Earlier this week, Inside Lacrosse talked about the currently independent Johns Hopkins’ plans for the future. One of the options that has been discussed, and thought to be a reasonable possibility, would be joining the Big Ten as a lacrosse only member. Of course the conference hasn’t even added lacrosse to its list of supported sports just yet, but it makes more and more sense every day.
There are currently three Big Ten teams that support Division I lacrosse programs, Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan. However, with Rutgers and Maryland both joining the conference in 2014 that number would jump to five. Add Hopkins, or any other team, and the conference would have an automatic qualifier.
The conference has said that they would not support any sport unless they did have an automatic qualifier, not just lacrosse. For example, they had no interest in adding hockey until Penn State joined the club, even though some of their members have some of the most successful hockey programs out there.
Speaking of successful programs, it isn’t like the Big Ten would need that auto qualifier to get teams into the tournament. Maryland, Ohio State, and Penn State have all had very strong programs, and Rutgers isn’t too shabby either. Michigan has all the ingredients to become a powerhouse in the future, now only in its second varsity season. Add Johns Hopkins into the mix and you have one of the strongest lacrosse conferences out there.
Having such a strong conference with such a big name would be a huge boost for the sport of lacrosse. The Big Ten can get large television contracts, even past their own channel. This would bring added interest to the sport, even if the colleges that already have programs. Playing against familiar rivals in their own conference brings much more intrigue.
This would also encourage other Big Ten schools to add lacrosse programs as well. With Michigan adding lacrosse last season, it only makes sense that Michigan State (who had a varsity program from until 1997) would consider adding the sport soon. With those two teams and Marquette, Wisconsin would then have geographic rivals. This would cut down on some travel expenses that could discourage colleges from adding a heavily eastern focused sport. Like Michigan and Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue all have MCLA teams. They already have the framework in place, and like other teams in the past could jump right up to Division I.
Lacrosse is a sport of momentum, on and off the field. If certain teams add programs, it will give an incentive for other colleges to capitalize on the opportunity as well. It’s the domino effect that will help move the sport across the country. If you’re a college lacrosse fan, you should be hoping that a Big Ten lacrosse conference becomes reality. Lacrosse in the Midwest seems ripe with potential, it’s time that it is finally tapped.
