The University of Delaware Blue Hens' season ended last year on May 23rd with a 17-10 loss to the eventual national champions Virginia in the NCAA Quarterfinals at Princeton University. Could that have been the last time we see Coach Bob Shillinglaw's Blue Hens that deep into the playoffs, or can the 2000 Delaware squad rebound from Grant's absence and put a show of their own on in 2000?
What will life really be like for the University of Delaware Blue Hens, now that All-Everything John Grant is no longer around to run the show? Here is a quick look at what John Grant's resume looked like after last years season:

1999 College Lacrosse National Player of the Year
1999 USILA National Player of the Year-Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award
1999 USILA National Attackman of the Year-Lt. Col J.I. Turnbull Award
1999 USILA 1ST Team All-American
1999 American East Player of the Year
1999 Alumni Association Team MVP Award
1999 American East Player of the Year
1999 1ST Team All-America East
1999 America East Player of the Week 3/22/99, 4/19/99, 4/26/99
1999 North-South Senior All-Star Game Participant

It's pretty unrealistic to think that anyone could possibly replicate the type of year that Grant had for Delaware in 1999. With the Grant-less Delaware receiving the #17 preseason rank in D-I, it appears as if no one else really believes that the 2000 Delaware team will be able to repeat their 1999 performance. Bob Shillinglaw, 1999 USILA National Coach of the Year, will be focusing his Hens towards reloading and competing in 2000, rather than trying to replace Grant and his achievements.

Although one of the big questions is who's going to stand in the hoop for Delaware with 1999 starting goalie Ron Jedlicka gone, finding the right guys to line up in front of the cage shouldn't be a big-time mystery. Delaware returns pre-season 2000 All-American HM close defenseman Jeff Kraft(SR) from last years team, along with standout pre-season 2000
All-American 2ND team long-pole midfielder John Ciliberto(SR). Ciliberto may be one of the best long-stick middies in the country, capable of running with any of the top players in nation. Others who should help out on the defensive end will be Keevin Galbraith(JR), Bryan Barrett(JR), and Bill Neely(JR). Jay Motta(9-7-16), Chris Purpora(6-0-6), and freshman Ryan Metzbower are the Blue Hen horses in the middle to watch, with Jason Lavey(19-22-41) and Kenny Carrington(7-2-9) the Delaware attackmen to keep an eye on in 2000. While John Grant's 56 goals and 54 assists from last year's playoff season means absolutely nothing to the 2000 Delaware squad, the experience that the Blue Hen players gained in 1999 from making it to the NCAA Quartefinals is irreplaceable. This experience and the desire to prove themselves without Grant may be the driving forces that help Delaware compete in 2000.