Massachusetts college lacrosse standout is benched because his head is too big

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Due to the four-paragraph limit, I had to leave this out:

At Nipmuc Regional High School in Upton, Chu wore a rigged-up helmet that a local fabricator made by combining the front and back portions of two different helmets. But he is no longer in business.

The state organization that oversees public high school athletics approved the custom-made helmet, and Chu made good use of it by notching dozens of victories for his team during two years in goal.

He had hoped to use the same helmet in college, but by the time he arrived at Wheaton last fall, it was too cracked and tattered.

But even if it had been in perfect shape, it likely would not have been allowed: Helmets worn in NCAA-sanctioned sports must be embossed with the official stamp of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. NCAA officials are supposed to randomly check helmets for the stamp before whistling a game to begin.

There are only a few manufacturers of lacrosse helmets. The best known one is Cascade, in Liverpool, New York.