ARN College Rugby Preseason Rankings: BYU at #3

With many college rugby teams in the nation already slated to play a few preseason matches in the coming months, American Rugby News has 'gotten the jump' on the rest of the internet community by releasing its "Preseason Top 25", along with commentary supporting their picks.

Despite taking the National Championship this past season, the BYU Rugby team comes in with a #3 ranking behind Cal Berkeley and Arkansas State.

1 California
2 Arkansas State
3 BYU
4 Kutztown
5 St Mary’s
6 Army
7 LSU
8 San Diego State
9 Penn State
10 Arizona
11 Dartmouth
12 Cal Poly
13 Central Washington
14 Utah
15 Texas A&M
16 Florida
17 Navy
18 UC Davis
19 Virginia Tech
20 Colorado State
21 Rutgers
22 Sacramento State
23 Bowling Green
24 Washington State
25 Oklahoma

According to ARN's Brian Lowe, BYU's #1 finish last season was basically a fluke, not to be repeated any time soon:

"Right off the bat we don’t think BYU will repeat as national champions.

"Granted their run to the title last season was nothing short of spectacular, it’s just that we reckon much like in college football nowadays, it’s darn near impossible for most teams to repeat as champions.

"Sure, Cal has done it on a regular basis during the last couple of decades but they are the exception rather than the rule.

"In football parlance, BYU is probably akin to USC in that the Trojans won a national championship a few years ago and while they’re always in the mix they haven’t been able to get back to the promised land since.

"Cal is kind of like Florida, or perhaps it should be the other way around. The Golden Bears and Gators have been the most consistent in their respective sports in recent years, although Florida of course has been by no means as dominant as UC Berkeley."

While I have great respect for Brian Lowe, I must say that this college football analogy is less than functional... and not just because I despise USC and Florida!

First off, a "national champion" in college football isn't a title earned by eliminating the competition in a playoff system; rather, it is more of a gift granted by the deficient and self-serving BCS format.

For this reason, Cal receives even more respect for their accomplishments; no matter how much any of us dislikes Cal or wishes to downplay their program's achievements, no one can deny that they are the premier collegiate rugby team in America.

Florida, on the other hand, is the fluke in this whole equation if you ask me. Any team with a money-grubbing, Benedict Arnold of a coach isn't bound for lasting greatness... absolutely no comparison with the legendary Jack Clark. And Florida's so-called "Superman" quarterback will be a blip on the radar when all is said and done...

If you don't believe me, go back and watch the 2007 Capital One Bowl! The same team that was shamed and shunned by all for losing to Appalachian State in their season opener completely snubbed the highly-touted, "underrated" Gators! Florida couldn't buy their freedom, let alone a break, and so, as was appropriate, Lloyd Carr rode out into the sunset of Michigan glory!!!

Okay, okay, I know I'm getting carried away here... football season is just a tick away, and I'm getting the itch! But it stands that you can't compare a team with barely 3 national titles (Florida) with one that can claim 24 true titles (Cal); and conversely, you can't compare BYU to USC, who, ironically, holds claim to 11 national titles... seems like ARN should've switched up the analogy!

Enough college football talk, and no hard feelings toward Brian... after all, he's not a homegrown American anyway! So, back to college rugby. Although the football comparison fails, the real reasoning behind the rankings is about as sound as anyone could propose at this point. All we can take into consideration are teams' rosters: how many returning starters will be in the mix and how much experience the promoted secondary/newcomers will bring to the table.

All things considered, a #3 ranking is not bad... not bad at all. And although that ranking might drop throughout the fall season (if BYU again opts to not play any fall matches), let's just hope Our Boys can step up to the task once again to build upon the most amazing and legitimate National Title of any BYU sport ever!

Nothing is impossible... but the ball's in our court now. Great expectations, my friends... all eyes are on the BYU Men's Rugby team and rightfully so! Let's take the pressure and use it to our advantage, to exceed ourselves, to upend the competition once more!

