Originally Posted by Anonymous
With all this extra year nonsense, a handful of our top kids are opting for what others would call mid to low-level D1. The larger than normal rosters are being widely viewed as a scarcity of prospects and potential PT at the top programs by some good players and families. Lots of kids who would have normally looked at top, established programs are looking at teams like Utah, UMBC, Mich, St Joes, Bucknell etc. because they feel like their opportunities to play will occur faster. Expect more parity in college lacrosse in the upcoming years and some mid tier teams to surprise.

Will everyone stop with this 'parity' nonsense!

Some mid-major teams showed promise a few years ago and it became more of a catch phrase than 'grow the game'. It's phrases like these that are designed to keep the the industry and money flowing. Respect or Honor the game would've done much more for the game. The growth is about money and will always be about money. About travel clubs and directors ripping off parents. About merchandising and sales.

Parity is just the next catch word to try to keep the dream alive, the industry moving and maintaining commentator jobs all while taking money out of your pockets. You think parity exists? Stop kidding yourself. This past year of extra eligibility has created nothing more than 4-6 super teams that will last for the next few decades. Mid-majors will never catch them.

Parity and grow the game have only done one thing. The rich get richer and the politics last longer.

Look at the rosters and the private school origins. It's about the college coaches praising your son in order to get you to meet prospect day dollars, telling you and the immediate family to come up for a private tour, and stay over Sunday night with a player into Monday, but ignoring you all weekend and the visit doesn't happen.

If that hasn't sunk in, try remembering the IL/USL articles that literally mention the 25-26 year old seniors or grad students. Still don't get it? Ok how about this. If your son is a D1 talent, you better take a close look of your family's financial profile. If it's not great, you're out. Because the 2nd tier of recruits is "pay all tuition+university donor" and the 3rd tier is "pay all tuition"...even if that recruit isn't as good as your young public school stud.

This will all hit you like a freight train, just remember to to laugh through the pain when you see a kid from 'Jesuit Money High School' commit to a mid-tier state university. Because a few weeks later, you'll be walking out of the lacrosse fog smiling knowing you finally got out of the system and your kid is going to have an awesome college experience and future with normalcy.