Category: Opinions

Most-Improved Team (Michigan Region Players)

Cetral Michigan's Zach Bachner and Joe Kobus cracked my list of 15 most-improved players in the state of Michigan.
Central Michigan’s Zach Bachner and Joe Kobus cracked my list of 15 most-improved players in the state of Michigan.

At the halfway point in the 2015-16 season I have unfortunately only had the opportunity to see a few out-of-state schools in action.  Due to this lack of knowledge on those teams I decided to keep my “most-improved team” comprised solely of players from the state of Michigan.  This list is not necessarily the top 15 players this year, or the most popular players in the state (in fact many of these players are not very well known at all), but more importantly, these are the 15 guys from the Michigan Region that have shown the most improvement over the last year in my opinion.  In alphabetical order, here is my state of Michigan “Most-Improved Team”: Continue reading “Most-Improved Team (Michigan Region Players)”

Sean Smith’s Way Too Early Predictions

Kevin Bailey and Jon Shaw have already given their takes on where they think each team belongs in the rankings for the 2015-16 season. While I have some similar views as to where some teams belong, I have some bold thoughts for what will come up this season.

Along with my “way too early” preseason rankings I will also give a ranking of where I expect each club to end up at the end of the season. Now obviously that is much too early, and there are a lot of factors that go into it, but I think I have a good idea of how next season will play out. I apologize for any misspelled names along the way

Note: If you have a ranking you’d like to post please get in contact with someone from the content team. We love getting more submissions and more activity from people around the league (Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois regions I’m looking at you). Continue reading “Sean Smith’s Way Too Early Predictions”

2015-16 Way Too Early Top 20

The 2015-16 NCDA season is still many months away, but it’s never too early to talk about dodgeball.  While their won’t be a single match played for roughly four more months, I have still decided to give my thoughts on where teams stand heading into the new year of dodgeball.  Here is my way too early top 20 for 2015-16: Continue reading “2015-16 Way Too Early Top 20”

Opinion: State of the NCDA

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Before I say anything, let me say what I’ve said in the title: this is a personal opinion piece, not to be taken any other way.
The NCDA just completed yet another edition of the annual national tournament. Of the three I’ve been to this one was my personal favorite (no offense intended to Kentucky and Ohio State intended, this is just the happiest I’ve been with my team afterwards). I’ll mention things about Towson later on, but overall I wanted to share my opinion on the how I think the league is doing as a whole in hopes of generating some conversation in debate. Here we go: Continue reading “Opinion: State of the NCDA”

Which Region is the Best in the NCDA?

Written by BGSU’s Adam Hynes

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Even with the NCDA not having conferences or anything we still have each team placed into a category according to where the teams are located; this obviously being the regions.  In no particular order we have the Ohio, East Coast, Illinois, Michigan, and Kentucky regions.  These regions have their top teams, middle teams and low tier teams as any other league with conferences would have.  With there being so much talent spread throughout the league and schools being spread apart it can be very difficult to say who the top region truly is.  With Nationals coming this week, and the exciting pool play games on Saturday, it will be a good indication of who the true top region is.  In this article I wanted to say what each region must do in order to stack up against every one and say that their region is the true top dog. Continue reading “Which Region is the Best in the NCDA?”

The Satirical Opinion of Felix Perrone

What if Other Sports Were Like Dodgeball?:

Familiar Quotes, Constantly.

Having played dodgeball competitively for over a decade, I can attest to the following phrases being some of the most overused and over-associated with the sport I love: “Oh like the movie?”, “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.”, “So you hang o Continue reading “The Satirical Opinion of Felix Perrone”

How I Would Beat a Michigan Team

From Aleks Bomis [MSU Alum]

A team from Michigan has claimed the title of NCDA National Champion eight years in a row.  That is an impressive and undeniable fact.  Unfortunately, my treasured Spartans have no bearing on that; I, at 29 years of age, was on the squad that achieved Michigan State’s sole Michigan Dodgeball Cup victory, a game played against a community college in a church recreation room.  I can still hear the dodgeballs carom off the radiators to the dismay of the building’s staff.  Delta College was kind enough to have purchased the MDC Trophy, and in (I think) 2023 an additional base will be attached to the Trophy.  The MDC is now regarded as a preview of the NCDA Final Four, much to the dismay of the rest of the league.

I am not so arrogant as to call Michigan the heartland of college dodgeball; teams existed in Illinois and Ohio long before anyone of the Great Lakes State showed up to play, and their names are etched in the NCDA Trophy, as is mine. [Ed: The Nationals Trophy -zm] Still, Michigan’s historic performance is remarkable.  Having said that, it’s time someone beat these guys and took home the hardware.  If I were captaining a dodgeball team 10 years younger, here’s how I would go about busting up the established order:  Continue reading “How I Would Beat a Michigan Team”

Colin O’Brien’s “Overtime Six”

The following was written by Michigan State’s captain: Colin O’Brien:

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has thought highly enough of me to included me on his overtime roster. It is a great honor to have your peers want you on their team, but it sure is harder to not be the subject of team throws now. With that said, I thought I would offer up my opinions on who I would choose for my overtime roster. (And I apologize to the East Coast schools; I have only had a few opportunities to see them in action)

All of the players on my overtime roster impress me every time I watch them play. My support for these players is more anecdotal in nature rather than a rigid analysis of their skillset. Nonetheless, I am fully confident that an overtime roster comprised of these players would have no trouble winning the point. These are six complete players, each can throw and catch with the best of them. Continue reading “Colin O’Brien’s “Overtime Six””

Jonathan Shaw’s OT Article: “My Top Six”

Listed below is the “Overtime Six” written by Towson University’s Jonathan Shaw:

Brent Gromer – JMU

Brent Gromer - JMU
Brent Gromer – JMU

Simply put, Gromer is just an absolute force to be reckoned with. The man has a top 2 or 3 arm in the league, and he compliments it with a highly underrated ability to catch after he throws. I can’t really explain this adequately but if you’re on the sidelines, watch Brent’s eyes after he releases a throw. The time it takes him to survey the court is simply superior to the rest. Add all these factors up, and it is easy to see why Brent is one of my 6 OT picks. Continue reading “Jonathan Shaw’s OT Article: “My Top Six””

NCDA Mid-Season All-Underrated Team

As a member of the NCDA for several years now, I have noticed that in a lot of cases, the league is a bit of a popularity contest.  If your name has not been mentioned in the past, it is pretty hard to get recognition.  It seems like only the same few players from every team ever get acknowledgement for their effort, instead of a more balanced situation where any player that makes an impact is able to get their name recognized.

A lot of interest is given to the top players in the league, and the annual All-NCDA team, but I am here to give some recognition to those players that seem to fly under the radar even though they are great performers.  Listed below is my 15-man All-Underrated Team for the NCDA. Continue reading “NCDA Mid-Season All-Underrated Team”

Opinion: Who I Would Take Into Overtime

Back in January 2013, former NCDA Chief of Content Sam Hiller posted his choice of what six players he would take into overtime.  The list that Sam compiled included Spencer Jardine, Camden Fullmer, Wes Hopkins, Felix Perrone, Brett Hadwin, and Eric Paul.  This is certainly a stellar group of dodgeball players.

In the latest Average Joes’ Podcast Sean Smith, Jacob Leski, and myself gave our opinion on what six players we would choose for overtime.  Here is my list, with more in-depth explanations for each choice.  Keep in mind I did not choose any player from my own team (GVSU).  Here’s my overtime roster in no particular order: Continue reading “Opinion: Who I Would Take Into Overtime”

“Way-Too-Early Top 20” for the 2014-15 Season

ncda_logoThe 2014-15 College Dodgeball season is still many months away, but if you are like me, you are already looking forward to the coming season.  Much like espn.com makes annual “Way-Too-Early Top 25” lists for college football and basketball; I will be giving my list of the top 20 teams in the NCDA for next year.

I know for a fact that not everyone will agree with my rankings, so feel free to post your own opinions in the comment section below.  Here is my Way-Too-Early Top 20 for the NCDA’s 2014-15 season: Continue reading ““Way-Too-Early Top 20” for the 2014-15 Season”