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

I dunno how it affects it, but Michigan lacrosse is on the upward trajectory either way. Michigan is a well-known brand in lacrosse-rich areas and the sport has become more popular in the midwest. I think having matchups with Maryland and having games available on the BTN will definitely help. 

LAX is a horrible airport.Get there at least 3 hours before your flight.

I think it's far far more likely that we see B1G teams adding men's lax before we see them adding men's hockey (assuming no one wants to dump $100 million dollars on their alma mater).

Give that

• Lacrosse is much cheaper than hockey (rink vs field upkeep)
• and it makes really good TV in a gap where there aren't other major college sports on (after basketball)
• and the whole sport seems to be growing

I'd bet that in 20 years we have 10+ B1G lacrosse teams but only 1-2 more B1G hockey teams

I think it only helps the sport out more... im sure at one point people thought they wouldnt see a professional hockey team in Dallas, Tampa, Raleigh, Phoenix... but if there's a market, there's a way... sure we are talking about college athletics, but the B1G has a large market that would only help the sport grow more.

With schools like UNC and Virginia being major players in lacrosse and possible candidates to join the B1G, im sure they'll be keeping an eye in how the B1G reacts to the sport.

By the way, doesnt Rutgers have a decent lacrosse program?

I'm excited about the lacrosse teams.  It's one of the reasons I'm hoping UVa and UNC come aboard.  I can't get into soccer, but the fast pace action of lacrosse sounds like fun.

Just "throwing" it out there... with the potential of ACC schools (like an UNC) joining the B1G, I can see it benefiting lacrosse, but also think the additions would also benefit the conference in baseball.... when was the last time the big ten was competitive in baseball? the 1950's and 60's? 

I'm pretty sure it won't have much an affect unless B1G adds another good lacrosse program. Currently, with Michigan, PSU, OSU and the additions of RU and MD the conference would need another program or three to make an entirely viable conference.

Big East (losing Rutgers) goes to: Georgetown, ND, Villanova, Syracuse, Providence, and St. Johns

ECAC (losing Mich/OSU) goes to: Air Force, Bellarmine, Fairfield, Hobart, Loyola, and Denver

ACC (losing MD) goes to: Duke, UNC, and UVA

CAA (losing PSU) goes to: Drexel, Hofstra, St. Joes, Towson, Delaware, and UMass

The B1G could pick up Marquette when they go D1 in a couple years, or try and steal another school, but I'm not sure which would make sense. Also MD doesn't want to bail on the ACC tournament, which is pretty awesome end of year stuff. Also, there are 7 AQ slots for the NCAA tourney (which does not include ACC), which might have to be altered if a power team like MD, or solid teams like PSU and OSU move around. I bet nothing happens for a couple years until Michigan gets good (or doesn't) enough to get some leverage.

Also, adding all the ACC schools would mean Michigan pretty much gets slaughtered forever.

I believe if the B1G has 6 teams with the sport it's a rule that they have to form a B1G conference, thus the ECAC and other conferences that currently hold the B1G lax teams would lose them automatically.  

Adding MD and Rutgers is great for B1G lacrosse because it greatly accelerates that timeline, because now we only need one more team.  MSU, Illinois, NW ... I'm looking at you.  It also makes it more attractive for a team to be added, because that school will know that their creation of a team will form a B1G conference, and with that come all the benefits.  With B1G network needing spring programming (they broadcast UM/OSU last year), it's low hanging fruit for any savvy athletic director.

Anyone correct me if I'm wrong about this.

I live in NJ and have a graduate degree from Michigan. Last year I went to the Rutgers-Michigan, and we had a stunning turnout from the UofM alumni club of NYC. Outside of that tons of youngsters and their parents saw the Michigan throng and were visibly impressed. Given that MD is the Mecca of college lacrosse, it is hard to believe that seeing Michigan come into the that neck of the woods will not lead to some recruiting inroads. Also, while NJ is not on par with MD or NY in terms of producing top-tier DI talent, it is not that far behind. Michigan, Ohio State should all get some really good recruits who want to play at a high level and be able to get a scholarship in the process. The Ivy League conference has great lacrosse, and I think that they still will be very good. I would imagine, though, that several families will see the schools in the Big 10 as a viable alternative with the opportunity to significantly lower their kids' debt upon graduation. In many ways, I think that may end up hurting the Patriot Conference most, since the kids who play and study there seem like an obvious fit at a school like Michigan, which can offer a really meaningful degree and experience.

The MD prep and public school lacrosse leagues produce tons of talent, and this will definitely yield some of the midwestern schools more top-tier players. I would love to see Northwestern add a program given their academic prestige and the incredible success of their women's programs.

I am not a fan of reallignment, as I feel like the conference of my youth has lost a lot of its cultural, Midwestern identy, but the chance to be better in lacrosse will be one of the positives that comes out of this. I remember going to MSU club games in East Lansing as a kid and thinking that this would be a great game for the Big Ten to have at the varsity level. It has everything that Americans love (lots of scoring, great end-to-end action, physical checking), and it would be a great excuse for all of us to work on our tailgating skills in the spring.

I think that maryland and rutgers are going to join the B1G teams that play lacrosse (Michigan, ohio and penn state) in the ECAC when they leave they leave their respective conferences. 

On the women's side, I think the B1G will sponsor women's lacrosse since there are now 6 programs which is enough for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Michigan starts their program in 2013-14. 

I think it will strongly help Mich lax, especially if there's eventually a BIG lax conference. I'm from MD and the area is a hot bed of lax talent. I think there's like 4 colleges in md that are lax powerhouses because they are able to recruit instate. Also, people in the area think extremely high of UofM, especially the parents of these kids going to prep schools. I can see us pulling some major talent, selling that you can come get a great education and still play a school like MD regularly.