Biggest conference game of the season

[SMSlax]

In a related topic, being a player on a GRLC team it would be tricky to assume anything about any of the other teams without some serious bias. So along with the good games this season, I was wondering what some of the best rivalries are from the players on those teams. I'm aware of the MU/WashU history and assuming some of the in-state games (KU/K-State, Illionis/Illinois State, Iowa/Iowa State) are by their nature a little tense, what do the other players think?
When SMS first came into the conf. our big game was always KU and by virtue of some pretty physical games against Lindenwood four or five years ago, those games have remained highlights as well.

[bste_lax]

In a related topic, being a player on a GRLC team it would be tricky to assume anything about any of the other teams without some serious bias. So along with the good games this season, I was wondering what some of the best rivalries are from the players on those teams. I'm aware of the MU/WashU history and assuming some of the in-state games (KU/K-State, Illionis/Illinois State, Iowa/Iowa State) are by their nature a little tense, what do the other players think?
When SMS first came into the conf. our big game was always KU and by virtue of some pretty physical games against Lindenwood four or five years ago, those games have remained highlights as well.

Back when I played (man I feel old), our main GRLC rival was Illinois State which stemmed from two consecutive CCLA Division B Finals matchups. Probably not as intense as Illinois-Illinois State, but was usually decent intensity although it has died down in recent years as Illinois State has become better while Iowa has gone down some in talent.

But as far as Iowa-Iowa State, usually a good intense game although they are in different conferences. A tradition of the fall game has slowly added a Spring game in recent years. It is about the only time you will see me awake at 5 AM pumped to drive two hours to play lacrosse (the fall game before the football game).

[pstirling]

The Mizzou-Wash U rivalry has a new interesting wrinkle this year as a Mizzou Alum is now coaching at Wash U. Although Brian Livingston pre dated the rivalry by a year or two. I know the Wash U coaching staff does want to beat Mizzou as bad as anyone, and that's the way it should be.

As far as the claims that Mizzou is dodging Lindenwood and that Hawkins fixed the league alignment, I have a few counterpoints:

1.) Mizzou is a young team, and any experience against top 25 (or better top 15) competition will only help them this year and in the future.

2.) Mizzou is traveling to Colorado to play the pre-season #2 and #8 teams, and traveling to Oregon to play the #7 team, so I'm pretty sure they're not afraid of any level of competition.

3.) Last year's game was at Lindenwood, so, in theory, this year's game would have been at Mizzou. I think any team in the country would love to host a top 15 team, especially when they only lost by 1 on the road to that team the year before.

4.) Coach Hawkins is no longer commissioner, meaning he has as much or less power than every other Division A or B coach. And I thought one of main reasons for getting an outside unbiased commissioner was to avoid conflicts of interest.

Lindenwood and Harding made great strides at playoffs last year on and off the field to bring greater respectability to the league, and these ridiculous, baseless claims are only making the league look petty and childish.

[TheLoo]

Ok, then, how about a simple question then? Why isn't Missouri playing Lindenwood? Coach Cribben has stated it isn't because Lindenwood didn't want the game............

[gatewaylax]

For last seasons scheduling Mizzou did not draw Illinois yet they still scheduled a regular season game. That does make it seem a little odd that Mizzou and Lindenwood would not schedule each other even though they didn't draw one another for a crossover game. That game would only help both sides prepare for the postseason.

For the game of the year in the GRLC I have to go with the rematch of last years championship, Illinois vs. Lindenwood. The game is in Champaign and Lindenwood has never won there at a tough field to play at. The game is early in the season (before Spring Break) and I'm sure the wind will be howlin'. The Illini will be looking for payback after getting blown out in the final last year and losing to LU at the Vanderbilt Fall Tourney (also in the championship).

[cjwilhelmi]

Ok, then, how about a simple question then? Why isn't Missouri playing Lindenwood? Coach Cribben has stated it isn't because Lindenwood didn't want the game............

HA HA Coach Cribbin...

[pstirling]

my simple question for you is why isn't Lindenwood playing Mizzou? Everyone expects Lindenwood would win anyway, so a loss wouldn't hurt Mizzou in the standings and wouldn't really hurt Mizzou towards conference playoffs. My guess as to why the game isn't being played is due to offseason allegations and reversed sanctions, Lindenwood doesn't want to do Mizzou any favors by going to play them and possibly getting upset. I've heard no compelling arguments as to why Mizzou is avoiding Lindenwood other than the Lindenwood Women's Coach said so.

