5th MDIA Div. A Top 25 Poll is out (4/19/06)!

[ME]

I guess we are all just forgiving for early season losses to what is now #18 Chapman and, unranked Chico, and #14 Minnesota-Duluth. Additionally I don't think losses should gain a team that much ground, it hasn't for other teams.

They aren't being forgiven for them that is why they are ranked #12. Where do you think they would be ranked if those 3 had been wins?? Possibly Top 6 or 7, I don't think you can say #12 is too much after upsetting the Noma, Poly and Zona...

[EvanFSU]

I dont recall FSU bowing out early last year. They are still a young program, and made it to the final 4 in really only there second year of competitive play last year. You dont hear any FSU players on these boards talking smack, yet everyone loves to jump on them.

By the way....they lost to BYU by the same score that CSU did. But for some reason FSU's loss was much worse... They are a legit top 8 team and are only going to get better. MDIA folk- DEAL WITH IT

[TrainerDan]

I dont recall FSU bowing out early last year. They are still a young program, and made it to the final 4 in really only there second year of competitive play last year. You dont hear any FSU players on these boards talking smack, yet everyone loves to jump on them.

By the way....they lost to BYU by the same score that CSU did. But for some reason FSU's loss was much worse... They are a legit top 8 team and are only going to get better. MDIA folk- DEAL WITH IT

Nobody is questioning what FSU accomplished LAST year. But this is '06 and as to date FSU has played well but have not played anywhere near the competition that others have. That is why FSU is being looked at as a ? in the polls.

[Aaron Myers]

Once again-wins over top ten teams. WINS! Starts with a W looks like two V's. Which stand for victory, which is something FSU doesn't have over a top ten team. Be here all day..

[Maverik]

I guess we are all just forgiving for early season losses to what is now #18 Chapman and, unranked Chico, and #14 Minnesota-Duluth. Additionally I don't think losses should gain a team that much ground, it hasn't for other teams.

They aren't being forgiven for them that is why they are ranked #12. Where do you think they would be ranked if those 3 had been wins?? Possibly Top 6 or 7, I don't think you can say #12 is too much after upsetting the Noma, Poly and Zona...

I think all the Roller Coaster teams this year are just confusing me. Looking at the teams behind Utah there really wasn't anyone I would put in front of them except maybe LU. I'm not jumping on the LU bandwagon here far far from it, but why did Lindenwood get bumped back even farther. While it does seem all too apparent that LU plays up/down to thier opponent, the only two losses they have is to #8 Arizona and #1 Michigan. Granted they don't have much in the way of wins in the top 10, but by looking at the quality losses that so many people seem to hold closely (when its regarding thier team of choice) what gives?

Do you rank a team who only has two losses to top 10 teams including the now #1 but no real wins in the top 10, behind a team who has multiple losses including those to lower ranked teams but also has wins on top 10 teams? FSU is still ranked well without the Top 10 wins. So whats the difference?

I don't think it will matter since Lindenwood seems to have a pretty good shot at getting thier AQ, but what happens if they get upset in conference by ISU, Mizzou, Wash U, or Illinois? According to posts in the GRLC forum the fabled Justin Combs is injured. Not that 1 man makes a team, but suddenly the GRLC could get dicey. Since they now seem to be on the bubble they might not even get an At Large Bid because of the polls.

[EvanFSU]

Peoples champion-

I understand their schedule didnt pan out to be the toughest this year. I still think there is a negative sentiment towards FSU, that they can never do right. I have seen them this year, and they are better than last years team when they put it together.

BTW:
Is that a Spartan helmet as your logo? Didnt FSU kick the crap out of them?

[Aaron Myers]

Maverik,

IF LU loses in their conference playoffs they may be in trouble. They are on the bubble and a loss in the GRLC playoffs may bump them out of the AT large arena. You also do bring up a good point about FSU. IF they can slow it up and play more possession ball instead of their traditional run and gun they could have more success against top teams. As i recall they had 17 or so points against BYU two years ago but gave up over 20 goals. They could be one or two dominant defensive players from being very dangerous, against anyone. The last dominant D man from the SELC I have seen at nationals was #8 from Auburn a few years ago. Can't remember his name.

Evan:
Not a spartan, trojan warrior. I hope FSU beat MSU by alot, FSU is more talented and has a great coach from what I hear. I have no affiliation to either teams MSU or USC. Just calling it how i see it. And I do agree that there is some degree of negative setiment towards the SELC, legitimate or not I believe it stems from the fact that many (not all) of the teams they send to nationals having very good records and not performing as well as their regular season record would indicate.

[OAKS]

Nobody is questioning what FSU accomplished LAST year.

FSU will bow out early again just like the years before and just like the highly touted Auburn team of 2002.

On a side note they seem to resemble some of the SELC teams of the past. Great record but not a lot of competition. None of those teams faired extremely well at the national tourney.

