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Far From a Case Of Dogging It
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Let's be clear: UMBC does not have an identity crisis. They know who they are. But, after 20 years of building the school's reputation in academic circles, they can be a little touchy that others have so little clue about who or what they are.
As the school's NCAA tournament media guide says, in a black box, "We are UMBC. The full name of our institution is University of Maryland, Baltimore County. We prefer to simply be called UMBC. Our full name has a comma between Maryland and Baltimore; please do NOT use a hyphen. Please do NOT call us Maryland-BC, UM-Baltimore County, Maryland-Baltimore, Maryland-Balt. Co. or Maryland (Baltimore County)."
So, someday it'll just be UCLA, USC and UMBC?
UMBC's edgy insistence on escaping hyphenation, abbreviation, excessive capitalization and all other forms of mistaken identity would be funny except that UMBC is typical of dozens of first-rate colleges and universities that never get a fraction of the recognition of the country's basketball powers. Get the Fisk Guide to colleges and see how many of the 65 teams that made the draw can match UMBC in academics. It's considerably less than half. But you know their names.
"They're a real scrappy team -- undersized, but they throw a lot of things at you," said Hibbert, who had 13 points and seven rebounds. "They play with a lot of heart, really contest everything all over the court," said Jonathan Wallace, who also scored 13.
Next season, four of five UMBC starters will return. But leave that to the future. This visit had its own authenticity. "We're the first to go to the Big Dance," said Barbosa, proud in defeat. "This put us on the map," said Proctor, who scored 16.
"I couldn't be more proud," Coach Randy Moore said of his America East champs. "Nothing can dampen this."
Just in case the Retrievers don't get back to the Big Dance for a while, remember the name. Comma, no hyphen. NOT Maryland-BC or UM-Baltimore County or Maryland-Baltimore or Maryland-Balt. Co. or Maryland (Baltimore County).
Just UMBC. If you see a 5-8 basketball star next to a 7-foot tall chess piece, you'll know you're there.
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