I played for Michigan Lacrosse in the late 90s. At that time it was like most other club teams in the country: lacrosse was a great reason to travel, stay in relatively good shape, have fun doing it, and partying. We did not hold back. Coach JP had just taken over the reigns of Michigan Lacrosse. He knew he had the athletic and lacrosse talent to play far better than we were playing...and we convinced ourselves under his leadership to CHOOSE to take it to another level. I was fortunate in that I played for BOTH types of Michigan lacrosse...the relaxing and fun true 'club' type team...and the demanding and serious 'club' team they are now. I doubt my later teams were anywhere as serious and driven as they are now, but they were night and day different from my first few seasons at Michigan lacrosse. The beautiful thing was that we enjoyed it just as much! We enjoyed pushing ourselves athletically, we enjoyed every minute of it. We were driven, we sopped up the "we are michigan men" stuff of Lloyd, Bo Schembechler and Jerry Hanlon. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
So when I hear bad blood talk about how everyone hates the wolverines, how we think we're so good, how it's some unfair advantage we have...I just shake my head. It's a choice. It's a choice that every single person can make. Perhaps it's an easier choice for a michigan alum. we have an uncommon heritage in our school and athletic department that trickles into the veins of every single student. The type of person that goes to Michigan doesn't settle. That's why they are at a place like Michigan.
I don't see what JP , his coaches and players have built as a result of some unfair advantage they have over the whole MCLA... It's the job of the coach to set up equipment deals for the team, it's the job of the coach to inspire alumni to contribute, it's the job of the coach to share the seasons moments with alumni (if you didn't know it, JP writes a 10 page letter every week to us alumni highlighting every detail of the season...we love it!). Some club coaches just take things to a different level than others. But no matter how well organized and driven the coaching staff is, it's ultimately up to players how good they want to be. They have to choose to put the blood sweat and tears into their practices, and extend them to the games. Michigan Mens Lacrosse does that better than any non-varsity squad out there. Frankly Michigan CLUB lacrosse does it better than some D1 varsities. As their goalie Stone said after the game "we just can't stop winning". I absolutely love that attitude.
Whether Michigan Lacrosse gets the opportunity to take their attitude to the next level (varsity) doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is when they don't have the support, when their actions are driven not by a free education and when they are simply playing for the love of the game, that they choose to excel to this level.
It's exhilarating to watch them play and to know that I was a very small part of this team years and years ago. If they do get the privilege of varsity status, I frankly will respect the non-varsity players and alums more, because they choose to try to be great when all they had to do was have fun.
As Jerry Hanlon would say slowly from a hunched over two point stance in an old tight UM golfshirt: 'BY GOD LETS GO BLUE!"
Dam straight! Congrats to the 2010 MCLA Champions!
P.S. I have to also give a huge shout-out to Chapman and ASU, especially the Sun Devils...the quality of club lacrosse these days is bewildering and exciting. It is a clear testament to me to how fast the sport has grown in the nation and how dedicated the past players - turned - coaches are to the game. Cheers to all coaches for helping push this amazing game so far...all coaches, not just the college club coaches. club lacrosse LIVE on TV? never thought i'd see it.
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I played for Michigan Lacrosse in the late 90s. At that time it was like most other club teams in the country: lacrosse was a great reason to travel, stay in relatively good shape, have fun doing it, and partying. We did not hold back. Coach JP had just taken over the reigns of Michigan Lacrosse. He knew he had the athletic and lacrosse talent to play far better than we were playing...and we convinced ourselves under his leadership to CHOOSE to take it to another level. I was fortunate in that I played for BOTH types of Michigan lacrosse...the relaxing and fun true 'club' type team...and the demanding and serious 'club' team they are now. I doubt my later teams were anywhere as serious and driven as they are now, but they were night and day different from my first few seasons at Michigan lacrosse. The beautiful thing was that we enjoyed it just as much! We enjoyed pushing ourselves athletically, we enjoyed every minute of it. We were driven, we sopped up the "we are michigan men" stuff of Lloyd, Bo Schembechler and Jerry Hanlon. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
So when I hear bad blood talk about how everyone hates the wolverines, how we think we're so good, how it's some unfair advantage we have...I just shake my head. It's a choice. It's a choice that every single person can make. Perhaps it's an easier choice for a michigan alum. we have an uncommon heritage in our school and athletic department that trickles into the veins of every single student. The type of person that goes to Michigan doesn't settle. That's why they are at a place like Michigan.
I don't see what JP , his coaches and players have built as a result of some unfair advantage they have over the whole MCLA... It's the job of the coach to set up equipment deals for the team, it's the job of the coach to inspire alumni to contribute, it's the job of the coach to share the seasons moments with alumni (if you didn't know it, JP writes a 10 page letter every week to us alumni highlighting every detail of the season...we love it!). Some club coaches just take things to a different level than others. But no matter how well organized and driven the coaching staff is, it's ultimately up to players how good they want to be. They have to choose to put the blood sweat and tears into their practices, and extend them to the games. Michigan Mens Lacrosse does that better than any non-varsity squad out there. Frankly Michigan CLUB lacrosse does it better than some D1 varsities. As their goalie Stone said after the game "we just can't stop winning". I absolutely love that attitude.
Whether Michigan Lacrosse gets the opportunity to take their attitude to the next level (varsity) doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is when they don't have the support, when their actions are driven not by a free education and when they are simply playing for the love of the game, that they choose to excel to this level.
It's exhilarating to watch them play and to know that I was a very small part of this team years and years ago. If they do get the privilege of varsity status, I frankly will respect the non-varsity players and alums more, because they choose to try to be great when all they had to do was have fun.
As Jerry Hanlon would say slowly from a hunched over two point stance in an old tight UM golfshirt: 'BY GOD LETS GO BLUE!"
Dam straight! Congrats to the 2010 MCLA Champions!
P.S. I have to also give a huge shout-out to Chapman and ASU, especially the Sun Devils...the quality of club lacrosse these days is bewildering and exciting. It is a clear testament to me to how fast the sport has grown in the nation and how dedicated the past players - turned - coaches are to the game. Cheers to all coaches for helping push this amazing game so far...all coaches, not just the college club coaches. club lacrosse LIVE on TV? never thought i'd see it.