NCAA X-C system is broke

Win your region

Teams that have a chance to win are there. Anyone else is just there for the fun of it.

I'm right wrote:

I don't care to hear nonsense from those who say that UTEP knew what the system was and took their chances.

Well then you had better cover your eyes and/or ears, because those are the facts!

UTEP devised a very risky competition schedule, relying strictly upon their ability to finish within the top two at regionals. They put all of their eggs in one basket, and when the gun finally went off they lost.

Try to avoid losing too much sleep over it.

Super regional format would solve your problem.

That aside, UTEP did not use the current system to its advantage the way certain other schools have learned to do.

It is true that some schools cannot use the current system because they do not have the budget, the geography, or the conference affiliation that enables.

Super regional format would solve their problem.

But, many dislike the super regional format because to do it you either have to add a round, shorten the regular season, or lengthen the season. Change is often resisted by many people. Also, for those who enjoy the advantages implicit in the current system there is little incentive to change.

So, we are, for now, left with a pretty good system that has a few kinks in it.

Everyone keeps saying that UTEP belongs at the NCAA because they beat Arkansas and Alabama during the year. IF they are really THAT good, then they really under-performed at the regionals. With the current system, or any system where there is a regional or super regional competiton, there is always a meet where you have to perform. If you get beat at that meet, then you have a chance of not going...

Does UTEP belong talent-wise - probably, but at some point, you have to perform. If UTEP is good enough to beat Arkansas, then they should have had no problem beating BYU who is not nearly as good, at least as far as the rankings, on the appointed day. We can put in super-regionals, mega-regionals, ultra-regionals, but, at some point, on any given year, a team that "deserves" to advance will under perform and not move on... And then coaches will scream and yell about changing the system. Years ago, the system for choosing at-larges had a lot of subjectivity and coaches wanted objectivity (hence, the current system). When you put in an "objective" system, where you have points, etc. the commitee is locked into a formula where they can't go outside the written rules to select based on "who belongs there." You can't have it both ways.

In whatever system you pick, there will always be teams that under perform on whatever the given day is, whatever you call it - regional, super-regional, etc - and suffer the consequences. That is the nature of comeptition.

Does UTEP belong, again, probably, but no system will flawlessly get all of "right" teams there every time.

what is this "super-regional" idea people are talking about?

Assume that the A Regionals have the number 1, 2, and 3 teams in the country. There is going to be an odd-man out. So, if you are in a cupcake B Regional, then you get in by being #2 in a Region that could not hold a candle to the number 3 team in Region A that is just the tough luck? The desire for a definitive rule leads of a rule that is not fair, especially in regions with a couple of stellar teams and then nothing (3rd gets you a lot of points if 4, 5, and 6, are going to the dance). Solution?? Any team ranked in the top X also gets an seat at the table -- pick X as 5, 10, 12, 15? I bet few would have thought you have to go down to 4 for X.

perspective wrote:

Super regional format would solve your problem.

not if they don't perform. then we'll start hearing people whining for a super-super regional or something. if they performed the way they did on saturday at a super-regional, it's likely they still would be at home for nationals. a poor performance by the runners is exacerbated by poor planning by the coach. while it's true - as pointed out by a poster above - that UTEP is not the best supported program in terms of budget, there are meets within a reasonable driving distance that could have solved this problem. he had some misplaced confidence (in hindsight, of course) regarding his team's ability; any team - i don't care how good - that has CU and BYU in their regional needs to get some points.

giving automatic passage to x teams would never happen. teams in the top whatever would effectively get a bye to nationals - and would certainly rest runners. i'm sure people would come up with some rules to minimize the effect of this - like some number of your athletes who run at regionals must also toe the line at nationals - but you know that there would certainly be some teams (wisconsin, anyone?) who would get to rest their top athletes.

it should be more about how you run at the end vs the beginning of the year

Wanganui Jim wrote:

Does UTEP belong, again, probably, but no system will flawlessly get all of "right" teams there every time.

You are correct, no system can get all of the "right" teams every time, but you'd think a system would get one of the better teams in the country in.

And yes, before someone mentions if for the 80th time, I realize what the current system is and it is UTEP's fault for not making sure they abided by it.

If BYU and UTEP were 1-2 in the region and Colorado didn't go, the people on here defending the current system would be going absolutely batshiznit crazy.

And yes, before someone mentions if for the 81st time, I realize what the current system is and perhaps Colorado would never put itself in this situation.

1) UTEP should be going....any team ranked in the top 10--and I almost don't care if they even finish dead last at regionals--should get to go.

2) Everyone keeps saying how UTEP should've beat BYU and CU...BYU is GOOD. Look at what they did at the MWC, look at what they did at regionals--they are DEFINITELY underrated, will DEFINITELY be in the top 10 at nationals, and have a shot at being in the top 5. They've just been overlooked. UTEP could've had a solid day and still got beat by both of these teams.

3) Did I mention UTEP should be going? No matter how you feel about the system, you cannot deny the fact that they SHOULD be going...did they qualify? Nope, not by any means, but as any educated person in the sport would identify, UTEP belongs in the national championship. Deny it all you want, it's true.

In defense of BYU, their #14 ranking was based in large part on their performance at nationals where Rohatinsky didn't run. So this wasn't a huge upset on their part and all the more underscores how foolish it was for UTEP to rely so heavily on an automatic spot.

so little words but says so much...you are so right!

The NCAA system is broke

I made a little game to show you how

read the rule book on qualifying a team for

nationals

than qualify your own set of teams

than look at the qualifying list they made

notice four teams missing? I'll give

you a hint - UTEP is one

...Can YOU find the others?

Princton, Eastern Michigan, Villinova...did i win!

utep did not run a smart race at regionals, the fast early pace mixed with the altitude probably hurt them. yes, many are east african and el paso is 3762' (vs albuquerque's 5300'). likeley the east africans have adapted to the lower elevation. boulder and byu are closer to albuquerque's elevation.

they are a bunch of kenyans, obviously can't breed american talent..WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TROUBLE AT ALTITUDE???

though they are talented