2 teams in the elite 8, 1 in the final four last year seems to be pretty good. True nobody made it past the first round in '04, but the SELC did end up 3-3.

[Aaron Myers]

Will,
Last year was a great tournament for the SELC, the best ever if i recall correctly. But history shows us that traditionally, the SELC does not do well past the first round when the entire tournament field is intact. No top teams being disqualified from nationals being the case in point.

[EvanFSU]

People's Champion-

I agree, the SELC hasnt given the best showing at nationals in the past. But if you look at the last 2 years, there have been strides by the league, with good showings from Ga Tech, FSU, and Va Tech the past 2 tourneys.

My problem with the negativity towards FSU is that nobody ever looks at what theyve accomplished in only 3 years, instead everyone is quick to jump on them time and time again.

It is a very young program who leap frogged into the top level of the MDIA.... That should be seen as an accomplishment and not disrespected so much.

[Dan Wishengrad]

FSU is ranked #7 in the poll. Seminole backers, please explain how this is such a sign of disrespect?

[TrainerDan]

"It is a very young program who leap frogged into the top level of the MDIA.... That should be seen as an accomplishment and not disrespected so much."

The accomplishment has been recognized and now there are greater expectations for an FSU team that has moved it up a notch. If you're looking for a pat on the back, keep looking. You all made a great step last year and with that step comes greater scrutiny and greater expectations. 0 wins against the top ten by a team claiming to be top ten material is a bold statement. FSU will not be taken lightly in Plano and is going to have to prove that last year was not a fluke.

[Maverik]

FSU is ranked #7 in the poll. Seminole backers, please explain how this is such a sign of disrespect?

Ditto! I bet the boys over at Lindenwood would love to have that spot with no top 10 wins. Could someone please explain where the differences between #7 FSU and #13 Lindenwood.

[DG]

People's Champion-

I agree, the SELC hasnt given the best showing at nationals in the past. But if you look at the last 2 years, there have been strides by the league, with good showings from Ga Tech, FSU, and Va Tech the past 2 tourneys.

My problem with the negativity towards FSU is that nobody ever looks at what theyve accomplished in only 3 years, instead everyone is quick to jump on them time and time again.

It is a very young program who leap frogged into the top level of the MDIA.... That should be seen as an accomplishment and not disrespected so much.

Evan,

I don't think anyone is saying that FSU hasn't accomplished a lot in the last 3 years. As a matter of fact, I think FSU is one of the few programs in the country that has stated aspirations beyond just MDIA play. That alone puts them at a different level.

I saw the BYU/FSU game last year, and FSU deserved to win that game. However, their performance the next day against SSU wasn't as good as they hoped. I think that based on that, there are people who saw that final 4 appearance as somewhat of a fluke. I personally believe that the truth lies somwhere in the middle...

That said, it is really hard for lots of folks to gauge where FSU fits this year. With the exception of the BYU game, they have won all the games they were expected to win. Until the SELC starts winning more OOC games, or more games in the knockout rounds at nationals, FSU's conference wins won't mean as much to the voters. That isn't a knock on the SELC...it is just a fact that right now there are less highly-ranked teams in the SELC than there are in the other conferences.

Take FSU's schedule, and have Cal Poly play it. If the results are the same, then the boards would be filled with the exact same discussion...and the Mustang fans would be the ones crying foul. Interestingly, Lindenwood has almost the exact situation...they beat everyone except Michigan and Arizona, and are ranked #13. FSU ranked #7, and Lindenwood ranked #13.

Since tone doesn't carry well on message boards and email, I want to make myself clear...the next question is not intended to draw you in to some sort of debate...I'm truly interested in your point of view here.

If you believe that FSU deserves a higher ranking, can you elaborate?

DG

[bbandlax]

Quote:
On a side note they seem to resemble some of the SELC teams of the past. Great record but not a lot of competition. None of those teams faired extremely well at the national tourney.


2 teams in the elite 8, 1 in the final four last year seems to be pretty good. True nobody made it past the first round in '04, but the SELC did end up 3-3.

Nice how you left of the first part of that statement, i.e. "True FSU has not played a tough schedule, but their record is still pretty impressive."

You and Evan seem a little sensitive. FSU does not have a win over a top 10 team. The closest they have is a one goal win over #15 VA Tech and a 2 goal win over #18 Chapman. Yet they are still ranked #7. I have seen them play and they are a good team. However if you are not going to play a tough schedule then you are going to have to deal with that criticism. Doesn't mean FSU is not a quality team, but can you blame people for asking them to prove they deserve to be #7 THIS YEAR. I will not be shocked to see them win a first round game in Dallas, but until then everyone outside of FL will be skeptical. And if they do I'm sure FSU supporters will thump their chests and tell us all "I told you so".