The 2014 season is about to begin. The realignments that we learned about since 2012 are going to take place. The big move in the 209 will be Central Catholic moving to the VOL. Some leagues will change divisions (the VOL will move from a division IV league to a division III league, which will have a very little effect on football, but will be more impactful in sports like baseball). There will also be changes to the football playoff structure, which I will explain at the end of the blog.
Team info/schedueles
Note: All games on Fridays at 7:00-7:30 unless otherwise noted. Also note: True neutral games will be marked as such. "Neutral" games, because home team does not have a stadium will count as a road game for the visiting team, and home game for the home team.
Division I Leagues
Central California Conference (CCC)
Who's leaving: No one
Who's entering: No one
Atwater Falcons
Last year: 3-2 CCC (T-2nd), 6-5 overall; lost to Elk Grove in 1st round of Division II playoffs.
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/30 vs. Franklin (Elk Grove) (@ Cosumnes Oaks) (Sat)
9/5 Central Catholic
9/12 @ Clovis (Central Section)
9/19 @ Patterson
9/26 Sobrato (Morgan Hill) (Central Coast Section)
10/3 Bye
10/10 Merced
10/17 Pitman
10/24 Golden Valley
10/31 Turlock
11/7 Buhach Colony (I am leaving this neutral, because both teams play home games at Atwater)
Buhach Colony Thunder (Atwater)
Last year: 2-3 CCC (4th), 4-6 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (All home games at Atwater High School)
8/29 @ El Capitan
9/4 @ Enochs (@ Downey) (Thu)
9/12 Clovis North (Fresno) (Central Section)
9/19 Pacheco
9/26 Bye
10/3 St. Mary's
10/10 @ Pitman
10/17 @ Turlock
10/24 Merced
10/31 Golden Valley
11/7 vs. Atwater
Golden Valley Cougars (Merced)
Last year: 1-4 CCC (T-5th), 3-7 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Clovis East (Clovis) (Central Section)
9/5 @ Beyer
9/12 @ Granada (Livermore) (North Coast Section)
9/19 Stellar Prep (Hayward) (North Coast Section)
9/26 @ Chavez
10/3 Bye
10/10 Turlock
10/17 @ Atwater
10/24 Pitman
10/31 Buhach Colony
11/7 vs. Merced
Merced Bears
Last year: 5-0 CCC (1st), 8-3 overall; lost to Jesuit (Carmichael) in 1st round of Division I playoffs
Schedule (Home Game, Road Game) (Home games are at Golden Valley HS and Merced College)
8/29 @ Clovis West (Fresno) (@ Buchanan-Clovis) (Central Section)
9/5 vs. El Capitan (@ Merced College)
9/12 @ Edison (Fresno) (@ McLane-Fresno) (Central Section)
9/19 Enochs
9/26 Clovis North (Fresno) (Central Section)
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Atwater
10/17 Pitman
10/24 @ Buhach Colony
10/31 @ Turlock
11/7 vs. Golden Valley
Pitman Pride (Turlock)
Last year: 3-2 CCC (T-2nd), 7-4 overall; lost to Franklin (Elk Grove) in 1st round of Division I playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (All home games at Turlock High School)
8/29 Downey
9/5 @ Lincoln (Stockton)
9/12 Bye
9/19 @ Oakland Tech (Oakland) (Oakland Section)
9/26 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove)
10/3 North Salinas (Salinas) (Central Coast Section)
10/10 Buhach Colony
10/17 @ Merced
10/24 @ Golden Valley
10/31 @ Atwater
11/7 vs. Turlock
Turlock Bulldogs
Last year: 1-4 CCC (T-5th), 5-5 overall, missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Enochs (@ Downey)
9/5 @ Oakdale
9/12 Clovis West (Fresno) (Central Section)
9/19 @ Modesto (@ Downey)
9/25 Tracy (Thu)
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Golden Valley
10/17 Buhach Colony
10/24 @ Atwater
10/31 Merced
11/7 vs. Pitman
Modesto Metro Conference (MMC)
Who's leaving: No one
Who's entering: No one in football, Modesto Christian will enter in Boys and Girls basketball only.
Note: League games are at Downey, Gregori, and Johansen. I will not designate home and road teams, except for non-league match-ups. The three exceptions are Downey, Gregori, and Johansen. I will designate home and road for those three teams.
Beyer Patriots (Modesto)
Last year: 4-2 MMC (3rd), 6-5 overall; lost to Stagg in 1st round of Division I playoffs
Schedule (Home Non-League, Road Non-League, League Games and Bye)
8/29 Sheldon (Sacramento)
9/5 Golden Valley
9/12 @ Tracy
9/19 @ Central Catholic
9/26 vs. Downey (@ Gregori)
10/3 vs. Gregori (@ Johansen)
10/10 vs. Enochs (@ Downey)
10/17 Bye
10/24 vs. Davis (@ Downey)
10/31 vs. Modesto (@ Johansen)
11/7 vs. Johansen
Davis Spartans (Modesto)
Last year: 1-4 MMC (6th), 2-7 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home Non-League, Road Non-League, League Games/Bye)
8/29 East Union (@ Modesto Junior College)
9/5 @ Franklin (Stockton)
9/12 @ Los Banos
9/19 Weston Ranch (@ Modesto Junior College)
9/26 vs. Enochs (@ Downey)
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Gregori
10/17 vs. Johansen (@ Gregori)
10/24 vs. Beyer (@ Downey)
10/31 @ Downey
11/7 vs. Modesto (@ Gregori)
Downey Knights (Modesto)
Last year: 5-1 MMC (T-1st), 7-4 overall, lost to Grant (Sacramento) in 1st round of Division II playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Pitman
9/5 McNair
9/12 Tokay
9/19 @ El Capitan
9/26 vs. Beyer (@ Gregori)
10/3 Modesto
10/10 @ Johansen
10/17 vs. Enochs (@ Johansen)
10/24 Bye
10/31 Davis
11/7 Gregori
Enochs Eagles (Modesto)
Last year: 2-3 MMC (5th), 3-7 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home Non-League, Road Non-League, League Games and Bye)
8/29 Turlock (@ Downey)
9/4 Buhach Colony (@ Downey) (Thu)
9/12 @ Manteca
9/19 @ Central Valley
9/26 Davis (@ Downey)
10/3 Johansen (@ Gregori)
10/10 Beyer (@ Downey)
10/17 Downey (@ Johansen)
10/24 Modesto (@ Johansen)
10/31 @ Gregori
11/7 Bye
Gregori Jaguars (Modesto)
Last year: 3-3 MMC (4th), 6-4 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Chavez
9/5 @ Ceres
9/12 El Capitan
9/19 East Union
9/26 Bye
10/3 vs. Beyer (@ Johansen)
10/10 Davis
10/17 vs. Modesto (@ Downey)
10/24 Johansen
10/31 Enochs
11/7 @ Downey
Johansen Vikings (Modesto)
Last year: 0-6 MMC (7th), 0-10 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Hughson
9/5 @ Livingston
9/12 @ East Union
9/19 Ceres
9/26 Modesto
10/3 vs. Enochs (@ Gregori)
10/10 Downey
10/17 vs. Davis (@ Gregori)
10/24 @ Gregori
10/31 Bye
11/7 Beyer
Modesto Panthers
Last year: 5-1 MMC (T-1st), 7-4; lost to Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) in the 1st round of the Division I play-offs
Schedule (Home Non-League, Road Non-League, League Games/Bye)
8/29 @ Ceres
9/5 vs. Stagg (@ Johansen)
9/12 @ Patterson
9/19 vs. Turlock (@ Downey)
9/26 @ Johansen
10/3 @ Downey
10/10 Bye
10/17 vs. Gregori (@ Downey)
10/24 vs. Enochs (@ Johansen)
10/31 vs. Beyer (@ Johansen)
11/7 vs. Davis (@ Gregori)
San Joaquin Athletic Association (SJAA)
Who's entering: Edison, McNair, Stagg
Who's leaving: Lincoln, Lodi, Tracy
Bear Creek Bruins (Stockton)
Last year: 3-2 SJAA (3rd), 4-6 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Lodi
9/5 @ Tokay
9/12 Kimball
9/19 @ Vallejo
9/26 West
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Chavez
10/17 Franklin
10/24 Stagg
10/31 @ Edison
11/7 @ McNair
Chavez Titans (Stockton)
Last year: 1-4 SJAA (5th), 2-8 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Gregori
9/5 Bye
9/12 Sierra
9/19 @ West
9/26 Golden Valley
10/3 @ Vallejo
10/10 Bear Creek
10/17 Edison
10/24 @ Franklin
10/31 McNair
11/7 @ Stagg
Edison Vikings (Stockton)
Last year: 2-3 TCAL (4th), 7-4 overall; lost to Tracy in the 1st round of the Division I playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Del Campo (Fair Oaks)
9/5 @ Weston Ranch
9/12 Bye
9/19 Davis
9/26 @ Lodi
10/3 @ Modesto Christian
10/10 Stagg
10/17 @ Chavez
10/24 @ McNair
10/31 Bear Creek
11/7 Franklin
Franklin Yellowjackets (Stockton)
Last year: 0-5 SJAA (6th), 2-7 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/30 @ Johansen (Sat 1:00)
9/5 Davis (Modesto)
9/12 @ Central Valley
9/19 @ Tokay
9/26 Bye
10/3 West
10/10 McNair
10/17 @ Bear Creek
10/24 Chavez
10/31 @ Stagg
11/7 @ Edison
McNair Eagles (Stockton)
Last year: 1-4 TCAL (5th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Calaveras
9/5 @ Downey
9/12 @ Lodi
9/19 @ Modesto Christian
9/26 Tokay
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Franklin
10/17 @ Stagg
10/24 Edison
10/31 @ Chavez
11/7 Bear Creek
Stagg Delta Kings (Stockton)
Last year: 5-0 TCAL (1st), 10-2 overall, defeated Beyer in 1st round of Division II playoffs, lost to Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) in 2nd round of Division II playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Lincoln (Stockton)
9/5 @ Modesto (@ Johansen)
9/12 American Canyon
9/19 Lodi
9/26 @ Fairfield
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Edison
10/17 McNair
10/24 @ Bear Creek
10/31 Franklin
11/7 Chavez
Tri-City Athletic League (TCAL)
Who's entering: Lincoln, Lodi, Tracy
Who's leaving: Edison, McNair, Stagg
Lincoln Trojans (Stockton)
Last year: 4-1 SJAA (2nd), 4-7 overall; lost to Folsom in 1st round of Division I playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Stagg
9/5 Pitman
9/12 @ Elk Grove
9/19 Granada (Livermore) (North Coast Section)
9/26 @ Vacaville
10/3 Bye
10/10 Lodi
10/17 @ West
10/24 Tokay
10/31 @ Tracy
11/7 @ St. Mary's
Lodi Flames
Last year: 2-3 SJAA (4th), 4-6 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (All Home Games at the Grape Bowl)
8/29 @ Bear Creek
9/5 vs. Sonora (@ Bret Harte)
9/12 McNair
9/19 @ Stagg
9/26 Edison
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Lincoln
10/17 Tracy
10/24 West
10/31 @ St. Mary's
11/7 vs. Tokay
St. Mary's Rams (Stockton)
Last year: 4-1 TCAL (1st), 7-4 overall; lost to Yuba City in 1st round of Division II playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) (North Coast Section)
9/12 @ Central Catholic
9/20 @ St. Ignatius (San Francisco) (Central Coast Section) (Sat)
9/26 Los Gatos (Central Coast Section)
10/3 @ Buhach Colony
10/10 @ West
10/17 Tokay
10/24 @ Tracy
10/31 Lodi
11/7 Lincoln
Tokay Tigers (Lodi)
Last year: 3-2 TCAL (3rd), 8-3 overall; lost to Granite Bay in the 1st round of the Division I playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (All Home Games at the Grape Bowl)
8/29 Hercules (North Coast Section)
9/5 Bear Creek
9/12 @ Downey
9/19 Franklin (Stockton)
9/26 @ McNair
10/3 Bye
10/10 Tracy
10/17 @ St. Mary's
10/24 @ Lincoln
10/31 West
11/7 vs. Lodi
Tracy Bulldogs
Last year: 5-0 SJAA (1st), 10-2 overall; defeated Edison in the 1st round of Division I playoffs, lost to Jesuit (Carmichael) in 2nd round of Division I playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Freedom (Oakley) (North Coast Section)
9/5 @ Clayton Valley (Concord) (North Coast Section)
9/12 Beyer
9/19 Kimball
9/26 Turlock
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Tokay
10/17 @ Lodi
10/24 St. Mary's
10/31 Lincoln
11/7 @ West
West Wolfpack (Tracy)
Last year: 0-5 TCAL (6th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Lathrop
9/5 @ Kimball
9/12 Bye
9/19 Chavez
9/26 @ Bear Creek
10/3 @ Franklin (Stockton)
10/10 St. Mary's
10/17 Lincoln
10/24 @ Lodi
10/31 @ Tokay
11/7 Tracy
Division III League
Valley Oak League (VOL)
Who's leaving: Sonora
Who's entering: Central Catholic
Central Catholic Raiders (Modesto)
Last year: 6-0 WAC (1st), 15-1 overall; def. Marysville in 1st round of Division IV playoffs, def. Colfax in 2nd round, def. Ripon in semi-finals, def. Hilmar in D-IV finals, def. McClymonds (Oakland) in D-IV Nor-Cal championships; def. Bakersfield Christian in Division IV State Championship
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 @ Atwater
9/12 St. Mary's
9/19 Beyer
9/26 Manteca
10/3 @ Sierra
10/10 East Union
10/17 @ Weston Ranch
10/24 Lathrop
10/31 @ Kimball
11/7 @ Oakdale
East Union Lancers (Manteca)
Last year: 0-7 VOL (8th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Davis (Modesto) (@ Modesto Junior College)
9/5 Bye
9/12 Johansen
9/19 @ Gregori
9/26 @ Oakdale
10/3 Kimball
10/10 @ Central Catholic
10/17 Lathrop
10/24 @ Sierra
10/31 Weston Ranch
11/7 Manteca
Kimball Jaguars (Tracy)
Last year: 4-3 VOL (T-4th), 5-5 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 West
9/12 @ Bear Creek
9/19 @ Tracy
9/26 Sierra
10/3 @ East Union
10/10 @ Weston Ranch
10/17 Manteca
10/24 @ Oakdale
10/31 Central Catholic
11/7 Lathrop
Lathrop Spartans
Last year: 1-6 VOL (7th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ West
9/5 Liberty Ranch
9/12 Ripon
9/19 Bye
9/26 @ Weston Ranch
10/3 Manteca
10/10 Sierra
10/17 @ East Union
10/24 @ Central Catholic
10/31 Oakdale
11/7 @ Kimball
Manteca Buffaloes
Last year: 7-0 VOL (1st), 13-2 overall; def. Central Valley in 1st round of Division III playoffs, def. Casa Roble (Orangevale) in 2nd round, def. Inderkum (Sacramento) in semi-finals, def. Sacramento in finals, lost to Enterprise (Redding) in Division II Nor-Cal finals
Schedule (Home, Road, Neutral)
8/29 vs. Wilcox (Santa Clara) (@ Levi's Stadium-Santa Clara) (Central Coast Section) 4:30 P.M.
