Inside Lacrosse columnist Peter Lasagna caught up with a whole bunch of NCAA Division I head coaches, including UMass' Greg Cannella, to discuss the importance of "Glue Guys." Here was Cannella's take on the players that make the team go and don't necessarily see the accolades that should correspond with their successes:
"Greg Cannella considers the prototypical "glue guys" those that receive few accolades. For the coach who leads UMass lacrosse in NCAA Tournament wins, these are 'your hardest workers, selfless, fearless leaders, ultimate team players who never fear failure.' They understand how to deal with consequences and know that their ability to convey this lesson creates team-wide trust.
"In a program history filled with an abundance of worthy candidates, Cannella regards Greg Rushing '12 as one of the Minutemen's finest. Rushing came from Fort Collins, Colo., as a face-off specialist. He developed into a 'GB machine,' outstanding on face-off wings and in the defensive midfield. Cannella remembers, 'He hit harder than anyone his size I've ever coached... [He didn't] care who you were, where you came from or how big you were -- he wanted to kick your ass.' This brand of relentless effort 'kept his teammates accountable, created bonds of trust that could never be broken.' Rushing elevated having a teammate's back above all other stat categories."
Read the entire story through InsideLacrosse.com and check out more on the Minutemen via UMassAthletics.com.