1 MEN OF LACROSSE Jim Brown was one of the greatest running backs in college and professional football history He won the Most Valuable Player MVP Award in the National Football League NFL four times But he was a standout in lacrosse too Brown played lacrosse in high school and at Syracuse University in New York He ended his college career in style Brown played in the 1957 Collegiate North South All-Star Game He scored five goals in one half against the nation’s top college players Jim Brown was one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time 4 4
Dave Pietramala black hat gives instructions to his Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Brown said the freedom he felt on the lacrosse field was one of his favorite aspects of the game He thought lacrosse was much less restrictive than football and allowed him to be more creative 6
Dave Pietramala was a strong defender He led Johns Hopkins University to the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA championship in 1987 He was named the nation’s most outstanding defensive player twice Now he coaches at Johns Hopkins He was the first person to win NCAA championships in lacrosse as a player and a coach at the same school Twin brothers Gary and Paul Gait were among the best to play the game They introduced the Canadian Box style of play The Air Gait leaping play created by Gary Gait remains famous VERSATILE ATHLETES Jim Brown was not the only football star who took up lacrosse New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick played lacrosse in high school and college Tom Gilburg was a punter for the Baltimore Colts in the 1960s He also was an All-American in lacrosse at Syracuse Jim Campbell played lacrosse and football at Navy He flew more than 100 missions as a fighter pilot in Vietnam 7
