2006 MDIA National Championship Backup Plan

[mholtz]

I think for everyone that consistently competes, or thinks they are going to compete this year, they have already made plans. Teams that are consistently in the playoffs say for example in the LSA A&M, UT, Texas Tech, UTA, and Southwestern, those teams are already making plans regardless of location.

I agree though that we need an answer soon. Determining where to play shouldn't be as big of an ordeal as it has become, not like hosting the Superbowl. We already know that Blaine is adequately suited for hosting a National Championship. And most everyone here in the DFW area will tell you that Dallas is well equiped to host the National Championship.

I must disagree here. Not all teams have the money required to go to Nationals in their traditional budget, so if they show signs of being a contender, they must plan, and begin fundraising. For us the difference between the two destinations is probably about $10,000. The longer you have to plan for that sort of fundraising the better chance that you will be able to reach your goal.

Has any team ever turned down an invite to nationals due to budget problems? Just curious.

[Sonny]

Has any team ever turned down an invite to nationals due to budget problems? Just curious.

The very first year of the national championships (May 1997 in St. Louis), Georgia Tech beat Auburn in OT to win the SELC championship. They turned down the automatic bid due to finances and Auburn filled their spot in the tournament.

I think that is the only time that has happened in 9 years.

[Karl Lynch]

University of Texas did not attend in 1997 or 98 for a host of reasons and Trinity University took its place as the LSA rep. BYU beat them pretty bad in the first round.

[Sonny]

University of Texas did not attend in 1997 or 98 for a host of reasons and Trinity University took its place as the LSA rep. BYU beat them pretty bad in the first round.

Forgot about that Karl. But, to clarify, those reasons were not related to budget.

[Karl Lynch]

Not sure if they were financial or other. I know the team was having some internal problems with departure of long time coach and IA architect Bob Korba.

[jessexy]

didnt it have something to do with the NIRSA Lacrosse tourney and their rec sports dept?

[Sonny]

didnt it have something to do with the NIRSA Lacrosse tourney and their rec sports dept?

Correct. As I understand it... The team (and coach) wanted and were prepared to go to St. Louis, but they were "forced" to go to the NIRSA event.

[Frank Clark]

I would have to agree with Matt. "The longer you have to plan for that sort of fundraising the better chance that you will be able to reach your goal. " Even for a team that traditionally plans for the potential of being in the National Tourney this is tough. The saeson is starting and a decision hasn't been made. This puts a strain on teams. If it was set a few months ago you can plan. To make a decision this late does not reflect well.
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[Jolly Roger]

We've known for some time that it will be Texas or Minnesota. Plan fo rthe one that's further away and you'll be covered. If it's closer (or you don't make it), you have a nice war chest to start the following season

[JW]

We've known for some time that it will be Texas or Minnesota. Plan fo rthe one that's further away and you'll be covered. If it's closer (or you don't make it), you have a nice war chest to start the following season

I will second that.

UTA doesn't have the biggest budget in the world, but if we made it to Nationals we would find a way to go just like any other B-Team. Most B-Teams don't have the sponsors that some D-A schools have.

[CATLAX MAN]

Seems to me that you should go ahead and start your fundraising whether you think you are going to get to the tourney or not. The funds are not going anywhere if it turns out that you raised too much. You would just have a head start on next year. As an example, UCSB has taken some excess funds from their efforts and have tried to establish an endowment for the coaching staff's salaries and other future uses that the team may need. The location of the tournament really doesn't affect fund raising if you don't let it.

[LaxRef]

The location of the tournament really doesn't affect fund raising if you don't let it.

If your team is in Minnesota and you tell people, "We need travel funds for the national tournament in either Texas or Minnesota," they may want to wait to see if you really need it.

[Mikelaw84]

I would suspect that most teams set fundraising goals well in advance of their seasons with the tournament being just a portion of their overall goal, as Catlaxman stated. In my experience with fundraising, you tell possible donors the variety of things their money will help cover, not just for travel or uniforms for example. Its much better to plan for the worst case scenario financially. I doubt that many fans and supporters would have much of a problem with giving a little extra, especially when it will most likely offset future donations considering that at the club level a majority of the funds come from players, their families and alumni.

[Dulax31]

US Lacrosse has gauranteed a decision by January 1. Hopefully it will be done sooner, but expect an announcement by New Years Day at the latest.

The difference between traveling to Texas or Minnesota is a substantial amount of money for a team like mine or a team in texas. We were supposed to know the outcome in November, then we were GUARANTEED that we would know the location by Jan. 1st. I don’t know about you, but when I GUARANTEE that something is going to be done, I make darn sure it happens. Teams have to schedule their games early in the fall and don’t have the luxury of waiting till mid Jan. to plan our season / budget. I agree you should plan for both, but it would make things much more simple if this would have been planned out much sooner. You dont see the NCAA scrambling to find a national championship location. I expected more from US-Lacrosse.

[Danny Hogan]

I expected more from US-Lacrosse.

then you must not be that familiar with uslacrosse. oops was that out loud.