It was just last year that Brian Duncan would wake up to the dark cold and miserable February mornings in Maryland, to get his spring lacrosse season started.
Usually around the 15th of January, it’s around 30 degrees farenheit at dawn, there’s frost on the field and all of the players and coaches can see their breath.
This February Coach Duncan will wake up to a much different atmosphere, one that may seem surreal to a lifetime Baltimorean. On January 15th of 2010, Coach Duncan will begin anew, he’ll stroll out on to the field with short sleeves and sunglasses on, basking in the early morning sunshine in Jacksonville, Florida.
This spring, the Jacksonville University Dolphins will undergo their inaugural season of Division I lacrosse. Their first game will be at home against the North Carolina Tar Heels on February 6, 2010.
Head Coach Matt Kerwick and Assistant Coach Brian Duncan have scouted players for the past two years, from New York to the hometown of Jacksonville, there are players from 12 different states, and two from Ontario, Canada.
“This has been like a dream come true, I never imagined lacrosse in the state of Florida, much less being sought after to help run the first ever program.” Said Head Coach Matt Kerwick.
Jacksonville is the only Division I lacrosse program in the state of Florida, and although it might be sunshine and waves nearby, this first season for the Dolphins will have it’s rough spots.
“We only have one Junior on our roster, the rest are split between sophomores and freshman, so it will be a challenge this year to compete with 22 and 23 year old men on some of these other Division I teams.” Said Coach Duncan.
The Dolphins will play five of their first six games at home, hopefully that will ease the onslaught from traditional powerhouses like UNC, Denver, Bucknell and Duke.
“No matter the results from the first season, this program will continue to grow, who wouldn’t want to come to Florida and help lay the foundation for this program?” Said Duncan
