The 2009-10 Power Poll

[MT4e]

Winning in AMTA is all about talent, coaching and the ability to beat good teams.  You can’t be number one at anything by just beating mediocre teams.  Based on that:

UC-Irvine.  I’ve seen them and they’re even just as overrated.  The reason they win so many individual awards is that it’s easy to stand out when you’re teammates aren’t very good.  They don’t have the talent.  The worst kept secret in AMTA is that this team is poorly coached and only beats bad teams.  Can anyone name a good team they’ve beaten?  I’m sure they will get to Memphis by beating soft easy teams, and then get thrashed by the real contenders.

As if Justin Bernstein and the Anteaters ever needed a reason to get motivated for the mock trial season. Watch out for a top 5 finish this year.

[nogle]

This guy has to be kidding. Some opinions are better left unsaid.

[MiaWUCU]

Nothing like Perjuries to remind me how grateful I am not to coach posters like nar_capone, but rather upstanding human beings who know they'd be kicked out of our program in an instant for the above behavior.

[theChosenOne]

Nothing like Perjuries to remind me how grateful I am not to coach posters like nar_capone, but rather upstanding human beings who know they'd be kicked out of our program in an instant for the above behavior.

Yes nar_capone says that his team would "crush" MTSU and I'm not so sure about that. MTSU is a good team and if anyone were to "crush" them it would be a top tier team and I don't know of any top tier teams that would post on here so blatantly disrespecting their fellow competitors.

[mockboxoflove]

Mr. Hartsfield returns from his study abroad in mid-November.

Awesome

[MayerOfLA]

Georgetown split with UCLA, the team most people thought was the best...
UC-Irvine.  I’ve seen them, and the reason they win so many individual awards is that it’s easy to stand out when you’re teammates aren’t very good.  They don’t have the talent.  The worst kept secret in AMTA is that this team is poorly coached and only beats bad teams.  Can anyone name a good team they’ve beaten?

It may be a mistake to even dignify this post with a reply, but for the record, Irvine's second team just took two ballots off the partially stacked UCLA team that Peter Fuller and I are captaining this fall, and were only one CS point away from winning the Great Sonoran Showdown. UCI is a talented, classy program coached by an AMTA legend, and I have nothing but respect for Justin and the Anteaters.

[Plymouth Djinn]

Impressive that someone got my last name right; however, read the pic to the left it's NEAL not NEIL. No relation to the moon-walker or "Sweet Caroline" serenade artist. Just for future reference: it's Herron, Haughey, and Lawrence.

Logically, how can I be coaching Miami and be Iowa's coach? I've been surprised that all these anonymous fortunetellers and snake-charmers, seeking Prog-like "fame", seem to be stalking me or talking about me, my team, and my future yet continue to get it wrong. I'm the head coach of Iowa. I have not, nor will I, be coaching Miami this season. I don't know what that does to your Miami prediction, but the Schuetts are still tormenting the Hawkeyes not the Redhawks (or maybe you know them as the Readhocks).

[McMiestie]

MTSU.  I’ve seen them and they’re terrible (and not very physically attractives).  My team crushed them last season (judges split but one of the judges was an idiot).  Has anyone actually seen this team?  Can anyone named a good team they ve beaten?  Another poorly coached team that only beats bad teams.  This team might be talented but still.  Overrated. 

First of all, what do those last two sentences mean? After all that, we might be "talented, but over-rated?"

I've seen this team, seeing as how I'm on it. First, let's spell-check our posts even if we are so very eager to get our ridiculous theories out into the air. Have you seen our team? You don't have a school affiliation listed in your profile, so I would wonder what you're trying to hide.

I cannot remember the last time I heard a good team complain about a judge's intelligence. I wonder why? Oh, maybe because they're able to adapt.

Well said.

Additionally, we're an equal-opportunity student organization that recognizes the educational purpose of mock trial and admits anyone that is interested in the Fall. That being said, if you haven't seen our A-Team, you haven't seen MTSU. We have a wide range of talents and a wide range of "physically attractives" (?). We also split with WashU at the Billiken Barrister, and came in right behind them with the 2nd and 3rd place spots,  (7-1 and 6-1-1). Looks like they're 5th on that poll. Our D-Team also took both ballots from Bellarmine at EKU last year... Just a few memorable instances.

Finally, about our coaching. If you've ever read a mock trial text book, chances are that our coach's name is on the cover. At least be respectful of the fact that he has likely run whatever tab room that we've been unfortunate enough to share with YOUR ballots, and has 21 years in this thing as opposed to the 1 and a 1/2 years that you think give you the right...? Our other coach is equally talented. But I'll give them your input. 

It may be a mistake to even dignify this post with a reply, but for the record

So for the record.

[theChosenOne]

Our D-Team also took both ballots from Bellarmine at EKU last year... Just a few memorable instances.

