SEC Scheduling

[IrishLion]

Coaching and recruiting are catching up at Tenn. Between Dooly and Kiffy, they were decimated. They've been very close the last couple years under the new regime. Just a matter of time. Still very, very young. A billion Vbucks says they beat UGA.

I think Stanford actually takes a step back this year. And will take a few more steps back in the next 3-4 years. They will be a tough out, but not the Tree that we're used to.

I want to root for Tennessee because I like Butch Jones, and they will get there as long as Dobbs continues what he started last year, but the off-field stuff turns me off and probably colors my opinion a bit.

As for the bolded, I hope you're right, and I do think they are on their way back to being average... but I think their current crop of guys might have one more good season in them before the downward trend starts to show.

 

[ACamp1900]

If A&M were still in the Big 12 and we scheduled them, SEC fans would laugh...

 

[greyhammer90]

Coaching and recruiting are catching up at Tenn. Between Dooly and Kiffy, they were decimated. They've been very close the last couple years under the new regime. Just a matter of time. Still very, very young. A billion Vbucks says they beat UGA.

I think Stanford actually takes a step back this year. And will take a few more steps back in the next 3-4 years. They will be a tough out, but not the Tree that we're used to.

Taken.

 

[T Town Tommy]

We need a definition, in my mind.

"Troll - One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument "(from Urban Dictionary)

Of course, greyhammer made the distinction between a troll post and a continuing behavior.

Sticking with your "pop warner" comment, Tommy?

If Bama's schedule is pee wee, then Notre Dame's schedule could be described as what? Equal? Tougher? Deeper? Pop Warner was the first thing that came to my mind. All things equal, I would trade schedules in a heartbeat.

And, for the record, I think Bama ends the regular season with two or more losses this year. I have also posted that I don't think an SEC team makes the four team playoff. If all that means I am "trolling" then I am guilty as charged. Enjoy.

 

[D-BOE34]

If Bama's schedule is pee wee, then Notre Dame's schedule could be described as what? Equal? Tougher? Deeper? Pop Warner was the first thing that came to my mind. All things equal, I would trade schedules in a heartbeat.

And, for the record, I think Bama ends the regular season with two or more losses this year. I have also posted that I don't think an SEC team makes the four team playoff. If all that means I am "trolling" then I am guilty as charged. Enjoy.

I won't call you a troll but who am I? At the end of the day, SEC will get love for all the NC they have won. Only thing that will shut that up is a consistent run of Non SEC teams winning the NC. As much as I hate to say it, this is a business that is driven off the SEC right now but we are getting closer to breaking that cycle. A few more years of an SEC team losing in the playoffs is a few more years closer to the PAC taking over.

Wait... were not in the PAC either nor do we play them more than any other conference. Ummm?

 

[Irish Insanity]

If Bama's schedule is pee wee, then Notre Dame's schedule could be described as what? Equal? Tougher? Deeper? Pop Warner was the first thing that came to my mind. All things equal, I would trade schedules in a heartbeat.

And, for the record, I think Bama ends the regular season with two or more losses this year. I have also posted that I don't think an SEC team makes the four team playoff. If all that means I am "trolling" then I am guilty as charged. Enjoy.

I don't want to get involved in the whole debate, but I have one question. Would you trade ND's and Bama's schedule year in and year out?

 

[T Town Tommy]

I don't want to get involved in the whole debate, but I have one question. Would you trade ND's and Bama's schedule year in and year out?

I probably would the last 5-6 years. I would love to not have any conferences at all and let teams schedule who they want. But we know that will never happen. Until then, all we have are stupid debates over who has harder schedules when all that matters is whether you win enough games to be considered for the playoff. In both our teams cases this year, their schedules are hard enough to get them in if they take care of business on the field.

 

[irishtrain]

I'm in favor of just about anything that A: gets SEC teams to stop scheduling FCS cupcakes and B: has the SEC play outside of their southern bubble more.

Here Here could not have said it better. Like to see them play a more national outside of conference schedule at all times of the year ( if possible ) Don't let them hide under the cloak of we have tough sec games every week. Play Michigan State or Notre Dame in Nov for example in a home and home. Yeh I know the response is hey we have a league to play in, bad answer-stop playing **** games in sept against banana teams.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Here Here could not have said it better. Like to see them play a more national outside of conference schedule at all times of the year ( if possible ) Don't let them hide under the cloak of we have tough sec games every week. Play Michigan State or Notre Dame in Nov for example in a home and home. Yeh I know the response is hey we have a league to play in, bad answer-stop playing **** games in sept against banana teams.

I would love home and home games against Notre Dame, Mich State, Oregon, etc. I hate neutral site games and wish they would disappear.

 

[BGIF]

I would love home and home games against Notre Dame, Mich State, Oregon, etc. I hate neutral site games and wish they would disappear.

