I am looking forward to the 2010 season.  I am especially hopeful that this will be the year that some upstart schools begin to get some real recognition in the lax world.  I realize that dynasties have a certain appeal to them and that the traditions at some of the more prominent lax schools are important.  However I for one am just tired of Syracuse, Maryland and Hopkins.

It's not because they are not great lax schools, because they certainly are.  But if lacrosse is going to truly break out of the "niche" sport that it currently is, then we need some new schools to come into prominence.  For all the talk about the growth of the game in the past few years, the fact is there has been very little growth at the collegiate levels - especially within the division 1 area.

I have been playing lax much longer than I care to admit.   When I started playing lacrosse, the only people that knew what lacrosse was, were from Maryland or New York. The interesting thing about my lax pedigree is that I don't really have one.

I grew up in Florida and I did not start playing lacrosse till my freshman year at the University of Florida.   I remember studying some pathetic freshman required course and looking out the back of my dorm room in the Hume Hall Residence.   On the field behind Hume some guys were hitting each other with sticks and crashing into one another.   There was an instant appeal, I threw my textbooks on the floor, put on my gym gear and headed out back to see what was up.

At the time - this was the pre-pre MCLA period and lacrosse was a "loosely" recognized club sport at the University of Florida, meaning that we got to use the scrub fields on campus and that was about it.  

As you might expect, the majority of the guys on the club were from somewhere in the northeast, but like most laxer's more than willing to introduce a novice to the game.    It quickly became apparent to me, that there was a skill set and certain nuances to the game that would take me some time to learn ( some might say I have never learned them ).  But like most people exposed to the game, you come to love the game no matter what your skill level.

So as a Florida Gator I have to give a shout out to the Gator women who start their first season in Division 1 lacrosse.  I wish them well - Go Gators!   The Florida men's squad is also a nationally recognized MCLA team, and I wish them continued success in 2010 as well and here's hoping that someday they get official Division 1 status as well at Florida.

And being a transplanted west coast guy now, I also want to encourage you to support the Fresno Women's lacrosse team, who start their 2nd year in Division 1 lacrosse.  Here's to wishing them a successful second season.  Maybe it will be the women's game that helps move the game of lacrosse into prominence, so let's support the chicks!

Finally to the 2010 CCLC squad, it's been great to see the continued growth and improvement in the Fresno team and this year most likely will be the best year ever.  But as the CCLC squad develops into a much more competitive team, let's not forget where we started and continue to welcome newcomers to the team and spend some time helping them learn the game!