Weekend Preview: The ESPN Affair
by Jac Coyne | MCLA.us
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The news that the MCLA game between Liberty and West Virginia would be carried by the WATCHESPN (ESPN3) platform was generally met within our association and the greater lacrosse community with excitement.
That the World Wide Leader would use one of its assets to broadcast a non-varsity collegiate lacrosse game to a nationwide audience is a huge boon for Liberty, West Virginia, the SELC and certainly the MCLA. It also confirmed that lacrosse is intrinsically a mainstream sport that can draw casual viewers.
It wasn’t a happy accident, however.
Saturday’s ESPN3 game is the result of Liberty not only valuing its non-varsity program by covering them with the institution’s outstanding in-house production unit, but also that the quality of their production meets the highest standards.
But that's just one piece of the puzzle.
Our home opener against West Virginia will be aired on ESPN3 this Saturday! We are brining MCLA lacrosse to the big stage. #ESPN3 @WVULax @MCLA @vvlacrosse pic.twitter.com/dyszcyOoOv
— Liberty Lacrosse (@LibertyLax) February 26, 2018
If Liberty coach Kyle McQuillan isn't maintaining his program at a true virtual varsity level, from the quality and character of his the lacrosse student-athletes to the manner in which they market their team, ESPN would have taken a hard pass.
Nearly as important is McQuillan's interaction with his on-campus AV department – something that exists on every MCLA campus – making it as easy as possible for broadcasts to happen.
He didn’t wait for something to fall into his lap. He took the initiative.
Now we see the payoff for both McQuillan and his program.
As is the world we live in, the unquestionable good news about the Liberty-WVU contest making ESPN3 didn’t escape the social media h8ters (did I do that right?).
There were two versions of negativity.
The first, oddly enough, was players (and parents) at varsity programs throwing shade. What a dark and lonely place that must be.
We’re all on the same team here. We're all pushing for the same goal: promoting the sport. Rising tide raises all boats.
But enjoy that letter jacket, bro.
The second was far more annoying for me personally. It consisted of MCLA players questioning why the Liberty-WVU game would get this treatment and not their team that has done absolutely nothing to further itself.
Granted, this was a very small group, but do me a favor: tweet less and start following Liberty’s lead.
Do all the same leg work that put this game and the MCLA in the spotlight. Find your school’s broadcast journalism chair and sell him/her on [fill in your program name] lacrosse.
Put in some effort and make your team the next one we’re talking about. Otherwise, just be supportive of what others are doing.
* * *
Georgia Tech hosts the East Coast version of the LAX Coaches vs. Cancer event this weekend when Florida State and Minnesota come to Atlanta.
The event itself is fantastic, as it has raised nearly $10,000 over the past two years for the American Cancer Society. Nothing but winners when it comes to that, but Georgia Tech also has business on its mind.
The Yellow Jackets are licking their wounds after a pair of home losses last weekend to No. 3 Chapman and No. 15 Boston College. Another sweep at the hands of No. 22 Florida State and No. 23 Minnesota would be problematic.
What is the MCLA D-I Game of the Week for the period ending March 4? #mcla18
— MCLA Tournament '18 (@MCLA_Tournament) February 27, 2018
On the other side of the country, No. 5 Colorado visiting Chapman on Friday night will be the focus of the SLC Game of the Week livestream. The Buff’s 17-15 win over the Panthers last spring in Boulder was a classic. Expect the same competition level with perhaps fewer goals.
It might not show up on a lot of people’s radar, but the game between No. 16 Concordia-Irvine and No. 19 Simon Fraser could be the best of the bunch this weekend. The Eagles are a spirited, physical bunch and they will find a willing dance partner with the Clan. First one to 15 goals wins.
It’s kind of an exciting three-game-in-four-day stretch for Boston College starting tonight at No. 6 Arizona State and culminating at No. 1 Grand Canyon. If they return to Chestnut Hill 2-1, it’s going to be difficult to keep them from an at-large bid (if they don’t win the PCLL).
What is the D-II Game of the Week for the period ending March 4? #mcla18
— MCLA Tournament '18 (@MCLA_Tournament) February 27, 2018
It’s been a rather slow couple of weeks in Division II, but that will end after this weekend. The second circuit will be taking center stage next weekend with Music City Judgement. Sit tight, D-II fans. We’re getting there.
NOTES: Utah handled business easily last night at Texas. The Utes ride might be its signature unit at this point…Clemson totes its newly-minted national ranking (No. 23) into Saturday’s game against Auburn. The Tigers (Auburn) ended the Tigers’ (Clemson) 14-game winning streak last year. Payback time?...this weekend’s trip to NorCal is an opportunity for San Diego to pocket a couple of nice ranked wins. The Toreros might need them come May…a lot of eyeballs on Colorado State this weekend. If the Rams don’t go 2-0, there aren’t many slam dunks left on the schedule.