The forgotten bystander: LAX

[muhs03]

If I recall correctly, Notre Dame pleaded with Syracuse to join the Big East conference for LAX. In return, I think Syracuse inked a football deal with ND. Im assuming LAX will continue on....but it is frightening how bad BE LAX will be. Remember, RPI is HUGELY important when it comes to the NCAA tournament and seeding. In fact, RPI is the ONLY factor for determining seeding. BE teams will need a strong OOC schedule to be competitive.

[Tribby]

I want someone to break down how this will affect Big East golf! And tennis! Why aren't people talking about this!?

[BlackPantherMKE]

Tribby, lacrosse is the spring sport of the future.  It only has D-I at 50 or so schools at the moment, but many of those are self-sustaining or even revenue-producing programs.  The championships are held at NFL stadiums.

Trust me, there's a reason you're adding LAX, and it's not to have another ho-hum who-gives-a-crap sport.

[muhs03]

Tribby, lacrosse is the spring sport of the future.  It only has D-I at 50 or so schools at the moment, but many of those are self-sustaining or even revenue-producing programs.  The championships are held at NFL stadiums.

Trust me, there's a reason you're adding LAX, and it's not to have another ho-hum who-gives-a-crap sport.

Not true. LAX loses money at even John Hopkins and Syracuse. 55 schollies at 40K apiece is $2.2M. Throw in coaches salaries and travel expenses and LAX is a money loser. The NCAA tourney doesnt generate much. Throw in the fact that tourney earnings are divided up among conference mates and no one even brakes even. Its not even close, actually.

[Wade for President]

When I read the topic, I was trying to think how conference realignment was going to effect the Los Angeles airport.  I was thinking, "With the Pac 10-16 adding new members, I guess it's reasonable to think traffic through the airport could increase."

[wildbill sb]

Me too, for about 21 seconds.  Duhhhhh, now I get it.

[Hards Alumni]

Not true. LAX loses money at even John Hopkins and Syracuse. 55 schollies at 40K apiece is $2.2M. Throw in coaches salaries and travel expenses and LAX is a money loser. The NCAA tourney doesnt generate much. Throw in the fact that tourney earnings are divided up among conference mates and no one even brakes even. Its not even close, actually.

Did you know that football and basketball lose money all over the country too?

[Tribby]

Syracuse basketball is not losing money. More to the point, my very limited knowledge of lacrosse tells me that Johns Hopkins is an elite program, and there isn't an elite basketball program that's not making millions of dollars a year.

But I digress. Basketball is an afterthought in the grand scheme of conference realignment, which makes lacrosse... I dunno. What's way less significant than an afterthought? Completely unimportant?

[Brewtown Andy]

Not true. LAX loses money at even John Hopkins and Syracuse. 55 schollies at 40K apiece is $2.2M.

Slow down there. Only football and basketball offer full scholarships to every player. Every other sport has to make do with breaking up their NCAA allowed scholarships across their whole team.

In this case, lacrosse has 12.6 scholarships per team.

[TheGym]

Slow down there. Only football and basketball offer full scholarships to every player. Every other sport has to make do with breaking up their NCAA allowed scholarships across their whole team.

In this case, lacrosse has 12.6 scholarships per team.

That is right.  According to the strategic study performed by MU, the operating cost for both the men's and women's teams is $1.8 million.  With that said, the fact that we are in the Big East was a big deal in starting the program.  Have a ready made number of top opponents was a big deal.  If we lose ND, Syracuse, etc.. that could impact the success of the program.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

What does an airport have to do wuth this?

[KenoshaWarrior]

Who the F cares about LaCrosse with the exception of a few niche markets and kids of billionaires.   

[TheGym]

Who the F cares about LaCrosse with the exception of a few niche markets and kids of billionaires.   

I am pretty sure our university cares about it.

[Brewtown Andy]

That is right.  According to the strategic study performed by MU, the operating cost for both the men's and women's teams is $1.8 million.  With that said, the fact that we are in the Big East was a big deal in starting the program.  Have a ready made number of top opponents was a big deal.  If we lose ND, Syracuse, etc.. that could impact the success of the program.

Not to mention that Marquette was going to be only the 8th team in the BE that plays men's lacrosse and there's only been 2 seasons of BE lacrosse.

[Les Nessman]

Shouldn't this conversation be held in the superbar?