Buying Wins and Scheduling

by MeanBobMean on Jun 10, 2009 10:01 AM CDT Comment 14 comments

Alabama playing in Georgia to lure recruits? Florida hiding in Florida to win more? Hiring beat down queens to pad the win loss record? Schools say "We have to do that . . ."

No they don't have to, but they do.

Neutral-site games were a fixture in the pre-television era. Schools would play in big cities both to promote their programs and to earn good checks. Notre Dame and Army played at Yankee Stadium for years. Alabama and Auburn played in Birmingham. As campus stadiums grew in size, and television allowed every fan to see every game, neutral-site games disappeared.

In recent years, however, schools have begun to use them again to make a splash. Alabama coach Nick Saban, anxious to recruit in Atlanta, agreed to open the 2008 and 2009 seasons in the Chick-fil-A Classic against Clemson and Virginia Tech, respectively. Lo and behold, the Crimson Tide have four commitments from the state of Georgia for their 2010 signing class.

I have no respect for Florida hiding at home for 18 years. Eighteen years without playing a nonconference opponent out of state. That is shocking. Ivan Maisel of ESPN, see it here. My personal opinion? Too many home games, too many years without real travel means you're ineligible for BCS consideration. If you won't play nationally, can't claim a national title.

FanPosts are just that; posts created by the fans. They are in no way indicative of the opinions of SBN and the authors of Roll Bama Roll.

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i feel you bob

i really do feel your pain. ya’ll got screwed last year, if the 1 loss USC team in 03 deserved a split title and the whack ass michigan team from 98, then ya’ll did to. more so really as ya’ll were undefeated and played a better schedule than either of the two i mentioned above. that said, the SEC champion should always be eligible for the MNC, at least as long as they keep winning BCS games at an 80% rate…

welcome to the SEC kiffykins...

by tempebamafan on Jun 10, 2009 2:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh hell

Does soud like I am on Florida don’t it? I’m not, really not.

I don’t think we got screwed, I think you have to make a name for yourself and be seen nationally. We’re trying to do that.

Is it an objective system? No. Did a lot of folks voting do so without ever seeing us play? yes. Is it a good old boys club? Sure, right now it is, but things can change.

I feel damned good about our program ending up 2nd in the nation. You’d have told me when I was a kid-even after 2004-we’d ever be second I’d have called the looney tune patrol on you.

What I was incensed about was anyone playing a schedule like that and no one in the nation having the balls to say anything about it on TV.

Gotta respect old Notre Dame, you know? USC, they go anywhere to play. FSU made their name going anywhere to play, sure their recruitment was suspect, but you know, that’s another story.

I like that, shows moxie you know? Anywhere, any team, why shouldn’t everyone do that? Then if a guy gets a loss, who cares he payed his guts out.

Buying wins, that’s just unamerican and pussificated.

Yes, it’s a real word. Well, now anyway.

by MeanBobMean on Jun 10, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"If you won't play nationally, can't claim a national title. "

I like it.

Roll Bama Roll

by Todd on Jun 10, 2009 2:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Think Saban

Is afraid to go anywhere where he could spread the brand name?

He’d go to SoCal in a heartbeat is my bet.

by MeanBobMean on Jun 10, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

18 years ago...

…UF was watching the success that Miami and FSU were having by playing too few quality teams, and they simply took it to the next level, especially after the SEC title game was added. I’m not excusing their ~~cowardice~~ actions, just explaining it.

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jun 10, 2009 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I do

Recall Miami being something of a homer queen, but FSU went to Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, all when those were the finest teams or as fine as any in the land.

FSU has flat pussed out these last few though.

by MeanBobMean on Jun 10, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

FSU

did that when they were trying to build the program but have since stopped. Bowden went to the ACC because he knew it was weak sauce.

"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken

by Bens4vcobra on Jun 10, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

SEC or ACC

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get to the ACC.

by MeanBobMean on Jun 12, 2009 7:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yawn

FSU played all those teams because they were an independent with no conference affiliation. They then joined the ACC and played a normal conference schedule which only allows the flexibiltiy to play a few extra games per year.

