Fill the Hill - Keep the Hofstra game at Garber Field

Among the most underrated sports experiences in Western Massachusetts is a UMass lacrosse game on a sunny weekend afternoon at Garber Field.

I had never seen the game until I got to college and was stunned to find out what an entertaining game it was. Every year a new class of freshman would see their first game from the hill and it became part of their spring routine.

Garber Field is a unique venue in the sports at the hill makes the stadium feel more like an arena. The guy in the Gorilla suit walks through the crowd and the spirit of Dick Garber fills the place. The fans are close to the field and with a good crowd, the atmosphere is terrific. It's a true home-field advantage. That's why Syracuse demanded its final game at UMass be played at McGuirk Stadium or the Orange wouldn't play the game. If one of the best programs in the country is afraid to play in your venue, you've got something special there.

The home games against national power Syracuse were always the biggest draws and ECAC showdowns with Georgetown weren't far behind. They were both "leave-the-day-open-on-your-calendar events," the athletic highlight of UMass' spring calendars.

But conference realignment and the creation of the Big East lacrosse league ended both of those rivalries. The best annual game on UMass' schedule is Hofstra and it's a good one. The two teams are usually both good and the games are almost always competitive and came with something on the line.

The next wave of UMass students fans could have been remembering  the Hofstra games like alumni do the Syracuse games.

But in 2012, the Hofstra "home" game will be at Gillette Stadium. I think it's a bad idea.

UMass' final three games, contests that often decide postseason chances, will be away from home. There isn't a single game with name recognition for the casual fan at Garber Field and the home games they do have are all April 7 or earlier when the weather is far more likely to be cold.

A lot of long time UMass fans, who represent a significant percentage of lacrosse supports, already feel a little neglected because football is being moved to Foxborough. While I sypathize with them, I think the football move makes sense. Playing FBS level football in Amherst is not remotely realistic on a regular basis.

But playing high-level lacrosse in Amherst sure is. The Cuse game and the Georgetown games are gone. If they want to schedule a game in Gillette, it should be a non-conference team that wouldn't come to Garber. It shouldn't come at the expense of the best home game on the Minutemen's schedule.

UMass plays a home game against Hofstra once every two year. It should be in Amherst.

UMass apparently caught a big break last weekend

From Lacrosse News:

USILA Statement Re: 4/09 Towson-UMass Game

TOWSON, Md. – The
following statement has been issued by United States Intercollegiate
Lacrosse Association President Richard Wanninger regarding the April 9
Colonial Athletic Association game between Towson University and the
University of Massachusetts:

"The United States Intercollegiate
Lacrosse Association (USILA) acknowledges that an officiating error was
made at the conclusion of the men's lacrosse game between the University
of Massachusetts and Towson University on April 9. The error involved a
delay of game call. The officials have acknowledged the mistake, and
have been admonished. The USILA will make no additional comments on this
matter."

Now 2-8 overall and 0-3 in the CAA, the Tigers will
travel to Penn State University on Saturday night for a 7:00 p.m. CAA
game against the Nittany Lions. The game will be broadcast on WTMD-FM
89.7.

- -

As reported in the Baltimore Sun,
"Towson received a letter of apology from the head of officials, who
determined that an official did not give Tigers senior attackman Tim
Stratton a full 10-second count to bring the ball into the box before
whistling the play dead and giving possession to Massachusetts with nine
seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Minutemen tied the score with
less than one second remaining and got the game-winner in overtime to
prevail, 9-8, last Saturday."

You can read the original game stories from the two schools at this link.

Podcast

Check out UMass hoop and lacrosse talk on this week's podcast.

UMass lacrosse game at Ohio State is called off

From UMass' athletic web site:

AMHERST, Mass. -
The UMass at Ohio State men's lacrosse game scheduled for Saturday,
Feb. 27 at 12 noon will not be played. The Minutemen were unable to
travel to Columbus due to the weather conditions in the East. It is
unlikely the game will re-scheduled. UMass' next game will be on March
5 at Yale at 7 p.m.

Balschmiter a Team USA alternate, Notes

Brandice Balschmiter was named an alternate for the national softball team that plays this summer in Venezuela, an impressive accomplishment considering the pitchers that did make the team.

