The basics

Location: Stony Brook, NY.

Colors: Red, white and gray.

Nickname: Seawolves.

Nickname conjures up: Mystical sea canine, probably with magical powers.

Former nickname: Patriots.

Most likely reason for change: Seawolf used aforementioned magical powers to trick Patriot into working for him.

Mascot: Wolfie, oddly enough a land wolf.

Mascot is best known for: Clothes-lining NCAA mascot J.J. Jumper at the 2005 America East Tournament at the Events Center, causing J.J. to be taken off on a stretcher.

Reputation: The school that half of Binghamton’s students didn’t want to go to because they didn’t want to stay home. Really good at scientific research; not so good at men’s basketball.

Notable alumni: Joe Nathan, Laura Schlessinger and Sandy Pearlman, a.k.a the guy Christopher Walken was during ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ famous ‘More Cowbell’ sketch.

The dirt

We hate them because: They’re another SUNY school and therefore a natural geographic rival. Everyone knows someone from there and they always seem to save their best for the Bearcats. Still, the school seems more focused on beating Hofstra than any AE team.

They rule in: They don’t really rule in anything, but they’re pretty good in: women’s basketball (though they’ve never won a championship), men’s and women’s lacrosse, soccer.

When can you root for them: This seems to be a theme. Root for Stony Brook in any national tournament because it’s a victory for the America East and a victory for SUNY. Also root for them to crush Albany in men’s basketball.

Professional comparison: Houston Texans ‘ A young team that still hasn’t found its niche. Just take a look at Stony Brook’s placing in men’s basketball since it joined the league: last, seventh, eighth, seventh, last, last. The potential is there, the history is not.

The history

Brag about: Mike Gordon’s off-the-back, SportsCenter-earning, game-winning play last season at the Events Center, to seal a 66-65 Bearcat victory; Jan. 9. 2007 when BU fans outnumbered Stony Brook fans at least 2 to 1 at Stony Brook’s gym; 2005 America East volleyball championship.

Cringe when they mention: The 2005 America East men’s soccer finals, won by the Seawolves in penalty kicks, the final game ever for Bearcat stars Graham Munro and Danilo. Oh yeah, Binghamton led 1-0 with under four minutes to go in the contest. Also, the 2006 men’s tennis championship; the fact that in front of several hundred Bearcat fans at the aforementioned home game, Stony Brook still won 67-55, taking all the air out of Binghamton after big wins over Albany and Miami.

Names to remember for 2007-2008: Mitchell Beauford and Ricky Lucas, men’s basketball; Bo Tripodi and Brendan Callahan, men’s lacrosse; Kaitlin Leggio, Jenna Celano and Samantha Djaha, women’s lacrosse.

Next chance to see them on campus: Most likely basketball season, but if you’re on Long Island this weekend, the men’s basketball team will be playing for first place at Stony Brook.

Bottom line: Stony Brook hasn’t taken the leap into the America East that fellow SUNY’s Albany and Binghamton have. But the school is committed to growing. They have invested a good deal of money in the athletics program, and the strides they have shown in lacrosse could soon be shown on the basketball court. And as a fellow SUNY school, being better than Stony Brook will always be something Binghamton should strive for. But even if Stony Brook starts playing well, the question remains: will anyone on campus, or on Long Island, care?