After joining the ACC (especially initially), they had a very weak schedule. Basically, they played us and Miami and if they won those (or sometimes if they just split) they would end up playing for a national title. It’s a lot easier when you only have to get up for a couple games per year. It’s akin to say….Utah. I don’t take away anything from Utah’s accomplishment last season. An undefeated season is something that my team has never accomplished in over 100 years of college football. But I would also venture to say that if we played your schedule that we would accomplish the feat relatively quickly.

I don’t really like the way Florida schedules. Frankly, it is financially greedy. The UGA game being in Jacksonville every year limits some of our flexibility, but that doesn’t hinder us from playing the home game of a home and home the same year that we are designated as the home team in Jax. That would replace the would-be home conference game and still allow us to play 6 home games. The addition of the 12th game makes it inexcusable that we don’t play one quality OOC opponent in addition to FSU. But I guess our AD likes the revenue that comes from a 7th home game every other year……

by skigator93 on Jun 10, 2009 4:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

But they didn’t play 9 home games and all non home games only in the home state, neither. They played Miami when Florida was refusing to. Note that both Bowden and Spurrier were only winnning their titles and really “geniuses” when Miami was in trouble so the thugs went to your school and FSU.

It’s not possible to argue that the gators aren’t homer queens. 18 years man, that’s embarassing. It’s shocking, it’s shameful.

While you gators are very sensitive over the validity of your crown, teams that play on the road have nothing to rationalize. Since going to Syracuse and losing, you haven’t wandered out of state much, and none for OOC games outside a few bowls (many of those already in familiar venues).

When will teams have to play for the NC in a state they never go to?

That should be the new rule: USC vs Florida in Minnesota, stop making it the SEC bowl league and we’ll see how bad ass those reptiles are for real.

Utah wasn’t the team with a bitch last year, USC was. You beat a weaker team than USC in your bowl. USC would have been a far tougher opponent—especially if you’d played somewhere either had a fan base. They have that mentality, you guys are homer queens. Yawn as much as you like. USC lost on the road, Florida at home. USC was the Nat champs last year, Florida could never have flown to SoCal and beat USC. Not last year. They’d have croaked when they realized they weren’t at home.

by MeanBobMean on Jun 12, 2009 7:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

…I don’t know if I can agree that OU was a weaker team than PSU, but I like your style, MBM.

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jun 12, 2009 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK was weaker than USC

Was my point. So if Florida beat a weak sister to say “we’re number 1” I mean, it’s like LSU losing two, playing their bowl at home, and being crowned champ.

That’s a pants load.

Florida was arguably the best team at the end of the year, problem being?

They didn’t prove it. Lost at home, USC on the road. Florida beat a one dimensional team in OU, USC had it on both sides of the ball.

It’sa pants load to say that Floida is soemhow a national anything. They may be a regional superpower, but hell, we can just as easily say “Florida plays all games at home, why let them in any championship game, who wants to see homer queens in the SEC game again”?? LSU and Florida? They got to get outta their mommies cribs and play a game outside in the rain and snow.

Don’t play outside your state? Then you’re state champs. Maybe, but only if you played Miami that year. Florida plays 8 home games next year—yes, Jacksonville is a home game, if you’ve not been there it is a Gator town, period.

Their OOC games are (shudder) Troy state, , Charleston Southern , Florida International College of Hair Professionals, and the soon to be gutted and former women’s college: FSU. FSU will not shine this year, not even, not a little, not kind of. It will be hyped because the old look the other wayerer, I mean, Old Coach Bowden, is not yet off life support. But he aint got it, hasn’t for a long time, and his team will be severely depleted.

They don’t play anyone remotely spooky OOC, they play LSU on the road. That is their single potential challenge next year, at LSU—if LSU shows up this year. If not, outside of a homer againt UGA, they have Kentucky on the road. I hope they don’t soil their panties over that one.

Here’sa prediction: Richt has shot his wad—he’s the next Tommy Tuberville, I give him 3 more years tops.

Happy to be wrong, but he’s being outrecruited by several teams, attrition will kick in soon.

by MeanBobMean on Jun 12, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs