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A 9-Game SEC Schedule?
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:13 pm
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:13 pm
Opposing Views.com By Leftover Hot Dog
Mike Slive had this to say about the future of SEC scheduling when asked last summer during SEC media days:
Let me break that down for you. The SEC is going to a nine game conference schedule, most likely about the same time the SEC network comes on line.
1.) Perception, especially as it relates to the new post season. No doubt members of the selection committee with an anti-SEC agenda will use an eight game schedule as a tool, to argue against an SEC team making the field of four if there is a close call.
2.) The new SEC network needs programming. Fourteen teams playing nine conference games makes 63 SEC vs. SEC regular season games available for the SEC network.
3.) Increased revenue from CBS. A nine game SEC schedule, ensures that CBS will have a choice game every week.
Mike Slive had this to say about the future of SEC scheduling when asked last summer during SEC media days:
Let me break that down for you. The SEC is going to a nine game conference schedule, most likely about the same time the SEC network comes on line.
1.) Perception, especially as it relates to the new post season. No doubt members of the selection committee with an anti-SEC agenda will use an eight game schedule as a tool, to argue against an SEC team making the field of four if there is a close call.
2.) The new SEC network needs programming. Fourteen teams playing nine conference games makes 63 SEC vs. SEC regular season games available for the SEC network.
3.) Increased revenue from CBS. A nine game SEC schedule, ensures that CBS will have a choice game every week.
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Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:14 pm to Sheetbend
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:19 pm to Sheetbend
Pretty much everyone in the SEC wants a 9 game schedule except for bottom feeders like MSU, Vandy, etc who need 4 easy wins and a 2-6 SEC record to go to a bowl game and keep the fans happy.
This post was edited on 5/6/13 at 8:20 pm
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:21 pm to Sheetbend
I want a 9 game schedule, and I think it'll happen, but your reasons are wrong.
The SEC network also has the rights to show any OOC game played at an SEC team's stadium. Therefore, replacing one of each SEC team's OOC game with game against another conference team actually decreases the number of games the network can show.
More conference games does not mean more money from CBS. CBS has a contract with the SEC. Just because the SEC has more conference games doesn't change that contract and the amount CBS has to pay to show the game of their choice each week.
The SEC network also has the rights to show any OOC game played at an SEC team's stadium. Therefore, replacing one of each SEC team's OOC game with game against another conference team actually decreases the number of games the network can show.
More conference games does not mean more money from CBS. CBS has a contract with the SEC. Just because the SEC has more conference games doesn't change that contract and the amount CBS has to pay to show the game of their choice each week.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:45 pm to Sheetbend
Bottom line is the fans want a nine game schedule, so we should get it. Screw the money, screw what it does to your team's bowl chances, give the people that put food on your table something they want.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 10:10 pm to Sheetbend
quote:
No doubt members of the selection committee with an anti-SEC agenda will use an eight game schedule as a tool, to argue against an SEC team making the field of four if there is a close call.
It won't stop those people. They will find another reason simple as that.
My issue with 9 games is unequal home and away games. I would rather 10 games.
Posted on 5/7/13 at 1:27 am to Sheetbend
quote:
A 9-Game SEC Schedule?
About time I say. There seems to be three points of opposition to this:
1. One less home game every other year. Instead of a 4-4 conference split then 4 games to play with (generally 3 cupcakes/in-state and a 1&done or home/away with a major). Now every other year there will be a 4-5 conference split. The question is will better games increase SEC Network revenue and payout to overcome this.
2. Increased schedule difficulty with national implications. This specifically concerns UF/SCar/UGA who have annual OOC major to begin with. Coach Saban has been preaching since 2011 that difficulty of conference must be taken into account for major invites. Regardless of motivation at the time he's been consistent up to present and I think the other coaches need to get on board and be vocal and honest. They should point out that ND would have done well to finish 5th or 6th in this conference in 2012. This talking point will be important in 2014. Should a 11-1 or 11-2 SEC runnerup be left out for a another conference champion with a better record?
