2008 SELC Division 2 Tournament Thread

[Sonny]

Devils advocate Beta - IF all five coaches are screaming for a legally entitled timeout, how come none of the Emory players on the field didn't call for a TO too?

[Beta]

Devils advocate Beta - IF all five coaches are screaming for a legally entitled timeout, how come none of the Emory players on the field didn't call for a TO too?

It was a scrum/pileup on the baller-carrier in the unsettled situation on that side of the box and that's what they (the players) were focused on doing (clearing out, etc). Which is good...since they needed the ball and not 2-3 guys standing around looking at the refs.

That's what coaches are for

[Honors the Game]

I'm a little late to this, but had to register before posting. I was part of the Chattahoochee High School group that organized this night of the tournament, and was on the sidelines during most of this game.

It seems from the very start that CCU intended to play an extremely physical game to the extent of even trying to (physically and verbally) intimidate Elon. Frustration for CCU set in when it became clear that this was not working as Elon generally moved the ball well and fast enough to neutralize CCU's attempts at "knockout checks" and wasn't going to back down. And unfortunately, further frustration set in when the officials, probably sensing this, started calling the game tighter and tighter. The CCU coaches didn't appear to be outwardly encouraging meathead type play, but again, the team seemed far more focused being physical than actually trying to score. I can't recall if it was after the "cheap shot" at the 3 minute mark or sometime prior to, but after one of the many scrums, the Elon players encouraged their coach to call the game saying that they didn't want to be on the same field as CCU since they didn't respect the game. To add "insult to injury", there were several CCU players that came limping off the field when their attempts at extreme contact backfired on them.

We called the security officer (a Fulton County police captain) from the front gate over to the sidelines when we thought things could get way out of hand, as in extending off the field. The Elon players were certainly fired up as well but, in their defense, they were just reacting to perceived cheap shots on their teamates. I know that there are 2 sides to everything, and that I'll probably get a reponse that I'm piling on CCU, but they seemed to have brought it on themselves that night.

[GetHead]

As the kid who was train wrecked during the CCU-Elon game, I felt I had to say something regarding this matter. My thoughts are that CCU showed terrible displays of sportsmanship and class by both players and coaches. In my eight years of playing lacrosse I have never come across a team that was more concentrated on injuring the opposing players than actually winning the game. The consistent on-field violence and sideline vulgarity of speech shown by the players and coaches was simply wrong. CCU embarrassed themselves as an organization and decided to take their first years as a team to prove their inability to show any class whatsoever. I feel the team should, at the very least, apologize to Elon and the SELC for the absurd words and actions they so despicably portrayed at the tournament. That is all... nothing anyone says after this post will change my views of this team.

[Honors the Game]

As the kid who was train wrecked during the CCU-Elon game, I felt I had to say something regarding this matter. My thoughts are that CCU showed terrible displays of sportsmanship and class by both players and coaches. In my eight years of playing lacrosse I have never come across a team that was more concentrated on injuring the opposing players than actually winning the game. The consistent on-field violence and sideline vulgarity of speech shown by the players and coaches was simply wrong. CCU embarrassed themselves as an organization and decided to take their first years as a team to prove their inability to show any class whatsoever. I feel the team should, at the very least, apologize to Elon and the SELC for the absurd words and actions they so despicably portrayed at the tournament. That is all... nothing anyone says after this post will change my views of this team.

Has your coach and/or team rep reached out to the SELC? As the host school for that (now infamous) game we were getting very concerned that it could get out of hand, and would certainly not want a similar situation next year. We informed everybody we could of CCUs conduct, and I even took some verbal "abuse" from some UNCC players as they were leaving your game and complaining that it was the "worst officiated game they ever saw". Congratulations on playing (with class) through the adversity and winning the tourney, btw!

[NinerCoach]

and I even took some verbal "abuse" from some UNCC players as they were leaving your game and complaining that it was the "worst officiated game they ever saw".

I'd love it if you private messaged me the details of this. That's not acceptable for a member of the Charlotte lacrosse team.

