SEC Scheduling

[T Town Tommy]

I'm just pointing out that Saban has only seen this level of success in an environment where he's playing by a different set of rules.

College football isn't always about the best teams---that's the NFL. Some teams are just relevant and draw eyes independent of rankings because the university itself is relevant nationally and don't represent the entirety of their value via the football team.

Are you serious? Saban took a horrible program at MSU and had them at 9-2 his last season there. And what are the different set of rules you mention he gets? Does he get them because he is Saban? Does he get them and other teams don't because the NCAA just loves the guy? Give me a break. Your hate for Saban, and the southern part of the United States, is ridiculous. Hell, the very state you live in and call home is a bastion for terrorists. And you have the audacity to call out other states. Again... give me an effing break.

And the University bashing you love to do with every school other than Notre dame is BS as well. There is a reason many, many fans of CFB just can't stand ND. It really isn't so much the school but they do have a tremendous track record of building up a football program with a lot of legends, stories, etc., that everyone knows is utterly false. It's the image they want to protect. It's fans like you that give the school a bad name. Academically, ND is a fine school. Just how much of that really applies to the Irish football team is open for debate. We do know for a fact that ND admits players with average scores. So give me a break on the ND football players being any smarter than other schools players.

In the end, I would rather you just say fuck you than try to be something you are not... which is no better than anyone else. Enjoy. (which is really my nice way of saying FU btw)

Apologies to the great Irish fans on this board. This cat is no way indicative of the overwhelming majority of posters out here. It's just this clown has had it coming to him for his BS comments. And if he don't like it... oh well. I don't care. I think I have been very reserved with him and his comments up to this point.

End of my rant.

 

[Irish#1]

Are you serious? Saban took a horrible program at MSU and had them at 9-2 his last season there. And what are the different set of rules you mention he gets? Does he get them because he is Saban? Does he get them and other teams don't because the NCAA just loves the guy? Give me a break. Your hate for Saban, and the southern part of the United States, is ridiculous. Hell, the very state you live in and call home is a bastion for terrorists. And you have the audacity to call out other states. Again... give me an effing break.

And the University bashing you love to do with every school other than Notre dame is BS as well. There is a reason many, many fans of CFB just can't stand ND. It really isn't so much the school but they do have a tremendous track record of building up a football program with a lot of legends, stories, etc., that everyone knows is utterly false. It's the image they want to protect. It's fans like you that give the school a bad name. Academically, ND is a fine school. Just how much of that really applies to the Irish football team is open for debate. We do know for a fact that ND admits players with average scores. So give me a break on the ND football players being any smarter than other schools players.

In the end, I would rather you just say fuck you than try to be something you are not... which is no better than anyone else. Enjoy. (which is really my nice way of saying FU btw)

Apologies to the great Irish fans on this board. This cat is no way indicative of the overwhelming majority of posters out here. It's just this clown has had it coming to him for his BS comments. And if he don't like it... oh well. I don't care. I think I have been very reserved with him and his comments up to this point.

End of my rant.

Good Morning Tommy!

 

[T Town Tommy]

Good Morning Tommy!

LOL... I guess night shift don't agree with me. Been on it all this month.

 

[dshans]

LOL... I guess night shift don't agree with me. Been on it all this month.

... and it's "that time of the month" for you???

 

[Legacy]

Are you serious? Saban took a horrible program at MSU and had them at 9-2 his last season there. And what are the different set of rules you mention he gets? Does he get them because he is Saban? Does he get them and other teams don't because the NCAA just loves the guy? Give me a break. Your hate for Saban, and the southern part of the United States, is ridiculous. Hell, the very state you live in and call home is a bastion for terrorists. And you have the audacity to call out other states. Again... give me an effing break.

And the University bashing you love to do with every school other than Notre dame is BS as well. There is a reason many, many fans of CFB just can't stand ND. It really isn't so much the school but they do have a tremendous track record of building up a football program with a lot of legends, stories, etc., that everyone knows is utterly false. It's the image they want to protect. It's fans like you that give the school a bad name. Academically, ND is a fine school. Just how much of that really applies to the Irish football team is open for debate. We do know for a fact that ND admits players with average scores. So give me a break on the ND football players being any smarter than other schools players.

