Remember when SU Lax used to be a metric for excellence? | Syracusefan.com

Remember when SU Lax used to be a metric for excellence?

RoofBeam

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Possible age-dependent answers:
1). It is getting harder and harder.
2). Probably before I had a wife and children- every memory previous to that is a struggle (or an embarrassment).
3). Wasn't there a lot less tipping of the hat then?
4). Was that when Section 3 lax was producing outstanding D1 players?
5). Neither do I.
6). You're kidding- SU lax used to be good?
 
Remember this...

IL2005.jpeg
 
Section 3 used to product Top 10 talent on a regular basis.

Now we're lucky if Sec 3 has a Top 50 or Top 100 kid every year.

Lately Sec 5 and 6 have been stronger.

The days of being able to rely on CNY and LI kids exclusively are long gone.
 
Section 3 used to product Top 10 talent on a regular basis.

Now we're lucky if Sec 3 has a Top 50 or Top 100 kid every year.

Lately Sec 5 and 6 have been stronger.

The days of being able to rely on CNY and LI kids exclusively are long gone.
There's still a lot of talent Upstate. But it's a sport driven by clubs, private schools, and reclassification, all of which are tied together, and doesnt necessarily suit kids in Upstate staying home, for high school or college.

I dont know enough about the X's and O's of lacrosse to know Desko's strengths and weaknesses. I think it is abundantly clear though that Syracuse just isnt going to be able to recruit on name alone anymore, and that we will need someone highly charismatic to draw top talent (we have to overcome the combination of high tuition with lower perceived academic standing).
 
There's still a lot of talent Upstate. But it's a sport driven by clubs, private schools, and reclassification, all of which are tied together, and doesnt necessarily suit kids in Upstate staying home, for high school or college.

I dont know enough about the X's and O's of lacrosse to know Desko's strengths and weaknesses. I think it is abundantly clear though that Syracuse just isnt going to be able to recruit on name alone anymore, and that we will need someone highly charismatic to draw top talent (we have to overcome the combination of high tuition with lower perceived academic standing).

It’s simple really. Adapt, or die.
 
You know what i hate about SU Lacrosse, and i guess the modern game in general, is all the endless subbing of specialized players. It seems like it takes us forever to get our offensive going. It's a pipe dream, but i loved how Robert Morris had middies that could play both ways. It gave us fits. I wish we could just push and attack more.

I played back in the late 80's and we too had a defensive midfield line back even then, but we would never would hold up the offense to sub every defensive possession.

I guess i'm saying the current SU team is boring and predictable. Maybe that's on the coaching staff. I wish we would try something new. Maybe there is nothing new to try in the sport.
 
Is this what the UCLA hoops forums woulda been like in the post-Wooden era?

(If Al Gore had invented the internet by then).

Nobody stays on top forever.
 
You know what i hate about SU Lacrosse, and i guess the modern game in general, is all the endless subbing of specialized players. It seems like it takes us forever to get our offensive going. It's a pipe dream, but i loved how Robert Morris had middies that could play both ways. It gave us fits. I wish we could just push and attack more.

I played back in the late 80's and we too had a defensive midfield line back even then, but we would never would hold up the offense to sub every defensive possession.

I guess i'm saying the current SU team is boring and predictable. Maybe that's on the coaching staff. I wish we would try something new. Maybe there is nothing new to try in the sport.
I agree with your assessment. The "rule changes" combined with the "coaching interpretations" has slowed the game down considerably and as a consequence (at least for me) made the game boring. I'm pretty sure the rules committee actually thought the new rules were intended to speed up the game.

I also played in the in the 80's where we were always thinking offense using wing middies on the faceoff that played both ways. Yes, we did sub LSMs, but that was on the fly. The key for us was never let the opposing defense get settled in.
 
You know what i hate about SU Lacrosse, and i guess the modern game in general, is all the endless subbing of specialized players. It seems like it takes us forever to get our offensive going. It's a pipe dream, but i loved how Robert Morris had middies that could play both ways. It gave us fits. I wish we could just push and attack more.

