Can you imagine asking someone to write about something, which includes 65 coaches, but not you? This is the dilemma I was faced with, when asked to preview the 2005 Runway to the Fashionable 4. When approached to do this feature, my first reaction was, “Cool, I made the field.” Imagine my surprise when I ran through the brackets and didn’t see the name Kyle Macy.

I can only assume that somehow the CollegeInsider.com “antagonists” (Matt Drake and Joe Dwyer) must have use their political power to make sure I did not receive an at-large ticket to style my attire. It would appear that money and political agendas are not reserved for men’s basketball selection committees. This is an outrage.

There are no ill-harbored feelings for the chairperson of the style selection committee. Angela Lento does an outstanding job of assembling the most complete and competitive field, each season.

For the first time I had an opportunity to get some insight into the selection process. It’s a drawn out and comprehensive process, which includes audio and visual aids. I was amazed to see the number of videotapes and photos that had been sent by coaches and their sports information directors. I am sure that a lot of fans scoff at the notion of a fashion tournament, but the great majority of coaches love it.

As of 11:00 a.m. Monday morning (March 14), six coaches had already called the CollegeInsider.com offices to see if they could get any insight. Some wanted to know if they made the field, while others (those confident guys) were curious to know what their seeding was going to be.

If you think that coaches don’t enjoy the Runway to the Fashionable 4 and Angela’s on-going Fashion Power Index, then you are very much mistaken. I counted at least two-dozen videotapes and a sizeable stack of photos.

Angela does a great job of not revealing the identities of the coaches and sports information directors that provide her with a wealth of information. Some in the athletic department may not understand the pursuit of inclusion. But why not?

It’s positive attention and awareness for programs that may not otherwise get much attention in March. There have always been a good number of schools, which have already concluded their seasons, represented in the fashion field.

By her own admission, Angela never conceived that the Fashionable 4 would have become such a popular yearly event. And it’s not just popular with coaches and sports information people; fans and media love it also.

The Runway competition will begin on Wednesday March 16, with the fashion-photo-shoot-around. Rider head coach Don Harnum, will strut his stuff against Florida International’s Sergio Rouco. Complete first round fashion competition will take place on Monday March 21.

And there will undoubtedly be a lot of reaction in the 48 hours leading up to the Harnum-Rouco catwalk contest. On Tuesday I will have commentary from the competing coaches.

This double-duty thing is taxing, but reporting on the Runway to the Fashionable 4 is actually a lot more entertaining than providing insight and analysis for the NCAA tournament. On the Runway, I can really rip some of my fellow coaches.

This is going to be fun.

Now, without further delay, here are the pairings for the 2005 Runway to the Fashionable 4: CLICK HERE