9/5 Valley Christian (Dublin) (North Coast Section)
9/12 Enochs
9/19 Bye
9/26 @ Central Catholic
10/3 @ Lathrop
10/10 Oakdale
10/17 @ Kimball
10/24 Weston Ranch
10/31 Sierra
11/7 @ East Union
Oakdale Mustangs
Last year: 5-2 VOL (T-2nd), 7-5 overall; def. Patterson in 1st round of Division III playoffs, lost to Sacramento in 2nd round.
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Sonora
9/5 Turlock
9/12 @ McQueen (Reno, NV)
9/19 Bye
9/26 East Union
10/3 Weston Ranch
10/10 @ Manteca
10/17 @ Sierra
10/24 Kimball
10/31 @ Lathrop
11/7 Central Catholic
Sierra Timberwolves (Manteca)
Last year: 5-2 VOL (T-2nd), 7-4 overall; lost to Colfax in 1st round of Division IV playoffs.
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Ripon
9/5 Central Valley
9/12 @ Chavez
9/19 Bye
9/26 @ Kimball
10/3 Central Catholic
10/10 @ Lathrop
10/17 Oakdale
10/24 East Union
10/31 @ Manteca
11/7 @ Weston Ranch
Weston Ranch Cougars (Stockton)
Last year: 2-5 VOL (6th), 3-7 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 Edison
9/12 @ Galt
9/19 @ Davis (Modesto) (MJC)
9/26 Lathrop
10/3 @ Oakdale
10/10 Kimball
10/17 Central Catholic
10/24 @ Manteca
10/31 @ East Union
11/7 Sierra
Division IV League
Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
Who's leaving: Central Catholic
Who's entering: El Capitan
Central Valley Hawks (Ceres)
Last year: 3-3 WAC (4th), 6-5 overall; lost to Manteca in 1st round of Division III playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (Home games at Ceres High School)
9/5 @ Sierra
9/12 Franklin (Stockton)
9/19 Enochs
9/26 @ Pacheco
10/3 Patterson
10/11 @ Castlemont (Oakland) (Sat. 2:00 P.M.) (Oakland Section)
10/17 Livingston
10/24 @ El Capitan
10/31 @ Los Banos
11/7 vs. Ceres
Ceres Bulldogs
Last year: 1-5 WAC (6th), 2-8 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Modesto
9/5 Gregori
9/12 @ Hughson
9/19 @ Johansen
9/26 Los Banos
10/3 @ Livingston
10/10 Patterson
10/17 @ Pacheco
10/24 Bye
10/31 El Capitan
11/7 vs. Central Valley
El Capitan Gauchos (Merced)
Last year: N/A (1st year of varsity)
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 vs. Buhach Colony (@ Golden Valley)
9/5 @ Merced (@ Merced College)
9/12 @ Gregori
9/19 Downey
9/26 Livingston
10/3 Pacheco
10/10 @ Los Banos
10/17 Bye
10/24 Central Valley
10/31 @ Ceres
11/7 @ Patterson
Livingston Wolves
Last year: 0-6 WAC (7th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Hilmar
9/5 Johansen
9/12 @ Le Grand
9/19 Mariposa
9/26 @ El Capitan
10/3 Ceres
10/10 Pacheco
10/17 @ Central Valley
10/24 Los Banos
10/31 @ Patterson
Los Banos Tigers
Last year: 2-4 WAC (5th), 5-5 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (Home games at Loftin Stadium in Los Banos)
8/29 Madera (Central Section)
9/6 @ Scotts Valley (Sat 2:00) (Central Coast Section)
9/12 Davis (Modesto)
9/19 @ Dos Palos (Central Section)
9/26 @ Ceres
10/3 Bye
10/10 El Capitan
10/17 @ Patterson
10/24 @ Livingston
10/31 Central Valley
11/7 Pacheco
Pacheco Panthers (Los Banos)
Last year: 4-2 WAC (3rd), 7-4 overall; lost to Christian Brothers (Sacramento) in 1st round of Division III playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Bear River (Grass Valley)
9/5 Heritage (Brentwood) (North Coast Section)
9/12 Dos Palos (Central Section)
9/19 @ Buhach Colony
9/26 Central Valley
10/3 @ El Capitan
10/10 @ Livingston
10/17 Ceres
10/24 Patterson
10/31 Bye
11/7 @ Los Banos
Patterson Tigers
Last year: 5-1 WAC (2nd), 9-2 overall; lost to Oakdale in 1st round of Division III playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Escalon
9/5 @ Ripon
9/12 Modesto
9/19 Atwater
9/26 Bye
10/3 @ Central Valley
10/10 @ Ceres
10/17 Los Banos
10/24 @ Pacheco
10/31 Livingston
11/7 El Capitan
Division V Leagues
Mother Lode League (MLL)
Who's Leaving: No one
Who's Entering: Sonora
Amador Buffaloes (Sutter Creek)
Last year: 4-1 MLL (2nd), 9-2 overall; lost to Escalon in 1st round of Division IV playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Liberty Ranch
9/5 Center (Antelope)
9/12 @ Capital Christian (Sacramento)
9/19 Colusa (Northern Section)
9/26 Summerville
10/3 @ Linden
10/10 Bye
10/17 Bret Harte
10/24 @ Sonora
10/31 Argonaut
11/7 @ Calaveras
Argonaut Mustangs (Jackson)
Last year: 3-2 MLL (3rd), 5-5 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Colfax
9/5 Golden Sierra (Garden Valley)
9/12 Bear River (Grass Valley)
9/19 @ Denair
9/26 @ Sonora
10/3 Bye
10/10 Calaveras
10/17 @ Summerville
10/24 Linden
10/31 @ Amador
11/7 Bret Harte
Bret Harte Bullfrogs (Angels Camp)
Last year: 0-5 MLL (6th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage
9/5 @ Orestimba
9/12 @ Escalon
9/19 Livermore Valley Prep (North Coast Section)
9/26 Calaveras
10/3 @ Summerville
10/10 Linden
10/17 @ Amador
10/24 Bye
10/31 Sonora
11/7 @ Argonaut
Calaveras Redskins (San Andreas)
Last year: 5-0 MLL (1st), 9-3 overall; def. Hughson in 1st round of Division IV playoffs, lost to Ripon in 2nd round.
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ McNair
9/5 Escalon
9/12 Modesto Christian
9/19 @ Union Mine (El Dorado)
9/26 @ Bret Harte
10/3 Sonora
10/10 @ Argonaut
10/17 Bye
10/24 Summerville
10/31 @ Linden
11/7 Amador
Linden Lions
Last year: 2-3 MLL (4th), 5-5 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Orestimba
9/5 @ Gustine
9/12 Ripon Christian
9/19 Riverbank
9/26 Bye
10/3 Amador
10/10 @ Bret Harte
10/17 Sonora
10/24 @ Argonaut
10/31 Calaveras
11/7 @ Summerville
Sonora Wildcats
Last year: 4-3 VOL (T-4th), 4-6 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road, Neutral)
8/29 @ Oakdale
9/5 Lodi (@ Bret Harte)*
9/12 @ Hilmar
9/19 Ripon
9/26 Argonaut
10/3 @ Calaveras
10/9 vs. Summerville (@ Bret Harte) (Thu)
10/17 @ Linden
10/24 Amador
10/31 @ Bret Harte
Summerville Bears (Tuolumne City)
Last year: 1-4 MLL (5th), 2-8 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road, Neutral)
8/29 @ Denair
9/5 @ Mariposa
9/12 Bradshaw Christian (Sacramento)
9/19 Hughson
9/26 @ Amador
10/3 Bret Harte
10/9 vs. Sonora (@ Bret Harte) (Thu)
10/17 Argonaut
10/24 @ Calaveras
10/31 Bye
11/7 Linden
(Note: Sonora and Summerville's stadiums are currently under renovation. More home games could be moved to Bret Harte or Calaveras High Schools if there are delays in construction.
Trans Valley League (TVL)
Who's Leaving: Orestimba (in all sports), Modesto Christian (in basketball only)
Who's Entering: Mountain House (Except for varsity, who will enter next year), Ripon Christian in basketball)
Escalon Cougars
Last year: 4-2 TVL (3rd), 7-5 overall; def. Amador in 1st round of Division IV playoffs, lost to Hilmar in 2nd round
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Patterson
9/5 @ Calaveras
9/12 Bret Harte
9/19 Liberty Ranch
9/26 @ Bear River (Grass Valley)
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Hughson
10/17 Hilmar
10/24 @ Riverbank
10/31 Ripon
11/7 Modesto Christian
Hilmar Yellowjackets
Last year: 6-0 TVL (1st), 13-1 overall; def. Liberty Ranch in 1st round of Division IV playoffs, def. Escalon in 2nd round, def. Center (Antelope) in Semi-finals; lost to Central Catholic in finals.
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Livingston
9/5 San Benito (Hollister) (Central Coast Section)
9/12 Sonora
9/19 Fresno (Central Section)
9/26 @ Pacific Grove (Central Coast Section)
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ Ripon
10/17 @ Escalon
10/24 @ Hughson
10/31 Modesto Christian
11/7 @ Riverbank
Hughson Huskies
Last year: 2-4 TVL (5th), 6-5 overall; lost to Calaveras in 1st round of Division IV playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Johansen
9/5 Waterford
9/12 Ceres
9/19 @ Summerville
9/26 @ Liberty Ranch
10/3 Bye
10/10 Escalon
10/17 Modesto Christian
10/24 Hilmar
10/31 Riverbank
11/7 @ Ripon
Modesto Christian Crusaders
Last year: 3-3 TVL (4th), 6-5 overall; lost to Center (Antelope) in 1st round of Division IV playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 @ Capital Christian (Sacramento)
9/12 @ Calaveras
9/19 McNair
9/26 Vanden (Fairfield)
10/3 Edison
10/10 @ Riverbank
10/17 @ Hughson
10/24 Ripon
10/31 @ Hilmar
11/7 Escalon
Ripon Indians
Last year: 5-1 TVL (2nd), 11-2 overall; def. Dixon in 1st round of Division IV playoffs, def. Calaveras in 2nd round, lost to Central Catholic in semi-finals
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Sierra
9/5 Patterson
9/12 @ Lathrop
9/19 @ Sonora
9/26 @ Sutter (Northern Section)
10/3 Bye
10/10 Hilmar
10/17 Riverbank
10/24 @ Modesto Christian
10/31 @ Escalon
11/7 Hughson
Riverbank Bruins
Last year: 0-6 TVL (7th), 2-8 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Waterford
9/5 Denair
9/12 @ Delhi
9/19 @ Linden
9/26 Bye
10/4 @ Livermore Valley Prep (North Coast Section) (Sat)
10/10 Modesto Christian
10/17 @ Ripon
10/24 Escalon
10/31 @ Hughson
11/7 Hilmar
Division VI League
Southern League (SL)
Who's Leaving: Turlock Christian (All Sports), Ripon Christian (Basketball only)
Who's Entering: Orestimba
Delhi Hawks
Last year: 2-5 SL (6th), 5-6 overall; lost to Golden Sierra (Garden Valley) in 1st round of Division V playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Galt
9/5 @ Florin (Sacramento) (@ Monterey Trail-Elk Grove)
9/12 Riverbank
9/19 Bye
9/26 @ Denair
10/3 Orestimba
10/10 Le Grand
10/17 Mariposa
10/24 Waterford
10/31 @ Gustine
11/7 @ Ripon Chirstian
Denair Coyotes
Last year: 1-6 SL (7th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Summerville
9/5 @ Riverbank
9/12 Bye
9/19 Argonaut
9/26 Delhi
10/3 @ Mariposa
10/10 @ Gustine
10/17 @ Orestimba
10/24 Ripon Christian
10/31 @ Le Grand
11/7 Waterford
Gustine Redskins
Last year: 3-4 SL (5th), 4-6 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 Linden
9/12 Woodland Poly or @ Livermore Valley Prep
9/20 @ West Campus (Sacramento) (@ Burbank-Sacramento) (Sat 6:00 P.M.)
