thoughts on the first 2 days

[ineedmorecowbell]

if i were there, i would poop in TO's locker. i hate the cowboys.

[DG]

And looking up and down BYUs roster and all of the familiar names, it's hard for anyone to convince me they win with less talent.

Talent is not the issue. It is turnover that hurts them. The number of Seniors on the team is small (usually 5 or less) but I'm not sure that's much different than most of the teams around the country. The mission thing means that most of their freshman class usually leaves after their first year, and then there are the guys coming off of their mission. Turnover of the roster ends up being around 50%.

The talent level across the MCLA is up a lot, in my opinion. In past years, you could get a walk in to the semifinals. This year, BYU has had to scratch out two 1-goal victories. BC and SFU could give anyone in the tournament a run for their money. Same goes for UMD, GA and CSU.

This year, it is all about the matchups. BYU has played all of the teams in the final 4. The largest margin of victory/defeat in any of those games was a 3 goal loss to Michigan.

I'm looking forward to the live broadcast tomorrow night!

DG

[ineedmorecowbell]

elliot grow is an average lacrosse player.






...go clams.

[Hugh Nunn]

its to bad that uga didn't win. at 8-8 with 3 minutes or so left uga got called for a man in the crease as michigan cleared the ball up field... kind of surprised they called that considering it had no effect on the play. But it was a great game.

Also heard FSU played without 6 starters against SFU which i'm sure would have made a difference.

In the crease with the ball going up the field is delay of game...(please correct me if I'm wrong Sonny or LaxRef)...it is what it is... Huge ups to UGA for the year they had. Hopefully next year's team can keep the ball rolling.

I'm sure the Noles missed their starters, whatever the reason they might have been out, but you have to play with what you bring to the game. No excuses. The good news is that they are a young team that has a lot to build on for next year.

[jessexy]

quick secret about Texas Stadium since i used to work for the Cowboys at the Stadium, they dont show the real locker room that the team uses on Sunday's during the tour. They have alternate locker rooms that they use. They always keep one with the different nameplates, then they have a few that they use fo rmultiple events (like back-to-back high school playoffs games). They also make nameplates for each high school player during the football playoffs, which is a neat touch since they let the players keep their nameplates (I have both of mine to this day).

[laxdad03]

quick secret about Texas Stadium since i used to work for the Cowboys at the Stadium, they dont show the real locker room that the team uses on Sunday's during the tour. They have alternate locker rooms that they use. They always keep one with the different nameplates, then they have a few that they use fo rmultiple events (like back-to-back high school playoffs games). They also make nameplates for each high school player during the football playoffs, which is a neat touch since they let the players keep their nameplates (I have both of mine to this day).

Maybe I'm confused (or just ancient), if so, pardon me. We didn't get a tour, but the locker room we were in today (kept the gear in while out on the field for pics) was the same one I saw the Cowboys in on a few Sundays many years back (Aikman, Irvin, Emmitt, Deion, et al) when we were doing video here. Who knows how it will go tomorrow, but in any case, pretty sweet, and a real feather in the MCLA's cap, I think (and the games have been great so far, too).

[EvanFSU]

Also heard FSU played without 6 starters against SFU which i'm sure would have made a difference

True. Maybe more then 6. I don't have any info to elaborate on. But this is 2 bad showings in the past 3 years for FSU at nationals. Disappointing.

[Beta]

Also heard FSU played without 6 starters against SFU which i'm sure would have made a difference

True. Maybe more then 6. I don't have any info to elaborate on. But this is 2 bad showings in the past 3 years for FSU at nationals. Disappointing.

Did the starters not make the trip or something?

[laxfan25]

In the crease with the ball going up the field is delay of game...(please correct me if I'm wrong Sonny or LaxRef)...it is what it is...

In the crease is a crease violation, not a delay of game. What's interesting is that if it happens when the ball is loose in the crease it is a play on, and if the goalie picks it up you continue. If he doesn't, it's awarded at GLE. If the goalie has possession in the crease it's a play on, and if he completes a clearing pass - continue, and if not, a free clear.
However, if the ball is in the D's possession OUTSIDE the crease and the attacker steps in, now it is a flag down slow whistle as was properly called here. You an argue about advantage gained, but it is specifically in the rulebook.

Rule 4 A.R. 97. Defensive team with possession outside of crease area. Offensive team steps into crease or interferes with goalkeeper who is in his crease. RULING: Flag-down, technical foul.

[laxfan25]

Am I just being dense (very likely) or is there no central place that lists all the scores from the tournament? I clicked on the Scores tab and it doesn't have them. Championship Chat doesn't seem to have a thread. Before the tourney there was a nice bracket setup with helmets - it would be great to see that updated on the main page with results of the games. Any help out there?

[Beta]

http://www.collegelax.us/2008champ/

[Sonny]

Am I just being dense (very likely) or is there no central place that lists all the scores from the tournament? I clicked on the Scores tab and it doesn't have them. Championship Chat doesn't seem to have a thread. Before the tourney there was a nice bracket setup with helmets - it would be great to see that updated on the main page with results of the games. Any help out there?

All of the scores are listed round by round on the Champ page:
http://www.collegelax.us/2008champ/

[StrykerFSU]

Also heard FSU played without 6 starters against SFU which i'm sure would have made a difference

True. Maybe more then 6. I don't have any info to elaborate on. But this is 2 bad showings in the past 3 years for FSU at nationals. Disappointing.

Did the starters not make the trip or something?

A number of starters did not make the trip for various reasons. Some didn't go due to injury, the others...they would need to address that for themselves.

[Kadillac]

This year, it is all about the matchups. BYU has played all of the teams in the final 4. The largest margin of victory/defeat in any of those games was a 3 goal loss to Michigan.

ASU has also played all three teams in the final four this year

[The_Buddha_Man]

I hope younger players can read this and realize that class is part of lacrosse. One of the, if not the, most important part of the game.

110% absolutely agreed. Coaches need to be more accountable for teaching this "lost art." For example, when you're beating a team by 25, there's 8 seconds left in the game, and you still have your long poles taking shots on cage...classless...