I played back in the late 80's and we too had a defensive midfield line back even then, but we would never would hold up the offense to sub every defensive possession.

I guess i'm saying the current SU team is boring and predictable. Maybe that's on the coaching staff. I wish we would try something new. Maybe there is nothing new to try in the sport.

The shot clock might actually help in this regard to move back towards a 2 way middie. You're burning shot clock time getting subs in and out.
 
Agree about shot clock affecting but also importance of two way mids agaisnt teams that push transition. Has been shift to interchangeability of attackman and mids but think it is beginning to sink in that it can lead to defensive vulnerabllities if three left up top are not defensively geared as too may times switches to specialists cant be made when possessions change agaisnt goalies who are quick to release upfield. Think trends will begin to place a premium on two ways . Trimboli was capable of being one and obviously Dearth . Would speed up game and get as many talents or more involved
 
Typical SU, hope to run out the clock until enough people get focused on something else. Its there MO about most things they don't want to address head on. I am a Wildhack fan, but to many times hes MIA when a statement or action is needed.
Maybe wildhack is the problem? SU had top field hockey, x-country, men's soccer. What has he done besides updating the dome? The football and lacrosse teams are no longer relevant. Basketball not much better.
 

Welp.

Well, he’s right, if this were football or basketball, Desko would be gone. Wildhack just doesn’t want to have to think or hear that much about lacrosse, and by having a legend of the game leading the team, that’s enough for him. It’s going to have to be the alumni and big money donors that push for change.

It does feel like they have to make some sort of declaration, even just to confirm he’s coming back. The fact that it feels like they have to do this to me means a change needs to happen.
 
Well, he’s right, if this were football or basketball, Desko would be gone. Wildhack just doesn’t want to have to think or hear that much about lacrosse, and by having a legend of the game leading the team, that’s enough for him. It’s going to have to be the alumni and big money donors that push for change.

It does feel like they have to make some sort of declaration, even just to confirm he’s coming back. The fact that it feels like they have to do this to me means a change needs to happen.
Disagree, most of your big money donors are not involved in lacrosse making decisions and most of your ex SU lax players fully support Desko.
 
Disagree, most of your big money donors are not involved in lacrosse making decisions and most of your ex SU lax players fully support Desko.

You are probably correct about the donors, but not sure you are right about the former players. I have already seen two players be outspoken about wanting a change (Jovan Miller and Tim Barber). Granted they aren't the biggest names in SU lacrosse world, but I have to imagine the bigger names wouldn't be public about their wishes. I have not seen any former players voice support for Desko either.
 
You are probably correct about the donors, but not sure you are right about the former players. I have already seen two players be outspoken about wanting a change (Jovan Miller and Tim Barber). Granted they aren't the biggest names in SU lacrosse world, but I have to imagine the bigger names wouldn't be public about their wishes. I have not seen any former players voice support for Desko either.

How many Final Fours did Barber play in?

At least Jovan has 2 rings.
 
Agree about shot clock affecting but also importance of two way mids agaisnt teams that push transition. Has been shift to interchangeability of attackman and mids but think it is beginning to sink in that it can lead to defensive vulnerabllities if three left up top are not defensively geared as too may times switches to specialists cant be made when possessions change agaisnt goalies who are quick to release upfield. Think trends will begin to place a premium on two ways . Trimboli was capable of being one and obviously Dearth . Would speed up game and get as many talents or more involved
a discussion well worth having. UNC at the beginning of the year against lesser opponents did not bother to sub in for most of the games. They just flew from one end to the other. What a pleasure to watch. Better opponents slowed them down, I think, because just one poor defender among the oms can result in quick goals. I've watched teams use almost a minute of time to clear and sub in. What a waste!
 
