SEC weak no-conference schedule myth

[WarEagle73]

For a long time I've always heard that the SEC will not play any real teams outside the SEC. This has always stuck in my craw somewhat. I was just looking at my SEC Helmet schedule I have hanging here at my desk and I starting noticing that every SEC team except Arkansas plays at least one BCS non-conference foe this year. Auburn & Georgia both play two. Here is a list of non-conference BCS foes. Tell me if this is weak. :dry:

Florida - FSU
UGA - OK State, Georgia Tech
UK - Louisville
USC - Clemson
UT - Cal
Vandy - Wake Forest

Bama - FSU
Auburn - Kansas State, South Florida
LSU - Virginia Tech
Ol' Miss - Mizzu
MSU - West Virginia

I see good teams from the Big XII, Pac 10, ACC, and Big East. Looks like the SEC is playing just about everyone that will agree to play them.

[D^3]

Outsiders whine because we aren't playing teams like SoCal, Texas or Oklahoma. Truth be told, even if we tried to schedule those teams, there's NO WAY they would take us on in the regular season because it would be too big a risk to their BCS bowl hopes.

[volimhtown]

Florida - FSU....traditional rival
UGA - OK State....mid level, Georgia Tech.....traditional rival
UK - Louisville.....traditional rival
USC - Clemson.....traditional rival
UT - Cal
Vandy - Wake Forest.....usual bottom tier

Bama - FSU
Auburn - Kansas State....mid level, South Florida.....huh?? argument for strong scheduling??
LSU - Virginia Tech
Ol' Miss - Mizzu......mid level
MSU - West Virginia.....good, but still not elite IMO

I see good teams from the Big XII, Pac 10, ACC, and Big East. Looks like the SEC is playing just about everyone that will agree to play them.

The gripe is within the "safe" scheduling!! It's average competition (with the exception of Tennessee) at best on a year in and year out situation. What's been blatently missing on the majority's schedule is the Big Time competition!! You get ZERO points in my book for playing your traditional rival. Those teams play whether they're both winless or both undefeated!! As I said in the other thread, you look at the Pac-10 and you'll usually see alot of big name programs on the schedules....something that is seriously lacking in the SEC.

[DanielW4444]

Didn't UGA try to schedule Texas A&M a few years ago, but it fell through?

[volimhtown]

Outsiders whine because we aren't playing teams like SoCal, Texas or Oklahoma. Truth be told, even if we tried to schedule those teams, there's NO WAY they would take us on in the regular season because it would be too big a risk to their BCS bowl hopes.

Wouldn't the reverse be the same as well?? If Georgia schedules USC, for instance, isn't the loser (regardless of who it is) in equally in trouble??
Texas and Ohio St took a chance and it resulted in a trip to the NT game for both. Sure the risk is there, but so is the reward!! Auburn probably has a NT if they schedule ANYBODY in their undefeated season!!

[BamaFanNKy]

Of those games how many are on the road on the other schools campus?

[geechee]

The gripe is within the "safe" scheduling!! It's average competition (with the exception of Tennessee) at best on a year in and year out situation. What's been blatently missing on the majority's schedule is the Big Time competition!! You get ZERO points in my book for playing your traditional rival. Those teams play whether they're both winless or both undefeated!! As I said in the other thread, you look at the Pac-10 and you'll usually see alot of big name programs on the schedules....something that is seriously lacking in the SEC.

You have to understand that a lot of this has to do with SEC scheduling itself. The SEC schedules are made up almost 10 years in advance which makes it hard to schedule non conference games around it. There are also schools in other conferences that refuse to come down south and play. Speaking for UGA which is all I know about, it has had schools sign firm contracts only to pull out. Both Oregon and Louisville pulled out of games with UGA in the past 5 years. In fact the OSU game was supposed to be Oregon. OSU was scheduled because the so called Mighty Ducks pulled out and left us hanging. There is also the issue of revenues. SEC schools insist on the number of home games which they do because the revenue from just one of these games can fund the whole budget of many minor sports.

