Joseph M LaCour <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>
> With the rush of teams into D1 in the past few months, I've got to
> wondering what is the optimal size of a conference?
 
It will differ from conference to conference depending on what the teams in
that conference want.
 
For example, Joe Bertagna has said that he would like to expand HE to 12
teams and have a 22 game league schedule, playing each opponent twice and
allowing 12 or more NC games.
 
If the HE schools agree, and they will make the final decision on any
possible expansion, then that's an appropriate number for that league.
 
Of course, some issues would be, would teams want to play opponents only
twice a year as opposed to the current three; how would the Maine situation
be handled (do you play Maine once at home and once away or go up there for
two every other year); do teams want a reduction in the league schedule
given that NC games are already hard to come by, etc.  But since they
haven't even gotten to 10 teams yet, these issues have not really been
issues yet.
 
If the past is any indication, there may be a split among schools that want
to play more league games as opposed to having more NC games available.
Before UMass was admitted and the league had 8 schools, there was a split
whereby some schools wanted to expand the league schedule (then 21 games, 3
vs each opponent) to 28 games (4 vs each opponent) while others wanted to
keep it at 21 and be able to schedule more NC games.
 
The compromise was to play a 24 game schedule -- 4 vs 3 opponents and 3 vs
the other 4 opponents.  But this unbalanced schedule proved to be unpopular
and the admission of UMass enabled HE to return to 3 games vs each opponent
and keep the 24 game league schedule.
 
If it's up to me, I'd rather see more league games.  League games just seem
to mean more throughout the season and with few exceptions have more fan
interest.  They also help to build up rivalries among the league teams.
 
But at the same time, I don't like unbalanced schedules, and it is bad
enough when you play some teams on the road twice and some only once.
Joe's proposed 12 team format would equalize the schedule but reduce the
number of league games and the number of times you see league opponents.
 
The moral is, you have to decide what it is you want, and almost always you
have to give up something to get that.  Just like the WCHA had to give up a
balanced schedule and games against some longstanding league rivals to
admit other teams.  The inference I draw from the moves the WCHA has made
is that it considers it to be more important to have those teams in its
league, and that's a perfectly valid position.
 
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                [log in to unmask]               *HMM* 11/13/93
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