UNC Lacrosse Project: Rainy Practice

When UVA is on the docket, neither wind, sleet or snow will stop the Heels from preparation. OK, so I’m being a little over dramatic as I write this before I go to bed. But, after a sunny practice yesterday, today was a cold rainy mess.

For the first time this semester, I went back in the weight room with the team. They have typically been lifting in the morning, so I’ve been missing their lift sessions. I have to say, after being sick of them last semester, I was happy to be in there for something a little different.

When the team came back to the locker room from the weight room, they found new sticks waiting for them. The sticks are Carolina Blue and I think that they are from the Mikey Powell line (Grant Zimmerman thought so too – they only had a logo and no writing to confirm this). The sticks will be welcome when the team takes the field to take on UVA Saturday on a nationally televised game.

What I learned today:

  • I learned from Michael B. Burns more about the reasoning of putting long poles with shorts on the wings before faceoff, or vice versa, or having the same size sticks match-up.
  • I learned from team manager Yu Katoku that in Japan, ties are settled by playing rock, paper, scissors, instead of overtime due to the lack of fields and playing time. (those crazy kids)
  • I learned that Kevin Piegare seems to think he can keep the duplex clean when he moves in there as a sophomore. Time will tell.
  • I learned from Matthias McCall that the grass that collects around the spikes of your cleats when the ground is wet is called “scrom dog”.
  • I learned that Sean Jackson doesn’t always get his appetizer.
  • I learned that Cryder DiPietro and Michael Jarvis couldn’t touch their toes when stretching if their life depended on it. The downside of being tall I guess.
  • I learned that even when talking about lacrosse sticks, if Bobby McAuley asks if you want his shaft, say ‘no’.

UNC Lacrosse Project: Film and Practice

The team began practice with a film session before heading out to the field. Assistant coach Paradine manned a Mac Book Pro and showed some clips of UVA to the team while coaches Haus and Lattimore made commentary as necessary. Afterwards, we headed out to practice on what was a beautiful North Carolina day. There is not much that I can say about practice, but I did learn some new things about the nuances of lacrosse:

  • Chris Cortina taught me how extra-man offense, and man-down defense team members are picked. It was something I’ve always wondered.
  • I learned from Jamie Locke and Andrew Moss that goal keepers are susceptible to getting their thumbs jammed, and it is common for goal keepers to have messed-up thumbs.
  • I learned that Nina Walker reads my blogs! Huzzah!

Meet the Mannings

Art Chase at Duke University sent me an ominous instant message of just “call my cell”. I thought at first I was in trouble, but Art asked me if I could photograph some “guests” that would be with the new Duke Football coach, David Cutcliffe. I wasn’t jumping at the …

UNC Lacrosse Project: Notre Dame

The Heels had another one of those close games, running up the score in the first half, then keeping the crowd (and a photographer) on the edge of their seats in the second half. Those on the edge of their seat risked being blown off in the gale-filled game. The temperature was in the 50’s, but felt much colder with the wind howling the entire game. But the Heels held on to win 8-6, on the back of 5 goal performance from junior Ben Hunt. [Gallery]