Say it with me now... "BYU Rugby FOREVER!"

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BYU Rugby 2009 Highlight Video Reviews

CRITICS' REVIEWS

"This DVD is a must-get, not just for BYU players, coaches and fans, but for anyone who's into college rugby. Scot Clark and his colleagues have done a wonderful job in documenting the Cougars' remarkable run to the national championship and are to be congratulated for their efforts. Apart from the attractive rugby that BYU played en route to their first ever national title, I like how this DVD makes you feel as though you know the guys a little better. It also helps you understand what drove them throughout the season. Well done to all concerned."

-Brian Lowe, Publisher/Managing Editor, American Rugby News


"I got my BYU Rugby Forever DVD and it’s a lot of fun. No talk really, just music and highlights of games. Maybe needed a few stats and scores, but it’s dramatic and nicely pieced together.

"I personally found the DVD really enjoyable. It wasn't intended to be a piece of video journalism; rather it was supposed to evoke something just by showing the action, and it did that. You got to feel the physicality and appreciate the skill of the players, and it was just plain fun. ..." (as quoted in "Running Touch: All About the Movies")

-Alex Goff, Editor-in-Chief, eRugbyNews


“BYU Rugby is filmed in top quality HD, the first of it’s kind for a rugby documentary. The footage is raw and full of excitement. A perfect season for BYU, capped by the nail-biting win against Cal in the National Championship, is captured well by Scot and his camera crew.

"Full of big hits and great plays, this DVD is not just for BYU fans; it’s for all those that follow and play rugby.”

-Trenton Yackzan, Co-Founder, rugbyUNITED


"The BYU Men's Rugby Highlight Video of 2009 is a true milestone for BYU Rugby. This video is proof that BYU Rugby is no longer just an afterthought. Rugby is no longer the sport played on some field somewhere on campus— Rugby is finally a followed, well-known sport at BYU. This video is the first of its kind for BYU Rugby and represents the culmination of years of hard work to bring rugby to prominence in the BYU community.

"It was only recently that BYU Football even started to release a highlight video after the season. Any sport on the same level as football at BYU must be doing something right. Scot Clark, the producer, is a die-hard, true-blue BYU Rugby fan, and it looks like he won't rest until everyone in Provo is too! After watching the video, I have to say, his evangelizing has made a convert out of me!

"BYU is now a national powerhouse in rugby, and this video gives you a glimpse of their rise to the national championship this year. If you are a fan of BYU Rugby, you would be crazy not to get this video! The camera work is amazing and gives you the same energy as if you were right there at the game! This video is a top notch production and will likely inspire many more for years to come. Hail to the highlights!"

-Daniel Deceuster, Founder, College Football Cafeteria


FAN REVIEWS

"We just got the chance to finally watch the highlight video. It was amazing!!!!! What a wonderful job you did. We couldn't get over the picture clarity and the number of clips and highlights included. Every rugby fan should have a copy. Thanks for all of your time and efforts."

-Cheryl St. Pierre, CO


"I got my DVD today as well as Blu-Ray. I watched the DVD with the family immediately. We were all in awe of the action, the music, the footage, and the proper culmination of a championship season. If you don't have a copy, well... you are truly missing out. I have not seen anything this good put out for any BYU sport and definitely nothing like it in USA rugby anywhere, period. Awesome work, and if it gets out like I'm sure it will, expect this team of filmographers and their producer to be getting some calls."

-Alma Christopher Clark, IL


"The video was put together so well! The highlights, the music, the timing, everything was perfect! I wasn't there to watch the actual championship, but the video does such a good job at bringing back the emotions that were there. I love it and never get tired of watching it!"

-Amanda Hallsted, UT


"The video was exciting and included good music and footage. I had never followed rugby before, but the video made me want to see more games. Quality production."

-Greg Flint, CO


"It was SWEET. The music and the video together, it just made you want to be out there on the field with the guys passing the ball, taking hits, and scoring."

-Eric Vincent, CA


Post your own reviews in the comments section below!
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