Week 2 11/26/06 Top 10 Poll

[barbedad20]

Division I
1) Lafayette (3) 55
1) Fontainebleau (3) 55
3) Mandeville 47
4) Barbe 44
5) Mt Carmel 37
6) Baton Rouge 21
7) Caddo Magnet 18
8) Terrebonne 14
9) Byrd 13
10) Dominican 9

Others: Comeaux 6 St Amant 3

Division II
1) SSA (3) 57
1) St Thomas More (3) 57
3) Ben Franklin 44
4) Sam Houston 37
5) Vandebilt 35
6) Neville 31
7) East Ascension 22
8) Parkway 20
9) Ursiline 14
10) Alexandria 7
10) Cabrini 7

Division III
1) Sacred Heart (3) 57
1) Newman (3) 57
3) St Louis 47
4) CHSNI 34
5) Country Day 33
5) Tuerlings 33
7) St Martin 21
7) ED White 21
9) Parkview 15
10) Redemtorist 6

[PutMeInCoach2]

very amazing that all 3 division, there is no definant top runner... any thoughts...

[barbedad20]

I think that is part of it and also the fact that Lafayette has yet to play a game may be part. Lafayette kicks into full gear this week so you will see some activity.

[NutMeg]

This will be an interesting week of soccer. Fourteen of the best teams from Divisions I, II, and III will go at it this week at the Third Annual Soccer Classic. Teams include: Lafayette, Barbe, Dominican, St. Amant, St. Thomas More, Ben Franklin, Vandebilt, East Ascension, Sacred Heart, Newman, Catholic N.I., Country Day, St. Martin's, and E.D. White. Other teams participating and not rank in Louisiana include Chapelle and Clinton HS(Miss.). It will be quite interesting to see the rankings next week.

Out of curiosity, who votes in these polls? It looks like whoever it is just sees a name and votes out of name recognition for their favorite team without much regard for the team's record or the record of the other teams.

[barbedad20]

byrdsoccerparent said:

Out of curiosity, who votes in these polls? It looks like whoever it is just sees a name and votes out of name recognition for their favorite team without much regard for the team's record or the record of the other teams.

I don't think I am breaking any top secret information by letting you know I am a voter. Explain your comments. I think the 6-7 voters are spread throughout the state and all have a general knowledge of girls soccer. What do you have issues with? I'll listen.

Well, for one thing, Byrd (undefeated) has beaten Caddo Magnet (lost at least in district), yet they are ranked two spots above Byrd. Arguably, the poll was taken before Byrd beat CMHS tonight, but even before that, Byrd was undefeated, having beaten West Monroe and Ruston in scrimmages, and Magnet had a loss in district.

[thruball]

ByrdSoccerParent - look at the week 3 poll and you will see that Byrd is ranked 1 spot above Magnet. I appears your team is playing well a getting their recognition. Keep it up, the sky is the limit. Good job!

[snowbird]

byrdsoccerparent said:

Well, for one thing, Byrd (undefeated) has beaten Caddo Magnet (lost at least in district), yet they are ranked two spots above Byrd. Arguably, the poll was taken before Byrd beat CMHS tonight, but even before that, Byrd was undefeated, having beaten West Monroe and Ruston in scrimmages, and Magnet had a loss in district.

byrdsoccerparent...take this for what it's worth, and please do not take my comments as offensive or condescending in any way.

Here goes:

1. Scrimmages are scrimmages and do not count towards the overall record. Teams are missing players, coaches are trying to play everyone to evaluate talent, and most teams have only had a few practices. Do they mean anything? Yes...but not much as far as what a team may evolve to be when the playoffs begin.

2. As a West Monroe supporter, I will say this: Byrd has been underrated the last few years and, in my opinion, been the best team in NLA. That is up for debate and a topic for another thread. I just wanted you to know that I have a very high opinion of your team and the utmost respect for your coach(s). However, in girls D-1, NLA teams have, once again in my opinion, underachieved a little as a whole in the last few years. Some of that may be attributed to the brackets remaining the same year after year...also a topic for another thread.

3. Until, and only until, a NLA team makes a deep...VERY deep run into the playoffs (read state final), you will get little respect and deservedly so. It matters not what you do in the regular season. It's what you do in the post-season. Magnet, Byrd....always top ten (even W.M. and Ruston get a few votes sometimes). At the end of the year though...it's 2 SLA teams in the finals. My history is a little hazy so please don't any of y'all tell me things about a NLA team being in the finals or semi's 5 or ten years ago. It's "what have you done lately" that counts.

4. Do yourself a favor and let your team "fly under the radar." Coaches will be less encouraged to get scouting reports and take your team as a threat. Byrd is a quality team and capable of going deep into the playoffs and perhaps....maybe....winning it all....under the right circumstances with the right draw. Smile and know that.

5. Polls / power rankings mean nothing. Look at the D1 power rankings(and polls!....WM 2nd round exit!) for football and look at the teams playing for the state title.....better yet all the teams that won playoff games. It's how you finish....relax. Byrd is good. Don't' worry about the polls on the internet or newspaper...get your respect on the field.

[barbedad20]

ByrdParent .... I will give my brief explanation. I did have Caddo Magnet ranked higher than Byrd on my last Poll but both were at 7 and 9. My explanation is a simple one. Until a team North of I-10 makes a deep run into the playoffs they will not be ranked in the top 5. Here are the final 4 for the past few years:

06- Lafayette, Fountainebleu, Mandeville, Barbe
05- Lafayette, Mandeville, Baton Rouge, Mt Carmel
04- Lafayette, Mandeville, Fountainebleu, St Amant
03- Dominican, St Joes, Mandeville, Caddo Magnet

Only 1 team out of the 16 was out of the Northern Region.

Byrd, Caddo need to make more trips down south to Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and play against some of these teams.

I will have Byrd ranked higher next week because of a quality win over Caddo.

I hope this explains my twisted mind when I vote each week.