tl20080225-01 "Feb. 25, 2008 www.thetowerlight.com The Towerlight Now on TheTowerlight.com: View video Word on the Street and read Kiel McLaughlin�s Towson Sports Blog... A half century of Tiger lacrosse Courtesy Towson University Athletic Department Left, Jesse D�Alonzo, a 1999 graduate, competes against the Loyola Greyhounds. Right, Tom Bruno, a 1981 graduate, was in one of the first classes at Towson to play on Minnegan Field after years playing on Burdick Field. Patrick Smith/The Towerlight Towson sophomore Brock Armour pushes the ball upfield against the Loyola Greyhounds Saturday in the Tigers� home opener at Johnny Unitas Stadium. The matchup began the 50th season in the history of the Towson men�s lacrosse program. Kiel McLaughlin News Editor Charm City�s favorite pastime has grown into one of Towson�s strongest sporting traditions during last half-centu-ry. Since 1959, Tiger lacrosse has built a reputation as the area as Baltimore�s top public program, with a national champi-onship along with 40 all-Americans, and three hall of famers to its credit. Saturday, before Mitchell Rosensweig and Tim McDermott strode to the 50-yard line of Johnny Unitas Stadium to begin the Tigers� season-opener against the rival Loyola Greyhounds, the celebration had already begun. Through the foggy windows of the Minnegan Room in the Unitas Stadium Field House, 50 years of Towson history overlooked the recently refurbished sur-face of Minnegan Field. �We have really progressed and it�s nice to see,� former head coach Carl Runk said. �I look out and see them practicing on that field. When we were starting, we were practicing in the park-ing lot before playing Syracuse.� Runk coached the Tigers for 30 years, from 1968-98 compiling a career record of 262-161. A member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Runk began playing lacrosse as a teenager at Patterson High School in Baltimore City. After spending several years coaching high school in Arizona, Runk was hassled for months by athletic director Donald �Doc� Minnegan to return to Baltimore. �I loved Arizona. I was so happy there and had no intentions of coming back to Towson. But Doc Minnegan was persistent. He didn�t leave me alone,� Runk said. Six years after returning, Runk brought Towson an NCAA Division II National Championship. The Tigers finished the season 14-1, only dropping a high-scoring 19-17 decision to Washington & Lee College midseason. In the finals, Towson defeated Hobart College 18-17 in overtime. The leader of that team was two-time all-American and 1990 hall of fame inductee Bob Griebe. �Winning the national championship was certainly a highlight for my career but it was just a lot of fun going out there and playing,� he said. �I wasn�t a big fan of lacrosse. I just liked playing. I wanted to go out there and play and have a good time.� Arguably the program�s greatest player, Griebe holds Towson records for scoring and assists. Beyond campus, Griebe captained the 1982 U.S. National team in the World Championships. He also represented the United States in 1978 and 1986. A Baltimore tradition becomes staple of life in Towson; program�s greatest are honored See LAX, page 23 Published by and for the students of Towson and Baltimore -- twice-weekly Students brave cold weather to tailgate before lacrosse game News, page 7 �Vagina Monologues� comes to campus Arts, page 16 Monday "