9/26 @ Le Grand
10/3 Waterford
10/10 Denair
10/17 Ripon Christian
10/24 @ Mariposa
10/31 Delhi
11/7 @ Orestimba
Le Grand Bulldogs
Last year: 7-0 SL (1st), 12-0 overall; 1st round bye, def. Waterford in semi-finals of Division V playoffs, def. Golden Sierra (Garden Valley) in Division V Championship. Was not selected to play in Nor-Cal Bowl.
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 @ Chowchilla (Central Section)
9/12 Livingston
9/20 @ Berean Christian (Walnut Creek) (Sat 1:30) (North Coast Section)
9/26 Gustine
10/3 Ripon Christian
10/10 @ Delhi
10/17 @ Waterford
10/24 Orestimba
10/31 Denair
11/7 @ Mariposa
Mariposa Grizzlies
Last year: 5-2 SL (3rd), 8-3 overall; 1st round bye, lost to Golden Sierra (Garden Valley) in semi-finals of Division V playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 Summerville
9/12 Minarets (O'Neals) (Central Section)
9/19 @ Livingston
9/26 @ Waterford
10/3 Denair
10/10 @ Orestimba
10/17 @ Delhi
10/24 Gustine
10/31 @ Ripon Christian
11/7 Le Grand
Orestimba Warriors (Newman)
Last year: 1-5 TVL (6th), 1-9 overall); missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 Linden
9/5 Bret Harte
9/12 @ Firebaugh (Central Section)
9/19 Bye
9/26 @ Ripon Christian
10/3 @ Delhi
10/10 Mariposa
10/17 Denair
10/24 @ Le Grand
10/31 @ Waterford
11/7 Gustine
Ripon Christian Knights
Last year: 6-1 SL (2nd), 10-3 overall; def. Stone Ridge Christian in 1st round of Division VI playoffs, def. Woodland Christian in semi-finals, lost to Bradshaw Christian (Sacramento) in Division VI championship.
Schedule (Home, Road) (All Home games at Ripon High School)
9/5 @ Big Valley
9/12 @ Linden
9/19 Stone Ridge Christian
9/26 Orestimba
10/3 @ Le Grand
10/10 Waterford
10/17 @ Gustine
10/24 @ Denair
10/31 Mariposa
11/7 Delhi
Waterford Wildcats
Last year: 4-3 SL (4th), 6-6 overall; def. Rio Vista in 1st round of Division V playoffs, lost to Le Grand in semi-finals
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Riverbank
9/5 @ Hughson
9/12 Bye
9/19 Central Valley
9/26 Mariposa
10/3 @ Gustine
10/10 @ Ripon Christian
10/17 Le Grand
10/24 @ Delhi
10/31 Orestimba
11/7 @ Denair
Division VII League
Central California Athletic Association (CCAA)
Who's leaving: No one
Who's entering: Turlock Christian, Excel Academy (Excel does not sponsor football)
Big Valley Lions (Modesto)
Last year: 3-2 CCAA (3rd), 5-5 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 Ripon Christian
9/13 @ Valley Christian (Roseville) (@ Highlands-North Highlands) (Sat)
9/19 Cristo Rey (Sacramento)
9/26 @ Stone Ridge Christian
10/3 Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage
10/10 Turlock Christian
10/17 @ Brookside Christian
10/24 @ Delta (Clarksburg)
10/31 Jim Elliot Christian
11/7 @ Millennium
Brookside Christian Knights (Stockton)
Last year: 5-0 CCAA (1st), 8-4 overall; def. Foresthill in 1st round of Division VI playoffs, lost to Bradshaw Christian (Sacramento) in semi-finals.
Schedule (Home, Road)
9/5 @ Rio Vista
9/12 @ Encina (Sacramento) (@ El Camino-Sacramento) (Sat)
9/19 Capital Christian (Sacramento) (@ Lincoln-Stockton)
9/26 @ Delta (Clarksburg)
10/3 @ Turlock Christian (@ Denair)
10/11 @ Millennium (Sat)
10/17 Big Valley
10/25 @ Jim Elliot Christian (Sat)
10/31 Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage
11/7 Stone Ridge Christian
Jim Elliot Christian Eagles (Lodi)
Last year: 2-3 CCAA (T-4th), 3-6 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (All home games at Lincoln High School-Stockton)
9/5 Johnson (Sacramento)
9/12 @ Foresthill
9/20 Valley Christian (Roseville) (Sat)
9/26 Millennium
10/3 Delta (Clarksburg)
10/10 @ Stone Ridge Christian
10/17 @ Turlock Christian (@ Hilmar)
10/25 Brookside Christian (Sat)
10/31 @ Big Valley
11/7 Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage
Millennium Falcons (Tracy)
Last year: 2-3 CCAA (T-4th), 5-5 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (All home games at Tracy High School)
9/5 @ California School For The Deaf (Fremont) (North Coast Section)
9/13 @ Cristo Rey (Sacramento) (Sat)
9/20 Vacaville Christian (Sat)
9/26 @ Jim Elliot Christian
10/4 Stone Ridge Christian (Sat)
10/11 Brookside Christian (Sat)
10/17 @ Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage
10/24 @ Turlock Christian (@ Denair)
11/1 Foresthill (Sat)
11/7 Big Valley
Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage Rams (San Andreas)
Last year: 0-5 CCAA (6th), 0-9 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Bret Harte
9/5 @ Silver State Academy/Rite of Passage (Yerington, NV)
9/12 Bye
9/19 Foresthill
9/26 Turlock Christian
10/3 @ Big Valley
10/10 @ Woodland Christian
10/17 Millennium
10/24 Stone Ridge Christian
10/31 @ Brookside Christian
11/7 @ Jim Elliot Christian
Stone Ridge Christian Knights (Merced)
Last year: 3-2 CCAA (T-2nd), 5-5 overall; lost to Ripon Christian in 1st round of Division VI playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road)
8/29 @ Woodland Christian
9/5 Bye
9/12 Delta (Clarksburg)
9/19 @ Ripon Christian
9/26 Big Valley
10/4 @ Millennium (Sat)
10/10 Jim Elliot Christian
10/17 Cristo Rey
10/24 @ Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage
10/31 Turlock Christian
11/7 @ Brookside Christian
Turlock Christian Eagles
Last year: 0-7 SL (8th), 0-10 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road) (Home games are played at Denair and Hilmar High Schools exact location of home games in parenthesis)
8/30 Livermore Valley Prep (Denair) (Sat) (North Coast Section)
9/5 @ Delta (Clarksburg)
9/12 Woodland Christian (?)
9/19 Bye
9/26 @ Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage
10/3 Brookside Christian (Denair)
10/10 @ Big Valley
10/17 Jim Elliot Christian (Hilmar)
10/24 Millennium (Denair)
10/31 @ Stone Ridge Christian
11/7 @ Valley Christian (Roseville) (@ Highlands-North Highlands)
Outliers
These are teams that are located in the 209, but because they are closer to teams outside of the 209, they play with those teams. Two are in the Sac-Joaquin Section and the other is in the Central Section.
Galt Warriors
League: Sierra Valley Conference (SVC). Last year: 0-5 SVC (7th), 1-9 overall; missed playoffs.
Schedule (Home, Road, *=SVC Games)
8/29 Delhi
9/5 @ Kennedy (Sacramento)
9/12 Weston Ranch
9/19 Valley (Sacramento)
9/26 @ Mira Loma (Sacramento)
10/3 Bye
10/11 @ Cordova (Rancho Cordova)* (Sat)
10/17 @ Union Mine (El Dorado)*
10/24 Rosemont (Sacramento)*
10/31 @ El Dorado (Placerville)*
11/7 vs. Liberty Ranch*
Liberty Ranch Hawks (Galt)
League: Sierra Valley Conference (SVC). Last year: 4-2 SVC (T-2nd), 6-5 overall; lost to Hilmar in 1st round of Division IV playoffs.
Schedule (Home, Road, *=SVC Games) (All Home Games at Galt High School)
8/29 Amador
9/5 @ Lathrop
9/12 Bye
9/19 @ Escalon
9/26 Hughson
10/3 @ Rio Americano (Sacramento)
10/10 El Dorado (Placerville)*
10/17 Cordova (Rancho Cordova)*
10/24 @ Union Mine (El Dorado)*
10/31 Rosemont (Sacramento)*
11/7 vs. Galt*
Dos Palos Broncos
League: West Sierra League (WSL) (Central Section). Last year: 3-2 WSL, 3-7 overall; missed playoffs
Schedule (Home, Road, *=WSL games)
8/30 @ Immanuel (Reedley) (Sat)
9/5 @ Caruthers
9/12 @ Pacheco (Sac-Joaquin Section)
9/19 Los Banos (Sac-Joaquin Section)
9/26 @ Chowchilla
10/3 Bye
10/10 Mendota*
10/17 Firebaugh*
10/24 @ Tranquility*
10/31 @ Coalinga*
11/7 Avenal*
Playoffs
There are some changes in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. Like last year, there will be two division groups. This time the main group will be divisions I-VI, and the other group will be division VII. Division I-VI will be all leagues except for the CCAA in 209 and Sacramento Metro Athletic League in the northern part of the section. There will be a total of 78 teams making the playoffs. I believe it will still be the top 2 in each league will be automatically in the playoffs. The remaining teams will be teams with the best record. (Twenty teams in divisions I-VI, and 4 teams in division VII.) There will be a 16 teams in divisions I-III, 8 teams in divisions IV-VI, and 6 teams in division VII. For the most part, the divisions will be determined by enrollment. There will be two exceptions.
1) A team cannot fall more than one division below what it plays in league (for example, St. Mary's plays in a division I league. Therefore, the lowest division it could be in is II, even though the enrollment numvbers say it should be a division IV or V team.
2) Starting in 2015, if a teams wins the championship 3 years in a row, it will be moved up a division the next year. In all of the Sac-Joaquin Section, only Le Grand is in danger of being forced to move up.
I know reading an explaination of the playoffs can be confusing. At the end of week 5, I will post an update of what the playoffs would look like at the end of the week.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Artists by state #21-30
This is part 3 of my series Artists by State. I will cover artists from states 21-30 to join the union.
Illinois (December 3, 1818
http://youtu.be/CRfy1yorkec (You're The Inspiration)
Artist: Chicago
Song: "You're The Inspiration"
Album: Chicago 17 (1984)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #3
Where group is from: Chicago, IL
Why I chose this song: It only seemed logical to me that I would have a band named "Chicago" to represent Illinois. I have had this song stuck in my head for a while, and it is my favorite Chicago song. In my research for this song, I learned that Chicago has had a few lead singers, and Peter Cetera went on to have a great career. By the way, I think the album names are simple, yet creative (Chicago, Chicago II, Chicago III, etc.). I think it would be one of those that since Chicago was the first to do it (at least the first I have heard), it is cool; but if anyone else tried, it would be annoying.
Other artists from Illinois: Disturbed, Burl Ives, Smashing Pumpkins, Styx
Alabama (December 14, 1819)
http://youtu.be/Qh3GU5K5Fvo (Cheap Seats)
Artist: Alabama
Song: "The Cheap Seats"
Album: Cheap Seats (1993)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: NR (#13 on the Country Music Chart)
Where group is from: Ft. Payne, AL
Why I chose this song: I chose this song for two reasons. First, it is another band named after the area they are from. There is no better representation of Alabama than the band, Alabama. Second, when I was originally going to do this blog, it was baseball season. I live near two Class A teams and within a two hour drive from two AAA baseball teams, plus near 2 major league teams. Everytime I go to a minor-league baseball game, this song always gets stuck in my head. I heard that this song was featured in Major League III: Back in the Minors. I haven't seen the movie, but I should now.
Other artists from Alabama: Shelby Lynne, Lionel Richie, Ashton Shepherd, Ralph Willis
Maine (March 15, 1820)
http://youtu.be/ca9ub9rpNK4 (Collide)
Artist: Howie Day
Song: "Collide"
Album: Stop All The World Now (2003)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #20
Where artist is from: Brewer, ME
Why I chose this song: Howie Day is the only artist from Maine who I have heard of. He is the true definition of a one-hit wonder. This is the only song of his the not only hit the top 40, none of his other songs hit the top 100.
Other artists from Maine: None
Missouri (August 10, 1821)
http://youtu.be/n3htOCjafTc (Over and Over)
Artist: Nelly (f/Tim McGraw)
Song: "Over and Over"
Album: Suit (2004)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #3
Where artist is from: St. Louis, MO
Why I chose this song: Nelly is a multi-talented artist. This is a song that shows that he can sing R and B as well as he can rap. He is a good rapper as well. It is hard to believe that he has been around in the music scene for 15 years. The collaboration he did with Florida Georgia Line for "Cruise" was a big hit. However, that was not the first time he recorded a song with a country act. I don't know if this song is, but it is the first song that many of us know of.
