ERugbyNews College Rugby Preseason Rankings: BYU at #2

About a week ago, the other heavyweight in US rugby news reporting, ERugbyNews, weighed in with their own "Top 25" college rugby picks.

In a slightly more generous move than that offered by American Rugby News, ERugbyNews slotted BYU at #2.







2009-2010 Preseason
ERugbyNews Men's DI College Top 25

1 California
2 BYU
3 San Diego State
4 Army
5 Penn State
6 St. Mary's
7 Arkansas State
8 LSU
9 Cal Poly
10 Utah
11 Navy
12 Central Washington
13 Wyoming
14 Colorado State
15 Kutztown
16 Air Force
17 Dartmouth
18 Minnesota
19 Notre Dame
20 Texas A&M
21 Arizona
22 Rutgers
23 UC Davis
24 Syracuse
25 UC Santa Barbara

While ERN's Alex Goff was quick to take credit for ranking BYU at #1 last season, nevertheless his rationale reveals a continuing hesitancy to get off the Cal cloud:

"Last season ERugbyNews had BYU at #1 for a large portion of the season, and saw the Cougars eke out a national championship. So they start at #1 this time around right? Well, no. Our take on the Top 25 for 2009-2010 is simply this: last year’s performance matters, but you also have to give us some feeling that you have the staying power to repeat this coming season.

"Cal has always had the consistency, and that’s the chief reason (along with an outstanding group of youngsters coming up) they are #1. BYU sits at #2 and San Diego State is #3. The Aztecs, we believe, will weather the loss of their head coach and continue to improve."

Well folks, at least Alex Goff had the guts to give BYU the #1 spot during last season... even if he retracted it during the National Championships. One point awarded to ERN.

That being said, however, I still question the reasoning behind placing BYU at #2 prior to the start of the season... Why wouldn't you put the reigning national champion at #1, even if only out of respect for their accomplishment? After all, speculation only goes so far before any games have been played... so why run and hide behind Cal's coattails at the start of every season regardless?

I know what the response is... believe me, I do. Cal's "consistency" earns them the favored spot every year, whether they have a plethora of returning starters or not. (And what of other teams' players?) Maybe it's just too easy to discount other teams in the face of Cal's obviously successful track record...

Now, enter BYU into the mix... have Our Boys at least been consistent in their tournament appearances? Have they been improving at all? Has the program progressively grown over the years? OF COURSE!!! And not only BYU, but look at up and coming programs just a step down, such as Arkansas State, San Diego State, Dartmouth, St. Mary's, and others. They're only growing hungrier each year...

Sure, BYU got to take their first bite (certainly not the last!) out of Cal this past time around, but in the near future, I'd rather wager that they won't be the lone dog in the pack for long... after all, it's college rugby we're talking about here!!!

Before I get too worked up, I want to switch tones by saying that, however questionable ERN's or ARN's rankings might seem, I'm secretly glad that BYU isn't at #1...

We really don't need it and actually don't want it. Cal can take the spotlight; they can have the "throne" all they want during the season. Why? Fuel for the fire, my friends, more fuel! We want to win! We want to be #1!!! And honestly, if BYU is already on top the whole season, then inevitably some of the feeling and perspective going into tournament time becomes more defensive in nature rather than offensive... bottom line, that's not BYU's style. We don't want an adrenaline drop anytime soon!

So, in the end, I suppose I should extend my thanks to Alex Goff and ERN. Second is the best anyway, right? Well, actually, that just might be true for Our Boys... Say what you will, but I'd much rather the BYU Rugby team be underestimated (e.g. BYU last season) than overestimated (e.g. Utah last season)!

Enough talk... it's time to get back to work. We need to show the nation that the BYU Rugby team is much more than consistent: they are actually expanding in depth, scope, and self expectation with every passing day. And that's an uphill road I prefer to stay on...

In the words of Winston Churchill, "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."

And so shall the BYU Rugby team survive and thrive on!
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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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BYU Rugby: #1 Team, #1 Coach

Well folks, the final rankings have been released for the '08-'09 season, and yep, you guessed it... BYU tops the charts. The only other occasions in which I can recall the BYU Rugby team as having a #1 ranking were earlier this year for a few weeks and for a couple weeks in 2006 (the first year that BYU made it to the final game). Both rankings were awarded by rugby analyst and critic, Alex Goff, whom I actually chided in a previous post for "jumping the gun" so to speak.

Now that hindsight can be claimed by all, however, we can toss aside all conjectures... and no one can deny the fact that BYU is the #1 team in the nation. Whether they will grow and develop into the #1 program still remains to be seen... but that's a conversation for another time.

2009 was (is still) our year, and so I say, "Let's relish it!"

Check out the final rankings as compiled by AmericanRugbyNews.com (ARN) and eRugbyNews.com (Alex Goff):

"Top 25: BYU best in the country"

"Final 2008-09 Men D1 Top 25"

And that's not all folks... BYU Rugby Head Coach, David Smyth, has been named the "2008/09 ARN College Coach of the Year," a well-deserved honor. Click the following link for Coach Smyth's words upon receiving this recognition:

"Smyth named college coach of the year"

Well... that's that. What do we do now? The BYU Rugby team is #1, and we have no higher recognition left for which to fight, no title claim to defend. We've got it now.

All that's left is to let the fact sink in...

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BYU Rugby... #1 in the Nation???

As I consider myself the BYU Rugby team's #1 fan, one might expect me to be 'over the top' biased, unceasingly touting the team's greatness and status as the #1 team in the country...

I do believe that the day when BYU rises to #1 is soon at hand... but, I am nevertheless realistic in my hopes and perhaps am even more critical of the team than the average fan. Until that glorious day comes, Cal Berkeley continues to sit comfortably atop the college rugby throne, 24 of the last 29 National Titles under its belt.


This season looks to be no different, in terms of national rankings, than the previous few years: BYU has ascended to and maintained the #2 position behind Cal. Both teams have strong schedules and have put up solid point margins over their opposition. Nothing new there.

Now take yesterday's bold headline on eRugbyNews.com: "DI Top 25 - New Men's No. 1: BYU jumps above Cal after a superb result against Utah."

All I can say is, "Come on Goff, are you serious?" "What's the motivation for making such a rash claim?" "BYU at #1? Honestly???" Brother, if you're just trying to make a splash, well... you did!

I'm afraid I can't award Alex Goff (eRugbyNews.com author) any brownie points on this one. Unsubstantiated sensationalism doesn't mean much to those who have any glimpse of the real picture. Just take a look at AmericanRugbyNews.com's most recent Top 25; hmmm, I'm not seeing any crazy claims up there at the top of their list...

So why the #1 ranking, Mr. Goff? Are you privy to some news tidbit that no one else has yet uncovered? Did the whole starting lineup for Cal die in a plane crash or what??? Please do tell those of us still grounded here on planet Earth this big revelation of yours!!!

I think I speak for many fans in saying instead, "thanks, but I prefer seeing things as they really are." The fact is that, since 2006, Cal has solidly held the #1 seat in the nation, and BYU has similarly held the #2 seat... no questions asked.

So what will it take for BYU to grab the #1 ranking in the future? Well folks, it's not rocket science... BYU just needs to beat Cal, plain and simple. Then nobody, not even a misguided rugby critic, will be able to claim otherwise... and until that day arrives, we faithful fans will keep hoping and praying and supporting Our boys of the BYU Rugby team... BYU Rugby Forever!

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