CIS view from above
Inter-lock... is it a good thing?
- September 25 2009
Well, here it is! The annual free-for all that is inter-league play begins this weekend with the AUS hooking up with the QSSF for the first of two games between teams in the two associations.
And each year at this time, it sparks the usual discussion like, why don't we have a national interlock?
Well, every time that I talk to coaches such as Blake Nill and Glen Constantin, I am slowly moving over to what I used to consider the dark side, that being supportive of a national interlock.
Here's why:
I see an increasing value in the promotion that the Top-10 gets, but we can't really gauge where teams fit because they only ever play in their conference, with the exception of a couple of pre-season games between a handful of schools. The Top-10 gets people talking and now that coaches are involved in the polls, we're starting to see a lot more balance.
Who would I rather see?
Now, I've worked at two schools and one regional association, so I have to be really careful how I choose my words here, so I think I'm going to avoid using team names. For example, if I'm in Ottawa, wouldn't I love to see how the Gee-Gees rank up against Laval or Simon Fraser or Calgary rather than a possible blow out against a lower ranked OUA team?
Or if I'm Mount Allison, wouldn't it be great to take a shot at a team other than two Top-10 teams that play in your conference?
I guess what I am saying is that I see more and more value to an interlock. Frankly, the games this weekend excite me. McGill at Mount A - should be a fun one, Sherby @ SMU - a major important game for both teams, Acadia at Montreal - a statement game for both schools that's for sure and of course there's X at Concordia. They're all intriguing games and I wish I could be at all of them!
Maybe it's because I'm used to seeing the same teams, year-after-year in the OUA. And there are teams that I love to go and see, my Lancers of course, being an alumnus as well as the Gee-Gees... But there's also Queen's and UWO - because of the history and tradition. But it's sorta like how I feel with the CFL. I hate seeing Winnipeg three or four times each year in the east, but love when BC comes to town because it's different, it's fresh and there are players who I want to see play.
Man, the idea of getting to see some of the Q, AUS and C-W players just makes me salivate at the thought of interlock. I'm fortunate with my job and where I live that I get to see a lot of games in Quebec and Ontario. But I'd love to see the Atlantic and West teams as well.
I know there are a bunch of barriers, none of which the fact that Canada is HUGE and the cost to fly teams around is cost-prohibitive. But, here's my suggestion for what it's worth:
2 games per season in an interlock. 1 home, 1 away, two year rotation and then we change. And, like in the NFL, the schedule is weighted - meaning that you'd NEVER see Laval taking on Toronto until Toronto is a top-10 team. That way we keep interest in each market and we give teams a chance to be successful and to gauge where teams accurately fall in the top-10.
Example:
Toronto plays Team X from the west and wins, but UWO loses to #4 Calgary, but Calgary lost to Team X. Now, we can compare... How did UWO do against Toronto vs. How did Calgary do against Team X.
Point is, we have a place to begin comparing teams in Canada. And if we give everyone a fighting chance, then it could be a win-win.
Other Friday afternoon thoughts...
I really enjoyed interviewing Tim St. Pierre of Edmonton. A great kid who tells it like it is and who I'd want on my team any day... Same for Shomari Williams of Queen's and Steven Turner from Bishops who we interviewed this week on Touchdown.... Loving the fact that I can watch a bunch of games this weekend - SRC has Acadia at Montreal, UWO @ GUE (my pick of the week for entertainment) and a bunch of games on the web! Oh and if you get a chance to listen to our friend Dan Robertson call a game on EastLink, you're in for a treat!
I keep hearing rumours out of Windsor that Coach Morencie's time with the Blue and Gold could be nearing an end and that upsets me greatly. Mertz is a tremendous human being and solid football man... I hope that my sources are wrong on this one because he's helped resurrect the Blue and Gold from a very deep hole... Trust me, I know... I was a student there when it was happening and media person who covered the re-berth!
Enjoy the games this week! Until next time...
jb3/
1 Comments
Justin Snively Sep 27 9:24 p.m.
Prior to Ottawa & Queen's joining the OUA in 2001, the OUA & OQ played an interlock schedule. When I was with Windsor, we traveled to McGill and we played Queen's and Ottawa as well. Interlock play worked extremely well, allowing some diversity.
Cost is the number one prohibitive factor in the Interlocking schedule case, but barring that, it would be the best thing for CIS football and branding it across the country. The only teams you get to see are the same ones from your own conference year after year. As a fan, I'd rather see some different teams. Granted, teams like Western, Laval, etc. will get out of their conference at least every once couple years, but what about those non-powerhouse teams like Toronto, Windsor, York, Waterloo. Teams like that never get to see anyone else.
On your point about Coach Morencie's job, I hope that your sources are mistaken, as the Coach knows a lot about football. Without making excuses for the team, he has done a lot to advance that program. I was with him in the first season, 1998, when the team went 1-6-1, the next year we went 0-8. Since then, the program has seen a massive increase to moderate respectability. The Lancers now have a state-of-the art stadium, an outstanding weight room, an excellent weight training program, massive team dressing room. All things that would not have been possible under any other regime, and it's taken over 10 years to get all this.
That said, I realize that sports is a results oriented business. Schools that win football games make more money. The Lancers underachieve nearly every season, including last year with Hec Creighton winner Daryl Stephenson. Players check out mid-way through the season when one game doesn't go their way. Further, the Athletic Department is strapped for cash year in and year out, without much funding for athletic teams.
Perhaps the top-heavy Department of Athletics needs to pare down some of the office staff to make room for high-calibre assistant coaches (like Brett Lumley of the Track & Field team) ... Just a thought.