2008 Lax World MCLA Division 1 Top 25 Poll (4/9/08) is out

[StrykerFSU]

Out of all these teams FSU has played, LMU has been terrible until this year, and now they are just alright. Santa Clara has been cosistently terrible every year except this year they are a little bit better. BC has had a couple of alright years and Utah is so inconsistent that no one is sure what to think of them.
For Florida you brought up UCLA and USC, two teams that haven't beaten anyone ever.
So left over we have BYU, Sonoma, UCSB, Michigan, Chapman. Aside from beating UCSB this year you are bragging about a bunch of losses.

You have a valid arguement that beating SB should help your team in the polls. But teams like Sonoma and Oregon have not lost to anyone ranked below them, whereas the SELC teams have, so you cannot justify them being ranked higher.

I was only trying to illustrate that the Florida teams have played extensively OOC, not bragging about anything. I wasn't meaning to imply that all of those teams were noteworthy, that's my mistake for not being clear.

Sonoma got spanked by UCSB who lost to UF and FSU but yet both are ranked higher, why?

And what I said about Sonoma was

And Sonoma lives it up at #9 on the strength of a win over not as good as usual CSU on March 15 and a "good" loss to Simon Fraser (because we shouldn't talk about the thumping they took at the hands of UCSB - that team that didn't look so good in Florida).

I bet that there are at least four teams in the SELC (and BC) that would love to come to Nationals and prove to the doubters that the conference has improved and that wins over UCSB and Utah were no fluke. Unfortunately, with the way it looks right now the cycle of WCLL and RMLC teams starting in the Top 10 based on preseason polls, all beating up on each other (and maybe losing to a UF or FSU), and then claiming that they deserve their high rankings following losses because no one else plays Top 10 competition will continue.

[westcoastlax]

Not biased. That's how the game went, but Sonoma still got whooped. I think it had a lot to do with the tortillas that were thrown last time SSU was in SB.

Why, what ever are you refering to? That doesn't sound like something a well mannered sonoma fan would do.

[westcoastlax]

Out of all these teams FSU has played, LMU has been terrible until this year, and now they are just alright. Santa Clara has been cosistently terrible every year except this year they are a little bit better. BC has had a couple of alright years and Utah is so inconsistent that no one is sure what to think of them.
For Florida you brought up UCLA and USC, two teams that haven't beaten anyone ever.
So left over we have BYU, Sonoma, UCSB, Michigan, Chapman. Aside from beating UCSB this year you are bragging about a bunch of losses.

You have a valid arguement that beating SB should help your team in the polls. But teams like Sonoma and Oregon have not lost to anyone ranked below them, whereas the SELC teams have, so you cannot justify them being ranked higher.

I was only trying to illustrate that the Florida teams have played extensively OOC, not bragging about anything. I wasn't meaning to imply that all of those teams were noteworthy, that's my mistake for not being clear.

Sonoma got spanked by UCSB who lost to UF and FSU but yet both are ranked higher, why?

And what I said about Sonoma was

And Sonoma lives it up at #9 on the strength of a win over not as good as usual CSU on March 15 and a "good" loss to Simon Fraser (because we shouldn't talk about the thumping they took at the hands of UCSB - that team that didn't look so good in Florida).

I bet that there are at least four teams in the SELC (and BC) that would love to come to Nationals and prove to the doubters that the conference has improved and that wins over UCSB and Utah were no fluke. Unfortunately, with the way it looks right now the cycle of WCLL and RMLC teams starting in the Top 10 based on preseason polls, all beating up on each other (and maybe losing to a UF or FSU), and then claiming that they deserve their high rankings following losses because no one else plays Top 10 competition will continue.

Whatever, I'm over this bull. It is just going in circles.

[Ravaging Beast]

Not biased. That's how the game went, but Sonoma still got whooped. I think it had a lot to do with the tortillas that were thrown last time SSU was in SB.

Why, what ever are you refering to? That doesn't sound like something a well mannered sonoma fan would do.

The mullets and severely burned necks must have thrown me off.

[EvanFSU]

CATLAX MAN wrote:


The solution to the problem is easy. Schedule multiple teams that are going to be in the Top 10 every year and you won't have this "non-recognition" problem. The more exposure you get amongst the voters, the more likely you will get the recognition you crave.

As former President of FSU lax from 2003-2005, I can tell you that we always tried to schedule the toughest competition. In 2003, we had CSU down to Tallahassee. As Stryker mentinoned, we played, BYU, Sonoma, Michigan, Chapman, BC, Duluth, Simon Frasier, Stanford, plus always UF, Va Tech and GTech. We traveled to Califorinia, North Carolina and even Maryland to play in D1/D3 pre season competitions all to gain experience. We did everything we could to raise the level of our play and in 2005 it started to pay off. The same can be said for FL and VA Tech who have played good competition. Georgia is slightly behind in that respect but they are doing a remarkable job and are only going to get better.

