BC to go varsity?

[More Cowbell]

I just started hearing some rumors (from pretty legitimate sources) that BC is planning on reinstating D1 lacrosse in the near future. I heard 2010 from one person and 2011 from another. As much as I love MCLA ball, I would be pumped for them to bring it back to D1 status...seeing a BC-Duke game on tv would just blow my mind.

There have been semi-rumors floating around for a while now, but these seem much more legitimate. Anyone else hearing anything??

[Danny Hogan]

will believe it when i see it

[Zeuslax]

I have heard the same. However, I hear the AD is not going to have it. Money was in place to sustain the program and he rejected it.

[Reilly]

When I was going thru the college process, BC was my first choice, until they announced they were dropping their program. My old man is a BC grad and one of his buddies from BC and the father of a girl I grew up with, was leading the charge to "save BC lax," back then. I know the BC alumni came up with some serious capital, but could not make it happen. I have got to believe it has to do with more than money. They have the facilities and draw from the right places to be good (plus they are in the ACC now). It would be intersting if they returned to D1.

[More Cowbell]

Apparently at the varsity athletics development conference the AD announced that if he could get $30 million then he would bring the program back. I've heard that a group of alumni are well on their way to raising the money.

[Dan Wishengrad]

So which other men's varsity programs would BC be dropping -- there would have to at least 2 or 3 -- in order to make lacrosse varsity again? Even if the money was available, adding another men's varsity sport with 40 roster spots would have to be mitigated for the adverse Title IX effect such a move would have. If the school tried to make such a move without addressing the negative Title IX impact they will most certainly get sued, and would just as certainly lose in court.

[laxfan25]

I'm sure they're well aware of all of the implications of adding lacrosse back in. Perhaps the $30M sum is designed to also allow for implementation of a women's lax program at the same time. They certainly are in an area where lax would be a huge draw.
I think John Paul said he would do it for half that amount...in salary.

[Beta]

So which other men's varsity programs would BC be dropping -- there would have to at least 2 or 3 -- in order to make lacrosse varsity again? Even if the money was available, adding another men's varsity sport with 40 roster spots would have to be mitigated for the adverse Title IX effect such a move would have. If the school tried to make such a move without addressing the negative Title IX impact they will most certainly get sued, and would just as certainly lose in court.

Mmm Title IX, nothing says "fair and equal" like taking something away from someone that has nothing to do with your situation.

I would love to see how much money the football team makes for the school and the other sports. I find it laughable: "Football has too many players...we must add 3 extra girl's sports than men's sports to keep things even...umm...can we have some of that bowl money?".

Laxfan, there already is a girl's lacrosse team at BC.

[Dan Wishengrad]

It could not be done simply by adding women's lax simultaneously. Men's lacrosse carries a bigger roster of players than does women's lax, so such a move would still have a negative Title IX impact. BC would have to add at least 41 (or more) women athletes at the same time as they added 40 new men, at least how this was described by an attorney familiar with the law explained it.

Or perhaps Boston College is already in full compliance with Title IX? I have no clue, I'll admit, but this seems improbable considering the Golden Eagles have a DI football program.

[Beta]

It could not be done simply by adding women's lax simultaneously

They already have a women's lacrosse team.

[Matt_Gardiner]

I admittedly do not know the details of Title IX. Do they need to add 41 woman athletes? Varsity lacrosse at the men's level does not carry that many scholarships. Do they need to match bodies or do they need to match scholarships and money spent?

[Jolly Roger]

Since, according to their website, the student population is 52% women, they'll have to provide 43 opportunities for women for every 40 they provide for men (if they insist on using the athelete count metric to measure compliance).

[More Cowbell]

I thought it all had to do with number of scholarships?

I heard the $30 mil accounts for 12 men's scholarships and 12 women's, along with all other kinds of expenses.

[Dan Wishengrad]

JollyRoger is correct, at least according to the guidelines used for Title IX compliance as I understand it. If you have an inequity in the number of athletic opportunities for women as opposed to men, then any changes you make must mitigate this imbalance rather than making it worse. So if you want to add 40 new varsity athletic opportunities for male athletes, you must simultaneously increase increase the opportunities for female athletes by at least one more, or 41 in that this example. The number of scholarships is not the issue, but rather the number of opportunities you provide to male and female students to participate in intercollegiate athletics.

And virtually ALL schools with DI football programs are not in Title IX compliance.

[Sonny]

I thought it all had to do with number of scholarships?

Common misconception. There are several different ways to define IX. Financial support is one, opportunities to compete is another. Expanding opportunities for females is another.