Who's going to take the SELC this year?

by **AlumniLax** on Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:16 pm

Any suggestions?

**Sponsor**

by **UVAlax15** on Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:05 pm

FSU no doubt. I feel that Florida and Georgia Tech could give them some problems. Who are some of the impact players of these top SELC tier teams?

by **AlumniLax** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:09 am

so wait... do u go to UVA... VT.. FSU...or GT.....

Cuase you may be overextending youself

by **Thriller** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 8:53 am

Anybody know what Vandy is bringing to the table? heard they have an excellent coaching staff and a roster of 40 guys...

by **Danny Hogan** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:34 am

i think there are a lot of people who are or should be concerned with what vandy brings to the table, in the past they have had very talented teams (1 goal loss to michigan in 01 or 02?), just poor infrastructure.

now it seems that they have the organizational part ironed out. I know a few selc teams played them last year, they might have some insight.

by **AlumniLax** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:31 pm

Danny Hogan wrote:i think there are a lot of people who are or should be concerned with what vandy brings to the table, in the past they have had very talented teams (1 goal loss to michigan in 01 or 02?), just poor infrastructure.

now it seems that they have the organizational part ironed out. I know a few selc teams played them last year, they might have some insight.

Thats true. But they never really travelled well, because of academics I believe. When Vandy plays at home, they are entirely a different animal. If they can get ahold of that, then they can be a threat because of the serious northern talent they have on that team.

by **Danny Hogan** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:16 pm

well hopefully between a year off and what is said to be a much stronger coaching staff, they have addressed that issue. i don't think vanderbilts academic requirements are any harder than those at places like GT or the harvard of the south in gainesville.

by **AlumniLax** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:26 pm

Danny Hogan wrote:well hopefully between a year off and what is said to be a much stronger coaching staff, they have addressed that issue. i don't think vanderbilts academic requirements are any harder than those at places like GT or the harvard of the south in gainesville.

Thought that was Auburn. I know that Vandy's academics aren't harder than Techs. I just remember that being an excuse for their past away games....

by **Ken Lovic** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:27 pm

I think like last year, the SELC is wide open. Joel is back in Blacksburg and looking at fall ball scores, looks they are back and ready to contend.

FSU and Florida- I expect some big scores this weekend as they get under way. I know Coach Harkins has the boys ready to play in Tall. and coach Larsen has some new staff and new players in Gainesville or should I say the Harvard of the South

Look out for UT as well, Coach White does a nice job year in and year out and with the injury bug out of the way the Vols will be back to revenge their last late season fall.

As always NCSU could play spoiler and no one knows what to expect from Vandy. Glad to see them back, they bring some solid skills back to the SELC.

Should be a fun season once again for the SELC....

by **bste_lax** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 5:38 pm

Danny Hogan wrote:i think there are a lot of people who are or should be concerned with what vandy brings to the table, in the past they have had very talented teams (1 goal loss to michigan in 01 or 02?), just poor infrastructure.

Didn't that team have the Smith brothers? I remember hearing them say that the team wasn't the most organized team as not everyone was commited.

by **the lax** on Wed Jan 26, 2005 8:42 pm

I am curious as to see whether Florida and Auburn return to the top or FSU continues to climb higher and higher on their way to D1 status.

by **John Westfall** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:30 am

Ok, I guess I will put my two cents in. My money is on Florida State. Because they have a lot of money and can do just about anything. I'm pulling for Georgia Tech only because they were the under dog last year and pulled it out. They seem to be the underdog once again. Florida and Virginia Tech will also be in the hunt. But I still think Florida State is the Team to beat and Georgia Tech could upset them.

All the best,

by **Hugh Nunn** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:42 am

My money is on Florida State. Because they have a lot of money and can do just about anything.

Not to downplay the importance of the whole money thing, but it's not as though the FSU team isn't doing fundraising or paying dues. The generosity of Coach Harkins will certainly go a long way to help the team prepare for and meet the challenges necessary to make another trip to the Conference and National tournaments. But more important than the money is the experience and consistency that FSU has on the sidelines. The 'Noles have had skilled players for years, but until Coach Harkins came on board, were not able to take the program to the next level.

I think GA Tech will be as dangerous as last year, even without Oakley. Ken Lovic is the type of coach to quietly overachive and be in position to win late in games. He and his staff are as consistent as any in the SELC and I would venture to guess, the MDIA as a whole. Look for Tech to be in the mix and play at Nationals as well.

Florida and VA Tech are also teams that should not be taken lightly, and should expect to have a good shot at going to Nationals.

And let's not forget the only team in the SELC that FSU has never beaten...Tennessee. For the last three years, FSU has looked way better on paper, but has either taken the Vols too lightly, or just allowed too many breakdowns...whatever you want to say, effort and talent cannot replace results.

Vandy is an unknown factor until they get a few away games under their collective belt. Obviously, the school attracts a ton of northern talent every year. If they have truly found a consistent presence on the sidelines, then look out for the Commodores, as well.

At some point, the Hope Scholarships in GA will really begin to give UGA a solid baseline of homegrown talent, especially now that Lax is a sanctioned Varsity sport. More teams will develop, and the fallout can only be good for the Dawgs.

I think the real question will be how mentally tough the 'Noles are this year. Their schedule is a good bit harder than last year, and they still have a bad taste in their mouths from the loss the GA Tech at the SELC tournament. Will this be enough for them to yet again step it up? I'd love to see it. They're a hard bunch to pick against. What I'd love is to see FSU and GA Tech face off in the Finals this year.

Best of luck for a safe and successful season to all.

by **the lax** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:14 pm

Last year, FSU reminded me of Johns Hopkins every year. The best team on paper, no reason to lose anygame, and they choke in the big one.

Hopefully, year two in the Harkins system will change that.

by **StrykerFSU** on Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:11 pm

Coach Harkins is not George Steinbrenner, the guys work just as hard to raise money as I'm sure the other teams do. Kevin Paustian does not have a younger brother coming to Tally.

I believe that this year's SELC will be even more wide open than last year and FSU has to count on some relative unknown players to pick up some serious slack in both leadership and performance to replace some of their offseason losses, both expected and unexpected.

To their competition, rest assured that the current FSU players are in no way buying into to all of their "press" (which must mean these ridiculous debates) saying they will walk all over the SELC.

Good luck to everyone!