold a seven match unbeaten streak and have turned it around since the beginning of the year.

The women also reached the MAAC semifinals in 2006 and 2005. Finally, the women's lacrosse team at Loyola is another group worth cheering for. The women posted a 14-4 record in 2004 and are looking to find this success in their 2008-2009 season.

It has become apparent that Loyola is not like every other school. Loyola does not have a prestigious football program that attracts national attention, nor does Loyola have a baseball team that has produced numerous Major League stars.

If Loyola had started a football or baseball program, how many fans would miss out on the great things these soccer and lacrosse teams are doing because they were too busy watching a sport they are already overexposed too?

That exciting 5-4 win the men's soccer team had against Quinnipiac last Saturday would have been missed by nearly all, as the football team would have played that Saturday.

Anyone can watch college football on television. Seeing the Johns Hopkins-Loyola lacrosse game is something special that only students and local fans can enjoy. Anyone can watch Georgia play Fresno State in the College World Series. How many people can watch Loyola's men's soccer team go down to the wire with Maryland in the NCAA tournament?

Maybe Loyola isn't like other schools, in that we aren't obsessed with our college football and baseball programs. But judging by the number of fans at our lacrosse and soccer games, and the success of these teams, it becomes apparent that Loyola students do not want to be like every other school. We'll gladly take our thrilling soccer and lacrosse teams over the mediocre football and baseball teams most other school have.

No football? No baseball? To me, no problem.