No matter what team one might have had passion about, or even compassion for, this weekend in the men’s NCAA Division I semifinals in Philadelphia, it was hard to ignore the simple fact that all four teams, Denver, Maryland, Hopkins, and Notre Dame, all showed exactly why they were one of those FINAL four. And the sheer quality of the games played during the day in turn reflected exactly that. All in all it is easy to call it a good day for the sport.
I’d Rather Be In Philadelphia (W.C. Fields)
It appeared that the weather was pretty much picture post card perfect in Philadelphia on Saturday. The big stadium was pretty full under sunny blue skies, and it was a fantastic crowd, or so it seemed on television. The only thing I would say about that fan thing on this big stage is that there needs to be more Jo Jo War Drummers and other ‘cheerleaders’ to work partial fans into some kind of total frenzy out there in lacrosse in general.
Maybe the Phillie Phanatic could have been helpful. Sometimes watching random lacrosse it is hard to tell who the home team is. Other sports have demonstrated in recent years that it isn’t the place a team plays that matters as much as how much of the university + family cares about the old alma mater to go and support wherever that is. Everything can’t be the Rose Bowl, but I suppose that is in fact the idea.
Not So Fast, My Friend (Lee Corso)
In the first game, Denver beat Notre Dame in an overtime battle to the death, 11-10. In the late afternoon, sun in your face game, Maryland prevailed against Johns Hopkins, in spite of a whole lot of Blue Jay emotion, 12-11. The Jays almost pulled one out of the fire. Anyone who knows or played for me knows these are pretty much my two favorite final game scores, 12-11, 11-10, and yes these games were entertaining and even thrilling.
Circle Those Wagons!
Both winning teams had late leads that appeared comfortable, even insurmountable. Notre Dame trailed by four, 10-6 with but 4 + minutes to go, and they played desperate throughout the fourth just to get there. The Irish were lifted to a tie carried on the back of one heroic 5-goal performance in the fourth quarter. It was indeed a team effort, but all 5 of those goals to tie came out of one sophomore midfielder stick, or should I say cannon? They tied it up, but the Pios scored a clean winner in overtime, winning the face to give themselves the chance two minutes in. The momentum that Notre Dame gained was not enough to overcome the fact that they had been getting beat all day. Almost close, though, no doubt.
Terpentine
In the late game, Maryland seemed in cruise control, but Hopkins mounted a furious run, fueled by emotion and mad skill. They trail by 4 or five as well before tying it up, but the Terps had enough Turtle Power to get that one more they needed. This game ended before overtime was necessary, but not by much.
Both times/games today, the momentum of the catching up took its toll on the chasing team, because in both games the eventual winner was still that team that had been ahead all game but got caught and might have seemed to be losing it near the end. Both sucked it up somehow.
Princes Of The Tide
Hard to not acknowledge the ‘valor’ with which all four teams played. It was a thing of beauty. Games truly do each have a life of their own. These two today would be that squared. There was no quit to be found out there today at any time or with any team.
My coaching hat is pretty old and well-used, perhaps even tattered, but I still put it on fairly regularly, even if it doesn’t really cover much anymore. Today was a day that made it very easy to toss that hat well to the side while I enjoyed NCAA men’s lacrosse at its very best and very highest level. It was easy to just watch the players play, the coaches coach, and the game unfold. Lots of adjectives can work when one breaks the day down. There were a few difficult striped shirt moments, and some rules need some tweaking, but why ruin a perfectly good day since it is almost 2:00 on into the next one anyways. Sometimes you just have to sit back and smile at a good 24 hours.
Shake! Come On Now, SHAKE!
THE game (lacrosse) is being played with incredible skill, and speed too nowadays, although the pure break down fast break is an endangered species while its potential might be at an all-time high. Today was so cool, though, that it even had one of those (old school fast breaks), tic, tac, owe! ONE ON NONE!
You can see the way these kids try so hard to be physical without fouling in this new atmosphere of fear more of injury than thought about the KIDS who play and how to play ready.. If you take all the physical out of lacrosse, it becomes some other game. It is not supposed to be basketball, but hoops is a great way to learn the game of lax. It’s not supposed to be football, but prepare to cream or be creamed. Soccer, too, is a great defensive teacher. A couple of the hits in today’s lacrosse games were just beautiful, but flagged, and then the boy is in box. Hurts the team, but also what is the message?
There has to be contact inside for this game to work, or it is a joke. We should all move to B.C. to actually play the game right.
Just Shoot Me (Jane Fonda)
The shot clock is good, but I think it has a few have issues, but not here, not now. While on the subject, though, the TWO-POINT LINE is a very cool, most dramatic thing that can have amazing impact on a moment or a game, and from any place on the scoreboard. I’m not saying, I’m just saying…
Steal Your Face Off (Grateful Dead)
Face offs once again today proved that they are more or less the king of everything including unpredictability at, and within, certain moments. Kid wins them all, all day, but then on that last crucial one, you can never really know sometimes. So much adrenaline mixed with testosterone that who knows? Happens all the time.
Be Velcro, Not Teflon
Just the same as “my coaching hat may be tattered but I still can’t take it all the way off”, I’m curious about the Lost Trophy still. Hey, do you think that Paul has the NCAA trophy (1989?) buried somewhere? I do. After all the “walrus was Paul”! Rock solid reasoning!
