Michigan Lacrosse to Host Hopkins and Army this Fall

by **Sonny** on Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:58 pm

Defending NCAA Division 1 champs JHU and Army will visit Ann Arbor for Fall Ball action on October 12th:
http://www.collegelax.us/news.php?action=fullnews&id=1440

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by **buffalowill** on Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:52 pm

That JP guy really is something...awesome for Michigan and the MCLA.

by **TShoemaker** on Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:52 am

Awesome news... Anyone else see the article in the newest Inside Lacrosse about U of M's relations with the University of Tokyo?

by **laxfan25** on Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:06 pm

Shoe,
Were you aware that Hopkins has been out to Michigan before, and played right in Spartan Stadium? This was back when MSU was still D1, and the Blue Jays defense was led by a guy named Dave Pietramala. (I wonder whatever happened to him?)
He deserved his Player of the Year honors - he was intimidating as hell on defense. It was fun to sit up in Spartan Stadium and watch the flow of the game. What was most impressive was the Hopkins team speed. Every time it looked like MSU would get a fast break the Hopkins D would beat them back and get settled in. when the Jays got the ball on offense they would blow by people.
I asked a D1 coach one time what they look for when they are scouting - #1 - Speed. "We can teach them how to play lacrosse. You can't teach speed". It's hard to appreciate just how fast the top players are when they're playing each other, but when you see them against just a slightly weaker opponent - watch out!
It was definitely a special occasion to be able to see them play here in Michigan, just as it will be this fall. Kudos to JP for making it happen. I don't think it will hurt his recruiting at all!

by **TShoemaker** on Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:09 pm

I was not aware of that, a little before my time. Im surprised there has been no talk about the half page article in Inside Lacrosse about the MCLA expanding, and pretty much an interview with JP. Am I the only one who has read this? It compares the MCLA as the "U.S. Coast Guard rescuing the rest of the sinking passengers of the Titanic", an interesting way to compare the two leagues.

by **Sonny** on Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:16 pm

TShoemaker wrote:I was not aware of that, a little before my time. Im surprised there has been no talk about the half page article in Inside Lacrosse about the MCLA expanding, and pretty much an interview with JP. Am I the only one who has read this? It compares the MCLA as the "U.S. Coast Guard rescuing the rest of the sinking passengers of the Titanic", an interesting way to compare the two leagues.

Which article? Which issue of IL?

by **Adam G** on Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:24 pm

TShoemaker wrote:I was not aware of that, a little before my time. Im surprised there has been no talk about the half page article in Inside Lacrosse about the MCLA expanding, and pretty much an interview with JP. Am I the only one who has read this? It compares the MCLA as the "U.S. Coast Guard rescuing the rest of the sinking passengers of the Titanic", an interesting way to compare the two leagues.

Sonny, it's the August '07 edition. I believe it was an editorial? I just got my copy last night, and this was the first page I went to. Big ups to whoever wrote in congratulating BYU and U of Montana in the beginning of the mag...

For those who haven't read the article, the analogy was that the Titanic was full of college-bound lacrosse players. When it sank, NCAA lacrosse acted as the lifeboats; sure they worked, but there weren't enough of them to save everyone. MCLA (Coast Guard) came and offered the rest an saving grace.

by **TShoemaker** on Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:53 pm

Are any other MCLA teams going to play in these scrimmages? Four is usually the number for Fall scrimmages. maybe U of M's best friends from East Lansing???

by **Sonny** on Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:59 pm

uwec_attack wrote:
TShoemaker wrote:I was not aware of that, a little before my time. Im surprised there has been no talk about the half page article in Inside Lacrosse about the MCLA expanding, and pretty much an interview with JP. Am I the only one who has read this? It compares the MCLA as the "U.S. Coast Guard rescuing the rest of the sinking passengers of the Titanic", an interesting way to compare the two leagues.

Sonny, it's the August '07 edition. I believe it was an editorial? I just got my copy last night, and this was the first page I went to. Big ups to whoever wrote in congratulating BYU and U of Montana in the beginning of the mag...

For those who haven't read the article, the analogy was that the Titanic was full of college-bound lacrosse players. When it sank, NCAA lacrosse acted as the lifeboats; sure they worked, but there weren't enough of them to save everyone. MCLA (Coast Guard) came and offered the rest an saving grace.

Thanks. haven't gotten the new issue just yet.

While I like the pub in a main stream publication like IL, I think that analogy is a little off. There were a fixed number of "passengers" on the Titanic as it sailed across the Atlantic. Our version of the Titanic (i.e. # of male college players) grows exponentially each season. The only thing that is fixed is the relative number of D1 slots each season and that number is not keeping up with the demand.

Maybe I'm just splitting hairs. What do I know?

by **John Paul** on Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:13 pm

Sorry Shoe. Michigan only. Fall scrimmage days have any number of teams participating. I've seen anywhere from 2 (Ohio State vs. Hopkins last year) to 20 or so (Lax for Leukemia and others). Hopkins and Army have no desire to play anyone else, and we're already going to be pressed to get three scrimmages in. We'll probably play Hopkins for a half and Army for a full game. Hopkins and Army will play a full game.

Plus MSU got Hopkins to themselves last time they were in the state. Our turn. :lol:

by **pglax** on Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:36 pm

word on the street is they are flying in to see a football game.

by **John Paul** on Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:21 am

They are bussing. And yes, we got them tickets to the football game. Last year Hopkins went to Ohio State in the fall and the year before to Notre Dame and took the team to games at each place.

by **John Westfall** on Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:06 pm

This is a great thing. I just got back from Utah from the BYU Lax Camp and I heard they are heading out to Maryland for a Fall Tourney with some D 1's. This is all great stuff. It maybe a long time from now but I still believe that, and envision a NCAA Lacrosse league from Coast to Coast. Congrats JP on your accomplishments at Michigan and good luck.

by **UofMLaxGoalie11** on Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:04 pm

John Westfall wrote:This is a great thing. I just got back from Utah from the BYU Lax Camp and I heard they are heading out to Maryland for a Fall Tourney with some D 1's. This is all great stuff. It maybe a long time from now but I still believe that, and envision a NCAA Lacrosse league from Coast to Coast. Congrats JP on your accomplishments at Michigan and good luck.

Or an MCLA league coast to coast and NCAA can stick to its northeast section.

by **John Westfall** on Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:07 pm

I hear you UofMLaxGoalie11 .

All the best,