Other artists from Missouri: Akon, Sheryl Crow, The Dillards, Michael McDonald
Arkansas (June 15, 1836)
http://youtu.be/3aF9AJm0RFc (Hurt)
Artist: Johnny Cash
Song: "Hurt"
Album: American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
Top Postition on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #33
Where artist was from: Kingsland, AR (Born)
Why I chose this song: I had to fit Johnny Cash in this blog anywhere I could. I said that Elvis was the biggest influence in American music history. If I am correct in that, Cash is not far off. He is definitely in the top 4. (You can pick the order between Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra). "Hurt" was not Cash's song. It was a remake with Nine Inch Nails doing the original. I generally hate remakes, but this is an obvious exception. The music video took over as my second favorite music video of all time (a-ha's "Take on Me" is #1 on my list). From what I saw of the video, Cash was reflecting on the positive and negative choices he made in his life. It seemed to me that he felt it was going to be the last video he would ever do, and I could see the emotion in the video. I was moved by it. It did turn out to be the last music video. He passed away a year after the video was released. I am not sure if this story is true, but I think it is so good, that I have to share it anyway. "Hurt" was up for a MTV music award and it lost to whatever Justin Timberlake was singing at the time, and Timberlake was so upset that he beat Cash in this award, and he let it be known in his speech. I am still looking for the video. Johnny Cash died on September 12, 2003. He was 71 years old.
Other artists from Arkansas: Glen Campbell, Rev. Al Green, Joe Nichols, Conway Twitty
Michigan (January 26, 1837)
http://youtu.be/XeolH-kzx4c (96 Tears)
Artist: ? and the Mysterians
Song: "96 Tears"
Album: 96 Tears (1966)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #1
Where group is from: Bay City, MI
Why I chose this song: I chose this song to celebrate our diversity in the United States. They are the 1st artists of Mexican descent to make it big in the United States music world. Though many consider them one-hit wonders, they were the original artists of Smashmouth's cover of "Can't Get Enough of You Baby."
Other artists from Michigan: Eminem, Madonna, Bob Seger, Uncle Cracker
Florida (March 3, 1845)
http://youtu.be/DhCOb9jS2tQ (Cruise)
Artist: Florida Georgia Line
Song: "Cruise"
Album: Here's To The Good Times (2012)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #4
Where duo is from: Ormond Beach, FL (Brian Kelley), Monroe, GA (Tyler Hubbard)
Why I chose this song: It was the hit summer song of 2013. It was even a bigger hit when they did a remix with Nelly. I think both versions are great. I personally love the country/rap duo.
Other artists from Florida: Backstreet Boys, Flo Rida, Justin Timberlake, Aaron Tippin
Texas (December 29, 1845)
http://youtu.be/k2af10YlLoc (Love Without End, Amen)
Artist: George Strait
Song: "Love Without End, Amen"
Album: Livin' It Up (1990)
Top Postition on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: NR (#1 on Country Chart)
Where artist is from: Pearsall, TX
Why I chose this song: Texas is actually a musically diverse state. Austin has a huge rock following, rap artists come from Texas, many immigrants present their music to the state. However, when most of us think Texas, we think country, and there are not many as great as the King of Country, George Strait. There are literally nearly 100 hit songs I could have chosen by Mr. Strait, but I chose this one for two reasons. First, it was the first song I had heard from him. Even when I hated country, I still loved this song. Second, most of us had experienced a time (or many times) where we have done something that we thought would result in our parents not loving us anymore. This song shows the depth of love a father has for his children.
Other artists from Texas: Yolanda Adams, Fastball, Little Texas, Willie Nelson
Iowa (December 28, 1846)
http://youtu.be/le2bPRGvKXE (Convow)
Artist: C.W. McCall
Song: "Convoy"
Album: Black Bear Road (1975)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #1
Where artist is from: Audubon, IA
Why I chose this song: I could not find many artists from Iowa. Also, I wanted to include some one-hit wonders in this series of blogs. Though McCall had many other country hits, only one other song of his hit the top 40 in all genres ("Wolf Creek Pass" #40). I know some people who are truckers, and I am sure they can relate to this song.
Other artists from Iowa: Slipknot
Wisconsin (May 29, 1848)
http://youtu.be/xEkB-VQviLI (You've Lost That Loving Feeling)
Artist: Righteous Brothers
Song: "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"
Album: You've Lost That Loving Feeling (1964)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #1
Where artists are from: Beaver Dam, WI (Bobby Hatfield), Santa Monica, CA (Bill Medley)
Why I chose this song: This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I loved this song from the 1st time I heard it listening to an oldies station. In addition, according to a website a few years ago, this is the most played song in the history of radio. From another website I read, Hatfield was upset when it was determined that Medley would sing most of the song. It worked wonderfully. I don't think it would have worked as well with the two singing equally. (Note: Another big hit "Unchained Melody" was sung entirely by Hatfield). Bill Medley is still alive. Twenty years later, he teamed up with Jennifer Warnes to sing "(I've Had) The Time of my Life." Bobby Hatfield died on November 5, 2003. He was 63.
Other artists from Wisconsin: Arrested Development, Citizen King, Garbage, Les Paul
Illinois (December 3, 1818
http://youtu.be/CRfy1yorkec (You're The Inspiration)
Artist: Chicago
Song: "You're The Inspiration"
Album: Chicago 17 (1984)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #3
Where group is from: Chicago, IL
Why I chose this song: It only seemed logical to me that I would have a band named "Chicago" to represent Illinois. I have had this song stuck in my head for a while, and it is my favorite Chicago song. In my research for this song, I learned that Chicago has had a few lead singers, and Peter Cetera went on to have a great career. By the way, I think the album names are simple, yet creative (Chicago, Chicago II, Chicago III, etc.). I think it would be one of those that since Chicago was the first to do it (at least the first I have heard), it is cool; but if anyone else tried, it would be annoying.
Other artists from Illinois: Disturbed, Burl Ives, Smashing Pumpkins, Styx
Alabama (December 14, 1819)
http://youtu.be/Qh3GU5K5Fvo (Cheap Seats)
Artist: Alabama
Song: "The Cheap Seats"
Album: Cheap Seats (1993)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: NR (#13 on the Country Music Chart)
Where group is from: Ft. Payne, AL
Why I chose this song: I chose this song for two reasons. First, it is another band named after the area they are from. There is no better representation of Alabama than the band, Alabama. Second, when I was originally going to do this blog, it was baseball season. I live near two Class A teams and within a two hour drive from two AAA baseball teams, plus near 2 major league teams. Everytime I go to a minor-league baseball game, this song always gets stuck in my head. I heard that this song was featured in Major League III: Back in the Minors. I haven't seen the movie, but I should now.
Other artists from Alabama: Shelby Lynne, Lionel Richie, Ashton Shepherd, Ralph Willis
Maine (March 15, 1820)
http://youtu.be/ca9ub9rpNK4 (Collide)
Artist: Howie Day
Song: "Collide"
Album: Stop All The World Now (2003)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #20
Where artist is from: Brewer, ME
Why I chose this song: Howie Day is the only artist from Maine who I have heard of. He is the true definition of a one-hit wonder. This is the only song of his the not only hit the top 40, none of his other songs hit the top 100.
Other artists from Maine: None
Missouri (August 10, 1821)
http://youtu.be/n3htOCjafTc (Over and Over)
Artist: Nelly (f/Tim McGraw)
Song: "Over and Over"
Album: Suit (2004)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #3
Where artist is from: St. Louis, MO
Why I chose this song: Nelly is a multi-talented artist. This is a song that shows that he can sing R and B as well as he can rap. He is a good rapper as well. It is hard to believe that he has been around in the music scene for 15 years. The collaboration he did with Florida Georgia Line for "Cruise" was a big hit. However, that was not the first time he recorded a song with a country act. I don't know if this song is, but it is the first song that many of us know of.
Other artists from Missouri: Akon, Sheryl Crow, The Dillards, Michael McDonald
Arkansas (June 15, 1836)
http://youtu.be/3aF9AJm0RFc (Hurt)
Artist: Johnny Cash
Song: "Hurt"
Album: American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
Top Postition on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #33
Where artist was from: Kingsland, AR (Born)
Why I chose this song: I had to fit Johnny Cash in this blog anywhere I could. I said that Elvis was the biggest influence in American music history. If I am correct in that, Cash is not far off. He is definitely in the top 4. (You can pick the order between Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra). "Hurt" was not Cash's song. It was a remake with Nine Inch Nails doing the original. I generally hate remakes, but this is an obvious exception. The music video took over as my second favorite music video of all time (a-ha's "Take on Me" is #1 on my list). From what I saw of the video, Cash was reflecting on the positive and negative choices he made in his life. It seemed to me that he felt it was going to be the last video he would ever do, and I could see the emotion in the video. I was moved by it. It did turn out to be the last music video. He passed away a year after the video was released. I am not sure if this story is true, but I think it is so good, that I have to share it anyway. "Hurt" was up for a MTV music award and it lost to whatever Justin Timberlake was singing at the time, and Timberlake was so upset that he beat Cash in this award, and he let it be known in his speech. I am still looking for the video. Johnny Cash died on September 12, 2003. He was 71 years old.
Other artists from Arkansas: Glen Campbell, Rev. Al Green, Joe Nichols, Conway Twitty
Michigan (January 26, 1837)
http://youtu.be/XeolH-kzx4c (96 Tears)
Artist: ? and the Mysterians
Song: "96 Tears"
Album: 96 Tears (1966)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #1
Where group is from: Bay City, MI
Why I chose this song: I chose this song to celebrate our diversity in the United States. They are the 1st artists of Mexican descent to make it big in the United States music world. Though many consider them one-hit wonders, they were the original artists of Smashmouth's cover of "Can't Get Enough of You Baby."
Other artists from Michigan: Eminem, Madonna, Bob Seger, Uncle Cracker
Florida (March 3, 1845)
http://youtu.be/DhCOb9jS2tQ (Cruise)
Artist: Florida Georgia Line
Song: "Cruise"
Album: Here's To The Good Times (2012)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #4
Where duo is from: Ormond Beach, FL (Brian Kelley), Monroe, GA (Tyler Hubbard)
Why I chose this song: It was the hit summer song of 2013. It was even a bigger hit when they did a remix with Nelly. I think both versions are great. I personally love the country/rap duo.
Other artists from Florida: Backstreet Boys, Flo Rida, Justin Timberlake, Aaron Tippin
Texas (December 29, 1845)
http://youtu.be/k2af10YlLoc (Love Without End, Amen)
Artist: George Strait
Song: "Love Without End, Amen"
Album: Livin' It Up (1990)
Top Postition on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: NR (#1 on Country Chart)
Where artist is from: Pearsall, TX
Why I chose this song: Texas is actually a musically diverse state. Austin has a huge rock following, rap artists come from Texas, many immigrants present their music to the state. However, when most of us think Texas, we think country, and there are not many as great as the King of Country, George Strait. There are literally nearly 100 hit songs I could have chosen by Mr. Strait, but I chose this one for two reasons. First, it was the first song I had heard from him. Even when I hated country, I still loved this song. Second, most of us had experienced a time (or many times) where we have done something that we thought would result in our parents not loving us anymore. This song shows the depth of love a father has for his children.
Other artists from Texas: Yolanda Adams, Fastball, Little Texas, Willie Nelson
Iowa (December 28, 1846)
http://youtu.be/le2bPRGvKXE (Convow)
Artist: C.W. McCall
Song: "Convoy"
Album: Black Bear Road (1975)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #1
Where artist is from: Audubon, IA
Why I chose this song: I could not find many artists from Iowa. Also, I wanted to include some one-hit wonders in this series of blogs. Though McCall had many other country hits, only one other song of his hit the top 40 in all genres ("Wolf Creek Pass" #40). I know some people who are truckers, and I am sure they can relate to this song.
Other artists from Iowa: Slipknot
Wisconsin (May 29, 1848)
http://youtu.be/xEkB-VQviLI (You've Lost That Loving Feeling)
Artist: Righteous Brothers
Song: "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"
Album: You've Lost That Loving Feeling (1964)
Top Position on Billboard Hot 100 Chart: #1
Where artists are from: Beaver Dam, WI (Bobby Hatfield), Santa Monica, CA (Bill Medley)
Why I chose this song: This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I loved this song from the 1st time I heard it listening to an oldies station. In addition, according to a website a few years ago, this is the most played song in the history of radio. From another website I read, Hatfield was upset when it was determined that Medley would sing most of the song. It worked wonderfully. I don't think it would have worked as well with the two singing equally. (Note: Another big hit "Unchained Melody" was sung entirely by Hatfield). Bill Medley is still alive. Twenty years later, he teamed up with Jennifer Warnes to sing "(I've Had) The Time of my Life." Bobby Hatfield died on November 5, 2003. He was 63.
Other artists from Wisconsin: Arrested Development, Citizen King, Garbage, Les Paul
Friday, July 4, 2014
If I Was King of Sports #6-World Cup Selection Changes
At the time I started writing this, it was the middle of the 2014 World Cup. There has recently been talk about expanding the World Cup to 40 teams as early as the next World Cup in Russia in 2018. A proposal has been made to add a team from the OFC (the champion currently has to win a spot in a play-off), a team from the Caribbean (it currently competes with CONCACAF), and more African and Asian teams (no specific numbers were mentioned , but I am assuming three teams each). According to various articles, UEFA president, Michel Platini, would like to see new teams in the World Cup. I have a proposal that will guarantee new teams.
Before I get to it, if I was King of Sports, the OFC champion would be guaranteed a spot in the World Cup whether it expands or not. If there is no expansion, the 13th European team would be subject to a play-off for the World Cup bid. True, none of the OFC teams are of top quality, but if FIFA wanted only the best teams, then the top 32 ranked teams should just be in it. If the organization wants growth of the game all over the world, like it claims, then the OFC needs to be a part of it, too.
