Writing is on the wall for Gait, this isnt gonna work.

[Bayside44]

My understanding is our program is well positioned from a NIL payment standpoint.

What most here can’t seem to accept is that lacrosse is a “rich kid” sport funded at the youth and high school levels mostly by upper middle class parents. Fairfield County, LI, DMV, main line Philly, north Jersey, greater Boston …. These are high achieving parents (fiscally) who want their kids attending schools with pipelines to Wall Street, private equity, hedge funds, etc.

Syracuse, despite NIL advantages, is not an ideal destination for these kids. As someone said, Gait helps neutralize that some. The loose playing style, NIL, facilities, traditions do too, but we’re still behind what matters most - cost of success and career placement.

I really like the next two recruiting classes. I think there’s a level-up in size and athleticism that the program needs to be a top 8 team year in and out.

Thank you, what I was trying to say but was lousy at it.

Nassau County and suburban MD lax bro dads love Duke (probably worshiped Laettner in college) and ND and the Ivys. But they all know Gary Gait too.

 

[cuselaxss26]

What about other alums? Do you have to be a coach to recruit a kid? By that i mean mostly just to talk to? Most these kids prob know the gary gait name but never saw him play or prob respect how he played n changed the game to point. Meaning they may relate to someone more they watched growing up. Like what if mikey powell or staats or someone like that went and talked to kids. I’m not sure what’s allowed or not just throwing ideas out there. Also can’t we get some of these old alums to come help this team out. Also wonder if desko or even donahue could come and see or help things at all.

 

[Cuse All-In]

Gait mentioning in the post-game presser that they spent more time on clearing at practice than usual was very telling.

What I thought was interesting in the presser was that actually Gait took no responsibility. He mentioned execution by the players was the only real problem as the coaching strategy and drills were focused on the right things. While poor execution is a valid point, to not mention the coaches bearing some responsibility is pretty bad.

 

[FloridaCuse]

What I thought was interesting in the presser was that actually Gait took no responsibility. He mentioned execution by the players was the only real problem as the coaching strategy and drills were focused on the right things. While poor execution is a valid point, to not mention the coaches bearing some responsibility is pretty bad.

Has he ever taken any responsibility when they don't play well?

 

[36'sq.]

Thank you, what I was trying to say but was lousy at it.

Nassau County and suburban MD lax bro dads love Duke (probably worshiped Laettner in college) and ND and the Ivys. But they all know Gary Gait too.

Speaking of money and Duke...I live right next to campus and walk my dogs there daily. The Duke freshman live on east campus and ride mopeds to their field/locker rooms on west campus (and I think it's a tradition that the same mopeds are handed down each year and passed on)

A few years back I see a bunch of guys ride by in full lax warmups. I catch their numbers, look them up out of curiosity. One of them had a grandfather with an interesting name: Wellington Mara.

I thought to myself, "Hmm...there is having an investment banker dad money...and there is having a grandfather who owns the New York Giants money."

 

[CNYnVa]

I've been meaning to comment about this for a couple of weeks. I don't know enough about Lax coaching to know how much blame to attach to the coaches. I do think that I overrated this team from the get-go. There are some very talented players who are better than non-top ten teams but against top-ten level teams they are just pretty good. They appear to play hard but can't close the deal. Maybe they need one first team AA that can carry them, or just more "pretty good" players.
re Gait: I dislike coaches that rant and rave at players on the sideline but I would like him to show more emotion after some of the sloppy passes and stupid penalties, and maybe sit some players.

 

[cuselaxss26]

Well think coaches should get blame for lack of in game adjustments. The second line has struggled and he hasn’t change or mixed it up at all. First line can’t score all the goals n second mid line can’t just score 1 goal a game either. Not 100% sure what is called on defense if told to sit back not play aggressive or if that’s just players being scared to make mistake or get beat. But players can be blame for the lazy turnovers on passes as that’s them. Or for panicking when clearing and throwing a pass to guy cover or throwing bad pass.

Problem is both players and coaches are to blame and lies the major problem. Seems neither will admit their wrong or not doing well and so haven’t changed their playing. If player isn’t doing what is told n causing system to break down sit him. Can be for few mins even a qtr. If won’t play discipline take them out and try someone else who might. McCarthy think has talent and can be good but he just isn’t providing much of anything. So why is he still on O? Let him play dmid n wings as he seems ok there. But telling me he is best guy for there producing nothing ?

Also what players have improved from last season to now ? hiltz def seem be showing signs of his freshman year but he’s always been solid when he wants to be. Joey still makes dumb late hits that normally are high. English still has zero left hand. Rhoas shooting hasn’t improved. Have this team just reached their peak and this is their best? Dwan seemed to be very good last year but has been a mess down stretch so far this year. Figgy def seemed to improve.