Alabama had a home and home contract with Notre Dame about a dozen years ago but after the Albert Means sanctions were issued by the NCAA, Bama AD, Mal Moore, called his former employer and asked ND to let UA out of the contract. ND did with no penalties.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Alabama had a home and home contract with Notre Dame about a dozen years ago but after the Albert Means sanctions were issued by the NCAA, Bama AD, Mal Moore, called his former employer and asked ND to let UA out of the contract. ND did with no penalties.

Maybe they can get it going again. We also had a home and home against Mich State iirc and we cancelled due to the thought the SEC was going to nine conference games. That would be two great series IMO that needs to happen in the future.

 

[Legacy]

If Bama's schedule is pee wee, then Notre Dame's schedule could be described as what? Equal? Tougher? Deeper? Pop Warner was the first thing that came to my mind.

Cackalacky said: "Charleston Southern is a pee wee team compared to Alabama. Just lol."

and your response was: "And yet they would probably beat UMass. Again, schedule to schedule I don't think you can argue. The Irish schedule is more... pop warner level."

Were you feeling insulted and upping the insult?

I'm personally moving on from this childishness.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Cackalacky said: "Charleston Southern is a pee wee team compared to Alabama. Just lol."

and your response was: "And yet they would probably beat UMass. Again, schedule to schedule I don't think you can argue. The Irish schedule is more... pop warner level."

Were you feeling insulted and upping the insult?

I'm personally moving on from this childishness.

Insulted? Hardly. I see zero difference football-wise in Charleston Southern and UMass. Neither of our teams should be playing them. And you are correct... it is simply childish to discuss what doesn't matter at this point in a season that hasn't even started. I think I have been overly reserved when it comes to some of the BS things posted out here about Bama. It is an Irish board after all. But if giving one's opinion - whether it is agreed with or not - is not welcomed then maybe we all need to log off and head to another site.

 

[Cackalacky]

Alabama had a home and home contract with Notre Dame about a dozen years ago but after the Albert Means sanctions were issued by the NCAA, Bama AD, Mal Moore, called his former employer and asked ND to let UA out of the contract. ND did with no penalties.

Funny enough Alabama has had similar home and homes agreements with Michigan State and GT. Alabama requested they be canceled and both times were canceled without penalty. This leaves the obvious problem of who to fill that open slot.....

 

[T Town Tommy]

Funny enough Alabama has had similar home and homes agreements with Michigan State and GT. Alabama requested they be canceled and both times were canceled without penalty. This leaves the obvious problem of who to fill that open slot.....

Come on cack... you're better than that. The series with Ga Tech was a mutual cancellation for the same reasons Alabama asked Mich State to cancel. It was due to the uncertainty at the time of future scheduling based off a nine game conference schedule. South Carolina did the same with Ga Tech.

 

[Cackalacky]

Come on cack... you're better than that. The series with Ga Tech was a mutual cancellation for the same reasons Alabama asked Mich State to cancel. It was due to the uncertainty at the time of future scheduling based off a nine game conference schedule. South Carolina did the same with Ga Tech.

My understanding of the English language is sometimes not great. Maybe I am not better than that. I guess "uncertainty" has a different meaning to me.

...it's possible that had Michigan State not agreed to Alabama's request to cancel the home-and-home football series, the Tide might never have stepped foot in East Lansing -- instead opting to buy out the second game in 2017 after hosting the Spartans in Tuscaloosa in 2016.

According to an ESPN.com report, Alabama athletic director Bill Battle said Thursday the school made the request because of "the uncertainty of the conference football schedule in those years."

One of the major reasons Michigan State wanted to play Alabama was to bring the Crimson Tide to Spartan Stadium, as it will do as part of a home-and-home series with Oregon that begins next season in Eugene.

Former Michigan State and current Alabama coach Nick Saban discussed on his radio show last week how the Tide is more interested in neutral site games moving forward than home-and-home series, as reported by AL.com.

"What are we going to do with all of these neutral-site games that we have gotten into playing one every year, which continues to be an option for us in the future," Saban said. "We play West Virginia next year in Atlanta and Wisconsin the next year in Dallas. And those games our kids really enjoy.

"And from a business standpoint and a financial standpoint, they're much more beneficial than playing home and home with someone because we get paid every year, not just the year we play at home. So it's twice as good from a business standpoint."

In neutral-site games, both teams receive millions of dollars.

"So, even though emotionally, in my heart and for all the good relationships and friends we have at Michigan State, we'd love to play that series,'' Saban said. "It just probably doesn't make much business sense to hang on to it right now relative to some of the other options and question marks that we have relative to the future."

The Spartans, meanwhile, do not have the same interest in neutral site games, as far as playing in Dallas or Atlanta is concerned.

