2008 Lax World MCLA Division 2 Top 25 Poll (4/30/08) is out!

[NinerCoach]

As far as budgeting, be smart w/ your funds. When some schools travel, they make arrangements w/ churches and other organizations for a place to stay.

This is a possibility in the future... but this past year wouldn't have worked. My guys are a menace off the field and I would never even risk an incident with a church or other organization. The chances of us earning a bad reputation would have been too severe. We graduated a lot of the egos/attitudes, so maybe in the next few years this is an option.

Even try reaching out to alumni and groups they are involved in to find places to stay.

We've been organized for maybe 7 years now, our oldest team alum are like 2-3 years into the work force so this isn't really an option, and alumni groups in general are focused on their efforts to establish D1 football at the school and aren't going to even give us a meeting.

No teams want to do this, but raise your dues. It will cause players to be more committed to the team w/ the larger investment anyway.

We raised dues from 150 to 350 this past season. Four years ago we were at 100. In 2001 they were only $20. Raising dues has to happen and your reasons for it are spot on, but we started so low that we have to do it slowly.

As for scheduling, teams should have started trying to make their schedules for next year, or at least have an idea of which teams they would like to schedule. So start tryng to develop ways to make it happen, whether its a tournement or not.

Ok, who wants to come to Charlotte and play UNCC and Davidson in the same weekend? Can probably get another SELC team to come into town, but Davidson is only 20 minutes from UNC Charlotte so I'd say they'd be a lock to get scheduled. (Which is why I'd never compare our situation to Montana's, since every other year one of our "away" games is essentially a home game.) (*EDIT* Elon and Appalachian are under 2 hours away, both would probably travel to play an OOC game as well.)

[WallyLaxFan]

So an article on College Lax says that an Executive Board voted to elected Framingham State as the team to represent the PCLL in Dallas, and that the conference tournament this weekend means nothing. Can someone explain this to me?

[Gvlax]

So an article on College Lax says that an Executive Board voted to elected Framingham State as the team to represent the PCLL in Dallas, and that the conference tournament this weekend means nothing. Can someone explain this to me?

Just read that too, i dont get it. Will no other team go if they would have won it? Is PCLL protecting its AQ from future penalties?

[Brew26]

I find the PCLL's decision rediculous. With one division now deciding to just elect a team to go to nationals at the end of the season without any notification at the start of the season as to their intent to do this, why wouldn't other divisions do this now.

The RMLC could elect Fort Lewis or MSU to have the AQ and then Westminster would get an AL giving the RMLC two bids to nationals for sure. Same with the UMLL. (Not saying the conferences would do that but hypothetically)

Is there a rule within the whole MCLA that defines if this scenario is "legal" to do? Should there be a rule? Why wouldnt every conference try to do this now?

[MF]

I find the PCLL's decision rediculous. With one division now deciding to just elect a team to go to nationals at the end of the season without any notification at the start of the season as to their intent to do this, why wouldn't other divisions do this now.

The RMLC could elect Fort Lewis or MSU to have the AQ and then Westminster would get an AL giving the RMLC two bids to nationals for sure. Same with the UMLL. (Not saying the conferences would do that but hypothetically)

Is there a rule within the whole MCLA that defines if this scenario is "legal" to do? Should there be a rule? Why wouldnt every conference try to do this now?

That is an excellent point. What kind of rules are there to prevent that from playing out?

[norway]

Ninerscoach:
As far as alumni go, try to establish a contact list at the end of the year. Make sure you get the graduating seniors' contact info. Even if they can just put a roof over your head for a weekend; it all helps. Players can take sleeping bags and pillows and hit the floor. Your alum could have friends that don't mind either. So, try to use that to your advantage. I saw our dues go from $300 to $600 in the four years I played. So, your dues are pretty cheap. And, now that you have announced it..I'm sure someone will jump on the offer for games. I might put someone in touch w/ you for a weekend.

[James Foote]

Our dues increased from $200 a year ago as an independent to over $800 this season. This scared off a large number of players, but it was a necessary evil. We asked for the estimated amount of cash that would be needed if we were to make the RMLC Tournament as well as the National Tournament. Since we will make neither, we are going to refund a small portion of those dues. Keep in mind our only away games were Mines, Regis, UNC, and Missouri S&T... that's only one trip.

I'm not sure what other teams do, but we erred on the side of caution and collected tournament costs up front and had players ask to move finals, etc on the first day of class. This probably isn't the appropriate forum, but do the majority of Top-25 teams take tournament costs up-front with their dues?

[norway]

We made a budget for the next upcoming season at the end of the previous one each year. We always included playoffs and nationals in the budget. Dues were collected upfront, the players had until december to pay in full or they risked not playing at all. We had a form that each player signed in the start of the fall to make them aware that once payments were in they belonged to the team...no refunds. Of course, some exceptions were made. This was a strategy that we had to use to make sure everyone knew what was going on. Some did not like it, but you pay to play.

[laxtube2]

Coach DuVall check your Personal Messages. Got some ideas for you!

[WallyLaxFan]

I know the seedings don't come out until Monday, but I was wondering if a schedule was released for the tournament. For example, on the opening tuesday of the tournament, what time does the 6 vs. 11 game start? and the 7 v. 10? 8 v. 9? 5 v. 12? Does anybody have an idea, or will we have to wait till monday?

[creasemonkey]

I thought they said 1? or 130?

[Gvlax]

I know the seedings don't come out until Monday, but I was wondering if a schedule was released for the tournament. For example, on the opening tuesday of the tournament, what time does the 6 vs. 11 game start? and the 7 v. 10? 8 v. 9? 5 v. 12? Does anybody have an idea, or will we have to wait till monday?

mclachamptx.com doesnt have what seeds play when but they do have game times up.

[Sonny]

Game times on Tuesday at 1, 4, or 7

Game times on Wednesday are 10, 1, 4, 7. (Consolation games will be early in the day.)

[WallyLaxFan]

I know the seedings don't come out until Monday, but I was wondering if a schedule was released for the tournament. For example, on the opening tuesday of the tournament, what time does the 6 vs. 11 game start? and the 7 v. 10? 8 v. 9? 5 v. 12? Does anybody have an idea, or will we have to wait till monday?

mclachamptx.com doesnt have what seeds play when but they do have game times up.

GVLAX: After seeing the game times up on mclachamptx.com, what is your opinion on which matches will take place when? On tuesday, do you think the the 5 vs. 12 will be played first, the 8 vs. 9, or what? You seem to know how the tournament works very well.

[Gvlax]

I know the seedings don't come out until Monday, but I was wondering if a schedule was released for the tournament. For example, on the opening tuesday of the tournament, what time does the 6 vs. 11 game start? and the 7 v. 10? 8 v. 9? 5 v. 12? Does anybody have an idea, or will we have to wait till monday?

mclachamptx.com doesnt have what seeds play when but they do have game times up.

GVLAX: After seeing the game times up on mclachamptx.com, what is your opinion on which matches will take place when? On tuesday, do you think the the 5 vs. 12 will be played first, the 8 vs. 9, or what? You seem to know how the tournament works very well.

never been there but hoping to go there this year.

im guessing the higher (lower numbered) seeds play later in the day. Thats all im guessing since i have never been there before. I followed last year but i didnt pay attention to when what seeds play where.