Well this teams backs are totally against the wall now. All at their own hands. They had chances to make sure in playoffs by winning a single game. Yet they came out like was just another game n other teams outplayed them. Now their road is gonna be even harder then had to be if took care of business. So see how this team really is or can do. If they don’t come out vs Nd playing like it’s their last game (cause it certainly can be) then honestly maby coaches n some players both need to go. Or maby both coaches and team just aren’t good enough to compete with these other teams.

Having a star like kirst would sure hell no doubt. But it’s a team sport. One player isn’t gonna win you the game. Takes the whole team doing their part and doing their part best they can giving it everything they have for their teammates and school. Who cares how many points you scored if lost the game. Teams that win is who people remember. Teams that play hard and fight for every second battle every play more then likely will set them up for a win. Just have to go out there and play like this is it. Win or go home.

 

[Dcuse]

Just had to bump this thread.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Just had to bump this thread.

Thrilled with how this weekend went but let see where we are 2 weeks from now before taking Victory laps

 

[23Zone]

Great defensive performance
And Mullen is a total beast at face off

 

[DoctahLexus]

Celebrating now like we did something is obviously premature.

Acting like it was already over for Gait and the team before the acc tourney even starts...is also premature.

Nothing set in stone yet, but I still have faith in Gait and this team.

 

[newmexicuse]

I thought the team had a great tournament weekend. Much improvement in the D and the clearing.

The only issue I had was that at the end of the Duke game we sat on the lead. I think we should have played more aggressively on O to try and get the cul de grace goal. Anyways, that aside - it worked out.

There is just so much parity now the playoffs will be a tossup. We can just as easily go out early or we can end up hoisting the trophy. It will be a crapshoot.

Congrats to the Team and to Coach !!!

 

[PAcuse]

Ah yes the ye olde message board rollercoaster
Hell of a weekend, let's see if we can have another one!!!

 

[Dcuse]

Thrilled with how this weekend went but let see where we are 2 weeks from now before taking Victory laps

Come on now. Give the guy some credit for keeping these guys up After a bad stretch. I’m doing a victory lap anyway today. Life is short.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Come on now. Give the guy some credit for keeping these guys up After a bad stretch. I’m doing a victory lap anyway today. Life is short.

They had a fantastic weekend zero doubt. Great to see them rebound and get two enormous wins and really improve their seeding. That said we need tourney success, not saying a title but let's win a few games and see what happens.

 

[RoofBeam]

Great weekend for the program. Not convinced that Gait is the answer here- still seems like the sum of the parts is somewhat greater than the whole. Perfect scenario: SU wins on Memorial Day, Gait moves into a University fund raising position, Wildhack hires a coach who is better able to combine creativity with structure and discipline and whose work ethic is a model for the players.

 

[Dcuse]

Great weekend for the program. Not convinced that Gait is the answer here- still seems like the sum of the parts is somewhat greater than the whole. Perfect scenario: SU wins on Memorial Day, Gait moves into a University fund raising position, Wildhack hires a coach who is better able to combine creativity with structure and discipline and whose work ethic is a model for the players.

I give up.

 

[PhatOrange]

Thrilled with how this weekend went but let see where we are 2 weeks from now before taking Victory laps

yeah no kidding. This weekend, imho, was more about effort than coaching. Gait sure did his darndest to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory today.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

yeah no kidding. This weekend, imho, was more about effort than coaching. Gait sure did his darndest to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory today.

Really? They win the ACC and he gets bashed?

Look, McCarthy ran into a double-team along the sideline. Every grade school travel team player knows not to do that. Dodge toward the sideline and back to the middle of the field. That’s entirely on McCarthy.

I get it - give to your most experienced star player, Hiltz, because he’ll know what to do. Not. He &$@‘d up and I’m sure that won’t happen again.

 

[cuselaxss26]

First the players and coaches did great job this weekend. They won two huge games and made sure not only made tounry but get home game doing so. Was it a perfect weekend or games no course not. Will always be mistakes. But was very limited mistakes (compared to other games make a ton). So think players and coaches deserve some credit.

Would hiltz been my first choice to start with ball ? depends on what i’m thinking. Do I think he can score empty net again (even where they were or move up enough to get open look) maby? English prob be first to considered but right before that he cramped up. So who knows if he was good to do so plus not like he hasn’t ran into a double team n lost ball before! Tho i def think should had ur fastest guys out there while also having rice and a lsm out also. Just case things go sideways ur not subbing off and can prevent a fast break. So there maby gait deserves little critic.

