PNCLL Week #4 (2/22-2/28) -- Predict, Scores and Discuss

[Dan Wishengrad]

This is a very unfortunate situation. As Kyle stated above, there are no "optional" scheduled MDIA games. If you schedule a game and do not cancel for legitimate reasons more than 72 hours before the scheduled faceoff, it is indeed a forfeit which carries fines and penalties as sanctioned by our By-Laws. Arbitrary game cancellations can not be tolerated, and the Executive Board has been discussing this since Saturday night when this came to our attention.

PNCLL President Jason Stockton will make an announcement regarding Willamette University as soon as a decision has been reached on the matter. All of us wish to apologize to Boise State for inconvenience and unfairness of losing one of only three home games they were scheduled to play for the 2006 season, and also to the game officials who committed to making this trip based upon the confirmation of a two-game weekend.

[timekeeper]

The game against Boise State wasn't "optional" nor was it our intention to forfeit before we got there. I don't want to speak for all the players for Willamette but the fact of the matter is that this is a team in transition. There are players who act like the league is like it used to be, one step up from a beer league. There are players who have never played the game before, playing their hearts out trying to learn the game and to keep things from falling apart. There are some serious players here but we have some serious issues that need to be addressed. This year, we have a sophomore as our coach. If we're allowed to play next year, that won't be the case. This year, we have players who aren't serious about playing in a league and abiding by league rules and expectations. If we're allowed to play next year, that won't be the case.

What I saw against Albertson is a bunch of guys that gave their all while more experienced players chose to stay back in Salem. Some had schoolwork to take care of and I'd never complain about that decision but others just didn't want to make the trip. If I have anything to say about that, they won't be on the team next year.

More to follow. My computer at the public library is running out of time.

[timekeeper]

To continue:

Those of us who made the trip to Idaho do want to apologize to both BSU and to the league for this situation. Bottom line is that we had 12 players, many of whom have never played lacrosse before, we were pretty beat up before coming to Idaho and we were concerned that playing a team like BSU after getting our heads handed to us against Albertson would have put our players in a dangerous situation. We have no excuses about how we arrived at that dangerous situation (not enough players, not enough experienced players) but we felt it would be better to forfeit to BSU than to come home with so many more injuries that we wouldn't have been able to field a team for the rest of the season.

It is fully our intention to put a team on the field and to give the other teams on our schedule this year as competitive a game as we possibly can, and we will take our punishment, fines, sanctions, suspensions, whatever, as we should. Like I said, things will change around here or there won't be a team in Salem to have to concern yourself with.

Again, on behalf of Willamette lacrosse, I apologize for the events of this weekend.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

The PNCLL executive board is currently discussing the punishment for Willamette and will announce any punishment decisions in the next 24 hours.

Forfeits are NOT acceptable in this league and will never be taken lightly. I empathize with the dedicated members of the Willamette squad, but the decision made to "cancel" their game with Boise State will result in punishment that will be announced shortly.

I have spoken personally with Willamette's head coach and we will take his explanation into consideration.

[TheBearcatHimself]

Well, Brian just said a lot of what needed to be said. I cannot express how sorry I am to Boise State for not playing the game. Of course had we known that only twelve players would have made the trip and our "coach" would have forgotten our jerseys and the team would pay none of our bills for the hotel, gas, replacement jerseys, etc. then we would have notified them in advance, but as you can see this was a short notice thing (those are not excuses, those are just facts). I want to say that Willamette did not throw out the word "optional" so please spare me the thesis papers on why that is not an acceptable excuse. Clearly, Brian and myself are completely and thoroughly upset with the situation and are attempting to make the necessary changes from the inside so this will never happen again. The current leadership is unaware of where the team should be headed, and seems unwilling to take it there.

This is kind of sad considering at our practices we regularly get 20-22 players out, this is quite parodoxical to our game representation. I have never seen this many people come out to practice regularly in my time here, and I subsequently have never seen so many people refuse to come to games. I guess the fact that it's "a long way away" is their best excuse, but I'm not even going to begin to open that can of worms.

Right now my team at West Salem High School looks like a Fortune 500 company in comparison. I personally know that I will be in Salem for two more years, but my eligibility is up after next season. I plan on making the necessary changes to run this team like you all know it should be run. Brian is going to be very necessary in that and his help has already been a blessing. However, if the league continues to poke us with a ten foot pole and say "You guys alright down there??" then there may be a preset determination. This year team representatives went to the league and basically had to convince you that we were legit (despite the fact that we were anything but). We have no coach, we have no boosters, we have no university support at all minus the good Brian Miller. These are all things I have to change and plan to do so but this will not happen tomorrow. If anyone at all has any questions PM me or email me or Brian, I will be more than happy to go over any details and future plans. I hope this ends the negative Willamette discussion for now.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and this project could be more imposing than that.
Thanks to Linfield for the continued support! We appreciate it very much!

[Kyle Berggren]

"...continues to poke us with a 10 foot pole."

That's absolutely unfair. I'm sorry if I haven't found the time to drive down from Tacoma after reading your mind to help out. It's your bed, sleep in it. I personally backed your team at the league meeting. I want you to succeed, plain and simple. When you want help, as you should when your program is transitioning, ask for it. I will help however I can, and I know the Board wouldn't turn you away as well. Does that mean we can solve your problems, no, of course not, but we do want to help. If you need jersey's or equipment, we can help get it to you at lower costs. Fundraising ideas, we've got em. We are an asset you shouldn't be afraid to use. Quite frankly, the people on the Board volunteered to be on the Board to be that asset, just as you have in coaching. There's no glory or pay, I actually feel like an official right now.

I truly do wish you the best of luck, and will most likely support you again next season at the league meeting. If you have 10 dedicated players, new or experienced, I admire their determination and grit. I feel sorry for them when they have to go through this as well.

[BoiseStateLaxer]

I wish them the best of luck in turning things around, but I feel horrible for the Boise "It's not a State" State players, family, & fans.

Personally, this was the only thing that got me. I actually had family come down for the games. The only one they could make was the Sunday game, for some reason. I definitely understand where Willamette was with the whole thing and am lucky BSU is not in the same situation. The best of luck to Willamette.