Again, everyone keeps talking of the SELC from tourney's past. Stop measuring the SELC by Auburn 02 and start measuring them by UF 03 or FSU 05.

This year, the SELC happens to be as strong if not stronger then the WCLL. If those of you on the west coast arent happy about it, form your own league!

[DG]

Is this discussion about where you are seeded in Dallas, or whether your poll position preculdes you from going to Dallas? As it relates to the former, there's only one team here that might have a gripe, and that's Georgia.

By my calculations, here's what it looks like...

IN
Rank # Conference TEAM
1 CCLA Michigan (37)
2 WCLL Chapman University (3)
3 UMLL Minnesota-Duluth
4 AL-RMLC BYU
5 PNCLL Simon Fraser
6 AL-WCLL Arizona State
7 AL-RMLC Colorado State
8 AL-WCLL California Santa Barbara
9 AL-WCLL Sonoma State
10 AL-PNCLL Oregon
11 SELC Florida State
12 PCLL Boston College
13 AL-SELC Florida
14 AL-SELC Virginia Tech
18 LSA Texas A&M
20 GRLC Lindenwood

OUT
15 AL-SELC Georgia
16 AL-RMLC Colorado
17 AL-WCLL Cal Poly SLO
19 AL- RMLC Utah


That means you have the following representation from each conference.

CCLA 1
GRLC 1
LSA 1
PCLL 1
PNCLL 2
RMLC 2
SELC 3
UMLL 1
WCLL 4

This is pretty good representation for the SELC. Georgia is the team that should be the most bummed about their poll position. They are one place in the poll away from being in the tournament.

If you see FSU, Va Tech, Florida and Georgia in the SELC final 4, then I think you will see 3 of those 4 teams headed to Dallas. The good thing for the SELC teams is that the teams below them (Colorado, Poly and Utah) need to win against competition ranked above them in order to move up. Keep your UCSB comments to yourself please

Here are the matchups as currently seeded:

1 Michigan (37)
16 Lindenwood

8 California Santa Barbara
9 Sonoma State

5 Simon Fraser
12 Boston College

4 BYU
13 Florida

3 Minnesota-Duluth
14 Virginia Tech

6 Arizona State
11 Florida State

7 Colorado State
10 Oregon

2 Chapman University (3)
15 Texas A&M

[onpoint]

CATLAX MAN wrote:


The solution to the problem is easy. Schedule multiple teams that are going to be in the Top 10 every year and you won't have this "non-recognition" problem. The more exposure you get amongst the voters, the more likely you will get the recognition you crave.

As former President of FSU lax from 2003-2005, I can tell you that we always tried to schedule the toughest competition. In 2003, we had CSU down to Tallahassee.

Wow, after FSU's treatment of the CSU trip in 2003, I'm surprised anyone from Tallahassee would have the stones to bring that up. Was that the trip that CSU took to Florida to play 4 games in 4 days, endured a brutal monsoon, played ranked Florida and ranked Va Tech on the same day while FSU got drunk and trash talked on the sideline only to watch the 'Noles bail on the game the next day because they were going on spring break? Meanwhile, CSU is out $10,000 to play 2 games in 1 day and then sit around in that dump and wait for the rain to stop? Why ever don't teams come play us?? Yes, this is slightly off topic, but I guess if everyone is going to keep jumping on CU for cancelling a trip, I can go back to this one.

[PBJLaxerDogItUp]

This year, the SELC happens to be as strong if not stronger then the WCLL

When you see Florida this weekend ask about the Chapman game (a member of the WCLL). The SELC has yet to produce a legitimate favorite. The WCLL has one every year. So when any new team like Chapman or ASU start to make noise they're doing it in a conference that takes home championships. UCSB and SSU don't have to be the only ones to represent the conference anymore, other teams have figured ways to put together solid squads. So don't use a team thats on the decline as your sole judgement in a conference v conference comparison. WCLL > SELC

[EvanFSU]

Wow, after FSU's treatment of the CSU trip in 2003, I'm surprised anyone from Tallahassee would have the stones to bring that up. Was that the trip that CSU took to Florida to play 4 games in 4 days, endured a brutal monsoon, played ranked Florida and ranked Va Tech on the same day while FSU got drunk and trash talked on the sideline only to watch the 'Noles bail on the game the next day because they were going on spring break? Meanwhile, CSU is out $10,000 to play 2 games in 1 day and then sit around in that dump and wait for the rain to stop? Why ever don't teams come play us?? Yes, this is slightly off topic, but I guess if everyone is going to keep jumping on CU for cancelling a trip, I can go back to this one

You're kidding right? That was indeed one of the worst rainstorms we ever had in Tallahassee, as it rained for 4 days straight. It took me almost 2 days to find a back up field so you guys could get any of your games in. You think we wanted you to spend 10 grand for no reason? As for the cancellation of our game the next day, we had nothing to do with that. The rain destroyed the back up field and they wouldnt let us play on it. Whomever made up that bs story that we cancelled it to go on Spring Break must have been having trouble adjusting to lower altitudes.

