On Saturday, Maryland became the latest lacrosse team to drink the bitter brew of the upset…one part tears, one part overconfidence, one part lackadaisacality, one part psychological entanglements (for texture), and just to make sure your gag reflex receives full engagement, one part Captain Morgan’s Lime.
We were out of town and thus didn’t see the game, but by all accounts the third-ranked Terps’ loss to unseeded Notre Dame was not easy on the eyes. The team’s top scorers — Grant Catlino, Ryan Young, and Will Yeatman — combined to shoot 0-13. That’s not how you win games. The loss was so disappointing, in fact, that it led to head coach Dave Cottle’s resignation last night, after Debbie Yow informed him she wouldn’t renew his contract. According to D1scourse, Cottle has reached the postseason in 22 of his 23 coaching seasons (spread across Maryland and Loyola) but has never won a championship. That’s a record.
D1scourse goes on to state that success in college lacrosse is somewhat unfairly measured by one thing and one thing only, and that’s titles. Fair point. But on the other hand, it’s pretty safe to say that the Terps have become a perennial underacheiver — it’s been 35 years now since Maryland got a banner. That’s a pretty epic dry spell. I’m no lacrosse maniac, but isn’t a change warranted under those circumstances? That’s not a reflection of our quick-fix, drive-through, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society. It’s been THIRTY-FIVE YEARS. Cottle is literally THE record holder when it comes to underperformance in the playoffs, the outcomes of which, like it or not, are simply weighted more heavily than those of the regular season. That’s true for every sport, and, I would argue, rightly so, given the higher stakes and all.
It’s all the more frustrating because, with all the other upsets that went down this May Madness, Maryland had the Final Four more or less laid out for them on a platter….all they had to do was pull up to the table and tuck in. They couldn’t do it. Again. It cost the coach his job. So be it.
In other news, while the men were foundering in the sludge of mediocrity, the top-ranked women’s team again showed how consistently excellent their program really is by reaching yet another Final Four. The Final Four bracket is filled with lacrosse blue bloods…Maryland takes on Syracuse this Friday, while North Carolina faces defending champion Northwestern in the other semifinal. Good luck, ladies.
(Photo credit: Inside Lacrosse)
