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The 2005 Grote Poll: The Post-Conference Grote Poll
November 2, 2005
(editor's note: prior to LetsRun.com and just before the dark ages there was TNFMedia.com, which was run by John Schiefer and Ryan Grote (a national class runner). One of the highlights of TNFMedia was the Grote Poll were Grote, an NCAA XC qualifier himself, analyzed the NCAA field in his every humorous style.  If you have a thin skin stop reading.)

2005 Grote Polls
1) Preview of the Grote Poll Preview August 25, 2005
2) Grote Poll Preview September 5, 2005
3) The Grote Poll Addendum B September 14, 2005
4) End of September/Beginning of Real Meets Edition September 27, 2005
5) 1st Weekend of October Edition October 10, 2005
6) The Post-Pre-Nationals Grote Poll October18, 2005
7) Conference Meet Preview October 26, 2005
8) The Post-Conference Grote Poll November 2, 2005
9) The Pre Regionals Grote Poll November 10, 2005
10) Nationals Preview November 15, 2005
11) 2005 Grote Poll Awards November 30, 2005

    The NCAA Championships are just 20 days away now...oh, the mayhem in Terre Haute.  The conference meets collectively saw some very impressive performances by some Grote Poll headline teams, but nothing exactly surprising.  Most of the meets were pretty predictable, at least the winners, so I won't go into a meet by meet look at how good or bad my picks were, although I guess they were pretty good.  My PAC-10 individual forecast was blown to proverbial bits by the absence of Gaylord, who I had tabbed for 4th individually.  Allegedly a foot injury, which I think is obviously the fault of Wetmore overtraining and injuring everybody, is to blame.  Beyond the top two spots, the PAC-10 produced probably the biggest shakeup with Cal moving up in a big way, which could wind up obfuscating or f-ing up the at-large scene.  Either way, hopefully Gaylord is on the mend despite the maniacal and injurious Wetmore, and will be on the line in Terre Haute.  Is it just me or did his team run better without him?  Perhaps they just had more energy from not having to carry around his luggage and what not.

THE GROTE POLL TOP 31

1.  ARKANSAS-  I will stick to it, I say that Arkansas wins until they lose, when I'll just say that I said they would win, but they didn't.  Either way, I'm right and I'm right.  23 points in the SEC is pretty good, and Kosgei as your 5th man in 8th place at 23:31 is even better.  Its unlikely that anybody is going to score 16 or 23 at NCAA's, so I'll stick with the Hogs 5 in the trenches over Wisco's 5 as good as they were at Big 10's.  Not a banner day for Barnicle, who I believe will be a force for 4-5 years each season while in Fayetteville.  Hopefully, this does not cost him a spot to race in Terre Haute.  Cormier continues to impress.

2.  WISCONSIN-  I picked Bairu to win.  He won.  I pick Withrow to win NCAA's even though he was 4th in the Big 10.  16 points.  NCAA's will be fun to watch as the Badgers and the Hogs will not be afraid to put it all out there and race from the front.  These two squads are about as good as the dominant Stanfurd squad a few years back, only thankfully they are not from Stanfurd, and have another comparable squad to race.  

3.  COLORADO-  It would not surprise me if Schoolmeester placed higher at NCAA's than at Big 12's, and did not finish behind anybody else from the conference.  If he does finish behind somebody else, I hope its Pifer.  It looks as if this is indeed a breakout season for him.  They were pushed by Texas, but still escaped by 8 points, and Texas is better than Texas has ever been.  4 in the top 10 is still a pretty dominant day, and by the looks of it, Strang is a 4th guy who may well crack the top 30.  This year that may not be enough to come away with a win.

4.  STANFURD-  A pretty good win over a dangerous home squad in Arizona.  I suppose you could argue that Stanfurd beat Arizona by more than CU beat Texas and that Arizona is probably better than Texas, so Stanfurd may be better than CU, but its my damn poll, I'm right and I'm right.  Terre Haute is not in the desert.  At least I hope not, if it is, I have a longer drive from NJ than I anticipated.  It may be a Midwestern wasteland, but not the desert.  

5.  NOTRE DAME-  A trophy threat.  31 points, a 5th man at 24:42 at Vanny makes this a pretty serious squad.  

6.  TEXAS-  While Dick Harter may shrink from the limelight and attention, I move the ‘Horns up because I dislike the travel agencies even more than Stanfurd, and believe that there is a good thing going in Austin.  If Manzano can run 10k in Indiana better than he ran 8k in Waco, all will be well for the dudes in Burnt Orange.  The story of the weekend in my book is the big race from Joe Thorne, a long time coming, and a lot of injuries that sucked a lot of ass were overcome.  In addition he has to overcome a coach with silly glasses and a big dog who likes to steal all the credit from Dick Harter.

