This is way cool, John. A comprehensive data base open to players, coaches and other interested folk--a common resource we can all visit--is a much-needed tool if coaches and other people in the QB community are going to vote intelligently for polls, awards, whatever. NAQT keeps very comprehensive stats but is limited to its own events. The data base at
http://hdwhite.org/qb/stats/ is useful but not complete, either. So, thank you, John, for allowing us to do one-stop shopping. Please expand it and keep it going!
Some suggestions about what I'd like to see, but I'm curious to hear what others say:
(1) This database can certainly be led by one student, but a few others from around the country should assist in compiling stats and consulting on any issues that may arise. One of the glories of being a bright, somewhat obsessive high school student is the freedom to delve into arcana to your heart's content. True, there are a lot of coaches and QB folk who spend considerable time looking into this stuff, but even obsessive adults are limited by grown-up responsiblities like families, jobs, studies, etc. HS seniors, especially, have a lot more free time than adults and college/grad students.
(2) I wouldn't allow the database to be easily amended. Any suggested addition or correction should be submitted only on the forum, where everyone can see it, and vetted by the HS student(s) who assemble the numbers.
(3) If you get more helpers, John, perhaps you could add a spreadsheet or two with other stats, as well as tournament records and possibly wins-losses against other top teams. I agree that PBB is the easiest way to compare teams across the country and to tell which teams have the most pure knowledge... but winning matches and tournaments also means being able to beat your opponents to the buzzer, so PBB doesn't tell the whole story.
(4) While this is an OK place to tell people about which kids have been playing/not playing for certain teams in certain tournaments, I don't think this should be taken into account in stats or rankings. It's just too complicated. Teams should live with their "A" team's results, no matter who is playing at a given tournament. For example, I am currently rotating all but one of my players back and forth between my A and B teams to get everyone more experience, so there is certainly some variability in results, but that is all part of this QB experience.
(5) A database for individual players would be nice, but not necessarily... necessary. Comparing players on great, rounded teams, like DCC, to players who dominate their teams will always involve subjective judgment.
(6) For my money, a student-informed and student-run poll is still a great idea. While you guys might ask the advice of Gabe and other knowledgeable adults, I see no reason why you couldn't start this and maintain the poll on your own. I am a coach and a teacher and am in favor of almost anything that confers more responsibility on the players themselves.