2021—The Season in Review

[Cletus]

Bad news everybody

UMD has the #1 recruiting classes of 2021 and 2022.

Ugh.

How’d that work out so far?

Oooooooooof

Who deemed them the #1 recruiting classes of 2021 and 2022? And according to what criteria? Plus--they still have to produce. Something at Maryland has fallen off drastically. I don't know what it's attributable to but it's pretty obvious these ain't yer granpappy's Terps.

[Cletus]

Rutgers had a Great season. One for the books. One for the NCAA record books perhaps. Has there ever been another team that won three first program wins in one regular season? They achieved so many things in this short Big 10 year. First time wins over Johns Hopkins, Penn State and (fanfare) the defending champion Maryland Terrapins. They also won a game in the Big 10 conference championship and a first round NCAA victory over Drexel. Very impressive accomplishments for a team playing just their 2nd (truncated) season under coach Melissa Lehman. I don't know what the university is paying her but I hope it is commensurate with her accomplishments.

They have some very talented players in the underclass ranks and maybe even a couple of returning seniors if they take another year granted by covid. One could observe them learning how to finish as the season wore on. When they got a lead late against Maryland they held on and finished the game on top. Same for the Penn St game. The Drexel game. And I'm sure there were others. This team is learning to finish wins, which is what any team needs to learn if they want to challenge the powers that be. Very enjoyable team to watch this year. They played an aggressive, take-chances offensive scheme. Looking forward to seeing how they do next year. Will they stay hungry and build on the foundation or will they slip back or maintain status quo? One has to think recruiting more talented players just got easier.

[Essexfenwick]

Uuuuhhh 15 national championships?

[Essexfenwick]

Bad news everybody

UMD has the #1 recruiting classes of 2021 and 2022.

Ugh.

How’d that work out so far?

Oooooooooof

Who deemed them the #1 recruiting classes of 2021 and 2022? And according to what criteria? Plus--they still have to produce. Something at Maryland has fallen off drastically. I don't know what it's attributable to but it's pretty obvious these ain't yer granpappy's Terps.

Inside Lacrosse recruit rankings.

[Cletus]

Uuuuhhh 15 national championships?

Not in the last two years. They look like anything but national champions. Plus that first natty they count is kinda ersatz.

[Essexfenwick]

There was no season in 2020. A number of national championships that nobody will match in our lifetimes and lined up with the top recruiting classes in 2021 and 2022 seems like it’s pretty healthy. Team was down in 2020 but recruits appear to like the program better than all the others.

[watcherinthewoods]

If rumors are true some VERY high profile transfers are in the portal and thinking Terp. Reese already picked up two. Just sayin', we all better stay tuned.

[8meterPA]

If rumors are true some VERY high profile transfers are in the portal and thinking Terp. Reese already picked up two. Just sayin', we all better stay tuned.

also hearing that things may not be so happy in happy valley

[Bart]

If rumors are true some VERY high profile transfers are in the portal and thinking Terp. Reese already picked up two. Just sayin', we all better stay tuned.

She did sign the America East Co Defensive player of the year from Albany. I know, I know, it’s not a worthy league but the Terps certainly are going at the transfer portsl with gusto.

[Cletus]

There was no season in 2020. A number of national championships that nobody will match in our lifetimes and lined up with the top recruiting classes in 2021 and 2022 seems like it’s pretty healthy. Team was down in 2020 but recruits appear to like the program better than all the others.

Over the last two years, their combined record is 13-10; 6-10 vs ranked teams, 0-6 vs top 10. Very different numbers than what is typical if one compares with the two previous years before the decline. Over those 2 years (2018-19) their combined record was 42-3; 31-2 vs ranked teams, 17-2 vs top 10.

Top recruits still have to deliver the goods on the field. Regardless of their pre college rankings. Nothing automatic about it.

[Cagekeeper]

If rumors are true some VERY high profile transfers are in the portal and thinking Terp. Reese already picked up two. Just sayin', we all better stay tuned.

Can you throw a hint. Conference?

[Essexfenwick]

There was no season in 2020. A number of national championships that nobody will match in our lifetimes and lined up with the top recruiting classes in 2021 and 2022 seems like it’s pretty healthy. Team was down in 2020 but recruits appear to like the program better than all the others.

Over the last two years, their combined record is 13-10; 6-10 vs ranked teams, 0-6 vs top 10. Very different numbers than what is typical if one compares with the two previous years before the decline. Over those 2 years (2018-19) their combined record was 42-3; 31-2 vs ranked teams, 17-2 vs top 10.

Top recruits still have to deliver the goods on the field. Regardless of their pre college rankings. Nothing automatic about it.

I don’t think it’s automatic at all. I just think UMD will get back on top based on history and current recruiting. That’s my not very daring opinion. The fact that 23 of the last 34 championships were won by UMD or a coach from UMD is the gift that the home of lacrosse keeps giving.