In the end, I would rather you just say fuck you than try to be something you are not... which is no better than anyone else. Enjoy. (which is really my nice way of saying FU btw)

Apologies to the great Irish fans on this board. This cat is no way indicative of the overwhelming majority of posters out here. It's just this clown has had it coming to him for his BS comments. And if he don't like it... oh well. I don't care. I think I have been very reserved with him and his comments up to this point.

End of my rant.

I applaud your restraint.

 

[MNIrishman]

Are you serious? Saban took a horrible program at MSU and had them at 9-2 his last season there. And what are the different set of rules you mention he gets? Does he get them because he is Saban? Does he get them and other teams don't because the NCAA just loves the guy? Give me a break. Your hate for Saban, and the southern part of the United States, is ridiculous. Hell, the very state you live in and call home is a bastion for terrorists. And you have the audacity to call out other states. Again... give me an effing break.

And the University bashing you love to do with every school other than Notre dame is BS as well. There is a reason many, many fans of CFB just can't stand ND. It really isn't so much the school but they do have a tremendous track record of building up a football program with a lot of legends, stories, etc., that everyone knows is utterly false. It's the image they want to protect. It's fans like you that give the school a bad name. Academically, ND is a fine school. Just how much of that really applies to the Irish football team is open for debate. We do know for a fact that ND admits players with average scores. So give me a break on the ND football players being any smarter than other schools players.

In the end, I would rather you just say fuck you than try to be something you are not... which is no better than anyone else. Enjoy. (which is really my nice way of saying FU btw)

Apologies to the great Irish fans on this board. This cat is no way indicative of the overwhelming majority of posters out here. It's just this clown has had it coming to him for his BS comments. And if he don't like it... oh well. I don't care. I think I have been very reserved with him and his comments up to this point.

End of my rant.

The 34-24 record he had at MSU (including 3 six win seasons in 5 years) and 15-17 record in the NFL are far cries from what he accomplished at LSU and Bama. And while I'm amazed at your surprise to find an ND-centric view on Irishenvy.com, I would like to point out that in this instance, I was actually talking up Texas. Interestingly, with both teams being mediocre in 2014, our game managed to pull the second-most viewers of any 2015 opening weekend game. I don't think it's too extreme to have programs I respect and those I don't---do you honestly believe that all programs do an equal amount of good for their students, schools, and communities? I won't take any offense from your personal attacks; Alabama fans are known for taking things personally and overreacting so honestly I just kind of expect it.

 

[woolybug25]

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards threatens future of LSU Tigers football if tax proposals aren't passed

 

[Black Irish]

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards threatens future of LSU Tigers football if tax proposals aren't passed

It's been a while since a politician has been tarred, feathered, and run out of town on a rail.

 

[Legacy]

From AL.com:

Alabama embarrasses itself by scheduling Mercer, ignoring UAB

Alabama's not going to play Mercer in basketball. Alabama's going to play Mercer in football. Not once but twice.

What? Didn't Hoover High have any open dates on the weekends in question?

Alabama should be embarrassed, and some Crimson Tide fans are, but the people in the organization who make these scheduling decisions apparently lack the capacity to feel shame.

Otherwise they wouldn't think of playing a start-up program like they did with Georgia State in 2010 - Alabama won 63-7 - like they will with Mercer in 2017 and 2021.

Alabama has won more national championships since 2009 than Mercer has played football seasons in that time. The Bears discontinued the sport in 1941 and didn't bring it back until 2013. They're an FCS program that plays in the Southern Conference.

Let's be honest. Alabama could beat Mercer with walk-ons and volunteers from the bleachers.

Mercer University is in Macon, Ga. After a seventy year hiatus, Mercer restarted football, recruiting non-scholarship players in 2012 and walkon tryouts. Mercer played their first FCS game in the fall of 2013. The Mercer Bears began signing scholarship players with the Class of 2014. Mercer has played in the Southern Conference the last two years with a conference record of 3-11. In 2015, Mercer tied for sixth out of eight Southern Conference teams. Sagarin ranked Mercer at 178th of 254 teams last year.

