1st round picks

[Champ]

Forget the players on these teams for a second, bottomline, the coaching in the other leagues is not on the same level.

What a terrible and inaccurate thing to say.

[dtrain34]

Why is it terrible and inaccurate? Because it's upsetting, disrespectful, and/or "mean?" Because it's not sugar coated, and might be hard for you to accept, doesn't make it "terrible." It is quite true.

A player on one of these teams asked me to "define coaching..."

I would offer up this explanation: (v.) to stand on the opposing sideline of the previously mentioned WCLL, RMLC, SELC, Michigan, or Oregon teams. To not make the proper adjustments, have the necessary creativity, or utilize their players correctly, to allow your group of players to beat these teams. To complain every year that you are "going to surprise people," are "really good," are "being unfairly disrespected." To have a grossly combined losing record in the history of the national tournament.

[dulax19]

i got St Thomas winnin it all in the B St Johns wont beat them in the semis this time, they're the real deal this year have a couple of the best poles ive seen in B this season in madden and hildebrand and didnt have their actual goalie for the UMLL tourney should be a great semi if the both win as they should

[yourmom]

Why is it terrible and inaccurate? Because it's upsetting, disrespectful, and/or "mean?" Because it's not sugar coated, and might be hard for you to accept, doesn't make it "terrible." It is quite true.

A player on one of these teams asked me to "define coaching..."

I would offer up this explanation: (v.) to stand on the opposing sideline of the previously mentioned WCLL, RMLC, SELC, Michigan, or Oregon teams. To not make the proper adjustments, have the necessary creativity, or utilize their players correctly, to allow your group of players to beat these teams. To complain every year that you are "going to surprise people," are "really good," are "being unfairly disrespected." To have a grossly combined losing record in the history of the national tournament.

I would like to preface my post with "my thoughts are my own and are not that of my team, school, or conference."

Second It must be nice to post anonymously. Going on a star wars board and flaming someone about their views on Han Solo is one thing, but to bash half the league with your tone is classless in my opinion. No offence but I thought we were all trying to grow a game that we love and cherish. Not get an elitist mindset and bash all newcomers.

Now to get a little more personal... and I am in no way trying to promote LU just trying to Defend those mentioned by dtrain by using my own personal experiences as examples.

First LU did beat Oregon at nationals last year (yes I know it was a consolation game.) Next the surprise part... You don't find it a little surprising that a program that was in its 3rd year made it to the National championship in 2005? This program is only in its 5th year and is attending national championship tournament for its 3rd time. So much for promoting the growth.

I would also like to add that this is college lacrosse and as such if I was to hire a Head Coach your definition does not cover enough for me. I want a coach who takes care of his team and looks out for their best intentions. Who helps in any way they can to promote the growth of the players on that team physically, mentally, and spiritually on and off the field.

I didn't play lacrosse in HighSchool, they didn't have a team at the time and I wish they did(they do now I coached for them their first year.) I started playing at LU my freshmen year, and I sucked. I still am nowhere near the talent of some of my teammates, but thanks to my coach I've been moved to a spot where I now get good amounts of time on the field and help contribute to my teams success. I know of many of our teammates playing positions they never had before and are now playing better than ever. So I reject the idea that my coach cannot properly utilize the players on our team.

I have also seen my coach lead us to victory after being down a goal with :17 seconds left in the 4th qtr, and take us to an overtime win after calling a good time out, putting the right players in, and calling the right play. So proper adjustment and creativity that you say my coach lacks, I laugh at.

My coach is still young and looks up to many others in the league. I know this because I've had conversations where he mentions how great this or that coach is. He may not be the best coach in the league, but until you get in lots and lots of trouble at your real job, and step in a cage to fill in at goalie with kids half your age because the 2nd string one couldn't make it, and take a brand new program and get it to nationals in 3 years then make it the next 2 as well, all while dealing with school and conference politics, and player troubles as your own, until you do all that I could care less what you think of coaches like Troy Hood and A.J. Stevens (who is also an assistant coach for the Chicago Machine, so he must not be good either) who pour all they can into this game to grow it where it's scarce.

I apologize for the length of this post and the fact that it is personal, but like I said my feelings are my own and not that of anyone I am affiliated with. It's not that I need sugar coating, but have a little respect for people who give more of themselves to the game than they get back.

[More Cowbell]

Why is it terrible and inaccurate? Because it's upsetting, disrespectful, and/or "mean?" Because it's not sugar coated, and might be hard for you to accept, doesn't make it "terrible." It is quite true.

A player on one of these teams asked me to "define coaching..."

