Q; What kind of school is Washington and Lee?

A: Washington and Lee is a small, private, coeducational institution.  The university is devoted at the undergraduate level to providing educational excellence in the humanities, liberal arts and sciences and business and commerce.  There are two undergraduate divisions-the College (of arts and sciences) and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics; the only post baccalaureate division is the nationally recognized School of Law.  While Washington and Lee’s size—about 1,760 undergraduates—hardly makes it unique among small liberal arts colleges, the comprehensive curriculum does.  In a given academic year, more than 800 different courses are taught; there are more than 40 majors ranging from accounting to neurophysiology.  Additionally, there is an array of special academic opportunities, including honors work, the Robert E. Lee Undergraduate Research Program, a six-week Spring Term, independent work, interdepartmental majors and a pre-professional ethics in the professions program with courses in environmental studies, journalism, law, medicine, and business.

  Regarding the faculty, 90 percent hold earned doctorate degrees.  It is both a distinguished and accessible faculty, dedicated to teaching, but actively involved in research and creative work.  The student-faculty ratio is 16-to-1, and the average class size is less than 30.

Q: Where is Washington and Lee?

A: The University is in the historic town of Lexington, Virginia, situated in the Shenandoah Valley—one of the nation’s most beautiful locations.  Lexington has about 7,000 year-round residents, and it is also the home of the Virginia Military Institute.

Q: How much does Washington and Lee cost?

A: The comprehensive tuition for 2006-2007 is $31,175 and room costs range from $2,620-$4,620.  Meals in the Elrod University Commons are $4,230 a year.  There is also a $195 students activities fee.

Q: What is W&L’s lacrosse tradition?

A: W&L has a rich tradition of excellence in lacrosse dating back to 1938 when it founded the first lacrosse team in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  In 1947, the University joined the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and since then has had 168 All-America recognitions, 84 North-South participants, four C. Markland Kelly Award recipients (the most “Outstanding Goalie in the Nation”) and two National Coaches-of-the-Year.  It hosted the North-South game twice.  From 1972 to 1986, W&L played in NCAA Division I—without athletic scholarships—and appeared in eight Division I tournaments.  In 1987, W&L’s first season in NCAA Division III, the Generals had an 11-4 record and reached the semi-finals of the NCAA tournament.  W&L has been ranked nationally for the last 15 years and reached the NCAA Division III tournament in 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Q: Who is the lacrosse coach?

A: Gene McCabe is in his first season as head men’s lacrosse coach at Washington and Lee. McCabe is no stranger to W&L lacrosse, having served as an assistant lacrosse and football coach for the Generals from 1998-2001.  During his three seasons with the lacrosse team, the Generals posted a 43-5 (.896) overall record and a 17-1 mark in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference while achieving a No. 1 National Ranking in 1999 and 2001.  Additionally, W&L won two ODAC Championships and participated in the NCAA Tournament twice, advancing to the semifinals in 2000. After a successful run with the Generals, McCabe left for Hamilton College in January of 2002, steering the Continentals to a 54-18 (.750) overall record.  His 2003 team finished the season with a school-record 15 wins (15-3), claimed the Liberty League title and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.  For his efforts, McCabe was named the Liberty League Coach of the Year and USILA Division III National Coach of the Year.  McCabe and his staff were also selected the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year following an 11-3 season in 2006.  In his five seasons, McCabe mentored seven Continentals to USILA All-America accolades. McCabe graduated from Bates College in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in European history. At Bates, he lettered in both lacrosse and football. He and his wife Kristen have three young daughters; Kaelan (7), Molly (3), and Ava (1).

Q: What school does W&L compete against in lacrosse?

A: The Generals compete  in the NCAA Division III and Old Dominion Athletic Conference.  The ODAC is a seven-team conference consisting of W&L, Roanoke College, Hampden-Sydney College, Guilford College, Lynchburg College, Randolph-Macon College, and Virginia Wesleyan College.  In addition to the ODAC schedule, W&L plays a national schedule of both Division I and Division III opponents including Washington College, Franklin and Marshall, Gettysburg and VMI.

Q: Does W&L offer athletic scholarships?

