2004 Conference USA All-Conference First Team F Will John, Saint Louis F Dayton O'Brien, Memphis F Adam Ruud, Charlotte MF John DiRaimondo, Saint Louis MF Daniel Dobson, Memphis MF Floyd Franks, Charlotte MF Leandro de Oliveira, UAB MF Ryan Wileman, Saint Louis D Justin Dyer, Memphis D Sandi Gbandi, UAB D Kareem Smith, USF GK Sebastian Vecchio, Memphis All-Conference Second Team F Chris Lee, Marquette F Andy Metcalf, Memphis F Wiremu Patrick, Cincinnati MF Keeron Benito, USF MF Jeff Hughes, Cincinnati MF John Liersemann, Cincinnati MF Simon Schoendorf, USF D Brett Branan, Saint Louis D Matt Neeley, Louisville D Tim Ward, Saint Louis GK Dane Brenner, USF All-Conference Third Team F Terron Amos, East Carolina F David Guzman, Louisville F Rodrigo Hidalgo, USF F Hunter West, USF MF Bryan Dahlquist, Marquette MF John Kornfeld, DePaul MF Rogerio Oliveira, UAB MF John Reilly, Memphis D Ewen Blair, Cincinnati D Gary Connolly, Memphis D Joe Klosterman, UAB D John Nabers, Charlotte GK Mike Vessels, Cincinnati All-Freshman Team J.W. Gallagher, East Carolina Brandon Gasparovic, Saint Louis David Guzman, Louisville Rodrigo Hidalgo, USF Amir Ikner, Cincinnati Christian Jiminez, USF Joe Klosterman, UAB John Kornfeld, DePaul Adam Montgomery, Memphis Simon Schoendorf, USF Tim Ward, Saint Louis Coach of the Year Richie Grant, Memphis Offensive Player of the Year Dayton O'Brien, Memphis Defensive Player of the Year Sebastian Vecchio, Memphis Co-Freshmen of the Year Rodrigo Hidalgo, USF Simon Schoendorf, USF
How does Tim Ward get second team all-conference, Rodrigo Hidalgo gets 3rd team all conference, and yet Hidalgo gets the rookie of the year? Someone got gipped here.
Unfortunately, a forward's statistics will almost always trump a defender's. Best freshman forward vs. best freshman defender.
This article was in the Memphis paper today. http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/tigers_other_sports/article/0,1426,MCA_654_3320159,00.html
Here's how the system works. Team A coach decides he wants Joe, Jim, and Tom to get all conference. Let's say Joe deserves it, based on talent, ability, results, etc. But let's say Jim and Tom are just so-so players, but they happen to be favorites of Team A coach. So Team A coach says to other coaches in the league, something like this, "Hey Team B coach, who are you putting up for all conference? Okay, tell you what, I'll vote for your guys, if you make sure and vote for my guys, okay?" Team B coach says, "no problem, we'll take care of it." That's the system, and it's extremely flawed for all the obvious reasons. I've seen a lot of those players this year, and some of those first teamers are a joke, IMO.
I'm aware that things sometimes are done like that at the HS level(where I coach) but I guess I clung to the notion that it was more merit based in college.
Whom do you have in mind? Personally all of the First Team players are pretty highly impressive players with the exception of Sandi Gbandi who is a good player but certainly not All Conference in my opinion.
These teams are a joke. I've seen a majority of the 1st teamers and half of them are average at best. Let's hear about the all conference teams from a real conference.
You say that as if it's no big deal to win two games in the NCAAs. If Memphis - or any team - wins two games in the NCAAs that puts them in the Final 16 of the country; final 8 if they get a first round bye. Sweet 16 is a great year for most teams. For a program that is being competitive for the first time in memory, being in the Sweet 16 is a tremendous accomplishment and it shouldn't be taken for granted or dismissed as a bad post-season. Most coaches in college soccer would give their left nut to win two games in the NCAA Tournament.
Would you please stop making sensible posts. It tends to throw off the pinheaded posters around these parts. Thanks!