*  Doc Schneider became a UMass assistant lacrosse coach which is great for his career and great for the team, but bad for him if he doesn't want to tell me the origination of his "Doc" moniker. I still have a recording of him telling me in an interview that he'd reveal it after the season.

* I think Saint Louis is going to play a role in the Atlantic 10 race. They got Cody Ellis eligible finally and if he's as good as they think he could be, they might not win the league but could affect who does.

This and that

UMass is recruiting NYC forward Angel Nunez, but the Minutemen have tough competition.

All-Star free-lancer Josh Katzowitz has a good story about Atlantic 10 facility improvements.

A couple of future Minutemen played in the annual Chowder Bowl.

Gary Forbes is now playing for the D-League Select team in the Vegas Summer League too.

One of the best boys lacrosse players in Maine is headed to UMass.

...five days til Harper's Island, Six Days til Entourage...

A crippling scent

On his bio on the Boston Cannons web site, former UMass lacrosse player Sean Morris listed former teammate Jake Deane as the opponent he least likes to play against.

Why?

“His body odor is crippling.”

I went to Deane's bio to see if it included anything retaliatory. It did not, but it did included the following nugget:

"Interestingly enough, Deane has actually run with the Bulls in Pamplona and ended up being gored. Fortunately, he survived and is able to continue to spread his enthusiasm for lacrosse."

Apparently his scent wasn't enough to cripple the bulls.

...nine days til Boston vs. Chicago...

Extra Doc

I had a lot more Doc Schneider stuff than I had room for in my feature on him.

On his nickname and why he hasn't told anyone the origin of it.

"It's
nothing special. It's nothing that's going to change anyone's life.
I'll probably share it. I just didn't want to hear about it for four years."

On finding balance with his on-field demeanor.

As
a freshman and sophomore, I was so emotional yelling and screaming
all over the place. I’m starting to realize that being composed,
portrays more confidence than yelling and screaming does.

On getting to know Sal LoCascio.

He's
a great guy. To be able to talk to the guy who is pretty much the
best ever. To have him come from the same school is a great
connection to have.

 Doc likes to fish. He, his dad and his brother go off Long Island. I wanted to get this into the story, but it didn't really fit.

We
live on the water. So me , my dad and my brother, when we're not at
lacrosse tournaments, that's the time we get to spend together.

Striped
bass, blue fish. We like to go striper fishing. My brother is like
me too. Same intensity, same work ethic. He's 17. he's going to
Hopkins. He's real good.

It's
our time to relax and be on the water. We unwind together. When I get
stressed out here I think about being on the boat. It eases my mind.

I
can fish the rest of my life. I've only got a couple more weeks to
play this. Fishing can wait.

The boat's name is Lax'n. I was amused by that.

On what playing at UMass means.

You
always want to relish the underdog role. Every year earning respect.
The one thing I've learned is that you get out of it what you put
into it. If you work your tail off and do what you're supposed to do,
lead by example and work hard the right way, you'll find success
here.

Anyone
that doesn't find success here is shortchanging themselves.

On how he wants to be remembered.

As
a great leader who would do anything for his teammates that worked
hard to be the best player for his team. I just want to be remembered
as a hard working guy, who loved his team and tried to lead them to
the best of his ability.

GOALIE COACH JAKE COON ON SCHNEIDER

He's
always been a humble kid

 Knowing
if you do make a mistake defensively he's there to back you up is a
confidence booster to our guys. Our team feeds off it. It gives our
D unit a lot of confidence.

Being
a goalie you get the total perspective of the entire game. I think
that's helped me a ton in coaching.. Being a level headed kid, a
smart kid, a witty kid, with a good sense of the game, I could
definitely see him coaching.

...one day til UMass-Rutgers...

Jimmy Connolly and Ryan Marcus reinstated

Two of the eight players who were suspended and eventually dismissed from the University of Massachusetts men’s lacrosse team last February have been reinstated to the Minuteman roster for the 2009 season.
Jimmy Connolly, the leading scorer for UMass in 2007, and Ryan Marcus, a former South Hadley high school standout, are expected to be added to the UMass roster when practice begins at the start of spring semester. Marcus is enrolled in winter classes, while Connolly is expected to re-enroll at the university for the spring semester.
Coach Greg Cannella confirmed the return of both players and said they lost a year of athletic eligibility. Connolly will be a senior and Marcus will be a sophomore this season.