Recent Comments

Just read this one and I could not agree more.

Q is anything but a Hopkins slappy.  He has worked really hard to earn a reputation of even-handedness - go to the Hopkins board on Laxpower.com and you will see many of my fellow alums complaining about how Quint is always bashing Hopkins.  

What Quint is, however, is one of the sport's biggest advocates of safety.  He was calling for major penalties for head-hunting way before the NCAA added some teeth to penalties for high hits.  

Unless the B1G adds a few more lax powers, Maryland will own the B1G in lacrosse for a while.  Penn State is looking really good since Tambroni took over, and I would expect consistency there, but Maryland would be the current class of the B1G.  

Hopkins to B1G is purely rumor.  You'll notice that it did not even get mentioned by today's announcing crew.  (I would love it!)  

A good face off guy needs leverage, technique, and quickness.  These guys are usually pretty powerful, but compact.  Think wrestling.

Edit:  meant to be in reply to a question way back.

Coach Petro has been talking for a number of years about recruiting nationally, and tapping the growing hotbeds in the "west."  Note what is being built at Denver using non-traditional sources of talent.  Hopkins has, and will always have deep roots in the three traditional hotbeds (MD, LI, CNY) but being part of the B1G would give Petro more access to these newer sources of talent.

The CIC would make the B1G the logical fit.  The question is how much of a benefit Hopkins would get from the CIC compared to the massive benefit the CIC would get from Hopkins.  While M is the current giant in the CIC in terms of federal $$, Hopkins pulls in double (1.6 billion versus 800 million.)  I would guess that if a place like Michigan doesn't see a research $$ downside to admitting a Nebraska, then Hopkins would stand to gain from CIC membership.  

Anyone know more about the extent to which being in the CIC acts as a resource multiplier? 

I would love this move. It would guarantee me seeing my Jays here every year (although it would not surprise me if Petro kept M on the schedule permanently anyway.)  

From a CIC perspective, it would be a huge coup. Hopkins is #1 nationwide for federal research $$.  

I don't think JHU's traditional rivalries would be threatened.  It would mean replacing a couple of the tomato cans on the JHU schedule with harder contests, but still not as brutal as the UVA-UNC-Cuse-Pton-MD guantlet that comes later in the season.  

As far as conference fit goes, it would have to be either ACC or B1G, but from a research university perspective, B1G is a MUCH better fit.  

Is actually pretty amazing. It's open to kids from all Ann Arbor public high schools by audition. They started streaming it this year because they had to turn away 1000 people at the door last year.

what was up with the plungers in the student section at Bradley?   I hated having my 11-yr-old son ask me "dad, what's up with the plungers" and have absolutely no wisdom for him.

I had just moved to Ann Arbor, and we left the game early.  Tremendous regret.  Never again!

Muppets

and since you can't have one without the other...

So if they do it to themselves is it the death penalty or suicide?  

Seriously, however, given all that O'Brien has done to hold that team together, this could send players running.

Both John and Bill (the head tour guy) have both told me that every Friday night before a home game event staff set the lockers up with game-day uniforms, pads, shoes, and helmet.  John also said that on Thursday nights, six hand-picked event staffers tend to each helmet, painting over scratches and shining each helmet.

Just passing on what I was told...

When I took our group last year, they gave us the full-on tour featuring both towers, and lots of talking to the kids about Michigan history.  While well-appreciated by the adults, that was totally over the heads of the kids.  This year, I worked with Bill Austin to adjust our tour for our age group, and John did a nice job.

But while the kids don't know or care about the differences between the lockers, they think the locker room is really cool, and they love running down the tunnel and playing on the field.  

Since the first "reading" most children do is of environmental print, the block M is a major part of any Ann Arbor child's emergent literacy experience.  Also, things that are important to their parents are important to them.  So going to this place where the block M is everywhere turns out to be very meaningful!

I really need the sarcasm tag for a Fulmer Cup post?  I mean, its the Fulmer Cup - ironic by nature.

This was not meant as a good thing at all.  Not a good sign to be that high in the Fulmer Cup rankings at all. 

Of the Fulmer cup - I belive Orson has already allocated 2 pts for Fitz, and with Clark's felony charge that should be at least 2 more...taking M to 10 pts and moving up from 19th to 9th.  Silver lining anyone?

http://www.sportsargumentwiki.com/index.php?title=Fulmer_Cup

Also see laxpower.com's recruiting threads on their forum

Saw your analysis on laxpower.  Of course, NCAA lax bracketology is much more of a crap shoot than hockey or bball.  But I do think you are right.  You guys should be favored at home, but this should be a great game.  My guess is UVa plays a lot of zone against Ranagan's line, esp since we lost our zone-buster (wharton) to graduation.  The matchup of the game shouldbe Durkin on Stanwick, and of course you have the Stanwick brothers storyline as well.  I don't have a good read on this game.