The 2016 season will see their first Senior class of football players, their first FBS opponent, Georgia Tech, and the first time Mercer has played before more than 13,000 fans. In 2017, Mercer will take the field with players from their first four scholarship signing classes against Alabama and Auburn. Early PT has been a recruiting selling point. Mercer has returned all starters on both sides of the ball for the last two years. The reigning Miss America is a student at Mercer.

Other new football programs for other P5 schools to schedule: Here are the 12 brand-new college football programs for 2013

 

[phork]

That is embarassing. Anyone who still argues that Alabama plays an "SEC" schedule and needs cupcakes like this should be embarassed.

 

[Bishop2b5]

As a fan, I don't care for the FCS games. About the only plus for fans is that tickets to those games are affordable and it gives a lot of fans a chance to go to a game without taking out a second mortgage.

I understand that Bama playing a Mercer, GA St. or Charleston Southern is a huge mismatch, but OTOH, we didn't get to the championship game last year by padding our schedule with cupcakes. We played the #1 toughest schedule in the country last season despite having Charleston Southern on our schedule. Given how tough of a slate we faced, a cupcake to give us a break and get some playing time for the younger players is somewhat understandable.

From the cupcake's point of view, it's a HUGE plus for them. The payday they get is a big part of their annual operating budget and allows them to do some things they otherwise couldn't. Plus, the exposure for their program and the ability to tell recruits they'll get a chance to play on the big stage on TV against one of the elite programs is a big help to them. Lots of FCS schools depend on that exposure and financial gain to survive or move towards FBS status. If you ban all FBS vs. FCS games, who are you helping? Certainly not the FCS programs.

I understand the distaste for such games and as a fan, I don't care for them either, but I understand why they're played and the positive aspects of them.

 

[IrishLion]

I think the issue goes beyong whether or not you care for FCS games...

This is about finding the cupcake-iest cupcake and putting them on the schedule.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

As a fan, I don't care for the FCS games. About the only plus for fans is that tickets to those games are affordable and it gives a lot of fans a chance to go to a game without taking out a second mortgage.

I understand that Bama playing a Mercer, GA St. or Charleston Southern is a huge mismatch, but OTOH, we didn't get to the championship game last year by padding our schedule with cupcakes. We played the #1 toughest schedule in the country last season despite having Charleston Southern on our schedule. Given how tough of a slate we faced, a cupcake to give us a break and get some playing time for the younger players is somewhat understandable.

From the cupcake's point of view, it's a HUGE plus for them. The payday they get is a big part of their annual operating budget and allows them to do some things they otherwise couldn't. Plus, the exposure for their program and the ability to tell recruits they'll get a chance to play on the big stage on TV against one of the elite programs is a big help to them. Lots of FCS schools depend on that exposure and financial gain to survive or move towards FBS status. If you ban all FBS vs. FCS games, who are you helping? Certainly not the FCS programs.

I understand the distaste for such games and as a fan, I don't care for them either, but I understand why they're played and the positive aspects of them.

I am almost at a loss of what to say to this. If Notre Dame fans get a bad rap for a perceived "moral/spiritual/academic superiority complex", shouldn't Alabama fans get a fair share of grief for this type of nonsense?

Bama fans should be ashamed.

I was indifferent, but I'm going to root for Auburn in the Iron Bowl now.

#WarEagle #RollToilet

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tN5R3nrdJ1M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Bishop2b5]

I am almost at a loss of what to say to this. If Notre Dame fans get a bad rap for a perceived "moral/spiritual/academic superiority complex", shouldn't Alabama fans get a fair share of grief for this type of nonsense?

Bama fans should be ashamed.

I was indifferent, but I'm going to root for Auburn in the Iron Bowl now.

#WarEagle #RollToilet

I didn't say I was for or against playing FCS teams. I simply pointed out some of the reasons why they're played. Personally, I find them boring, but I understand the reasons they're beneficial to both parties. If I explain to you why someone does something, that's not condoning nor condemning what they do. It's just explaining why they do it.

