Tufts 2010

2009 Recap: After a modest 2008, the Jumbos exploded onto the scene in 2009 with the help of some serious production by D.J. Hessler, the only player even mentioned in the same breath as Mike Stone. While Hessler is fare more mortal than the now-graduated Stone, his talents paired with two ideal running mates at attack and very good team defense put the Jumbos in the NESCAC championship game where they lost to Wesleyan. Like the Cardinals, Tufts fell in the NCAA tournament in dissapointing fashion to a team (WNEC) that they had already beaten.

2010 Trend: Upward

What's hot: Upward? Didn't they finish in second? Oh that's right, the big honkin' elephants of Tufts University are my pick to take the 3rd Annual Dave Campbell Charity Giveaway featuring the men's lacrosse NESCAC championship. I suppose winning the NESCAC championship can be considered "hot." Yes, we all know they lost Harrigan, Yarboro, McNally and other important pieces, but they do return Ryan Molloy, the man who barely edged out Gabe Kelley for most underrated player in the NESCAC. The offense will be fine even with some depth issues through the midfield simply because Hessler really is that good. Tufts also has my absurdly early choice for NESCAC ROY, attackman Andrew Fiamengo, who has the ability to take some of the load off of Hessler. When two of your three (Wes, Midd, Bowdoin) major competitors for the NESCAC championship have serious holes at close defense, having a loaded attack will do a lot for you.

What's not: Harrigan was a solid goalie who can be replaced in terms of shot-stopping ability, but his intangibles such as leadership and communication will be sorely missed. The lack of a proven goalies only worries me when Tufts play Bowdoin and Conn, the only two teams that seem to be capable of legitimately slowing down the potent offense the Jumbos have assembled. A hot Jake McCampbell or Mark Moran (the two best goalies in the league when they are on their game) has the potential to stop any offense in its tracks. Without the ability to score a ton of goals, the potential is there for Tufts to lose because they won't be as stout defensively. However, such a concern is minor given that both Moran and McCampbell were wildly inconsistent last year.

What we should be talking about: The derogatory nature of the term Jumbo towards overweight elephants (Hey this is the NESCAC, where activism is in vogue); the impact of losing one of the best names in the NESCAC from their roster (Clem McNally); which substances influenced those who chose baby blue and brown as the school colors; whether it would be appropriate protocol or not to present Dave Campbell with an honorary NESCAC championship after Tufts wins in the spring; where to get D.J. Hessler's NESCAC POY trophies for the next two years inscribed.