Should Longwood Play Hampden-Sydney?
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The last Longwood-HSC match up in Willett attracted nearly 2,500 fans.[/caption]
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The hiring of Mario Huffman to join the Lancers staff and a new regime under coach Gee may ignite an old debate; should Longwood play crosstown rival Hampden-Sydney annually? Believe it or not, Longwood is 0–3 all-time in regular season games against the Tigers. The last contest came in 2004 when Longwood lost at Hampden-Sydney 73–67 (I’m still fuming over Lamar Barrett not getting enough playing time in the second half!).
Longwood and HSC did face off the next year in a sold out preseason game in Willett to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Lancers won 87–71.
The Big South is restricting non-Division I games to just two this year. We’ve come accustomed to a rotation of UVA-Wise, Southern Virginia, Washington Adventist, Central Penn, the list goes on and on. Some of those names may change with the new coaching staff, but will Hampden-Sydney even be a thought?
I get by taking on HSC you have nothing to gain and everything to lose, so that’s why I think a preseason series should be reignited between the two schools. Hampden-Sydney has a solid Division III program and would certainly be a challenging preseason game. Many teams have a challenging exhibition slate against crosstown rivals and lose from time to time. VCU has lost to Virginia Union, Syracuse has lost to Le Moyne, and Michigan State has lost to Grand Valley State.
I’d even propose that with a new team that is expected to have nine new players would benefit from a “baptism by fire” of sorts and Longwood should visit Hampden-Sydney to start off the series. A lot can be learned from persevering through a tough, hostile environment against a quality opponent. The game could become a tradition and serve as some sort of fundraiser, as it has in the past. The game wouldn’t be for a record, but rather for pride.
