Great Sonoma State Mantra

[the lax]

http://www.e-lacrosse.com/2004/sonstan/pages/19.htm

Does it describe them or does it describe them?

[OAKS]

http://www.e-lacrosse.com/2004/sonstan/pages/19.htm

Does it describe them or does it describe them?

What exactly is the definition of blue collar lacrosse?

[TrojanLaxman5]

What exactly is the definition of blue collar lacrosse?

No exact definition, but I would say that it stands for plain old hard work, not so much individual flashiness but rather a more team oriented style of play. It's not shiny, it's not going to make the sportscenter top 10, but it is reliable, gets the job done, and puts dinner on the table (in a figurative sense)...

There's my best shot, anyone else want to give it a go?

[the lax]

A more lax orientated verison could be: they aim to win every 50/50 ground ball.

[OAKS]

Good definitions, but aren't those the aim of most teams out there? Granted you'll have kids like Powell who look flashy even when they're just playing solid, then you have the kids who try to look flashy and play poorly, but most coaches and teams I've been on or know practice GBs a whole lot and condition a whole lot. Maybe it's a more back to the basics team approach, like the Princeton hoops teams back in the 90's? A bunch of white kids just conditioning all the time and doing nothing but backdoor cuts and passes and showing up teams with superstars who just iso? I guess the same could be applied in a lax game with one aim to have 80% of the goals assisted or something like that?

[tamu33]

Blue collar has its roots in physical labor workers. In the early 20th century, industrial blue collar workers formerly, and to a large extent still, wear "work clothes" with the shirts of a navy blue color (i.e. dickies). The clothes are more durable and may get a little dirty at work. In contrast, white collar workers wore the traditional white, button-down shirt, they were not intended to do physical work.

To me what SSU is trying to imply is that they are willing to do the extra work that is necessary to obtain victory. This willingness is their blue collar work ethic. They don't mind getting a little dirty (not in the cheating sense) to win a game. They will work for their victory and to me that is their mantra, creed, saying, motto, and/or slogan.

[sohotrightnow]

I am sure several teams' goal is to play blue collar lacrosse, but I don't think you find many teams that hustle more or fight for ground balls as hard as Sonoma does, hence the reason for the t-shirt. I think a lot of teams put a bunch of mumbo jumbo on t-shirts and never live up to the credo or mantra if you will. However, Sonoma is definitely an exception.