re: CFN: The SEC's 6-1-1 Disaster

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you'll never get a direct, honest answer to the issue of scheduling fairness. nor will you get a concession of the moral high ground.

you will get tons of deflection: whiners, scardy cats, only one fan base cares, that wasn't my post, take the vote like a man, we didn't get what we wanted, we must honor tradition, and on and on and on.

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You won't get the answer you want because you're ignoring the answer given because you don't like the reasoning behind it. LSU fans are convinced the other SEC schools who agreed to the scheduling format did so because their sole motivation was to preserve an easier schedule and therefore easier wins. Alabama/Auburn/Georgia/Tenneseee fans are clearly stating they were interested in preserving tradtional rivalries that are very important to them. The idea of protecting those rivalries has nothing to do with ensuring an easier schedule but preserving 100+ year old traditions.

There also seems to be a misconception that fans are necessarily happy with the 6-1-1 format simply because they are trying to explain the reasoning behind it. I actually much prefer a 6 division-1 permanent-2 rotating schedule myself as it allows the league to keep basically the same setup we've had for years now. If LSU and Florida have a huge gripe with their game I think it's reasonable to compromise there and allow them a new permanent that doesn't wreck either traditional or natural rivalries. That pretty much limits LSU to either Kentucky or Vandy and Florida to either A&M, Ole Miss, or Mississippi State. That should eliminate some of the "fairness" issues LSU has with their schedule.

The issue with an 8 game conference vs 9 game conference schedule has always been about potential revenue loss that would arise from most league schools losing home games under a 9 game conference schedule. A home OOC game is lost by every team every year and often isn't replaced. This is a factor that seems to be totally overlooked by some folks who think SEC leaders can simply snap their fingers and go to a 9 game league schedule and there not be any negative reprecussions with this. The trick is working the non conference schedule of each school to ensure that few if any teams drop below the 7 home games a year they typically have now. If you can figure that part out then a 9 game league schedule will likely gain full support of the league.