I would offer up this explanation: (v.) to stand on the opposing sideline of the previously mentioned WCLL, RMLC, SELC, Michigan, or Oregon teams. To not make the proper adjustments, have the necessary creativity, or utilize their players correctly, to allow your group of players to beat these teams. To complain every year that you are "going to surprise people," are "really good," are "being unfairly disrespected." To have a grossly combined losing record in the history of the national tournament.

Chris is right....who are you to judge the competence of all of the coaches outside of the WCLL, RMLC, or SELC? Blanket statements like this are absolutely absurd, and i dont care that you "coached in this league for 4 years." I can tell you that MY definition of a coach doesnt include someone who bashes others left and right without any real basis.

And also on a personal note based on my experience...the BC coach is a 3-time all-Ivy goalie and an MLL all star. The fact that you can act so aloof and claim that he doesn't know what he is doing is absolutely laughable.

[LaxZac02]

Why is it terrible and inaccurate? Because it's upsetting, disrespectful, and/or "mean?" Because it's not sugar coated, and might be hard for you to accept, doesn't make it "terrible." It is quite true.

A player on one of these teams asked me to "define coaching..."

I would offer up this explanation: (v.) to stand on the opposing sideline of the previously mentioned WCLL, RMLC, SELC, Michigan, or Oregon teams. To not make the proper adjustments, have the necessary creativity, or utilize their players correctly, to allow your group of players to beat these teams. To complain every year that you are "going to surprise people," are "really good," are "being unfairly disrespected." To have a grossly combined losing record in the history of the national tournament.

Chris is right....who are you to judge the competence of all of the coaches outside of the WCLL, RMLC, or SELC? Blanket statements like this are absolutely absurd, and i dont care that you "coached in this league for 4 years." I can tell you that MY definition of a coach doesnt include someone who bashes others left and right without any real basis.

And also on a personal note based on my experience...the BC coach is a 3-time all-Ivy goalie and an MLL all star. The fact that you can act so aloof and claim that he doesn't know what he is doing is absolutely laughable.

Wow, I was reading down and getting ready to type that about the BC coach and sure enough you completely beat me to it. How many Coaches in the "superior" leagues have professional lacrosse experience?

[CATLAX MAN]

Not necessarily agreeing with the sentiment expressed above, but just off the top of my head, I think Mike Allan (UCSB) is the offensive coordinator of the LA team of the MLL. Alex Smith, CSU asst. coach, plays for the Colorado team of the MLL.

[LaxZac02]

My point wasnt so much that there probobly wasnt any out there, but more along the lines of there are great coaches in all conferences.

[More Cowbell]

Also, The coach of URI used to be the head coach at Air Force, and the Coach of UConn used to be the head coach at Maryland...I'm not saying that these coaches are necessarily better than those in other conferences, I just take issue with dtrain's unfounded and clearly untrue remarks

[Champ]

UMLL has two teams in the top 4 in the B division, of whom were not very good programs 3-4 years ago. They changed their coaching staff and now are excellent programs.

UMD has always been excellent, coach Graff is one of the top in the league.

I think you need to also look at the player base if you are talking about quality of teams. You can't just put John Desko in at a head coaching position on a team with mostly players who have never played before - and when he doesn't win it all you call him a bad coach?

Other conferences are making progress, and arguably this year has the most potential for a non WCLL/RMLL team to win.

Maybe if you said that 5 years ago.

[Mr. Jefferson]

Why is it terrible and inaccurate? Because it's upsetting, disrespectful, and/or "mean?" Because it's not sugar coated, and might be hard for you to accept, doesn't make it "terrible." It is quite true.

A player on one of these teams asked me to "define coaching..."

I would offer up this explanation: (v.) to stand on the opposing sideline of the previously mentioned WCLL, RMLC, SELC, Michigan, or Oregon teams. To not make the proper adjustments, have the necessary creativity, or utilize their players correctly, to allow your group of players to beat these teams. To complain every year that you are "going to surprise people," are "really good," are "being unfairly disrespected." To have a grossly combined losing record in the history of the national tournament.

So you dont coach any more because?

Everyone can be an arm chair QB.... obviously you have extremely biased and uneducated views about this league now a days, a lot of things have changed since you were here last, maybe you should go back into retirement....

[bbandlax]

Also, The coach of URI used to be the head coach at Air Force, and the Coach of UConn used to be the head coach at Maryland...I'm not saying that these coaches are necessarily better than those in other conferences, I just take issue with dtrain's unfounded and clearly untrue remarks

I have had a chance to meet and watch the coaching in this league since the league was organized back in 96-97. There have been, and are currently, some excellent coaches outside of the RMLC and WCLL. I also think the coaching has dramatically improved the last several years across the league. The other leagues have slowly but steadily been closing the talent gap, and coaching is the major reason.