3. A concern to certain teams who struggle to win enough FBS games to qualify for a bowl invite, which would affect revenue for said team
Thus endeth the spiel.
This post was edited on 5/7/13 at 2:04 am
Posted on 5/7/13 at 8:12 am to Sheetbend
It does not matter if you want a 9 game schedule or not. It is going to happen.
Might as well embrace it.
Might as well embrace it.
Posted on 5/7/13 at 8:55 am to Sheetbend
You can expect to see more implicit pressure from non-SEC coaches, too. Like this from UCLA's Mora:
"If we're going to have a playoff, we should have some form of standardization."
"If we're going to have a playoff, we should have some form of standardization."
Posted on 5/7/13 at 9:36 am to Sheetbend
quote:
A 9-Game SEC Schedule?
I think we'll eventually do it, which will be good for making the conference schedules more fair, making it harder for teams to skate through with nothing but bottom feeders from the other division like the last couple of years with Georgia and Alabama. I just hope we don't stop scheduling good non-conference games when it happens. There's no reason why we'd have to. We'd have five home SEC games one year and four the next. We could do home and home games with high-profile teams, playing the road game in the years we have five home SEC games. Of course, we could do neutral site games, too, which can be almost as good as a home game from a financial standpoint. I'd love to see us do a home and home game with the road game in the year we have five home SEC games, and a neutral site game in the years we have only four home SEC games. That would be 7 home games half the time and nearly 7 (6 plus a neutral site) the other half. That way, we'd only have one or two cupcakes a year. No one could disparage those schedules, even if they had an anti-SEC agenda. It would make it harder for a team to go undefeated or have only one loss, but with the 4-team playoff, it wouldn't be necessary like it (almost<g>) always is now.
This post was edited on 5/7/13 at 9:40 am
Posted on 5/9/13 at 6:17 pm to Sheetbend
quote:
Sheetbend
Ohio State Fan
Granted 9 games in the B1G is no big deal because they have so many bad teams but 9 in the SEC means imbalance for ACC - SEC cross games and since ESPN owns both I am guessing they would not be to happy to kiss these games goodbye in creating value on other games.
Florida vs Florida State
Georgia vs Georgia Tech
South Carolina vs Clemson
Kentucky vs Louisville (Cards are moving to the ACC)
Plus all the ACC vs SEC games that regularly occur over time like Auburn vs Clemson and future regular match ups between these 2 conferences.
ACC is still a better tier conference while the B1G plays all the MAC type games in the non conference. PAC and B1G can go to 9 easier but it does not mean the overall games are better. Indiana playing Minnesota in conference for game #9 is not getting the same eyeballs as South Carolina vs Clemson for game #9.
Posted on 5/9/13 at 10:37 pm to Sheetbend
All I know if the pansy arse PAC 12 (& who else?) can play nine game conference schedules, the SEC certainly can, too.
I'm tired of all the whiners around here worrying about if LSU has to play one more tough East team.
I'm tired of hearing about these permanent OOC games. You're in the SEC, not the ACC. if you really want to play these schools so much, carry your asses over to the ACC offices in Greensboro and sign up to play in their league.
And screw wanting to play old foes for the Big 12. What conference did you just tell to frick off? Now you want to run back and play them a few times?
And lastly, screw these lame arse four OOC games. If you really enjoy watching FCS level football, then go to one of their games and you can watch two FCS teams at one time. in a small high school stadium, too.
I'm tired of all the whiners around here worrying about if LSU has to play one more tough East team.
I'm tired of hearing about these permanent OOC games. You're in the SEC, not the ACC. if you really want to play these schools so much, carry your asses over to the ACC offices in Greensboro and sign up to play in their league.
And screw wanting to play old foes for the Big 12. What conference did you just tell to frick off? Now you want to run back and play them a few times?
And lastly, screw these lame arse four OOC games. If you really enjoy watching FCS level football, then go to one of their games and you can watch two FCS teams at one time. in a small high school stadium, too.
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