PNCLL Fall Meeting

[PNWLaxer]

Montana 11386
Simon Fraser 19831 of which 9975 are full time

[nlyon02]

just wondering from actual WWU and U of M schools if they are planning on trying to go A.

[PNWLaxer]

That would be Div I....I personally think that UM will go this year and WWU will follow next year if they have another successful Div II year.

[Mark Brown]

So it appears to be official that Montana will be moving to D-1 next season. If that is the only change in the League, besides Linfield being out, than I propose to split the B-Division as such:
South:
Lewis and Clark, Willamette, Albertson, WOU, and SOU.
North:
Whitman, WWU, CWU, PLU and UPS.

Any thoughts?

[TheBearcatHimself]

No problems with the splits, looks fairly even geographically. I don't know if we have any new applicants for D2 but it doesn't sound probably that anyone would get admitted, so this is the best we could do.

The question would become would we play 3 or 4 from the opposite division? We would have 4 in division games, then would we need 4 non-division? Or is 3 enough? Just curious. Or maybe play all in division twice? We did it a couple years ago and it adds a nice wrinkle to some teams interactions. This probly wouldn't work though as most teams are adding more rigorous out of conference schedules.

[Steno]

Well, it looks like a ton of driving for Whitman no matter what, but at least we get to play Western down here this year.

[woulax4]

It looks far worse of Alberton...

[The_Asian]

Yea at least you guys are all in the same state. Maybe we will take a 4-game road trip and hit our entire conference. Once we get to that side of Oregon we would only need one tank of gas to get to all the schools.

[TheBearcatHimself]

Well, it looks like a ton of driving for Whitman no matter what, but at least we get to play Western down here this year.

Would you propose swapping Whitman and Albertson? Or is that simply idle complaining? Whitman and Albertson are the two odd-men out of a fairly Cascades-centric league otherwise. Don't get me wrong I love having the more teams but they have to be put somewhere right?? If Albertson and Whitman swap it would cut down on Albertson's driving but it would increase Whitman's. If you really were pissed about Whitman being in that division we can try and make some sort of three division system as such:

North: PLU, UPS, WWU
East: CWU, Whitman, ACI
South: L&C, SOU, WOU, WU

I personally kind of like the ring of this as we could play ALL our division foes twice, playoffs would be set with the same 6 team format, taking the three Division champions and then three at large. But I'm sure people will find something to complain about regardless of the format we choose...

[Mark Brown]

If we go w/ the 5 team North and 5 team South that I propose I think we should play teams in our division once and stay w/ 3 games vs. the other division giving us 7 League games. This will leave us a little more room for $$ and time for more OOC games. Also, other leagues don't get close to our 8 game league mandatory schedule (WCLL-4, CCLA-5, GRLC-4, LSA 4-5).
If we were to do this here is the breakdown of affected teams by Montana and Linfield being out, and L&C switching to the south.
WWU would be scheduled to play Linfield, Willamette, and WOU this year (needs 1 game to make up for Linfield)
PLU- SOU, MT, and Albertson (needs 1 game)
Whitman- WOU, Lin, WU (needs 1)
CWU-Alb, MT, SOU (needs 1)
UPS- SOU, MT, Alb (needs 1)
From the South:
L&C- Needs all 3 since in the South now
WOU- WWU, L&C, Whit (needs 1)
Alb- CWU, PLU, UPS ( no change)
Will- WWU, Whit, L&C (needs 1)
SOU- PLU, UPS, CWU ( no change)
So there are 5 games needed from the North and 5 from the South. This shouldn't be too hard for whomever the new league scheduler is to figure out.

[TheNino57]

I agree with Coach Brown. Personally, I found that the three division split was too confusing to explain to people (this includes players on my team). The two division break up that we have been on the last two years has been my favorite of all the years I played. It makes the most sense, it's the fairest system we have used, and it allows for players who play at least two seasons to play every team in the conference.

Side note: I am completely thrilled that the MCLA has finally decided to go with Div. I and Div. II instead of A & B division. Most people don't need clarification to understand that Div. II is for smaller schools as they have experience with this format in the NCAA. B division has always, IMHO, had negative connotations as a development league (e.g. he played on the B squad). I've been arguing this point for years. Now, if only the PNCLL would change its name to Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse Conference.

[TheBearcatHimself]

I agree with Mark's proposal as well, for the record I was just reacting to an earlier post that seemed to not be in full agreement with the proposal so I threw out an idea, not a formal proposal like Mark did.

Also, someone should print out what Mark just wrote down because he is perfectly accurate as to who owes who games. I think we should ALL come prepared with the list that Mark made and let the scheduler know who owes who home games etc. I know for instance that we owe Whitman but WWU owes us.

Also, word on the PNCLC, sounds so much more intimidating. It's Conferences in all levels of collegiate sports that house the 10-12 schools that compete against each other. It's not the Pac10 league, it's the Pac 10 CONFERENCE baby.

[PNWLaxer]

Great chat about the Div II stuff...similar things need to be discussed about Div I. UM will petition to move to Div I as per their article and things out of Pullman suggest they will come prepared to petition for reinstatement. That could have the following teams in Div I.

UO, OSU, UW, SFU, GU, WSU, BSU, UI and UM - 9 teams

The most logical split is East/West. On paper that looks like it would create a very distinct divide in talent as well.

Conference games will be an issue as there are 4 teams in one div and 5 in another.

Playoffs - top teams in each division get byes 2 plays 3 on both sides to complete the final four

Anyone else with ideas???

[Timbalaned]

So with Montana Coming up are we going to make the East/West split in DI? It makes more sense, both for referees, safety, and chance at an extended out of conference. Must play each team in your division and maybe two games from the other division?

West (I-5)
SFU
UW
OSU
UO
*WWU

East
Gonzaga
Idaho
Boise State
Montana
*WSU

*Depending on joining the league and petitioning up.

Playoffs with Top Two from each and next two best conference records as wildcards.

I think this would work for the league and would be better. I know there are discussions about how the West would be loaded right now, but you dont build a league on what is fair, you do it on what is logically the best. This is the most efficient way right now, and eventually I think the East can be just as competitive. This also brings back a possibility for East vs West All-Star games in the future!

Lets hear some opions/ideas

[Timbalaned]

Anyone else with ideas???

must have been typing at the same time