I'm actually rather ambivalent about the matter. I wouldn't pay to go see one and I'd rather see us play another FBS program. OTOH, with the schedule we play most years, an easy game late in the season where we can rest the starters and get our younger kids some experience is very beneficial. I also know that the FCS schools depend on such games for financial reasons and if they aspire to move up to FBS, they have to play some FBS schools. Do you really want to tell all the FCS schools that they can't get a piece of the pie or that they shouldn't aspire to move up?

If your reason for disliking such games is because we got to 14-1 by playing a weak schedule, we both know that's not so. We played 14 FBS programs last year... more than ND. Even with Charleston Southern on our schedule, we still had the #1 toughest schedule in the country (ND's was 11th). I don't care for the FCS games because they're dull, but there are some valid reasons, whether we necessarily like them or not, for playing them. If a school is playing an otherwise tough schedule instead of just padding their record with weak opponents (a la OSU), what's the problem? Would you prefer that we just schedule an extra bye week? Who benefits there? Nobody as far as I can see.

As for pulling for Auburn, that's probably a good idea. They need all the help they can get!

 

[gkIrish]

I've given several reasons why it's beneficial to both parties. The replies have basically consisted of "It's lame" or "I don't like it." OK. Not very convincing. Tell me what's actually wrong with it other than ND doesn't do it. Truth is, maybe you should. We've played a tougher schedule than ND most of the past 8 years. You guys complain every year about how injuries cripple you down the stretch, yet we still have most of our guys standing for the final stretch of the season. Our younger players get some real game experience and can step in when needed and are better prepared to take over when their time comes. We've won 4 of the last 7 NC's doing it our way (and our way is well within the rules), so maybe you should stop complaining about how everyone else does things and try something that works.

There are posters that have openly admitted they would rather see Notre Dame play a top 20 team every week than win a national championship so you're not going to get very far around here with that logic.

 

[Bishop2b5]

There are posters that have openly admitted they would rather see Notre Dame play a top 20 team every week than win a national championship so you're not going to get very far around here with that logic.

I don't think ANYBODY should play a top 20 team every week, and neither ND nor Bama would ever win another NC doing so. Both our schools routinely play very tough schedules, just balanced out a bit differently. In general, our toughest opponents are tougher than yours and our weakest opponents are weaker than yours. We both schedule some weak opponents, and I'd rather see us not schedule any FCS ones, but I understand why we do.

 

[Legacy]

B2b5,

You come across very defensive whenever you try to switch to "our team is better....", "plays a tougher...., etc.

So, you don't like FCS games. But you are in favor of them rather than play a team ranked in Sagarin's Top 75. College football is just better off without these exhibition games. Why does the SEC continue to play them? Be like the Big Ten. Play another conference team if you don't want to play a Top 75 team.

How much does Alabama rake in for a home game? If you are altruistic, just give the cupcake 500k or so. The article wondered why, if you were scheduling a cupcake, not schedule UAB? A Georgia team? A team with four D1 seasons under its belt when you play them.

Shame on whoever scheduled them. Enjoy the game.

 

[Bishop2b5]

B2b5,

You come across very defensive whenever you try to switch to "our team is better....", "plays a tougher...., etc.

So, you don't like FCS games. But you are in favor of them rather than play a team ranked in Sagarin's Top 75. College football is just better off without these exhibition games. Why does the SEC continue to play them? Be like the Big Ten. Play another conference team if you don't want to play a Top 75 team.

How much does Alabama rake in for a home game? If you are altruistic, just give the cupcake 500k or so. The article wondered why, if you were scheduling a cupcake, not schedule UAB? A Georgia team? A team with four D1 seasons under its belt when you play them.

Shame on whoever scheduled them. Enjoy the game.

For the umpteenth time in this thread, I've not said I was in favor of them. I've actually said I don't particularly like them. I've simply explained why they're played and pointed out some of the benefits to both parties that are the reasons they're scheduled. I don't really care for them, but I also see the benefits of playing them. Thus, I'm not strongly for or against them. I just think that understanding why they're played and looking at both sides of the argument is better than just yelling "I don't like them."

