LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

I'm thinking about changing things around slightly with regard to next year's top 25 polls. And I'd like to get your input.

As you may remember, last year we announced two polls (Division A and Division B poll) every other week - starting in mid/late February.

I'm thinking about splitting the two polls so they don't come out on the same week. The final two polls are fixed for Monday evening, April 30th.

Listed below is the schedule I'm considering. It would spread out my workload to produce the polls and give the voters (some of which vote in both polls) more time to research their vote/cast their ballot.

It would also be a nice tight fit with one poll coming out each week on the web site. The polls generate a lot of interest in the web site!

Feb. 7 - Div. B
Feb. 14 - Div. A
Feb. 21 - Div. B
Feb. 28 - Div. A
Mar. 7 - Div. B
Mar. 14 - Div. A
Mar. 21 - Div. B
Mar. 28 - Div. A
Apr. 4 - Div. B
Apr. 11 - Div. A
Apr. 18 - Div. B
Apr. 25 - Div. A

Monday, April 30 - Final Div. A & Div. B Polls (National Championship Fields are announced).

Tues, May 8 - Sat, May 12: 2007 MCLA National Championships

Your thoughts and concerns are appreciated. Especially if you are a voter in the past and would like to continue in that role moving forward.

Also note: I will solicit new poll voters in mid/late October. So stay tuned to the web site. Please hold your emails until then.

I like that idea.

Good idea Sonny, i'm all for it.

I think it makes a lot of sense. One question that I have is that are the first polls for Div A & Div B necessary? There is a very small sampling of games by that time that it is largely conjecture and past season results that play into these polls. I would think that reducing the number of polls might make some sense, especially early in the season.

I agree with CAT - I think the biggest issue is that we attempt to rush some of these polls (and we all know how many curveballs life throws at you that can impact your time and research to make sure it is evaluated correctly from all pollsters) and this would allow the research time to for pollsters to weigh everything and compile as much information about teams as possible.....i still think we do need a preliminary poll to start the season, like a preseason top 25 poll that should come out roughly 2-3 weeks prior to the season for a refrence tool prior to the FIRST Regular season poll....

I too would lean towards waiting until more teams have played a few games, so that voters can at least have current data to help rationalize their 25 votes. I would also prefer that there be weekly polls for the later portion of the season.

Though this wasn't the original question, I too agree that some games need to be played before the first poll. Allowing the season to shake out a little prevents inertia in the rankings. You see it every year in college football, Team X is over ranked and starts to lose but drops slowly in the polls based on rep or what have you while Team Y is having a season to remember but can't climb very quickly because who are they anyway?

I've heard from a few of you on and off line to eliminate the two early polls (due to lack of real game results). That would leave us with a poll schedule like this:
Feb. 21 - Div. B
Feb. 28 - Div. A
Mar. 7 - Div. B
Mar. 14 - Div. A
Mar. 21 - Div. B
Mar. 28 - Div. A
Apr. 4 - Div. B
Apr. 11 - Div. A
Apr. 18 - Div. B
Apr. 25 - Div. A

Monday, April 30 - Final Div. A & Div. B Polls (National Championship Fields are announced). [Tues, May 8 - Sat, May 12: 2007 MCLA National Championships]

Any more discussion or thoughts?

That looks pretty good. I still like the final poll after the championships. There's a lot of people that aren't watching that closely and it helps to sew things up for them.

If there is a final poll after the championships, then I think we should tell voters to ignore the consolation games. Even so, I'm sure they will still influence some voters.

Sonny wrote:I've heard from a few of you on and off line to eliminate the two early polls (due to lack of real game results). That would leave us with a poll schedule like this:
Feb. 21 - Div. B
Feb. 28 - Div. A
Mar. 7 - Div. B
Mar. 14 - Div. A
Mar. 21 - Div. B
Mar. 28 - Div. A
Apr. 4 - Div. B
Apr. 11 - Div. A
Apr. 18 - Div. B
Apr. 25 - Div. A

Monday, April 30 - Final Div. A & Div. B Polls (National Championship Fields are announced). [Tues, May 8 - Sat, May 12: 2007 MCLA National Championships]

Any more discussion or thoughts?

It's looking good, Sonny. I'm glad you are getting rid of the preseason and really early season polls.

DG

We are still going to do a preseason poll.

I know this is really early but any idea of the date of release of the preseason poll? If my memory is correct the poll came out before the winter break last year.

last year, we did the first week of December.

I haven't decided if we are going to do that again (or something else later).

Going once, going twice.....