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LGR 300 - Jack Allen: Syracuse Roots, England Lacrosse, Ohio State Cage
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We made it to episode 300! Thanks for everyone who has been along for the ride. I enjoy talking shop with goalies so much I'd continue to do this even if we had 0 listeners but the fact that some of you love this conversations (and reach out to tell me so) is simply amazing!
Here's the episode this week - Ohio State goalie Jack Allen has taken about as unusual a path to D1 lacrosse as it gets — born in Syracuse, developed in Ohio, and then at age 10, moved to England, where men's lacrosse is a niche, blue-collar sport and his best option for reps was playing in a men's league with guys from the local Air Force bases.
In this episode, Jack talks about growing up drawn to the goalie position in every sport he played, what he actually looks for when studying goalies on film, and how he digs out of a slump with targeted reps. He opens up about the mental side — the sports psychology resources at Ohio State, the box-breathing reset he uses in the cage, and the French word he picked up on a trip that helps him flush a bad goal.
We also cover his recruiting story (the World Championships as his tape, and a lot of unanswered emails), what it means to play "like a rubber band, not a slinky" at 5'9", why up-the-hash shots were his toughest college adjustment, what he's learned practicing next to Casey "Big Tasty" Yamron, and coming off the bench cold against Rutgers.
Plus a full gear breakdown — STX Eclipse 3, memory mesh, RZR 2 gloves, and the backwards top string that changed his release.
Jack's closing message: lacrosse is the medicine game. Have fun with it, and give back to it.