By Corey McLaughlin
WHERE TO NEXT?
T PROS
Expose Memorial Day weekend to a new part of the country eager to see live games, like the NCAA has done with recent quarterfi nal sites in Indianapolis (2013), Denver (last year) and at Ohio State (this year).
CONS Travel costs. Uprooting the game’s
fi nal weekend from the traditional hotbeds. Potential loss of association with D-I and III women’s tournaments in same city.
15-6, and improve to 7-0. “I didn’t think there would be enough space for me. This is pretty crazy. I never could have seen this coming,” he added. Baptiste originally was set on staying in the Northeast to play college ball. That would have allowed his parents, Leon and Dena, to commute regularly from their Denville, N.J. home to see his games. Instead, the Baptistes take three-hour fl ights to watch their son provide many extra possessions for one of the country’s most potent offenses, and a favorite to contend for a second straight national title. It didn’t take long for Baptiste to win over his Denver teammates, fi rst with his upbeat personality, then with his workmanlike drive. That showed quickly in Baptiste’s addiction to fi lm
laxmagazine.com
study and extra practice, and his impressive turns in the weight room, where the 5-foot- 9, 215-pound Baptiste’s bench press mark now exceeds 350 pounds.
“If we had Trevor on our team two years ago, we’d be two-time defending champs,” junior midfi elder Tyler Pace said. “But he doesn’t think of himself as the big guy on our team.”
Baptiste didn’t even commit to the Pioneers until the spring of his senior year, but he put a clamp on the Pioneers’ starting faceoff job quickly. In last year’s season opener, a 17-13 victory over Duke, Baptiste announced his presence by winning 25 of 34 draws to ignite the Pioneers. That display did not come as a total shock. During fall ball his freshman year in an exhibition contest against
Trevor Baptiste, the top faceoff specialist in Division I lacrosse, did not commit to Denver until spring of his senior year at Morristown-Beard (N.J.)
Denver hosted the 2015 NCAA quarterfinals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
BRING IT TO CAMPUS SITES PROS
More likely to pack the house. A more intimate experience.
CONS
What schools or universities want to take on the burden of hosting over Memorial Day weekend? Loss of the NFL venue and big city experience.
MOVE IT OFF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
PROS
Guage if playin g off a holiday weekend makes an attendance difference. Could also help eliminate a February game or two for most teams by pushing the season back.
CONS
Loss of tradition. What happens to D-II and D-III men’s championships? Costs associated with housing players on campus.
May 2016 » LACROSSE MAGAZINE 25
he NCAA, as of press time, had not yet announced men’s championship sites
beyond 2016 in Philadelphia. Much debate has centered on the topic, considering the consistent decline in D-I men’s championship weekend attendance, from 100,447 in 2007 to 53,338 last year. Here are the hot-button talking points.
BRING IT TO A NEW MARKET
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