Happy Wednesday Patriots. The good news is that the Patriots summer is going better than Brennan and Dale’s Prestige Worldwide pitch in Step Brothers.

In fact, Mason is literally going world wide this summer, reaching the other side of the globe and back. Soccer, basketball, track… you name it, the Green and Gold global effect is real.

What all is stirring in today’s Brew? You don’t want to miss!

⚽️ Welcoming Committee
🇨🇦 Canadian Connection
🏀 You’re The Only Ten I See…
​⭐ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Welcoming Committee. One of the world’s most well-known sporting clubs. One of the top clubs in the English premier league. A digital reach of over 50 million.

Arsenal FC is all of that and this week, Mason’s campus is home is their home.

Tonight, they will take on the MLS All-Star squad at Audi Stadium, but to prepare for tonight’s showing, they’ve been using Mason’s Soccer Stadium as it's home turf for practice and walk-throughs.

Some of the best futbol players in the world, on our turf.

🔼 Maple Syrup For Everyone! Our friends from up north are even friendlier with us Patriots now after the latest addition to Mason’s men’s basketball program.

A 6-foot-3-inch guard from Brampton, Ontario, Baraka Okojie reclassified to the Class of 2023 and will join the Patriots as a true freshman in 2023-24. 

A First Team SIAA All-State selection in 2023, Okojie impressed for Daytona Beach DME Academy this past season where he lead his team to the top seed in the Florida state tournament and a top-10 ranking on MaxPreps. He served as team captain while averaging 14 points, five assists and five rebounds per game.

A McDonald's All-America Game nominee, Okojie also was selected to the 2023 All Canadian Biosteel Games Roster.

Okojie has represented his home country on the biggest stages as a member of the Canadian U-16 and U-17 National Teams. He is an alternate for the U-19 team. 

🔼 “Everything I could have hoped for.” No matter how many advertisements or great commercials we may see, we all know that recommendations from friends or others are the best way to peak our interest.

Grace Furlong was a two-year standout for the women’s track & field squad, earning silver medal status at the A10 Indoor and Outdoor Championship meets this past year. Her silver medal in the triple jump was a part of Mason’s 2023 Women’s Track & Field Atlantic 10 Championship victory.

This past week, Furlong reflected back to her journey to the US from Ireland and what it’s been like.

‘Every aspect of life in the US has been beyond anything I could have hoped for’

🔼 You’re the Only 🔟 I See. No cheesy pick-up lines will be throw around in Knoxville this December, but Mason’s men’s basketball team will be there to take on one of the SEC’s top teams over the past five years.

This week, the Patriots announced a December 5th matchup against Tennessee at Thompson Boling Arena.
 
It will mark the second all-time matchup between the Patriots and Volunteers. In the only other meeting, George Mason picked up a 58-55 win over the Tennessee in the first round of the 2004 NIT, held at EagleBank Arena.
 
The 2023-24 edition of the Volunteers is a fixture in preseason Top-25 polls across the country heading into next season's campaign. ESPN's Jeff Borzello pegs the Volunteers at No. 6 in his preseason rankings, while CBS Sports' Gary Parrish has Tennessee at No. 14. National pundits Jon Rothstein and Jeff Goodman have the Vols at No. 14 and No. 15, respectively.

🔼 Power Pair. When you talk about ambassadors, there’s no one better to represent the Green and Gold than these two Patriots.

This week, Annabelle Eastman and Aly Rayle were both announced by the Atlantic 10 Conference as nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. They were two of just 17 student-athlete nominees from the Atlantic 10.

The 17 institutional nominees have been recognized for their leadership skills, their academic prowess, exceptional athletic success and for their community service. The candidates have noteworthy credentials, garnering All-Conference awards, postseason championship participation and national and A-10 academic honors.

One of the most prestigious NCAA awards, the NCAA established the Woman of the Year Award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics.

Now in its 33rd year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

🌠 THE LEWIS ERA

The Dawn Of A New Era. July 1st officially started a new era of George Mason Athletics.

That was the day that Marvin Lewis, a former star collegiate student-athlete himself, officially took over the reins as the Athletic Director.

Energy, excitement and hard work are just some of what Marvin brings to the table. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store!

⭐️ PATRIOT COUNTDOWN: 29 DAYS

We are counting down the days to start of the 2023-2024 athletic calendar with some of the best moments, stars, and much more from Mason history.

Going Dancing. 29 years ago this spring, the George Mason baseball team put together one of the finest seasons in program history en route to an at-large berth in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.

Behind the leadership of 19 upperclassmen, the Patriots rolled through a stacked CAA to the tune of a 20-4 conference season and 39-17 overall mark to earn a three-seed in the Charlottesville, Va. regional.

The 39 wins is tied for the second-most in a single-season, only bested by the 2009 club that racked up 42 victories.

🤔 PATRIOT TRIVIA

As Smooth As Tennessee Whiskey… As we mentioned, Mason and Tennessee have played only one other time in program history, the 2004 NIT.

The Volunteers came to Fairfax and the Patriots pulled off a thrilling 58-55 victory over the SEC power and future NBA journey C.J. Watson.

Who was the game’s leading scorer?

Think you got it?

Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Patriot Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Tony Skinn.

Of course we gotta give some love to Coach Skinn!

In that victory over UT, Coach went 6-of-8 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from long range for a game-high 16 points. He also grabbed three rebounds and dished out an assist in the win.

Have a great Wednesday!