SMU Lacrosse recruits

[Boston Pony]

Was just looking over the high school all americans for boys (just was listed this week). It looks as if two AA will be coming to SMU! Nice deal for the program that has always gotten some talent, just not on a consistant basis. I believe one player was from St. Louis (a traditional hotbed for SMU students, although new to lacrosse) and the other is from Memphis (also a newer lacrosse market). Texas is becoming a fast growing and increasingly high quality market for lacrosse which should help SMU move up the club lacrosse ladder. Lacrosse would be an interesting addition to the varsity level at SMU because of the students we have traditionally had at the school. It's also would be a great sport for students to watch. That being said, SMU is cutting programs not adding them.

[EastStang]

I don't think any CUSA schools have men's lacrosse as a sport. It is so predominantly mid-atlantic and east coast that to schedule games would mean a ton of travel costs. The ACC schools, Navy and Army, Georgetown, Syracuse, Ivy League and Johns Hopkins. Also to add it as a Varsity sport, you'd have to add women's lacrosse and probably another women's sport (bowling?) to meet Title IX rules.

[Boston Pony]

SMU will never have a varsity mens program, although if they added mens lacrosse they would only need to add women's lacrosse (equal number of costs/scholarships). The only other issue is that SMU is probably still out of balance thus the need to add two for one. Women's lacrosse would be an interesting addition - teams at Vandy & Notre Dame. Northwestern won the title this season after only 4 years of competing, thus winning is possible. Texas high schools are adding girls lax, but at a slower rate than the boys. Again, a great addition for student recruitment without much costs (12 scholarships fully funded with only 2 coaches & limited travel - 5 to 6 road games/season plus plenty of girls want to play DI thus would come without a scholarship). Equestrian was added (although not NCAA sponsored) rather than lax, however it would have been an interesting addition.

[Water Pony]

The idea of varsity LAX at SMU is very appealing but won't happen. The athletic budget would require two new Women's teams at the same time.

Lacrosse is an incredible spectator sport and would fit SMU well for Men and Women. My son just graduated this year after being part of a great Senior Class that raised the performance and results of the program, including beating UT for the first time in their history and being ranked in the Top 25 on occasion. BTW, this Club Sports has a very big endownment thanks to a previous graduate and his family.

Also, we need more intramural fields to accommodate existing demands and LAX would benefit from better access to playing fields. If we don't get the Bush Library, we shoud consider more playing fields.

[EastStang]

What you need to do is convince the athletic department that having lacrosse will actually help football recruitment. By all accounts, one of the greatest lacrosse players in history played for a school called Syracuse and his name is Jim Brown. Legend has it that when he wanted to score, he could just tuck his stick into his chest and run right up to the goal box. No one could stop him.

[Boston Pony]

There was a rule change because of Jim Brown. When he played, the length of the stick wasn't regulated. He (at 6'3", 225) would run down the field with a short stick and dare people to stop him. Now sticks must be over 40" long to allow for it to be checked... It would have been fun to watch. Now days there are some good football players that play lacrosse, however in general they are undersized, prep school types. Speed rather than brawn plays best in lacrosse...

[Water Pony]

The changes initiated because of Jim Brown also included the rule that you can't cradle the ball against your body, which he did.

As for skills: speed, reflexes, eye-hand coordination and teamwork are rewarded. The passing is a delight when done right. Transition passes accelerate the action.

Great game. Wish I had played it myself. I had to settle for chlorine filled pools.