Now to my other proposal. If I was King of Sports, then another spot would be given to the winner of a single-elimination knockout tournament (I might consider having the first round being a home and home so fans can see their team play in it at least once). In this tournament, the only teams invited are those nations who have never had a team play in the World Cup before. If there is no expansion, then it would be taken out of the European bid. I honestly have nothing against Europe, except than it has more than twice the amount of teams as the next highest continent.
Here are some basic rules I thought of in this process:
1) Teams are only eligible for it if they would play in their continent qualification at the same time. The logistics would be figured out. I would not want teams to "put all their eggs in this basket", and I do not want any more taken away from the normal qualification than I already would have thinking of this.
2) Any necessary play-in games would be played in the United States.
3) There would be a golden-goal tie-breaker in this tournament. I hate the full overtime rule. If no one scores in the two overtimes, then there would be a normal shootout.
4) When the tournament got down to 8 teams, then there would be a loser's bracket. I would like the top-8 places decided. If the tournament champion qualified the normal way, then the runner-up would get the spot, and so-on until we went through all 8 one-by-one.
5) I would like this tournament to double as a tournament for a trophy and possibly prize money. If I did that, national teams that are a part of a continent confederation but not a part of FIFA, and UN-recognized independent nations Monaco, Micronesia, and Vatican City would be invited to play for the trophy and prize money, but not invited to the World Cup. The idea is to get these smaller nations more opportunities to play. If they would accept an invitation, then there would be a drawing for who their opponents would be in the play-in game. The eligible opponents would be those who are not ranked in the top half, and not already playing in a play-in game.
6) If I had my way, the tournament would begin a month or two after the previous World Cup with the play-in games. The seedings would just be the rankings at the time of the World Cup. For example, Panama is the #31 team in the world currently, and the top-ranked team of those who have never played in the World Cup, so it would get the #1 overall seed, and as long as it kept on winning, they would always host its games (except if the 1st round is home and home).
Here is a link to what the first round of my tournament would look like if you are interested: http://groomy95361.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-qualification-tournament-for-world.html
If somehow this were to even happen, I am sure FIFA would want to have a group stage. I would be ok with that. I would like the smaller teams get more chances to play.
Before I get to it, if I was King of Sports, the OFC champion would be guaranteed a spot in the World Cup whether it expands or not. If there is no expansion, the 13th European team would be subject to a play-off for the World Cup bid. True, none of the OFC teams are of top quality, but if FIFA wanted only the best teams, then the top 32 ranked teams should just be in it. If the organization wants growth of the game all over the world, like it claims, then the OFC needs to be a part of it, too.
Now to my other proposal. If I was King of Sports, then another spot would be given to the winner of a single-elimination knockout tournament (I might consider having the first round being a home and home so fans can see their team play in it at least once). In this tournament, the only teams invited are those nations who have never had a team play in the World Cup before. If there is no expansion, then it would be taken out of the European bid. I honestly have nothing against Europe, except than it has more than twice the amount of teams as the next highest continent.
Here are some basic rules I thought of in this process:
1) Teams are only eligible for it if they would play in their continent qualification at the same time. The logistics would be figured out. I would not want teams to "put all their eggs in this basket", and I do not want any more taken away from the normal qualification than I already would have thinking of this.
2) Any necessary play-in games would be played in the United States.
3) There would be a golden-goal tie-breaker in this tournament. I hate the full overtime rule. If no one scores in the two overtimes, then there would be a normal shootout.
4) When the tournament got down to 8 teams, then there would be a loser's bracket. I would like the top-8 places decided. If the tournament champion qualified the normal way, then the runner-up would get the spot, and so-on until we went through all 8 one-by-one.
5) I would like this tournament to double as a tournament for a trophy and possibly prize money. If I did that, national teams that are a part of a continent confederation but not a part of FIFA, and UN-recognized independent nations Monaco, Micronesia, and Vatican City would be invited to play for the trophy and prize money, but not invited to the World Cup. The idea is to get these smaller nations more opportunities to play. If they would accept an invitation, then there would be a drawing for who their opponents would be in the play-in game. The eligible opponents would be those who are not ranked in the top half, and not already playing in a play-in game.
6) If I had my way, the tournament would begin a month or two after the previous World Cup with the play-in games. The seedings would just be the rankings at the time of the World Cup. For example, Panama is the #31 team in the world currently, and the top-ranked team of those who have never played in the World Cup, so it would get the #1 overall seed, and as long as it kept on winning, they would always host its games (except if the 1st round is home and home).
Here is a link to what the first round of my tournament would look like if you are interested: http://groomy95361.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-qualification-tournament-for-world.html
If somehow this were to even happen, I am sure FIFA would want to have a group stage. I would be ok with that. I would like the smaller teams get more chances to play.
My Qualification Tournament for the World Cup if I Was King of Sports
If I was King of Sports, then another spot would be given to the winner of a single-elimination knockout tournament (I might consider having the first round being a home and home so fans can see their team play in it at least once). In this tournament, the only teams invited are those nations who have never had a team play in the World Cup before. If there is no expansion, then it would be taken out of the European bid.
Here is what the first round of my tournament would look like:
1st round games for my tournament:
(128) Cook Islands/Djibouti winner @ (1) Panama
(65) Lesotho @ (64) St. Lucia
(97) Swaziland @ (32) Equitorial Guinea
(96) Sao Tome e Principe @ (33) Central African Republic
(113) Samoa @ (16) Zambia
(80) Singapore @ (49) Vietnam
(112) Fiji @ (17) Oman
(81) Guyana @ (48) Malawi
(121) Papua New Guinea @ (8) Sierra Leone
(72) Maldives @ (57) Dominican Republic
(104) Solomon Islands @ (25) Botswana
(89) Nepal @ (40) Tanzania
(120) Cayman Islands @ (9) Mali
(73) Gambia @ (56) Afghanistan
(105) Seychelles @ (24) Gabon
(88) Pakistan @ (41) Namibia
(124) Turks and Caicos/Andorra winner @ (5) Montenegro
(69) Turkmenistan @ (60) Guinea-Bissau
(101) Taiwan @ (28) Estonia
(92) Laos @ (37) Latvia
(117) Timor-Leste @ (12) Finland
(76) Antigua and Barbuda @ (53) Guatemala
(108) Mauritius @ (21) Congo
(85) Tahiti @ (44) Mozambique
(125) San Marino/Eritrea winner @ (4) Venezuela
(68) Cyprus @ (61) Chad
(100) Nicaragua @ (29) Zimbabwe
(93) Dominica @ (36) Kenya
(116) Brunei @ (13) Jordan
(77) Belize @ (52) Tajikistan
(109) South Sudan @ (20) Azerbaijan
(84) St. Kitts and Nevis @ (45) Luxembourg
(123) American Samoa @ (6) Iceland
(70) Grenada @ (59) St. Vincent and the Grenadines
(102) Guam @ (27) Georgia
(91) Bangladesh @ (38) Bahrain
(118) Tonga @ (11) Burkina Faso
(75) Thailand @ (54) Burundi
(107 Yemem @ (22) Uganda
(86) Liechtenstein @ (43) Rwanda
(126) Bhutan/Somalia winner @ (3) Cape Verde
(67) Syria @ (62) Suriname
(99) Bermuda @ (30) Qatar
(94) Barbados @ (35) Ethiopia
(115) Vanuatu @ (14) Libya
(78) Malaysia @ (51) Lebanon
(110) Bahamas @ (19) Belarus
(83) Myanmar @ (46) Sudan
(122) British Virgin Islands @ (7) Guinea
(71) Madagascar @ (58) Malta
(103) Sri Lanka @ (26) Palestine
(90) Montserrat @ (39) Niger
(119) U.S. Virgin Islands @ (10) Uzbekistan
(74) Kyrgyzstan @ (55) Philippines
(106) Curacao @ (23) Benin
(87) Hong Kong @ (42) Liberia
(127) Anguilla/Macau winner @ (2) Armenia
(66) New Caledonia @ (63) Mauritania
(98) Comoros @ (31) Moldova
(95) Faroe Islands @ (34) Lithuania
(114) Cambodia @ (15) Albania
(79) India @ (50) Kazakhstan
(111) Mongolia @ (18) Macedonia
(82) Puerto Rico @ (47) Aruba
Here is what the first round of my tournament would look like:
1st round games for my tournament:
(128) Cook Islands/Djibouti winner @ (1) Panama
(65) Lesotho @ (64) St. Lucia
(97) Swaziland @ (32) Equitorial Guinea
(96) Sao Tome e Principe @ (33) Central African Republic
(113) Samoa @ (16) Zambia
(80) Singapore @ (49) Vietnam
(112) Fiji @ (17) Oman
(81) Guyana @ (48) Malawi
(121) Papua New Guinea @ (8) Sierra Leone
(72) Maldives @ (57) Dominican Republic
(104) Solomon Islands @ (25) Botswana
(89) Nepal @ (40) Tanzania
(120) Cayman Islands @ (9) Mali
(73) Gambia @ (56) Afghanistan
(105) Seychelles @ (24) Gabon
(88) Pakistan @ (41) Namibia
(124) Turks and Caicos/Andorra winner @ (5) Montenegro
(69) Turkmenistan @ (60) Guinea-Bissau
(101) Taiwan @ (28) Estonia
(92) Laos @ (37) Latvia
(117) Timor-Leste @ (12) Finland
(76) Antigua and Barbuda @ (53) Guatemala
(108) Mauritius @ (21) Congo
(85) Tahiti @ (44) Mozambique
(125) San Marino/Eritrea winner @ (4) Venezuela
(68) Cyprus @ (61) Chad
(100) Nicaragua @ (29) Zimbabwe
(93) Dominica @ (36) Kenya
(116) Brunei @ (13) Jordan
(77) Belize @ (52) Tajikistan
(109) South Sudan @ (20) Azerbaijan
(84) St. Kitts and Nevis @ (45) Luxembourg
(123) American Samoa @ (6) Iceland
(70) Grenada @ (59) St. Vincent and the Grenadines
(102) Guam @ (27) Georgia
(91) Bangladesh @ (38) Bahrain
(118) Tonga @ (11) Burkina Faso
(75) Thailand @ (54) Burundi
(107 Yemem @ (22) Uganda
(86) Liechtenstein @ (43) Rwanda
(126) Bhutan/Somalia winner @ (3) Cape Verde
(67) Syria @ (62) Suriname
(99) Bermuda @ (30) Qatar
(94) Barbados @ (35) Ethiopia
(115) Vanuatu @ (14) Libya
(78) Malaysia @ (51) Lebanon
(110) Bahamas @ (19) Belarus
(83) Myanmar @ (46) Sudan
(122) British Virgin Islands @ (7) Guinea
(71) Madagascar @ (58) Malta
(103) Sri Lanka @ (26) Palestine
(90) Montserrat @ (39) Niger
(119) U.S. Virgin Islands @ (10) Uzbekistan
(74) Kyrgyzstan @ (55) Philippines
(106) Curacao @ (23) Benin
(87) Hong Kong @ (42) Liberia
(127) Anguilla/Macau winner @ (2) Armenia
(66) New Caledonia @ (63) Mauritania
(98) Comoros @ (31) Moldova
(95) Faroe Islands @ (34) Lithuania
(114) Cambodia @ (15) Albania
(79) India @ (50) Kazakhstan
(111) Mongolia @ (18) Macedonia
(82) Puerto Rico @ (47) Aruba
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
If I Was King of Sports #5: College baseball's 2nd postseason tournament
If I Was King of Sports, I would make a college baseball tournament that works like the NIT in basketball. So many teams have had great season, and I do not believe deserve to go home just because the committee does not feel that they are "good enough" for the NCAA tournament. To be honest, I always feel that there are at least one or two teams that do not deserve to be in the tournament that are (Stanford and Texas A and M) and there are at least two teams not in that should be (Mercer and UCF).
Last year, I thought of this concept. I called it the "B.S. Tournament" because I thought it was B.S. that Florida was just two games over .500 and got in, while 43-10 Campbell was out. Even if you feel that Florida deserved to get in over Campbell, the Camels did not deserve to have their season end. There were many more qualified teams over Florida who did not receive an invitation.
Anyone who finished with a better overall winning percentage than the worst at-large team (by record) would qualify for this tournament (this year, there was 44 of them). Those with the same record would only qualify as fillers, that is, if extra teams are needed (Iowa and Grand Canyon are the two teams this year). If even more teams are needed, Division II teams who did not make their College World Series could be used. If any team is ineligible because of academics, or by punishment, that team would still be ineligible. If a team is ineligible, because it has not been a division I team for at least five years, then I would make that team eligible for this tournament. This year, I decided there would be no byes. Each first round regional must have four or six teams.
In the 2014 edition, I would have 48 teams in it, the 44 with better records, the 2 with similar records, and two Division II teams as fillers. Seedings are determined solely by winning percentage. Seedings are determined solely by winning percentage. Where a team plays is determined by geography as best as possible as long as no teams from the came conference are in the same first round regional site.
1st round would be 12 regions of 4 teams each. (Double-elimination)
2nd round would be a best two-of three super regional.
Finals would be a double-elimination of 6 teams. If I could actually do this, I would try to get either a major league team or AAA team to host.
