re: Remove

quote:

---

They played a D3 and a garbage D1 what will anyone learn from that? Zero

---

the Women’s basketball team did the same thing, but all I read was how great we looked and how dominant we are...

We will agree to disagree then, as will most P5 college coaches by their actions. Or maybe we are simply ships passing in the night with different emphasis or with less emotional veracity. The rankings are FAR FAR from perfect and I agree with much of what you say "to an extent" (percentage not ascribed). Absolutely no way you can discount an athlete on a top team, ranked in the Top 10 every single year as simply politics, advocacy or influence. Simply doesn't follow logically. I get it: You hate the rankings. I'm not a big fan either in some ways but there is a reason every P5 uses them in their descriptions of their rostered players. So right, wrong, good, bad or indifferent they do have a utility and an influence, albeit not a dispositive influence on success.

The rankings are simply one of several tools though, and I appreciate their limitations just as college coaches do yet they are useful indicators. I acknowledge the flaws, but not so much so that I am illogical in my understanding of their usage.

The "scrutiny" you refer to is not addressing my use of the term. I don't disagree with the "scrutiny" college coaches use to determine who to offer scholarships--in fact I clearly state so. The ultimate decisions are based on a coach's firsthand appraisal and always have been--that's a visibly obvious fact. But accolades inform whether one likes it or not. It is no coincidence that the same players being scouted by the P5 coaches are often ranked highly or that they are typically on top performing teams. Like it or not, the college coaches look for talented players that are on the best teams that can perform against the best teams. The rankings are partly a biproduct of that, and yes I agree (as I've already stated) that a lot is politics. I do believe the higher you go in the rankings the less politics play in it BECAUSE of the high profile of those players. Performing under the "scrutiny" of the college coaches who come out to see this top ranked player on a top ranked team playing top ranked teams goes A VERY LONG WAY!! You cannot hide behind politics or advocates saying a tortoise is a gazelle when publicly you've been labeled as such.

So "Keeping up with the Fishers, Heaveners, Joneses, Calvezes, etc" is a bit disingenuous to apply the maxim here. I don't have a dog in the rankings fight but I'd find the idea that a player who has worked hard to become the player they are being recognized for the end result as "self aggrandizement" as insulting. But that's just me. Not sure what the rankings did to you, but I'm just stating facts. I know the schools and coaches utilize them as a tool, as imperfect as it is. But only as a tool. I agree that when they go to watch a kid play it doesn't matter what their ranking is if they can't show their ability to fit the program and I know Coach Beth and her staff do the same. However, there is a track record that does not support this suggested disdain.

Pom poms or not, the pitcher that dominates in PGF or Alliance or Colorado Sparkler tends to be in the Top 10 of rankings. They deserve the pom poms. But now it's time to see how that translates into the college game. We all understand that but probability still sides with those that have shown ability to excel on the toughest stages they have access to pre-college (the very kids in the rankings).

Again, we may be ships passing in the night.......

For now I still have my pom poms in hand with sanguine hopes for a stout "highly ranked" 2023 class and a stout "highly ranked" 2024 class close behind getting us over the proverbial hump.

9?!!! Interesting!!! But Coach Beth is losing a lot after this season so I'm guessing it will balance out. I think 6 in 2024 class and then 9 in 2025 class. So 15 over next two years but I think we lose 8 after this year which net-net is losing 2 more than gaining. I think the program loses 4 the following year (that would be class of 2021). Net gain of 3 players? Maybe considering carrying a larger roster than typical.

Looked this kid up. Not familiar but I think she's the head coach's daughter. That's a very good squad she plays for--just moving up to the 18U ranks. I've seen the team play a couple times but not familiar with the player. Same team Heavener and Harris was on last year, and I think Harris is still on.

2024/2025 Class Updates (to my knowledge)
2024 Commits (6)


Sa’Mya Jones- MIF/UT - Hotshots National Jones- National Rank- #2 EI/Ranked #2 in PG

Jayden Heavener- P - Unity Johnson/Ross- National Rank- #2 EI/Ranked #4 in PG

Zoe Calvez- OF- Atlanta Vipers- National Rank- #9 EI/Not ranked in PG

Destiny Harris- OF/IF- Unity Johnson/Ross- National Rank- #10 EI/Ranked #38 in PG

Jada Philips- C/INF- LLG DPS- National Rank- #2 EI/Not ranked in PG

Alix Franklin - Corner - Texas Bombers- National Rank- #27 EI/Not ranked in PG


2025 COMMITS (9)

Ashlyn Mowery - Pitcher- Ohio Hawks--National Rank--#17 EI/Not listed on PG

Ciella Pickett - 3B/UT - Corona Angels--(use to be a Top 10 EI kid but can't find her now)/Not listed on PG

Braelyn Daniels - Catcher- Bombers 16U- National Rank #40 EI/Not listed on PG list

Gradie Appling - Utility - GA Impact Maher - National Rank #57/Not listed on PG 2025 list

Lauren Soeken - Pitcher - Impact Gold 16U--National Rank #76 EI/Not listed on PG 2025 list

Cali Deal - Pitcher - Bombers 16U -- National Rank #81 EI/Not listed on PG 2025 list

Kaylee Schweitzer - OF - Hotshots 16U - National Rank #80 EI/Not listed on PG 2025 list

Kylee Savant - C - Hotshots National 18U--National Rank #28 EI/Not listed on PG 2025 list

Rylie Johnson - OF - Unity Johnson/Ricks 18U--National Rank #21 EI (#7 OF)/Not listed on PG 2025 List

quote:

---

Did the OP get ticked off after the Bama game or did he just want to start a fresh thread?

---