College Sports Established
1957
Location
Fairfax, Virginia
College Name
George Mason University
Collegiate History
1979 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2013 - Present / Atlantic 10 Conference
1979 - 2013 / Colonial Athletic Association
Nickname
Patriots - Sports fans everywhere know the name George Mason Patriots, but few may be aware of the origins of their nickname. The George Mason Patriots are a NCAA Division I basketball team in Fairfax, Virginia. They compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference and have won two conference titles since joining in 2013.
The story behind the origin of this unique mascot dates back to 1972 when then-George Mason College became an independent university after separating from its parent school University of Virginia (UVA). At that time, students wanted to create a distinct identity for their new college. They chose “Patriots” as its official mascot - partly due to UVA's longstanding patriotic ties, with Thomas Jefferson being one of its founders. Thus began an exciting tradition that has continued through today!
To further honor this rich history, athletic teams at GMC adopted "Mason" into their nickname as well – thus becoming known affectionately by many fans as “the Patriots” or simply “Mason." This is why you will often see references such as "GMU," "GMC," or even just plain old "Mason" on jerseys and other sports memorabilia associated with George Mason Athletics! It's also worth noting that while most people associate Patriotism only with America, it comes from Latin roots meaning 'of one's country.' So no matter where you're from around the world – if you cheer for GMU, chances are good that your patriotism runs deep too!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1967
- 1972
- 2002
- 2006
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Looking Back at the First Men’s Basketball Team
The team played their first game on November 25, 1967, against the United States Merchant Marine Academy, winning 84-67. They finished their inaugural season with a record of 9-8, including wins over Navy, American University, and Catholic University. The team was coached by Jack Kvancz, who would go on to become one of the winningest coaches in program history with ... -
George Mason men’s soccer team wins the Division II national championship
In 1972: The George Mason men’s soccer team wins the Division II national championship, defeating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2-1 in the final. -
baseball team wins the CAA championship
In 2002: The baseball team wins the CAA championship and earns an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in program history, falling to Notre Dame in the South Bend Regional. -
Jai Lewis – MVP of the CAA Tournament
Jai Lewis – Lewis played for the George Mason men’s basketball team from 2002-2006 and was a key player on the team that made the Final Four in 2006. He was named to the All-CAA First Team in 2006 and was the MVP of the CAA Tournament that year.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Patriots
The school's first season as a varsity sport was during 1975-76 under head coach Joe Harrington, who led them to their first-ever winning record at 11–9 overall and 7–3 conference mark. Since then, they have become one of the most successful programs, with numerous NCAA tournament appearances and several A-10 regular season titles. They have also won two NIT championships and made three Final Four appearances since 2006, including runner-up for the national championship game against Florida Gators in the 2006 March Madness Tournament run by Jai Lewis & Co.
In recent years, under head coach Dave Paulsen, the Patriots were able to make it all way up until the Elite 8 round, where they fell short against Connecticut Huskies. This success has helped put this small university from Northern Virginia on the map nationally regarding the college basketball landscape. As we look forward to upcoming seasons, we can only hope that future teams will be able to bring the same type of success as past ones did so we can continue to see our beloved George Mason Patriots fight toward the top!
Sports Fan Products