Each GS council chooses which bakery's bid to accept - the bakeries have different names for a few of the cookies, inclusing Samoas/Carmel Delites.

Yes, I am a font of Girl Scout information.(former leader when daughter was younger)

Is this up anywhere?

The Hill Academy has a very serious lacrosse program - kids from there are getting a hybrid of field and box skills - Brodie Merrill is a huge box and field star, one of the best long-stick middies ever (still plays at an all-world level)  This kid is coming here prepared to play - great pickup.

 Coale's body obscured the ref from having the definitive view of the catch.  He wouldn't have seen the movement given that he was coming down the line behind the play.  Had the ref been watching from the back corner of the end zone, I am pretty sure it would have been ruled incomplete on the field.  Watching on TV, the moment they showed the shot from the back of the end zone, it was pretty clear that it was an incomplete pass.  I don't think that this was controversial at all, and it accomplished exactly what replay is there for - sometimes the ref is not in position to see the critical piece of information needed to make a call.

There is no way they can say "oops" about this one the way they did "We are ND" - it is being promoted by way too many people not under ND's control...

http://www.wndu.com/nationworldnews/headlines/Brian_Boitano_promotes_his...

• Key quote: "Brian Boitano, Professional Figure Skater, explains how he got to wear Notre Dame Football jerseys, "And because we filmed on the campus of Notre Dame, we actually got to wear the Irish's football uniforms, so we did a football number and it was so much fun."

http://notredamegoirish.blogspot.com/2011/12/brian-boitano-skating-speci...

• They did know, and they are proud of it....

http://mynotredame.nd.edu/s/1210/index.aspx?sid=1210&gid=1&pgid=7354&cid...

• they are telling their alumni to check it out too!

See http://notredamegoirish.blogspot.com/2011/12/notre-dame-on-tv-sunday-dec...



They are excited about this broadcast...they have no idea.

...to post this on EDSBS?  And for LSUfreek to do his magic?

...this:

Which would be the away uniforms of Ohio U at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

....benefit from high levels of dilithium.

Many of the CCs in the state have articulation agreements wth Michigan.  Don't know if this is the case with GRCC, but it would not surprise me at all.  

...to DSM.  

....mid-day rehearsal was also at the big house and closed to the public.  

...the Big House tour guide, YES

game day locker room.  The stalls are quite mimimalist.  Here's a pic that shows more:

See box on this page re: tours.

http://www.mgoblue.com/facilities/michigan-stadium.html

...does anyone have an idea if Michigan's hockey-related name recognition in Ontario could have an effect on lax recruiting?  TIm - do you know if JP has any connections with the prep schools in Ontario that play the field game and have kids interested in attending college in the US?  

...that the 10-man ride is used more than a full-court press in Bball - I would say it is used less.  While it was a staple of the Michigan club team, I would guess we won't be seeing much of it from M in the future.  A 10-man ride is much riskier than a full-court press, since in lax it takes the goalie out of the cage.  While in bball the full-court press takes you out of your settles half-court d and increases the odds of a break, the 10 man ride's risk is an uncontested goal.

In most lax games, the 10-man ride is only seen at the end of games, when the team that is down is desperate to get the ball back, and the team that is ahead has to keep the ball in the box.  Yes, there are a few D1 teams that use it more regulary, but it is a rarity in this day of offset heads - it is really hard to get the ball on the ground against really good competition.

Of course, there are other kinds of rides besides the 10-man - riding really refers to simply to the process of contesting a clear.  

....the ball can be a little harder for the goalie to follow coming out of the stick with a long pole. 

Teams will also have set plays off of the faceoff that can make use of the fact that the longpole is less of a threat.  Often, after a faceoff violation on the opposing team that forces their faceoff guy to exit the field, the team with the ball will leave the wing player with a pole on the field and send him to the crease.  The D will generally stick the the attack players, which can leave the pole uncovered for a few second on the crease, providing an opportunity for a quick feed inside.  This depends on having a pole with good hands.  

The Petro-Coach T rivalry is an interesting one.  This year, the teacher schooled the student, unfortunately for my Jays.  I have absolutely no doubt that Denver will remain a power.  Princeton was absolutely nothing before Coach T.  6 Championships later....

