GW and Georgetown University's nationally ranked men's basketball teams could restart a rivalry that ended more than 20 years ago if D.C. City Councilmember Jack Evans can get both schools to agree to participate in an annual Ward 2 championship game.
Earlier this month, Evans sent letters to both GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and Georgetown President John J. DeGioia inviting the teams to participate in an annual championship game starting next season. No. 6 GW and No. 23 Georgetown haven't faced each other in college basketball since the 1981-82 season. Georgetown won that game, 61-48.
Evans told The Hatchet last week that a matchup seemed logical, and since both college campuses are contained within Ward 2 of the District, which Evans represents, it made sense to have a championship game at the MCI Center, another Ward 2 landmark. Georgetown plays its home games at the MCI Center.
"We are going to buy a big giant trophy and present it to the winner," Evans said. "It would be great for our city."
As of last Tuesday, Evans said that neither university president had responded to his letter, but said "hopefully they will get back to me."
Trachtenberg said in an interview last week that he had in fact written back to Evans. In a copy of the letter he provided to The Hatchet, he wrote that "having a GW-GT competition can only prove inspirational for both sides." He also wrote that he has raised the issue with the past three Georgetown presidents, including DeGioia, but said "Jack (DeGioia) has been non-committal."
"I think the idea of having a crosstown rivalry is just a good idea. We should commit one of our non-conference games to Georgetown," Trachtenberg said in an interview, adding, however, that he thinks it is something that has to be "worked out by the athletic directors" of each school.
But both GW Executive Athletic Director Jack Kvancz and Georgetown Sports Information Director Mike "Mex" Carey said there are some issues that have to be resolved before the teams could play each other again. Georgetown Athletic Director Bernard Muir declined to comment on the proposal.
Earlier this month, Evans sent letters to both GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and Georgetown President John J. DeGioia inviting the teams to participate in an annual championship game starting next season. No. 6 GW and No. 23 Georgetown haven't faced each other in college basketball since the 1981-82 season. Georgetown won that game, 61-48.
Evans told The Hatchet last week that a matchup seemed logical, and since both college campuses are contained within Ward 2 of the District, which Evans represents, it made sense to have a championship game at the MCI Center, another Ward 2 landmark. Georgetown plays its home games at the MCI Center.
"We are going to buy a big giant trophy and present it to the winner," Evans said. "It would be great for our city."
As of last Tuesday, Evans said that neither university president had responded to his letter, but said "hopefully they will get back to me."
Trachtenberg said in an interview last week that he had in fact written back to Evans. In a copy of the letter he provided to The Hatchet, he wrote that "having a GW-GT competition can only prove inspirational for both sides." He also wrote that he has raised the issue with the past three Georgetown presidents, including DeGioia, but said "Jack (DeGioia) has been non-committal."
"I think the idea of having a crosstown rivalry is just a good idea. We should commit one of our non-conference games to Georgetown," Trachtenberg said in an interview, adding, however, that he thinks it is something that has to be "worked out by the athletic directors" of each school.
But both GW Executive Athletic Director Jack Kvancz and Georgetown Sports Information Director Mike "Mex" Carey said there are some issues that have to be resolved before the teams could play each other again. Georgetown Athletic Director Bernard Muir declined to comment on the proposal.