 

[Legacy]

For the umpteenth time in this thread, I've not said I was in favor of them. I've actually said I don't particularly like them. I've simply explained why they're played and pointed out some of the benefits to both parties that are the reasons they're scheduled. I don't really care for them, but I also see the benefits of playing them. Thus, I'm not strongly for or against them. I just think that understanding why they're played and looking at both sides of the argument is better than just yelling "I don't like them."

Respectfully, I don't think you get the article's points. Alabama should have done better without much trouble. Why not UAB?

Why not wait until Mercer has a winning record against their Southern conference foes? Chattanooga, the Citadel, Western Carolina all do. Why not wait until the Mercer Bears have played eight FBS seasons?

You aren't alone, though.

Other teams that are restarting their football programs are: UNC-Charlotte (first season in '15), East Tenn State (first season in '15) and Kennesaw State University (also first season in '15).

Kennesaw State will play their first P5 game in 2021 (Georgia Tech).

East Tennessee State, who lost to Kennesaw State last year 56-16, will play their first P5 game in 2018 (Tennessee). Coach - Phillip Fulmer. East Tennessee State has been playing their home games at "Kermit Tipton Stadium/Steve Spurrier Field located on the campus of Science Hill High School in Johnson City" until they build a stadium. BTW, Mercer lost to East Tennessee State 52-0 last year. Comparative scores aren't really accurate, but, for fun, doesn't that make Kennesaw State 92 points better than Mercer??

UNC - Charlotte has a annual P5 schedule of Louisville ('16), Kansas State ('17), Tennessee ('18), Clemson ('19). Charlotte lost to Kentucky last year 58-10. (Robert Washington signed with Charlotte.)

So, Tennessee plays East Tennessee State and UNC - Charlotte in the same year (2018)!!!

If you have any further information on SEC schools playing new programs, feel free to post it. We appreciate your insight into SEC Scheduling.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Alabama has no business playing Mercer. The only joy I get from games like that is that I am able to pass my tickets off to a person less fortunate than me so he can take his sons to a game.

 

[Legacy]

Auburn Scheduling

Auburn Scheduling

Future Auburn Football Schedules: Examining the Non-Conference Games (May 13, 2015)

Easy read. Not much new. But SEC schedule thinking with Auburn specifics from an Auburn site.

Sections
The "Required" - a P5 game. (Looks like Auburn is going home-and-home with Cal and Clemson)

The "Fillers" -

Fans can talk all they want about how much fun it would be to see more big match-ups like Auburn vs Texas, Notre Dame, etc in a season, but the reality is that you're only going to get one P5 team per season in the non-conference schedule. Getting to the College Football Playoff is the name of the game. So, you have the required P5 game and then three other non-conference games. Two of these are what I am going to refer to as "The Filler." Filler games are against Group of 5 (G5) conference teams that should provide easy wins.

However, they (Idaho) ARE a Sun Belt team. For the moment. That means the five out of the next six "filler" opponents come from the Sun Belt Conference. When it comes to FBS Conferences, the Sun Belt is at the bottom of the totem pole even in the G5 in terms of perception.

Why not Schedule Troy or South Alabama?
Not going to happen. Ever. You know the reasons why. Too big of a risk that those teams would win and it could impact in-state recruiting, money, etc.

Future Schedules
P5, two G5s, one Cupcake. Recent trends show the G5 will be a Sun Belt team and the cupcake to be an FCS team from the state of Alabama...

Some of the Big 10 schools just aren't going to happen. They want SEC schools to make a return trip in late October or early November to take advantage of the cold weather, and SEC schools don't want to play a big-time OOC game in the heat of the SEC schedule. That's why so many of those match-ups are neutral-site games.

For the G5 games, I suspect Sun Belt teams to remain the norm for travel reasons.

The Cupcake
This is the game affectionately known by some as "SEC-SoCon Saturday." They're usually held on the second to last Saturday of the season just before the big rivalry weekends and feature Auburn playing an FCS school from the SoCon like Western Carolina or Samford. This year that's not the case for Auburn, but it's not far off with Idaho filling that weekend. The Jacksonville State game will be the second game of the season on September 12th. Jax State isn't a SoCon team, but it's referred to that way because other SEC teams also fill the weekend with SoCon teams.

