close games in cifl shows big improvement for the league

[blanketman]

Cifl has shown great improvement with its parity. No dominant team, Kzoo has had 2 ot games. Good start.

[ChampionOfSteel]

I think that's great.

I would love to have Jeff S. respond to this post and explain what was done differently this year in the offseason (if anything) to guarantee parity not only for this year, but for future seasons to come.

Did this all happen by chance?

[exit322]

The answer to your question has already been given numerous times. The teams across the board have better talent.

The UIF, which uses the NIFL's rule set (three differences: 1:30 warning instead of 2:00, 2 in motion instead of 3, OOB kickoff to the 20 instead of 25) has had very few close games this season. There appears to be a widening of talent gaps there, while in the CIFL the gap is narrowing quite a lot.

It's as simple as that. The bad teams (save New Jersey) have been replaced by good teams (save Flint). Fewer terrible teams exist, and the ones that stuck around largely got quite a bit better in the offseason. And fans are being rewarded.

[ChampionOfSteel]

The answer to your question has already been given numerous times.

No it hasn't. I asked if this occurred by chance or by design by the home office. I know the talent level is level this year. I want to know what happened out of the ordinary to make that happen if anything.

The teams across the board have better talent.

By design or by chance?

The UIF, which uses the NIFL's rule set (three differences: 1:30 warning instead of 2:00, 2 in motion instead of 3, OOB kickoff to the 20 instead of 25) has had very few close games this season. There appears to be a widening of talent gaps there, while in the CIFL the gap is narrowing quite a lot.

It's as simple as that. The bad teams (save New Jersey) have been replaced by good teams (save Flint). Fewer terrible teams exist, and the ones that stuck around largely got quite a bit better in the offseason. And fans are being rewarded.

Was this by design or did this happen by chance?

Reason why I ask is if this happened by chance, enjoy it. Next year could be another lopsided year.

If Jeff S. didn't do anything special (like inspecting the teams' talent level before making out the schedule, etc.) don't expect the great level of parity to occur next season...unless by chance parity occurs again.

What I'm saying is what quality assurance process was in place this offseason to get a great parity situation? Was there one or did the parity occur out of chance?

Did Jeff S. inspect?

[exit322]

Your questions have already been answered again! Teams have better talent across the board. Better talent results in closer games across the board. Scheduling does not play into this. The CIFL largely has done a better job attracting better owners to the league.

If the ownership groups are stronger, everything else will fall into place. Good owners bring good football people to put together good teams. That's what we're seeing in the CIFL. No rules are needed to force things to happen. Bringing in stronger owners will accomplish that on its own.

[ChampionOfSteel]

No rules are needed to force things to happen.

What?! You're kidding me, right?!

Bringing in stronger owners will accomplish that on its own.

That's probably closely allied to each other as far as cause and effect relatioinships are concerned -- strong owners almost always bring in quality players. In that sense I'd agree! But why leave that to chance with a well-funded team that for some strange reason brings in lousy talent? That could happen too. May not be likely but nevertheless I would not leave that to chance.

Don't ya think ownership recruiting should be some goal/new procedure with specifics for the home office folks in charge to take action on? Was that actively done from what you know/heard rumors or did this all happen by chance?

By the way, I prefer to call them goals/or policies from a great mission statement/vision/plan rather than rules.

What I'm hearing is Jeff S. didn't do anything special this past offseason. Would I be correct?

[Jamie]

What I'm hearing is a village idiot blathering... and NO ONE cares.

When the Shangri-La league shows everyone how to do it right, Jeff S. and all the rest will be begging to join.

[exit322]

The rules in place work so long as the CIFL brings in good owners. That's the only control needed to shore up competitive parity in the sport.

The CIFL largely brought in better owners. So far, everything else has fallen into place because of this. If they continue to add good owners and get rid of whatever bad ones they've got, the CIFL will continue to improve.

[ml91]

The CIFL largely brought in better owners.
I hope that this is true, but it's a bit early to know for sure. If another couple of months go by without Ali Grose and his semi-pro buddies showing up at any CIFL arenas, then I will say that the League has definitely improved.

[ml91]

I would love to have Jeff S. respond to this post and explain what was done differently this year in the offseason (if anything) to guarantee parity not only for this year, but for future seasons to come.

Did this all happen by chance?
I do not know Mr. Spitaleri, but if I had to guess I would say that the difference is finding ownership groups who can and will pay their bills (so far, at least). Did the League improve "by chance"? Highly unlikely, my friend.

[exit322]

I hope that this is true, but it's a bit early to know for sure. If another couple of months go by withour Ali Grose and his semi-pro buddies showing up at any CIFL arenas, then I will say that the League has definitely improved.

Grose was a 10-game starter for Marion (DB) in 2006. Does that count?

[ml91]

Grose was a 10-game starter for Marion (DB) in 2006. Does that count?
I mentioned Ali Grose because he is/was apparently the team leader of the 2007 replacement player team. He may be a capable defensive back, but on the replacement team he was also the quarterback, the kicker, and the coach. Some of the other players on the replacement team looked like they did not belong on a professional football field, although they may have played much better if they had more time to practice (not to mention a coaching staff).

[Sykotyk]

ml91, that's true about most replacement teams.

Sykotyk

[Tatonka]

But no, more practice would not have helped those guys. I worked with them first-hand and ml91 is right, most of them didn't even belong on the field. I have a hard time believing some of them even played high school ball as indisciplined and out-of-shape as they were.

Hell, you can say the same thing about me too in that final game in Chesapeake. ;)

[ml91]

I'm sure that Ali Grose and all the other players on that replacement team are nice people, and I didn't mean to insult them. I'm sure they all love playing football, and they had a chance to play a few pro football games, so they did. To be honest, though, the odds of some of those players making the roster of a real CIFL team are about the same as the odds of Eliot Spitzer being named Husband of the Year.