Of course a similar request was made by Alabama to "postpone" the GT series. Its already been "postponed" twice.

Uncertainty....smdh

 

[T Town Tommy]

I guess "uncertainty" has a different meaning to me.


Of course a similar request was made by Alabama to "postpone" the GT series. Its already been "postponed" twice.

Uncertainty....smdh

Come on cack... the first game between Michigan State and Bama was set to be played in T Town. When the SEC started discussing nine game conference schedules, Michigan State was concerned that Bama would play the first game at T Town and then buy out the second game if the conference went to nine games. Saban was the only coach that pushed the SEC to go to nine games. When they voted it down, that left Bama with the neutral site games they play most years. Given the fact that Bama - much like most other teams that play a neutral site game - want to schedule a home game after that. Not many schools are interested in a one game at the other place scenerio so that leaves Bama with very few options on who to schedule. As far as where I stand on the issue, I still say get rid of the neutral site games - cash cow or not - and schedule home and homes with top ten teams.

Say what you want but I don't believe anyone can criticize Bama and who they play or where they play them. USC, Whisky, Fla St, VT, etc to start the year - neutral site or not is still pretty damn impressive. Couple that with playing in the toughest conference the last decade and I simply laugh at any issues some may have with Bama. I have said, and will continue to say, that I would love to see a home and home with Notre Dame. Two storied programs that the fans should see play each other.

So... SMDH

 

[Cackalacky]

Round and round we go. There is nothing uncertain about it. I dont care that they play a Big 10 team in a neutral site south of the MDL. I care that they pay 1million dollars to a pee wee team for a guaranteed win EVERY year. Wow....its not a hard concept. That article nails it from Saban's own mouth. They had no intent of playing home and homes.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Round and round we go. There is nothing uncertain about it. I dont care that they play a Big 10 team in a neutral site south of the MDL. I care that they pay 1million dollars to a pee wee team for a guaranteed win EVERY year. Wow....its not a hard concept. That article nails it from Saban's own mouth. They had no intent of playing home and homes.

And how much does UMass get this year? Is the UMass game not a guaranteed win for your Irish? Geez cack... you really are reaching. The decision was made to cancel the games when it was expected that the SEC was going to go to a nine game conference schedule. What's so effing hard to understand about that? You quote Nick Saban AFTER the fact. His comments on neutral site games was made after the series was cancelled AND the conference voted to stay at eight games - much to his dismay. He was the only - the ONLY - coach who pushed the conference to go to nine games at the time. When that didn't happen, Bama was offered neutral site games against top 10 opponents and they agreed to them - for much the same reason the Irish play their Shamrock series. It provides a tremendous payday, offers exposure in fertile recruiting grounds, and allows people to see them play that otherwise would not get to see them. For the life of me... I just don't know why you don't understand that. But keep on keepin on bro'. Your fascination with Bama is intriguing.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Wasn't the UMASS game scheduled as a favor to Molnar, who obviously didn't make it to this season?

 

[Cackalacky]

And how much does UMass get this year? Is the UMass game not a guaranteed win for your Irish? Geez cack... you really are reaching. The decision was made to cancel the games when it was expected that the SEC was going to go to a nine game conference schedule. What's so effing hard to understand about that? You quote Nick Saban AFTER the fact. His comments on neutral site games was made after the series was cancelled AND the conference voted to stay at eight games - much to his dismay. He was the only - the ONLY - coach who pushed the conference to go to nine games at the time. When that didn't happen, Bama was offered neutral site games against top 10 opponents and they agreed to them - for much the same reason the Irish play their Shamrock series. It provides a tremendous payday, offers exposure in fertile recruiting grounds, and allows people to see them play that otherwise would not get to see them. For the life of me... I just don't know why you don't understand that. But keep on keepin on bro'. Your fascination with Bama is intriguing.

I am perfectly clear on the 9game conference schedule. I "effing" understand that and have for some time now. That is not my point. My initial point was that they along with other teams with such daunting schedules play a glorified HS football team and pay them to show up. Sometimes two of these guaranteed win games a year. There is no reaching. That is a fact. Its also a fact that Alabama claimed uncertainity in the schedule when they were CREATING the uncertainty by chasing the cash pot of neutral site games. Fact. Per you, apparently, and per Saban.

Business 101... manufacture the demand and create the supply. Its a win win.

Oh and I wouldnt put too much stock in my level of interest with Alabama. I would be saying the exact same thing any other tam scheduling Southeast Midlands Tech Prep

 

[T Town Tommy]

I am perfectly clear on the 9game conference schedule. I "effing" understand that and have for some time now. That is not my point. My initial point was that they along with other teams with such daunting schedules play a glorified HS football team and pay them to show up. Sometimes two of these guaranteed win games a year. There is no reaching. That is a fact. Its also a fact that Alabama claimed uncertainity in the schedule when they were CREATING the uncertainty by chasing the cash pot of neutral site games. Fact. Per you, apparently, and per Saban.

