Why aren't the East Coast schools better?

[KnoxVegas]

...and as i believe there is only 1 varsity program in CA (NDNU)...

Whittier is in California.

[Zamboni_Driver]

I am going to state this first and foremost, this is not a cut at any of the programs in the MCLA at all, strictly to start a conversation and for my own knowledge.

While I have had similar thoughts in the past, I met some interesting people this past week that felt similarly, mainly a one Ethan. We had an exasperated debate on why teams such as BU, BC, Northeastern, etc. aren't dominating MCLA lacrosse and teams like UCSB in the middle of CA are winning National Championships. It would seem to me that with all the talent and the history of lacrosse in this region that even the kids that weren't killer in high school should still dominate this league. And I don't buy the "well the guys have too much pride to play club" bull either. If you are a lacrosse player and love the game as much as I think all of us do, you are going to play at any opportunity you have. I just would think that these schools with these big numbers and large groups of kids that have played forever, that a PCLL team should have 3 or 4 championships by now and not back-to-back belt buckles and rings we had to see every time we went out in Dallas, like gooners Ravaging Beast. (so the last part was a personal shot )

To help in this discussion, maybe Timbalened and others can respond on whether they above statements/reasons have changed their opinions or helped them understand.

[Timbalaned]

The reason that makes the most sense to me right now is the lack of organization and the fact that things are coming around. I didn't realize that BC had only had a team for 10 years or whatever since being a varsity program. I think with the amount of kids that now know about MCLA and if we publicize it more that the PCLL teams will become a much bigger force. Lord knows there are enough coaches out there to keep teams in line and they have the talent, so I am sure there will be a continual betterment of the teams, that is of course CA catches up with coaches and then we will dominate again cause we all know CA has the best athletes. (last part kind of a joke, but not really)

[Hugh Nunn]

When I went to High School in MD, there was no spring football. Doubt there is now, I wouldn't know...Here in FL though, there is. HS football is as king here as it is on the UF and FSU campuses. The vast majority of high quality athletes in FL play football. Don't look for lacrosse to get too many of those athletes until they've grown up playing youth lax here...


I think that's why you still see more NY players on teams than MD...Until about ten or fifteen years ago, most MD laxers went to prep schools whereas NY public High Schools have played it for ages. This led to a huge disparity between NY and MD players on D1 rosters.

[DanGenck]

I coach with a guy who graduated from Dartmouth in 1989 and another that graduated from Wesleyan in 2006 (One from Longmeadow, MA and the other from Wilton, CT). I was blown away with their complete lack of interest/knowledge about the MCLA (MDIA). I met 16 Head Coaches and may 40 Assistant Coaches this year in the New England West I, and maybe 40% knew about the MCLA and maybe half of those coaches thought it was a legitimate form of competition.

I was very surprised by this.

[Danny Hogan]

cause we all know CA has the best athletes. (last part kind of a joke, but not really)

don't kid yourself

[Timbalaned]

cause we all know CA has the best athletes. (last part kind of a joke, but not really)

don't kid yourself

for fear of completely destroying this thread, i won't get into it. And I think we had a conversation in the water cooler about it before. All I am going to say is it is between CA, FL, and TX

[Kyle Berggren]

It's not necessarily an athletic thing... As coaching improves in CA, the weather doesn't hold them back. The South has an advantage over the North in that regard, when football is not king, the athletes just need to take advantage of their opportunities.

[NKlaxguy]

I didn't realize that BC had only had a team for 10 years or whatever since being a varsity program.

BC has only had an MCLA team for 3-4 years. They were D1 up until I believe 03 or 04

[More Cowbell]

I didn't realize that BC had only had a team for 10 years or whatever since being a varsity program.

BC has only had an MCLA team for 3-4 years. They were D1 up until I believe 03 or 04

The varsity team's last season was 2002.

[CP18]

Great topic, great responses; my two cents:

I beleive many of the solid east cosat players that grow up in the hot beds and end up at MCLA schools are not playing because of the 'club' stigma and here is why..........

I was a starting varsity shortstop for two years at a large 5A high school in the state of Texas. Where varsity lacrosse options are a dime a dozen in the east coast hotbeds, so are baseball opportunities in Texas. Instead of playing DII, DIII, or JUCO baseball where there were opportunites for my skills, I chose to follow the educational route an attend the big school, Texas A&M. Was I good enough to play at Texas A&M a school that went to the College World Series my freshman year, no, so mentally you arrive on campus and you tell yourself you are finished playing ball. I knew plenty of guys that were outstanding high school players in the same boat as I and never once thought to play on the club baseball team at Texas A&M. What I am saying is that in traditional hot bed regions, varsity ball is the next step after high school, not club.

Now, my theory is a tad skewed since MCLA programs do not exist on campuses with varsity programs. Also, thank God for club lacrosse at Texas A&M because for those who know me it has shaped much of my life today.

My two cents................