I wear the ring.   These were the first words written in Pat Conroy’s infamous book, “The Lords of Discipline”.   Like Conroy, I too wear the ring.   Although from vastly different eras, and of vastly different opinions in pretty much everything, we share that bond – nothing can or will change that.   You too, will wear this ring.   You too will represent this school in the outside world.   Whether in the civilian or military world, this band of gold will be beacon of leadership, ethics, and honor that the whole world has recognized and expects.   You will be judged and scrutinized more than others that don’t wear the ring, by your character, your appearance, your performance, your family, your words, your actions.   Not because they don’t trust you, not because you don’t perform; because you wear that ring.   It is expected.   Nothing will ever change that.   You owe it to your school, you owe to those that have died in the line of duty, you owe it the alumnus, you owe it to the four years of pain and suffering that you went through to get that ring, you owe it to yourself.

                I wear The Citadel Lacrosse Uniform.   I wore the Citadel Lacrosse Uniform when I was a cadet, I wear the Citadel Lacrosse uniform now as a Coach.   You too, wear the same uniform.   You wear the same letters, the same colors, and the same cleats that carry the mud from the same field that I and those before me played on.   You wear the uniform of the players that have been playing for the Citadel since the early 60’s.   You represent the school in your conduct, your play, and your actions on and off the field.   You will be judged and scrutinized by the very same tenants, not because you are a lacrosse player, but because you are a CITADEL LACROSSE player.   It too, is because it is expected.   It too will never change.   You owe it to your school, you owe to those that have died in the line of duty, you owe it the alumnus, you owe it to the to the sting and pain of practice and in games, you owe it to yourself.

                You are as one.   You collectively are judged and scrutinized for the very same tenants described above.   One may wear the ring, one may wear the uniform, but if one discredits or dishonors that uniform, it is not just the one that is judged.   It is the school, it is the team.   There is no doubt that there are those that love the school and love the team as much as I do, as much as those that came before me – but it is those that do not, that bring discredit to our team, and our institution.   It is those that do not give it their all, that do not show the pain of defeat, the pain of physical exhaustion, the pain of humiliation, the pain of dishonor, that taint those that do.   It is those that do not love their teammates, their classmates, their school, and their ring that continue to spread the "cancer" that the world will be quick to see – and to judge.   Not because there are not good graduates.   Not because there are not good cadets.   Not because there are not good Citadel Lacrosse players. But because it is expected – it is expected for us to play with pride, honor, good conduct and sportsmanship, to play with heart and soul.   When this does not happen, the world knows.   You chose the “path less traveled” by coming here.   You chose the “path less traveled” by putting on the Citadel Lacrosse uniform.   Never forget that, never forget what you represent.   Never forget who you really play for – it is not a name, it is not these Moorish buildings, it is not for the love of the game.   It is for those that wear the ring.   It is for those that came before you, it is for those that now think back to a better time free of war, free of debt, free of heartbreak, free of the nuances from day-to-day; a time when it was their teammates, their classmates, a lacrosse stick, and PROMINENCE – both on and off the field.   NEVER FORGET.

Citadel Lacrosse Head Coach, Christian Adams '99