7.  ARIZONA-  Even the 1-2 could not really get them close to Stanfurd.  28th and 38th is pretty far back for a 4th and 5th, but I would argue that the PAC-10 may be the most talent-laden and deep field out there this year.  That said, I like to think that ‘Zona will be out of the trophies.

8.  UTEP-  Just a few months after signing yearbooks and going to his senior prom, young Patrick Mutai is off on his own for the first time in college, responsible for himself for the first time like all the other freshman students.  Uhh…yeah.  Well, the Elias Koech 5th man problem is now the Joe Munoz 5th man problem.  If Elias Koech gets really good, then UTEP can be a threat to CU in the region and a trophy spot.  After the top two teams, there is little room for error among the next seven.

9.  BYU- Not much trouble with their conference, NJ guy Jensen running pretty well for them, while probably deserving a better ranking than 9th, they and I will feel better if they beat the aforementioned travel agencies ranked ahead of them.  

10. ALABAMA-  Great, real pleased to see them beat a much-improved, hard-working Florida squad that has been recruited, coached and developed.  ‘Bama is a state school, and clearly a fine representation of the state.  Nice work.  I think they should send Bruno back down to Tuscaloosa for another spot on Da Ali G Show.  

11. FLORIDA-  Once again, Henok, Enoch….ptooey.  I think I'm really clever, and that's all that counts, I suppose.  I will be rooting strongly for the Gators to beat The Tide at the regional meet.  Perhaps just a bit flat at the SEC meet after a couple big performance at Notre Dame and Pre-Nationals?  If they only run well in Indiana, that bodes well for NCAA's.

12. GEORGETOWN-  Big race from DeBole, still a strong favorite for the regional win over American and Princeton.

13. PORTLAND-  Not exactly a struggle to win the WCC for the Pilots.  I still hold out hope that they can contend with Arizona over 10k at the regional.  If not, they must also be aware of Cal, who could f-things up for people if they wind up 3rd in the region, as they were at PAC-10's because they have little at-large credibility because the win over Cornell will not do Cal much good.  

14. WILLIAM and MARY-  The Count resting at the conference?  Hopefully all is well, and The Tribe will have The Count when it counts.

15. VIRGINIA-  Congrats on a big conference win over FSU.  For what its worth, which is exactly what you pay for it, I picked UVa.  Even with the redshirting of NC State, 30 points in the ACC is still pretty good.

16. DARTMOUTH-  Domination of the Heps, as I predicted, and a win by Ben True, as I predicted.  Iona is becoming a force again.  Dartmouth may have to settle for runner-up in the region.  Providence is running better, as well.  Norton came up with a better race, 25:12, to cut down the 4-5 gap and close the deal at Vanny.

17. KANSAS-  Chesang with another conference win, KU as the close favorites in the region.

18. IONA-  They may well be a top 10 team again, based on what they did on Friday, which was sweeping the top 8 spots with a 5th at 25:14.  I still expect big things from Mohamed Khadroui.  

19. FLORIDA STATE-  38 points would normally win the ACC, unless of course somebody else scores 30, like UVa.  After completing forgetting FSU existed, I did pick Lemoncello to win.  I am gloating.

20. OHIO STATE-  All these Big 10 squads are very close and will get into the meet, 2nd at Big 10 gives OSU the higher spot for now.

21. MINNESOTA-  A close 3rd, and figure for 2nd or a good bet as an at-large in the Midwest.

22. AMERICAN-  A great showing in their domination of the Patriot League.  They need the auto, as they don't have great at-large stuff.  They have to be tougher than Princeton.  If nothing else, not having a guy named Grote on their team helps their cause.  Look out for The Dukes, though…not Bo and Luke.

23. OKLAHOMA STATE-  Not much to say, running out of xenohphobic anti-French commentary, and getting hungry for my dinner.  Good enough for an auto perhaps, or fine for an at-large.

24. INDIANA-  Pegged them 2nd at Big 10's.  I was…wrong.  

25. AIR FORCE-  Move up two spots, what the heck.

26. WASHINGTON-  I trust they will run better and be 4th at the West Region.  Lose to Cal again, and probably the Dawgs will be looking for a Turkey Trot.

27. EASTERN MICHIGAN-  That win over Duquesne is looking pretty good now.

28. CAL POLY-  I think they will show up and run tough over 10k, 5th in the region, and get an at-large.

29. IOWA-  Looked less good at Big 10's.  This is probably too low for them, but not the regional favorite today.

30. TENNESSEE-  They are pretty good.  Yes, a 4th from the South.

31. DUQUESNE-  A 3rd from the Mid-Atlantic?  Indeed…they beat LaSalle to win the A-10.  They have done nothing to really warrant the at-large, only I ranked them last time and it makes me feel neat about myself, so I'll rank them again even though Princeton is probably better and would get an at-large.

No individuals, region preview or anything else.  I am hungry and need to eat.  


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