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American
Eagles Updated 03/18/25 |
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Location: Washington, DC Enrollment: 7,600 Cost of Attendance: $80,000 Venue: Bender Arena Arena
Capacity: 4,500 Conference: Patriot (1st) Record: 22-12 (13-5) NET Rank: 226 Committee Rank: 65 Tournament History Appearances: 3 Final Fours: 0 Championships: 0 Win-Loss: 0-3 Most Recent: 2014, lost in First Round to #2
Wisconsin, 35-75. |
American University
American University was established in the District of
Columbia by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892, primarily due to the
efforts of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst, who aimed to create an
institution that could train future public servants. Hurst
also chose the university's site, which was in the rural periphery of northwest
Washington, DC.
The Eagles compete in the Patriot League and their rivals include Boston University, Bucknell, and Navy. The Eagles have appeared three times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2014. Their combined record is 0-3. The Eagles have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Their record is 0-1. The Eagles have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) three times. Their combined record is 0-3. The Eagles have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament three times. Their combined record is 6-3. The Eagles have appeared in the NAIA tournament two times. Their combined record is 0-2. Maybe it's time to go back to Division II. NOT SO FAST!!! Duane Simpkins was appointed the program's 18th head coach on April 1, 2023. Duane Simpkins played high school basketball at DeMatha Catholic High School under Hall of Fame head coach Morgan Wootten and was a McDonald's High School All-American selection in 1992. Most importantly Duane Simpkins played his college basketball from 1992-1996 at Maryland under Gary Williams where he was a three-year starter and part of a trio of NCAA tournament appearances with the Terrapins.
Give 'em that good old Gary
Williams fist pump, Duane! Duane was at Maryland exactly the same time I was at Maryland. He lived in the apartment below me in Washington Hall. One of the reasons I chose to go to Maryland was to watch the Terps compete in ACC basketball. We camped out for tickets, sat right behind the visitor's bench in Cole Fieldhouse, and cheered on the Mighty Terps at every home game! Dut-dah-DAHHHH-dah. HEY!
YOU SUCK! Dut-dah-DAHHHH-dah. HEY!
YOU SUCK! Dut-dah-DAHHHH-dah. HEY!
YOU SUCK! We're
gonna beat the hell out of
you, and you, and you, and you, and you! That is Maryland's alma mater. We rooted for Duane and Exree Hipp and Sarunas Jasikevicious and Keith Booth and future NBA #1 pick Joe Smith. Those were great times! I will still root for Duane. But I'm not picking the Eagles to win though. The play in Bender Arena
Not anything like High Point's facilities. More like a vacant warehouse. Hard to say to a recruit, "Imagine playing here " Clawed Z Eagle
However, it wasn't until 1976 that Clawed came into existence, based on a drawing by the director of athletics. In 2006, American University decided to update Clawed's name from "Clawed the Eagle" to "Clawed Z. Eagle." Donned in red, white, and blue, fitting for a university in the nation's capital, Washington, DC. Although AU no longer has a football team, Clawed has kept terrifying Eagles fans ever since. |
The
Eagle became the official mascot of AU in 1925, the year the university's football and basketball teams were founded.