Mmgord77
10-03-2007, 02:32 PM
Alright... this topic comes up every year, in every sport. I would like for any and everyone to chime in on this. I would especially like for the coaches out there to give your two cents, even if you don't normally post.
The question... do rankings matter? The normal, cut and dry response, is "No. If my team just takes care of business and does what they're supposed to, then the rankings will take care of themselves." To which I say, BULL!!!
The only place that I can think that rankings do not matter is in High School Football and, somewhat, in College Basketball. In those, it's more for the fans and for pride-sake. Every other sport I can think of, rankings can play a major role. This is why I do not understand why High School basketball and baseball/softball coaches constantly say that rankings do not matter. They do. They seed you for regionals and state. They determine who you will play. I know quite a few coaches that tell their team that being ranked no. 1, at some point in the season, should be their goal. Now, don't think I am such a fool that I think rankings are perfect and that teams are always as good as they're ranked. I have a perfect example: Last few years, Washington boys basketball has been ranked in the middle of the pack due to their schedule of play. All through the year, I (and the team) knew that they were better than 10 - 15 ranking, but playing mostly 3A and 4A teams didn't allow us to win every game. But, 2 years ago, because of the rankings, we had the pleasure of having OCS in our Regional. Then, after we got beat and came up through the loser's bracket, we would've been paired against them again in the State tourney (were it not for the rule against playing someone from your area). Therefore, rankings definitely mattered that year. Made it alot tougher for our boys to get to State (and State finals, that year).
I also hear this from the likes of Stoops and many other top College coaches. These guys are idiots, if they truly think rankings don't matter. That's why I think it's just coach speak from them. And, if there's anything (and there really isn't) I admire about Mack Brown, it's that he knows that rankings matter. He took a stand a year or two ago about where his team was ranked. He took heat for caring, but he did jump the other team (California, I think) the next week. Ask #13 in the BCS rankings if rankings matter. Ask Boise State, last year, if rankings matter. Ask Hawaii, this year, if rankings matter.
To wrap up, I do think that rankings also matter in HS football. It is a goal to be ranked #1 or top 5 or top 10. It can be used as motivation, both to gain and to stay on top. The kids look at the rankings... the coaches look at the rankings... yet, for some reason, the rankings never matter?!?! I know our boys didn't enjoy losing that top (or one of the top) rankings when they lost to Bethany. One of their goals (unstated, I'm sure) is to get it back. Whether that's in season or in playoffs.
I think the "rankings don't matter... it's who's holding the gold ball that matters." is one of the biggest cop-outs there is.
The question... do rankings matter? The normal, cut and dry response, is "No. If my team just takes care of business and does what they're supposed to, then the rankings will take care of themselves." To which I say, BULL!!!
The only place that I can think that rankings do not matter is in High School Football and, somewhat, in College Basketball. In those, it's more for the fans and for pride-sake. Every other sport I can think of, rankings can play a major role. This is why I do not understand why High School basketball and baseball/softball coaches constantly say that rankings do not matter. They do. They seed you for regionals and state. They determine who you will play. I know quite a few coaches that tell their team that being ranked no. 1, at some point in the season, should be their goal. Now, don't think I am such a fool that I think rankings are perfect and that teams are always as good as they're ranked. I have a perfect example: Last few years, Washington boys basketball has been ranked in the middle of the pack due to their schedule of play. All through the year, I (and the team) knew that they were better than 10 - 15 ranking, but playing mostly 3A and 4A teams didn't allow us to win every game. But, 2 years ago, because of the rankings, we had the pleasure of having OCS in our Regional. Then, after we got beat and came up through the loser's bracket, we would've been paired against them again in the State tourney (were it not for the rule against playing someone from your area). Therefore, rankings definitely mattered that year. Made it alot tougher for our boys to get to State (and State finals, that year).
I also hear this from the likes of Stoops and many other top College coaches. These guys are idiots, if they truly think rankings don't matter. That's why I think it's just coach speak from them. And, if there's anything (and there really isn't) I admire about Mack Brown, it's that he knows that rankings matter. He took a stand a year or two ago about where his team was ranked. He took heat for caring, but he did jump the other team (California, I think) the next week. Ask #13 in the BCS rankings if rankings matter. Ask Boise State, last year, if rankings matter. Ask Hawaii, this year, if rankings matter.
To wrap up, I do think that rankings also matter in HS football. It is a goal to be ranked #1 or top 5 or top 10. It can be used as motivation, both to gain and to stay on top. The kids look at the rankings... the coaches look at the rankings... yet, for some reason, the rankings never matter?!?! I know our boys didn't enjoy losing that top (or one of the top) rankings when they lost to Bethany. One of their goals (unstated, I'm sure) is to get it back. Whether that's in season or in playoffs.
I think the "rankings don't matter... it's who's holding the gold ball that matters." is one of the biggest cop-outs there is.