Maryland vs. Navy & Rivals.com Pt. 2

I am frankly surprised my entry linked below received so much animosity.

http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2010/08/maryland-vs-navy-rivalscom.html

I thought I was clear with my comments, but looking back perhaps I was not. I was not providing lip-service to Navy, I respect what they have accomplished. I am impressed with 7 consecutive bowl appearances, and am certainly impressed with the 4 point loss at Ohio State last Fall.

As I stated, I do believe it will be a very difficult game for Maryland to win. The triple-option offense will be hard to defend, and the Midshipman figure to have half of the Ravens Stadium crowd.

So, I respect what Navy has accomplished and recognize they will be a difficult opponent. Where exactly did I lose people?

Maybe I should have gone further with my comments to acknowledge that once a player gets to College, their previous recruiting rankings mean nothing. I am fully aware that what matters is how hard the player works, what coaching they receive, and how well they perform. Clearly the results of the Naval Academy over the past 7 years is an indication that Navy regularly gets the max out of the talent they have.

My blog itself had less to do with Navy, and more to do with Rivals.com. I stated that I had a problem with Rivals.com ranking Navy as the 23rd best team in the country, when their own recruiting service had regularly discounted the talent on the Navy roster.

Ranking Navy as the 23rd best team in the country, when you have ranked Navy as having an average class ranking of 117th over the past 6 years are contradictory points.

If you a fan of Navy, and you dispute the class ranking assigned from Rivals, that is a problem with Rivals and not with me.

I would guess where some Navy fans had a problem with me, is where I closed by saying that if Navy enters the game as the favorite – expect the Maryland victory. I am not going to back-down from those comments. I believe that to be true. If Maryland was heading into this game as the favorite, I would be pretty convinced of a Navy win. With Navy going in as the favorite, I like the chances of a Terrapin victory. It is simply human nature of the hunter vs. the hunted. As a Terrapin fan, I am well aware of the Terps proclivity to play better in games as the underdog.

With that out of the way, I will address the comments received in the previous entry.

Comment 1 from Anonymous: “wow you are ignorant.”
My response: “Thank-you for reading, if you have a direct issue with what I wrote, let me know. I am glad to discuss. However, try leaving your name and discussing like an Adult.”

Comment 2 from Anonymous: “you are ignorant beyond the pale.”
My response: “See above.”

Comment 3 from Rocky:”haha you are a clown… be realistic and tell me September 6th will be a walk in the park.”
My response: “I never said it would be a walk in the park for Maryland. I said Navy would be a very difficult opponent.”

Comment 4 from Anonymous: “all you have to do to figure out why rivals ranks Navy’s recruits so low is visit the Navy Rivals site. There isn’t one. so none of rivals “crack” recruiting “analysts” have any incentive to do profiles on them or give them more than one or two stars (whatever those are worth).”

My response: “The lack of a Navy’s Rival site does not explain away the lack of profiles on the signed talent. In theory, the players Navy signs could sign anywhere, including MD right? If they did, their recruiting ranking would not change because they signed with a school that had a Rivals site.”

Comment 5 from Anonymous: “u r going to be crying on game day…”

My response: “Navy may well beat MD, and appears to be going into the game as the favorite. Try signing your name and using full sentences next-time you want to respond.”

Comment 6 from Anonymous: “And F your recruits who can not compete on the field.”

My response: “As I stated above, I probably should have spent more time acknowledging that once the recruits are signed, recruiting rankings mean nothing.”

Comment 7 from ’82 sir: THIS is why they play the game. You can look at the players all day on paper – they don’t play there. The Midshipmen play with their hearts and minds next to their brothers on a field that they refuse to give an inch of… Good luck and a great game to all on the 6th. I am looking forward to an opener that will open eyes. Always proud.”

My response: “Thank-you for serving, and for reading Sir. I appreciate what Navy has accomplished, and that games are won on the field.”

Comment 8 from Anonymous: “Coach Johnson made exciting strides with the Navy program, and Coach Ken is improving performance with Coach Johnson’s recruits. MD recruits stars, Navy recruits team players.”

My response: “Navy has every right to be proud of what has been accomplished over the past decade. I disagree with the implied point that MD recruits players who do not care about team performance.”