As for talking trash, I will admit to doing that, but it was just because it was our first time seeing the "infamous" CSU and we thought you looked over-rated. Believe me we wanted a shot at you guys.

[Sonny]

Guys.... I've enjoyed this thread like many of you, but let's all calm down a bit.

Debate the topic at hand, not the poster in question.

If you can't make your point without putting down another team or conference, then don't make it here on the CollegeLAX message board.

Thank you for your cooperation.

[Dan Wishengrad]

This year, the SELC happens to be as strong if not stronger then the WCLL. If those of you on the west coast arent happy about it, form your own league!

It's fine to defend your conference, and all of us recognize that the SELC is much improved here in 2008. But stronger than the WCLL? Based on what, exactly? Florida leads the SELC standings with an undefeated conference record and the Gators beat UCSB, true enough. But they also lost to LMU and squeaked by Santa Clara by a goal, and these two teams probably won't even qualify for the WCLL playoffs.

[onpoint]

Wow, after FSU's treatment of the CSU trip in 2003, I'm surprised anyone from Tallahassee would have the stones to bring that up. Was that the trip that CSU took to Florida to play 4 games in 4 days, endured a brutal monsoon, played ranked Florida and ranked Va Tech on the same day while FSU got drunk and trash talked on the sideline only to watch the 'Noles bail on the game the next day because they were going on spring break? Meanwhile, CSU is out $10,000 to play 2 games in 1 day and then sit around in that dump and wait for the rain to stop? Why ever don't teams come play us?? Yes, this is slightly off topic, but I guess if everyone is going to keep jumping on CU for cancelling a trip, I can go back to this one

You're kidding right? That was indeed one of the worst rainstorms we ever had in Tallahassee, as it rained for 4 days straight. It took me almost 2 days to find a back up field so you guys could get any of your games in. You think we wanted you to spend 10 grand for no reason? As for the cancellation of our game the next day, we had nothing to do with that. The rain destroyed the back up field and they wouldnt let us play on it. Whomever made up that bs story that we cancelled it to go on Spring Break must have been having trouble adjusting to lower altitudes.

As for talking trash, I will admit to doing that, but it was just because it was our first time seeing the "infamous" CSU and we thought you looked over-rated. Believe me we wanted a shot at you guys.

Wait, so what you're saying is that extenuating circumstances led to difficult conditions for three teams that traveled to your town to play you? I thought those were inexcusable in the MCLA. Excuse my dig on the Spring Break comment. I guess I was a little confused why a team ready to take down the big bad Rams were getting drunk on the sidelines the night before the big game . . . long before any cancellation occurred. By the way, "overrated" CSU won their third national championship that year and beat both ranked SELC schools by over 8 goals on the SAME DAY. No bitterness here obviously . . .

[nhoskins]

Again, everyone keeps talking of the SELC from tourney's past. Stop measuring the SELC by Auburn 02 and start measuring them by UF 03 or FSU 05.

This year, the SELC happens to be as strong if not stronger then the WCLL. If those of you on the west coast arent happy about it, form your own league!

Even if everyone is measuring the SELC by UF 03 and FSU 05...

They'd still be measuring the RMLC by CSU 1997-2008 BYU 1997-2008, CU 1997-2007.

They'd probably also measure the WCLL by UCSB 2000-2007, SSU 2000-2008, Chapman 2008... Heck, maybe even Cal around 2000. Could probably toss the Stanford team that ran through the NC that one year too.

But you're right, the problem is people are not measuring the SELC by the only two noteworthy teams. It's certanily not the fact that the SELC has only ever produced TWO teams of note.

[EvanFSU]

Wait, so what you're saying is that extenuating circumstances led to difficult conditions for three teams that traveled to your town to play you? I thought those were inexcusable in the MCLA

Myself, and our coach at the time did everything we could to get as many of those games played as possible. A 4 day downpour that causes severe flooding is different then a team that expects leniancy because they practice in cold weather all year round. One is adaptable, one is not.

P.S. If I remember correctly, UF was beating you guys, up 5-0 I think at one point. CSU didnt take the lead until the 4th quarter.

[gobblerlax05]

very interesting topic indeed there sonny
oh btw note hokies own the regular season crown if team a beats team b!