Business 101... manufacture the demand and create the supply. Its a win win.

Sorry cack but you are dead wrong. The initial thought when the SEC expanded with A&M and Mizzou was that they would in fact go to a nine game conference schedule within the first few years. Saban lobbied his ass off for that. And again... he was the only coach that lobbied for it and was very vocal about it during the time it was being reviewed. And he was very unhappy when it did not happen.The neutral site games came AFTER the conference decided against the ninth game. All I ask is that you get your facts straight if you are going to post. If that is your OPINION then so be it. But don't represent your opinion as fact. Almost every team in the SEC was left scrambling for an opponent due to the prevailing thought that the league would go to nine games. It isn't rocket science. It may not fit the narrative you want but it isn't some stored away secret either.

 

[Cackalacky]

How much more naive can this discussion be? First they needed opponents because everyone was scrambling to find an opponent after it was decided a nine game season wasnt gonna be the norm. Then they cancel an already scheduled home and home games as early as 2012. Yet then they are left scrambling to find an opponent and the only ones the can find are Alabaster upon Albion School for Baptists on such short notice. Fuckin hell...uncertainty

 

[T Town Tommy]

How much more naive can this discussion be? First they needed opponents because everyone was scrambling to find an opponent after it was decided a nine game season was gonna be the norm. Then they cancel an already scheduled home and home games as early as 2012. Yet then they are left scrambling to find an opponent and the only ones the can find are Alabaster upon Albion School for Baptists on such short notice. Fuckin hell...

It's easily explainable cack. When the thought was the SEC was going to nine games, Bama asked Mich State to cancel the home and home. Once that didn't happen, the game with Mich State was already cancelled and that left Bama having to find another opponent to play... hence the neutral site games. It really isn't that hard to understand. Guess we are just going to see it differently. Why don't you worry about that demanding Notre Dame schedule with all those top 25 teams and let Bama worry about their horrendous schedule with all those pansies. Geez bud.

 

[Cackalacky]

It's easily explainable cack. When the thought was the SEC was going to nine games, Bama asked Mich State to cancel the home and home. Once that didn't happen, the game with Mich State was already cancelled and that left Bama having to find another opponent to play... hence the neutral site games. It really isn't that hard to understand. Guess we are just going to see it differently. Why don't you worry about that demanding Notre Dame schedule with all those top 25 teams and let Bama worry about their horrendous schedule with all those pansies. Geez bud.

Right.... that explains why the postponed GT not one but twice. Omg we can't find find anyone to replace the people we canceled and we don't want to cross the MDL ever. Who are we gonna get in such short notice. Ok buddy. Lol

 

[T Town Tommy]

Right.... that explains why the postponed GT not one but twice. Omg we can't find find anyone to replace the people we canceled and we don't want to cross the MDL ever. Who are we gonna get in such short notice. Ok buddy. Lol

Both Bama and Ga Tech mutually agreed to cancel the series for the exact SAME reason. Both were concerned about future scheduling issues with conference expansion. Later man. We done spent too much time on this one. We can agree to disagree. Fair enough?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Did anyone post this article yet? It's a good read regarding the topic at hand.

https://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1785130

The problem with schedules is that no one really knows how hard they are until after the season has played out and you can see everyone's body of work. Preseason hype is just that. It's based on nothing objective because no one knows how good teams really are until they start playing. Unfortunately, preseason rankings play a huge role in this sport.

Bottom line, looking back on past seasons, the SEC doesn't play the insanely hard schedule that they try to claim. And ND doesn't play some weak ass schedule that people try to claim. In reality, they're actually pretty similar. With that said, you will never get a true apples-to-apples comparison due to the sheer number of teams involved in CFB.

 

[Cackalacky]

Both Bama and Ga Tech mutually agreed to cancel the series for the exact SAME reason. Both were concerned about future scheduling issues with conference expansion. Later man. We done spent too much time on this one. We can agree to disagree. Fair enough?

No. Alabama requested it be cancelled. GT later acquiesced. It was postponed. Not once but twice now

 

[T Town Tommy]

No. Alabama requested it be cancelled. GT later acquiesced. It was postponed. Not once but twice now

Uh...

Alabama, Georgia Tech Postpone 2019-20 Home-and-Home Football Series

Peace cack...

 

[BGIF]

Wasn't the UMASS game scheduled as a favor to Molnar, who obviously didn't make it to this season?

The UMA game has linkage to a former ND assistant coach similar to former ND assistant Steve Addazio who was Temple HC before moving up to BC HC.