2nd Div A poll (3/9/05) is out!

[CATLAX MAN]

If a team is not going to move down after a loss like that, what is it going to take?

Couldn't agree more, DAnny.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Johnny I didn't take you post as whining, it's always interesting to analyze the polls for idiosyncracies like this. Your point is certainly valid, UMD might be too low right now.

I was simply explaining how tough this vote was, and as Coach Lea notes above is was tough enough just figuring out how to rank the PNCLL teams, much less 25 top overall teams.

Things WILL sort themselves out by the end of April, at least we hope!

[AlumniLax]

The equation works like this

Over-hyped team + weak schedule = Top 15... soon to be Top 10 if the trend continues...

[Choppy49er]

The equation works like this

Over-hyped team + weak schedule = Top 15... soon to be Top 10 if the trend continues...

You're right,... but where, what, and why would you possibly have that picture?!?!?!

[OAKS]

if you think that picture's strange, then this will blow your mind.

[Dan Wishengrad]

[quote="Danny Hogan] If a team is not going to move down after a loss like that, what is it going to take?[/quote]

I also agree, and respect Danny's right to vote as he sees fit, too. Alot of times when the poll results seem odd people act like one person filled it out. There are thirty of us. We are all human and have favorites, we all make mistakes (I sure hope my intended vote for USCD didn't go to SDSU, some voter made that obvious mistake this time, only Sonny knows who) and we all are influenced by where we live and who we watch play. The poll voting is an exercise in canceling out each other's excesses while agreeing on the obvious.

I sure DID move SFU down in my voting -- to #16 as it was which is right where they ended up. I had moved them way up into my own private weekly top 25 after the Clansmen beat Oregon & Chico, up to #8. But I never got to cast that vote for real, obviously...

[WaterBoy]

On the flip side to the UCSD/SDSU argument, I was actually surprised to see that SDSU received no points (and I'm talking very minimal amount, certainly not top 25) in the first season poll, after shutting out LMU (who received 11 points) at LMU.

Not saying that they're undiscovered or deserve a higher rank (or that they don't), just saying that it's possible that some scorers placed them for points.

[LaxGuru]

you should fall, regardless of who you beat. The season is a sprint, you drop a step you fall behind. If you lose to a higher ranked team you shouldn't fall far but if you lose to an unranked team you should fall 4-8 spots depending on the team you lost to. If towards the end of the season you should make up ground if that unranked team enters the polls. Unfortunately alot of people vote week to week, you should vote on your seasons performance with the latest week as newest information.Example your #15 you lose by 1 to #13, beat # 12 by 4 but lose to an unranked by anything you should be in the 20's next poll. Also you beat a higher ranked team in week 1 but in week 3 drop one to an unranked, you can't say "well we beat so and so two weeks ago" you still dropped a game and should fall.You don't have the right to throw out a bad performance, it should reflect in your rankings. The rankings should reflect NCAA football more than basketball on how people cast their votes.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Great post up to the last sentence. You really want us emulating the BCS???!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[LaxGuru]

Absolutely not, I referenced that in means of the voting polls, not the BCS.
I believe the voting should be done by the head coach of each team. If he does not want to he designates it to an assistant coach. The votes should be posted so accountability can be held. I understand how Arizona, Michigan and BYU all beat each other but they each lost a game and should each fall a spot allowing the undefeated teams behind them to move up.One spot reflects acknowledgement of their loss and quality of opponant. If Michigan had beaten them both and dropped a game to say (for no particular reason) Auburn, the loss should far outweight the fact of the wins. In football, Michigan beats Miami but loses to say Penn State they would still plummet. If they beat Miami but lose to Oklahoma they would fall a few spots regardless of their previous victory. That's what needs to start happening here to give any legitimacy to the polls. Right now I see them more of a popularity contest.

[CATLAX MAN]

I understand how Arizona, Michigan and BYU all beat each other but they each lost a game and should each fall a spot allowing the undefeated teams behind them to move up. One spot reflects acknowledgement of their loss and quality of opponant.

Who should have moved up? The #4 team, Sonoma, moved past BYU to #3. The #7 team, FSU, also lost. The #8 team, Colorado, passed them. Are you suggesting that Colorado should have moved from #9 to #4, past FSU, AZ, MI, & BYU, because they haven't played anybody yet but are still undefeated?

[LaxGuru]

Yes, The one thing that always seems to happen (unless it's the BCS) is that the polls always work out at the end. Teams that seem to be contenders but aren't get exposed before all is said and done. But you have to stick with the formula. If your going to keep the top 6 the same and then justify why then chaos ensues from 7-on in the polls. Then it really becomes a 7-25 poll. Why are teams records excluded while posting the polls? Let me clarify that this is only in MDIA games, not when a team ventures to play a NCAA game.

[onpoint]

The fallacy with your argument is a team like Utah in football this year. Undefeated, yet they were still behind some other one loss teams because the pollsters thought they weren't better then the teams in front of them. I think that is valid. Other undefeated teams in our league include Minnesota, Georgia, Pittsburgh, New Hampshire, Marquette and Vanderbilt. I'm not so sure that more than one or two of those teams deserve spots in the top 25 just because some of the top teams lost a few tough games.

[LaxGuru]

maybe not, but the polls show they are on the fringe so that is justified. The Florida State loss came after the 2nd poll was voted on so as of this poll they should be higher.I believe the 2nd poll should look like***All scores pulled from front page, if some omitted from there, then you'll see the flaws. Based on performance to 3/505.
1.UCSB
2.CSU
3.Sonoma
4.BYU-drop 1 for 1 goal loss
5.Col still undefeated
6.Mich-dropped but killed Ari
7.Oak-impressive so far
8.Ari- fell a littlle further due to Mich pummeling
9.FSU-dropped one just before the poll, and has lost again since.
10.Oregon-dropped by loss
11.BC-victims of weather but still 0-0
12.UCSD-benfactors of losses by higher teams
13.Lindenwood-impressive start
14.Cal Poly
15.Washington
16.Simon Fraser-took beating from Washington
17.Georgia-V-Tech and G-Tech looming, looking to climb again.
18.Pittsburgh-6-0 awaiting an Oakland visit.
19.GT -loss + others winning
20.V Tech-good run but still has a 3 goal loss to # 3
21.Miami (oh) 3-2
22.Vanderbilt-5-0 to New Hampshires 2-0
23.Chic State- 2 losses during poll
24.Utah
25.Michigan State


Texas Tech and Minn(D) both 1-2

[LaxGuru]

Sorry to keep posting but teams like Pittsburgh still have to face Oakland and BC and Georgia plays VT and GT, so both will have a chance to prove their worthiness, New Hampshire has very little to show except beating an A&M in a down year.