Worst at-large team in the NCAA tournament by winning percentage: Stanford (30-23, .566)
1st round *=Division II teams who would be invited
1. East Orange, NJ Regional
(4) Felician* (30-20) vs. (1) Seton Hall (39-15)
(3) Radford (35-23) vs. (2) Florida Gulf Coast (39-22)
12. Cape Girardeau, MO Regional
(4) Samford (32-25) vs. (1) Southeast Missouri St. (37-20)
(3) Illinois St. (33-22) vs. (2) UAB (35-21)
7. Cullowhee, NC Regional
(4) North Carolina St. (32-25) vs. (1) Western Carolina (37-18)
(3) William and Mary (34-22) vs. (2) VCU 37-20
6. Cookeville, TN Regional
(4) Tennessee (31-23) vs. (1) Tennessee Tech (40-19)
(3) Davidson (29-19) vs. (2) Alabama St. (37-20)
4. Philadelphia, PA Regional
(4) Iowa (30-23) vs. (1) St. Joseph's (35-16)
(3) Penn (35-25) vs. (2) Delaware St. (30-17)
9. Stony Brook, NY Regional
(4) Fairfield (32-24) vs. (1) Stony Brook (35-18)
(3) High Point (35-22) vs. (2) Army (33-18)
3. Macon, GA Regional
(4) Grand Canyon (30-23) vs. (1) Mercer (38-17)
(3) UCF (36-23) vs. (2) Florida International (36-20)
10. Omaha, NE Regional
(4) Loyola Marymount (32-24) vs. (1) Creighton (32-17)
(3) Nebraska-Omaha (31-20) vs. (2) St. Louis (34-21)
5. Muncie, IN Regional
(4) Hartford (31-23) vs. (1) Ball St. (39-13)
(3) Illinois (32-21) vs. (2) Evansville (34-21)
8. Santa Barbara, CA Regional
(4) Duke (33-25) vs. (1) UC-Santa Barbara (34-17)
(3) Southern Mississippi (35-25) vs. (2) San Diego (34-26)
2. Buffalo, NY Regional
(4) Dowling* (36-17) vs. (1) Canisius (40-16)
(3) Central Arkansas (32-22) vs. (2) Wright St. (35-22)
SECOND ROUND (Best two of three) all sites will be at the Division I teams with better records
(All are regional winners)
(12) Cape Girardeau, MO Regional vs. (1) East Orange, NJ Regional
(7) Cullowhee, NC Regional vs. (6) Cookeville, TN Regional
(9) Stony Brook, NY Regional vs. (4) Philadelphia, PA Regional
(10) Omaha, NE Regional vs. (3) Macon, GA Regional
(8) Santa Barbara, CA Regional vs. (5) Muncie, IN Regional
(11) Albuquerque, NM Regional vs. (2) Buffalo, NY Regional
Finals: The six second round winners would play in a double-elimination finals with the same format as a NCAA Division II tournament regional.
Last thoughts: Even if the NCAA never adopts my "If I was King of Sports" plan, I would like to see a consolation tournament of some kind to reward teams with excellent seasons, despite not being invited to the NCAA tournament.
Last year, I thought of this concept. I called it the "B.S. Tournament" because I thought it was B.S. that Florida was just two games over .500 and got in, while 43-10 Campbell was out. Even if you feel that Florida deserved to get in over Campbell, the Camels did not deserve to have their season end. There were many more qualified teams over Florida who did not receive an invitation.
Anyone who finished with a better overall winning percentage than the worst at-large team (by record) would qualify for this tournament (this year, there was 44 of them). Those with the same record would only qualify as fillers, that is, if extra teams are needed (Iowa and Grand Canyon are the two teams this year). If even more teams are needed, Division II teams who did not make their College World Series could be used. If any team is ineligible because of academics, or by punishment, that team would still be ineligible. If a team is ineligible, because it has not been a division I team for at least five years, then I would make that team eligible for this tournament. This year, I decided there would be no byes. Each first round regional must have four or six teams.
In the 2014 edition, I would have 48 teams in it, the 44 with better records, the 2 with similar records, and two Division II teams as fillers. Seedings are determined solely by winning percentage. Seedings are determined solely by winning percentage. Where a team plays is determined by geography as best as possible as long as no teams from the came conference are in the same first round regional site.
1st round would be 12 regions of 4 teams each. (Double-elimination)
2nd round would be a best two-of three super regional.
Finals would be a double-elimination of 6 teams. If I could actually do this, I would try to get either a major league team or AAA team to host.
Worst at-large team in the NCAA tournament by winning percentage: Stanford (30-23, .566)
1st round *=Division II teams who would be invited
1. East Orange, NJ Regional
(4) Felician* (30-20) vs. (1) Seton Hall (39-15)
(3) Radford (35-23) vs. (2) Florida Gulf Coast (39-22)
12. Cape Girardeau, MO Regional
(4) Samford (32-25) vs. (1) Southeast Missouri St. (37-20)
(3) Illinois St. (33-22) vs. (2) UAB (35-21)
7. Cullowhee, NC Regional
(4) North Carolina St. (32-25) vs. (1) Western Carolina (37-18)
(3) William and Mary (34-22) vs. (2) VCU 37-20
6. Cookeville, TN Regional
(4) Tennessee (31-23) vs. (1) Tennessee Tech (40-19)
(3) Davidson (29-19) vs. (2) Alabama St. (37-20)
4. Philadelphia, PA Regional
(4) Iowa (30-23) vs. (1) St. Joseph's (35-16)
(3) Penn (35-25) vs. (2) Delaware St. (30-17)
9. Stony Brook, NY Regional
(4) Fairfield (32-24) vs. (1) Stony Brook (35-18)
(3) High Point (35-22) vs. (2) Army (33-18)
3. Macon, GA Regional
(4) Grand Canyon (30-23) vs. (1) Mercer (38-17)
(3) UCF (36-23) vs. (2) Florida International (36-20)
10. Omaha, NE Regional
(4) Loyola Marymount (32-24) vs. (1) Creighton (32-17)
(3) Nebraska-Omaha (31-20) vs. (2) St. Louis (34-21)
5. Muncie, IN Regional
(4) Hartford (31-23) vs. (1) Ball St. (39-13)
(3) Illinois (32-21) vs. (2) Evansville (34-21)
8. Santa Barbara, CA Regional
(4) Duke (33-25) vs. (1) UC-Santa Barbara (34-17)
(3) Southern Mississippi (35-25) vs. (2) San Diego (34-26)
2. Buffalo, NY Regional
(4) Dowling* (36-17) vs. (1) Canisius (40-16)
(3) Central Arkansas (32-22) vs. (2) Wright St. (35-22)
SECOND ROUND (Best two of three) all sites will be at the Division I teams with better records
(All are regional winners)
(12) Cape Girardeau, MO Regional vs. (1) East Orange, NJ Regional
(7) Cullowhee, NC Regional vs. (6) Cookeville, TN Regional
(9) Stony Brook, NY Regional vs. (4) Philadelphia, PA Regional
(10) Omaha, NE Regional vs. (3) Macon, GA Regional
(8) Santa Barbara, CA Regional vs. (5) Muncie, IN Regional
(11) Albuquerque, NM Regional vs. (2) Buffalo, NY Regional
Finals: The six second round winners would play in a double-elimination finals with the same format as a NCAA Division II tournament regional.
Last thoughts: Even if the NCAA never adopts my "If I was King of Sports" plan, I would like to see a consolation tournament of some kind to reward teams with excellent seasons, despite not being invited to the NCAA tournament.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
2014 NFL Draft Picks
The 2014 NFL draft has come to a close, and I am happy to report that I only watched 10 minutes of it. Though I do not like to watch the draft, I am interested to see which teams picked who, and where the picks came from. We never know which players will end up being a success. Here are the draft picks I look at for various reasons
Top Draft Pick: Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Mr. Irrelevant: Lonnie Ballentine, FS, Memphis
(Both picks made by the Houston Texans)
Players from NCAA Division I-FCS or lower
Reasons why I look at this category: First, I root for the little guy. Second, stars and valuable role players can come from these schools. Jerry Rice went to Mississippi Valley St. (Div I-FCS), Terrell Owens went to Tennessee-Chattanooga (FCS), Super Bowl winning quarterback, Joe Flacco went to Delaware (FCS), and Danny Woodhead, a valuable role player, went to Chadron St. (Div. II). This is just a small sample of players from these schools who succeeded.
NCAA Division I-FCS players
Rd. (O) Team Player Position School
2 (62) New England Jimmy Garoppolo QB Eastern Illinois
3 (67) Miami Billy Turner OT North Dakota St.
3 (94) Cleveland Terrance West RB Towson
3 (96) Minnesota Jerick McKimon RB Georgia Southern
4 (126) Miami Walt Aikens CB Liberty
4 (137) New York Jets Dakota Dozier G Furman
4 (138) Baltimore Lorenzo Taliaferro RB Coastal Carolina
5 (143) Tampa Bay Kadeem Edwards G Tennessee St.
5 (158) Detroit Caraun Reid DT Princeton
5 (171) Miami Jordan Tripp LB Montana
6 (184) Minnesota Kendall James CB Maine
6 (190) Miami Matt Hazel WR Coastal Carolina
6 (196) Arizona Walt Powell WR Murray St.
7 (226) St. Louis Mitchell Van Dyk OT Portland St.
7 (234) Miami Terrance Fede DE Marist
7 (235) Oakland Shelby Harris DE Illinois St.
7 (250) St. Louis Demetrius Rhaney C Tennessee St.
7 (252) Cincinnati Lavelle Westbrooks CB Georgia Southern
7 (255) Atlanta Tyler Starr LB South Dakota
Some of the media have made a big deal of Texas not having anyone drafted. Georgia Southern, Tennessee State, and Coastal Carolina each got two players drafted.
NCAA Division II players
Rd. (O) Team Player Position School
3 (91) Arizona John Brown WR Pittsburg St.
4 (127) Cleveland Pierre Desir CB Lindenwood
4 (136) Detroit Larry Webster III DE Bloomsburg
6 (195) New York Jets Brandon Dixon CB Northwest Missouri St.
7 (236) Green Bay Jeff Janis WR Saginaw Valley St.
NCAA Division III player
The New England Patriots drafted DE, Zach Moore in the 6th round (198th overall) from Concordia-St. Paul.
CIS (Canada) player
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in the 6th round (200th overall) from McGill University in Montreal, QC.
Players from California Universities
Since I am from California, I want to look at who got drafted from the state of California.
Rd. (O) Team Player Position School
1 (9) Minnesota Anthony Barr LB UCLA
2 (33) Houston Xavier Su'a Filo G UCLA
2 (36) Oakland Derek Carr QB Fresno St.
2 (39) Jacksonville Marquise Lee WR USC
2 (47) Washington Trent Murphy LB Stanford
2 (53) Green Bay Davante Adams WR Fresno St.
3 (70) San Francisco Marcus Martin C USC
3 (98) Green Bay Richard Rodgers TE California
4 (108) Seattle Cassius Marsh DE UCLA
4 (115) New York Jets Shaq Evans WR UCLA
4 (126) New Orleans Khairi Fort LB California
4 (140) New England Cameron Fleming OT Stanford
5 (145) Minnesota David Yankey G Stanford
5 (148) Carolina Bene Benwikere CB San Jose St.
5 (152) New York Giants Nat Berhe S San Diego St.
5 (162) Philadelphia Ed Reynolds S Stanford
5 (174) New York Giants Devon Kennard OLB USC
6 (183) Chicago David Fales QB San Jose St.
6 (192) Pittsburgh Jordan Zumwalt OLB UCLA
6 (204) Carolina Tyler Gaffney RB Stanford
6 (208) Seattle Eric Pinkins SS San Diego St.
7 (231) Dallas Ben Gardner DE Stanford
Top Draft Pick: Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Mr. Irrelevant: Lonnie Ballentine, FS, Memphis
(Both picks made by the Houston Texans)
Players from NCAA Division I-FCS or lower
Reasons why I look at this category: First, I root for the little guy. Second, stars and valuable role players can come from these schools. Jerry Rice went to Mississippi Valley St. (Div I-FCS), Terrell Owens went to Tennessee-Chattanooga (FCS), Super Bowl winning quarterback, Joe Flacco went to Delaware (FCS), and Danny Woodhead, a valuable role player, went to Chadron St. (Div. II). This is just a small sample of players from these schools who succeeded.
NCAA Division I-FCS players
Rd. (O) Team Player Position School
2 (62) New England Jimmy Garoppolo QB Eastern Illinois
3 (67) Miami Billy Turner OT North Dakota St.
3 (94) Cleveland Terrance West RB Towson
3 (96) Minnesota Jerick McKimon RB Georgia Southern
4 (126) Miami Walt Aikens CB Liberty
4 (137) New York Jets Dakota Dozier G Furman
4 (138) Baltimore Lorenzo Taliaferro RB Coastal Carolina
5 (143) Tampa Bay Kadeem Edwards G Tennessee St.
5 (158) Detroit Caraun Reid DT Princeton
5 (171) Miami Jordan Tripp LB Montana
6 (184) Minnesota Kendall James CB Maine
6 (190) Miami Matt Hazel WR Coastal Carolina
6 (196) Arizona Walt Powell WR Murray St.
7 (226) St. Louis Mitchell Van Dyk OT Portland St.
7 (234) Miami Terrance Fede DE Marist
7 (235) Oakland Shelby Harris DE Illinois St.
7 (250) St. Louis Demetrius Rhaney C Tennessee St.
7 (252) Cincinnati Lavelle Westbrooks CB Georgia Southern
7 (255) Atlanta Tyler Starr LB South Dakota
Some of the media have made a big deal of Texas not having anyone drafted. Georgia Southern, Tennessee State, and Coastal Carolina each got two players drafted.
