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

[Beta]

Not all conferences can force teams down (Utah State) or just force them out into other conferences (Boise State)

Doesn't Utah State have a D1 football team? How/why were they forced into the conference for smaller teams if it's not based on a team's "quality/skill/strength/whatever"...and moreso upon their size...as was my understanding of the division splits?

[ineedmorecowbell]

All the scheduling complaints and arguments coming out of the RMLC are garbage. It must be nice having to play only 3 conference games, always against quality opponents and not have to worry about it. All other teams have at least 5 or 6 conferences games and some of those are going to be against weaker teams. Not all conferences can force teams down (Utah State) or just force them out into other conferences (Boise State)

is it really the rmlc's fault that the teams are always good? our bad. we'll try to outsource some of that next year.

[westcoastlax]

We can all argue until we are blue in the face here but it all doesn't really make a huge difference. When the 16 teams make it to Dallas, the cream will rise to the top. The teams that truly belong will get the job done and move on. It's hard to argue against the UCSBs, CSUs, SSUs, and BYUs of the world because when it comes down to the final four, those 4 teams over the past 5 years have made up 3/4 of the teams there every year: '07- BYU, UCSB, CSU, Oregon; '06- BYU, CSU, UCSB, CU; '05- CSU, UCSB, SSU, FSU; '04 CSU, UCSB, BYU, SSU; '03- BYU, CSU, UCSB, SSU

'02- SSU, CSU, UCSB, BYU
Plus in '05 CSU was not in the Final 4 due to disqualification from the tourney. That was the one year Michigan made it.

[Timbalaned]

All the scheduling complaints and arguments coming out of the RMLC are garbage. It must be nice having to play only 3 conference games, always against quality opponents and not have to worry about it. All other teams have at least 5 or 6 conferences games and some of those are going to be against weaker teams. Not all conferences can force teams down (Utah State) or just force them out into other conferences (Boise State)

is it really the rmlc's fault that the teams are always good? our bad. we'll try to outsource some of that next year.

Not at all, but just the crap that some other people that have been in that conference are giving other conferences about scheduling isn't a real fair move. And the team's aren't always that good, but some how they have seemed to get rid of them as to not deal with them.

[TrainerDan]

We can all argue until we are blue in the face here but it all doesn't really make a huge difference. When the 16 teams make it to Dallas, the cream will rise to the top. The teams that truly belong will get the job done and move on. It's hard to argue against the UCSBs, CSUs, SSUs, and BYUs of the world because when it comes down to the final four, those 4 teams over the past 5 years have made up 3/4 of the teams there every year: '07- BYU, UCSB, CSU, Oregon; '06- BYU, CSU, UCSB, CU; '05- CSU, UCSB, SSU, FSU; '04 CSU, UCSB, BYU, SSU; '03- BYU, CSU, UCSB, SSU

'02- SSU, CSU, UCSB, BYU
Plus in '05 CSU was not in the Final 4 due to disqualification from the tourney. That was the one year Michigan made it.

That's right...thanks for the correction

[TrainerDan]

All the scheduling complaints and arguments coming out of the RMLC are garbage. It must be nice having to play only 3 conference games, always against quality opponents and not have to worry about it. All other teams have at least 5 or 6 conferences games and some of those are going to be against weaker teams. Not all conferences can force teams down (Utah State) or just force them out into other conferences (Boise State)

is it really the rmlc's fault that the teams are always good? our bad. we'll try to outsource some of that next year.

Not at all, but just the crap that some other people that have been in that conference are giving other conferences about scheduling isn't a real fair move. And the team's aren't always that good, but some how they have seemed to get rid of them as to not deal with them.

From my understanding, Boise asked to leave the conference after being informed that they were going to be relegated to the B division. Seems they still haven't improved out there either.

[nhoskins]

Not all conferences can force teams down (Utah State) or just force them out into other conferences (Boise State)

Doesn't Utah State have a D1 football team? How/why were they forced into the conference for smaller teams if it's not based on a team's "quality/skill/strength/whatever"...and moreso upon their size...as was my understanding of the division splits?

If Utah State was D1 and Boise State had remained in the RMLC D1, then there would be six teams and a AQ for the RMLC.

The BSU move occurred before my time here, but I think one of the main reasons for "forcing BSU out" was to cut down on travel for the league for a game that was generally a blow out. It was the same complaint when Montana joined the PNCLL... teams had to shell out for an expensive trip that took them to essentially the middle of nowhere to play a weak team. Montana has since improved and is no longer a meaningless game, though they remain unranked.

I have no idea why Utah State was "forced" to D2.

This is a whole new thread I think... but a lot of the elite teams would rather not play the weaker teams in their conferences so that they have more weekends free to travel and play stronger OOC competition. That is an advantage the RMLC reaps by only having 3 conference games. In addition, those teams are located conveniently with 2 teams near eachother in Utah, and 2 teams near eachother in Colorado making for easy travel partners.

[Dan Wishengrad]

From my understanding, Boise asked to leave the conference after being informed that they were going to be relegated to the B division. Seems they still haven't improved out there either.

Sorry, TrainerDan, but this is an outrageous statement.

