We will be sending an email out later this week to the Managing Board asking for feedback and soliciting ideas for next year. But before, everyone scatters for the rest of the summer, I wanted to give players a chance to sound off on what they liked or didn't like during the 2014 season. This can be favorite moments, least favorite moments, things you thought were done well, or things we need to improve for next year. I promise Jess and Doug and I will not get defensive, nothing is off limits, but I'd like to hear some of the positives as well as negatives from 2014.
And go...
-- Edited by Bradthurber on Monday 30th of June 2014 11:02:43 AM
-- Edited by Bradthurber on Monday 30th of June 2014 11:04:47 AM
First and foremost, thanks for all the work you guys do for the league! I'm sure it is not easy and you guys do a great job. Guess that's why you get the big bucks! I had a great chat with Doug before the championship game and expressed much of this but I thought it was good to let you all know publicly.
Positives: Schedule. Getting teams to step up and make AAA much more interesting than 5 teams beating up on each other. The Rev appreciated the difficult schedule as it allowed us to come together as a team very quickly! (opening with Rebels in SG and then Stealth...yikes!) Keeping teams in check, especially those idiots with uniform issues. This really helps the perception of the league (and next year, the Rev won't have the same issues so my apologies). Officiating (and this is not tongue in cheek!). I really felt for the most part, the officiating was better than in years past (even Jess seemed better! ). I'd say we are definitely moving in the right direction and it's great to see!
Negatives: My only real knock was the handling of the Misi issue. I didn't say anything before the game because I thought it would only sound like whining or that we were scared. Trust me when I say we were glad he was allowed to play (we even discussed petitioning the league to let him play before the decision was even made) and even happier that we won the ship with them at full strength. That said, I think we need to have more consistency with those type of issues. Maybe it's a constitution issue that just needs clarification. Ghost made some very valid points and I think there just needs to be a constant way to deal with things. If video is used to show evidence of a missed call, and it was clear that it was found that Misi didn't throw a punch based on the ruling, I thought the punishment was silly. If he did something to warrant an ejection, why cave on the original punishment? In other words, I'd have been fine with a decision of no punch so no fine (and the no MVP was ridiculous so I won't include that) or there was a punch so fine and suspension. I know this was beat like a dead horse before but wanted to voice my opinion.
Guys, keep up the great work and here's to an even better 2015 season! Go Rev!
I thought it was a very good all-in-all season. With it being my last season as a player (public retirement announcement) due to a chronic illness that I probably shouldn't have been playing with and a new surgically repaired distal fibula (thanks Byrd, I still love you though).
I am of course disappointed that the regular season for the Shock ended the way it did but I was also very happy the post-season ended the way it did.
Every system has its pros and cons. Look at the NFL. They change rules on a yearly basis and are currently contemplating a new playoff format. I think that our league is moving in the correct direction. Admin has done an incredible job. The new format will be tweaked a little but I don't believe there will be huge changes.
I am looking forward to coaching a little bit. And if Kyto lets me, attending the league meeting for the first time.
Congrats to all the champs and award winners. You deserve it with much respect. That is my only regret as a player. That I never made an all-star team or won the AAA title. I know its sounds stupid but I was working my butt off and I truly thought this was the year but oh well. Maybe a title as a coach will help with that feeling. Also much respect to all those players who grind every game and may not be the best athlete or even a great football player. Keep working hard and you will get better. Your team will get better. The league will get better.
Love you all!
Go Shock!
D-phunk!
-- Edited by Dphunk on Monday 30th of June 2014 01:10:12 PM
This league is great. Solid teams for the most part. Good organization.
I think that getting AAA more teams again was a huge improvement from last year. Props to the teams that stepped up.
Scheduling was good, although playing one team twice seemed a bit weird. Not a huge deal.
Only criticism is that a 7-1 team being #5 in playoffs seems a bit off. Even a 6-2 Rev (had they lost to the Rebels) would have been weird at #5. Yeah, i suppose you should reward the division champs but we may want to figure out a way for the ranking to be more closely associated with the strength of the teams. If the 2 best teams are in the same division (and they clearly were this year), maybe they should be seeded as such.
). I'd say we are definitely moving in the right direction and it's great to see!