[A.J. Stevens]

I don't think Mizzou is avoiding Lindenwood or any other team. They are playing a competitive schedule including Colorado State, Colorado and Oregon. For one reason or another Lindenwood & Mizzou are not playing this year. I think some people are reading to deep into this.

As for the conference alignment, SLU moved down and Nebraska moved up. Lindenwood was the eastern most team so they moved over.

I am happy with the out of conference games being played in the GRLC this year. Between Lindenwood, Mizzou, & Illinois we are playing 11 OOC games against top 25 programs. Good luck to Lindenwood & Mizzou against these opponents. I would like to see a couple more GRLC A teams in the top 25.

[SMSlax]

I wasn't at the meeting, but as a team that has LU on the schedule, I can say that if they weren't on it, I don't think it would recieve much more than a passing thought from anyone on this team. That goes for any school in the GRLC. We play the schedule he have and if we're good enough than we'll see the other good teams in due course. I agree that some may be looking too deeply into this. As it turns out, the world doesn't revolve around St. Charles, no matter what I may think.

[btriley01]

Ok, first of all, I think its bogus that Missou won't play LU. Its just their way of furthering their protest against a better team that they can't compete with. Second of all, let us not forget the lowly division B game of the season, which surely will be HU vs Creighton. We had a tough loss to them last year, which included a 3 minute unreleasable on our all conference goalie. Also, if creighton is as good as they say they are this year, than grlc b has their hands full. I'm ready for some hearty competition!!

[cjwilhelmi]

Ok, first of all, I think its bogus that Missou won't play LU. Its just their way of furthering their protest against a better team that they can't compete with. Second of all, let us not forget the lowly division B game of the season, which surely will be HU vs Creighton. We had a tough loss to them last year, which included a 3 minute unreleasable on our all conference goalie. Also, if creighton is as good as they say they are this year, than grlc b has their hands full. I'm ready for some hearty competition!!

No one ever said Mizzou wouldn't play Lindenwood.

Lindenwood verses Illinois, hands down best game of the year. Hood v Stevens... Illinois players v Missouri players... the two best teams in the GRLC

[danza]

alright i understand the whole thing going on here with mizzou but the real deal is if it really is the biggest matchup they'll meet in the playoffs anyway...

i know noone cares and out of sheer boredom and lack of anything to do here at harding im gonna put in my 2 cents...

i like the rivalry that someone here at harding told us existed with old-sms due to them knocking us out of playoffs and some illegal players or something.. i dunno they just told us its not a meaningless game despite the a to b cross divisional thing... and it is first game of the season this year for us... they beat us last year during the season in a decent game and i know fall ball doesnt matter as much but we took them in overtime in a fall tourney with a brand new goalie(me)... i just think it will be a big boost for our program in the polls to play well against an a division team...

really im just getting wicked antsy and wanna play no matter who it is... oh man i wanna play some lacrosse...

and dont mind bbriley he doesnt know what tact means...

[yourmom]

there are alot ALOT of quotes to take from this thread, but rather than attack/agree with other people let me throw a little "reasonable bias" at you all. I aim to controll fires not feed them.

(puts on flame suit)

1.) The SEASON HAS YET TO START!!!!!!!!!!!!
2.) Yes lindenwood is the highest pre-season ranked team in the GRLC... BUT
3.) The illini are tough... especially at home. Last i played there all i can remember is dust in my friggen eyes. Plus they have a great team. Well coached, and well stacked.
4.) hmmm.... Mizzou i have to tread carefully (it's hard). They did make a ridiculous schedule. They have many OOC games in the top 25, give them credit where credit is due, but there are many choice things (see bias) to say about the LU/Mizzou thing. I will not start in any kind of slander war, It is pointless and a waste of time, plus i have the utmost respect for thier players.
5.) As for other Div. A teams such as Missouri State, K State, etc. i can't wait to see the ripples, and problems that occur in the post season, as a result of your regular season.
6.) On a biased note... My first year playing Lax ever was at LU my frosh year. It is a program i believe very strongly in. I can't wait for the season to start for us. good luck to all, but i cant wait to show the country more and more what our program is about.

P.S. GO GRLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beckner11]

i like the rivalry that someone here at harding told us existed with old-sms due to them knocking us out of playoffs and some illegal players or something..

Just wanted to set the record straight that we have never used illegal players in our program and will never do so!! The only team known for doing so was Northwestern, whom knocked Harding out of the playoffs, and they aren't in the USLIA anymore.

However, I do agree that there is a fun rivalry existing there, as both programs started the same year and the majority of games (including this past fall) have been clase, intense games.

[bste_lax]

Well said Chris.