Team meeting in the books. Next step, practice. This was such a lighthearted post when we started writing…

Last night we held our first team meeting of the second semester. It is good to be back. We saw some old faces and new faces. The general sentiment seems to be that the 2011 Hoosiers will be significantly different than the 2010 Hoosiers. More specifically, the fall roster will be different than the spring roster. Certainly a bittersweet feeling. Players that you worked with and watched improve for almost eight weeks are gone while new athletes who are excited about taking up the challenges before us fill the void.

The goal moving forward for the program is to figure out a way to reduce midseason turnover so we aren’t dreading future winter breaks. Obviously with the way we are recruiting now we’ll likely never have this happen again but there are other team regulations were are considering.

On the micro level, the new roster will have four weeks to get acclimated to one another on and off the field before the season opener. Really thrilled that we open up on the road. There’s no where to hide on a 8+ hour plus ride together. When you can think of a better way to forge a team then a road trip, let us know in the comments section. Here’s a hint don’t write any suggestions.

Four days away from practice #1:

Running test.

Stick work.

Then Unsettled Nation for likely the reminder of practice.

Glove pass out.

Have to work on my clapping stance if I’m going to fit in at IU.

Off the field, we are finalizing plans for an alumni scrimmage/parents weekend/alumni weekend extravaganza the first week of March. Typically, the parents weekend is hosted during a home game weekend, but since we seemingly owed the entire GRLC a home game and no one decided to change the the conference format until well after games had been scheduled, we finished with two home games, one on Wednesday and the other the Friday before Easter. Less than ideal conditions for visiting parents. Anywellhaveadifferentschedulein2012, we’re having an alumni/parents weekend in March which will include a scrimmage of some variety and a banquet.

Mid season banquet? Not even a mid season banquet, we will have only played 2 of 14 regular season games at that point.

We’re breaking all the rules this year.

Fingers are crossed we can acquire the town’s indoor soccer facility for the alumni scrimmage which would mean one thing and one thing only, box lax. Modified of course depending upon goal sizes and goalie equipment, but really, who wants to be outdoors in March for an alumni scrimmage? We’ll make do either way and it will be a special weekend for alumni, parents, and current Hoosiers.

Keep them fingers crossed for box lax though if only so we can play semi box lax.

On the recruiting front, we just learned that one of our recruits was accepted and wants to schedule a visit. He’s not from the vaunted black and yellow program in Columbus or a black and orange school in Michigan but he’s mean, talented, and wants to visit IU. What does Alec Baldwin say in Glengarry Glen Ross? “Guy doesn’t walk on the lot unless he wants to buy. Sitting out there waiting to give you their money! Are you gonna take it? Are you man enough to take it?”

Recruiting is like dating. If you want a hot girlfriend, go up and ask every hot girl you meet to be your girlfriend. Eventually someone is going to yes. Take that concept and multiply it by 8 or 12 or 15 or how ever many recruits you want to bring in to your school. And like magic, your recruiting class is filled.

If you’re not recruiting in the MCLA, you have no hope long term. Arizona State just popped up on the school list for the Chicago tournament that I’m going to this weekend. How furious does that make us? It’s certainly not roses. But if last year’s runner up is going to send some from Arizona to Illinois to recruit doesn’t that send a message of how committed they are to winning? Isn’t that a wake up call to other programs? Either step  up and operate how you’re supposed to operate or prepare to be left behind.

Mid level teams need to figure out that they must redirect funds from white helmets, sublimated socks, practice shorts with innuendo logos to recruiting expenses and coaching salaries. They need hire coaches willing to recruit, willing to spend some time with the program and they need to be willing to pay those coaches a livable wage. Otherwise the top 5-10 teams in the MCLA will never change.

Most executive boards of these mid level teams are captains of sinking ships that will never sink. Ready for another movie reference?

Winning is all that matters.

Why do you think we’re so hard on teams that buy repulsive gear? Not only is it ugly, but your team is a middling bunch that doesn’t care about the program’s winning percentage. Uniform wars don’t win games in the MCLA. Money that you spend that no one but your program sees wins games.

The next mid level team that figures this out, swallows some pride, and decides we’re going to build something here and if it means wearing the same gloves two years in a row so we afford more practice time at an indoor facility then so be it, is the team that is going to leap into the top 25 and stay there for a long time.

No one, no one, no one loves lacrosse gear more than the author of this blog. We just want MCLA teams to get better.

Oh MAF

What a rebuttal.

Not as stylish as Carey’s effort but the post game commentary was…priceless. “I just thought that’s how we celebrate in Montreal, so …”

And now we prepare for Saturday.

Remaining on the ice, this little girl’s microphone shorts out and with the exception of one mammal, the crowd reminds us that there is hope for humanity.

Bloggers helping bloggers: If you’re a hockey fan and you’re not reading Puck Daddy every day, you’re a fool. Even with their anti Crosby slant, it’s the best hockey blog written and where we find 78% of our puck material. One of the few good things associated with Yahoo.

These shoes are the reason Pitt is 5th in the country.

Good luck against the orange and silver pixies from upstate New York on Monday.

Duke can’t win at Florida State. So what? Who cares? 49 games left in the season.

Notes

Colgate vs. Syracuse retro highlight video, try to stop Matt Lalli

Another week or so of work before we can reveal the new 412/IU office

Really have to wait until April 17th for Game of Thrones? Come on HBO