Lacrosse Blogs

Midwest weather once again got the best of us. Illinois State was supposed to compete against St. Louis University this weekend in Bloomington-Normal, but if anyone has recently decided to look outside they would quickly be reassured that no lacrosse games would be played down here unless a turf field was secured.

At first our game was scheduled in the football stadium and on turf, but because we are not a varsity sport we are pretty much obsolete on this campus. The athletic department I think has this false notion that turf can be ruined by playing on it. Why would the school install a highly expensive new turf field and not let anyone besides are sub-par football team to use it? Maybe it’s another one of those meager pushes to become a DI football program or maybe the athletic department has no idea what lacrosse is. Now I have great school spirit and enjoyed my tenure here at Illinois State, but that is one topic that I could go on for days about. Witnessing it first hand, the discrepancies that were created between lacrosse and football leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

I am sure that many MCLA schools struggle with these issues just as much as we do. But to have to cancel a game because of one individual’s decision that a university field cannot be used is wrong and unruly. We were willing to shovel off the turf field and even asked what time would be good to play the game, no reply… Now we are one game less and that much longer away from our next game which is not until March 4^th against some very tough competitors. We fly the Illinois State colors when we play in games and use the Redbird logo, so why is there no support from the university? We have made the playoffs in the last 4 years more times than the football team has. Doesn’t make sense to me.

Back to the gym it is for the Redbirds, and even then we have a hard time securing gym space. We have been practicing in a half court gym with men’s club volleyball playing next us. While we condition we have to listen to a playlist which is filled with Michael Bolton and Don Henley, not a good situation. I’m ready to play some games.

 Until next time,

Big Cat out (that’s for you Morris)

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