Comment 9 from Anonymous: “Rickie Dobbs was an un-ranked QB coming out of HS, guess the professional evaluators got that one wrong. Go Navy!”

My response: “The bottom-line is that no matter the recruiting ranking, what matters is performance when you arrive. Navy has a track-record of showing they can produce results with the level of talent they are bringing in. That does not mean they are bringing in an equal amount of talent, even if individual players significantly out-produce expectations.”

Comment 10 USNA Ancient: “maybe the difference lies not in your stars, but in your performance with those “stars” … UM has always been an egotistical bunch of whiners and from this “column” not much has appeared to change … to bad you’re incapable of putting your money where your big, fat, ignorant mouth is … let’s see what you have to say on the 7 Sept … I’m willing to bet the whining and excuses will continue.”

My response: “Thank-you for serving.You responded to the blog without signing your name. At-least I was willing to put my name next to my comments. What did you find egotistical from me? I gave Navy the respect they have earned. I also stated it would be a difficult game for Maryland to win. I do think the Terps will win though, and I am glad to put some money where my big, fat, ignorant mouth is against yours.”

Comment 11 Anonymous: “The problem with MD is they play fantasy computer recruiting while Navy actually go out and do true good old fashioned talent evaluations.Schools like Maryland let Scout and Rivals tell them not to believe their lying eyes,Ricky Dobbs is too short to play QB and Jabaree Tuani is to short to play DE.”

My response: “It is an interesting point, and one I can agree with to an extent.”

Comment 12 ct688: “There are a lot of teams in Navy’s wake of whom it was said that Navy did not have the talent to be on the same field as their exalted programs, but most people have more inteligence than to say that lately. As Coach Ken says :it’s what happens betwee the white lines that counts.”

My response: “Navy is going into this game as the favorite, and I said would be a difficult opponent for Maryland. Did I disrespect Navy by stating I think the Terps will win, if Navy continues to be favored?”

Comment 13 Anonymous: “The arguments presented in this article are so ignorant I’m almost convinced the author is attempting to play devil’s advocate. As a former player for both coach Johnson and coach Niumat, the lack of respect given to Navy doesn’t surprise me. You better believe that Navy is going through every meeting and practice this summer with the mindset that THEY are the underdog. And yes the talent and recruiting class rankings are probably accurate. It’s the immeasurable qualities and heart of the Navy players and coaching staff that gives them opportunities to beat “better” teams like Notre Dame and Missouri. In a world today where the value of players is measured in the size of their contracts, Service Academy athletics serve to remind us of what true competition is and what pride and sacrifice to a greater cause can do for a team/organization. I’ll cut this author some slack and assume he never played organized sports at any point in his life, otherwise he wouldn’t have published this garbage. To be a fan of the game of football is to be a fan of the way the service academies play it. Semper Fi Navy Football and FEBU!!”

My response: “Thank-you for serving, and congrats on playing at the Division 1 level. There was no lack of respect given to Navy from me. By your own admission, you agree with the recruiting rankings. As such, it makes little sense for you to claim I was disrespecting the Naval Academy. Did I disrespect Navy when I said they annually play beyond their physical talent, and are a disciplined and capable team? Did I disrespect Navy when I said they caught the attention of everyone with their 4 point defeat at Ohio State? Did I disrespect Navy when I said they would be a difficult opponent for MD? I’ll cut you some slack and assume you typically have better reading comprehension.”

Comment 14 Stennis: “I sincerely laugh at the author’s assertion that he is a “professional”.

My response: “Clearly I was talking about Rivals.com as the professional in-question. I agree with the remainder of your points.”

Comment 15 goNavy89: “I am thankful that our country is defended by the likes of the “non-talented” Navy players and their brothers at Army, rather than the more recruited players at Maryland. Navy plays with heart and discipline; they play as a team. If more teams stressed this with their young players I think we would all be better off. Chris Stoner you are a fool.”

My response: “I am very appreciative of the service and dedication of the Armed Services of this country. That has absolutely zero-bearing on this actual discussion. I stated in the blog that Navy plays beyond their physical talent, and is a strong and disciplined team. Those comments seem very similar to your own comments. How come when I say it, it makes me a fool? Try signing your name to your comments if you respond again.”