Just to clarify this...I just checked that tab summary and if you're going to say it was your D team, you should also let it be known that it was Bellarmine's B team that they took both ballots from by 5 points and 1 point. I'm sure it was a good round. Not trying to be a d*ck. Just clarifying.

[Grindline]

Nar_Capone.

Normally, i try to stay away from this kind of Drama, but i have to make four points.

First, Those who complain about poor judging haven't been doing this long enough to understand that it is the constant in mock trial. move on. get over it. after doing this for much longer than any one person should, i know that judges will always make mistakes, unfortunately in mock trial we do not have the luxury of appeal.

Second. No one cares how good you think your program is or what you think of other programs. win a national title, then talk shit. also, i would venture to guess maybe one out of the top ten programs are stacked this early on. wait till these "unimpressive" schools bulk up and watch the ballots pile up.

Third, since when is physical attractiveness even an issue for mock trial. ill bet you just got turned down from someone on MTSU. while i have not competed against MTSU, i have had a chance to talk with at least one attorney who was quite attractive from their team.

Fourth, never insult a coach. these people give up their own time, time away from their families and hobbies to do this. i expect some level of trash talking on perjuries about teams, but to insult someone who volunteers to educate people. shame on you.

[McMiestie]

I'm sure it was a good round. Not trying to be a d*ck. Just clarifying.

theChosenOne,

No no, you're right, wouldn't have denied it. I was just pointing out that even as what was considered the least stacked of MTSU's four teams last fall, that MTSU D hung evenly with Bellarmine B, who, in my experience are identical (at least technically) to Bellarmine A, and took home three outstanding attorney awards as well as 6th place when I saw them at their regional last year.

MTSU is a sliding scale of talent, like I said, because we admit EVERYONE in the fall and work with EVERYONE. That fact aside, we're still obviously pretty good. Bellarmine has great teams, and is just one example of how we CAN "named [sic] a good team they've beaten?"

[mocksluzer]

Fourth, never insult a coach. these people give up their own time, time away from their families and hobbies to do this. i expect some level of trash talking on perjuries about teams, but to insult someone who volunteers to educate people. shame on you.

Haven't gotten all the way through this thread, but I did catch this and the initial comment about MTSU's coach. Not only do all coaches give up time from their otherwise busy lives dedicated to their jobs, family, etc..., but MTSU's coach, Dr. John Vile, is among the elite coaches in the country. His teams compete very well, always, and Dr. Vile is among the most gracious and intelligent I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. He always volunteers to help in our tab room even though they always bring 2+ teams to our tournament, always the first tourney of the year. I'm sure, at the initial invite of the year, Dr. Vile would like to be able to observe his team, but no one in our program has ever witnessed Dr. Vile be anything but the epitome of courtesy, graciousness, efficiency, basically anything you could ask of another human being who does not have a stake in your tournament other than how his team performs. MTSU's record speaks for itself, as does the avalanche of responses your asinine comments have provoked. Unfounded, anonymous opinions carry little weight, but when you devolve to detracting from coaches, what shred of credibility you have as a decent human being vanishes. Take your head out of your ass and learn to appreciate your fellow human.

[LetTheRecordReflect]

theChosenOne,

No no, you're right, wouldn't have denied it. I was just pointing out that even as what was considered the least stacked of MTSU's four teams last fall, that MTSU D hung evenly with Bellarmine B, who, in my experience are identical (at least technically) to Bellarmine A, and took home three outstanding attorney awards as well as 6th place when I saw them at their regional last year.

Interesting thread. I won't continue to comment on the stupidity of nar_capone, but I saw this and that's pretty impressive that Bellarmine's B team had 3 top attorney's at their regional...hmm i wonder if some home cooking was involved there. Guess we will find out if they are for real this season since I know bellarmine A graduated 5 of their 6 members.

[The Gelf]

Though I've tried to avoid feeding this troll to the best of my ability, human nature compels me to comment on the claim that Columbia can't "beat the good teams" because they went "only" 6-2 at Penn State.  My beloved Iona Gaels were also at Penn State and also went "only" 6-2 at that tournament.  Based on the Columbia comment, I've made the following inferences:

1.  Iona is not a "good team".
2.  Iona can't beat "good teams".

I encourage people to believe both of these things when they have rounds against Iona.  The head coach is a bald dude with glasses, and the team captains are a couple of blond-haired girls.  Plus, they have me hanging around -- does that even require comment?  Lambs to the slaughter!  I am at somewhat of a loss as to what to make of our two individual awards.  According to Nar Capone, if you win an individual award (re:  Irvine), you're not that good because it means the rest of your team is bereft of talent.  But if you DON'T win an individual award (re:  Mr. Vines), that ALSO means that you're not that good and that the rest of your team lacks talent.  So I need some help here.

[Rhodes_Strasberg]

It's not Nar Capone's fault that you're so utterly deficient with regard to analyzing his completely reasonable assertions...