I sat down with Fergus Campbell '12 and Colin Delaney '12 of the men's lacrosse team to talk about lacrosse culture, new leadership and a new season for Dartmouth lacrosse.
Lacrosse is a spring sport, but you guys get going in the fall. How is fall different from playing in the spring?
CD: Well fall ball normally is very laid back, but so far it's been very intense.
FC: Yeah, there's a lot of running.
CD: A lot of running.
What's the weekly schedule like?
FC: We only have practice twice a week because we are limited in the number we can have, but we have 6 a.m. workouts twice a week.
CD: On Tuesday and Thursday, we lift at 6 a.m., and then we practice on other days.
FC: Once practices are over, we're going to lift at 7 a.m. on Friday as well.
A lot was made about the infamous run test that you guys had to pass for the first time this year. What was that like?
CD: The run test was extremely hard. It was six 150-yard shuttles in under 26 seconds. It took a few weeks of practice to get that down. Going into it, none of us thought we were going to pass. It was crazy.
FC: They made it at 6:30 in the morning, too. It's 25 yards and back three times, and you have to touch the line every time.
CD: Most people didn't think they were going to pass but we ended up doing pretty well, like 80 percent passed and pretty much every returning player did it.
How has this been a different season already?
FC: Well it starts with more intense fall ball. The practices are way more intense than any practices we had last year.
CD: It's been really aggressive. Our expectations are high with the new Ivy tournament starting, so we want to finish top-four in the Ivy and win [the tournament].
What is the Ivy tournament?
CD: The Ivy tournament is a new thing I think lacrosse is the first Ivy League sport to do it. It's a playoff tournament. Only seven of the schools play lacrosse
FC: There are seven schools in our division and the top four play in a tournament at the end. The winner gets a bid to the NCAA tournament.
Is there no other way to make the NCAA tournament?
FC: You can get an at-large bid if you beat other good teams during the season.
CD: Yeah, but the best way to assure a spot is by winning the Ivy League tournament.
How have things been different under a new coach [Andrew Towers]?
CD: Honestly, it's been completely different. This year so far, everyone's been buying into the system and it's been much more intense and productive.
How do you guys combat the often-debilitating "lax bro" stereotype?
FC: I hate it. The stereotype is of a worthless, not hard-working kid who doesn't do much in terms of school. That's not what Dartmouth lacrosse is. Our team is very committed all around.
CD: I would agree with Fergus. Some embrace it we're not going to name any names though.
Is 90 percent of lax in the flow?
CD: Ninety percent might not be in the flow, but there's definitely a good percentage in the mid-calves.
FC: I won't say it's in the flow, but it's definitely about the style.
What is a player's relationship with his wand like?
CD: Some kids are really into it. They're stick doctors they work on it all day. Some kids just love working on their sticks.
FC: Some kids could really care less and adjust to whatever stick they have.
CD: I don't care as much. But some kids' sticks are their best friends.
Are there any marquee games on the schedule this year?
CD: The Ivy League is always one of two top conferences in the country lacrosse-wise, so obviously any Ivy League games are going to be big games.
FC: Well, the schedule hasn't technically been announced yet.
CD: Yeah, it's rumored that we are going to have a couple of big games down at Carolina though.
What's a message you want to send out about Dartmouth lacrosse this year?
FC: We are an entirely new program. We're going to start winning.
CD: Why? Because Fergus Campbell said so.
