[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>I am glad that the NCAA has expanded the field, but am I the only one
>bothered by the fact that if teams want an at-large bid they pretty much
>HAVE to go to Pre-Nats? They're running a 10K this weekend in Ames and
>will do exactly the same in just over 5 weeks. As one coach I talked to
>recently mused, "They're going to run nationals this weekend so they can
>decide who can go run nationals again in 5 weeks."
>
I have to agree with Sideshow here. While I think that it's important to
the sport to have the top teams racing each other -- when the top teams
duck each other, it hurts the sport -- it's ridiculous that you have to
run at either 1 or 2 of the meets (on the women's side, it's pretty much
Griak and Pre-NCAAs, maybe Iona and Notre Dame might affect a team or
two; Stanford Inv will have little impact on the women's at large picture
and I don't know that this year's Wolverine Interregional means a lot
either) in order to get an at large.
Of course, I'm NOT a fan of the current regional system. Geographical
regions are not gonna get the best teams to NCAAs -- there's too much
difference between the regions in talent level in any given year. As
I've written before, I'd rather see the NCAA XC system mirror the March
Madness tourney where we seed the top 64 teams (yeah, I know, easier said
than done), create 4 "super-regionals" and evenly distribute the teams
across them, then from each region take the first six teams (and 12
individuals) across the finish line to Nats (leaving you with a nats
that's about the same size). If cost is an issue, take the best 5 teams
and 6 individuals.
Plus include that sports fans understand this super regional format.
They don't understand the convoluted "points" system that results in at
large berths.
Right now, going to regionals is no big deal -- every team in the country
can go. This system would make participating at regionals mean
something.
This would also make qualifying fairer -- there would be no South Central
regions where Arkansas would be able to get out of by running their B
team, while Stanford has to run their best 7 in order not to get upset in
the west.
>Such features as New Englands (this weekend) and IC4A's (2 days before
>NCAA's) are now pretty much worthless. What a shame.
>
Again, I agree. At this Friday's New Englands, only Yale and Providence
will be running A teams; Boston College, Brown, Boston Univ, and
Dartmouth will all have their best at Pre-NCAAs. Makes the New England
title kinda worthless -- the team champ _wont_ necessarily be the best
team in New England.
Still, there are 46 teams running in the women's championship race at New
Englands...
miscott
