Future of the UMLL

[Pinball]

So i have been a involved with the UMLL and specifically the B division for 4 years now, and its growth and maturity has been impressive but i still feel like it is its infancy. In the upcoming years i would hope that a few changes could happen that would be best for the league.

1. St. Olaf should move down to the B division. They are a school of around 3,000 located across the street from Carelton. This would add more legitimacy to the b division and would give them a chance at a National Championship. No way does it mean anything about their ability to be in the B Div

2. Gustavus, Hamline, Macalaster (think Kofi Annan with a lax stick) need to get organized and form teams, but we cannot let them in unless they are truly ready.

3. Each year the Wisconsin schools get more and more organized and backed by their schools. Although year after year UW-Madison has stressed they would not like to be in the MCLA, schools like UW-Whitewater, River Falls and Milwaukee could be legitimate candidates from what i have seen.

4. In the next couple of years i foresee UND moving up to the A division.

5. UMD's dominance in the A division will begin to balance out when HS students realize that they are 15 deep at every position and want to attend a public institution. (SCSU, Moorhead, Kato)

6. Qualified Coaches will help out the small/new teams, ie- Augsburg, UND, Carelton etc and will balance out the divisions.

7. There will be one team that will go D3. My best guess right now would be SJU because i was actively involved with the team and they have no Title IX regulations, but St. Olaf, St. Thomas, Carelton could be legitimate candidates with the right AD in place. i wouldn't be surprised if it was "sleeper" like Concordia-St. Paul or something random. If one team goes and is successful there will be a snowball effect.

8. Who will eventually fill the rolls of the "grandfathers" of the league (Rob Graff and Chris Larson) ?

9. UMD will make it to the National Championship Game

10. SJU will stop being the buffalo bills of the MCLA and win a championship game

[KnoxVegas]

...Macalaster (think Kofi Annan with a lax stick) need to get organized and form teams, but we cannot let them in unless they are truly ready.

Please to explain the Kofi Annan reference? Are their students african diplomats or all former secretary-generals of the U.N.?

[dubbs11]

...Macalaster (think Kofi Annan with a lax stick) need to get organized and form teams, but we cannot let them in unless they are truly ready.

Please to explain the Kofi Annan reference? Are their students african diplomats or all former secretary-generals of the U.N.?

Kofi Annan graduated from Macalester I believe, and the college prides itself on having an incredibly diverse student body.

[KnoxVegas]

...and now I know. Thanks!

[LaxTV_Admin]

...and now I know. Thanks!

and knowing is half the battle.

[DanGenck]

I think Gustavus is a potential sleeping giant. Though their enrollment is small, the school is filled with athletes. Their excellent soccer, basketball, and hockey teams translate directly in to people who could play lacrosse. The school also recently built a new turf football stadium, which would be beneficial. Indoor practice space is questionable, but when you have turf (and no track around it!), that problem is not as magnified.

Hopefully someday they will have some people down there that want to get the team started again.

[Champ]

...and now I know. Thanks!

[KnoxVegas]

...and now I know. Thanks!

and knowing is half the battle.

Could I have lofted that softball any gentler? Thanks for being there for me Ireton. Thanks indeed! Slurpees on me at the 7-Eleven at the bottom of the hill on Duke Street.

[Chris Larson]

I think Gustavus is a potential sleeping giant... Hopefully someday they will have some people down there that want to get the team started again.

I recently received an email inquiry from a Gustavus student. I sent him a lot of information, but have yet to hear back. Unfortunately, the economics of our league can be a bit intimidating for a new team.

I hope they can get it together as it would be a pleasure having them back. They were the first UMLL (previously MCLL) champion.

[LaxTV_Admin]

1. St. Olaf should move down to the B division. They are a school of around 3,000 located across the street from Carelton. This would add more legitimacy to the b division and would give them a chance at a National Championship. No way does it mean anything about their ability to be in the B Div

I would be curious to see what Olaf thought about this? Interesting thought.

8. Who will eventually fill the rolls of the "grandfathers" of the league (Rob Graff and Chris Larson) ?

That's awesome. You called Rob and Lars grandpas. Seriously, instead of a sweet years of service gift, we can get each of them walkers

Ian, did you know the Generous George's is now gone? I was going to offer pizza on me, but instead, guess we will be heading over to the LoneStar

[msum26]

I have a buddy that attends Gustavus. He told me that he has heard rumblings of a team starting again. I'm not sure on the process or how far along it has come but to agree with chris he said a lot of guys were tentative because of cost.

just what i have heard

[DanGenck]

Gustavus has a lot of money in their club sports/intramural budgets (like many MIAC schools). Most teams just need to find out when budgets are due to their Co-Funding Board (Student Activity Board, whatever) and submit appropriately. Getting some money from the school will help reduce some of the stress of starting up.

[Campbell]

3. Each year the Wisconsin schools get more and more organized and backed by their schools. Although year after year UW-Madison has stressed they would not like to be in the MCLA, schools like UW-Whitewater, River Falls and Milwaukee could be legitimate candidates from what i have seen.

After reading your post I looked up the GLLL and was curious why a lot of these teams are not in the MCLA? Are these teams avoiding the MCLA for money/eligibility reasons? or do they just not have an interest? I don't mean any ill will towards the GLLL, just that the MCLA seems like a better option (I am biased of course). Certainly schools like UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee could handle the commitments in the MCLA.

[Sonny]

I have a buddy that attends Gustavus. He told me that he has heard rumblings of a team starting again. I'm not sure on the process or how far along it has come but to agree with chris he said a lot of guys were tentative because of cost.

They just need to hit up Kofi Annan for some of that "Oil for Food" free money. He should have enough to share as he directed millions to his son.

[Adam G]

3. Each year the Wisconsin schools get more and more organized and backed by their schools. Although year after year UW-Madison has stressed they would not like to be in the MCLA, schools like UW-Whitewater, River Falls and Milwaukee could be legitimate candidates from what i have seen.

After reading your post I looked up the GLLL and was curious why a lot of these teams are not in the MCLA? Are these teams avoiding the MCLA for money/eligibility reasons? or do they just not have an interest? I don't mean any ill will towards the GLLL, just that the MCLA seems like a better option (I am biased of course). Certainly schools like UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee could handle the commitments in the MCLA.

Madison won't field an MCLA team anytime soon. I have friends who play and have played for them and what it boils down to is that the guys don't want that level of commitment. The GLLL's open eligibility is a huge plus for teams that can't (or don't want to) field a consistent team for each game. Those guys just love to play, and if they have a chance they'll take it... and can you blame them for it? Every couple of years they'll have a vote to see if they should make a bid for the MCLA, and year in and out the outcome is the same: stay GLLL.

I heard rumor that Stout had inquired with the UMLL.. anyone? anyone? EC was in contact with UW-Milwaukee my (super) senior year when they had questions about MCLA membership and general startup questions. It'd be great if we could some longer established teams like Whitewater or La Crosse to the UMLL. That'd certainly add some nice WIAC competition. This topic has been discussed countless times on this board, so I'm done.