2003 NCCC & Teams Preview

by Doug Simpson
May 28, 2003

WINDS OF CHANGE

Rule and scoring changes will be major factors in who wins the National Concrete Canoe Competition (NCCC) championship.  Hosted by Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA., the competition looks very different from a year ago.  The difference is this - it is a much better competition this year than ever before.  Rule changes forced attrition on both veteran and young teams, requiring all teams to search for new members, with new skills, and perhaps a new approach that vaulted their team into nationals for the first time – or after a long absence. 

Other rule changes caused veteran teams to modify their “formulas of success” for mix and reinforcement designs by requiring all teams to use a specified percentage of sand and fly ash.  The oft recurring and nagging questions and comments such as, “how much strength does paint add to thin-shelled canoe hulls” and ”some teams use and abuse this”, are now mute points with the use of paint restricted to three small areas on the canoe. 

Schools choosing to add color to the canoes use externally applied concrete stains and/or pigments added to the concrete mix.  The famed Display event is gone this year, leaving only three academic events to be judged.  The point distributions for the academic and race events were adjusted accordingly. 

For a comparison, look at the top ten for 2002 when the 2003 scoring is applied to the academic (no Displays) and race outcomes.

Seven of ten places were affected.  Notice how with the 2003 scoring Cal Poly takes tenth, knocking NC State out of the top ten.  (Doug's note on June 26 - due primarily to the display event being removed, Wisconsin moves up 3 places)

Fourteen teams return from the 2002 competition including nine of the top fifteen.  Seven of these were in the top ten, and ten teams are here this year that were not at nationals in 2002.  Several of these have recent national experience and will compete for a top 10 spot.  Several more from this group could find their way into the top 15.  Expect scores among the top five to be close.  Also expect teams to receive point deductions at nationals that they did not receive at regionals.  If this does not happen, it will be a first following a year of major rule changes. 

A few points could again decide the overall championship. Last year less than five points separated the 2nd and 5th place teams.  Four of those top five teams are back in 2003 (Clemson, Laval, Western Kentucky and Wisconsin). 

TEAM PREVIEWS and PREDICTED PLACEMENT  (Teams are listed in alphabetical order...numbers in parenthesis denote predicted finish based on average past performances, most recent performances, and/or the strength of the region)

Boise State University; Pacific Northwest Regional Champion – Boise State is one of four teams in 2003 to make its first appearance at nationals.  The Broncos arrive at the NCCC having already achieved a significant accomplishment by defeating consistent top ten teams Washington and Washington State in this regional.  Keep an eye on this team – don’t be surprised to find them in the top ten. (9-12)

University of California at Berkeley; Mid-Pacific Regional Champion - Cal Berkeley makes its third straight and 13th overall appearance at nationals. Cal dominated the early NCCC years with four titles in five years and nine of nine top 3 finishes but has not fared as well in recent years averaging 11th since 1998.  Cal typically places top five in academics each year.  If this holds true in 2003, and if they have improved their paddling from last year, a top five finish is possible. (4-7)

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Pacific Southwest Regional Champion – Cal Poly makes its sixth consecutive appearance after finishing 11^th last year.  In 1998 and 1999, Cal Poly placed 9^th and 7^th, respectively.  But have yet to crack the top ten since, averaging 12^th spanning the last three years.  With significant improvements coming into 2003, they could improve on their team-best 7^th place finish in 1999. (9-12)

Clemson University; Carolinas Regional Champion - Clemson Concrete Canoe Team (3CT) has taken three of the last four national titles and makes its NCCC record eleventh consecutive appearance.  In each of the last five years 3CT has placed top five overall in both paddling and academics, twice winning the academic title and the racing title four times.  But past accomplishments don’t guarantee future successes.  The Tigers may be vulnerable this year as it brings its youngest team to nationals since 1997.  Even so, 3CT’s history, pride and dedication make it the team to beat this year. (1-4)

Colorado School of Mines; Rocky Mountain Regional Champion – CSM makes its second appearance at nationals having missed last year, but finished a strong 10^th in 2000 as the host school.  This year marks the first time CSM comes to the NCCC as the regional champion having displaced perennial power South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - who had lost this regional only twice in fifteen years.  CSM carries the pride of this region on its shoulders this year and must improve on its previous best.   (12-15)

Drexel University; Penn-Delaware Regional Champion – as the 2003 NCCC Host School, Drexel has an automatic bye into the competition this year if they choose to take it.  The Dragons instead chose to do things the old fashion way – earn it – and won their regional for the sixth straight year.  Drexel averages in the top ten, and should get a confidence boost from the home-team crowd and improve on their 13^th place finish last year.  With its deferral this year, Drexel receives an automatic bid to the 2004 nationals – should they need it. (9-12)

Florida Institute of Technology; Southeast Regional Champion - FIT makes its sixth appearance at nationals after a two-year hiatus.  In 1997, FIT attended its first NCCC as a second place qualifier in its region and won the title in a major upset.  When FIT shows up at nationals they are potential contenders for the title - as is any team coming out of this region.  (3-7)

Iowa State University; Mid-West Regional Champion – after a ten-year absence, last year Iowa State made it back to nationals for only the second time.  The Cyclones keep up the momentum in 2003 with their first back-to-back appearance.  With a year of experience behind them, they should improve on their 18^th place finish in 2002.  (15+) 