Cupcakes will be cupcakes, but they'll likely continue to come from Alabama and Georgia. It wouldn't shock me to see Kennesaw State on the schedule in a few years.

These games are lamented by fans who don't want to fork out the money for the tickets, food, driving, hotels, etc, just to see a glorified scrimmage. They're not going to go away, though. Playing an SEC schedule is brutal, and the coaches love these games for the break it gives the team before the big rivalries or a way to take a breath in the middle of the season as another off-week.

Nothing exciting about their future schedules. Oregon at Arlington in '19. Auburn is probably looking for another neutral site game in '18. But Oregon has not had a lot of luck with getting SEC teams to play them. Georgia cancelled their home and home for '15 and '16. Texas A&M cancelled their home and home with the Ducks for '18 and '19. Third time a charm? But only if it's a neutral site game in September in the South.

Cal at home in '20 and away in '21. As noted, cupcakes are usually from the Southern Conference (SoCon).

In the past thirty years, Auburn has only played outside the South twice - Kansas State in '14, USC in '02. They played away games at Texas in '91 and '84 and at Florida State in '84.

 

[NDbrbkny]

Sheez why are SEC teams scared to go north of the mason dixon line minus lsu or alabama?

 

[Legacy]

Sheez why are SEC teams scared to go north of the mason dixon line minus lsu or alabama?

Why they don't is a good question. Just remember they've beem a regional conference for so long that they probably don't see any advantage to traveling outside their comfort zone. As for Bama, since 2004, they've only gone north of the M-D line (or west of Texas) once - 2011 to Penn State. Sept, of course. None scheduled in the future either.

SEC East (eliminating Missouri because they played in the B12 and Vandy since they are so different)

Florida - last seen outside the South - 1983
South Carolina - last time? made a trip (467 miles) to West Virginia, 1991
Kentucky - played Indiana (181 miles) away every other year, '97-'03
Georgia - since the '70s, only away games outside the South to Ariz St ('08), Oklahoma St ('09), Colorado ('10)

Tennessee is different than the rest -Away games outside the South over two decades :
'05 - Notre Dame (in Nov)
'07 - California
'08 - UCLA
'13 - Oregon
'14 - Oklahoma

Of the five Kentucky games (all Indiana), the three Georgia games, and the six Tennessee games (over two decades), only Tenn-ND (November), Kty-Ind ('05-November) and Ga-Colo ('01 - Oct 2nd) were not in September.

Limit it to one decade and only Georgia and Tennessee have ventured outside.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Why they don't is a good question. Just remember they've beem a regional conference for so long that they probably don't see any advantage to traveling outside their comfort zone. As for Bama, since 2004, they've only gone north of the M-D line (or west of Texas) once - 2011 to Penn State. Sept, of course. None scheduled in the future either.

SEC East (eliminating Missouri because they played in the B12 and Vandy since they are so different)

Florida - last seen outside the South - 1983
South Carolina - last time? made a trip (467 miles) to West Virginia, 1991
Kentucky - played Indiana (181 miles) away every other year, '97-'03
Georgia - since the '70s, only away games outside the South to Ariz St ('08), Oklahoma St ('09), Colorado ('10)

Tennessee is different than the rest -Away games outside the South over two decades :
'05 - Notre Dame (in Nov)
'07 - California
'08 - UCLA
'13 - Oregon
'14 - Oklahoma

Of the five Kentucky games (all Indiana), the three Georgia games, and the six Tennessee games (over two decades), only Tenn-ND (November), Kty-Ind ('05-November) and Ga-Colo ('01 - Oct 2nd) were not in September.

Limit it to one decade and only Georgia and Tennessee have ventured outside.

One word.

Recruiting.

Pretty simple explanation. It's the same reason Notre Dame wants to camp in Ga and Harbaugh wants to go to IMG next month. Either it's too hard for some to understand or they simply want to complain about it. I would love to see Bama go to South Bend or the Big House but why would they? There is no inherit value for them to play either team when it comes to recruiting. As a fan... hell yeah. I would love to see it. Now... a home and home with USC, UCLA, or Stanford would make more sense for Bama, especially with the recent recruiting success in Cali. Would love to beat down loud mouth Shaw and Mora.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

One word.



