FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

formerd3db · November 26, 2005, 07:04:41 PM

wlcalum:

I agree with you. Unfortunately, in addition to those generalized situations you mentioned, the other is that old well known saying "to the victor goes the spoils"

. It happens in any conference in that many times, the title winning team gets the most players on the 1st team selections. Unfortunately, when that happens, many players at the other schools who are really deserving of the honors are not chosen, such as players who lead the league in various categories like interceptions, receiveing, etc. etc. I could cite many examples over the years, but it happend even last year as well. All that being said, as I alluded to in my post, I am not intending to trivialize or bash anyone of those who were selected. Certainly it is a great honor and congrats to them. They were picked and that's the way it is and always has been.

Thanks for the help in keeping our board "somewhat" active! I know what you mean about the time factor. I am surprised that many of our other friends/colleagues here on our board have not been as active this year. However, like you, they've probably got other important issues to attend to and that's okay. I don't want to be the monopolizer here, nor do I want others to think that I don't have other important things to do either because I do have a life outside this board/website

., Yet, I do enjoy conversing and posting with all of you here. Like most, it is a way to continue enjoying being connected to the dIII football we love, and perhaps a means to "get away from the 'rat race' we all face each week" from time to time. Anyway, just keep posting as you can, if/when time allows; your input here is always appreciated.

ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE · November 27, 2005, 07:55:37 PM

wlcalum and formerd3db:

The selections werent made under the old system. Under the old system any team could nominate all the players it wanted, as opposed to teh new system where your selections are slotted based on your finish. First gets 16, second 14 etc, im nto sure on exact numbers but similar to that and same style. Therefore it puts coaches in the bad position of not necessarrily picking the kids that they want and would like to see get there, but rather the kids that they think have the best chance of getting selected. Is it perfect no, but it is alot better than the old system where 4th and 5th place teams would nominate 10+ players. This system also hurt because several times the players who deserved to get the votes often lost some of them to the large number of nominees. As far as All MIAA teams go i dont think anyone is ever completely happy, no coaches ever walk away thinking that everyone they wanted to get ont he team actually got it. Its an inexact science and yes to some degree it is a popularity contest and a name recognition issue, but oh well, thats the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

formerd3db · November 27, 2005, 08:43:10 PM

ADAWG:
Thanks for the update on how the changes are regarding the current selection process. You are right; no system is perfect. However, while I see your point about votes being spread out and taking away the chances of some players in the old system, I still don't see that this system solves it any better. By limiting the number of slots to the lower teams, that still does not do justice to players who really deserve the accalodes. In that sense I mean that regardless of the system, if some kid has led the league in some category big time, then I don't care who the head coach is, they know and should know that that player should be afforded the votes. Just because some player was all-conf two or three years prior should not be an automatic. Again, I've seen many times where players who should have made the 1st team did not only because their team finished at the bottom of the standings. Yet as you say, politics get into it inadvertently most times; unfortunately not inadvetently at others

. I agree with you - that's the way life is, but doesn't mean it is right

Nothing anyone can do about it though. Besides, in most cases, a player [in this case we're talking about those who deserve 1st team status] knows deep down that he did his best for his team and whether he made an all-conf team or not isn't the end of the world. It doesn't matter in the "long run" - i.e. in the game of life. Nonetheless, I don't think it is wrong to voice an opinion on such matters.

BTW, is the rule still in where a head coach can nominate his players but not vote for them?

Just curious.

ROOKIE · November 27, 2005, 09:18:35 PM

Gentlemen, I'm the rookie here, and so far I've read some interesting comments, and I highly respect everyones opinions so here goes.... In relation to the last couple of thoughts on the All MIAA sellections I agree that a lot of players that weren't on the first and second teams should have been. And it's to bad that teams like Wisconsin Lutheran and Tri State deserved to get a few more players recognized especially the Seniors that played for four years. Your comments were right on. It boils down to not only Coaching experience but how good the Coach prepares himself and does his homework before the All- Conference selections. Thanks for listening.

formerd3db · November 27, 2005, 10:10:57 PM

Rookie:
Valid points. Also, welcome to the board! We'll look forward to your future contributions to the various discussions.

ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE · November 28, 2005, 02:37:12 PM

formerd3db:

Yes the policy on coaches nominating but not being able to vote for your own players still stands, that wasnt one of the things that was changed in the new process.

bulldogalum · November 28, 2005, 04:21:22 PM

formerd3db:

Any truth to the rumor that you'll be the head coach at Tri State next year? It may not be Olivet, but it's a start!

formerd3db · November 28, 2005, 08:48:52 PM

You know I'd love to if that were possible!

Maybe someday

. Anyway, welcome to the board. Hope you are doing well and had a nice Thanksgiving before you get "back to the grind". We missed having you last week on the trip.

bulldogalum · November 28, 2005, 09:23:44 PM

It's going to be a major sprint to the finish, but I think I have a pretty good handle on how my exams are going be. Wish I could have gone on that last road trip, but I had an absurd amount of reading to do. Are you going to be making a trip to the DeVos anytime soon? It looks amazing from the pictures.

formerd3db · November 28, 2005, 09:58:34 PM

bulldogalum:
I know what you mean. But good luck on your exams; I know you'll do fine (although obviously, they are no fun to go through

). I hope to get over there sometime soon although not exactly sure when; perhaps over Christmas break when they have the annual tournament. Yes it looks awesome (I heard it from good sources too

) I am considering going to the Stagg Bowl. Again, good luck on exams- study hard.

ROOKIE · November 28, 2005, 10:36:05 PM

FORMER 3DB,
I WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE 2004 ALL-AMERICAN PICKS AND I CAME ACROSS AT LEAST TWO FROM ADRIAN... GRANTED THESE ARE EXTREMELY QUALTIY FOOTBALL PLAYERS BUT WITH ADRIAN COMING IN BEHIND ALBION FOR THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP HOW DID THEY GET SO MANY 1ST TEAM ALL MIAA PLAYERS? ALSO, THERE IS GOT BE A THIRD TEAM MIAA BECAUSE THE QB FROM HOPE DID NOT CERTAINLY DESERVE JUST AN HONORABLE MENTION. HE'S A FINE QB. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

bulldogalum · November 28, 2005, 11:12:15 PM

Rookie:

Adrian was a pretty good team this year, they beat Albion, and had a better overall record (8-2). I, for one, was glad to see so many Bulldogs on the All-MIAA teams

. As to the Hope QB, he is a very good player, and deserving of a spot on the All-MIAA team, but it's pretty hard to place him above Wasil, who was a multi-year starter on the conference champion Briton team, and Brehm of Alma, who set all sorts of records up there. There's certainly no shame in being behind those two guys.

bulldogalum · November 28, 2005, 11:14:27 PM

Also, this year, a third team might have been nice, but I'm not sure that it would be necessary every year. This year's MIAA was about as balanced as I've seen, so it had to be especially difficult to name the all conference teams.

wlcalum · November 29, 2005, 04:11:11 PM

Very interesting the way they now pick the teams. So if your team finishes with the best record you get the most votes? That should not mean that you flood the pool with your players. (if that happens)

It doesn't seem too hard to me for a coach(s) to run down the stat sheet and make some pretty educated picks. Seems to me also, that the teams are picked pretty fast. I was going to take a week and really digest the stats and give my picks but was beaten to the punch. Guess the coaches do need a life after football to get along with.

All good commments and discussion. Welcome to the board Rookie.

ROOKIE · November 29, 2005, 07:28:13 PM

WLCALUM,
HEY THANKS. WELL SPOKEN. ACTUALLY I THOUGHT THE SAME THING. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT I THINK THAT MOST OF THE SELECTIONS (FOR THE ALL-MIAA FIRST AND SECOND TEAMS) WERE ALREADY MADE BY SOME COACHES FOR THE FOUR TOP TEAMS BEFORE THE LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME. DO YOU KNOW IF THEY PICKED A "COACH OF THE YEAR "FOR THE MIAA CONFERENCE? IF SO, GENTLEMEN... WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHO IT SHOULD BE? THANKS FOR LISTENING.