University of Kentucky; Ohio Valley Regional 2nd Place Qualifier – Kentucky comes to nationals for the first time in school history and has laid the foundation for future Wildcat concrete canoe teams.  With no national appearances prior to 2003, and coming in as a second place qualifier, the Wildcats can use this year to gain valuable experience for next year.  (15+)

Lamar University; Texas-Mexico Regional Champion – Lamar also makes its first appearance at the NCCC this year and is the lone representative of the Lone Star State.  The Cardinals will use this year to gain national experience and use this to their advantage at regionals next year. (15+)

Universite Laval; 2003 Canadian National – having won its sixth Canadian national championship in seven years, Laval returns for their fourth consecutive NCCC appearance.  Laval placed ninth, third and second, respectively, the past three years.  Should Laval win in 2003, it would be the only team that could claim to be the North American concrete canoe champions! (1-4)

Louisiana State University; Deep South Regional Champion – LSU returns to the NCCC after a seven-year absence.  LSU made its first appearance in 1996 and took 10^th place. The Tigers defeated rival and 13-time regional winner, New Orleans, to earn their trip to nationals. (9-12)

University of Maryland; Maryland-D.C. Regional Champion – in 1997 Maryland stood alone as the only team to have attended each of the first ten national competitions and consequently held the record at that time for the longest current attendance streak.  The streak ended the following year and the Terrapins resurface again six years later with their 11^th NCCC appearance – only ten teams have attended ten or more national competitions.  (12-15)

Michigan Technological University; North Central Regional Champion – Michigan Tech makes its fifth appearance and first since 2001 – placing a school-best 12^th place.    (15+)

Milwaukee School Of Engineering; Great Lakes Regional 2nd Place Qualifier – MSOE arrives at nationals for the first time and courtesy of a second place finish behind regional winner and 2002 NCCC top five team Wisconsin.  MSOE hopes its investment to come to Philly this year will pay high dividends at regionals next year. (15+)

North Carolina State University; Carolinas Regional 2nd Place Qualifier – NC State makes its fifth consecutive appearance following its best-ever finish at 10^th last year.  The Wolfpack has made steady gains in the past few years and a top ten is possible with a solid and improved outing in 2003.  NC State brings the lightest canoe (80lbs) to the NCCC – the only canoe under 100lbs. (8-12). 

New Mexico State University; Rio Grande Regional Champion – the Aggies’ baseball team is headed to the NCAA baseball tournament for the first time in school history.  For the concrete canoe team, it just feels like the fist time since it has been eleven years since their last NCCC appearance – the longest period between nationals for any team at the NCCC this year. Welcome back NMSU. (15+)

University of Oklahoma; Mid-Continent Regional Champion – appearing for the first time in 2001 as regional runner-ups, Oklahoma returned again as a 2^nd place qualifier in 2002 and took home a best-ever 8^th place.  This year the Sooners come to nationals as regional champions having defeated ten-time regional winner Oklahoma State.  Oklahoma’s strength is on the water, but it also placed 7^th in academics in 2002 with a top ten in each academic event.  Oklahoma is a team that could sneak into the top five.   (6-10)

University of Rhode Island; New England Regional Champion – Rhode Island appeared to have started a positive trend upwards in 1998 finishing a school-best 8^th.  Since then they have averaged 18^th.  The Rams have eight total appearances at nationals and make their fourth consecutive in 2003. (15+)

Rochester Institute of Technology; Upstate New York Regional Champion – Rochester was another team that appeared to establish itself as a team to watch after a 10^th place finish in 1998.  RIT placed 21^st last year and with its fourth appearance hopes to improve on its 1998 success. (15+)

Rowan University; Metropolitan Regional Champion – Rowan celebrates its fourth Civil Engineering graduating class in school history and also its fourth consecutive trip to nationals.  Rowan placed a very respectable 14^th its first year, but has been MIA in the top 15 the past two years. (15+)

Virginia Tech; Virginas Regional Champion – Va. Tech has attended every NCCC with the exception of two -  ’96 and ’97 – and leads all teams with the most NCCC appearances at fourteen.  The Hokies make their sixth consecutive appearance this year with an average 18^th place over the past five.  With all this experience and tradition Va. Tech is capable of doing much better than their 22^nd finish in 2002. (15+)

Western Kentucky University; Ohio Valley Regional Champion – Western Kentucky has the third longest consecutive attendance streak at nationals with eight straight appearances.  In 2002, the championship was Western Kentucky’s to lose after the academic events were complete WKU held a 3.5-point lead going into the races, but when the final gun sounded, thirteen other schools had more racing points.  Three schools surged ahead of the Hilltoppers in the final standings, and although the fourth place finish was a school best, WKU knew it let this one slip away.  The poor race performance was surprising because they finished 7^th in total race points in 2001.  It should not surprise anyone to see the Hilltoppers alone on top of the hill after the races are over.  (1-4)

University of Wisconsin-Madison; Great Lakes Regional Champion – Wisconsin arrives in Philly this year with nine consecutive NCCC appearances. The Badgers are coming off their best-ever national performance in 2002 with a 5^th place finish and will attempt to stop its trend of dropping 3-4 places the year following a top 10 finish. Last year Wisconsin finished 6^th in academics and 2^nd in races.  A top five in the Final Product category and holding steady in the other events might be enough for Wisconsin to take home the title this year.  (1-4)