Mens lacrosse welcomes 12 frosh newcomers

[mikefla]

Utah, Texas, Colorado? wow.....thats new.....

looks like a great class...8 all americans..........





http://www.scarletknights.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/090815aaa.html

 

[rudad02]

Plus a boat load of team captains.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Is the coach deciding that if the New Jersey kids don't want to play for their own university, he will go wherever he needs to ? Or is this just a one-year thing ?

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

The fact that the Coach needs to go to Utah and CO to recruit a decent portion of his class is a bad sign. Lax comp in those states is not strong at all and I guarantee those kids lacked offers from ranked programs.

Also, being an "All-American" is meaningless unless you know the criteria for that designation - for example, my guess is that the AA moniker here is from a service that names X number of AA's in each state and being an AA in LAX in such format form a state like Utah is about as meaningful as being an AA in ice hockey from Florida. If you look at the rosters of the top 25 teams they are filled with players from strong schoolpowers in traditional LAX regions - MD, NY, New England, VA - our roster is now filled with players from Utah, TX, AZ and CO - that simply is not going to get it done. One or two from those regions in total on a roster are fine, but where they now make more than a tiny portion of the roster as in our case now, that's just not helpful to the future of the program.

 

[Caliknight]

Definite not true. The game has spread so fast, these kids have been playing their whole lives and have been coached by guys from the east coast who have played at big programs. Lacrosse isn't provincial anymore. There are players everywhere now. Coach Brecht thinks these guys are better than the options closer. And he hasn't stopped recruiting Jersey. Both in this class and next there are players from NJ.

He has always had designs of a well represented roster. This isn't an accident.

Here is a link to Denver's roster, who won the championship last year. It is hardly filled with players from traditional areas.

http://www.denverpioneers.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/denv-m-lacros-mtt.html

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

Definite not true. The game has spread so fast, these kids have been playing their whole lives and have been coached by guys from the east coast who have played at big programs. Lacrosse isn't provincial anymore. There are players everywhere now. Coach Brecht thinks these guys are better than the options closer. And he hasn't stopped recruiting Jersey. Both in this class and next there are players from NJ.

He has always had designs of a well represented roster. This isn't an accident.

Here is a link to Denver's roster, who won the championship last year. It is hardly filled with players from traditional areas.

http://www.denverpioneers.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/denv-m-lacros-mtt.html

Fair point, and I hope these kids from Utah can play - there's a bunch of 'em.

 

[Caliknight]

There is 4 of them, one of whom was a flip from Maryland, if that makes you feel better.

 

[rudad02]

My grandson plays for a good D 3 program in Ohio. Their roster includes kids from Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, Maryland, New York, & New Jersey. Last year they had a kid from Texas who left the program. The game is truly national in scope now.

 

[Mr_Twister]

I like the approach that Coach is using. Check the current roster of last year's champ, Denver. Denver's roster includes 12 players from Colorado, but the remainder of the roster is from 17 other geographic areas.

http://www.denverpioneers.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/denv-m-lacros-mtt.html

The geographic diversity is amazing. CA (9), CT (2), CO (12), DC, FL, MA, MD (2), MN, NC, NJ (5), NV, NY (3), Ohio (2), Ontario (2), British Columbia (2), PA, VA (2), WA (2).

 

[78CollegeAve]

F NJ kids and their parents if they think they're too good for Rutgers. Just get talent. Where doesn't matter.

 

[e5fdny]

F NJ kids and their parents if they think they're too good for Rutgers. Just get talent. Where doesn't matter.

 

[RUMountie]

The fact that the Coach needs to go to Utah and CO to recruit a decent portion of his class is a bad sign. Lax comp in those states is not strong at all and I guarantee those kids lacked offers from ranked programs.

Also, being an "All-American" is meaningless unless you know the criteria for that designation - for example, my guess is that the AA moniker here is from a service that names X number of AA's in each state and being an AA in LAX in such format form a state like Utah is about as meaningful as being an AA in ice hockey from Florida. If you look at the rosters of the top 25 teams they are filled with players from strong schoolpowers in traditional LAX regions - MD, NY, New England, VA - our roster is now filled with players from Utah, TX, AZ and CO - that simply is not going to get it done. One or two from those regions in total on a roster are fine, but where they now make more than a tiny portion of the roster as in our case now, that's just not helpful to the future of the program.

I think this is a very outdated perspective on the current state of lacrosse recruiting. The game is exploding in many areas across the country, players can be found everywhere. Just because a kid doesn't play in an traditional lacrosse hotbed doesn't mean he can't play. Some lax players will be like Brian Leonard was in football (a superstud in the middle of low level competition). As we have seen with football and basketball if the top Jersey kids think they are too good for Rutgers we should be more than happy to have top players from other areas commit to RU. Of course Coach will continue to go after NJ kids who can help us out but unfortunately there is a real bias against RU sports, especially the elite NJ players most of whom can't see themselves at RU. When we are winning B1G on a consistent basis that dynamic will change eventually.

 

[Caliknight]

Top teams all have kids from the west now. These kids all travel to play. I am sure all of these kids traveled back east and played against some of the best kids from the hot bed areas at summer camps.

Having seen first hand the growth of the sport in California, it is only a matter of time before some of the best high school lacrosse is played out here, imo. The game is spreading very rapidly here, the weather is perfect for year round play, and the amount of really good athletes is staggering. Sports are taken very seriously at the high school level here. Being a CIF sanctioned sport has dictated that resources be put towards it, with more and more seemingly every year.