Recruiting.



Pretty simple explanation. It's the same reason Notre Dame wants to camp in Ga and Harbaugh wants to go to IMG next month. Either it's too hard for some to understand or they simply want to complain about it. I would love to see Bama go to South Bend or the Big House but why would they? There is no inherit value for them to play either team when it comes to recruiting. As a fan... hell yeah. I would love to see it. Now... a home and home with USC, UCLA, or Stanford would make more sense for Bama, especially with the recent recruiting success in Cali. Would love to beat down loud mouth Shaw and Mora.

I'd like you to beat down all three of those Cali teams!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Legacy]

The Emperor Wears No Clothes

The Emperor Wears No Clothes

One word.

Recruiting.

Pretty simple explanation. It's the same reason Notre Dame wants to camp in Ga and Harbaugh wants to go to IMG next month. Either it's too hard for some to understand or they simply want to complain about it. I would love to see Bama go to South Bend or the Big House but why would they? There is no inherit value for them to play either team when it comes to recruiting. As a fan... hell yeah. I would love to see it. Now... a home and home with USC, UCLA, or Stanford would make more sense for Bama, especially with the recent recruiting success in Cali. Would love to beat down loud mouth Shaw and Mora.

That's too simplistic for anyone to believe and not even mildly entertaining. For entertainment, visualize the good athletic directors in Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, etc. declining invitations to travel into Big Ten/Pac 12/Big 12 country so that they can protect their in-state recruiting territories by scheduling Mercer, East Michigan, East Carolina, Central Florida, NM St, Idaho, Louisiana-Lafayette, Tulane, Fresno State....

Protect this House!
-- Arkansas has only traveled outside the South and Texas once (Rutgers, '13) since they joined the SEC in '92. Rather than raise their profile nationally, they want that valuable Arkansas recruiting turf.
-- Kentucky has never played anyone outside the South except for Indiana and Cincinnati so that their Kentucky high schoolers will be sure to sign with the Wildcats?
-- Auburn felt the risk of playing at Kansas State, Syracuse and USC - 3 games in 3 decades - was worth abandoning their potential recruits they would otherwise be protecting if they's played at home? Auburn wants to impress recruits with games against Alabama A&M, Louisiana - Monroe, Georgia Southern, Mercer!!
-- South Carolina will celebrate twenty-five years since the last time left the South and its subsequent crash in recruiting that year resulting in a vow to never to go North again.
-- Ole Miss -- Was it you who've said that high ranking recruits are only attracted to Ole Miss for the money under the table? You do have to compliment those Rebels for abandoning their posts twice in thirty years to travel to Fresno State and Wyoming.

Five SEC teams sit in the catbird's seat for recruiting - Florida, Georgia, Alabama, LSU and A&M. The other nine have no recruiting turf to protect by scheduling games with the worst Sunbelt, C-USA and Southern Conference (FCS) teams. They just need to get bowl-eligible and not let anyone see the clothes they wear.

There's no inherent value in playing teams outside the South that may well beat you. Even then you have to be careful scheduling Memphis or Jacksonville State.

 

[NDinL.A.]

One word.

Recruiting.

Pretty simple explanation. It's the same reason Notre Dame wants to camp in Ga and Harbaugh wants to go to IMG next month. Either it's too hard for some to understand or they simply want to complain about it. I would love to see Bama go to South Bend or the Big House but why would they? There is no inherit value for them to play either team when it comes to recruiting. As a fan... hell yeah. I would love to see it. Now... a home and home with USC, UCLA, or Stanford would make more sense for Bama, especially with the recent recruiting success in Cali. Would love to beat down loud mouth Shaw and Mora.

You cannot seriously believe that a win over something called Towson College is better for recruiting than beating Michigan in the Big House. Please tell me you are not arguing that. For the love of god, please tell me that is not the SEC's rationale on scheduling absolute garbage games (that they are somehow starting to lose) over real away games.

Wow. I do however remember Auburn and Arkansas getting their asses handed to them by USC and suddenly the SEC thought it wiser not to play USC anymore, no matter how many times Mike Garrett called. THAT was worse for recruiting than beating The Citadel (wait, bad example...sorry South Carolina) - I'll give you that.