But think it started to be bad when 3mins left and not even trying to score. Why not score again put it out of reach while also wasting clock. McCarthy that’s def on him. One of first things teach to no clear by sideline also box sideline. He also stopped his feet. Should just ran full speed and truck anyone in front or think least could got shoved from back , giving us ball back anyway( tho way refs been towards us who knows). How bout joey taking shots out above box cause shot clock low instead throwing it to far corner. There’s few things could been better.

Overall they played with way more grit aggression and hustle. Which made world of diff in each game to go with their skill and talent. They won two top 10 games back to back. They all deserve a lot of credit cause they could have folded after unc but choose to step up.

 

[Dcuse]

Really? They win the ACC and he gets bashed?

Look, McCarthy ran into a double-team along the sideline. Every grade school travel team player knows not to do that. Dodge toward the sideline and back to the middle of the field. That’s entirely on McCarthy.

I get it - give to your most experienced star player, Hiltz, because he’ll know what to do. Not. He &$@‘d up and I’m sure that won’t happen again.

This board is something else, isn't it? We could win a basketball NC next year and you'll get the same kind of post against Autry.

 

[PhatOrange]

This board is something else, isn't it? We could win a basketball NC next year and you'll get the same kind of post against Autry.

Autry should just start with getting into the tournament.

 

[PhatOrange]

Really? They win the ACC and he gets bashed?

Look, McCarthy ran into a double-team along the sideline. Every grade school travel team player knows not to do that. Dodge toward the sideline and back to the middle of the field. That’s entirely on McCarthy.

I get it - give to your most experienced star player, Hiltz, because he’ll know what to do. Not. He &$@‘d up and I’m sure that won’t happen again.

I don't rail on Gait but I thought his use of the timeouts were questionable yesterday. He's an ok coach, it's not like he's done anything special.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Really? They win the ACC and he gets bashed?

Look, McCarthy ran into a double-team along the sideline. Every grade school travel team player knows not to do that. Dodge toward the sideline and back to the middle of the field. That’s entirely on McCarthy.

I get it - give to your most experienced star player, Hiltz, because he’ll know what to do. Not. He &$@‘d up and I’m sure that won’t happen again.

Team played excellent this weekend, everyone deserves credit including the staff, much better performance against Duke and another win against a ND team who has had our # a half decade +.

That said there was still some questionable decisions by the staff late in both games though certainly more for Duke. Certainly McCarthy clearing up the sideline right into a double trap is on him but the staff also has to let him know hey the double is coming, stay away from the sideline as much as possible. They actually had a great play on where Hiltz came over and was wide open for the pass. That's not on the staff per se but it has happened to many times the last few years to be noted as a one off either.

The more egregious one was the final possession for SU. First we took the second timeout when Hiltz wasn't in trouble, why burn it there when he's essentially running free? We also called it when he was below GLE so on the re-start he could't shoot at the next, that's 100% on the staff. I love Hiltz but there's no universe where he should be the guy on the re-start, he's not the most fleet of foot and you could see that turnover coming a mile away. The re-start has to be either with English or Anderson, maybe Hottle if you hoping his size can squeeze through the double and just run around with that speed. It's those little things that are frustrating because we nearly went to OT ona a game we had zero business losing. Still the team/staff got the job done, hopefully it continues.

 

[jr4750]

Team played excellent this weekend, everyone deserves credit including the staff, much better performance against Duke and another win against a ND team who has had our # a half decade +.

That said there was still some questionable decisions by the staff late in both games though certainly more for Duke. Certainly McCarthy clearing up the sideline right into a double trap is on him but the staff also has to let him know hey the double is coming, stay away from the sideline as much as possible. They actually had a great play on where Hiltz came over and was wide open for the pass. That's not on the staff per se but it has happened to many times the last few years to be noted as a one off either.

The more egregious one was the final possession for SU. First we took the second timeout when Hiltz wasn't in trouble, why burn it there when he's essentially running free? We also called it when he was below GLE so on the re-start he could't shoot at the next, that's 100% on the staff. I love Hiltz but there's no universe where he should be the guy on the re-start, he's not the most fleet of foot and you could see that turnover coming a mile away. The re-start has to be either with English or Anderson, maybe Hottle if you hoping his size can squeeze through the double and just run around with that speed. It's those little things that are frustrating because we nearly went to OT ona a game we had zero business losing. Still the team/staff got the job done, hopefully it continues.

Spot on. Hard to see what the staff was thinking on those last few calls. In fact it’s almost like they were thinking too much. Just make the easy decision.