FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[rockcat]

some of the factors in determing preseason rankings are.....
last sesons performance
number of returing starters and what positions they play....
how much experience back up players from the previous year have
incoming recruits
schedule
and the ugly "P" word....politics!

I think you can add history to the list as well.  In fact, that probably takes the place of recruiting.  It is pretty tough to really know what recruiting is like in DIII.  Any list a team puts out can change at any time during the summer since nobody is signing a letter of intent and accepting a scholarship.  When you look at history you pretty much know who will do well in recruiting.  The "purple reign" story on the front page is a good example.

[dawgs go deep]

Good point rockcat,  the Redlands QB recruit is a prime example of what you are saying.   Losing a D1 prospect at the last second could change the entire complexion of an incoming class

[Sabretooth Tiger]

I would have to believe that Oxy's preseason rating has to a lot do with the success they had last year.  I would give an edge to Oxy because of their rating and they are the reigning champs.... just dont put the trophy in the case yet!

Being a member/starter of the 2004 and 2005 season I can assure you that our preseason ranking from the amazing 2004 season had nothing to do with our success in the 2005 season because everyone knows a preseason rating does not mean a thing if you come out and loss.  Rather our success came from the dedication and athletic ability of every member of our team ... from the starts to the scout team freshman.  We made it a rule last season not to bring the memories of the past onto the field.  We believed that relishing in the past would only pull us down rather than up. Coach Widolff joined in our efforts by stripping us of our rings and locking them up until after the season.  I know that the 2006 team is already doing this.  I know they will be focusing on just playing conference football before they ever think about playoffs or Linfield.   

And that's exactly where the coaching staff and players should be.  I'm really glad that Coach Widolff does that with the team.  I think it is an excellent strategy.

That does not, however, mean that us old farts who last strapped on a helmet before today's players were born can't dream, chirp a bit, or offer thoughtful (albeit meaningless) analysis and prognostications.   

sabretooth

[Sabretooth Tiger]

USA Today DIII Preseason Top 25:

The complete top 25 is as follows: 1. Mount Union; 2. Wisconsin-Whitewater; 3. Rowan; 4. St. John's; 5. Capital; 6. Wesley; 7. Union; 8. Mary Hardin-Baylor; 9. Concordia; 10. Linfield; 11. Occidental; 12. Delaware Valley; 13. Bridgewater; 14. Ohio Northern; 15. Augustana (Ill.); 16. Central (Iowa); 17. Washington and Jefferson; 18. Hardin-Simmons; 19. North Central (Ill.); 20. Coe; 21. Hobart; 22. Wabash; 23. Trinity (Texas); 24. Cortland State; 25. RPI.  [emphasis added to West Region teams]

I didn't write it, not sure I buy it, I'm just reporting it . . .

Source:  http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060629/SPORTS/106290020/1002

[El Tigre]

Sabertooth,
  You sometime coach Widolff can seem a little old school sometimes, but in the end you can always understand what he meant.  I know that some of us might have different views just because we just got out of the game, but I like hearing your "old farts chirp a bit, or offer thoughtful (albeit meaningless) analysis and prognostications."  They might be different, but they sometimes make me realize things that I would have never thought otherwise. 

[rockcat]

Adding to what Sabertooth said above, this is from Linfield's website.  It answers who the voters are.  I cut out the complete top 25 because it is listed above.


The preseason Top 25 is selected by D3football.com editor Pat Coleman and and contributing writer Keith McMillan.

USA TODAY SPORTS WEEKLY
Preseason Top 25

[dawgs go deep]

El Tigre....I love old school when it comes to sports.....many of the old cliches really hold true not only in sports but in life...

I dont think that they ever lose their meaning or intent and that young kids today still understand and relate to them.  I coached travel basketbal for many years and the boys I coached, who now have their own kids, see me around town and will throw an old cliche  back at me............makes me feel pretty good.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Thanks for the information Rockcat.  Given that the USA Today rankings were generated by Messrs. Coleman & McMillan then I take back the "not sure I buy it" comment . . . it's money in the bank baby! 

Io Triumphe!!

[CRZK]

Actually I thought those preseason ratings looked pretty good before finding out about coleman, et al.  Can't deny history and the contiunally impact of having successful programs year in and year out.  For example, not to beat Benzel too death.  But from what his bio looks like it is hard to imagine a kid potentially that good staying as a backup for two years when he probably could have gone elsewhere in the NWC and started sooner.  In other words I'm sure the long term history of championship football played a big role in his staying at Linfield.

The exception is of course academics and other reasons for going to a certain school.

