In just his first semester at Syracuse, Scott Ditzell has made a unique name for himself on the Syracuse men’s lacrosse team.

Problem is, no matter how well it fits the rough-and-tough junior transfer from Herkimer, it probably isn’t one he wants.

‘Meat,’ SU captain and fellow defenseman Dan DiPietro said. ‘He eats beef sticks. He kills deer, brings them to South and eats them on South. Meathead.’

Ditzell doesn’t mind the abuse – just finally being at Syracuse is enough for the Geneva native. When he played for Herkimer, someday pulling on an SU jersey was always in the back of his mind. Now, he’s where he wants to be, and he’s already a major contributor on SU’s defense.

While SU’s offense dominated in two wins during Spring Break – scoring a combined 37 goals, including 11 from sophomore attackman Brian Crockett – over Notre Dame and defending national champion Virginia, Ditzell helped strengthen a defense that’s been overhauled since giving up more than 10 goals per game last year.

‘We’ve got a few new guys out there,’ SU head coach John Desko said. ‘It’s starting to come together.’

Much of that is because of Ditzell. With his 6-foot-2, 213-pound frame, Ditzell is one of SU’s most athletic defensive players. Desko has already used Ditzell at close defense, long-stick defense and on the wing for face-offs.

‘He can cover anybody,’ Desko said. ‘His versatility starts with his athletic ability.’

Ditzell earned that athleticism through lifting weights. At Geneva High, his football coach – Ditzell played quarterback and linebacker – turned him on to lifting. Ditzell became, as he put it, ‘addicted’ to the gym.

It’s a healthy addiction. His work ethic in the weight room has made him, ‘probably the strongest guy on the team,’ according to DiPietro.

‘That’s huge,’ Ditzell said. ‘That’s kind of my area that makes up for everything. I spend a lot of time in the weight room.’

At Herkimer, that strength helped him lead his team to the junior college national championship last season. Ditzell was named NJCAA Defenseman of the Year.

But playing at the junior college, about an hour away from Syracuse, wasn’t easy. Ditzell and his teammates had to practice in a gym barely big enough for full-court basketball.

Didn’t bother Ditzell, though. A throwback, Ditzell talked for more than an hour and a half about lacrosse the first time he ever met DiPietro.

‘I’m not a big guy on equipment,’ Ditzell said. ‘I’ll play anywhere.’

Those humble beginnings don’t mean Ditzell’s intimidated.

‘Offensive guys don’t like to go against him,’ DiPietro said. ‘He hacks and knocks them around. He doesn’t take any crap from anybody. Doesn’t matter who it is.’

Motivation isn’t a problem for Ditzell. While he played for Herkimer – and also football for Hobart for a semester – he couldn’t get SU lacrosse off of his mind. When Herkimer played SU in fall 2002 in the Pumpkin Stick-Out, he was floored by how physical SU’s defensemen were. Growing up, he was awed by SU’s lacrosse tradition.

He still takes that attitude every time he steps on the field.

‘Every time you step on the field, you get that wonderful feeling, a tingle down your spine,’ Ditzell said. ‘You can’t wait to get on the field and play.’

When Ditzell does get there he makes the most of his time.

‘He brings a lot of confidence,’ DiPietro said. ‘He’s a lot more physical than anybody else. He gets push (penalties) he doesn’t even mean. He’s just playing D and the guy goes down. Just balls out, every single time.’

Sometimes, he walks a fine line between being fired up and being out of control. In SU’s second game, against Notre Dame, Ditzell drew four penalties, including an unnecessary roughness with two minutes left in SU’s 18-12 win.

But living on that edge isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

‘He hits guys all over the field,’ DiPietro said. ‘We need that. You need one guy like him.’

DiPietro doesn’t mean each team needs someone they can call ‘meathead.’ He means each team needs a guy who wears work boots and a Carhart jacket everywhere, a guy who’s not afraid to challenge the opponent’s best attackman in his first Division I game.

In other words, a guy like Ditzell. And he has a different name for it.

‘Blue collar,’ Ditzell said. ‘That’s me.’

Published on March 16, 2004 at 12:00 pm