I-AA TODAY
I-AA TODAY
Signing Day Hopes Spring Eternal
Although the news from the NCAA's premiere football championship classification has hardly slowed since JMU took home the title in December, I haven't been able to write as much original analysis as I like to recently. That's mostly due to an acute shortage of time, with many other responsibilities vying for my attention. Perhaps appropriately, after a 12-hour day at work yesterday I spent the evening drafting 9-10 year-old players for my baseball team. As one of the league's rookie managers, I asked a lot of questions during six hours of tryouts last weekend. I wanted to learn a lot from the grizzled veterans of little league coaching, but I also have some very strong ideas about the best way to build a team. So, while grading dozens of kids on hitting, throwing, catching, fielding, and running last Friday and Saturday, I also watched how they interacted with their parents when they left the field, how they moved between stations, etc. I may not be the best judge of baseball potential, but where obvious athleticism was in short supply, I drafted for: (from my scrawled notes) "hustle," "determination," "coachability," and "positive, supportive parents." The draft also helped us to secure at least three strong, qualified assistants. Together we embrace the concepts of fun and fundamentals. Time will tell how well we chose, with the 20-game season starting in early March. It's kind of a like a scaled-down version of the Signing Day frenzy in college football, although the ultimate evaluations there can take 4-5 years. In this climate of blue-chip optimism, here's hoping that your college coaches chose wisely, and that you loyal supporters of I-AA football will be rewarded in the coming years... Enjoy the recruiting news! --Otto
Feb 3, 2005, 16:07
I-AA TODAY
Christmas comes tonite in Chattanooga
For supporters of the NCAA's premeiere football championship, Christmas arrives early. Tonite at 8:00 PM in Chattanooga, and live coast-to-coast on ESPN2, the 2004 I-AA football championship is at stake when the James Madison University Dukes and University of Montana Grizzlies take the turf at Finley Stadium. Please enjoy the numerous storylines as kickoff approaches. Check back later this afternoon for I-AA notes by the Czar.
Dec 17, 2004, 14:10
I-AA TODAY
Quarterfinal Countdown
In I-AA football, the heat is rising as the ranks are dwindling! At the moment eight teams remain in the chase, but by the end of the day Saturday, we'll have the '04 Final Four, for the NCAA's premiere football championship. Be sure to check back Saturday morning for The Czar's second-round picks. Have a terrific weekend and enjoy college football's quintessential quarterfinals!
Dec 3, 2004, 11:59
I-AA TODAY
Merry Playoff Eve!
Good morning, I-AA loyalists! Hope you had a terrific T-Day, and that the digestion process continues successfully today. They call today "Black Friday," but it comes just five days after Cal Poly's personal "Black Sunday." I-AA's selection day used to be a day of great joy, but for the third consecutive season one of our proudest days was tainted by credibility-challenging controversy. It has inflicted a black eye upon the NCAA's premiere football championship classification. Read about today in my letter of apology to CP head coach Rich Ellerson. While you were feasting, we were tracking down the latest on the greatest subclassification, with lots more to be added today and throughout the weekend. Check in Saturday morning for my playoff picks.
Merry Playoff Eve!
-- Otto
Nov 26, 2004, 10:13
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