[volimhtown]

You have to understand that a lot of this has to do with SEC scheduling itself. The SEC schedules are made up almost 10 years in advance which makes it hard to schedule non conference games around it. There are also schools in other conferences that refuse to come down south and play. Speaking for UGA which is all I know about, it has had schools sign firm contracts only to pull out. Both Oregon and Louisville pulled out of games with UGA in the past 5 years. In fact the OSU game was supposed to be Oregon. OSU was scheduled because the so called Mighty Ducks pulled out and left us hanging. There is also the issue of revenues. SEC schools insist on the number of home games which they do because the revenue from just one of these games can fund the whole budget of many minor sports.

There's absolutely more to it than just deciding to schedule good competition. There are alot of dynamics to it, that I agree with!
But, how is it that Tennessee can do it (no homerism....simply fact) and seemingly nobody else can?? I know it's starting to change, but....
I guess that the excuses are harder to swallow when somebody has proven it can be done!!

[BamaFanNKy]

The 10 year thing is BS. Most schools can work around it. UGA pulled out of the UofL contract because UofL wanted a home and home.

UT (as much as I hate them) are the model school. Now Penn St. and ND pulled out from Bama when they went on probation. The SEC has a problem giving a home and home to schools.

[DanielW4444]

But, how is it that Tennessee can do it (no homerism....simply fact) and seemingly nobody else can??

Other teams are fairly sure that they can beat Tennessee?

[volimhtown]

Other teams are fairly sure that they can beat Tennessee?

hahahaha....I have to admit....I thought that was funny!!!
+rep for that!! :thumpsup:

[Sabanocchio]

hahahaha....I have to admit....I thought that was funny!!!
+rep for that!! :thumpsup:

No rep from me. That was about stupid. We have one of the tougher OOC schedules through the years and have won waaaaay more than we've lost.

I hope we take it to UGA in Neyland this year so you Georgia fans will stop the hate.

[DanielW4444]

No rep from me. That was about stupid.

Damn, and I was going for full stupid :laugh:

[geechee]

The 10 year thing is BS. Most schools can work around it. UGA pulled out of the UofL contract because UofL wanted a home and home.

UT (as much as I hate them) are the model school. Now Penn St. and ND pulled out from Bama when they went on probation. The SEC has a problem giving a home and home to schools.

No sir, you are BS. UGA had signed contracts with Louisville for a home and home series. They pulled out. There are only three open dates in any given year on UGA's schedule. As I said they booked Oregon which pulled out and they booked Louisville which also pulled out. Go back to the woods dude.

[SoonerManiac]

Outsiders whine because we aren't playing teams like SoCal, Texas or Oklahoma. Truth be told, even if we tried to schedule those teams, there's NO WAY they would take us on in the regular season because it would be too big a risk to their BCS bowl hopes.

OU has a scheduled series(albeit way in advance) with Tennessee in '14-'15.

OU only plays one big name school a year. And up until 2014, we have Miami, Florida State after that, Notre Dame after that, then Tennessee.

Future OU schedules. (http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?SeasonID=2008)


Of those games how many are on the road on the other schools campus?Not sure about any of the others, but the Big XII games are all away games for the Big XII.

[SoonerManiac]

No sir, you are BS. UGA had signed contracts with Louisville for a home and home series. They pulled out. There are only three open dates in any given year on UGA's schedule. As I said they booked Oregon which pulled out and they booked Louisville which also pulled out. Go back to the woods dude.

Could be UL pulled out because they wanted a home and home. Georgia wouldn't give it. Either way, serves about the same purpose to the original argument as it could be said Georgia just doesn't want to leave Athens as much as it can be said UL was afraid.

I'm not saying either is true, just pointing out that it still can be taken either way depending on the persons bias that is debating the topic.

