Thoughts on ARC 7s

The final leg of the ARC 7s Series was completed on Saturday and I thought it would be a good opportunity to look back at the experience.  The Allied Rugby Conference was initially created as a 15s conference, with no intention of having a 7s competition.  However, after examing the burgeoning popularity of the sevens game it was decided to include a sevens series in the fall.  Considering the short amount of lead-time and some huge logistical mountains to climb, the league did an outstanding job.  By their own admission, it was not perfect, but the flaws were small and easily correctable.  The events were enjoyable, well-run, and most importantly, the competition was stiff.  It was the perfect atmosphere for getting the Aggies ready for a run at the national championship.  The most appealing aspect of the competition was the series format.  Rather than one tournament, we had three which gave our players a great deal of playing time in a match competitive format.  The inclusion of the JV squads was also a great idea, which will pay big dividends for not only the Aggies, but the rest of the league as well.  Kudos to the ARC for a successful fall sevens season!

 

Andres Diaz and his high-flying act were big against Tech

The Aggies did a fantastic job throughout the series and managed to win all three events, which is a massive achievement.   The Aggies scored a combined 412 points over the three tournaments, averaging 31.69 points per game.  During that same stretch they gave up a combined total of 110 points for 8.46 points per game.  This might have been even lower had we played better defense in the first tournament.  If the SEC tournament is added to the numbers, we scored a combined 574 total points for a 31.88 average per match.    TAMU gave up only 22 points at the SEC tournament for a combined total of 132 and 7.3 points per game average.  This is very impressive stuff, but considering the level of competition, it as outstanding and speaks volumes about the committment of the players to our defense.  We finished the regular fall 7s season with an 18-1 record on varsity with four tournament wins and the overall ARC 7s Series Championship.

 

We played some very tough competition throughout the fall.  ARC rivals Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and Texas gave us some very stiff challenges.  In addition, Colorado State, Auburn, and Georgia were all extremely athletic and tough teams to beat.  It is clear for anyone watching that the level of collegiate sevens competition has risen to a new high in the United States.  This makes the accomplishments of the Aggies this fall even more impressive and all that sweeter.

 

The Aggies were able to accomplish so much through hard-work, teamwork, and dedication to the team.  They bought into the system the coaching staff has implemented and approach every match like it was the national championship.  Their dedication to teamwork and teammates is the core to Aggie success so far this season.  The Aggies are proud and grateful for having won the inaugural ARC 7s Series and for having the opportunity to play in it.  We look forward to having the opportunity to play in the National Championship and are excited about our chances!