NCAA Division II players
Rd. (O) Team Player Position School
3 (91) Arizona John Brown WR Pittsburg St.
4 (127) Cleveland Pierre Desir CB Lindenwood
4 (136) Detroit Larry Webster III DE Bloomsburg
6 (195) New York Jets Brandon Dixon CB Northwest Missouri St.
7 (236) Green Bay Jeff Janis WR Saginaw Valley St.
NCAA Division III player
The New England Patriots drafted DE, Zach Moore in the 6th round (198th overall) from Concordia-St. Paul.
CIS (Canada) player
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in the 6th round (200th overall) from McGill University in Montreal, QC.
Players from California Universities
Since I am from California, I want to look at who got drafted from the state of California.
Rd. (O) Team Player Position School
1 (9) Minnesota Anthony Barr LB UCLA
2 (33) Houston Xavier Su'a Filo G UCLA
2 (36) Oakland Derek Carr QB Fresno St.
2 (39) Jacksonville Marquise Lee WR USC
2 (47) Washington Trent Murphy LB Stanford
2 (53) Green Bay Davante Adams WR Fresno St.
3 (70) San Francisco Marcus Martin C USC
3 (98) Green Bay Richard Rodgers TE California
4 (108) Seattle Cassius Marsh DE UCLA
4 (115) New York Jets Shaq Evans WR UCLA
4 (126) New Orleans Khairi Fort LB California
4 (140) New England Cameron Fleming OT Stanford
5 (145) Minnesota David Yankey G Stanford
5 (148) Carolina Bene Benwikere CB San Jose St.
5 (152) New York Giants Nat Berhe S San Diego St.
5 (162) Philadelphia Ed Reynolds S Stanford
5 (174) New York Giants Devon Kennard OLB USC
6 (183) Chicago David Fales QB San Jose St.
6 (192) Pittsburgh Jordan Zumwalt OLB UCLA
6 (204) Carolina Tyler Gaffney RB Stanford
6 (208) Seattle Eric Pinkins SS San Diego St.
7 (231) Dallas Ben Gardner DE Stanford
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
If I Was King of Sports #4: NCAA vs. Professional baseball exhibition games.
On occasion, professional baseball teams on all levels will play a college team in an exhibition game. For some, it is an annual event (Michigan St. vs. Lansing Lugnuts- Blue Jays A team). When Stanislaus St. and the Modesto Nuts schedueled a game (it would eventually be rained out), I thought it was a great idea to promote the local professional team, and the local college. I now think all pro teams should do it. If I was king of sports, I would make a day out of it, and these would be the match-ups.
Note: I would have the pro teams play the local college team, but there would be some exceptions if there is a bigger match-up, and the college is close enough geographically.
NCAA (and 1 CIS) vs. American League (MLB)
Maryland Terrapins-x (Div. I) @ Baltimore Orioles
Boston College Eagles-y (Div. I) @ Boston Red Sox
Illinois-Chicago Flames (Div. I) @ Chicago White Sox
Case Western Reserve Spartans (Div. III) @ Cleveland Indians
Wayne St. Warriors (Div. II) @ Detroit Tigers
Houston Cougars (Div. I) @ Houston Astros
Rockhurst Hawks (Div. II) @ Kansas City Royals
Fullerton St. Titans (Div. I) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Div. I) @ Minnesota Twins
Manhattan Jaspers (Div. I) @ New York Yankees
California Golden Bears (Div I)-z @ Oakland A's
Washington Huskies (Div. I) @ Seattle Mariners
South Florida Bulls (Div I) @ Tampa Bay Rays
Texas-Arlington Mavericks (Div. I) @ Texas Rangers
Toronto Varsity Blues (CIS) @ Toronto Blue Jays
x= It is one of those match-ups that I chose the bigger team, had I chosen the local team, it would have either been Maryland-Baltimore County or Coppin St.
y= Boston College was also chosen for the bigger match-up. Solely based on geography, it would have been Northeastern.
z=California was chosen for the bigger match-up. Solely based on geography, the A's opponent would have been Holy Names (Div. II)
NCAA vs. National League (MLB)
Grand Canyon Antelopes (Div. I) @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (Div. I) @ Atlanta Braves
Chicago St. Cougars (Div. I) @ Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Bearcats (Div I) @ Cincinnati Reds
Metro St. Roadrunners (Div. II) @ Colorado Rockies
UCLA Bruins (Div. I)-a @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Miami Hurricanes (Div.I)-b @ Miami Marlins
Milwaukee Panthers (Div. I) @ Milwaukee Brewers
St. John's Red Storm (Div. I) @ New York Mets
Penn Quakers (Div. I) @ Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Panthers (Div. I) @ Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Bilikins (Div. I) @ St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego St. Azteca (Div. I) @ San Diego Padres
San Francisco Dons (Div. I) @ San Francisco Giants
Georgetown Hoyas (Div. I) @ Washington Nationals
a=UCLA and USC would alternate each year, unless one wins the College World Series, then that team would play the Dodgers, regardless of whose turn it is.
b=Miami was chosen for the bigger match up. Solely based on geography, the opponent of the Marlins would be Florida International.
NCAA vs. International League (AAA)
Buffalo Bulls (Div. I) @ Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays AAA)
Charlotte 49ers (Div. I) @ Charlotte Knights (White Sox AAA)
Ohio St. Buckeyes (Div. I) @ Columbus Clippers (Indians AAA)
Duke Blue Devils (Div. I) @ Durham Bulls (Rays AAA)
Georgia St. Panthers (Div. I) @ Gwinett Braves (Braves AAA) (Lawrenceville, GA)
Butler Bulldogs (Div. I) @ Indianapolis Indians (Pirates AAA)
Muhlenburg Mules (Div. III) @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies AAA)
Louisville Cardinals (Div. I) @ Louisville Bats (Reds AAA)
Norfolk St. Spartans (Div. I) @ Norfolk Tides (Orioles AAA)
Rhode Island Rams (Div. I) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (Red Sox AAA)
Rochester Yellowjackets (Div. III) @ Rochester Red Wings (Twins AAA)
Scranton Royals (Div. III) @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees AAA)
LeMoyne Dolphins (Div. II) @ Syracuse Chiefs (Nationals AAA)
Toledo Rockets (Div. I) @ Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers AAA)
NCAA vs. Pacific Coast League (AAA)
New Mexico Lobos (Div. I) @ Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers AAA)
Air Force Falcons (Div. I) @ Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies AAA)
New Mexico St. Aggies (Div. I)-c @ El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres AAA)
Fresno St. Bulldogs (Div. I) @ Fresno Grizzlies (Giants AAA)
Simpson Storm (Div. III) @ Iowa Cubs (Cubs AAA)
UNLV Runnin' Rebels (Div. I) @ Las Vegas 51's (Mets AAA)
Memphis Tigers (Div. I) @ Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals AAA)
Vanderbilt Commodores (Div. I) @ Nashville Sounds (Brewers AAA)
Tulane Green Wave (Div. I) @ New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins AAA) (Metairie, LA)
Central Oklahoma Broncos (Div. II) @ Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros AAA)
Creighton Blue Jays (Div. I) @ Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals AAA)
Nevada Wolf Pack (Div. I) @ Reno Aces (Diamondbacks AAA)
Southwestern Pirates (Div. III) @ Round Rock Express (Rangers AAA)
UC-Davis Aggies (Div. I) @ Sacramento River Cats (A's AAA)
Utah Utes (Div. I) @ Salt Lake Bees (Angels AAA)
Puget Sound Loggers (Div. III) @ Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners AAA)
c= In my plan if I had things my way, I would try to keep all the games intrastate. However, in the case of El Paso, TX, UTEP does not field a baseball team, and no other schools in Texas are closer to El Paso. Therefore, I would give the game to New Mexico St.
NCAA vs. Eastern League (AA)
Akron Zips (Div. I) @ Akron RubberDucks (Indians AA)
Penn St.-Altoona Nittany Lions (Div. III) @ Altoona Curve (Pirates AA)
Binghamton Bearcats (Div. I) @ Binghamton Mets (Mets AA)
Maryland-Baltimore County Retreivers (Div. I) @ Bowie Baysox (Orioles AA)
Penn St.-Erie Nittany Lions (Div. III) @ Erie SeaWolves (Tigers AA)
Shippensburg Raiders (Div. II) @ Harrisburg Senators (Nationals AA)
Central Connecticut St. Blue Devils (Div. I) @ New Britain Rock Cats (Twins AA)
Southern New Hampshire Penmen (Div. II) @ New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays AA)
Southern Maine Huskies (Div. III) @ Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox AA)
Albright Lions (Div. III) @ Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies AA)
Richmond Spiders (Div. I) @ Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants AA)
College of New Jersey Lions (Div. III) @ Trenton Thunder (Yankees AA)
NCAA vs. Southern League (AA)
UAB Blazers (Div. I)@ Birmingham Barons (White Sox AA)
Chattanooga St. Tigers (NJCAA)-d @ Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers AA)
Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (Div. II) @ Huntsville Stars (Brewers AA)
Lane Dragons (Div. II) @ Jackson Generals (Mariners AA)
Jackson St. Tigers (Div. I) @ Mississippi Braves (Braves AA)
South Alabama Jaguars (Div. I) @ Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks AA)
Alabama St. Hornets (Div. I) @ Montgomery Biscuits (Rays AA)
West Florida Argonauts (Div. II) @ Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds AA)
Tennessee Volunteers (Div. I) @ Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA)
d=It was supposed to be NCAA vs. Professional, but since they already have this game, and Tennessee-Chattanooga does not field baseball, the game would stay.
NCAA vs. Texas League (AA)
Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans (Div. I) @ Arkansas Travelers (Angels AA)
Texas A and M-Corpus Christi Islanders (Div. I) @ Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros AA)
Dallas Baptist Patriots (Div. I) @ Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers AA)
Texas-Permian Basin Falcons (Div. II) @ Midland RockHounds (A's AA)
Arkansas Razorbacks (Div. I) @ Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals AA)
UTSA Roadrunners (Div. I) @ San Antonio Missions (Padres AA)
Missouri St. Bears (Div. I) @ Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals AA)
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Div. I) @ Tulsa Drillers (Rockies AA)
NCAA vs. California League (High-A)
Bakersfield St. Roadrunners (Div. I) @ Bakersfield Blaze (Reds A)
Redlands Bulldogs (Div. III) @ High Desert Mavericks (Mariners A)
CSU-San Bernardino Coyotes (Div. II) @ Inland Empire 66ers (Angels A)
UC-Riverside Highlanders (Div. I) @ Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres A)
Loyola Marymount Lions (Div. I) @ Lancaster JetHawks (Astros A)
Stanislaus St. Warriors (Div. II) @ Modesto Nuts (Rockies A)
CSU-Los Angeles Golden Eagles (Div. II) @ Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers A)
San Jose St. Spartans (Div. I) @ San Jose Giants (Giants A)
Pacific Tigers (Div. I) @ Stockton Ports (A's A)
Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (Div. II) @ Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks A)
NCAA vs. Carolina League (High-A)
North Carolina St. Wolf Pack (Div. I) @ Carolina Mudcats (Indians A)
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (Div. I) @ Frederick Keys (Orioles A)
Liberty Flames (Div. I) @ Lynchburg Hillcats (Braves A)
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (Div. I) @ Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Rangers A)
George Mason Patriots (Div. I) @ Potomac Nationals (Nationals A)
Roanoke Maroons (Div. III) @ Salem Red Sox (Red Sox A)
Wilmington Wildcats (Div. II) @ Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals A)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Div. I) @ Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox A)
NCAA vs. Florida State League (High-A)
UCF Knights (Div. I) @ Bradenton Marauders (Pirates A)
Florida Tech Panthers (Div. II) @ Brevard County Manatees (Brewers A)
Nova Southeastern Sharks (Div. II) @ Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays A)
Eckerd Tritons (Div. II) @ Clearwater Treshers (Phillies A)
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (Div. I) @ Daytona Cubs (Cubs A)
St. Leo Lions (Div. II) @ Dunedin Blue Jays (Blue Jays A)
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (Div. I) @ Ft.Myers Miracle (Twins A)
Florida Atlantic Owls (Div. I) @ Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins A)
Florida Southern Moccasins (Div. II) @ Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers A)
Lynn Fighting Knights (Div. II) @ Palm Beach Cardinals (Cardinals A) (Jupiter, FL)
Barry Buccaneers (Div. II) @ St. Lucie Mets (Mets)
Tampa Spartans (Div. II) @ Tampa Yankees (Yankees)
NCAA vs. Midwest League (Low-A)
Beloit Buccaneers (Div. III) @ Beloit Snappers (A's A)
Western Kenutcky Hilltoppers (Div. I) @ Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays A)
Iowa Wesleyan Tigers (Div. III) @ Burlington Bees (Angels A)
Coe Kohawks (Div. III) @ Cedar Rapids Kernels
Iowa Hawkeyes (Div. I) @ Clinton LumberKings (Mariners A)
Dayton Flyers (Div. I) @ Dayton Dragons (Reds A)
IPFW Mastedons (Div. I) @ Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres A)
Northwood Timberwolves (Div. II) @ Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers A)
Aurora Spartans (Div. III) @ Kane County Cougars (Cubs A)
Lake Erie Storm (Div. II) @ Lake County Captains (Indians A)
Michigan St. Spartans (Div. I) @ Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays A)
Bradley Braves (Div. I) @ Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals A)
Augustana Vikings (Div. III) @ Quad City River Bandits (Astros A)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Div. I) @ South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks A)
Calvin Knights (Div. III)@ West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers A)
Lawrence Vikings (Div. III) @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers A)
NCAA vs. South Atlantic League
North Carolina-Asheville Bulldogs (Div. I) @ Asheville Tourists (Rockies A)
Augusta St. (Div. II) @ Augusta Green Jackets (Giants A)
Charleston Southern Buccaneers (Div. I) @ Charleston River Dogs (Yankees A)
Salisbury Seagulls (Div. III) @ Delmavra Shorebirds (Orioles A)
North Carolina-Greensboro Spartans (Div. I) @ Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins A)
Furman Paladins (Div. I) @ Greenville Drive (Red Sox A)
Frostburg St. Bobcats (Div. III) @ Hagerstown Suns (Nationals A)
Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (Div. II) @ Hickory Crawdads (Rangers A)
Catawba Indians (Div. II) @ Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox A)
Richard Stockton Ospreys (Div. III) @ Lakewood Blue Claws (Phillies A)
Kentucky Wildcats (Div. I) @ Lexiton Legends (Royals A)
Shorter Hawks (Div. II) @ Rome Braves (Braves A)
Savannah St. Tigers (Div. I) @ Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets A)
Charleston Golden Eagles (Div. II) @ West Virginia Power (Pirates A) (Charleston, WV)
Note: I would have the pro teams play the local college team, but there would be some exceptions if there is a bigger match-up, and the college is close enough geographically.
