re: (Final Draft) Evidence Mounts of a Scandal in the SEC

What was the motivation for doing this?

In 2013, Alabama and LSU are expected to be 2 of the best teams in the SEC West. Any loss could impact who wins the division and advances to the SEC Championship Game, and perhaps to the BCS National Championship Game. There are 6 teams from the SEC that could start the season in the Top 10, (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Texas A&M), and here is how they finished in the final poll last season.

2012 Final Coaches Poll

1. Alabama 13-1 (7-1 SEC)
4. Georgia 12-2 (7-1 SEC)
5. Texas A&M 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
7. South Carolina 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
10. Florida 11-2 (7-1 SEC)
12. LSU 10-3 (6-2 SEC)

In 2013, playing fewer games against these 6 teams is advantageous to playing more games against them. With that in mind, here are the results of the "SEC Bridge Schedule".

Number of games against the Top 6 SEC teams

2 - Alabama (LSU, Texas A&M)
2 - Texas A&M (Alabama, LSU)
2 - South Carolina (Florida, Georgia)
3 - Florida (Georgia, LSU, South Carolina)
3 - Georgia (Florida, LSU, South Carolina)
4 - LSU (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M)

Again, any response by the SEC Office to justify the "Bridge Schedule" will not have the facts on their side.

Below are some Conspiracy Theories, False Statements, Facts, and Analysis.

Conspiracy Theory

It’s obvious that the “SEC Bridge Schedules” provided Alabama with a scheduling advantage, it’s being referred to as “Bama’s Bridge”, and the only way that this could possible happen is if someone from Alabama, or with ties to the University of Alabama was in charge of creating the schedules.

Fact

The person that oversees the creation of SEC Schedules is the Executive Associate Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and has been at the SEC since 1978. His name is Mark Womack and he is from Tuscaloosa, and is a 1978 graduate from the University of Alabama.

Analysis

Until this is investigated further, it is impossible to know what role or influence Mr. Womack may have had in creating a favorable “SEC Bridge Schedule” for Alabama. However, if you wanted to start an investigation into this matter, it might be a good idea to begin with the person who had the duty of overseeing the creation of the schedules.

False Statements

The SEC has stated that the “SEC Bridge Schedules” are not based on any previous or future scheduling formats. The SEC is basically saying that there is no rhyme or reason as to how these schedules were created, “It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma!”

Fact

After a detailed analysis of every game that was created by the “SEC Bridge Schedules”, it is abundantly clear that there was an effort to base these games on previous schedules. These matchups were not randomly created or pulled out of a hat. Previous schedules were the template for the “Bridge Schedules”, and there are 4 games in question, where it is clear that dishonesty and favoritism occurred.

Analysis

Why is Alabama playing at Kentucky and LSU playing at Georgia, when based on previous schedules, Alabama was “Due” to play at Georgia, and LSU was “Due” to play at Kentucky? How did it just so happen that these 2 games were swapped?

Why is Auburn playing at Tennessee and Arkansas playing at Florida, when based on previous schedules, Auburn was “Due” to play at Florida, and Arkansas was “Due” to play at Tennessee? How did it just so happen that these 2 games were swapped?

The reason for the statement by the SEC that the “SEC Bridge Schedules” are not based on any previous or future schedules has become crystal clear. The statement was only issued as a dishonest form of justification for swapping those 4 games, and to shield the SEC from being held responsible for creating a schedule that favored and provided a benefit to Alabama and Auburn.

The facts regarding how the “SEC Bridge Schedules” were created and who benefitted by intentional deceit and dishonesty are undeniable, and it is time for the Southeastern Conference to be held accountable for these actions.

There is no doubt that the SEC will deny that there was any dishonesty or favoritism involved in creating the “SEC Bridge Schedules”, however the facts speak for themselves.

Conspiracy theories happen all of the time, however, when they become backed up by facts, they are no longer conspiracy theories.