SMU To Consider Adding Division I Lacrosse Team

January 20, 2012 / Lacrosse Playground /

Months ago, we stated on Twitter that a big time university in the state of Texas would be adding a Division 1 lacrosse team. We had a strong reason to believe it would be TCU because they toyed with the idea of joining the Big East Conference. However, things changed, and SMU ended up joining the dominate conference. Funny how things work out.

ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth is reporting that SMU will consider launching a lacrosse program. At the celebration event for alumni and students, school president R. Gerald Turner announced that SMU will officially become a member of the Big East conference in all sports on July 1, 2013. Athletic Director Steve Orsini weighs the options below. One possibility that Orsini mentioned is the creation of new sports programs. He said baseball, softball, lacrosse and men’s track could be in the debate.

SMU never had a lacrosse program, but it might be a good fit now.

“Lacrosse, as you know, is growing here, and the Big East represents the footprint of the best lacrosse in America,” Orsini said. “Those are all things we’ll discuss and see at the presidential level here.”

Lacrosse is big on the East Coast but in its infancy in Texas. It’s not recognized as a varsity sport by the UIL, but high schools have formed club teams that compete throughout the state. Squads from Coppell and Dallas St. Mark’s, schools just miles from SMU’s campus, have been nationally ranked.

Looking at the big picture, SMU’s move to the Big East represents movement toward a point where the school shares equal emphasis and success in both academics and athletics, Orsini said.

Continue reading on ESPN.com

Posted in

Lacrosse Playground

In 2009, Adam O’Neill, Harry Alford and Thomas Alford launched Lacrosse Playground as the preeminent site for lacrosse gearheads. For years Lacrosse Playground provided lacrosse fans with tutorials and tips on how to string a lacrosse head, up-close looks at the gear the top players used and sneak peeks at equipment and uniforms before they were released. More than 10 years and millions of visits later, Lacrosse Playground has relaunched with a focus on storytelling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest lacrosse news, share insights into the sports betting and fantasy lacrosse world and showcase the lifestyles and personalities of the sport of lacrosse through articles, videos and podcasts.

8 Comments

  1. Lax Links 1-26-12 | Great Lax State on January 26, 2012 at 10:08 am

    […] “grow the game” westward expansion news: SMU is considering a Division-1 lacrosse program in the future. The Mustangs begin Big East play […]

  2. Lacrosse Playground on January 20, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    Sorry, Mike! 

  3. deuces on January 20, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    YES!!!

  4. deuces on January 20, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    YES!!!

  5. Michael Brand on January 20, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    This is the problem with people being able to write what ever they want on the internet.  Please change the title of the post to include the word “consider.”  This is how rumors get started.

    • Woooop on January 20, 2012 at 8:47 pm

      How awesome rumors get started

    • Woooop on January 20, 2012 at 8:47 pm

      How awesome rumors get started

  6. Michael Brand on January 20, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    This is the problem with people being able to write what ever they want on the internet.  Please change the title of the post to include the word “consider.”  This is how rumors get started.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.