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Fireside Chat Sean Delaney, North Carolina

Just in time for the season to start we sit down for another Fireside Chat. In this edition we took some time to talk with Sean Delaney, a junior midfielder at UNC . Sean originally hails from Moorestown, N.J, and his Tar Heels are looking to make big strides in 2010!

LaxAllStars: Who are some of the UNC players we should watch out for this year?
Sean Delaney:
We have a lot of players that I feel will have a huge impact on our team this year.  A few would be Milton Lyle at long stick middie. He’s a freak athlete, the plays he can make because of his athleticism are insane.  Also Marcus Holman, only a freshmen but has shown a lot of maturity and knowledge of the game.  Jimmy Dunster, if you don’t know who he is, you will!

Delaney (#23) on the move

Describe your team’s pregame – what do you do to get ready for a big game?
Sean Delaney:Our team’s pregame is pretty standard.  Arrive to the locker room two hours before game time.  Walk into the locker room where all the game day gear is out and a Billy Benz Bitter mix is bumping through the locker room speakers.  Then get any treatment you need such as ankle taping or things like that.  Then we break off and the offense meets with Coach Myers and he goes over every scenario you can think of and also throws in a nice motivational talk.  Then we head out about 50 minutes before game time for our warmup and shooting drills then the whistle blows and it’s time to go to work!  For me getting ready for the game I like to eat a lot at our pregame breakfast since I don’t eat again until after the game, I also drink a ton of water on game day.  Usually just try and relax, throw on the Ipod and tape up my stick the exact same way for every game.  Then just try to get the energy going in the locker room.

What team are you guys looking forward to playing the most this year? Why?
Sean Delaney:Duke, have not beat them since I’ve been to Carolina… that needs to change.

Where is your least favorite place to play a road game? Favorite?
Sean Delaney: Providence, heading up there my sophomore year during our spring break to play on their astro turf in the freezing cold is not what I had in mind for spring break.  Favorite place is definitely Navy Marine Corp Stadium.  The energy in there is great and you have to love the fans right behind you shouting all game.

When your team travels for road games, what is the transportation like?  Lodging?
Sean Delaney:Lots of movies, the freshmen are responsible for that.  Also card games are a must (Gavin enjoys a few card games every now and then).  Last year I roomed with ben hunt, that’s always an experience.  He is one of a kind that Hunttttt.

“The Truck Stick” aka Bull Dodge

How do you feel your conference levels up to the other NCAA conferences?
Sean Delaney:I think the ACC’s record speaks for itself.  Very competitive with 4 teams that are in the top ten routinely.

If you had to predict the mens’ NCAA title winners right now, who would they be?
Sean Delaney: The University of North Carolina!

Anything about the new stick rules: Have your guys adjusted to the new heads? How do you think they will affect UNC’s game/the general play of lacrosse?
Sean Delaney: I really have not noticed a difference and that seems to be an overall theme on the team.

What are the team goals for 2010?
Sean Delaney: ACC and National Championship.  That’s what we’re going after.

UNC_Delaney_SHOT

What did the team do differently this fall/winter to achieve those goals?
Sean Delaney:I have never been on a team that has been working as hard as we have.  The whole team is focused on that goal.  We are a family that comes to work everyday and sells out at everything we do, because in order to be great you have to sacrifice and we are willing to do that.

Is there a game or road trip you are most excited about this spring?
Sean Delaney:Big City Classic at Giants Stadium, playing in my home state is awesome.  I’m expecting my best friends to be there again this year with another classic sign.

How did you hear about UNC?  What interested you most about the school?
Sean Delaney:It’s been my dream since I started playing to be a tar heel.  The academics and tradition at this school are second to none.  We have the nickname, University of National Champions for a reason.  It’s also nice being able to Major in Management and minor in blondes.

Psycho-SD fans

What are your favorite songs right now?
Sean Delaney:Lil Wayne –Dipset 2

Travis Barker remix of Forever by Drake, Kanye, Lil Wayne, and Eminem.

What kind of stick are you using?  What is the string job like? Tape? Shaft?
Sean Delaney:Right now using the STX super power on the Katana shaft.  Gavin Petracca does all my stringing, once you get a Gavin wand you don’t go back.  At the top of the shaft do a little criss cross tape.  Then at the bottom about a foot up I just do a solid thing of tape.

Who are your heroes in lacrosse?  Who inspired you to want to play in college?
Sean Delaney: Had a bunch of guys I looked up to growing up.  The Powell‘s, the Gaits, A.J. Haugen, John Grant Jr., Josh Coffman, Jeff Sonke, Jesse Hubbard.  I used to love watching all those guys then go out in the backyard with my friends and try to do what they did.

Favorite Pro laxer? Why?
Sean Delaney: Casey Powell.  He was my idol growing up, played every game like it was his last and wasn’t afraid to ignite the crowd with some dramatics.

Fan of indoor/box lacrosse? preference between field and box?
Sean Delaney: Huge fan of box lacrosse, used to always go to the Philadelphia Wings games growing up.  I prefer field, I like athletes being able to show off their athleticism.

Final thoughts?
Sean Delaney: Just want to thank LacrosseAllStars.com and Connor Wilson for hooking me up with the custom dyed wand.  Be on the lookout for the tar heels in 2010, word on the street is the team’s coming down with a serious case of twine flu.

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This has been another Lax All Stars Fireside Chat. Stay tuned to the LAS Network for more interviews, and see our full list here.