NCAA (and 1 CIS) vs. American League (MLB)
Maryland Terrapins-x (Div. I) @ Baltimore Orioles
Boston College Eagles-y (Div. I) @ Boston Red Sox
Illinois-Chicago Flames (Div. I) @ Chicago White Sox
Case Western Reserve Spartans (Div. III) @ Cleveland Indians
Wayne St. Warriors (Div. II) @ Detroit Tigers
Houston Cougars (Div. I) @ Houston Astros
Rockhurst Hawks (Div. II) @ Kansas City Royals
Fullerton St. Titans (Div. I) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Div. I) @ Minnesota Twins
Manhattan Jaspers (Div. I) @ New York Yankees
California Golden Bears (Div I)-z @ Oakland A's
Washington Huskies (Div. I) @ Seattle Mariners
South Florida Bulls (Div I) @ Tampa Bay Rays
Texas-Arlington Mavericks (Div. I) @ Texas Rangers
Toronto Varsity Blues (CIS) @ Toronto Blue Jays
x= It is one of those match-ups that I chose the bigger team, had I chosen the local team, it would have either been Maryland-Baltimore County or Coppin St.
y= Boston College was also chosen for the bigger match-up. Solely based on geography, it would have been Northeastern.
z=California was chosen for the bigger match-up. Solely based on geography, the A's opponent would have been Holy Names (Div. II)
NCAA vs. National League (MLB)
Grand Canyon Antelopes (Div. I) @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (Div. I) @ Atlanta Braves
Chicago St. Cougars (Div. I) @ Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Bearcats (Div I) @ Cincinnati Reds
Metro St. Roadrunners (Div. II) @ Colorado Rockies
UCLA Bruins (Div. I)-a @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Miami Hurricanes (Div.I)-b @ Miami Marlins
Milwaukee Panthers (Div. I) @ Milwaukee Brewers
St. John's Red Storm (Div. I) @ New York Mets
Penn Quakers (Div. I) @ Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Panthers (Div. I) @ Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Bilikins (Div. I) @ St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego St. Azteca (Div. I) @ San Diego Padres
San Francisco Dons (Div. I) @ San Francisco Giants
Georgetown Hoyas (Div. I) @ Washington Nationals
a=UCLA and USC would alternate each year, unless one wins the College World Series, then that team would play the Dodgers, regardless of whose turn it is.
b=Miami was chosen for the bigger match up. Solely based on geography, the opponent of the Marlins would be Florida International.
NCAA vs. International League (AAA)
Buffalo Bulls (Div. I) @ Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays AAA)
Charlotte 49ers (Div. I) @ Charlotte Knights (White Sox AAA)
Ohio St. Buckeyes (Div. I) @ Columbus Clippers (Indians AAA)
Duke Blue Devils (Div. I) @ Durham Bulls (Rays AAA)
Georgia St. Panthers (Div. I) @ Gwinett Braves (Braves AAA) (Lawrenceville, GA)
Butler Bulldogs (Div. I) @ Indianapolis Indians (Pirates AAA)
Muhlenburg Mules (Div. III) @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies AAA)
Louisville Cardinals (Div. I) @ Louisville Bats (Reds AAA)
Norfolk St. Spartans (Div. I) @ Norfolk Tides (Orioles AAA)
Rhode Island Rams (Div. I) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (Red Sox AAA)
Rochester Yellowjackets (Div. III) @ Rochester Red Wings (Twins AAA)
Scranton Royals (Div. III) @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees AAA)
LeMoyne Dolphins (Div. II) @ Syracuse Chiefs (Nationals AAA)
Toledo Rockets (Div. I) @ Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers AAA)
NCAA vs. Pacific Coast League (AAA)
New Mexico Lobos (Div. I) @ Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers AAA)
Air Force Falcons (Div. I) @ Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies AAA)
New Mexico St. Aggies (Div. I)-c @ El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres AAA)
Fresno St. Bulldogs (Div. I) @ Fresno Grizzlies (Giants AAA)
Simpson Storm (Div. III) @ Iowa Cubs (Cubs AAA)
UNLV Runnin' Rebels (Div. I) @ Las Vegas 51's (Mets AAA)
Memphis Tigers (Div. I) @ Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals AAA)
Vanderbilt Commodores (Div. I) @ Nashville Sounds (Brewers AAA)
Tulane Green Wave (Div. I) @ New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins AAA) (Metairie, LA)
Central Oklahoma Broncos (Div. II) @ Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros AAA)
Creighton Blue Jays (Div. I) @ Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals AAA)
Nevada Wolf Pack (Div. I) @ Reno Aces (Diamondbacks AAA)
Southwestern Pirates (Div. III) @ Round Rock Express (Rangers AAA)
UC-Davis Aggies (Div. I) @ Sacramento River Cats (A's AAA)
Utah Utes (Div. I) @ Salt Lake Bees (Angels AAA)
Puget Sound Loggers (Div. III) @ Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners AAA)
c= In my plan if I had things my way, I would try to keep all the games intrastate. However, in the case of El Paso, TX, UTEP does not field a baseball team, and no other schools in Texas are closer to El Paso. Therefore, I would give the game to New Mexico St.
NCAA vs. Eastern League (AA)
Akron Zips (Div. I) @ Akron RubberDucks (Indians AA)
Penn St.-Altoona Nittany Lions (Div. III) @ Altoona Curve (Pirates AA)
Binghamton Bearcats (Div. I) @ Binghamton Mets (Mets AA)
Maryland-Baltimore County Retreivers (Div. I) @ Bowie Baysox (Orioles AA)
Penn St.-Erie Nittany Lions (Div. III) @ Erie SeaWolves (Tigers AA)
Shippensburg Raiders (Div. II) @ Harrisburg Senators (Nationals AA)
Central Connecticut St. Blue Devils (Div. I) @ New Britain Rock Cats (Twins AA)
Southern New Hampshire Penmen (Div. II) @ New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays AA)
Southern Maine Huskies (Div. III) @ Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox AA)
Albright Lions (Div. III) @ Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies AA)
Richmond Spiders (Div. I) @ Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants AA)
College of New Jersey Lions (Div. III) @ Trenton Thunder (Yankees AA)
NCAA vs. Southern League (AA)
UAB Blazers (Div. I)@ Birmingham Barons (White Sox AA)
Chattanooga St. Tigers (NJCAA)-d @ Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers AA)
Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (Div. II) @ Huntsville Stars (Brewers AA)
Lane Dragons (Div. II) @ Jackson Generals (Mariners AA)
Jackson St. Tigers (Div. I) @ Mississippi Braves (Braves AA)
South Alabama Jaguars (Div. I) @ Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks AA)
Alabama St. Hornets (Div. I) @ Montgomery Biscuits (Rays AA)
West Florida Argonauts (Div. II) @ Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds AA)
Tennessee Volunteers (Div. I) @ Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA)
d=It was supposed to be NCAA vs. Professional, but since they already have this game, and Tennessee-Chattanooga does not field baseball, the game would stay.
NCAA vs. Texas League (AA)
Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans (Div. I) @ Arkansas Travelers (Angels AA)
Texas A and M-Corpus Christi Islanders (Div. I) @ Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros AA)
Dallas Baptist Patriots (Div. I) @ Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers AA)
Texas-Permian Basin Falcons (Div. II) @ Midland RockHounds (A's AA)
Arkansas Razorbacks (Div. I) @ Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals AA)
UTSA Roadrunners (Div. I) @ San Antonio Missions (Padres AA)
Missouri St. Bears (Div. I) @ Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals AA)
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Div. I) @ Tulsa Drillers (Rockies AA)
NCAA vs. California League (High-A)
Bakersfield St. Roadrunners (Div. I) @ Bakersfield Blaze (Reds A)
Redlands Bulldogs (Div. III) @ High Desert Mavericks (Mariners A)
CSU-San Bernardino Coyotes (Div. II) @ Inland Empire 66ers (Angels A)
UC-Riverside Highlanders (Div. I) @ Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres A)
Loyola Marymount Lions (Div. I) @ Lancaster JetHawks (Astros A)
Stanislaus St. Warriors (Div. II) @ Modesto Nuts (Rockies A)
CSU-Los Angeles Golden Eagles (Div. II) @ Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers A)
San Jose St. Spartans (Div. I) @ San Jose Giants (Giants A)
Pacific Tigers (Div. I) @ Stockton Ports (A's A)
Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (Div. II) @ Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks A)
NCAA vs. Carolina League (High-A)
North Carolina St. Wolf Pack (Div. I) @ Carolina Mudcats (Indians A)
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (Div. I) @ Frederick Keys (Orioles A)
Liberty Flames (Div. I) @ Lynchburg Hillcats (Braves A)
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (Div. I) @ Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Rangers A)
George Mason Patriots (Div. I) @ Potomac Nationals (Nationals A)
Roanoke Maroons (Div. III) @ Salem Red Sox (Red Sox A)
Wilmington Wildcats (Div. II) @ Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals A)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Div. I) @ Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox A)
NCAA vs. Florida State League (High-A)
UCF Knights (Div. I) @ Bradenton Marauders (Pirates A)
Florida Tech Panthers (Div. II) @ Brevard County Manatees (Brewers A)
Nova Southeastern Sharks (Div. II) @ Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays A)
Eckerd Tritons (Div. II) @ Clearwater Treshers (Phillies A)
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (Div. I) @ Daytona Cubs (Cubs A)
St. Leo Lions (Div. II) @ Dunedin Blue Jays (Blue Jays A)
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (Div. I) @ Ft.Myers Miracle (Twins A)
Florida Atlantic Owls (Div. I) @ Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins A)
Florida Southern Moccasins (Div. II) @ Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers A)
Lynn Fighting Knights (Div. II) @ Palm Beach Cardinals (Cardinals A) (Jupiter, FL)
Barry Buccaneers (Div. II) @ St. Lucie Mets (Mets)
Tampa Spartans (Div. II) @ Tampa Yankees (Yankees)
NCAA vs. Midwest League (Low-A)
Beloit Buccaneers (Div. III) @ Beloit Snappers (A's A)
Western Kenutcky Hilltoppers (Div. I) @ Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays A)
Iowa Wesleyan Tigers (Div. III) @ Burlington Bees (Angels A)
Coe Kohawks (Div. III) @ Cedar Rapids Kernels
Iowa Hawkeyes (Div. I) @ Clinton LumberKings (Mariners A)
Dayton Flyers (Div. I) @ Dayton Dragons (Reds A)
IPFW Mastedons (Div. I) @ Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres A)
Northwood Timberwolves (Div. II) @ Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers A)
Aurora Spartans (Div. III) @ Kane County Cougars (Cubs A)
Lake Erie Storm (Div. II) @ Lake County Captains (Indians A)
Michigan St. Spartans (Div. I) @ Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays A)
Bradley Braves (Div. I) @ Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals A)
Augustana Vikings (Div. III) @ Quad City River Bandits (Astros A)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Div. I) @ South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks A)
Calvin Knights (Div. III)@ West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers A)
Lawrence Vikings (Div. III) @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers A)
NCAA vs. South Atlantic League
North Carolina-Asheville Bulldogs (Div. I) @ Asheville Tourists (Rockies A)
Augusta St. (Div. II) @ Augusta Green Jackets (Giants A)
Charleston Southern Buccaneers (Div. I) @ Charleston River Dogs (Yankees A)
Salisbury Seagulls (Div. III) @ Delmavra Shorebirds (Orioles A)
North Carolina-Greensboro Spartans (Div. I) @ Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins A)
Furman Paladins (Div. I) @ Greenville Drive (Red Sox A)
Frostburg St. Bobcats (Div. III) @ Hagerstown Suns (Nationals A)
Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (Div. II) @ Hickory Crawdads (Rangers A)
Catawba Indians (Div. II) @ Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox A)
Richard Stockton Ospreys (Div. III) @ Lakewood Blue Claws (Phillies A)
Kentucky Wildcats (Div. I) @ Lexiton Legends (Royals A)
Shorter Hawks (Div. II) @ Rome Braves (Braves A)
Savannah St. Tigers (Div. I) @ Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets A)
Charleston Golden Eagles (Div. II) @ West Virginia Power (Pirates A) (Charleston, WV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)