laxsage

It is very disheartening to see how several young players can start such a firestorm on this site. What should be a forum for discussion about the wonderful sport of lacrosse in Tennessee has now become a chat room for a small group trying to start up frictions between teams. There is enough competition between the teams that this is not necessary. Since these youthful troublemakers have apparently just joined this week, I would suggest they be pulled from the site. Since one of them is indicating he is John Ellis Porter of Franklin, when I know he's not, most web admins would do this immediately. As was stated earlier, let this thread die now and don't respond further to it. In the next two weeks, all these teams will play each other and then let's discuss the outcomes and the performance of the teams as this site was meant to do. There is a level of respect that this site should be given and if a poster is unable to do this, then they should be pulled. If my hard line about such behavior offends, I am sorry. I just have too much respect for the coaches, team managers, parents, and players who are trying to grow the great sport of lacrosse.

When considering to move up to Division 1 a team needs to do so with plans to competitively compete at that level and do so on a consistent basis. To do this a team needs talent and resources. Talent comes from having a middle school feeder program in place that gives the players 3 years of basic stick and passing skills and play execution. Resources include weight training facilities, financial support, a consisitent and committed coaching staff, and school support from their administration. In the private school sector this becomes mainly a financial commitment by the school to supply those resources. In the public sector where lacrosse is a club sport it usually falls on the parents themselves to make this happen. In the last couple of years Houston and Ravenwood have made that leap of faith. My guess is that they have succeeded in making the above happen, while other schools may not be so fortunate in achieving these goals. Talent pools can fluxuated greatly in D2 teams without a good feeder program. Until the sport becomes sanctioned there are going to be differences in resources available to the teams by the schools. Again, it is the resources and talent available to a team that should dictate their decision to make the move from D2 to D1. If a team moves that move prematurely, they will be doomed to failure. If a D2 team ever wants to win against the MBA, MCCallie, MUS, and now Ravenwoods of D1, they have got to be able to match their training programs in the off season as well as the regular season. This is where it falls on resources and school committment.

Franklin is playing D1 level lacrosse this year, no doubt about it. When they play the D1 teams on their schedule, their abilities to perform will even be proven or not. The Ravenwood game will be the climax to all this discussion. That game will be won on defense. Both teams have a tremendous offensive capcbility.

Franklin exhibited a good team game with mulitple scorers and assists. They dominated the game with excellent defensive action.