The Baltimore schools do not own the talent in the city, much to my chagrin and Wahoo's delight (exhibit 1: Steele Stanwick, who grew up equidistant between JHU and Loyola)

Baltimore talent has been looking to leave home for attractive schools for a long time, and its not just about the lax - its about a great big-time-college experience. 

household name for your average high school student from LI and MD (how many Michigan undergrads are from those areas - huge numbers!)  What will further help with the Baltimore-area players, is getting scheduled by Hopkins, and playing Loyola every year.  (Loyola and Hopkins are literally a mile from one another)  JP has a relationship with Coach Pietramala at Hopkins, who is interested in the growth of a healthy Michigan program.  

...Michigan weather all spring...lax cleats....sounds like lots of mud for game play.  I figure they have to use Oosterbaan during the first month of the season, at least - ND and 'Cuse are both playing indoors early season.  Any news about whether Glick is being "hardened" for lax?

I couldn't believe how crappy the fields looked at UNC and Maryland after about half a season this year.  Pretty much plain dirt inside the restraining lines.  

....unlike on the men's side, it sounds like the women's Tewie winner is still quite up in the air.  No way anyone but Pannell wins it on the men's side.

...a second DUI will almost certainly carry some real jail time. As I read Hoke's statement giving DS a window of opportunity, I believe that DS is going to have to do some serious AA-type work after he serves whatever time he'll have to serve, and really show he has the tools to stay on the wagon.  Two DUIs when you have so much to lose really indicates a real drinking problem, as other posters have pointed out.

On a lighter note, here come's our first tally in this year's Fulmer Cup!

I hadn't realized your lax blog was so developed until this big news hit.  Nice site! 

I'm interested in seeing who else who this IL story gets to speak on the record.  Its pretty amazing that although the Michigan athletic dept. has been silent, all sorts of people they might be speaking with re: scheduling, conferences, etc. has been quite willing to comment openly. 

that raises an interesting question is the BTN and its quest for programming.  

Certainly, ESPN is gambling that broadcasting lax will at some point pay off, while the WWL has not made the same calculation regarding college hockey.  (how much of this has to with the fact that pro hockey is much more popular than college, and the reverse is the case wth lax?)  Of course, ESPN is using an already exisiting infrastructure for a good many of their broadcasts - their local Baltimore affiliate WMAR - note that ESPNU doesn't have nearly as many broadcasts from upstate NY as in the Batlimore area. This likely keeps their cost a little lower.

However, as much as the BTN is hungry for programming, I doubt that there are enough revenue generating possibilities from lax to increase the payouts to member schools sufficiently to fund lax.  

Another factor to remember is that most B1G schools would have to add more than 2 more teams - few institutions are in as good shape as Michigan re: Title IX and have more work to do.

Already have the acc/B1G challenge going in hoops. One day when the B1G wouldn't get killed by the acc that kind of arrangement could be interesting for lax. Conference play is still a (relatively) new development in lax - they are mostly about providing autobids so that we see some variety in the tournament. Big East forming a lax conference (and having 'cuse agree to join it!) was probably the biggest development in conference play yet.



Anyway - your comment was fine - I wasn't jumping on you!

Gone will be the two games/weekend schedule.  D1 teams play fewer games per year than Michigan has been playing as an MCLA teams (Well, except for Duke - somehow they play more games than anyone else...)

I can see them playing two games in a weekend once in a while, like on a trip to Maryland, but not most weekends like they do now.

...that the B1G would feel like collaborating with another conference.  I don't think that most Laxpower posters get the way the B1G works.  Unlike many of the current lax conferences, the B1G doesn't do "partial members.  Also doubt any other B1G schools have any plans for lax.  I assume you'll have more to say about that?

Tim- since they would want to have the indoor facility for early season games (think nd and 'cuse) would glick be hardened for lax use?

Congrats to Coach Paul and the program. 

If they are really shooting for varsity next year, the questions raised are huge!

1) Recruiting - lax recruiting is pretty much done for next year (and much of the year after) at the elite schools. 

2) Schedule - I would guess that a number of interesting opponents would be interested in having M on their schedule - home or away - next year.  Maybe my beloved Blue Jays will come back to Ann Arbor for a real game?

3) Conference affiliation - ECAC to be with OSU?

Anyway, this is awesome news!

The ability to write is a rare skill among high school students, let alone grads of many colleges.  Good writing stands out.  

