National Champion

[Woda]

I know its early, but who do you guys have as pre-season national champs?

[Ravaging Beast]

Who are these "Other" votes going to? That's just silly. And UMD? I would include them in other. Maybe replace them with Michigan.

[DG]

How about a few more votes for CSU? Flip doesn't need any more bulletin board material...

[Ballin']

i didnt vote for UMD, but i wouldn't count them out, they return a sick goalie, 2 starting d poles, and their top 3 scorers so i think they have a legit shot and making some noise this year.

[OAKS]

Who are these "Other" votes going to? That's just silly. And UMD? I would include them in other. Maybe replace them with Michigan.

Why? In my opinion UMD played better than Michigan last year (1 goal losses to CSU and BYU, and played better in the tournament), and both teams are losing approximately the same numbers to graduation. Is Michigan gaining that many better freshmen?

[Ravaging Beast]

Who are these "Other" votes going to? That's just silly. And UMD? I would include them in other. Maybe replace them with Michigan.

Why? In my opinion UMD played better than Michigan last year (1 goal losses to CSU and BYU, and played better in the tournament), and both teams are losing approximately the same numbers to graduation. Is Michigan gaining that many better freshmen?

It is just my opinion, but the teams that have been there will always be there. It is really tough to make it to the National Championship game if you haven't been there in the past, and it is even harder if you haven't been there at all. Teams like Oregon and Colorado took several years of building to get there, but couldn't sneak out a win over teams that had been there before. UMD had never made the semi's. I guess I shouldn't have said Michigan because they have only made it to the semi's once and lost to the eventual National Champs...UCSB. My theory is that on top of good coaching and good players, experience/tradition plays a major role in who wins the National Championship.

[NELAX21]

I am going to have to say i think the "other" votes are all probably going to Nebraska. .... maybe?

[Troy Hood]

RB:

Well said; your statement on tradition is very important to those teams who are maintaining what they have developed over the years.

However, as someone who's been involved in the MCLA, and its various incarnations, over the last 10 years, I can say that there are teams that are developing their own traditions. These teams may surpass the traditional powerhouses in years to come.

UM-Duluth is one of these teams. Coach Graff has been with the program longer than most coaches in our organization. I take my hat off to him and what he has developed; mostly from three hours away in Minneapolis. His team plays hard and with purpose. Seeing them this fall, I can honestly put them near the top without hesitation.

Another team to be considered is Arizona State. Coach Hopkins started something good in Tempe; it looks like they have the commitment and culture to continue that under Coach Malone.

When you've reached the top and stayed awhile, don't forget to look over your shoulder. Someone you've passed along the way may be on your bumper.

[Ravaging Beast]

Troy,
I'm going to have to disagree with you on most of those statements. Having Coach Graff around is definitely going to be a positive for U-MD, but they didn't even make the semi's with the team they had last year. And I remember quite a bit of hype about them last year.

We can start this hyping of the underdogs again this year, but I'm going to put my money on teams that have been there before. A team that has never made it to the semi's should not be considered to be a National Champion in the pre-season. I have played in four semi final games and three National Championships. Those games are a lot different from any other game you will play in.

ASU???!!!! Not again. Unless they picked up three or four amazing poles or Coach Malone is a defensive mastermind, they are going nowhere. They can't ride on the shoulders of three offensive players who pad their stats against terrible opponents. So don't let their stats deceive you. They have a strong offense, but that can only get you so far. Now I can't wait for the ASU replies.

[Ravaging Beast]

That was a little harsh. Let me go on record saying that I like ASU, I just think they have a major soft spot that tends to get overlooked. I would love to see them do well this year.

[Mr. Jefferson]

Troy,
I'm going to have to disagree with you on most of those statements. Having Coach Graff around is definitely going to be a positive for U-MD, but they didn't even make the semi's with the team they had last year. And I remember quite a bit of hype about them last year.

We can start this hyping of the underdogs again this year, but I'm going to put my money on teams that have been there before. A team that has never made it to the semi's should not be considered to be a National Champion in the pre-season. I have played in four semi final games and three National Championships. Those games are a lot different from any other game you will play in.

ASU???!!!! Not again. Unless they picked up three or four amazing poles or Coach Malone is a defensive mastermind, they are going nowhere. They can't ride on the shoulders of three offensive players who pad their stats against terrible opponents. So don't let their stats deceive you. They have a strong offense, but that can only get you so far. Now I can't wait for the ASU replies.

this tends to be the problem with the league year in and year out...the teams that "have been there before" think that they should continue to get and deserve all the credit for past success....

To me I like to look at it as a new year, and going off of ZD MCLA outlooks, as opposed to those who havent actually seen the teams and their talent....

[Ravaging Beast]

I have seen all the teams. I saw them all last year, and I have seen them for the past eight or nine years. Maybe it is my science background, but when I see patterns year in and year out, I tend to think the pattern will continue. There are always teams that have the potential to break the pattern (Oregon, Colorado, FSU), but they have yet to win a national championship.

Nowhere in my last post did I say anything about teams deserving credit for past performances. I'm just saying from my experiences, I know how difficult it is to break into a the top four, but once you have been there, it makes it that much easier.

People come on these boards hyping their teams, which I find amusing, but when it comes down to it, the same three or four teams are in the final four every year. This is not handed to them. This is not related to their rankings in the polls. They actually have to beat other teams at nationals to get there.