GCLA COLLEGE LACROSSE
Although the league is best known for its men's club lacrosse competition, the GCLA's contribution to the region's college lacrosse landscape cannot be ignored. In fact, the very first GCLA Champion was a college team- Tulane University in 1996. College lacrosse teams have been competing in the GCLA ever since.
For the most part, this has been based on need. The league has always been open to serve those that truly need this league, whether it be for one season or twenty. This has included more than its share of college teams. In some cases, it was helping programs get started for the very first time. For others, it was to help rebuild programs that had fallen by the wayside. Several of these programs have moved on to more substantial environments, while others simply did not last. Still, each college team that has come to the league has become part of the fabric of the league's history and culture.
It is clearly in the GCLA's best interest to continue to support college programs. Many GCLA college players later become club players, and many club players will in turn support their former schools.
After more than two decades of being a safe haven for college programs in need, the GCLA decided to embark on a more deliberate path in terms of its college program. In 2019, the league began to collaborate for the formation of the Texas Collegiate Lacrosse League (TCLL), a more permanent solution for college programs. The entire Covid issue temporarily wiped discussions of the TCLL off the agenda, but it is being discussed again. Before Covid, in fact, the TCLL movement was helping to create new college leagues in both Oklahoma as well as to the east, in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Despite those efforts being halted for a time, discussions have begun again.
The primary force behind the TCLL "movement" was simple necessity. Even by 2023, the number of colleges that had lost their programs in recent years was growing. The primary reason had been cost, both to the schools and to the players themselves. Established college leagues required player dues anywhere from over $800-1500 or more per season, depending on the program. And many programs were playing schedules of just 4-6 games per season. The cost was also preventing these schools from fielding their best possible teams as players were unable to meet the rising cost of team membership. So, teams were folding due to lack of players, and one school folded due to monetary issues.
The GCLA exists to serve the sport of lacrosse, and that goes for the collegiate level as well. We are here for those schools that need us, whether it is for one season or for thirty. We do everything we can to assist these schools in reaching their overall goals while providing for them them the best possible experience at the most affordable cost.
Texas Collegiate Lacrosse League
The idea for the TCLL began in 2019 to provide an affordable, fun, and competitive league for its member schools and players. The design was such that any school, of virtually any size, could afford to field a lacrosse team. Low costs and low barriers to entry are the main themes of this league.
The TCLL model is such that teams could play a full complement of games each regular season while asking for between $100-150/per player each season. This is sharply down from what other college leagues require. We have uncovered additional ways in which teams can save money on uniforms, gear, and other necessities. The idea is to maximize the amount of lacrosse that is played, maximize the number of players, and minimize the cost.
Done properly, such a league can become a permanent home for schools of virtually any size or budget. Whether its a commuter school with 30,000 students, or a small campus of 850 students, the TCLL csn serve the needs of colleges quite easily.
If interested in the TCLL, or if you believe your school can find a home here, please contact us. We would like to assist your school in reaching its lacrosse goals. We are not just limited to Texas, either.
Steve Mathiason, 713-366-6094, metrolax@yahoo.com
GCLA College Teams over the years.....
Seen here are images from just a sample of the schools that have called the GCLA home over the years. Top left is the University of Houston at the 2002 GCLA Playoffs. Top right is UTSA at the Gulf Coast Invitational Tournament. Middle left is Sam Houston State at the GCLA Playoffs, and immediately above is LSUS at the Oklatex Tournament. And, to the left, is the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
Tulane University, Loyola University, Spring Hill College, LSU, Lamar University, University of Houston, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, TAMU-Corpus Christi, Trinity University, UTSA, St. Edwards University, Blinn College, TCU, Louisiana Tech, LSU-Shreveport, UL-Monroe, Mississippi State, Rhodes College, and a few others.....they all called the GCLA home at one time or another.
GCLA College Roll Call over the Years