Boise State qualified for the PNCLL post-season in 2007 and competed in our Final Four Tournament, where they were defeated by ultimate conference champ Oregon. We are proud and happy to have BSU in the PNCLL. Perhaps you can explain why your conference would force a team down, despite the fact that that team was a member in good standing of the RMLC and one which is defined as upper division by MCLA rules for having a D1 football program?

The fact remains that Boise was treated pretty shabbily by the RMLC. Your loss is our gain.

[iDinosaur!]

The GRLC has got to be feeling left out....... Justin Combs was over-rated?

[gibertjs]

[

From my understanding, Boise asked to leave the conference after being informed that they were going to be relegated to the B division. Seems they still haven't improved out there either.

I've alway wondered about this. Is there anywhere the MCLA States which conferences have which territory? It seems like there are portions of the country where there is no conference claim (New Jersey, Maryland/delawhere Maybe upstate new York) and parts out west where the RMLC, UMLL and PNCLL could all claim the same piece. Same for parts of Tennessee between the GRLC and SELC. I feel like this gives a few teams (not Many) an unfair advantage for scheduling OOC,or scheduling in general. What if a team 20 miles away from another joins another conference when they really don't belong? You have OOC 20 miles away?

[DG]

Holy schnikes...my brain hurts from all of the insults being thrown around. We sound like the laxpower forums...and that's saying something.

Yes, the RMLC teams don't have to worry about scheduling as many in-conference games. But don't forget that the RMLC doesn't have an AQ. The other side of that argument is that if you aren't in a good league, it is hard to get exposure nationally. What if the RMLC didn't have good teams in it? As we have seen in the WCLL, however, it can be an advantage to play in a conference that is perceived to be strong.

It is also true that historically, there have been good teams in the RMLC. That doesn't mean that will be the case all the time. At the beginning of the season, I would have told you that CU was definitely going to go to Dallas because they historically had a strong program. Certainly, they have been a perennial top 16 team. This year, it seems that they might miss out on nationals.

Would FSU, GA, FL or Va Tech be better off if they didn't have the SELC conference games to play in? That's an open question.

At the end of the day, the only way to measure conference strength is by OOC competition. Consistently winning OOC games against top 20 teams will get respect for your conference.

I personally love the way this year is playing out. There are 2 undefeated teams, but there are LOTS of teams that could win the whole thing.

DG

[AIRTERP]

Good show everyone! Good show! I just read all 11 pages of this thread with the same rapture as my grandmother watching the season finale of Desperate Housewives. I think we could probably draw parallels between the storylines as well.

It was especially fun to watch the thread literally limp to a finish, with everyone just exhausted. But in the end, I think one theme emerged: Where there is a loss there is doubt. And the only way to eliminate all the doubt, the shouldas, the wouldas, the couldas about your team, is to win.

I look forward to this argument every year as "several teams realize that they might be on the outside looking in come tournament time" combines with "our conference gets no respect" which combines with "why do perennial powerhouses get free passes?"

AND, just like every other year, this thing will shake itself out when all is said and done. The five teams that seem to be at the center of this argument all control their own destinies.

UCSB has the opportunity to show their stuff against CHAPMAN and LMU. Provided they win one or both of those games, they then get to strut their stuff in the conference tournament. SONOMA still has to play OREGON, then will have plenty of opportunity to prove they can take care of business in the WCLL tournament. FSU and FLORIDA both get prove their metal against one another and will likely get another shot at either one another or another ranked team in the SELC tourney. VIRGINIA TECH can use the SELC tournament to prove themselves to the pollsters. Ditto for GEORGIA.

Every single one of these teams has ample time/opportunity to move themselves securely into the national tournament or securely out of the national tournament.

[fullofregrets]

I am glad that it seems like there is a really candid conversation going on, everyone seems to be getting out all their pent up feelings they have secretly been harboring about one another. Animosity, name-calling, cheap shots, I fell like I am a freshman living in the dorms again and the "honeymoon" stage just ended with the guys on the floor and everyone is fed up with one another. Lets hope all this talk is more than just that and leads to some real resolutions about the polls and why some teams move up/down like they do.

[BYULAX31]

I don't have the time to crosscheck the final rankings of these teams in their respective years but since 2005 FSU has played Sonoma 2x, LMU 2x, UCSB 2x, BYU 2x, Santa Clara 2x, Chapman, Michigan, BC, Utah, and Colo...wait, not them.

Not to throw gas onto a fire, but FSU has only played BYU once since their 2005 playoff matchup. BYU traveled to Tallahassee in 06, and FSU was scheduled to return the home and home last year, but canceled the trip.....................

[fullofregrets]

I don't have the time to crosscheck the final rankings of these teams in their respective years but since 2005 FSU has played Sonoma 2x, LMU 2x, UCSB 2x, BYU 2x, Santa Clara 2x, Chapman, Michigan, BC, Utah, and Colo...wait, not them.

Not to throw gas onto a fire, but FSU has only played BYU once since their 2005 playoff matchup. BYU traveled to Tallahassee in 06, and FSU was scheduled to return the home and home last year, but canceled the trip.....................

I had forgotten that. I remember being excited for the game because recently ousted Bryant coach Rory Whipple had joined the FSU coaching staff and I wanted to see what ripples he had brought to the program. It was too bad they weren't able to make the trip then.