Projected Top 25 Poll Schedule for 2008

by **Sonny** on Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:55 pm

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.....

DIVISION 2
Preseason - Wed, Jan. 2nd
Poll 1: Wed, Feb. 20
Poll 2: Wed, Mar. 5
Poll 3: Wed, Mar. 19
Poll 4: Wed, April 2
Poll 5: Wed, April 16
Poll 6: Wed, April 30
(Final) Poll 7: Monday, May 5th

DIVISION 1
Preseason - Wed, Jan. 9th
Poll 1: Wed, Feb. 27
Poll 2: Wed, Mar. 13
Poll 3: Wed, Mar. 26
Poll 4: Wed, April 9
Poll 5: Wed, April 23
Poll 6: Wed, April 30
(Final) Poll 7: Monday, May 5th

I will be soliciting poll voters for both polls later this week. Keep an eye on the Poll Forum and the main page for all the info and instructions.

**Sponsor**

by **woulax23** on Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:22 am

I think that schedule looks great sonny. just one question as far as the polls go. Is there going to be any way of getting a better number of poll voters to participate in all of the polls? I know that most of us were disappointed to hear about the number of voters who missed some of the polls; especially the poll before nationals. I can only assume that you know who missed polls last season. Perhaps you can eliminate some of the voters who were less active in voting last season. Just an idea.

by **Ravaging Beast** on Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:47 pm

Have they done anything this year to make the league championships throughout the MCLA on the same weekends? I feel like teams in the past have gotten screwed because their league playoffs are too early or late. The dates of the polls at the end of the season can really determine who makes the National Tournament and who doesn't. Maybe having a poll right before all the leagues play their semi finals and then one right after all the leagues have crowned a league champion. That might also eliminate the problem of voters not voting. It would make those last two polls more important.

by **Ryan Hanavan** on Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:55 pm

I think a lack of response in the final poll should result in the suspension of that pollster for at least a year and anyone from that institution from becoming a pollster (for the same time). Then maybe they can re-apply. If they do it again ban that school from being able to have a pollster. It's not like it was super hard to put things together for the last poll.

by **Jolly Roger** on Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:29 pm

Ryan Hanavan wrote:It's not like it was super hard to put things together for the last poll.

Walk a mile in their shoes before casting aspersions.

by **scooter** on Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:53 pm

Ryan Hanavan wrote:I think a lack of response in the final poll should result in the suspension of that pollster for at least a year and anyone from that institution from becoming a pollster (for the same time). Then maybe they can re-apply. If they do it again ban that school from being able to have a pollster. It's not like it was super hard to put things together for the last poll.

I'm not a voter, but would support something like this. Those votes affect a lot of coaches, players, and fans around the country and should not be taken lightly. If you can't make your vote on a consistent basis, then I think your privileges should be revoked

by **Ryan Hanavan** on Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:11 pm

Jolly Roger wrote:
Ryan Hanavan wrote:It's not like it was super hard to put things together for the last poll.

Walk a mile in their shoes before casting aspersions.

I was a pollster last year and managed to stay in good standing with my wife (except for the Dallas trip), major professor, and boss. A mile really isn't that far to walk when you make a commitment to someone.

by **LaxTV_Admin** on Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:49 pm

I think everyone who reads these boards is aware of the fact some people did not vote in the final polls last year. Sonny released the information and we had the same conversation as this one is starting. Let's have some faith in Sonny and those that become pollsters, that they will have the commitment to the league to vote in all of the polls.

Now the fun stuff. I like the schedule. Nothing like kicking off the new year with the release of the polls.

by **Ravaging Beast** on Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:20 am

Just saw the conference playoffs from another post. I think that the second to last poll should take place on Friday April 25, so that all conference finals can take place between the second to last poll and the final poll.

by **Sonny** on Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:30 am

Ravaging Beast wrote:Just saw the conference playoffs from another post. I think that the second to last poll should take place on Friday April 25, so that all conference finals can take place between the second to last poll and the final poll.

I've considered that. The problem with your proposal is that the SELC tournament is the weekend before (April 18-20). So you would have a situation where one conference is having their championships complete before the 2nd to last poll and then the remaining 8 conferences playing for 2 more weeks and then having their end of year championships.

It's tough to slice anyway you look at it.

by **Zeuslax** on Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:00 pm

The only thing I noticed is that DI typically begins play prior to DII, however the DII poll is released first.

by **Dan Wishengrad** on Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:31 pm

The other problem with having a poll close on a Friday is that coaches who are also pollsters may be on the road and focusing on preparing their own teams to play. They might also not have the time and computer access to do all their research at preparing a Top 25 ballot while on the road.

Sonny's plan is better, to keep the deadline to a Monday night

by **Dan Wishengrad** on Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:30 am

Just took another look at the proposed schedule... do I remember incorrectly or have we had earlier polls in the past? If so, this schedule is much better, to wait until almost March before compiling the first regular season Top 25. The big problem I have had in the past is seeing teams from the WCLL and especially the LSA play 6-8 games already by mid-February while northern conference schools (and especially those in the the PCLL) having not even hit the field yet. It's really tough to include/exclude teams like Northeastern & BC without any current year results to go by. Ditto those teams that only have, say, one win over a weaker team, there's just no fair way to accurately assess these schools for comparative ranking. Waiting until March -- or the week before -- makes more sense to me.

by **Sonny** on Sat Nov 10, 2007 12:05 pm

These are the dates when the polls will be released on CollegeLAX.

Poll Votes will be due one day prior, typically by 8 PM (eastern). However, that will be tweaked for the final poll on "Selection Monday."

This schedule is very similar to what we did last year as we eliminated the early February polls.

by **Zamboni_Driver** on Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:39 pm

Possibly the wrong place...and possibly the info exists elsewhere BUT, is Chapman eligible for consideration in the polls?