Know Your Enemy

Sun Tzu's The Art of War were lessons on how to defeat your enemy during battle. At the end of Chapter 3, he states:

So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will fight without danger in battles.

As Notre Dame heads into battle tonight against George Mason, we must educate ourselves against our enemy. Thus, I present to you a comprehensive look at George Mason.

Everyone remembers George Mason for their insane run to the Final Four in 2006. It was impressive, it busted everyone's bracket, and no one cared. Everyone cheered for them, it was the classic David defeats Goliath. And Goliath's better brother. And his bigger best friend. And his even bigger step father, and his even bigger neighbor. Etc.

Well, 2 of those players still play a key roll for the Patriots. Folarin Campbell (not a made up name) is running the point and Will Thomas, who is their top defender (effectively shutting down Rudy Gay in that series).

Let's not also forget they have the same, very good coach Jim Larranaga. I am impressed that he did not leave for a bigger job after that Final Four run. He should be considered one of the best coaches in the tournament.

This year, this George Mason team has beat: Dayton, Kansas State, Drexel (by 47), South Carolina, and Delaware. Not exactly murder's row, but you can only play your schedule. In common opponents to Notre Dame, both the Irish and the Patriots beat Kansas State, while Notre Dame beat Villanova, where the Patriots could not.

The University of George Mason is located in Virginia (who knew!) "minutes away from DC". They have 3 campuses now, with 2 more opening in 2009, one of which is in the United Arab Emarites.

They were founded in 1957 as a branch of UVA, but then became an independent university in 1972.

They have the second largest student population in the "Commonwealth of Virginia". And are known to have a strong law, economics and public policy programs.

They have the 4th most diverse university in the country per the Princeton Review. That's gotta help the basketball team a bit.

They also list several "notable" alumni. Basically, its Karl Rove, Anna E Cabral (who they list as the Treasurer of the United Stats and who they also say is currently attending GMU Law. So wait, our Treasurer is a law student?!), the president of The Weather Channel, a couple of relief pitchers, and (this is the best) under famous athlete alumni: Greg Nosal, professional Foosball player.

Obviously, the school was named after George Mason. He was one of the father's of the Bill of Rights, and is considered a Founding Father. But what do we really know about him. Lets check out Wikipedia.

Well, almost right away it says that good ol' George was very coy about slavery. On one hand, he owned slaves, on the other, he favored the abolition of the slave trade. When it came time to write the Constitution, he was adamant about not including anything about slavery, either pro or con. Does this sound like a man you want to name the forth most diverse college after?

He also refused to sign the Constitution, instead, left the convention and returned to his home state. Sounds like a commie if you ask me. Due to this, George Washington essentially broke off his friendship with him, and its why we rarely hear of George Mason as a founding father anymore.

But the most damning piece of all on his Wiki page.... his direct descendant is: Paris Hilton. Thats right, Mason's tenth son Thomas Mason was Paris Hilton's seventh great grandfather.

I think we are now adequately knowledgeable in our opponent tonight.

Go Irish! Beat possibly racist, Constitution hating, Paris Hilton fathering, Karl Rove educating, United Arab Emarites building George Mason!