Monday, July 11, 2011
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Blue joins as eighth
member of ECAC

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TEPHEN J. NESBITT The 2012 schedule has not yet
Daily Sports Editor been completed, but the fledgling
Michigan varsity program will
Michigan men's lacrosse play a partial league schedule this
s joining forces with the first year, then a full slate of con-
College Athletic Confer- ference games in the program's
CAC), the Athletic Depart- second season.
nnounced Thursday. The The Michigan men's lacrosse
ines will be the eighth program, which ascended to var-
r of the conference. sity status from the club ranks
rding to the press release, in mid-May, made its intentions
an "will be an affiliate clear from the outset. At the intro-
r during the 2012 season ductory press conference for the
ill become a full-fledged newly-named varsity sport, Mich-
r in their second season igan Athletic Director Dave Bran-
n the ECAC." don indicated that the Wolverines
re very excited about join- had submitted their application to
ECAC," Michigan coach join the ECAC.
aul said in the statement. "The ECAC lacrosse conference
nted to find a way to incor- is competitive and balanced and
the best rivalry in col- we are thrilled to be accepted for
orts into our conference membership," Michigan Athletic
e, so the ECAC was in our Director Dave Brandon said in the
rum day one because Ohio statement. "We plan to schedule
as already a member. Top as many of the league schools as
possible for the upcoming season
while understanding. the chal-
lenges of scheduling competitions
Thie ECAC this late in the cycle."
sAexcited to As a club team, Michigan saw
its three-year reign as national
l .champions end with a 7-6 defeat to
Arizona State in the semi-finals of
vest member." the MCLA National Tournament
in May.
With the ascension to varsity
status, the Wolverines became the
first FBS program to add men's
tM, the ECAC provides an lacrosse since Notre Dame in 1981.
inity to play an outstand- Michigan's women's lacrosse
iference schedule against program will make the jump to
rograms. We feel like it's a the varsity level for the 2012-13
fit." season.
Wolverines become the The Wolverines, under the
im to join the ECAC since direction of Michigan coach
ims - Air Force, Bellarm- John Paul, aren't expected to be
nver and Ohio State - all national contenders immediately,
rior to the 2010 season. but with the first true recruiting
other conference mem- class coming in this fall, Michi-
lude Fairfield, Hobart and gan's attack on the lacrosse scene
(Md.). begins with conference play.
higan will be an exception- "Obviously, we're not a top
ion to the ECAC Lacrosse Division I program right now,"
After having been one of Paul said on May 25. "But there
ongest club teams in the are a couple things we've instilled
," ECAC Commissioner in this program, in our culture,
:eeling said in the press that will help us. Our guys know
how to work, and they know how
higan is now committed to to deal with the adversity which
its varsity men's lacrosse they'll probably deal with a bit
e of the best in the nation," next year.
inued. "The ECAC is excit- "We're confident these guys can
velcome the institution as lay the foundation, culturally, of
vest member." what we need to be."

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