tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38259282.post4325927570775354611..comments2024-03-26T02:26:27.609-05:00Comments on Down the Backstretch: Kirkpatrick on 6AA: " ...a blessing and a curse."jdfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174269057498736436noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38259282.post-68528863846522342102008-10-25T08:36:00.000-05:002008-10-25T08:36:00.000-05:00While I understand Edina's frustration, the fact t...While I understand Edina's frustration, the fact that the top 2 teams from each section along with some individuals will compete in the State Meet is totally fair. In other sports, only one team will go to their Tournament. I'm sure in football, Minnetonka or Woodbury would love if 2 teams from each section could go to their state tourny. I'm sure that every 3rd place team in each section regardless on how high they are ranked in the state, wish that they were taking their team to state.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06477267356619165181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38259282.post-8260289179770339692008-10-24T14:33:00.000-05:002008-10-24T14:33:00.000-05:00Seems like Kirkpatrick answered your question here...Seems like Kirkpatrick answered your question here:<BR/>"Where I see it as being more problematic in our sport, versus say Basketball, is that we don’t have a team-versus-team, one game elimination tournament. There is less notion of the “on any given day,” something good could happen for our team. If you are the 4th best Cross Country team in 6AA (read Minneapolis South this fall), you aren’t just playing against Edina or Eden Prairie or Wayzata, you are playing against all three at the same time. Not to mention the solid teams who are nipping at your heels. The chances of an upset in that type of scenario aren’t good."<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure that anyone is suggesting that more teams go to State. I do know that Charlie is suggesting that the 16 teams should be chosen in a different way. His opinion piece from last fall is here:<BR/>http://downthebackstretch.blogspot.com/2007/11/opinion-new-format-for-state-meet.htmlmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15884719367250283867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38259282.post-13511105370367516682008-10-24T12:55:00.000-05:002008-10-24T12:55:00.000-05:00Maybe this is silly, but how is this any different...Maybe this is silly, but how is this any different than any other sport where two of the top teams are in a specific section? Cross country isn't track where you CAN have a qualifying time because all courses are different which makes the "at large" bid a little more difficult in my mind. <BR/><BR/>I look at a couple of years ago. Pequot Lakes and Crosby-Ironton were ranked number one and two in the state (I believe) in Class AA basketball. They had to meet in the section finals. <BR/><BR/>Plus, these things can change so frequently. True - 6AA is historically strong in cross country. Almost all of the other sections, though, vary from year to year. Are we proposing a rule because one section is historically really tough?<BR/><BR/>I think there already is some build in leeway in the Cross Country system bringing the top 2 teams not just the top team in the state. <BR/><BR/>I guess I'm not a proponent of "more is better" when it comes to state teams. I think too many classes have watered down football and basketball a little bit and I'd be opposed to adding a third class to cross country as some are proposing. I do have sympathy for Coach Kirkpatrick and his Hornets, but as he said, they probably worked harder knowing it was going to be so hard to make it. Does it stink that they didn't make it even though they are ranked third in the state? Yup. But the fact is that they weren't better than Wayzata and Eden Prairie on that given day. I mean, there is a life lesson in losing, too. Sometimes you work really hard and things just don't go your way. Happens in school (study hard, but don't get the grade you want), it happens in life (work hard, but don't get the promotion you want), and it happens in sports. It stinks, but it's a reality.brentnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719563032806929078noreply@blogger.com