DI conference allignments

[BigheadTodd]

won't the ECAC also be losing Hobart when they revert to DIII?

They though the better of it, and changed their mind a few days after making the announcement.

[lax4ct]

I read somewhere that the Big East lacrosse conference is a done deal. I don't recall a mention of the teams but presumably we are talking Cuse, GTown, Villanofun, Providence, Notre Dame (maybe), St. Johns, anyone else I'm forgetting?

Actually Notre Dame is the team initiating the conference the most, so there is no 'maybe' there. Kevin Corrigan wants this conference bad.

UCONN - Club mens and womens

UConn has D1 Women's. Was Division 1 Men's until program cut in 1983.

The rumors about the Big East are true and all varsity teams will be participating.

A.J. I am curious as to the latest you have heard. The Big East athletic directors meeting came and went last week with no official announcement. I know the Big East administrators meeting is right around the corner...is that where discussion gets serious? The latest comments come from Cuse AD Daryl Gross here

http://www.syracuse.com/articles/sports/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1211705846258161.xml&coll=1

I spoke to one person, an administrator within a Big East school, whom told me, quote "between you and me it's a done deal". From what I was told it seems that all teams are on board, and that the BE will require a minimum of 6 scholarships per team, and give 'Nova and PC a grace period to reach that point (2-3 years?). However, still no announcement as it seems some things need to be worked out still.

From what I've heard Syracuse is reluctant to make the move, and Providence and Nova aren't funding their programs "up to snuff" for the Big East.

It looks like Syracuse is pretty much on board, their reluctance is a thing of the past it seems. The big issue that you correctly identify is the Providence and Nova funding situation. See: http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/120928667936551.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

Also here is a very interested article in how the conference alignment may shake out:

http://video1.washingtontimes.com/d1scourse/2008/05/a_crack_in_the_edge_of_the_lac.html

For up-to-date Big East Men's Lacrosse info feel free to keep checking our B.E. Men's Lax thread:

http://lax4ct.com/?cat=4


http://www.lax4ct.com

[FLALAX]

lax4ct, thanks for the addition information and links.

[Zeuslax]

The Big East is in. Once everything else is lined up the BE will announce. Lots of work until then. There will be some other shake-ups as well. Hobart may be wavering again! Yup. Most likely will toe the line with their latest decision for at least the next year, giving alums and donors time to get their financing together.

At least 4 (5 if you count the NEC) other conferences will see adjustments as well. Some are major adjustments. This doesn't really have a whole lot to do with the Big East addition though. The west needs another DI team stat. In addition to Detroit Mercy. I'm sure Matt will chime in thier situation when he's able to? Notre Dame and Quinnipiac will be out.

Bryant is the hinge point for some of the moves. Maybe Bryant will be able to compete a year early to allow the NEC it's automatic qualifier? The next few weeks should be interesting to say the least.

[lax4ct]

The Big East is in. Once everything else is lined up the BE will announce. Lots of work until then.

I hope you are right. Could you elaborate on what you mean by 'everything else is lined up?'. Just curious, if you were to take an educated guess, what is your feelings on a timeline?

Maybe I am an idealist, but I have to believe when traditional conferences such as the NEC and the Big East create Men's Lacrosse conferences the schools within that conference, whom do not sponsor the sport, will take a more serious look at their situation and if adding it is feasible. I am hoping for a ripple affect, although it may not happen, i.e. ACC. The NEC is majority tri-state area teams so I see a lot of potential there.

http://www.lax4ct.com

[Zeuslax]

I hope you are right. Could you elaborate on what you mean by 'everything else is lined up?'. Just curious, if you were to take an educated guess, what is your feelings on a timeline?

From what I understand the conferences are trying to work together and let each other know intentions. We know the NEC is a go, that causes a ripple effect. The addition of the BE conference. Providence and Villanova need to get up to speed as well.

Maybe I am an idealist, but I have to believe when traditional conferences such as the NEC and the Big East create Men's Lacrosse conferences the schools within that conference, whom do not sponsor the sport, will take a more serious look at their situation and if adding it is feasible. I am hoping for a ripple affect, although it may not happen, i.e. ACC. The NEC is majority tri-state area teams so I see a lot of potential there.

I agree. I think with slow steady growth at the DI level that the game will not be hurt on the field. There are enough players that can play at that level with the explosion of lacrosse with U18's. We're seeing parity when we look at the score boards of many, many games.

[byualum]

So where does the GWLL go to maintain their AQ? They lose Notre Dame and Quinnipiac in the next two seasons. I know the they pick up UDM, but doesn't that still leave them one short to get on AQ?

[Zeuslax]

That is the big question. Outside of UDM there just isn't anyone that is on the radar out west or west of the Allegheny Mt's for that matter.

[Zeuslax]

Here's some press on the topic discussed here. I haven't read any of it, but it's on the main page.

http://insidelacrosse.com/

[byualum]

Here's the proposed alignment from IL...

http://blogs.insidelacrosse.com/2008/06 ... will-land/

ECAC is interesting...Fairfield used to play in the GWLL so that's not a huge change. Picking up Loyola is nice (from the perspective that I'm a DU fan).

[mholtz]

The west needs another DI team stat. In addition to Detroit Mercy. I'm sure Matt will chime in thier situation when he's able to? Notre Dame and Quinnipiac will be out.

We are dotting I's and crossing T's for our admission to the GWLL. Notre Dame can't leave until Nova and Providence fully fund. That is where we are. We'll cross other bridges when we come to them.

[lax4ct]

I would hate to see the GWLL teams absorbed by the ECAC, that would be a killer travel budge. Unless they made an ECAC East and ECAC West.

[lax4ct]

Update:

http://www.syracuse.com/sports/index.ss ... xml&coll=1

[LaxRef]

Update:

http://www.syracuse.com/sports/index.ss ... xml&coll=1

One thing really confuses me: they keep saying that Syracuse has won 10 championships. However, my understanding is that one of those was vacated for using an ineligible player. If it's vacated, that means you didn't really win the championship because you cheated (intentionally or unintentionally really makes no difference, and I don't claim to know which it was).

So, why do people keep counting 10 championships if the NCAA only counts 9? How many NCAA basketball final fours does the U of Minnesota have: 0 or 1?

[StrykerFSU]

Update:

http://www.syracuse.com/sports/index.ss ... xml&coll=1

One thing really confuses me: they keep saying that Syracuse has won 10 championships. However, my understanding is that one of those was vacated for using an ineligible player. If it's vacated, that means you didn't really win the championship because you cheated (intentionally or unintentionally really makes no difference, and I don't claim to know which it was).

So, why do people keep counting 10 championships if the NCAA only counts 9? How many NCAA basketball final fours does the U of Minnesota have: 0 or 1?

It is because the Gaits were involved and the entire lacrosse community kowtows to the Gaits. ESPN was guilty of this during their telecast.