][lifestyles THE SCOOP


continued from page 13 While the NCAA isn’t “running


away” from NFL stadiums, said NCAA associate director of championships and alliances Anthony Holman, the committee, which includes coaches and administrators, will consider non-NFL venues. The NCAA’s bid specifications require a 40,000-minimum seating capacity, but Holman said the committee will be open to receiving bids from venues with fewer seats if there are other options, like club level seating and suites, that make them viable. “While we have not decreased


the minimum seating capacity, we’ve made it clear to venues that are not NFL stadiums, but can accommodate 25,000-30,000 seats — which is typically around the number we have for any single session — that there might be an opportunity for them as well,” Holman said. “Those things certainly are a reflection of where the championship is right now.” Holman also said ticket prices (which


have roughly doubled since 2006), the date of the event and the impact of increased TV exposure and a tough economy all will be evaluated. This year’s Division I final (28,224)


and semifinal (28,444) attendance were the lowest of the NFL stadium era. The semifinals also drew about 2,000 fewer fans than 1995 and 1997 semifinals at Maryland’s Byrd Stadium. The Terps played in both. Perhaps college lacrosse’s grandest


stage will move back to a college campus. “We’d be open to [a non-NFL venue],


but we’re not running from an NFL stadium either,” Holman said. “We feel that if you ask our student-athletes, which we do, that playing in front of 29,000-30,000 on Monday of Memorial Day or a semifinal game is pretty exciting. We don’t feel like that’s been a failure by any means.” LM


>>TROUBLING TREND


NCAA men’s lacrosse championships attendance in the NFL stadium era Year


Site


2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008


Baltimore Baltimore


Philadelphia Philadelphia Baltimore


Foxborough D-I Semis D-I Final D-II/D-III Final


37,823 37,944 15,417 46,923 43,898 19,202 45,275 44,920 21,052 49,562 47,062 23,990 52,004 48,443 22,778 48,224 48,970 24,317


14 LACROSSE MAGAZINE August 2013>> Year


2009 2010 2011 2012 2013


Site


Foxborough Baltimore Baltimore


Foxborough Philadelphia


D-I Semis D-I Final D-II/D-III Final


36,594 41,935 24,072 44,389 37,126 20,734 45,039 35,661 18,086 31,774 30,816 17,005 28,444 28,224 22,511


Source: LaxPower.com A Publication of US Lacrosse


Former Cornell and Team Canada goalie Kyle Miller died June 8 after a 20-month battle with sarcoma cancer. He was 32.


Determined to the End


Kyle Miller, Canadian goalie who made final save in 2006, dies of cancer


Team Canada will have more than gold to play for at the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships in Denver. Kyle Miller, one of two


goalies on Canada’s 2006 world championship team, died June 8 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto after a 20-month long battle with sarcoma cancer. He was 32. Miller became the


second goalie from Canada’s historic gold-medal team to lose a bout with cancer in just one year. Three- time All-World goalie Chris Sanderson died June 28, 2012, at age 38 after a lengthy fight with brain cancer. Miller, an Orangeville, Ontario native, was inspired to play goalie after seeing Sanderson, a native of the


same town, doing it at Virginia. In a twist of fate, Miller had helped Sanderson raise funds for his cancer treatments. Miller’s fiancée, Vanessa


Suppa, wrote on Miller’s and the family’s blog the day of his death: “Our hearts are filled with such sadness and our world feels empty without him. There isn’t anyone who could have fought harder or longer with such determination. We miss him so much already. Our only peace is in knowing that his suffering is over and his pain has been washed away.” Miller was first diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma cancer his junior year at Cornell. He fought off the disease in 2003 and came back to make Team Canada’s 2006 roster. Sanderson was the starting goalie that


year, and Miller the backup. Miller made the final save in the championship game win in which Canada beat Team USA for the second time ever and first time since 1978.


But eight years after Miller beat cancer the first time, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 osteogenic spindle cell sarcoma. He had a tumor in his lung. He began undergoing chemotherapy once again.


His battle was an inspiration to those who followed it. Instant reaction poured in from the lacrosse community when Philadelphia Wings goalie Brandon Miller announced his brother’s passing on Twitter. The messages of support came from a great range: close friends such as Brodie Merrill to rivals such as Team USA’s Paul Rabil. “Your support gave so much comfort to Kyle and our families,” Miller’s fiancée wrote, “and lifted him up on his worst of days.” — C.M.


©JOHN STROHSACKER


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