anticlimactic championship game

[ChampionOfSteel]

Kalamazoo and Port Huron are in the same division. Criss-cross the semifinals please.

No one wants to see the Great Lakes winner beat the snot out of the Atlantic division champ, again.

If Port Huron destroys Kalamazoo (or vice versa) on June 8th I won't be supporting this league until those responsible for this game system/talent parity are terminated from their jobs.

[exit322]

Kalamazoo is largely the same roster that Port Huron beat 62-22, 74-3, and 69-7 last year. Granted, only the first one came with Battle Creek was practicing, but the Pirates will whitewash K-zoo.

There are only a handful of teams anywhere in indoor football that could run with the Pirates. Sadly, they're all in other leagues.

[ChampionOfSteel]

Kalamazoo is largely the same roster that Port Huron beat 62-22, 74-3, and 69-7 last year. Granted, only the first one came with Battle Creek was practicing, but the Pirates will whitewash K-zoo.

There are only a handful of teams anywhere in indoor football that could run with the Pirates. Sadly, they're all in other leagues.

So are you saying Eric and Kevin on their EndZone program are lying?

Those two once said without holding any punches, Port Huron really doesn't have a talent advantage they just play well as a team. They also said the Kalamazoo team isn't like the Battle Creek team either.

If Eric/Kevin don't hold the purse strings, who does? Who in the CIFL ranks that has the money, can a fan like myself complain to, to get immediate change in this league?

[exit322]

I doubt anyone has all that much money. The best you can do is call the teams and let them know that you won't spend your money at their games until they go to a better league.

The Pirates are one of the best teams in the game in any league, and they're just so far more talented than the rest of the CIFL that it's funny and sad.

Kalamazoo has a lot more heart now that they have good ownership, but their talent level isn't anywhere near Port Huron. Port Huron won 78-19 at Miami Valley, K-zoo needed a last-second TD to win 40-37 there.

That's not to say that Kalamazoo won't be PH's closest game this year, as I do think it will be. But that's still a 3-4 TD win for the Pirates, who would have 12+ wins in any other indoor league, regardless of the rules used (the defense is that good).

[ChampionOfSteel]

I doubt anyone has all that much money. The best you can do is call the teams and let them know that you won't spend your money at their games until they go to a better league.

The Pirates are one of the best teams in the game in any league, and they're just so far more talented than the rest of the CIFL that it's funny and sad.

Kalamazoo has a lot more heart now that they have good ownership, but their talent level isn't anywhere near Port Huron. Port Huron won 78-19 at Miami Valley, K-zoo needed a last-second TD to win 40-37 there.

That's not to say that Kalamazoo won't be PH's closest game this year, as I do think it will be. But that's still a 3-4 TD win for the Pirates, who would have 12+ wins in any other indoor league, regardless of the rules used (the defense is that good).

This league has absolutely no suspense.

I'm not necessarily saying the team needs to go to a different league. If the CIFL tweaks its game system/talent issues either right now or during the offseason I will come back. But for right now...forget it. As much as I hate to say it, I'd rather go see minor league baseball than see this most unsuspenseful league.

Wish I could believe you exit322 about Port Huron being a super team. I'd believe it if I didn't see 2nd and 3rd tier lopsided scores in this league, where Rochester turns around and beats teams below in the same way Port Huron did it to them. It's more the game system than talent differences.

This brings me to another issue. How do I get Miami Valley and Marion into the UIF as a fan? Call Dakota Crow and beg for admittance?

[exit322]

Rochester's a streaky team. They have a strong enough passing game that if it's on, it can get 70 on any team not named Port Huron. Problem is, they don't have anyone that can stop Bynes from completely annihilating their quartebacks. No one does (that I'm aware of; maybe K-zoo does, but I doubt it). Eddie Bynes is an absolute game-changer, and the Pirates have other great defenders that they can completely stop an offense.

Why wasn't Bynes this amazing in the Greyhounds uniform? He was. He just doesn't take plays off anymore like he did all the time in the Valley.

No one else can do that. I don't hear you complaining about the APFL's lopsided scores because of their rules (or the 90-point games in the AF2?)?

What, you mean talent disparity is the underlying reason blowouts happen? Surely you jest.

[exit322]

Blowouts happen in the indoor game...but Port Huron's making an art form of it. Why? They're about two steps ahead of everyone else with talent and experience.

The CIFL, according to a Kalamazoo newspaper article awhile back, is considering a rule that would require something like 16 players on each team to be no older than 25. Though I think you'd tick off your veteran-laden teams so much they'd consider leaving, I like the idea and would like to see it, provided it's not actually along the rhetoric lines of "we've always wanted to do a doubleheader."

[Dogs-Glads-Xtreme]

I guess it's my turn to poke fun at the league...

It would be nice to be able to review the weaknesses and strengths of each team, but there seems to be a shortage of stats, OH WELL!

[tony-o]

^^^ciflstats.com^^^

It's obvious that the Pirates are way better than the other teams. With 8-man NIFL or UIF rules, I think Port Huron would still crush these teams the way they do now.

[Dogs-Glads-Xtreme]

CIFL Stats is about as updated as the APFL site.

[ChampionOfSteel]

Stats won't tell you anything useful to determine which is at fault -- the game system and/or talent parity.

If a certain player position(s) has to pivot quickly, in order to breakaway for a score, looking at rushing stats won't resolve anything. You need game tape and the knowledge to know what you are looking for.

As far as stats are concerned, I'd be more concerned with height, weight, age, body fat, college football experience, indoor football experience, and not rushing yardage stats, etc. If those numbers are comparable to UIF differences among the best and worst teams in the UIF, then you cannot conclude the lopsided scores are from talent differences in the CIFL.

If you guys go into a 3rd season thinking the talent differences are the cause and correct that you may still have a lopsided score problem for the 2008 season.

The debate continues.

[Dogs-Glads-Xtreme]

I never said that it determined why there are blowouts. I said that stats help you determine how teams play.

[exit322]

Stats can usually determine why there were blowouts, too. Not always, but usually.

I never said that it determined why there are blowouts. I said that stats help you determine how teams play.