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Coaching staff returns from the CCLA fall meeting with games scheduled. No Nazi scalps though

This morning we wrote a Homer like epic on Fun and Gun Scheduling.

This evening the coaches provided us with the fruits of their labor at the CCLA meeting.

Here is our 2010 schedule to date.

January 23 Seton Hill @ Pitt (scrimmage)

January 29 Grove City @ Pitt (season opener)

January 30 Alumni Scrimmage

February 5 Eastern Michigan @ Pitt

February 13 John Carroll @ Pitt

February 26 Buffalo @ Pitt

February 27 Ball State @ Pitt

March 20 Davenport @ Pitt

March 27 Miami @ Pitt

April 9 Pitt @ Virginia Tech

April 10 Pitt vs. South Carolina @ Virginia Tech

April 11 Pitt vs Clemson @ Virginia Tech

April 24 Pitt @ West Virginia

We will be adding a game against Carnegie Mellon and possibly Slippery Rock. While these aren’t major games on the MCLA map it is beneficial for Pittsburgh area lacrosse programs to be working together to generate buzz for both.

At this juncture we have 11 games scheduled. We played 11 total last year, off to a great start.

Here’s where things get tricky because the windows are closing, thanks to availability and travel costs. We have three major travel dates to pick from and at this point two of three are on the same weekend.

Option #1

We have been invited to the Chris Jenkins Memorial Tournament in February in Minnesota. Lindenwood is the other invited team along with hosts Minnesota and Duluth.

Pros: huge early season test against two tournament teams, simulates the MCLA tournament with daily games against superior talent, reach out to Minnesota recruiting market, early season barometer

Cons: costs of airfare, cost of bus to Pittsburgh airport, cost of bus in Minnesota, cost of bus from airport back to campus, given the distance no choice but to fly

Option #2

Three weeks ago, the Boston trip was in the bag. Three weeks ago, we had full availability in April. Now, with the Easter Weekend conflict being brought to light, the addition of the West Virginia game, the Virginia Tech weekend, and the CCLA tournament, we have only one available weekend. Unfortunately, BC doesn’t have a head coach and scheduling isn’t necessarily their top priority, understandably so. Northeastern’s coach said they had full availability in April and wanted to play. Boston University’s website is down so we haven’t even had the chance to contact them yet.

Pros: great late season test to prepare for CCLA tournament, simulates the MCLA tournament with daily games against superior talent albeit not as well as the Chris Jenkins Memorial Tournament,  reach out to Boston/New England recruiting market, Boston is a lovely city in the spring

Cons: travel costs; possible plane ride if tickets are comparable to a bus ride, if not you’re looking at an 11+ hour bus ride, choosing the Boston trip negates Option 3

Option #3

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best and right now that road passes through Ann Arbor, Michigan. Coach Paul invited us to come play and the debate has been raging ever since. The thought process is as follows; to get to Denver we will have to beat them unless we are undefeated heading into the CCLA conference finals and the tournament committee grants us an at large bid. The opinion on how best to achieve that result is split. One on hand, playing Michigan once before the tournament will give us an idea of what to expect in the tournament e.g. how to defend Yealy, how to deal with a 10 man ride etc. On the other hand, not playing them until potentially the CCLA tournament will give both teams an element of surprise. Of course there will be scouting reports but executing a scouting report on the field is a dyed stick of a different color.

Pros: experience of playing the best, experiencing game day at Michigan

Cons: revealing secrets to a conference opponent we might see again, playing a second game that weekend against another conference opponent, possibly having to choose this trip over the Boston trip

In a perfect world we would have funds for all seven trips; Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Boston, Ann Arbor, West Virginia, Michigan for the CCLA tournament, and Denver (fingers crossed). Next year the program will be prepared for a more extensive travel agenda. This year we really had no idea of the opportunities afforded to us.

Three of those seven trips are locked in. We have to play West Virginia because its a division game. We have to go to Saline to play in the CCLA tournament because we will qualify. And we have to go to Virginia Tech because it provides us the least expensive opportunity to play the three OOC games necessary to qualify for the national tournament.

The current budget does not provide funds for the trip to Denver (although next years and forever more will, and we plan to raise funds for this year to do so). The suggestion at the meeting tonight was to have been allocated this year to go. In other words, to watch spending on other trips and other expenses in the event we need it in May.

The most glaring expense is the Minnesota trip to which I agree. However, my feeling is this, if we go to the Chris Jenkins Memorial Tournament, we will know right away whether or not we are going to be a team that’s fighting for an at large bid. Of course that’s assuming there aren’t any hiccups in the games prior.

If we go undefeated at the Chris Jenkins Memorial, beating two other tournament teams, we will have a great chance of earning an at large bid. More importantly we will have two months to generate funds for Denver.

Of course I am speaking in perfect world terms.

If we don’t go to Minnestoa but instead choose to go just Boston or Ann Arbor and perform exceptionally well, we will have less time to raise money for Denver. And you all know how we feel about undeserving teams going to Denver just because they can afford it. You don’t go if you can’t pay, its that simple.

My proposal and what I think will ultimately come to fruition is that we travel to Minnesota and Boston.

Traveling is generally expensive but in a down economy prices are being slashed to promote spending (I once took an economics class).

Did you know a charter bus from Pittsburgh to Boston for a weekend costs $3634?

It’s doable, we’re doing it.

Oh the wrench is….we haven’t locked in dates and times with the Boston teams but Michigan is committed for that April weekend.

Phone calls pending. Decisions this week.

We pray we don’t have to trade in the bus for…

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Class, class, class (St. Mark’s, Dallas Texas)