The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1955-12-22


little concern oser the recent
charge by a Caldwell newsman
that something is radically wrong
with the method of picking ALL
Muskingum Valley League foot
ball teams
Some mighty good MVL play
ers were snubbed by the seIec-
tions, according to folks other
than the Noble County scribe
and in one instance, one coach
knowing the left side of his
line was considerably stronger
than the right side, was amazed
when a couple of his "Weak side"
players made the All-MVL team
and his strong side boys were
ignored"
1T appears that the system by
which the players are selected is
at fault. That plus the fact there
could be a bit of tampering by
men who handle the ballots. This
is not a charge. just posi-
bility."
''The first step in picking a
player comes when members of
each MVL team pick an "all-
opponent. These selections go
to the league secretary and then
to the school superintendent
who scan them at league meet
ing"
"E. NJ. Dutch. league secre-
tary, provided us with the fol-
lowing note in reply to re-
quest for same
Several methods of selecting
mythical football and basket
ball teams in the Muskingum
Valley league have been used
since the formation of the lea
que in 1890. No method has given
complete satisfaction.
''The last revision of the By
Laws made November 18, 1858
is as follows"
"The all M. V. L. mythical op-
ponent team selections, often
sive and defensive teams of
football, and first team in bas-
ketball, are to be sent by the
coaches to the secretary pre-
vious to the league meetings, and
selections are to be made at
meetings according to positions
first and second teams"
"A coach with whom we dis
cussed the subject, added his
feeling that the method of pick
ing an all-league team was not
suitable. He also pointed out that
there was little more to the
method of picking players than
meets the eye"
After t he league secretary
gets the all-opponent selections,
he turns them over to Superin-
tendents at the annual league
meeting. The supers pick COM
mittee, composed of two coaches
and a superintendent. Their job
is to count the votes.
However, it is said that some
teams do not submit their all-foe
selections and that those who
don't are represented at the
meeting by the coach, who then
manages to fill out his selections
in time for the final tabulation
and despite having ignored the
deadline.
an this manner, tardy coach.
through the error of haste in fill
ing out his sheet, can unwittingly
pass up an outstanding player
and shift the voting weight in
favor of lesser boy.
This could be the case Of the
top defensive player in the lea
que who was, as AN afterthought,
| placed on the offensive squad
and in a similar case where the
top offensive player in the loop
made the defensive squad.
"And, how can a coach cope
with his players when, after
yelling at the weak side of the
line all year and praising the
strong, he finds the vote has
made the weak look strong and
the coach look silly.
| ASKED if it wouldn't be better
for all concerned to have the
nine coaches sit down and pick
the all-leaguc team, one coach
said.
AN opposing player can make
Nuite an impression on you If ne
rips off 60 or 70 yards against
| you and you'll remember that
incident. However, he might be
way below average the rest OF
the time. 1t would be hard for
us to pick such team. feel
the boys still should have the
say-so, after all, they play
against the others and know
which are good and which are
not"
| "Personally, we don't see why
! the coaches couldn't pick the 2:
best players in the league. Ger
tainly they are men of honor anc
certainly by discussing candl'
dates of their own and othe,
teams. If the "flaSh-in-thc- pan
who impressed ono coach is
bum on other days, the bum
,,,cb roIId SaN SO and eliminate