How will Maryland's move to the B1G affect Michigan LAX?

Submitted by profitgoblue on

Just wanted to generate some discussion about lacrosse on the Board this evening.  I haven't seen any talk about how Maryland moving to the B1G will affect the lacross programs in the conference.  Maryland obviously has a premiere lacross program that is a regional fit among other mid-Atlantic schools.  Does anyone know what will happen with that sport?

[EDIT:  This is all I've seen on Michigan lacrosse recently:  http://mgoblog.com/links/michigan-lacrosse-quietly-releases-2013-schedule - no Maryland on the 2013 schedule (obviously).]

 

 

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M-Wolverine

November 29th, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^

They need a BUNCH of Roy Roundtrees, Jordan Morgans, or Shawn Hunwicks*. Guys who are great athletes, but probably aren't headed to pro-careers anyway, so what does it matter if you go to college for four years on a scholly playing a sport with a pro league you're not going to get into, or one where the best players in the country are playing at your level. And once the sports appeals to a poor black kid in Detroit, or rural white kid in Texas, or a middle class Hispanic family in Denver, and the talent pool doesn't (primarily) consist of "privileged white kids from the East Coast" the quality of play will rise because the talent pool will not only be bigger, it'll be better.  The game, which is already pretty fast and exciting, will speed up more and be even stronger and rougher. And it'll be a better product to market to a bigger base.  Otherwise you become rowing or something else that people associate with Ivies and small schools, and not the masses.

 

*Edit: I'm not really talking body type or skill set as much as level of athletic talent. Guys who are really good players at their sport, but not elite likely future pros.

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WolvinLA2

November 29th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^

OK, very few sports appeal to all groups. That poor black kid in Detroit isn't playing hockey or probably soccer, and that Hispanic kid in Denver isn't playing hockey or football or basketball (at least in large numbers). Although lacrosse is still pretty white, it's getting a lot more rural than it ever has been, and that's evidenced by the high schools who play it. It's not as much of an inner-city sport yet, mostly based on the equipment needed, but that will change as the sport grows. Lacrosse may never be confused for the United Colors of Beneton, but it's way ahead of rowing already.

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M-Wolverine

November 29th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^

And desire to play and athletic level. It's more socio-economic than anything.  And numbers. Just less people with money so a smaller gene pool of talent.  Better athletes make for a better product.  And it wouldn't hurt marketing either if it wasn't seen as a rich preppie sport. If the goal is really to be a country wide popular sport challenging for the #3 spot and not just a successful niche sport.

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WolvinLA2

November 29th, 2012 at 8:06 PM ^

We can argue about this all day, but only time will tell.  And I don't it's seen as a rich preppy sport, at least not anymore.  There are 103 high school teams in the state of Michigan, and those aren't all private or rich suburban schools.  Two Ypsilanti high schools have a team. Romulus has a team, so does Lansing Waverly.  Public schools in Warren, Saginaw, and Bay City have teams.  And lots of rural high schools have teams, and this is in a state that is still pretty new to the sport. 

I'd argue hockey is a lot more of a rich white kid sport than lacrosse, and it's pretty popular.

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