While there hasn’t been much of a rivalry between GW and George Mason’s men’s basketball teams in recent years – this year’s meeting will be their first since 1998 – it would seem as though GW is really pushing to make the Dec. 2 home game against the Patriots a special one, recently launching a Web site devoted to drumming up support.

On the site, the game is billed as the “Battle of the Orange Line” in reference to the school’s shared Metro line and fans are encouraged to wear buff-colored clothing as part of a “Buff Out.” The main feature of the page is a well-done video hyping the game and the renewal of a rivalry between the two teams, encouraging fans to attend.

There is also a countdown to the game and a tally of how many tickets remain, as well as a link to purchase them. At the bottom, fans are provided with different ways to “spread the word” via Facebook, Twitter and an e-mail form. The athletic department has taken some criticism over the years for not marketing the team in general or games specifically, but this would seem to be part of a continued effort to be more proactive on the whole.