[Sabanocchio]

Damn, and I was going for full stupid :laugh:

You were almost there! :lol:

[sheluvsbama]

For a long time I've always heard that the SEC will not play any real teams outside the SEC. This has always stuck in my craw somewhat. I was just looking at my SEC Helmet schedule I have hanging here at my desk and I starting noticing that every SEC team except Arkansas plays at least one BCS non-conference foe this year. Auburn & Georgia both play two. Here is a list of non-conference BCS foes. Tell me if this is weak. :dry:

Florida - FSU
UGA - OK State, Georgia Tech
UK - Louisville
USC - Clemson
UT - Cal
Vandy - Wake Forest

Bama - FSU
Auburn - Kansas State, South Florida
LSU - Virginia Tech
Ol' Miss - Mizzu
MSU - West Virginia

I see good teams from the Big XII, Pac 10, ACC, and Big East. Looks like the SEC is playing just about everyone that will agree to play them.
I think alot of teams refuse to play us. I don't know what their problem is. I'd like to see someone like tOSU, ND, and SoCal on some of our schedules!

[geechee]

Could be UL pulled out because they wanted a home and home. Georgia wouldn't give it. Either way, serves about the same purpose to the original argument as it could be said Georgia just doesn't want to leave Athens as much as it can be said UL was afraid.

I'm not saying either is true, just pointing out that it still can be taken either way depending on the persons bias that is debating the topic.

The contract was for a two game home and home series, UL pulled out. I believe this is called footballus interruptus :laugh:

You are right however about UGA being a lil to stingy give up one of its three open home dates. This has more to do with the stinginess however and not the opponent. This won't change very much in the future. This is how they became the most profitable football program in the NCAA. The school is also well aware of the economic impact a home game means to a small town such as Athens.

[BamaFanNKy]

Actually your wrong. I know how it went down being I work with their TV network as an advertiser. UGA wanted move UofL game to nashville for the away.

So they pulled. Same as Dennis Felton now pulling out of the WKU game in basketball after the tops beat them in Athens last year.

[GamecockDieHard]

We tried to get NCar to play us on an annual basis, but they refused. It's not that we don't want to play a BCS team in an OOC game, I think alot of programs aren't willing to play an SEC team as an OOC game. Think about that.

[WarEagle73]

There's absolutely more to it than just deciding to schedule good competition. There are alot of dynamics to it, that I agree with!
But, how is it that Tennessee can do it (no homerism....simply fact) and seemingly nobody else can?? I know it's starting to change, but....
I guess that the excuses are harder to swallow when somebody has proven it can be done!!


You seem to forget that Auburn has played a home and home with USC and Georgia Tech over the last four or five years. We currently have a home and home with West Virginia and Clemson coming up as well. Alabama is going to play Clemson in Atlanta next year I think. They play Florida State this year. They played a home and home w/ Oklahoma just a few years ago. So to answer your question as to how Tennessee can do it... it's easy. Just ask both Auburn and Alabama. :dry:

[TigersFanTaylor]

You seem to forget that Auburn has played a home and home with USC and Georgia Tech over the last four or five years. We currently have a home and home with West Virginia and Clemson coming up as well. Alabama is going to play Clemson in Atlanta next year I think. They play Florida State this year. They played a home and home w/ Oklahoma just a few years ago. So to answer your question as to how Tennessee can do it... it's easy. Just ask both Auburn and Alabama. :dry:

Also, Arkansas has played USC home and home the last 2 years, and Florida plays Florida St. every year. So it's not just Tennessee.

[WarEagle73]

Wouldn't the reverse be the same as well?? If Georgia schedules USC, for instance, isn't the loser (regardless of who it is) in equally in trouble??
Texas and Ohio St took a chance and it resulted in a trip to the NT game for both. Sure the risk is there, but so is the reward!! Auburn probably has a NT if they schedule ANYBODY in their undefeated season!!

The game that kept us out of the national championship in 04 was The Citadel. We had Bowling Green on the schedule but they pulled out at the last minute so they could go play Oklahoma. Their AD had OK ties if I remember right. Anyway, The Citadle was all we could find on such short notice.

