Best league in R.E.

[bella]

I work with a guy who is a huge Texas A&M fan and I got tired of him talking so much sh*t about how superior the Big 12 was to the Pac 10 and the SEC. After throwing out numerous examples and facts of why they were actually behind the SEC and Pac 10, I think he was actually swayed (after about an hour + debate).

With that in mind, for the R.E. what do you consider the best all around league and why?. Could be a number of things, teams success, players, atmosphere, history, coaching etc.

[Ben Herrington]

I'll take the NBL. There may not be a lot of history outside of Newman vs. Montgomery but they do have some of the best coaches.

Jason Franci, Frank Scalercio, Paul Cronin, Dennis Bruno, Ed Conroy, Les Richardson are a few names that come to mind. I know the SCL has equally great coaches in Mick O'Meara, Trent Herzog, just two years ago Rick O'brien, just a year ago Steve Ellison, Rick Krist, and Tom Kirkpatrick but the NBL leads when it comes to section titles.

Though the SCL is the most competitive of the two, the NBL has produced more champs and Newman has gone to State Twice. Per the CIF, had there have been State Bowl games in 2004, Montgomery would have faced Mission Viejo.

I do think some of the history and atmosphere has been lost with Montgomery's and Rancho's new cookie-cutter stadiums. Newman has some, Carrillo has a nice field, but Santa Rosa is just another cookie-cutter as well. The SCL would win this one hands down which does play to their home field advantage.

[scobserver]

I voted for SCL, cuz I'm a fan and figured it's "best" league in terms of strength of teams top to bottom...tho really the MCAL is similar......NBL way too imbalanced and its bottom teams still too weak by that definition....I suppose if you go by the "coaching legend" standard then NBL is best, debateable...

not familiar enuff with other league teams but in terms of atmopshere, HDNL has a lot of sweet venues, Fortuna, Ferndale, Eureka among them.....MCAL not even in the running due to lack of lighted facilities, which to me is a basic requirement for a decent venue. Most in NBL modernized with lights, to their credit....Ukiah move from Anton Stadium removed their best venue.

[bella]

scobserver agreed on alot of that. I love the atmosphere and balance of the SCL. Plus there are some good long standing rivalries. Outside of Casa and Windsor some of the older fields are great places to watch a game. Not that they are bad, just the surrounding doesn't do it for me. Plus all the games are under the lights. I like the SCL for the regular season. Problem is they horrible when it counts, the NCS. Healdsburg is the only team that has been able to close the deal. Maybe the trend wil change as the league seems to be in transition with a lot of younger and newer coaches. Overall a great league.

NBL usually 2 very good teams with the rest fighting it out for 3rd or last place. The top team is usually strong and compete with the best of any league (2 SBG appearances) and 15 NCS titles by 5 different schools. Overall I think the best coaching and produces some very good players. Like Ben, I don't really care for most of the venues. Although I disagree and think Santa Rosa is great venue with the backdrop of the school and being surrounded by the oaks. CN isn't bad at least they still play on grass. Problem as been stated, is this is just a really uneven league. It is usually just a combo of Monty, Rancho or Newman in any given year

MCAL, no lights outside of SR and JS. Too bad several capuses at the base of Mt. Tam have great views. Pretty much Saturday day games. But you will most likely see some of the best teams and players in the MCAL. Seems like there is an MCAL player or two every year playing in the NFL (2 for sure this year). Some schools have had several players going in the NFL at once ( 4 from the 81' San Marin team that lost to CN in the NCS final went on to play in the NFL). MCAL teams also seem to bring home the trophy. 22 titles, won by 6 different teams shows overall balance of the league. Plus 2 SBG appeaarnces by 2 different teams in a 3 year period. 

H-DN has some nice venues and the small town atmosphere. Eureka when it is up has shown it can beat anybody. Unfortunately it doesn't happen every year. 03' was one of the best ever north bay area teams. Same can be said for last year and possibly this year. DN had strong teams just a few years ago, but has dropped off really quickly. Same can be said for Fortuna. Will have a very strong team every 5 years or so, but than the teams seem rather down. Plus the proximity of the league makes it very hard to guage the strength if the league year in and year out.

Overall I'd take the MCAL for the all around quality it consistently produces.