I commend you for wanting to acknowledge the advancement in programs like IWU and Rhodes but I have got to respectfully disagree with Rhodes as a Top 10 team. I had a quick look and they have only played “nationally relevant” teams 4 times in their history and are 0-4. I think they need to beat some top teams at least a couple times before they can enter the rarified air of the Top 10. Could I see a #20 ranking? I wouldn’t push back on that ... that in and of itself would be a nod to their progress and be a tremendous shot in the arm for the program as well as the conference. And besides let’s wait to see how they do the 5th time ... when they play Salisbury. If they’re more than competitive for 60 minutes then we can talk about a higher ranking. But I have a feeling they aren’t there yet.MrLax2U wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:37 pm Ned,
I surfed both the Big Red/W&L and Rhodes/IWU games today. As per my post on the D 3 POLL Blog I moved Denison up right behind Salisbury/RIT and ranked Rhodes #10 for which I've already gotten some flac. We'll see but both Rhodes and IWU are upcoming programs and deserve a Shout Out for their efforts.
Can you give me some color on how the Denison players feel about playing in the Mustang Classic? Berkman won't go there and were it a positive experience (given social media among the participants) I don't think the Gull players are putting any pressure on him to join in.
Now as for the Mustang Classic, I have never heard any DU player say anything negative about that tournament! I’m surprised to hear that team members on other teams may have... but then again I’m not a social media maven so things would easily slip right by me on that “highway”! Haha. As for Denison’s participation, I have to believe it’s supported 100% from the players, the coaches, the Administration, the Alumni and the parents! Keep in mind for Denison the Mustang is part of a 10 day minimum, Spring break road trip to the East Coast. After the Classic the team works their way down to Va area and plays an OOC game in the Charlottesville area the following Saturday. The cost of taking 48 players and staff (buses, hotels, meals etc) is huge and could not be done without the full support of all those groups mentioned. This trip is central to the Denison lax experience. Being from the Midwest it’s an opportunity to get exposure on the East Coast and also gives players a chance to play closer to home in front of friends and family. The vast majority of the players on the Big Red are from the East Coast in general and from the Middle Atlantic area specifically. That week is a great team bonding trip with more then a few meals served with family and friends in a local restaurant or quite often the home of one of the players in the area. From my vantage point .. it’s a highlight of the season.
Understandably Salisbury wouldn’t have the same needs of East Coast exposure but for DU, playing in the NCAC as you’ve pointed out, it’s easy to get overlooked and this trip allows the Big Red to showcase their talent in front of people who otherwise wouldn’t have an opportunity to see them. One could argue it comes too early in the season because they go back to Ohio and run through the conference and some of the talking heads forget how they faired on this trip against quality opponents... which historically has been very good. But hey ... I digress, that’s a topic for perhaps another day.