[LarryGamLax]

Uuuuhhh 15 national championships?

Not in the last two years. They look like anything but national champions. Plus that first natty they count is kinda ersatz.

There is no such thing as an "ersatz" National Championship. You win it on the field and not by trying to "be cute and consult the Oxford Dictionary" to find a word that will say questionable without actually saying it.

[Cletus]

Uuuuhhh 15 national championships?

Not in the last two years. They look like anything but national champions. Plus that first natty they count is kinda ersatz.

There is no such thing as an "ersatz" National Championship. You win it on the field and not by trying to "be cute and consult the Oxford Dictionary" to find a word that will say questionable without actually saying it.

My Pap taught me ‘ersatz’ when Hector was a pup. It’s a perfect word to describe that first AIAW win in 1982 over Ursinus that the Little Turtles feel they need to include with the other legitimate NCAA titles. That’s like the Buffalo Bills counting the two championships they won in the AFL before the merger as Super Bowl titles.

[Cletus]

There was no season in 2020. A number of national championships that nobody will match in our lifetimes and lined up with the top recruiting classes in 2021 and 2022 seems like it’s pretty healthy. Team was down in 2020 but recruits appear to like the program better than all the others.

Over the last two years, their combined record is 13-10; 6-10 vs ranked teams, 0-6 vs top 10. Very different numbers than what is typical if one compares with the two previous years before the decline. Over those 2 years (2018-19) their combined record was 42-3; 31-2 vs ranked teams, 17-2 vs top 10.

Top recruits still have to deliver the goods on the field. Regardless of their pre college rankings. Nothing automatic about it.

I don’t think it’s automatic at all. I just think UMD will get back on top based on history and current recruiting. That’s my not very daring opinion. The fact that 23 of the last 34 championships were won by UMD or a coach from UMD is the gift that the home of lacrosse keeps giving.

You may be right. We shall see.

[Cletus]

Uuuuhhh 15 national championships?

“First time wins over Johns Hopkins, Penn State and (fanfare) the defending champion Maryland Terrapins.”

This was stated correctly. When Rutgers defeated Maryland this year, the Terps were the defending champs. When Duke knocked the Terps out of the 2nd round of the NCAA’s, Maryland was no longer the defending champ. If Rutgers beats Maryland in the regular season next year, the Terps will not be defending champs. BC currently holds that title. Thus my referring to them as I did was appropriate.

[Essexfenwick]

Uuuuhhh 15 national championships?

Not in the last two years. They look like anything but national champions. Plus that first natty they count is kinda ersatz.

There is no such thing as an "ersatz" National Championship. You win it on the field and not by trying to "be cute and consult the Oxford Dictionary" to find a word that will say questionable without actually saying it.

My Pap taught me ‘ersatz’ when Hector was a pup. It’s a perfect word to describe that first AIAW win in 1982 over Ursinus that the Little Turtles feel they need to include with the other legitimate NCAA titles. That’s like the Buffalo Bills counting the two championships they won in the AFL before the merger as Super Bowl titles.

No comparison. The UMD pre ncaa natty was for all the D1 teams included. Not like the AFL which excluded the NFL teams. Using your logic .. if the NCAA is replaced by a new paradigm then everybody’s NCAA titles become ‘ersatz’. I don’t think so.

[LarryGamLax]

The AIAW was the organizing body for Women's athletics before the NCAA got involved. Nothing fake about it or the teams that won Championships under that banner. Ursinus IS one of the Iconic programs in the history of Women's Lacrosse and Field Hockey.
I know and understand what they represented. Lots of great players and HOF coaches came from there. I show them nothing but respect.

This is like "Critical Lacrosse Theory" Cletus. You don't get to cancel out the parts that you don't like.

[Cletus]

All said with tongue placed firmly in cheek. Just a note I like to strum from time to time. Gets a response like clockwork, too.

[Cletus]

Uuuuhhh 15 national championships?

Not in the last two years. They look like anything but national champions. Plus that first natty they count is kinda ersatz.

There is no such thing as an "ersatz" National Championship. You win it on the field and not by trying to "be cute and consult the Oxford Dictionary" to find a word that will say questionable without actually saying it.

My Pap taught me ‘ersatz’ when Hector was a pup. It’s a perfect word to describe that first AIAW win in 1982 over Ursinus that the Little Turtles feel they need to include with the other legitimate NCAA titles. That’s like the Buffalo Bills counting the two championships they won in the AFL before the merger as Super Bowl titles.

No comparison. The UMD pre ncaa natty was for all the D1 teams included. Not like the AFL which excluded the NFL teams. Using your logic .. if the NCAA is replaced by a new paradigm then everybody’s NCAA titles become ‘ersatz’. I don’t think so.

The NFL championships pre Super Bowl are also not referred to. No one talks about the titles Detroit won in the 1950’s. The only thing that matters is the Super Bowl. And an NCAA title. Pre that? Who cares except Maryland?