Just don't stop for anything but gas....

as he got here.  Good for the kid from Gilman.

Nice job by UVa tonight...we'll see if my Jays are back for real in a few weeks.  

OK, it's pretty nasty that Wiscy fans would do this, and I agree that Sullinger show tremendous restraint...but:

the Eddie Murphy reference...

I am very impressed by the grace with which these two men handled that situation. RR was gracious to Hoke, and Hoke implicitly complimented RR on the quality of individuals RR brought to M. 

even the slot ninjas having problems in a more pro-style offense.  The goal will still be to get them out in space, and to create match-up problems. 

all the talent that should have been Michigan's but ended up at ND after Mattison left.  I can't remember being as bummed about the departure of an assistant as I was when Mattison left for ND.

Free tuition as a benefit, UofM does not. I recall that being a major draw.

....with a dose of Rebellion skepticism

EDIT: after reading eyebrowse below, I have to add a smidgen of In Rod We Trust - I knew he had to go, but I just can't stop getting pissed when he continues to get kicked while down.

oh well

that's what I get for going from the stupid Iphone to the computer.....

....ever done for us?

While it has a little bit of a "Stepford Wives" feel to it, I can't fault DB for making sure that this one goes right.  He's a lot more media-proactive than his predecessor, and I am impressed with his use of new media as well. 

Could this be a product of DB learning from Bill Martin's experience that you really have to sell the new coach in a way that takes advantage of the 24/7 news cycle, rather than being victimized by said short attention span reporting?  DB seems a whole lot more media-aware - old and new media - than his predecessor.

Although I share the OP's discomfort with the over-the-top coverage and opinion-shaping, I admire DB for doing everything he can to make sure this new hire starts with as positive an image as possible.

So he would have to be re-hired by Hoke.

...of Carr-era players, not Carr.  (he leaves it to us to conclude what we will about the connection there)  C'mon, hasn't it sucked to be watching the beginning of an NFL game and to have to be worrying about what one of the Carr-era players is going to state as his school?  Braylon and his *&^* "Lloyd Carr's Michigan," numerous high schools, etc?

Brian is particularly concerned with exactly what offense and defense Hoke will run - He's making a statement about whether Michigan is a place that is wide-open to new ideas, new blood, and innovation.  He is dead-on in interpreting this hire, whether it is successful or not, as a vote for insularity as the only comfortable option.  There is good reason to be dismayed if it turns out that Michigan can't handle fresh air - new ideas and innovation are critical to the long-term health of an organization. 

The question is who is going to be coaching up Brady Hoke?

That!  What a frame for this discussion!

RR worked and played for Don Nehlan, who is part of the Bo tree.

One of the best Python sketches...

In her latest piece on the detnews site, Angelique refers to fox2's story based on one unnamed source and she calls the freep's story unsourced. Think she's making a statement?

the back porch of my house...I dragged my 9 year old son out to see it...he thought it was the coolest plane he's ever seen!

Link:

http://michigansuperfan.com/Hockey%20cheers.htm

of the day was his best, as was the coverage - worst Illinois starting field position after a kickoff all day!

win!

....just makes me feel confused and disturbed.

is demanding a lot of extra $$ from carriers for the U in HD.  Locally, only DirectTV has it in HD.  Sucks!  HD was invented for football! Seriously - the first time I saw football in HD was when I decided that HD was no longer a want but a need.

...help run the read-option, but he can't hit a curveball?

Burn him! Burn him!

Some of his carries are clearly designed QB runs, but the big question here is really how often he is making the correct read at the mesh point with the RBs - this is something that Brian is grading for on the offensive UFR - according to last week's UFR, Denard rarely made the wrong read, which means that defenses are inexplicably scheming against the RB, not the QB.  I would bet good money that more often than not he is pulling the ball out because it is the correct read - in essence, it appears that RR and Denard are simply taking what the D is giving them for now.

for UMASS tickets.  The UMASS game is on Yom Kippur, and even the most die-hard fan will likely not be found at the Big House that day.  Many synagogues collect the tickets of their members so that they can donate them.  You can find synagogues in Michigan listed by  city here: http://www.mavensearch.com/synagogues/C3319   I would start with the Oakland county cities first!

do college replay officials rely on the "guys in the truck" to get them quick looks at a play before they make the decision to review a given play? I suspect that they booth replay officals are highly dependent on the network for timely feeds.  Not to be too paranoid, but this is clearly a problem for anyone playing ND on the Notre Dame Broadcasting Network.  Of course, anyone playing a Big Ten team on the BTN could say the same thing.

see laxpower.com

barely more D1 lacrosse programs - 60 - than hockey programs.  The vast majority of D1 schools don't have lax either. 

