While each decade produces its own unique occurrences, the 1980's seemed especially significant. The decade began with the first unanimous final round decision when Northwestern gained some revenge on Harvard for their 1979 final round loss. However, before the decade would end there would be three more such unanimous final round decisions. Going into the 1980s there had only been three undefeated preliminary round teams, but by 1989 there were four more including an amazing 8-0 with 24 ballots and ultimate 12-0 record.

Streaks were continued as Harvard qualified for the NDT each year of the decade stretching its string to thirty-six consecutive years, but Northwestern failed to qualify in 1981 after winning in 1980 breaking its twenty-two year stretch. But no one managed to establish streaks in the 1980's like Dartmouth. It was possible to qualify twenty teams during the decade, Dartmouth did that; they managed to get fourteen of those twenty teams by First Round At-Large Bids and they sent sixteen of those twenty into the elimination rounds of the NDT. Perhaps more amazing, Dartmouth had at least one team in the quarter-finals of every NDT during the decade, they had at least one team in eight of the semi-finals during the decade, and in half of the final rounds Dartmouth was competing for the national championship - an honor they won twice. Dartmouth's total win-loss record for the 1980's at the NDT was an unbelievable 150-52, and that was handicapped by the fact that twice Dartmouth was forced to forfeit rounds because of elimination pairings of two Dartmouth teams.

There are probably three important criteria to consider when attempting to measure the overall BEST for a particular year, the First Round At-Large Rankings, the NDT Preliminary Round Seeding, and the NDT Final Results. The following, year by year breakdown, provides that very information for your examination and comparison.

This review of the decade finds Dartmouth listed nine times, with only Baylor even close with five listings. Clearly it was Dartmouth's decade, a dominance which had never been equaled and one which was clearly recognized by the forensic community. In responding to a 1989 survey, coaches were asked to rank their Top Five in every category, points were then allocated (5 for first, 4 for second, etc.). Following are the listings, total points, and the total number of first place rankings, as well as the total number of ballots they were ranked on out of the thirty-one possible. As in the Best of the 1970's there seemed to be consensus on most categories.

The Best Debaters of the 1980s

Lenny Gail, Dartmouth	(16 Firsts/24)
Lyn Robbins, Baylor	(6 Firsts/25)
Steve Mancuso, Kentucky	(2 Firsts/10)
Danny Povinelli, Mass	( /11)
Jeff Jones, Kentucky	(1 First/11)

This was justifiably one of the closest categories with Lenny Gail edging Lyn Robbins. Unfortunately their peak years did not overlap, unlike the 1970's where Tom Rollins and Robert Feldhake were taking turns being first and second speakers for a four year period. Of course, Lenny did not compete his senior year so his opportunities were more limited. He did however, maximize his limited NDT appearances as the next category would suggest.

The Best Teams of the 1980s

Gail & Koulogeorge, Dartmouth	(16 Firsts/24)
Robbins & Vincent, Baylor	(4 Firsts/15)
Jones & Mancuso, Kentucky	(3 Firsts/16)
Bredehoft & Foutz, Harvard	(3 Firsts/16)
Gidley & Payne, Kansas	( /11)

This category was not particularly close, in 1984 Gail and Koulogeorge were 8-0 with 24 ballots and went on to win the NDT in undefeated fashion. What is perhaps more amazing is, that they perhaps should have done it the year before as sophomores. They were again 8-0, not quite with 24 ballots however, and were paired against their other team in the semis. If Ken Strange made a mistake in the 1980s it might have been in sending the seniors on, after Gail and Koulogeorge had defeated the same Kansas team in the prelims on the same side Dartmouth would lose in the finals. It is perhaps that knowledge and the fact that Gail and Koulogeorge retired after their junior years which prompted the voters to overwhelmingly place them first. Robbins and Vincent were only a team their senior year. During the interceding years Lyn Robbins debated with Mark Dyer and undoubtedly split the votes as they were ranked on six ballots for a total of 18 points. But it would be difficult to argue with Gail and Koulogeorge, destiny may have played a part as they debated each other in the finals of NFL Nationals their senior year in high school with Koulogeorge from Glenbrook South defeating Gail from Maine East. They then closed out the Novice Nationals Tournaments as freshmen before finally being paired as sophomores for their historic streak!

BEST TOURNAMENT OF THE DECADE

The 1980s found some other categories making changes, namely in the BEST TOURNAMENT OF THE DECADE. Here respondents simply listed thier top five hosts of NDT tournaments during the decade, from teh 1970s Heart of America was replaced as number one and the NDT itslef moved up to number two:

Dartmouth did regain its number one standing in the results of the TOP NDT HOSTS.

There was no real consensus on THE BEST TOPIC OF THE DECADE, but clearly the forensic community prefers international topics with the following ranking from first to fifth: SPACE (1984-85), NATO (1987-88), INTERVENTION IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE (1982-83), FIRST AMENDMENT (1986-87), and INCREASE FOREIGN MILITARY COMMITMENTS (1980-81).

It should come as no surprise that Ken Strange was the overwhelming selection as BEST COACH, the preceding statistics and categories provide rather compelling evidence to his accomplishments. Even before assuming the coaching duties at Dartmouth in 1981 Ken had established himself at Augustana College in Illinois, first as an assistant with an equally impressive record accumulated by Robert Feldhake and Rick Godfrey and later with his own teams from Augustana, qualifying both teams at the 1980 NDT and has, as the introduction to this article suggested, dominated the National Tournament in truly remarkable fashion. Nor is it surprising to find Donn Parson in the number two slot, Kansas has been among the top five NDT programs for the twenty odd years Donn has been coach there. He is the only repeater from the 1970s Best and only his retirement from coaching in 1988 will prevent him from being found in the Best of the 1990s. Taking that charge will be his successor "Robin" Rowland who was at Baylor the first half of the decade leading them to their national title in 1987 before taking over at Kansas where he promptly got two teams to the quarters of the 1989 NDT.

The Best Judge of the 1980s

If one characteristic has come through with the Best of the 1980s compared with the Best of the 1970s it is the growing importance of the NDT, or perhaps increased recognition of its changing and improving structure. In the Best of the 1970s the best team never won the NDT or even reached the semi-finals, the NDT itself finished a poor third among Best Tournaments; but the Best of the 1980s reflects a consistent acceptance of the NDT results as being a meaningful indicator for the year.