Demons - The Next High School Team?

To some I may seem overly optimistic, especially when it comes to lacrosse. Still, I can't help this feeling that we are on the verge of seeing high school lacrosse take off in the metro area - maybe even the whole state!

Another Iowa team would be great to really get lacrosse moving in the state. I've been touch with people in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and Cedar Falls/Waterloo about setting up a team or two to represent the Cedar Valley. I've heard rumblings of a Quad Cities team. Most recently I heard that efforts are underway in Ames (but have not heard from anyone up there yet). Given their proximity to lacrosse-rich Minnesota and Wisconsin, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Mason City and Dubuque might be planning teams...

The one thing I have not heard for sure is that a second team is coming together in Des Moines. In response to the last Des Moines Register article about the Valley team someone asked about more DM-area high school lax programs. He/she went so far as to suggest the Dowling, Roosevelt, and Hoover might be interested. I added Urbandale, Johnston, Ankeny, and Southeast Polk to that list. Honestly, I'd love for everyone of those schools (Hoover has me scratching my head though) to have a program. But seeing as we're planning on barely enough Valley & Waukee kids to have a varsity and JV in 2010, I'm not sure that can happen right now.

Unified Des Moines

What I propose instead is that a unified Des Moines team be created for all of the players at schools other than Valley & Waukee. They would go through the same probationary process that Valley went through this year and would be eligible to compete as a varsity team in their second year. As a unified representative of the Des Moines metro, this team needs a name not linked to any area high schools. I'm thinking that Demons might be a good idea.

Case for using the Demons name

1. The name, logo, and colors are already established
2. Merchandise/fan wear is already available
3. The adult team has not yet started play
4. There could be continuity between the two (Bucs & Jr Bucs kind of thing)
5. Uniforms could be ordered in a larger bulk (for both teams) which lessens the price
6. People are already talking about the Demons...

Case against using the Demons

1. I came up with the concept as an adult lacrosse reallying point and as a 2010 target
2. Using the Demons name and logo for a high school team may weaken the adult team's image
3. Some parents may be offended by the Demons name/logo since it alludes to (gasp) the Devil!
4. Other unified teams do not use an adult league name (ie Rampage & Tiger Beetles in Lincoln)
5. I'm tied to the Valley team (as long as they will have me!)
6. People are already talking about the Demons...

Precedence for Unified Teams

Currently the RC Black Knights and the Rampage are unified teams representing entire cities. Both teams hope to increase exposure enough to break off into individual schools or smaller groups of schools. Many of the Omaha schools fielded joint teams (much like Valley currently does) in the league's early days. They broke apart as participation increased. We hope that Valley and Waukee can split by 2013 or so.

Your Role

Before this issue even matters we need another high school team to want to form. We need people to coach the team. And we need someone to fund the team. If a school steps up and offers to buy uniforms (like Valley did) then the whole issue is a wash anyway.
In addition to responding to the poll, I'd love some feedback from people. Please comment below rather than emailing me so that everyone can get an idea of what the actual sentiment is. I've enable anonymous comments so have at it!

I've written this post on the Demons site because I thought it would be more appropriate here given the suggestion I've made.