[Dahabeeb]

I am the president and founding father of the CCU Lacrosse club and it is time CCU made a statement. Yes, one of our players did indeed hit an Elon player in the back during our game Friday night. It was ugly and we are all thankful he was not injured. To all of you who feel the need to discuss the game at length and question my team’s level of class I have this to say. We hit hard, we play hard, we play with heart and desire. Never have we stepped foot on the field with the intentions of injuring our opponents. After each and every game, regardless of what happened on the field, we break down, give a chant to our opponent, line up and shake hands. We do not continue then to talk, whine, complain, or insult our opponent (although there are many times which we could have, and a few opponents who would have deserved it). This is Lacrosse, it is a physical and intense sport. At times the field of play becomes extremely intense, adrenaline is pumping and emotions are high. It is the reason we all compete, the reason we are athletes.

To Eckerd, let me enlighten you as your ignorance to the situation has obviously caused a disheartened feeling toward our club. Roger Davis and I spoke at length prior to our upcoming games that weekend. After a few days of discussion we mutually decided how to handle it based on the weather reports. If you would like to further discuss the topic please feel free to contact me at any time, as I am sure my number and email are available to you.

Mr. Beta. You seem to have much to say about my team and that game. Yes, you are right in that we killed our chances by complaining about the refs, which did nothing but tack on penalties forcing us to play man down. I did feel that they could have used better judgement in their calls, but whats done is done. FYI, our first goal was called back on a stick penalty given to a stick that we checked with both officials prior to the game. As for the hit, which you say was clean made by the Elon player on the sidelines. You must have not had a very good angle at the Play. The Elon player clearly took a shot at our guy’s head, which correct me if I’m wrong is not legal, and nearly from behind as well. Our guy then had a retaliation penalty called when he stood up with outstretched arms in a gesture of “What the heck?”. I disagree with you that Elon’s reaction to the ugly hit, late in the game from behind, was wrong by the way. That is how sports go, if a guy on your team is victim to a cheap shot you defend him. The part about not shaking hands, a different story. I will uphold my beliefs and not discuss that matter publicly.

For everyone who would like to continue challenging our level of class I say this. We are not perfect. I will admit that from time to time we will make mistakes during the game. Yet, do we not line up after every game and shake hands like gentleman? Have we once spoken out publicly against our opponents? Have we ever publicly complained or whined about officiating we felt was biased? If there is anyone who continues to have a problem with my team or my school I will be glad to discuss the matter privately from here out. Player, coach, official or fan I welcome you to contact me privately.

[Beta]

Mr. Beta. You seem to have much to say about my team and that game. Yes, you are right in that we killed our chances by complaining about the refs, which did nothing but tack on penalties forcing us to play man down. I did feel that they could have used better judgement in their calls, but whats done is done. FYI, our first goal was called back on a stick penalty given to a stick that we checked with both officials prior to the game. As for the hit, which you say was clean made by the Elon player on the sidelines. You must have not had a very good angle at the Play. The Elon player clearly took a shot at our guy’s head, which correct me if I’m wrong is not legal, and nearly from behind as well. Our guy then had a retaliation penalty called when he stood up with outstretched arms in a gesture of “What the heck?”. I disagree with you that Elon’s reaction to the ugly hit, late in the game from behind, was wrong by the way.

"Mr" Beta. Haha.

Did you check the stick "after" the game to see if it was illegal? Sticks on the borderline can become illegal with use.

I indeed had a lot to say about your team. I liked the effort, the obvious skill and the hustle.

I also had a lot to say about blowing 3 non-releasable minutes of 4-on-3 since that would have put you guys into the next round. You do understand that you guys had the game handed to you...but didn't realize it right?

And I also had a little bit to say about the hitting. Funny you say that I had no angle on the sidelines hit. Considering I was front row center in the stands and was looking right at it. Even funnier is that the CCU bench was obscured from seeing the hit since the player (I assume an attackman) picked up the GB in the fray and tried to scoot out the far end, only to be met with a non-cross check hit. The entire mess of people that were over there were blocking the vantage point of the other side of the field. And there were several players, refs and coaches in that line of sight.

The player that got hit was pretty surprised...as would anyone who runs out of the pile and into one of the biggest defenders in the league. When player A weighs 250+ pounds and is about 6'5" and collides with player B whose height+weight are significantly less than player A, shoulder to upper body into him...player B's head, being the body part subject to least stability in that exact situation/collision is going to go forward upon said mismatched collision. Where player B...who saw nothing but a flash, his body getting rocked and head getting hit...gets up angry because he is angry about getting hit in the head since that (obviously) stood out the most to him.

