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How is Navy ranked higher than Kutztown when Kutztown defeated them in the fall season? Who has Kutztown played other than Navy and Maryland? This translates to a ‘4’? Where Cal, St Mary's and Davis get a ‘5’? I think that their schedule is more than 20% harder but maybe that’s me.
When was the last time Kutztown made the Sweet 16? Oh wait, I have the answer to that, 1995. Why do you obsess with Kutztown? I have seen these guys (KU) play and they are the opposite of electric. You need to re-evaluate your rankings.
I would think that these rankings would translate into the national tournaments somehow but just like last year, KU will be ranked ridiculously high and then be left out of the tournaments. Please don't give me the excuse that they only have one bid because they only deserve one.
Overall you do a great job on your reporting and I hope you continue with this great website, I just get a little fired up when I continually see KU ranked. Tremendous job on the website.
John Porter
ARN replies: The 4 that you refer to is the Mid-Atlantic’s Power Rating. Power Ratings range from 1-5 with 1 being the lowest. We assign Power Ratings to every conference and we arrive at each one by weighting the relative strength of one conference as opposed to another and how teams from one conference fare against teams from another in the Round of 16.
Navy is ranked higher, at the moment, because they have played more games and have a better overall record, which is another factor taken into consideration when ranking a team. Cal, SMC, and UCD have a Power Rating of 5 because we have weighted the Northern California conference as the strongest in the country.
I thoroughly enjoy your website and podcast, and enjoy the timeliness in reporting and game coverage. I am up to date on collegiate activities for the first time since I was a player in college.
However, I do find one portion a little lacking - the coverage of women's rugby at the club and collegiate level. I realize that you already cover a significant amount, but please, the women deserve as much respect as the men! Even just posting the scores and ranking leading up to the Round of 16 would be a great service.
David Scrymgeour
Albuquerque, New Mexico
ARN replies: Our coverage of the women’s game is primarily focused on the women’s national team and the women’s college national championship. Since our launch in 2005, we have been tracking our readers’ preferences in terms of content and the reality is that the majority of our readers are more interested in the men’s game.
That probably has a lot to do with the fact that our core demographic is male 18-34, 35-54, but it would be tardy business practice for us to ignore that fact. The other variable of which we are very much aware is that advertisers are not drawn to the women’s game to the same degree that they are to men’s rugby. There are several reasons for that; suffice it to say that in the eyes of advertisers/sponsors the product is not as good.
And as advertising and sponsorships are how we stay afloat, again it would be bad business practice for us not to recognize that fact.
One other point of note, ARN is not alone on this. International rugby news and information sites such as Scrum and Rugby Heaven for example do not carry much, if any, women’s content for exactly the same reasons.
The MARFU Premier league is excited to have Radford join us in our attempt to raise the competitive bar.
We invited a few other colleges from the Mid-Atlantic to join us but most declined, too bad really. People complained the League was 'Elitist" but this shows we are open to all who have the desire to compete. Welcome aboard Radford.
Mike Flanagan
USNA Men's Rugby