CU is a prime example of the difference a talented, committed, consistent coach makes. Until Coach Galvin took over they never seriously competed in the RMLC let alone the national scene.

By the way, I didn't realize that Dino Mattessich was the coach at Maryland. He must have been there before Coach Edel. When did he coach there?

[NKlaxguy]

By the way, I didn't realize that Dino Mattessich was the coach at Maryland. He must have been there before Coach Edel. When did he coach there?

He was captain of the team in the early 70's, then assistant coach under Bud Beardmore in the late 70's then head coach in the early 80's. I believe Edell was also an assistant under Beardmore.

[sohotrightnow]

He may not be the best coach in the league, but until you get in lots and lots of trouble at your real job, and step in a cage to fill in at goalie with kids half your age because the 2nd string one couldn't make it, and take a brand new program and get it to nationals in 3 years then make it the next 2 as well, all while dealing with school and conference politics, and player troubles as your own, until you do all that I could care less what you think of coaches like Troy Hood and A.J. Stevens (who is also an assistant coach for the Chicago Machine, so he must not be good either) who pour all they can into this game to grow it where it's scarce.

Longest "sentence" ever?

Regarding the TAMU thing, to beat a dead horse. You can't be objective and start pointing to just the score of games to determine how good a squad is. Yeah, 15-13. Where you there? Did you see A&M route UT in the first half 11-4? If you did you wouldn't be talking about it. A&M's biggest weakness is its ability to sustain the momentum for a full game. They have played very well through 3 quaters but have given up a stupid amount of goals when they are a head (CU, ASU, Arizona, UT, etc.). TAMU quit playing for margin of victory a few years ago, and started playing to win games and to prepare for the tournament by playing as many kids as possible throughout the season so they had more depth come tournament time. They have a very young team and needed to get a lot of playing time under their young players in a short amount of time. It may be a bad strategy in your opinion, but that was a discision the team made. I do have to disagree that A&M would not match-up well with Michigan or Santa Barbara. I think both of those are the type of match-up A&M needs to do well in the first round. I think there is so much difference in their styles, it gives A&M the best chance. CSU, BYU and from the looks of it, Oregon, all have the ability to run and gun with anyone and are willing to do it

No, no, no. Have you watched or played in any tournament games? Remember A&M in 2002? Remember everybody touted their prolific offense? What happened to them? They got drilled 18-10 by Stanford who had a patient offense and a very good defense. What about Auburn's run and gun team in 2002? They played UCSB in the second round and got killed. Once again, a patient offense and good defense did the trick. Please stop this madness. You can't win "this" tournament without a good defense. You also can't assume that you can run and gun on every team because it worked against Arkansas Community College.

As regards to A&M's close game with Texas. Yeah, they won by 2 goals. Yeah, they were complacent. You seem to be ignoring the fact that if they lost, they would not even be in this tournament, so to suggest that it wasn't close is insane. I think it is a great idea that A&M plays more players now. I thought it was outlandish to keep their starters in when they would beat Division B teams by 20+ goals all the time.

[dtrain34]

boo, hoo, hoo...

"but have a little respect for people who give more of themselves to the game than they get back." - Why would you have little respect for people that give more than they receive? I am having to define a lot of things here, we call this being "unselfish." Being unselfish is good in many aspects of life.

Look, you are making this into more than it should be. But what are you defending? It has to be the coaches. It has to be. Who would you say it is, the players? I don't believe that to be true, there are enough good athletes every where in this country. If kids put in the time, and are guided the right way, they will improve enough in college to make a difference.

All of these lacrosse programs have been around long enough now to develop their own talent. SO at this point, these programs should be a lot more equal.

And because someone is a good player, doesn't make them a good coach. Magic Johnson, the 2nd best player of his generation, great businessman and a horrible coach. I didn't ask for his playing credentials....I know they are good at playing the game. They need to start making others good at playing this "unselfish" game.

Oh, and before I forget:
Mike DeWan
1761 Thomas Ave.
San Diego, CA 92109
US4L, It's a movement...well it was anyways

It's nice this time of year here, if you would like to come have a few laughs, by all means.

Perhaps while here we could go to a coaching seminar...or anger managment. Actually, maybe we shoud go to a 2nd grade english class and learn about the big words "coaching," "unselfish," "nomenclature"...