He did not get up, and cleanly say "what the heck?". He got in the guy's face and made a scene out of it. Getting up and saying "what the heck" and getting back to ride...is not even comparable to getting hit, getting up and getting mask-to-mask with the guy and bumping chest and saying it. Man up, take the legal or illegal hit and play on. We learned this in what, 4th grade football? The Elon player that was pathetically lined up in the back wasn't able to get up and shrug off the hit. But he was able to get up eventually, thank god. Guess what retaliating gets you? NOTHING...and 9 times out of 10 gets noticed more than the initial instance itself.

That is how sports go, if a guy on your team is victim to a cheap shot you defend him.

That's the difference between a coach and a player. A player will do that. It's a (good) coach's job to keep that sort of thing in check.

[gibertjs]

I am the president and founding father of the CCU Lacrosse club and it is time CCU made a statement. To all of you who feel the need to discuss the game at length and question my team’s level of class I have this to say. We hit hard, we play hard. This is Lacrosse, it is a physical and intense sport.

To CCU, let me enlighten you to as your ignorance to your situation is obvious.

Guess what? When Half the league has a problem with your team, it might be you guys. Or maybe your just more intense and physical than anybody else in the SELC. Cause no one played lacrosse before you guys showed up.

To Eckerd, let me enlighten you as your ignorance to the situation has obviously caused a disheartened feeling toward our club. Roger Davis and I spoke at length prior to our upcoming games that weekend. After a few days of discussion we mutually decided how to handle it based on the weather reports. If you would like to further discuss the topic please feel free to contact me at any time, as I am sure my number and email are available to you.

1. Let's be careful who your calling ignorant when you're canceling on people and getting ejections.
2. It's lovely that you talked at length with High Point's coach. Doesn't change the fact that they (understandably) canceled on us because you didn't want to play them and they didn't want to travel for only one game.
3.Why would I have your number or email? Who are you? Try backing up what you have to say by signing your name on your post. You claim your the "founding father" but who knows.

[Sonny]

Guys.... Lets not make this personal.

Please take it easy, BOTH WAYS.

[Dahabeeb]

My name is David Habeeb. I apologize for assuming you would know I was. The reason I called you ignorant was because you must have not understood the situation. The High Point game was cancled because the weather report looked bleak for the weekend. We wanted to play that game as well. We felt especially bad that your team had to travel that distance for one game, but these things happen. I explained the situation to the league, the officials and Max. If you think you need further explanation than please feel free to call or email me. I also apologize for assuming you knew how to find my contact information, you can get it off of our website which can be found on mcla.us . I honestly don't think half the league has a problem with us, a few teams yea, but I don't expect them all to love us.

Beta- about those last 3 minutes. It would not have been right for us to win that game after what had happened. We gained an advantage because of an ugly hit, and as I said before I don't think Elon's response to the hit was out of line. So they had 3 players ejected, and we had 2. So instead of taking advantage of that, we let the guys who didn't get a lot of playing time finish the game for us. Maybe we blew our shot, but it was not our game to win at that point.

[laxxfan]

Beta- about those last 3 minutes. It would not have been right for us to win that game after what had happened. We gained an advantage because of an ugly hit, and as I said before I don't think Elon's response to the hit was out of line. So they had 3 players ejected, and we had 2. So instead of taking advantage of that, we let the guys who didn't get a lot of playing time finish the game for us. Maybe we blew our shot, but it was not our game to win at that point.

I think that is a very mature way to have handled the situation. I only wish that could have been the precedent set from the beginning of the game.

[NinerCoach]

Beta- about those last 3 minutes. It would not have been right for us to win that game after what had happened. We gained an advantage because of an ugly hit, and as I said before I don't think Elon's response to the hit was out of line. So they had 3 players ejected, and we had 2. So instead of taking advantage of that, we let the guys who didn't get a lot of playing time finish the game for us. Maybe we blew our shot, but it was not our game to win at that point.

I think that is a very mature way to have handled the situation. I only wish that could have been the precedent set from the beginning of the game.

I agree that it's a very mature way to handle it. However, I just want to let everyone know ahead of time, if this ever happens to my team,...

...we're running a fast break drill over and over. Just FYI.

[BamaLax7]

I agree. All other things being considered, you shouldn't have the "it wasn't our game to win anymore" attitude. The refs are there to penalize teams that commit fouls, and therefore make the game fair. After they came down with their ruling, in the eyes of the refs, all is now equal and "yall go out and play". Not playing to win seems to be a disservice to your teammates and fans.