[TigersFanTaylor]

The game that kept us out of the national championship in 04 was The Citadel. We had Bowling Green on the schedule but they pulled out at the last minute so they could go play Oklahoma. Their AD had OK ties if I remember right. Anyway, The Citadle was all we could find on such short notice.

I still to this day think that Auburn could have beat USC. That team was loaded. Trust me, I saw plenty of that team that beat us twice. That first game was devastating.

[Bamafan316]

I think it has a lot to do with the the teams in the SEC. People can say what they want. The SEC is with out a doubt the hardest conference to play in. I know it didn't happen but remember in 05 when Bama went 10-2. If they would have ran the table that year they still wouldn't have gone to the NC game. If they would have went undefeated they would have played and beat more top 25 ranked teams then Texas and usc combined. The year usc and lsu shared the championship usc lost to cal who wasn't even ranked at the time, but they got half of the crown. Just like last year when everyone thought osu was going to kill Florida. Let all those other guys come sec will always be on top.

[WarEagle73]

I still to this day think that Auburn could have beat USC. That team was loaded. Trust me, I saw plenty of that team that beat us twice. That first game was devastating.

Thanks for the Auburn props there my Orange friend. Most folks always say we were lucky to not have the chance for USC to do to us what they did to Oklahoma. I don't buy that for a minute. Look @ Bama v. Miami in 92. most experts said Bama didin't stand a chance. Same thing when UT beat FSU for the MNC in the late 90's. Finally Florida shocked everyone outside the SEC by destroying tOSU last year. What I'm trying to say is that just about everytime an SEC team gets the chance to play for the MNC the experts all seem to think they are going to get killed but history tells us they usually win and win big.

[BamaDude06]

Many people forget that Bama eased up their schedule when the NCAA probations hit.

Bama played a home and home with UCLA in 2000/2001

Oklahoma in 2002/2003

Had Penn State in 2005/2005, pushed back to 2010 and 2011

Had Notre Dame in 2006/2007.

After the probation hit in 2002 Mal Moore wanted to ease the OOC schedule to help offset the scolly loss. Now Bama is beefing back up with the FSU game this year, the possible Clemson game next year, Penn State in 2010/11, Georgia Tech in 2012/14, etc.

Whats funny is even with our "light" OOC schedule, SEC teams are at the top of the toughest schedule list every year.

[WarEagle73]

Many people forget that Bama eased up their schedule when the NCAA probations hit.

Bama played a home and home with UCLA in 2000/2001




I forgot about Bama's home and home w/ UCLA. I could have added it to my rant above! :brick:

[BamaFanNKy]

tVolinham and my point isn't the SEC doesn't play it.... It's that they don't consistently playing it. This year each team in the SEC will average 2 games a piece with 1aa or Sun Belt schools.

Also, I don't think anyone wants long term contracts. rotate a home and home. The schools are being forcesd to toughen up.

Now the thing that I hate about the Pac and big 11 (which is lame and gives them an advantage) Is no championship game. NCAA needs to wave the 12 team rule.

[crimsonnation713]

Damn, and I was going for full stupid :laugh:

I gotta give the man some +rep for that. That was damn funny,I dont care what ya say. GIT 'ER DONE !!!!!

[Ralliartist]

Now the thing that I hate about the Pac and big 11 (which is lame and gives them an advantage) Is no championship game. NCAA needs to wave the 12 team rule.

This is what I get pissed off about. I don't understand how you don't have a conference championship game. When they split the conference champion between 2 teams, it's just stupid. Like last year, Wisconsin should have played OSU for the big 10 title. I'm pretty sure Wisconsin would have won. I thought that was crap that They just gave it to OSU because they have a better record. Look what the result was in the National Title. Wisconsin would have put up a better fight against Florida.

[BamaFanNKy]

that's an NCAA rule. not PAc or big 11 rule. You need 12 teams in comf to do it. For the Big 11 it's a stare down with ND. I wish they'd add UofL, Pitt or ISU to get to 12.