LSA CHAMPIONSHIP

[laxforlife]

In my opinion, Southwestern does well because of great coaching and a nice program, not because of talent.

I agree that SU has great coaching and a nice program (while I don't see how a "nice program" necessarily helps a team do well), but to say that there is no talent is nonsense.

SU has many of the most talented players in the conference, so if you are saying that there is no talent in LSA II then I guess we have different views of talent and can't really argue with each other. But if you think that there is talent in LSA II, where else is it gonna be found?

I'm not saying that SU has the ONLY talent in the LSA II, but it has more than any other team and that is a large part of why we win.

You are correct in saying that Southwestern does have talent but you cannot deny that most teams in LSA II have athletes that do not shine because of crappy programs. Do I think Southwestern is the strongest and fastest team in LSA Division II, no. They are the best because of the program and the coaching, hands down.

If they had true superior talent, they would not be in LSA division II another minute. I am still surprised they hang around. When is the last time they lost a conference game......Four years????? Also proves my point that no matter what new people come in, it is the program that helps them play better lacrosse.

[NYBuilt]

I'd rather play in a national tournament every year then go to a division that drastically minimizes those chances. Southwestern is exactly where they need to be. They are a DIII school, they should be in division 2. They do play plenty of LSA 1 division teams to see where they stand. If your teams cannot beat them, its because they have all of those aspects...better coaches, better program, and better athletes/players.

[buffalowill]

What years did NIRSA run a national championship?

Thanks.

[PigPen]

A&M went to NIRSA in 97-those punks from UF broke my damn ring finger in six places in the quarters. A&M lost to Duluth in the semis. I believe the T-sips took home the whole thing that year.

Man that was a long time ago.

[PigPen]

96-?
97-at SIU
98-at UCSB
99-not sure they even held it because of the USLIA tourney's popularity at that point.

[Sonny]

I believe there were only two NIRSA tournaments for the men's (1998, 1999).

We were first (USILA Associates in 1997 at St. Louis). NIRSA tried to do a similar event in '98 and '99.

[Buc_em_up]

In my opinion, Southwestern does well because of great coaching and a nice program, not because of talent.

I agree that SU has great coaching and a nice program (while I don't see how a "nice program" necessarily helps a team do well), but to say that there is no talent is nonsense.

SU has many of the most talented players in the conference, so if you are saying that there is no talent in LSA II then I guess we have different views of talent and can't really argue with each other. But if you think that there is talent in LSA II, where else is it gonna be found?

I'm not saying that SU has the ONLY talent in the LSA II, but it has more than any other team and that is a large part of why we win.

You are correct in saying that Southwestern does have talent but you cannot deny that most teams in LSA II have athletes that do not shine because of crappy programs. Do I think Southwestern is the strongest and fastest team in LSA Division II, no. They are the best because of the program and the coaching, hands down.

If they had true superior talent, they would not be in LSA division II another minute. I am still surprised they hang around. When is the last time they lost a conference game......Four years????? Also proves my point that no matter what new people come in, it is the program that helps them play better lacrosse.

I don't want to get into a big argument about this but SU has less than 1300 students. That is roughly the same size as Austin College and well below the LSA II average of about 9,600 student. As NYBuilt said SU is right where they need to be. We certainly enjoy playing LSA I teams. We relish the competition and occasionally we will knock one off, but DII is where we belong.
Also plenty of great talent is coming into SU year after year, so I don't get what you mean about no matter who comes in, SU always wins. We seem just as strong and fast as every other team in LSA II to me, if not stronger and faster. I think it is a combination of a lot of things that helps us win but it is not a lack of strength, speed, or talent.

[JW]

Here are the Matchups for the DII playoffs in the LSA

1. Southwestern (6-0) vs 4. Stephen F. Austin (3-3)
2. St. Edwards (5-1) vs 3. Trinity (4-2)

[Karl Lynch]

Is SFA eligible for playoffs? They have a forfeit.

May want to check with the Commissioner.

[JW]

Is SFA eligible for playoffs? They have a forfeit.

May want to check with the Commissioner.

Ok, so here is some unofficial information

SFA is not eligible for the playoffs and Trinity has refused to go to the championships.

So currently the rankings look like this in LSA2
Southwestern 6-0
St. Edwards 5-1
Austin College 1-4
UTA 1-5
SHSU 0-5

Austin College (1-4) plays @ SHSU (0-5) this weekend.

Austin College beat UTA 13-11
UTA beat SHSU 17-5

While AC has a win over us, it would appear that with Goal differential taken into account, SHSU has a chance to go to the playoffs with a win against Austin College.

[buffalowill]

who won the NIRSA tournaments each year?

[Jason Zantjer]

John,

you are correct. huge game this weekend between AC and SHSU.

[NYBuilt]

Is SFA eligible for playoffs? They have a forfeit.

May want to check with the Commissioner.

Ok, so here is some unofficial information

SFA is not eligible for the playoffs and Trinity has refused to go to the championships.

So currently the rankings look like this in LSA2
Southwestern 6-0
St. Edwards 5-1
Austin College 1-4
UTA 1-5
SHSU 0-5

Austin College (1-4) plays @ SHSU (0-5) this weekend.

Austin College beat UTA 13-11
UTA beat SHSU 17-5

While AC has a win over us, it would appear that with Goal differential taken into account, SHSU has a chance to go to the playoffs with a win against Austin College.

And this is why no one even wants to talk about division 2

[JW]

And while we are getting into the Playoffs with a 1-5 record, i am frustrated by the state of DII. We are a long ways removed from the DII that was there earlier this decade.

SFA's forfeit and Trinity's refusal to play while it benefits us at UTA, is frustrating to those who want to see DII become a legit league as it is in other parts of the country.

maybe people don't want to talk about it, and maybe there is reason for that, but there are schools here that have good organization (Southwestern, SEU, UTA, AC, and SHSU) and a commitment to playing in this league and being competitive.

DII has had its' problems, but give it a chance and it will produce some good lacrosse.

[NYBuilt]

Forfeits and refusal to play are straight leadership problems.

The problem for the LSA is that suspending these teams hurts the teams like southwestern and SEU because they'll lose their National AQ status. I don't think the models teams in the II division should be affected by SFA and Trinity's punishment.

And thats not fun to talk about. I'd rather talk about the depth in the LSA and how a team can have an all american candidate and a co-offensive mvp and still not make the conference playoffs. Now that is depth. I can't wait to see if that happens in the other conferences.