Shaun says: "In last year's ICT, there were _nine_ teams from the Mid-Atl region, including six in the top 20. Yet this year, we only qualify six. Why? Because the stats don't measure up. Give me a break." Now, let's look at this: Last year, Duke and South Carolina played at the Mid-Atlantic SCT. Last year, John Nam and Josh Allen played for Maryland, while Rob Knobel played for Penn State. Last year, Johns Hopkins played in Div-I and qualified. This year, Duke and South Carolina (both considerably weaker, if stats are to be believed) were in the Southeast. John Nam is persona non grata at UMCP, while Josh Allen is graduated and moved on. Rob Knobel has left Penn State. Johns Hopkins went from team to host, and decided to play in Div-II. The point? You can't base anything on last year. Each year should -- and must -- stand on its own. Furthermore, Shaun also said: "Field strength is a variable that cannot be adjusted for via statistical means. Hypothetically, if each of the top 10 teams in the country are in one region, the 10th best team will NOT have stats sufficient enough for a nationals entry bid." Actually, that's where you're wrong. If the top 10 teams are in one region, they will have the top 10 bonus conversions, and be really high in TU points per TU heard. Furthermore, these stats are excellent cross-field comparisons, since they eliminate opponent's strength in the first case, and moderator (in)competence in the second. These two stats are crucial to determining bids, from what I've heard through the proverbial grapevine. However, if you had your heart set on St. Louis, may I suggest going as a freelance moderator for NAQT. It's what I plan on doing should only our D-2 kids wind up getting called off the waitlist. Andy Goss sitting and praying in the Kudzu and Tobacco
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