Rounding up the latest in the lacrosse world of Michigan. To drop me an article, news tip, etc., you can hit the inbox via twitter or email.
The Next Next Level
The Hopkins senior class was in attendance for Cote (in uniform).
Brother Rice alum Andrew Cote may have been limited in his playing time for Johns Hopkins this spring, but he has much more important adventures ahead. The entire Blue Jays senior class came out to see Cote commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps last week. Thanks to GLS regular Reg Hartner for sending along the photo.
NCAA
Athletic Business talks about a potential explosion in the growth of Division-1 lacrosse, citing Michigan’s entry as the most recent piece of evidence (or even a catalyst) for more schools taking the plunge.
“At the big-time football level, adding lacrosse isn’t needed in terms of really changing the school’s profile that drastically,” says Michigan’s Paul. “At some of these schools that don’t have big-time football, adding lacrosse does change their profile… But when you have big-time football at this level, all of those things already exist a thousandfold from what you’re going to get from adding lacrosse. I think a lot of lacrosse people don’t necessarily understand that because they’re not around Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12 football that often.”
That said, no one expects another 30 years to pass before the next BCS school adds men’s lacrosse.
Who will be the next BCS conference team to add lacrosse? I’ve chimed in on possibilities before, and I’m anxious to see who will be next to take that big step. Thanks to Clark Bell for sending along the article.
Detroit led the nation in caused turnovers per game for the second year in a row, forcing 10.47 each time out. What that article doesn’t include is their performance on a tempo-free basis (as one of the fastest-playing teams in the nation, more possessions gives them more opportunities to create turnovers per game). A quick crunch of the Tempo-Free Lax numbers indicates that, even on a tempo-free basis, they were the country’s best team at causing turnovers – on nearly 30% of opposing possessions.
Dipping attendance for the NCAA Final Four (which hit a 10-year low of 79,595 for the semifinal and final rounds this year) has some pondering a change. While nothing is imminent, a site in the Midwest is possible down the road.
When asked about the possibility of moving championship weekend outside its traditional Northeast locations, Jarnecke said the answer might have been different a year ago. Bids for the 2014 NCAA Quarterfinals are due this summer, and the sites will be announced this fall. He said it’s unlikely a non-traditional area outside the Northeast would get a Final Four without first having a Quarterfinal. Next year one Quarterfinal site is in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, the first time the NCAA has picked a site outside the Northeast for a Quarterfinal or Semifinal.
Expanding in this region of the country is obviously huge for programs like Michigan, Ohio State, and Marquette. It’s not worth going into extensive detail now, but I also contend that people who live in the Midwest are more likely to drive long distances to attend a college sporting event than are those on the East Coast, simply on account of the differences in geography between the two regions.
Michigan’s all-time leading scorer (with a grand total of 27 career points as a Division-1 player) Travor Yealy sits down with Lacrosse Magazine to talk about his career in aerospace engineering.
Calvin and Hope make the leap to Division-III this fall. The former MCLA-2 squads will be a part of the MIAA’s first lacrosse league. Current Midwest League members Adrian, Albion, and Trine, along with Independent Alma (a first-year program in 2012) will be the league’s other members.
MCLA
All games from the 2012 MCLA National Tournament are now available for streaming online (aside from a couple that were not filmed at all due to weather). That includes three Davenport games, four Grand Valley games, and two for Michigan State, so check them out if you’re interested.
Photos from Grand Valley’s title game loss to St. Thomas. Season in review from Davenport. Michigan State finished the year ranked 7th in MCLA-1.
Chris Gervat has been named the head lacrosse coach at Davenport University following the retirement of Bob Clarkston from the position.
High School
Ann Arbor Pioneer 10, Utica Eisenhower 4. Like all the weekend’s games, that clinched the regional title. I hadn’t realized that the Pioneers were the state’s lone undefeated team. They’ll put that on the line tonight against Holt.
Brother Rice 19, Clarkston 4. I was at this game, and Clarkston parents were heckling Brother Rice for running up the score. If the Warriors had wanted to, they would have scored 30, so knock off the complaining.
Forest Hills Central 25, Mattawan 4:
ADA – Forest Hills Central has been rampaging through the 2012 Division 2 boys lacrosse tournament like a predatory animal and scoring goals almost at will.
How predatory? Think sharks in a feeding frenzy. Or lions on a wildebeest. Or maybe even the “Man Vs. Food” dude devouring a double rack of ribs, with country fries, coleslaw and a malted milk shake thrown in for good measure.
Vivid imagery.
Cranbrook 9, East Grand Rapids 4.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 12, Warren De La Salle 2. Notre Dame Prep lost to De La Salle 8-4 earlier this season, but the Irish got revenge in a big way.
Goalie Goal:
Pioneer was apparently up big on L’Anse Creuse North at the time of the score, but I’m never one to criticize a goalie goal.
Brother Rice is still the lone Michigan representative in the ESPNHS Fab50 (and it will probably end that way), coming in at No. 42. In the Midwest, they’re behind only Culver Academy – against whom they split a pair of games this year – following Dublin (Ohio) Jerome’s first loss of the year in the state title game.
Recruiting
Are you interested in watching the CIF San Diego Section championship game to see Michigan signee Brendan Gaughan play? If so, more power to you. You can accomplish that life dream by clicking here. Of note – I only watched the first 25 minutes or so (brutal announcing is the best way to get me to change the channel if I’m not invested in the game), but he seems to play mostly midfield, not attack where he’s listed on the recruiting sites.
2013 Michigan commits Austin Shanks and Ian King will participate in the Warrior 40 this summer. 2012 signee Riley Kennedy participated in last summer’s event.
Special stuff. More at the link.
Etc.
The Heat Lacrosse club team has some interesting reversibles for this summer. The Grand Rapids native in me appreciates the Calder Grand Vitesse imagery on the shooting shirt (at left).
Look for a bit more coverage of the club scene this summer (hopefully with the help of a few knowledgeable folks).
This is mostly off-topic, but pretty funny: Grantland tackles the recent Boston Globe story about lax bro culture.
As always, thanks for visiting GreatLaxstate.com. Follow on Twitter @GreatLaxState, and you can share news tips, websites, etc. through twitter or email at t.w.sullivan1@gmail.com.