(no subject)
Subject: NHR - DI: Who's Happy, Who...
By Alex Goff
November 4, 2005 - Remember, this isn't a ranking, but more an indication of
what activities on or off the field are saying about the club. Clubs listed
below are all playing now, so California's out.
Boston Irish Wolfhounds
Just keep winning, don't they. Playoffs burnout may have made some step
back, but it opened the way for new blood.
New Haven
Not to be condescending because they want to win the Northeast, but they've
come a long way and should be pretty proud of a solid season. (We won New England, the only thing stopping us now is ourselves.)
Old Blue
Their DI team ran through the Met New York season undefeated and looked
pretty invincible on their snazzy new over-the-water turf field. Very
confident they can handle the ligisticale challenges they've set themselves.
Worcester ¯
SO quickly did their fortunes change. Numbers are down. They lost some
coaching, some healthy players, and some veterans. Worcester is not a big
city, so ya gotta wonder if it can support long-term success.
Charlotte
A blip a little earlier in the season, but dominant last two weeks and, oh
yeah, they're in the Super League like they wanted.
Baltimore-Chesapeake
The Brumbies started the season with a tie and are 3-1 since. Take Charlotte
out of the DI equation in MARFU and they are tops. Most of their wins have
been by hair-thin margins. But they're Ws nonetheless.
Chicago Griffins «
Solidly atop Midwest. But is the Midwest any good this year? Hard to argue
that many of them have improved measurably. Still want to be a Super League
team. Still have the credentials. Still not one.
Metropolis then ¯ then
Good for them for doing better and XVs and winning some games and looking
impressive at times. Then they got smacked around a little bit, but still
ended up third in the Midwest. They've still got a ways to go.
Palmer
Troubled somewhat by the new foreigner rules, but they are figuring it out.
Scioto Valley ¯
Last year we featured how the influence of former Westerville and Ohio State
players has sent this team to challenge at the top of the Midwest. What
happened?
St. Louis Bombers
Not favored in the Super League race, but placed well and still winning in
their league in the West. Got some good, young talent coming through, and
expect the RSL carrot to draw in a few more mules.
Seattle ¯
Working hard but finding it tough sledding in the BC Lower Mainland Spray
League at 1-5 and the worst defense.
Denver Highlanders
So what if they lost that first game, it ended up a forfeit for the
Highlanders and helped spur them to better things. Still, Eastern Rockies
teams need to get over the hump in the West.
Austin Black ¯
No soup (er league) for you. A few years ago they were very vocal in their
displeasure. This year they seemed disappointed, sad even, but not outraged.
Unfair? Depends how you look at it. Harsh for a club that has been
exceptionally successful and has facilities many would envy? Yeah, a bit.
Teams in the South
The South RFU came to one conclusion: to be better in DI overall, they need
to have a league that engenders interest and creates excitement. They
essentially forced a couple of clubs to move up, and want what was a
three-team division and now is a six-team group to become eight in a year or
two. Too many of us look at the bottom of the table and say "well, that's
not working." But that's not the case. Can't those last place teams move up?
NYAC did in the Super League. Metropolis did in the Midwest.
Baltimore-Chesapeake did in the Mid-Atlantic.
Making them fight for it, that's the spirit.
By Alex Goff
November 4, 2005 - Remember, this isn't a ranking, but more an indication of
what activities on or off the field are saying about the club. Clubs listed
below are all playing now, so California's out.
Boston Irish Wolfhounds
Just keep winning, don't they. Playoffs burnout may have made some step
back, but it opened the way for new blood.
New Haven
Not to be condescending because they want to win the Northeast, but they've
come a long way and should be pretty proud of a solid season. (We won New England, the only thing stopping us now is ourselves.)
Old Blue
Their DI team ran through the Met New York season undefeated and looked
pretty invincible on their snazzy new over-the-water turf field. Very
confident they can handle the ligisticale challenges they've set themselves.
Worcester ¯
SO quickly did their fortunes change. Numbers are down. They lost some
coaching, some healthy players, and some veterans. Worcester is not a big
city, so ya gotta wonder if it can support long-term success.
Charlotte
A blip a little earlier in the season, but dominant last two weeks and, oh
yeah, they're in the Super League like they wanted.
Baltimore-Chesapeake
The Brumbies started the season with a tie and are 3-1 since. Take Charlotte
out of the DI equation in MARFU and they are tops. Most of their wins have
been by hair-thin margins. But they're Ws nonetheless.
Chicago Griffins «
Solidly atop Midwest. But is the Midwest any good this year? Hard to argue
that many of them have improved measurably. Still want to be a Super League
team. Still have the credentials. Still not one.
Metropolis then ¯ then
Good for them for doing better and XVs and winning some games and looking
impressive at times. Then they got smacked around a little bit, but still
ended up third in the Midwest. They've still got a ways to go.
Palmer
Troubled somewhat by the new foreigner rules, but they are figuring it out.
Scioto Valley ¯
Last year we featured how the influence of former Westerville and Ohio State
players has sent this team to challenge at the top of the Midwest. What
happened?
St. Louis Bombers
Not favored in the Super League race, but placed well and still winning in
their league in the West. Got some good, young talent coming through, and
expect the RSL carrot to draw in a few more mules.
Seattle ¯
Working hard but finding it tough sledding in the BC Lower Mainland Spray
League at 1-5 and the worst defense.
Denver Highlanders
So what if they lost that first game, it ended up a forfeit for the
Highlanders and helped spur them to better things. Still, Eastern Rockies
teams need to get over the hump in the West.
Austin Black ¯
No soup (er league) for you. A few years ago they were very vocal in their
displeasure. This year they seemed disappointed, sad even, but not outraged.
Unfair? Depends how you look at it. Harsh for a club that has been
exceptionally successful and has facilities many would envy? Yeah, a bit.
Teams in the South
The South RFU came to one conclusion: to be better in DI overall, they need
to have a league that engenders interest and creates excitement. They
essentially forced a couple of clubs to move up, and want what was a
three-team division and now is a six-team group to become eight in a year or
two. Too many of us look at the bottom of the table and say "well, that's
not working." But that's not the case. Can't those last place teams move up?
NYAC did in the Super League. Metropolis did in the Midwest.
Baltimore-Chesapeake did in the Mid-Atlantic.
Making them fight for it, that's the spirit.