Tradition

[benji]

I've heard of many of the USLIA teams having several long-standing traditions/rituals. So I'm curious, what are some traditions you've heard of or been involved with your respected teams?

[TrojanLaxman5]

If I told you I'd have to kill you...

[CSUalum32]

If I told you I'd have to kill you...

Agreed! a constant tradition for every team, rookies follow orders.

[umdulax1]

Yea there are definetly traditions out there on most teams ecspecialy those teams that have been around for a while. But i'm guessing and just guessing here...it may not be message board material

[Andy Sharp]

Here's one I don't mind sharing, but it's more personal than team, since each time it's been done I had to force the guys to take the time.

If you've ever done a report on Native American lacrosse you've probably read about how the natives of what is now Northern Michigan once attacked a British fort using lacrosse, here's your quick history lesson:

In the summer of 1763 the Sauk and Ojibway needed a plan to recapture Fort Michilimackinac (upper Michigan) from the British. The British were at war with the French and controlled all the trading in the Upper-Midwest. Since the Ojibway and Sauk preferred the French's favorable trading practices over those of the English they devised a unique plan, using a lacrosse game to distract the British soldiers so they could take over the fort. The date for the game was set to coincide with the English Kings birthday when the soldiers would be free from their duties and ready to be entertained by the public wagering on the game. On the day of the game the plan had the women of both tribes line up along the wall in front of the main gate with tomahawks, knives and war clubs under their shawls and blankets. As the game moved closer to the main gate the ball was thrown into the Fort.

The players from both teams dropped their sticks, grabbing the weapons from the women and stormed the unsuspecting British through the open main gate capturing the Fort and all the goods, and that's how Lacrosse defeated the British!

Anyway, so these past few years we've been going up to Marquette, in the upper peninsula we make a stop at Fort Michilimackinac and heave a ceremonial lacrosse ball over the tall wooden fence.

Kind of a token to the Creator's of this game.

[LAX SAMURAI]

Coach Sharp, that is a sick tradition. Wow. I've never heard that story before, and now I will probably be telling it a thousand times tomorrow. Thanks for throwing that one out there, I hope more people will share their traditions.
Here at Claremont we don't really have any long standing traditions; however, personally, I occasionally fire up the Millon's offensive wizardry tape the night before games to remind me of where I started.

[benji]

Andy Sharp, great story and great tradition! That's not the kinda thing you hear about too often.

I suppose many traditions aren't board material... too bad. It seems that for some strange reason rookies that score lose their hair... quite the phenomenon.

[bste_lax]

We had a couple traditions we do to our freshmen/rookies during the fall. Usually during one of the first games of the year, either our annual game with Iowa State or at the Madsion tournament, we let the freshmen run from sideline to sideline in nothing but their boxers/jock strap combo while "riding" their stick.

Another one usually happens during one of our fall tournament trips when we eat together at a buffet style place. They usually split it up so certain amount do it one time and another group another time but they get the choice of standing on their chairs and singing "I'm a little teapot" with hand motions or singing the "I lost that loving feeling" song from Top Gun to one of the waitresses while she sits in a chair in the middle. Usually some good laughs.

[TrojanLaxman5]

...for some strange reason rookies that score lose their hair... quite the phenomenon.

Just the ones that score...?

[Cousin17]

Andy Sharp, that was a great story. It is nice to know that there are others out there that still have respect for where the game we all love came from. Most people don't think of how it was a Michigan/Ontario area game for Native Americans before it was a East-Coast dominated sport in the United States. What you shared with us is the true meaning of tradition in the sport of Lacrosse. Thank you.

[AlumniLax]

we let the freshmen run from sideline to sideline in nothing but their boxers/jock strap combo while "riding" their stick.

you let them huh? what the hell kind of traditon is that to "let" them do something? they need to be forced

[bste_lax]

we let the freshmen run from sideline to sideline in nothing but their boxers/jock strap combo while "riding" their stick.

you let them huh? what the hell kind of traditon is that to "let" them do something? they need to be forced

Then that would be hazing.

[rmstolley]

my initiation was a little thing i like to call "Edward 40 (oz) hands"....