The likely difference is national exposure -  D1 lax (along with D2 and D3) packs close to 100,000 people into an NFL stadium for the Final Four weekend each May, and D1 lax has a serious TV presence on ESPNU (thank you ESPN!!).  The ESPN family of networks broadcasts at least 3 games a week - usually more, and more marquee games end up on ESPN2 as well.  Also, fastest growing sport on the HS level in the USA.

Edit - as Blue Bunny says above, same # of teams.  Women's lax is huge, and D3 men's is almost double D1 men's as well.

riding to the stadium on gameday.  I live about a mile away, and it is ridiculously quick.  The only tricky part is riding over the bridge.  I've had no problem locking my bike to the fence right next to Crisler.  I'm usually coming down Stadium from the east, or taking Industrial over to Stadium.  When I've ridden with my kids, who aren't good in traffic, we'll often lock up at the Kroger on Industrial. (where we used to pick up water cheap....)

Always entertaining, but the nudists appear to be missing this year.....

Tambroni is an awesome coach, and we can expect serious improvement from PSU over the next few years.  Clearly, PSU is taking lax quite seriously.  Tambroni had already taken himself out of contention for the Maryland job - clearly, the job of men's lacrosse coach at a Big Ten university is something that is quite potentially more desireable than at Maryland and Cornell - two mainstays of the sport!

I didn't want to start a new thread, as this may only be of interest to Tim's lax readership.  But since Michigan just faced off against this guy:

Connor Martin (AKA Con Bro Chill) has been invited to play on a College All-Star team taking on Team USA as a lead-up to the Major League Lacrosse draft.  He is also on Inside Lacrosse's list of draft eligible players - the only MCLA player on the list. The implication is that Martin can expect to be drafted.  Is this all because of the hype he has created on his site, and IL pimping his blog? 

Game roster - some ridiculous names here - and Martin is sandwiched between Max Quinzani and Steven Boyle. 

http://insidelacrosse.com/sites/default/files/imagesimages/Roster_600.jpg

Congrats!

So, I dragged my son out of bed last night to watch the last inning, and there are a few lessons that I hope he will learn from the behavior of the people involved:

1) Galaragga's reaction to the blown call is perhaps the greatest example to children of how to handle disappointment.  He didn't rant, he didn't pout, he climbed back up the mound and got the 28th out carrying himself as a man with perspective.

2) I want him to read Joyce's statements - this is how you take responsibility for your actions.  No excuses, no effort to shift blame - he completely owned his error.

3) I want him to hear what Galaragga plans to show and tell his own son - that he pitched a perfect game, no matter what the record books show.  He does not need the external validation of his accomplishment recorded elsewhere - he knows what he did, and can hold his head high.

I'm not so sure - I think that Michigan is a more popular school, and Ann Arbor certainly has a lot more to offer than South Bend. Better college town! It would be an important message that a mid-west football power that takes lax seriously can achieve serious success. (possible, however, that this effect is already achieved by a finals appearance?) Meanwhile, interesting things are happening at PSU - the word is that they are interviewing Coach Cottle. That should provide an instant credibility upgrade for that program. Yet more indicators that the AD better get moving here!   Anyway, I'm with laxalum here, as much as it hurts.

Gotta root for nd here. Duke still has members of that group that was given a fifth year, and espn is going to rehash all those redemption storylines that got derailed in 2007 and 2008 when they were espn's chosen ones. Way too nauseating.

Edit: I also give nd a good chance here. Danowski can be outcoached in the big games, and Corrigan's strategy so far in the tournament is much like those that have been successful against duke before. No transition goals, make duke play 6 on 6, and make every possession count. Add a hot goalie!

I think Duke-UVa is a tossup, but considering the beatdowns that Duke has administered the last two weeks, I would be afraid, very afraid.  (the UNC game made the Hopkins implosion not look nearly as bad....still can't watch it however)  Cornell is solid all around, but if they end up matched up against UVa, I see them collapsing in the 4th as they play that first midfield almost 75% of the game, and UVa will just thrown their hordes of middies out there in waves.

Within the world of lax fandom, there is huge denial of this reality.  This denial has led to the idea that Title IX is the one and only villain in the room standing in the way of the great lax revolution.  The idea that ADs desperately want to promote lax, but can't because of that damn Title IX thing is very attractive - the alternative is that ADs just don't care.