I know this is a basketball board, but I wanted to rally the faithful and put FRUSTRATION behind us and look toward the SPRING for a RAY OF HOPE!
The lacrosse team beat #11 UMASS yesterday and earlier in the season beat then-ranked #10 Yale. After these victories, we should be ranked well into the top 20 (maybe in the 14-16 zone) in the FASTEST GROWING sport in the country!
For those that are unfamiliar with lacrosse, it is a sport that has many elements of basketball - zone/man-to-man defenses, cutting, picking, layup shots and long range shots, and constant speed and athleticism.
Wipe away your tears and turn your frowns into smiles! Come out and SUPPORT THE TEAM! *Also, SUPPORT the ON-CAMPUS STADIUM... I know bittersweet, we all want an on-campus basketball stadium, but it is happening HERE and NOW at FAIRFIELD in lacrosse!!!
We want you, the faithful fans, to come join the fun!
*We made some mistakes in the 70s in basketball, we will not make them in lacrosse!
Key Dates 4/1 - Bucknell at home 4/15 - Quinnipiac on the road 4/26 - Ohio State at home - YES, Ohio State on campus!
Unfortunately, Lax will never have the PR value or $$$ potential of basketball.
Maybe the Stag Lax programs and the new Rafferty Stadium will let those in charge realize and understand that Alumni Hall needs to be finally fixed not just for Stag Women's Basketball (3 consecutive postseasons and 4 of the last 5) and Stag Volleyball (2 consecutive NCAA appearances) but for Fairfield University itself. Marist has positioned itself at the top of the MAAC in women's basketball and is a national mid-major power and Quinnipiac wants to be there. Both schools have upgraded their on-campus facilities while Fairfield University has not, even though saying that AH is "not up to Division 1 standards" and will do more "when the funds are available". Time to make the funds available.
This was a great win considering the way in which the Stags handled a perennial Top 10 team in such a comfortable fashion. The win was never in doubt. It is yet another "program win."
I completely agree with the analogy to the basketball program in the 70s. We are playing amongst the "big boys" of the sport and winning. This is a tremendous opportunity for the University that the administration needs to aggressively support and take advantage of. Please do not repeat the mistakes of the past!
Lacrosse is definitely a niche market now, BUT, it is a very passionate and growing market. While there will be the occasional chucklehead, the players tend to come from quality backgrounds focused on education with tremendous family support. That is why the sport is such a great fit for Fairfield.
Last Edit: Mar 19, 2014 7:54:16 GMT -5 by Stagophile
Unfortunately, Lax will never have the PR value or $$$ potential of basketball.
Maybe the Stag Lax programs and the new Rafferty Stadium will let those in charge realize and understand that Alumni Hall needs to be finally fixed not just for Stag Women's Basketball (3 consecutive postseasons and 4 of the last 5) and Stag Volleyball (2 consecutive NCAA appearances) but for Fairfield University itself. Marist has positioned itself at the top of the MAAC in women's basketball and is a national mid-major power and Quinnipiac wants to be there. Both schools have upgraded their on-campus facilities while Fairfield University has not, even though saying that AH is "not up to Division 1 standards" and will do more "when the funds are available". Time to make the funds available.
QU is on the national stage already for men's and women's hockey. We are trying to get there for basketball and lacrosse. Although we field a respectable lacrosse team we have not been able to achieve the status of the Fairfield men. The two keys are quality of league and quality of home field. Our teams were better when we played in the Great Western Lacrosse League/ECAC Lacrosse League with Fairfield than they are now in the NEC/MAAC. Although our turf lacrosse field is decent it is not good enough. QU needs their own Rafferty Stadium to attract better players. Fairfield has made good decisions to position themselves to be a national power in lacrosse. Nevertheless, I am confident that we can catch up.
In my area where D1 Lacrosse players are a dime a dozen, Fairfield is gaining positive recognition. The fact that lacrosse is a big sport for families that may be able to afford Fairfield level tuition gives us traction in a market we need to appeal to.
Agree that our Lacrosse team is positioned well, and Lax is a growing sport. That is good news for now. But the key point in time will be when all the BCS schools feel they want to play Division I Lacrosse. That is when Lacrosse will make an enourmous jump in popularity, and we will probably have to reposition ourselves just to keep pace. That will be the Key point in time.
Lacrosse and Hockey are 2 very similar sports as they are not National Sports. They have a very dedicated fan base and is popular in certain regions of the country. What Lacrosse has over Hockey is that many of their supporters have a lot of Financial assets. What we ave going for us is that we are in the right Region, and our Alumni Base has a lot of Financial assets.