A: W&L operates under NCAA Division III financial aid guidelines that prohibit awarding financial grants on the basis of athletic ability and potential.  W&L’s objective is to be able to award student financial aid equal to the demonstrated need of all who require it.  In the typical aid package, students are required to borrow no more than $2,000 of their computed need and receive the balance in the form of scholarship grants and on-campus employment.

Q: What are the lacrosse facilities at W&L?

A: The lacrosse team plays its home games on Wilson Field, a 7,000-seat stadium with a natural grass surface.  It practices on Alumni Field, an enclosed natural grass field just above the stadium.  During the season, the Generals’ locker room is located at Wilson Field, but in the fall and winter, the locker room is in the five-story Warner Center which also houses a swimming pool, weight room, racquetball/squash/handball courts and two gymnasiums.  In inclement weather, the lacrosse team practices on the W&L turf field.

Q: Where do the W&L lacrosse players come from and how many players are on the team?

A: Many of the players are from the Baltimore and New York area, but twelve states were represented on the 2006 team, including players from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia.  Freshman have the opportunity not only to make the varsity team, but to play immediately; in 2005 there were 12 freshman on the roster.  The final roster has between 36 and 40 players.

Q: What is W&L looking for in a high school athlete?

A: Academically, W&L is a very competitive school.  We’re looking for the athlete who also excels in the classroom.  Applicants will be expected to have taken SAT’s and two achievement tests.  The applicant’s high school curriculum should be college preparatory.

Athletically, W&L lacrosse is looking for players who wish to play college lacrosse at one of its highest and most competitive levels.  We look for those players who believe in hard work and, at the same time, enjoy playing lacrosse.  Our goal is to make you the best college player possible and to ensure that your athletic and academic experiences are enjoyable.

Q: If I play lacrosse and work hard at my academics, will I have time for anything else?

A: One of the advantages of the W&L lacrosse program is that it encourages players to become involved in other aspects of University life.  In recent years, lacrosse players have been active in all areas of campus life.  They have served as student government representatives, dorm counselors, yearbook editors, radio DJ’s, cable TV producers and directors, student newspaper reporters and members of social fraternities and honor societies.  A number also participate in one of the other 12 intercollegiate men’s sports, and almost all are active in the intramural program.

Q: What is the practice schedule like?

A: Regular in-season practice begins the third Monday in January and continues daily into May with a one-week exam break in April.  Practices are held in the late afternoon and are approximately two hours long.  If there is an academic conflict with a practice, a player is expected to honor his academic responsibility first.

Q; Does W&L have fall lacrosse?

A: W&L has a four-week lacrosse program.  Practices are held for a maximum of two hours beginning the second week of classes and ending the fifth week of classes before mid-term exams.  Fall ball tryouts are open to all interested W&L students who are not participating in a fall sport.

Q; What is W&L’s off-season program?

A: Each player is given a recommended off-season program to work out on his own.  The program emphasizes strength, stick work and agility  improvement.   After Thanksgiving, an aerobic conditioning program is given to each player to do on his own, and in January, the players run for 45 minutes three times a week and lift three times a week.  Goalies begin individual and position practice on the third Monday in January.

Q: Does W&L take a pre-season trip?

A: A very important aspect of W&L’s pre-season preparation is the Generals’ week-long February trip to Florida, which is taken during the University’s Washington holiday.  The players help finance the trip through fund-raising projects during the year and use the week of double-session practices and scrimmages to come together as a team, to improve their lacrosse and also to have some fun.

Q: Why should I consider playing lacrosse at W&L?

A: If you are interested in participating in a nationally competitive program—one that keeps lacrosse in the proper perspective—while attending one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges, then you should choose Washington and Lee and play lacrosse for the Generals.  You will have the opportunity to pursue both academic and lacrosse excellence in an overall undergraduate environment that is second to none.

Q: If I want to express my interest in W&L and its lacrosse program and begin the recruiting process, what should I do?

A: Send a letter to coach Gene McCabe, Men’s Lacrosse Office, Washington and Lee University, P.O. Drawer 928, Lexington, Virginia 24450, call (540) 458-8678, or email mccabee@wlu.edu.