 

[T Town Tommy]

You cannot seriously believe that a win over something called Towson College is better for recruiting than beating Michigan in the Big House. Please tell me you are not arguing that. For the love of god, please tell me that is not the SEC's rationale on scheduling absolute garbage games (that they are somehow starting to lose) over real away games.

Wow. I do however remember Auburn and Arkansas getting their asses handed to them by USC and suddenly the SEC thought it wiser not to play USC anymore, no matter how many times Mike Garrett called. THAT was worse for recruiting than beating The Citadel (wait, bad example...sorry South Carolina) - I'll give you that.

That's exactly what I am saying. Playing and beating a team such as a Notre Dame in Dallas is much more beneficial to Bama than beating them in South Bend. Why? The state of Texas has much more fertile recruiting grounds than Indiana and Michigan. And since the SEC now has a member team from that state, it makes even more sense to make a larger presence there. You do that by playing games there.

As a fan I would love home and home series against a team such as Notre Dame, Michigan, or Ohio State. But as a realist, I completely understand why that won't probably happen anytime soon. However, I ended my original comment by stating that a home and home against USC. UCLA, and Stanford could become a reality. Why? Because Bama has had some recent success in that state with recruiting and playing in that state would make more sense for recruiting.

Lastly, I have been very open about my distain for neutral site games. I understand them for recruiting and money purposes, but I still hate them. But money and recruiting drives everything in CFB now, whether we as fans like it or not.

 

[Legacy]

SEC West - Games Out of the South

SEC West - Games Out of the South

Alabama - twice in 24 years (Okla '02, UCLA '00), then Temple '88, and both in '87 Penn State and ND (on Nov 1). Total - Five times in three decades.

Arkansas - once (Rutgers, '13) since joining the SEC in '92

Auburn - four times in three decades (Kansas State '14, USC '02, Syracuse '01, Cincy '86)

Mississippi - two times in three decades (Fresno State '11, Wyoming '04). Previous to that - ND '85, Nov 9. Last time before that - Boston College '49. Four games in more than 75 years.

Mississippi State - Five times in three decades. West Virginia '07 (Oct 2), Oregon '02, BYU '00, Oklahoma State '98, Syracuse '86.

LSU - Eight times in three decades. Syracuse '15, West Virginia '11, Washington '09, Arizona State '05, Arizona '03, ND '98 (Nov 21), Ohio State '88, ND '85 (Nov 23)

A&M joined the SEC in '12.

That's twenty-two games traveling outside the South between six teams over thirty years (average 0.73 games per year between six teams). Eighteen of the twenty-two were in September.

The Ole Ball Coach best articulated the Bubble Boy philosophy,

I don't see much consequence for scheduling smaller schools. At the end of the year, everybody looks at your record mostly. I know people talk about quality schedules, but it's really whatever your record is.

Coach, it was 3-8 against FBS and 0-1 against FCS (Citadel, at home on the SEC Network). South Carolina was 2-4 at home with the two wins against teams that went 3-19 against FBS opponents. Better stay at home for the recruiting advantage? Right. Ducking tougher opponents.

 

[NDinL.A.]

You cannot seriously believe that a win over something called Towson College is better for recruiting than beating Michigan in the Big House. Please tell me you are not arguing that. For the love of god, please tell me that is not the SEC's rationale on scheduling absolute garbage games (that they are somehow starting to lose) over real away games.

Wow. I do however remember Auburn and Arkansas getting their asses handed to them by USC and suddenly the SEC thought it wiser not to play USC anymore, no matter how many times Mike Garrett called. THAT was worse for recruiting than beating The Citadel (wait, bad example...sorry South Carolina) - I'll give you that.

That's exactly what I am saying.

So to be 100% clear, you are saying that beating Southwest Wyoming State at home is better for recruiting than beating Ohio State at Ohio State. Man, all I can say is I completely disagree and you and I have vastly different ideas of what big-time wins do for a program vs playing nobodies in front of a bunch of fans that don't care about a gam whose outcome has already been determined. Peace.