Well, he’s right, if this were football or basketball, Desko would be gone. Wildhack just doesn’t want to have to think or hear that much about lacrosse, and by having a legend of the game leading the team, that’s enough for him. It’s going to have to be the alumni and big money donors that push for change.

It does feel like they have to make some sort of declaration, even just to confirm he’s coming back. The fact that it feels like they have to do this to me means a change needs to happen.
boeheim is still your coach? how does that square with "if it were basketball" the way you see it? i'm sure you have your reasoning, but to me what syracuse lax has gone thru doesn't reach and maybe pales.

some corners have pined for change in the coaching staff. check.

upgrade in recruiting. check.

want better results in the tourney. not there. everybody knows what happened from march '20 and you could say it's more than unique.

is off the field endemic? and the present situation still unresolved is still opaque.

even though it's "only" a 2.5? 3? million dollar budget, i have to believe someone (several) is funding some piece of that or buyouts/new coach hires. that's any influence. not tweets from some semi-recent grads. if it's a much larger and vocal crew, then there's something so who knows?

i'll say again, desko just took the wrap on the scanlan process. right now, to me that's the only tea leaf other than march moving in on the other side of the equation.
 

Welp.

Have now listened to the whole spot - its about half an hour, though he repeats most of his points over and over again, so like 8 minutes of actual original content. But it is interesting to hear the whole thing. While Axe doesn't get the sense from "Decision Makers" that a change will come, he also hasn't gotten much push back from anyone else he's talked to on his "Desko needs to go" position. I think he said 80% of the people he's heard from agree with him.

He also pushes for Rogers to be replaced, which I don't think is a controversial position, but wants to replace him with Beardsley, which, I think is one (and would have a very low chance of happening). Anyway, just sort of striking to hear him say it's doubtful that any major change will happen in regards to head coaching position, but that no one is fervently defending Desko either.
 
While I like Rick Beardsley, anyone who thinks he will solve SU Lax issues, I think is mistaken. He's a chaotic guy, and chaos is the last thing, IMO, the program needs. Metaphorically speaking (only), hiring RB as a coach, was/is like electing Trump as POTUS. Some good things may happen initially but the chaos will eventually overtake. I'm not sure any coach needs to be let go but the lack of emphasis on defensive recruiting is beyond obvious.
 
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Have now listened to the whole spot - its about half an hour, though he repeats most of his points over and over again, so like 8 minutes of actual original content. But it is interesting to hear the whole thing. While Axe doesn't get the sense from "Decision Makers" that a change will come, he also hasn't gotten much push back from anyone else he's talked to on his "Desko needs to go" position. I think he said 80% of the people he's heard from agree with him.

He also pushes for Rogers to be replaced, which I don't think is a controversial position, but wants to replace him with Beardsley, which, I think is one (and would have a very low chance of happening). Anyway, just sort of striking to hear him say it's doubtful that any major change will happen in regards to head coaching position, but that no one is fervently defending Desko either.

I mean, this is why its hard to take guys like Brent Axe seriously. Ric?! Really?! Ric Beardsley?!

The guy who was just fired for telling one of his high school players to kill themselves? The guy who lasted one year in the PLL and had confrontations with the most likable guy ever in Ben Rubeor? The guy who changes jobs every year and a half? He's won ONE public school class D state championship in NYS and he can recruit! (I know he technically cant, but it happens, don't try to tell me it doesn't).

Outside of all that, what makes Ric a good candidate? The fact he was a great player in 1994? What great defensemen (honestly, any players) has he produced at CBA that have gone on to have great college careers.

These are the facts:
- He has ZERO college coaching experience
- He's NEVER recruited at the collegiate level
- He's proven to be a wild card and is clearly confrontational

If we think the defense is bad now, wait till guys are getting run by while throwing kayak checks or we are getting fast broke as they taunt the crowd on his jog back in the hole after turning the ball over.

Ok, rant over. But, Brent even bringing Rics name up ruins any credibility that radio show might have.
 

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