Agree that our Lacrosse team is positioned well, and Lax is a growing sport. That is good news for now, But key point in time will be when all the BCS schools feel they want to play Division I Lacrosse. That is when Lacrosse will make an enourmous jump in popularity, and we will probably have to reposition ourselves just to keep pace. That will be the Key point in time.
Lacrosse and Hockey and 2 very similar sports as they are not National Sports. They have a very dedicated fan base and is popular in certain regions of the country. What Lacrosse has over Hockey is that many of their supporters have a lot of Financial assets. What we ave going for us is that we are in the right Region, and our Alumni Base has a lot of Financial assets.
Agree that our Lacrosse team is positioned well, and Lax is a growing sport. That is good news for now, But key point in time will be when all the BCS schools feel they want to play Division I Lacrosse. That is when Lacrosse will make an enourmous jump in popularity, and we will probably have to reposition ourselves just to keep pace. That will be the Key point in time.
Lacrosse and Hockey are 2 very similar sports as they are not National Sports. They have a very dedicated fan base and is popular in certain regions of the country. What Lacrosse has over Hockey is that many of their supporters have a lot of Financial assets. What we ave going for us is that we are in the right Region, and our Alumni Base has a lot of Financial assets.
The BCS schools are already in....Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan...we can compete! There is value in being a lacrosse only school where "Lax Is King" and the team and players are not competing against a football team for attention, facilities and resources.
You might also be interested in noting that the two leading freshmen on the team are from the San Francisco and Seattle areas. Lacrosse is quickly becoming a national sport putting the Fairfield name in previously untapped markets! No offense to our Admissions Department, but, the lacrosse teams recruiting players from around the nation will do more to increase awareness of Fairfield than all their annual visits to college fairs combined. Just think of all the attention these recruits get from their peers and the media when they announce their college decisions and then go and compete for one of the top college lacrosse teams in the nation. Priceless!
JoeStag/Stagophile- I would agree that lacrosse has away to go when compared to basketball, BUT in many respects the unbelievable growth in the sport has brought us to a KEY point in time. And, as Stagophile has pointed out, many of the BCS schools are "in" - Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan... The ON-CAMPUS stadium could not come at a better time! Thousands are already coming to games and when the stadium is built, it will easily be a couple thousand + at games!
It will not be easy to compete, but we have several advantages: 1. Location - Fairfield is close to the lacrosse meccas - LI, Mass, Upstate NY, Maryland, CT... 2. Facilities will soon be top notch 3. Soccer, basketball, lacrosse school... lacrosse is a major focus and kids like that. 4. History and some success - Fairfield's name is out there, and it's reputation is building... We consistently are in the top 20 and have made it to the tournament.
I know it is not basketball, but it is GREAT to watch (again, very similar concepts to basketball). Come out this Spring and allow yourself to smile and think happy thoughts about Fairfield! Ha...
Post by nashvillestag on Mar 20, 2014 8:33:03 GMT -5
Although admittedly a very uneducated person concerning all the nuanceces of the sport, I have attended a couple of games in the last two years and enjoyed them tremendously. But as a casual fan and not a passionate regular patron (such as I am of hoops) I need the right conditions to be influenced to show up for any one particular contest. So now that this discussion has come up I have checked the schedule and noticed that most of the home games have already occured. Obviously with the weather being what it is, how many people really have showed up so far? Just asking, but shouldn't there be some adjustment at northern schools to play more games in late March- April? And isn't this a main obstacle for getting "thousands" of people to watch the Stags, even if they are a top 10-20 program? Again, just asking?
And, as Stagophile has pointed out, many of the BCS schools are "in" - Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan... The ON-CAMPUS stadium could not come at a better time! Thousands are already coming to games and when the stadium is built, it will easily be a couple thousand + at games!
Lacrosse is not currently in a situation where the majority of BCS teams and BCS leagues are playing Division I Lacrosse. If and when that happens that is where we have to be positioned correctly. ECAC or CAA might not be good enough. Eventually, UCONN , Boston College and other BCS leagues will be major players.
I remember when Women's Hoops was dominated by Immaculata and Queens College, and we used to beat UCONN. So if Lacrosse is to take the same popularity route as Women's Hoops, there is no doubt the Big Schools will dominate.
BTW, Lacrosse is only drawing about 500 fans, but they will do better as the weather improves and they continue to play meaningfull games.
BTW, Lacrosse is only drawing about 500 fans, but they will do better as the weather improves and they continue to play meaningfull games....
Unfortunately Stag Lax does not yet draw in thousands like Loyola (2,373 average so far with 3,912 for their home game with Duke). With just two home games remaining in the regular season, the only ECAC home game with Ohio State should be a big draw on campus and also with the local/area lax community. The program is headed in the right direction and Rafferty Stadium will be a very big part of that. Tail gaiting at Rafferty and not just the parents could become a new Stag tradition, especially if done right and encouraged.
