Rider starting a D1 women's lax program in 2023-24, so I'm wondering if they will also start a men's D1 lax program. If they do, they'd be the 5th D1 men's lax program in the state of NJ (Rutgers, Princeton, NJIT, Monmouth, and Rider).
Rider Starts D1 Womens Lax, Is D1 Mens Lax Next?
- Thread starter bigmatt718
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They don't have the funds to go D1. Maybe D3. You can go D1 women's because you can keep the travel and coach's salaries under control.
No way Rider starts a mens program at D1. Title 9 will prohibit that from happening. It's a shame as so many great schools would add mens lacrosse if it were possible. It would take a ton of money from alumni to support such a move.
And it ended the D1 programs at UConn, Boston College and New Hampshire. UNH actually made an 8 team tournament back in the late 70s. Of course Vermont dropped their football program right around the time their lax program began playing a D1 schedule. Providence came around 5-6 years later.
There used to be a t-shirt going around that said…
“Vermont Football…undefeated since _____” (whatever year they canceled the program)
Sacred Heart has a competitive ice skating team. Varsity, not club.
BC is one to keep an eye on for mens program. Florida St is another.
UCLA seems like one that could make a move. They don’t offer women’s varsity lax so they could add both to clear the t9 hurdle. I imagine that would push usc to follow but they would have a harder time finding another women’s sport to add for t9 compliance.
Joining the B1G makes it feasible because they will have instant access to a top AQ conference. Travel will be an issue which is why it would probably have to be both USC and UCLA so they each have a travel partner.
I haven't heard anything about UCLA. I've heard a lot about BC. LIke not if, but when.
Total speculation about UCLA on my part. As a member of the Pac12 adding lax didn’t make much sense unless enough other members started up programs to form an AQ league. Now if they wanted to they could start Men’s and woman’s lax with no t9 issues and both would have an immediate home. No clue if it something even remotely on their radar.