Looking to the future, I think it will be interesting to see if the SCIAC season goes forward as it looks like it will.  Will our conference champ and 2nd place team get more love from the selection committee this time around?  From my biased viewpoint it would seem that the SCIAC conference champ has earned it based on the last 4-5 years of success.

[rockcat]

Thanks for the information Rockcat.  Given that the USA Today rankings were generated by Messrs. Coleman & McMillan then I take back the "not sure I buy it" comment . . . it's money in the bank baby! 

Io Triumphe!!

Lets hope that Mr. Coleman and Mr. McMillan were wrong.  I'd like to see both our teams higher in the polls by the end of the year!

[rockcat]

USA Today DIII Preseason Top 25:

The complete top 25 is as follows: 1. Mount Union; 2. Wisconsin-Whitewater; 3. Rowan; 4. St. John's; 5. Capital; 6. Wesley; 7. Union; 8. Mary Hardin-Baylor; 9. Concordia; 10. Linfield; 11. Occidental; 12. Delaware Valley; 13. Bridgewater; 14. Ohio Northern; 15. Augustana (Ill.); 16. Central (Iowa); 17. Washington and Jefferson; 18. Hardin-Simmons; 19. North Central (Ill.); 20. Coe; 21. Hobart; 22. Wabash; 23. Trinity (Texas); 24. Cortland State; 25. RPI.  [emphasis added to West Region teams]

I didn't write it, not sure I buy it, I'm just reporting it . . .

Source:  http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060629/SPORTS/106290020/1002

If these projections hold true the west is going to be loaded again.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Thanks for the information Rockcat.  Given that the USA Today rankings were generated by Messrs. Coleman & McMillan then I take back the "not sure I buy it" comment . . . it's money in the bank baby! 

Io Triumphe!!

Lets hope that Mr. Coleman and Mr. McMillan were wrong.  I'd like to see both our teams higher in the polls by the end of the year!

Amen to that . . . dropping UWW, St. John's and Concordia to 3,4 and 5 in the West Region with Oxy taking the final over the Cats in a thriller!  (A man can dream right?).

CRZK:  Not sure what you mean by "more love" for the SCIAC and the comment about the SCIAC champ having "earned it."  Once Pomona returned to the conference, the SCIAC moved into an automatic bid for the conference champ.  So whoever wins SCIAC will get a bid.  The real question will be  getting the second place team ranked high enough to get a bid.  Cal Lu was in the hunt last year.  If Redlands runs the board (save for their upcoming Oct. 7 loss to the Tigers) it might have a shot at a seed.  

The bad news is that, as we saw last year, pairings get made not based on seed but on travel ducats, hence Oxy's horrendous draw of having to open against Linfield.  And pardon me, but I think it would suck to have two SCIAC teams matched for round one . .  . which is exactly what happened this year in the hoops playoffs with Claremont and Oxy going head to head in the first round with # 2 in the conference Oxy beating conference champ Claremont to go on to round 2 against our NWC friends at Puget Sound.  Oxy went down in a great, hard fought game.

At any rate, the money gods drive the pairings more than anything else (near as I can tell) . . . any comments Pat?

[dawgs go deep]

I went out and bought the Street & Smith magazine and hope to catch up on D3 football.

I know this topic has been beat about before but, Redlands has a very difficult preseason ahead of them acccording to S&S.  I certainly agree with the theory to be the best you must play the best but.......on one hand, I think if the Dawgs get off to a slow start and dont win league, it could really hurt their playoff possibilities.  On the other hand if they do well in the preseason and dont win league, it would seem to enhance their playoff chances.  Which way do you go??

It also seems that in looking at the top rated teams, they are not competing with JC's at all, or nearly as much as, the Calif d3 teams are.  They obvioulsy compete with other levels but...I think the JC program really hurts Calif d3 football.  I think that D3 schools have to preach that financial aid is avialable, the quality of the education the athelete will receive and a very strong chance to play for some and for others, a chance to play early.  

I think that a chance to play early is a great selling point. Many kids who are good players and good students go to JC, and hope for a D1 offer. They dont consider that even if they get one, they may never see the field.  This could be a very strong selling point to a lot of "qualified " Ca. players who did not get a D1 offer right away.

There are so many good atheletes in Calif that go back east to small 1AA and d2&3 schools.  If the SCIAC and other d3 conferences were better advertised and marketed, they could keep many of these kids home.

Hopefully, the Redlands staff will read this post and put me incharge of recruiting!

[rockcat]

Hopefully, the Redlands staff will read this post and put me incharge of recruiting!

You don't want that job...don't ask, just take my word for it!

[dawgs go deep]

At my age, Ill take any job I can find!