Stags News Bites

MLS combine rosters announced: A quick update on men's soccer player Alex Cunliffe, who is participating in the MLS combine from January 4-8 in Ft. Lauderdale. Cunliffe will play for Adidas Teamgeist, one of four teams that will play against each other in two games, starting today Cunliffe's team will be coached by Brown University's Mike Noonan.

Yesterday Cunliffe and the other players participated in player performance testing, player organizational training, and small games.

Cunliffe's first game will be tomorrow at Lockhart Stadium against Adidas Team Tricolore. Towson's Nigel Marples, who played against Cunliffe and Fairfield in the second round of the NCAA tournament earlier this Fall, is on Team Tricolore.

Buzz Carrick, who writes for ESPN and 3rd Degree, the FC Dallas news source, ranked Cunliffe as the 34th best midfielder at the Combine. Carrick called Cunliffe's senior year "outstanding" and said that "He could have two years as a YI." A YI or youth international, is any internationally born player who is under 25. Each MLS team has 3 of these slots on their roster. Since Cunliffe is 23 in 2007, he can fill one of those slots for two years, making his value to a team higher.

It is hard to say how accurate these rankings are, because of the difficulty of watching college soccer, with the lack of television coverage. However, these are the most reliable rankings available.

MLS Press Release

MAAC, ESPNU sign deal to 2010: Many small conferences have signed deals with cable TV networks over the past weeks. The MAAC is the latest to do so, with the 2 year old ESPNU, which is in the process of trying to expand the amount of televisions tuned in to the station. The MAAC has little to no television exposure right now, so any at this point is good, even though ESPNU is seen in few households right now.

The biggest benefit for the MAAC should be the amount of publicity ESPN can bring. It wants to promote ESPNU and therefore will promote the MAAC and the games it will show. ESPN will also be allowed to show games on ESPN360 (online streaming), video on demand, and pay-per-view. It can also distribute games on its family of networks, including ESPN and ESPN2. The channel will broadcast at least 8 men's basketball games and 4 Olympic sports each year. ESPN will also broadcast the men's and women's basketball championships on ESPN or ESPN2 each season.

Fairfield will play two games on ESPNU this season and that could expand to more games in the future.

Even if the MAAC games cannot be seen on Fairfield fans TV sets, it will be good to have the games broadcast around the country. Any attention on MAAC and Fairfield sports is good.

MAAC Press Release

Lobo to appear at MAAC Championship: Fairfield University will host the MAAC Girls in the Game clinic on January 15. The participating girls will also attend a Fairfield women's basketball game and the MAAC Championship game at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. At that game the girls will receive a special presentation from Rebecca Lobo, the former UConn Huskies star and former Connecticut Sun player.

Girls from ages 4-8 can apply online or at Fairfield's game against Marist on January 6 at Alumni Hall for $10.

Seems like a good way to promote Fairfield basketball and to bring more young fans to the women's games, which don't always get the best attendance.

Fairfield Press Release