Comment 16 from 30 days and counting, sir! “If you took the time to look into the background of each Navy football player you would certainly see that there is an abundant of talent there. Many were “All State” in high school. Many set highs school records in their respective schools. Many were team captains that played football since 5th grade right along side the so called 5 star recruits. The ONLY reason they were not recruited to the end by big schools is strictly because of SIZE. Anybody that thinks that Rivals.com has the ability to evaluate every kid in the country is foolish. They miss tons of kids…especially the small ones. And to use these rankings after these “5 star” recruits get in college as a measuring stick for the team ranking and talent as you are is beyond foolish…it’s ludicrous.With a good game plan and TALENTED, disciplined players, that size difference can be neutralized very effectively as Navy has demonstrated. You are about to see it live on Labor Day.”

My response: “What matters is the results that are produced with the talent that walks in the door. Recruiting rankings mean nothing once you arrive. On that we agree. We also agree the results of the Naval Academy over the past decade shows Navy is able to compete with the talent they bring in the door. I also agree with the point that Rivals or any other recruiting service will not evaluate every kid in the country. Certainly players get missed. Your comment reads as if I will be ‘shocked’ if Navy beats MD on Labor Day. It is hard to understand why you think I will be shocked if Navy wins. I know it will be a difficult game for MD, and said as much.”

Comment 17 from Anonymous: “Alabama has a 5 star player that was dominated by two Navy 1 stars in a HS game, due to size.”

My response: “Nobody said Navy does not have talent, or does not get the maximum out of the players they have. As I stated in Comment 11, I think there is a point to be made that Navy does old fashioned talent scouting. Ie can this player produce, even though he might not have all the measurables.”

Comment 18 from Anonymous: “So, if I understand your argument, you say since Maryland has year after year done less using more, and Navy has done so much more with so much less, this season we should believe it will all turn around just because you want it to? And you get paid for this? Wanna trade?”

My response: “I do not get paid for this, and no you do not have my argument correct. My argument really had little to do with MD vs. Navy on 9/6. The point I made was that one company (Rivals.com) had ranked Navy was the 23rd best team in the country, which was hard to understand since that same company had regularly stated for years Navy was bringing in comparatively little talent. As far as everything turning all-around, you are arguing a point that was not made. I simply said that if Navy goes into the 9/6 game as the favorite, I expect a MD victory. If you want to respond again, sign your name.”

Comment 19 from Geoff USNA ’92: “Chris, I am also from Maryland and a Navy grad. Grew up a Terps fan before becoming a Mid. I agree with you, it’s not a question of talent, collectively, Terps would win when stacked up man for man…I think I’ve got a decade on you so you are likely too young to remember the ’80 US Hockey Team. I watched and what I think that game proved was that it’s not all talent…it’s teamwork and coaching that builds teamwork and confidence.”

My response: “Thank-you for serving, and for your comments Geoff. I am well aware of the ’80 US Hockey Team, and think you make a great point of what a team can accomplish by being a true team. I agree it is a great comparison to the Naval Academy. Again, I respect what Navy had achieved over the past decade. I also completely recognize Navy will be a difficult opponent for the Terps 9/6.”

Comment 20 Anonymous: “C’mon everybody…one need look no further than the author’s last name (Stoner) to know where all of this came from ;)”

My response: “That was ‘original.’ Feel free to respond with your name, and actual argument of what you disagree with, and we can discuss like adults.”

Comment 21 Navy68: “Completely foolish exercise to use the recruit rankings (especially Rivals when it come to Navy) and player stars to gauge the effectiveness of a football team. If Navy needed it, this article would make good locker room bulletin board material.”

My response: “Thank-you for serving. Nobody made the point that recruiting rankings alone would gauge the effectiveness of a football team. The point made was that it made little sense for Rivals to run the contradictory points that Navy regularly brings in recruiting classes that average about 117th in the country, while also having Navy in their Top 25 overall. Clearly there is a disconnect between those two points. It is hard to imagine what bulletin board material you think exists. Navy is going to enter this game as the Vegas line favorite. I gave Navy the well-deserved respect they have earned.”

Comment 22 Anonymous: “The game is more than 11 individuals exercising their talent. It is about a team exercising the collective efforts of 11 individuals. The intangibles; discipline and composure, have always been an under rated asset of Navy teams.”

My response: “Those intangibles were not under rated by me, as I specifically pointed them out.”