National Rankings during the Season

[Rich Kressly]

I really dislike this idea. Rankings/Polls (while they may be fun and full of good intentions) have, in many respects, done more harm to college athletics than good. I have coached Div III athletics and I've seen how unfair and negative these polls can be. After a season begins and ACTUAL DATA is tracked in terms of match wins and losses, who wins what awards at what regionals, who progresses to the quarters, semis and finals will give you a real measure of expertise and performance and is more useful information.

On the other hand, polls based on gut feeling and partial information will generate a list that is largely unuseful and potentially destructive. Hard feelings, more 'who is better than who threads', etc will result. We've seen this before on Chiefdelphi and many of us work hard to ensure that it doesn't happen any more as it isn't in the true spirit of FIRST.

In college athletics all individual recruits and athletes are tracked and strengths and weaknesses of each team and individual are published in several publications. Also remember that very few rules change in the NCAA games. In FIRST, the rules change every year. The parallel is a poor one.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but it is our task, as set forth by our founder, to work at CHANGING the culture to one that works at collaborating through competition so we all win. In my humble opinion, this type of movement would be falling into the current societal trappings that lead to separation.

Chiefdelphi already has the ventures system to allow those who want to "bet" to do so. I'm not so sure I even like this feature of Chiefdelphi, but, as long as it doesn't lead to mudslinging in the forums, I suppose it's harmless.

Let's keep the central focus of FIRST where it belongs. For those of you who didn't see the thread posted by the Husky Brigade about two weeks ago, I suggest you visit their website and read excerpts from a very imprtant Dean Kamen speech that Andy Baker and others are calling required reading for all FIRSTers.

Let's put our talents, energy, and efforts toward the mission of the program and set the example for other competitive programs to follow.