Re: Why we have divisions in the first place

--- In quizbowl_at_yahoogroups.com, "Solter, John A" <john_solter_at_...> wrote:

> The UG teams should be compared against each other, not against the
open teams.  This is the reason for divisions in the first place.  But
as I understand it, the S-value system is applied to all DI teams, not
UG and open teams separately.  If a UG team has not qualified by
beating all the other UG teams and having 4 or more UG teams at the
SCT or by beating all the open teams, they are unlikely to qualify
based on the S-value.  Even if UG teams were compared directly to each
other as a basis for bids, the S-value is still problematic.  As it
has been detailed to me, all the S-value components except bonus
conversion are highly dependent upon field strength.  Generally, the
more powerful the field, the lower the S-value.  Having a large number
of UG teams in an SCT will also tend to lower field strength.  As the
rules stand now, an identical UG team placed in all the different SCTs
will tend to obtain bids in the lower field-strength SCTs.  This
produces a weaker field of UG teams for the ICT than might otherwise
be obtained.          

In case you don't know this, DI is essentially the "open" division.
First you play in DII, the "easy" division, and then you play with
everyone. That's how it works. Chris already did a regional comparison
of your stats versus those of the Northeast, but let me be more blunt:
you're delusional if you think you have half the chance at the ICT
that those undergrad teams who finished in the top bracket at Yale do.
They are demonstratively better than your team, and the S-value
(which, by the way, takes into account the strength of the field)
reflects that. In conclusion, your entire post is nothing but a
retread of the complaints made by bad players against good ones; your
energy would be better spent practicing and learning.

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