 

[e5fdny]

Having seen first hand the growth of the sport in California, it is only a matter of time before some of the best high school lacrosse is played out here, imo. The game is spreading very rapidly here, the weather is perfect for year round play, and the amount of really good athletes is staggering. Sports are taken very seriously at the high school level here. Being a CIF sanctioned sport has dictated that resources be put towards it, with more and more seemingly every year.

Those of us around the sport at the club and HS level have seen this over the past few years. Each year better and better athletes are discovering the sport and how much fun it is to play.

Poor baseball. LOL

 

[ecojew]

Looks like a great class. Hopefully RU will now turn the corner and return to lacrosse prominence.

 

[rudad02]

Those of us around the sport at the club and HS level have seen this over the past few years. Each year better and better athletes are discovering the sport and how much fun it is to play.

Poor baseball. LOL

Played baseball at a high level until 30yrs old. Sad to see how boring & poorly played the game has become. Lacrosse is clearly eating it's lunch. It's faster. My youngest son left baseball & played D1 lax. Grandson by another son left baseball & is playing D3 lax. Have become a big fan.

 

[e5fdny]

Played baseball at a high level until 30yrs old. Sad to see how boring & poorly played the game has become. Lacrosse is clearly eating it's lunch. It's faster. My youngest son left baseball & played D1 lax. Grandson by another son left baseball & is playing D3 lax. Have become a big fan.

And that's the other thing...

Those of us who came late to the sport realize just how much fun it is to WATCH.

Taking my kids out of school on Friday to go to this...



http://wilc2015.com/

 

[mikefla]

Definite not true. The game has spread so fast, these kids have been playing their whole lives and have been coached by guys from the east coast who have played at big programs. Lacrosse isn't provincial anymore. There are players everywhere now. Coach Brecht thinks these guys are better than the options closer. And he hasn't stopped recruiting Jersey. Both in this class and next there are players from NJ.

He has always had designs of a well represented roster. This isn't an accident.

Here is a link to Denver's roster, who won the championship last year. It is hardly filled with players from traditional areas.

http://www.denverpioneers.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/denv-m-lacros-mtt.html

I am with Cali

I look forward to Cali and his lax opinions as he is a former RU player and knows more about the RU teams than most of us ever could.

I am also a Cornell alum(undergrad) and we have been ranked forever with our mainstays being upstate NY and Lon g Island kids.. Our best players are now starting to be from Minnesota, Texas and Cal. If you look at Cuse its upstate NY and Canadian kids most years BUT as a top team EVERYONE wants to play there,,they get to pick from a nice collection of players yearly

The western kids are good athletes and are NOT burned out as are some of the NY and Md players IMO..The Long island and Md kids often started at age 7 and by college are a tad weary sometimes.

The RU coach has brought in some great NJ talent. The good NJ kids populate the rosters of ranked teams..they are sprinkled throughout the nation....

This looks like a great class!...on an already pretty talented team....

 

[mikefla]

and as to growth..here in Fla...when I got here in 1983 I was the ONLY guy with the helmet and gloves on my stick playing against the handball walls. Now Id have to wait in line to play there LOL

We have a lax "tourney" at the Citrus Bowl that brings in almost every good youth team in the state...100s of teams!!!playing on about a dozen fields....all around the main field at the bowl where all "finals" are played!...I can spend 3 days watching fun games with talented kids coached by people like Md AA goalie Rich Sassion and many other stars from MY era(I played with him on TEAM FLORIDA in the 1980s)......several former CUSE stars(and others) have conducted clinics in the past...no admission...no parking fees,,,,,just sunshine and fun[banana][banana][banana]

I can also stock up on equipment, posters, decals and t-shirts from every mfc in the nation..not to mention some GREAT food trucks LOL:burger::beer::pizza::cookie:

Oh..and IF you happen to like beer..well....there is a tad bit of that there too hahahahahaha
[cheers][cheers][cheers]

 

[Caliknight]

Florida is another emerging market for laxers. Kids from there are on all of the top teams. It isn't rocket science. Where there are great athletes, we are starting to see great lax players at the high school level. California, Florida, Texas are putting not just players, but really good players on D1 teams. In the Midwest, Minnesota seems to be pumping out some talent now. Areas around Detroit too.

Maryland and NY will always pump talent out, but other areas are catching up, fast.

 

[rufamily]

Guys also remember that a lot of teams in NJ have been playing for less than 20 years and the level of coaching in some spots is still a little weak. The top players are as good as anyone but it is the level of depth that is the issue. so reasonably if RU does not get the best Kids that may be better off looking at great athletes from other areas. Tolliver is from Ga. or TN and is very good and getting better. There are so many great players all over the country that you can not assume that they are not good based on where they are from. However, I would agree that the AA stuff is a bit over stated. I was at there practice recently and their transfer goalie looked awesome. I know that people ask why he is not getting more kids from BR and places like that and I can tell that he is there and trying to recruit those kids out of the top programs.

 

[e5fdny]

Guys also remember that a lot of teams in NJ have been playing for less than 20 years and the level of coaching in some spots is still a little weak. The top players are as good as anyone but it is the level of depth that is the issue. so reasonably if RU does not get the best Kids that may be better off looking at great athletes from other areas. Tolliver is from Ga. or TN and is very good and getting better. There are so many great players all over the country that you can not assume that they are not good based on where they are from. However, I would agree that the AA stuff is a bit over stated. I was at there practice recently and their transfer goalie looked awesome. I know that people ask why he is not getting more kids from BR and places like that and I can tell that he is there and trying to recruit those kids out of the top programs.

We know why about "places like that". The "places like that" have been the bane for RU Athletics for a long time. And will continue to be so.

I can't blame Brian for that because as rufamily says the man is there and trying his best.