3/28/07 Division A Poll is out!

[CATLAX MAN]

In my opinion, whether Chapman is in the polls or not, a win or a loss to that team would count the same in the minds of the voters irrespective of their disciplinary situation. All the poll voters are aware of the relative quality of that team and would take that into consideration in their poll votes.

[John Paul]

Airterp,

What I meant was the NCAA has exponentially greater requirements in terms of bureacracy (things you must track, paperwork, reporting), number of rules, complexity of rules, etc. They are also notoriously inflexible. We have purposefully simplified things so that part-time coaches with no support staffs can handle our requirements, and we often work with teams if they have special situations that require a bit more creativity to work with as long as the same result (compliance) is achieved. We do this despite being staffed by a Board of volunteers (with one or two small stipend exceptions) who must approach their MCLA duties after regular job, coaching and often family requirements. As I stated, the one thing we are not flexible on is any violation of eligibility rules. Neither is the NCAA.

As for sanctions, NCAA teams are often punished severely in subsequent years. (We recently saw that here at Michigan for basketball after the Fab 5 scandal.) Some programs have even been completely disbanded (SMU football, which has since come back). Removal from polls, no post season for a period of time, removal or limitation of scholarships (which at the D1 level pretty much assures no post season for a few years), etc. are all examples of typical NCAA sanctions. Many of those are for eligibility violations. Most typically at the NCAA level those involve booster money, not insufficient credits. NCAA athletes almost never drop below the required number of credits since they have people tracking that weekly. At that level, booster money is the equivalent of our credits issue. NCAA teams must trust their athletes that they aren't taking anything inappropriate, just as we must trust our athletes that they don't drop below 12 credits. Our most punishing sanctions typically only effect a team for a year or through the end of the season from when the discovery is made. The NCAA, on the other hand, often renders decisions that can crush a program for many years. (Again, see Michigan basketball as one example.)

[AIRTERP]

Thanks for the clarification John Paul...I see what you mean now. Though I don't know if I can completely agree with the assertion that booster money and credit eligibility are comparable infractions...unless a player and team intentionally try to pull on over on the league.

And Catlax, I see your point. But I have to believe that there will be an "out of sight, out of mind" situation playing out, especially with east side voters who don't see WCLL schools play (especially Chapman).

I just have a hard time believing unequivocally that poll voters across the country as a whole will count a win against Chapman the same now, as they would if Chapman was ranked say 15th in the polls...all other things being equal.

They may, they may not...I just thought it was an interesting perspective to bring up.

[Daniel Morris]

I just have a hard time believing unequivocally that poll voters across the country as a whole will count a win against Chapman the same now, as they would if Chapman was ranked say 15th in the polls...all other things being equal.

Why wouldn't we? A good team is a good team is a good team. Just because you need to remove yourself from playoff contention, doesn't mean a game no longer counts.

[bbandlax]

At that level, booster money is the equivalent of our credits issue.

JP,

Obviously you never saw me chillin in my Escalade back in my playing days. Do you really think my Pell Grant covered the lease. The Fab 5 had nothing on us. Of course I never called a time out when I didnt have one and cost my team the national championship.

Sorry that was low. Hopefully I will get a chance to hang out in Oosterbannawan... in a few weeks and you can pay me back with a stout kick to the groin.

Scottie

[OAKS]

Back to the topic of the Division A Poll... I think BYU now sits at the top.

I love this season. Then again, I'm not a pollster.

[John Paul]

More power to you Scottie. Since the MCLA doesn't regulate booster money, I often tell our recruits if a wealthy UM booster wants to give them a million bucks, an apartment and a car to play here, fine by me. They just have to kick a little my way if they want playing time.

So far, shockingly, it hasn't happened.

[RopeNoRope]

ASU beats Michigan. I think Northeastern should be ranked #1 next poll.

[CATLAX MAN]

ASU beats Michigan. I think Northeastern should be ranked #1 next poll.

Ah, yes. Obviously you've read this book:

[DG]

ASU looks like it should move up to somewhere near #6 or #7...They have only 2 losses, one to #2 BYU and one to #5 CU. They have now beaten two #1s in a row, and have additional quality wins over Utah, Chapman and Texas A&M.

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME/SCORE
02 / 10 BYU Arizona State L 20-5
02 / 16 Utah Arizona State W 14-13
02 / 18 Chapman Arizona State W 11-10
03 / 03 UCSD UCSD W 12-7
03 / 04 San Diego State San Diego State W 18-3
03 / 18 Texas A&M Arizona State W 17-11
03 / 25 Colorado Arizona State L 10-9
03 / 27 Oregon Arizona State W 18-17
03 / 28 California Arizona State W 14-7
03 / 30 Michigan Arizona State W 13-12

The 4/14 game vs. Arizona is going to be some kind of game, I think...

DG

[DG]

Back to the topic of the Division A Poll... I think BYU now sits at the top.

I love this season. Then again, I'm not a pollster.

Will, the LAST place anyone wants to be is #1 right now...there seems to be some sort of a Maddenesque curse thing going on there.

DG

[OldRamAlum83]

Will, the LAST place anyone wants to be is #1 right now...there seems to be some sort of a Maddenesque curse thing going on there.

Then you should've been calling your coach in the midst of their very impressive 10 goals in thirteen minutes against CC. Even if Michigan would've pulled out a last minute victory I think you guys showed everyone who should be ranked #1. However, you are correct it's been a King of the Mountain kind of year so far and you can bet there will be a battle at the top of the mountain in Boulder next month.

[ME]

ASU beats Michigan. I think Northeastern should be ranked #1 next poll.

This might be going a little to far.... I agree Northeastern is a Top 10 team but there is no way they should be ranked #1. I believe to qualifying to be a #1, (or even a #2 or #3) ranking your schedule has to involve more than just ONE top ten team even if you did beat them by 6. A #1 team is a team who week in and week out has a continous strand of competitive games and proves themselves worthy of the ranking through out the entire season and not with just one game. Thus, BYU (pains me to say) should be the next #1 team assuming they win all their games until the next poll comes out.

[DG]

Will, the LAST place anyone wants to be is #1 right now...there seems to be some sort of a Maddenesque curse thing going on there.

Then you should've been calling your coach in the midst of their very impressive 10 goals in thirteen minutes against CC. Even if Michigan would've pulled out a last minute victory I think you guys showed everyone who should be ranked #1. However, you are correct it's been a King of the Mountain kind of year so far and you can bet there will be a battle at the top of the mountain in Boulder next month.

I'll make sure that we get a hotline installed!

BYU still has CU, Michigan, Michigan State and Utah to go before the RMLC championships. The RMLCs are going to be particularly interesting, as you may have 3 teams in the top 5, and one team around #10. I don't particularly relish the thought of playing CU and CSU in consecutive days...

[OldRamAlum83]

I don't particularly relish the thought of playing CU and CSU in consecutive days...

Such is life in the RMLC but would you really want any other way One philosophy both our programs seem to share is play the best to be the best It's nice to see both of the up and coming teams (Oregon & ASU) that have shined this season are jumping at the chance to play the top teams. The real challenge is however, to do it when you one of the top teams and to stay there. Kudos to UCSB as well, every year they take on the best of the best anywhere anytime and not just on their home field. [/quote]