SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

[Swamp Swagger]

http://m.espn.go.com/ncf/story?storyId=10849658&src=desktop

I'm glad they stayed with the 8 game schedule but keeping the permanent cross-division rival is STOOOOOOPID! Mike S says they did this because "Tradition matters in the SEC". There are only 2 of those 7 games that you can really call a rivalry or that have any "tradition": AL/UT and Auburn/UGA. The rest of us just play the same school from the other division every year. Does any Florida fan really consider LSU a rival? Yea, we've played them in many meaningful games, but our rivalry card was already full long before the series started. Heck, USC/aTm and Arky/Mizzou are brand new "rivalries".

I'm not saying this because I think LSU makes our schedule too hard. I'm all for strength of schedule. I'm saying this because I want to play the other teams a lot more. I'd rather get to play Auburn, AL, and aTm more. So now we get Auburn at home every 12 years, so an entire generation will pass between their visits. What a crock! They've essentially split the SEC into 2 conferences that meet for a championship game.

They should have made the permanent cross division rival optional for each set of schools to decide upon by mutual consent. Otherwise everybody get a fresh new home and away divisional opponent each year. Anyone agree or have a opinion?

[p_rushing]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

so UF gets to stay in Florida all year still?

[AUsouthpaw2013]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

I think most fans would prefer the nine game schedule, if only for more good games and fewer cupcake games. I do understand why the conference bigwigs would want to stay at eight though, it all comes back to $$$. Staying at eight conference games means the conference can erase potentially seven losses from its members every year (if you assume one less conference game means one more cupcake). This means more teams can go to bowl games and the conference can get those bowl game payouts, not to mention the prestige of being able to say, "Hey, we sent 11 of our 14 members to a bowl last year."

Personally, I'm all in favor of a nine game conference schedule. We play K-State, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, and Samford out of conference. Aside from the fact that Pat Sullivan coaches Samford, there is no reason for Auburn to be playing them. If people are worried about the fatigue of playing five or six conference games in a row, then space out the conference games so that you can play your two easy games throughout your schedule instead of right at the beginning or the end. Have everyone play at least one conference game in the first two weeks to avoid stacking them from the end of September to the middle of November.

From a rivalry standpoint, I hate not being able to play Florida or Tennessee regularly. Before the last expansion, you used to see the rotating teams four times every ten years, now it's twice every twelve years. Auburn just played Tennessee, it's going to be forever before we play them again. And after 2014, Florida and Auburn will have seen each other once since 2007. That's criminal for a huge rivalry that was held every year until 2002.

[Swamp Swagger]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

Yup I agree that's my main thing about the whole thing, It takes over a decade to play the other teams.

8 or 9 games why did they have to keep the permanent opponent

[LowerWolf]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

They should have gone to nine games.

Thank goodness they kept the permanent rival. I'd have been pissed if we didn't play Alabama every year.

[aukevin]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

I wanted 9 games as well.

[Watson]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

They should have gone to nine games.

Thank goodness they kept the permanent rival. I'd have been pissed if we didn't play Alabama every year.

I'm sure Bama would have been pissed off that they had to play Florida or Georgia instead of beating up on Tennessee every year, but as someone who enjoys the LSU-Florida games, I'm ok with it.

[jyoung]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

It should be 9 conference games, but as we all know:

Spoiler

[LowerWolf]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

I'm sure Bama would have been pissed off that they had to play Florida or Georgia instead of beating up on Tennessee every year, but as someone who enjoys the LSU-Florida games, I'm ok with it.

From 95-04, we beat up on Bama just about every year. It will cycle back around eventually.

[TracerBullet]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

Count me in as wanting 9 games. Would have been fine with the permanent rival still too. I like hating Chris twice a season at least. Watching the Pac-12 and my actual school do the 9 game conference schedule has gone well imo.

Seriously though, like I said in the off-topic, this isn't even news. There are some places reporting this like it's a huge story when in reality it's a PR thing.

[AUsouthpaw2013]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

Yup I agree that's my main thing about the whole thing, It takes over a decade to play the other teams.

8 or 9 games why did they have to keep the permanent opponent

Because Alabama/Tennessee and Auburn/Georgia are two extremely important rivalries. Auburn and Georgia is one of the most played rivalries in the game, they've been playing each other since 1892, and haven't not played since 1943. Same goes for Tennessee and Alabama, except they started in 1901. Keeping these games intact was a condition of going to twelve teams and two divisions.

[Swamp Swagger]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

Because Alabama/Tennessee and Auburn/Georgia are two extremely important rivalries. Auburn and Georgia is one of the most played rivalries in the game, they've been playing each other since 1892, and haven't not played since 1943. Same goes for Tennessee and Alabama, except they started in 1901. Keeping these games intact was a condition of going to twelve teams and two divisions.

Well good to know 2 rivalries dictate the whole thing.

[superjames1992]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

Only playing eight conference games = more cupcake opponents = more home games = more wins = more teams going bowling = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$..........

It's ridiculous that two teams in the same conference can go around a decade without playing each other. That's simply not a conference at all. It's ridiculous. Having six-team divisions was bad enough as it was.

[mozstaff]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

I'm favor of sean and I guess I've gained some information from this post.

[hittaonthepayroll]

Re: SEC to remain at 8 in conference games

i do not blame the sec and acc for keeping the 8 game conference teams is very wise , more bowls and money helpful BUT the playoff committee now set them straight ... on how to get to the playoff

ill just tell you from experience out west the team will be the **** out of themselves and raise level of play