As far as the argument goes, like I mentioned in my last post, I don’t consider the traditional bott0m-feeders in this. It’s kind of like how we look at conferences after the bowl season or after March Madness. The reasoning is that when these leagues actually compete against each other in November and December, those bottom-feeders are NEVER there…there’s no need to even bring them in the conversation. Holistically, yes, the league is worse when considering the Nitros and Tornados. The Glendale schools are the Pacific’s two-ton anchor and they weigh the league down tremendously. However, when you combine Muir, the two Burbank schools, and whichever 4th-wheel school that steps up from year to year (CV, Arcadia, or PHS), I think they comprise a heavier top than what the Del Rio offers. 3rd-place CV proved that last year by knocking out 2nd-place Sante Fe and 4th-place Muir would have done the same. When all of a league’s 1-4 seeds can beat another league’s 2-3 seeds, I consider the former a stronger league.

In the Del Rio’s favor, 1st-place Cal Hi did beat 1st-place Burbank.

My friend, you force me into a public statement I do no want to make…but…

My thinking was based on Glendale and Hoover being part of your league…and how much they weight you down.

…and to my discredit I didn’t consider your first round near “Miracle on Grass” at Charter Oak.

The Del Rio hasn’t been what it once was…but when I look at it I don’t see the Glendale schools…

And Arcadia has been down for two years… Pasadena had a great win over Burbank… but then you guys completely clubbed them… Now they are rebuilding after graduation…

CV is looking for a new coach… and they are losing talent…

I see two steady teams in Burbank and a reloaded team in Muir…

I consider this a drop shot…your turn to rush the net…

Whoa, whoa, whoa my friend. Slow down a little, and let’s take a look at the tape. It’s certainly a great question, but it needs a little more of an analysis, don’t you think?

My first comment is that when it comes to comparing/contrasting leagues, one must look more closely at the traditional playoff teams from each league. I mean, the bottom-feeders don’t need to be brought into the convo because they don’t compete in the SE playoffs, right? Btw, this division has it’s fair share of bottom-feeders.

Secondly, when we start with the playoff teams (let’s take last year’s playoff teams into consideration here) we should start with the 3rd and 4th place teams (depending on whether a team has/had 5-6 or 7-8 teams in its league.) In the new Hacienda the last team to qualify as the 4th-place team would be Bonita at 3-8. In the Del Rio the 3rd-place team was El Rancho at 5-6. In the Suburban Bellflower checks in at 4th-place at 3-8. The Pacific? Muir at 4-7. Well, as the only team to really compete with and put a scare into the eventual SE champ, it’s safe to say the Pacific edges out its competition here….by a large margin mind you.

Next let’s take a look at the league champs. In the Hacienda that would have to go to DR since CO left and DR made it to back-to-back finals. In the Del Rio you have Cal Hi who made a playoff run by beating Rowland, Burbank, and losing to CO by 28. The Suburban has La Mirada who went 13-1 and capped off the season with a D-9 championship. In the Pacific, Burbank finished out their year at 9-3 and losing to Cal Hi in the quarters by 3. The edge here has to go to the Suburban as La Mirada won a ring, though it should be noted their division was not as good as last year’s SE division.

Now for all the in-between teams. The Hacienda: WestCo was 7-5 and lost to CO by 28 in the playoffs, and Rowland went 8-3 and lost to Cal Hi in the playoffs by 28 (big QB issue of course.) The Del Rio: Sante Fe went 7-4 and lost to CV by 3 in the playoffs. The Suburban: Norwalk went 11-2 and blew out some pretty weak teams in the playoffs before losing in the semis to Garden Grove, and Mayfair went 4-7 and lost to Segestrom in the playoffs (though Mayfair did lose to some DAMN good teams in the preseason.) In the Pacific you have Burroughs at 7-4 who lost big to DR in the playoffs, and CV who beat Sante Fe before bowing out to South Hills by 10. I’ll give the Suburban the small edge over the Hacienda because of Norwalk’s run and Mayfair playing the likes of Pac-5 particiapants Los Alamitos and Lakewood.

Okay. What does all this mean? Well, IMHO I believe that it shows the Del Rio to be the weakest league in the new SE. When the 4th-place team from the Pacific plays the CIF champ MUCH tougher than the 1st-place team from the Del Rio, and the Pacific’s 3rd-place team beats the Del Rio’s 2nd-place team….well that’s strong enough evidence for me.

I hope I didn’t “Glen Beck” anyone and waste your last half-hour! Btw, does all this make me a loser….or passionate? Hell, probably a little bit of both! Thanks for the time and space MVS!

Mr. Torosian…it’s your serve.