Started By
Message
Roommate Switch Proposal - SEC Schedule Fix it Thread
Posted on 3/13/14 at 2:37 am
Posted on 3/13/14 at 2:37 am
This has been periodically mentioned on the board but since there seem to be a lot of serious football fans who don't know anything about it I thought it needed a thread in another offseason plagued by schedule threads.
The idea is based on this guy's website: roommate switch proposal but has been modified slightly to allow for home/away trips to be completed on consecutive years.
The advantages are:
1) Balanced schedules (relatively even quality of opponents from year to year and an equal # of home/away games every year in conference play and in division play)
2) Rapid rotation - every team can play every single other team in the SEC in both a home and away series within only four years
3) Schedule flexibility: with only 8 conference games required adequate room remains to schedule high quality opponents from other conferences (e.g. Fla/FSU, USC/Clemson, etc)
What's the trick? The combination of pods is readjusted every two years as follows:
Years 1-2: Division 1=Pod 1+Pod 3; Division 2=Pod 2+Pod 4
Years 3-4: Division 1=Pod 1+Pod 4; Division 2=Pod 2+Pod 3
Pod 1 (central): Alabama, Auburn, Tenn
Pod 2 (east): UF, UGA, USC
Pod 3 (west): LSU, A&M, Ole Miss, MSU
Pod 4 (midwest): Ark, MU, KY, Vandy
People not familiar with the proposal will probably flip out because they think Pods 1/2 being stronger and Pod 4 being weak will be an issue. It will not be an issue because the individual team schedules will be balanced out (in fact they may generally be better balanced than the present SEC scheduling system). I will make this clear in the following post by showing a few representative school schedules with the proposal.
The idea is based on this guy's website: roommate switch proposal but has been modified slightly to allow for home/away trips to be completed on consecutive years.
The advantages are:
1) Balanced schedules (relatively even quality of opponents from year to year and an equal # of home/away games every year in conference play and in division play)
2) Rapid rotation - every team can play every single other team in the SEC in both a home and away series within only four years
3) Schedule flexibility: with only 8 conference games required adequate room remains to schedule high quality opponents from other conferences (e.g. Fla/FSU, USC/Clemson, etc)
What's the trick? The combination of pods is readjusted every two years as follows:
Years 1-2: Division 1=Pod 1+Pod 3; Division 2=Pod 2+Pod 4
Years 3-4: Division 1=Pod 1+Pod 4; Division 2=Pod 2+Pod 3
Pod 1 (central): Alabama, Auburn, Tenn
Pod 2 (east): UF, UGA, USC
Pod 3 (west): LSU, A&M, Ole Miss, MSU
Pod 4 (midwest): Ark, MU, KY, Vandy
People not familiar with the proposal will probably flip out because they think Pods 1/2 being stronger and Pod 4 being weak will be an issue. It will not be an issue because the individual team schedules will be balanced out (in fact they may generally be better balanced than the present SEC scheduling system). I will make this clear in the following post by showing a few representative school schedules with the proposal.
7
Posted on 3/13/14 at 2:38 am to molsusports
you forgot the two big disadvantages
it gives no advantage to Bammer and its too tough for most of them to understand.
it gives no advantage to Bammer and its too tough for most of them to understand.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 2:54 am to molsusports
Pod 1 representative schedule (Alabama)
Year 1:
@ Auburn, vs Tenn, @ LSU, vs MSU, @ Ole Miss,vs A&M, @ USC, vs UGA
Year 2:
vs Auburn, @ Tenn, vs LSU, @ MSU, vs Ole Miss,
@ A&M, vs USC, @ UGA
Year 3:
@ Auburn, vs Tenn, vs Arkansas, @ Missouri, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, @ USC, vs Florida
Year 4:
vs Auburn, @ Tenn, @ Arkansas, vs Missouri, @ Vandy, vs Kentucky, vs USC, @ Florida
Pod 2 representative schedule (Florida)
Year 1:
@ UGA, vs USC, vs Arkansas, @ Missouri, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, vs Tenn, @ Auburn
Year 2:
vs UGA, @ USC, @ Arkansas, vs Missouri, @ Vandy, vs Kentucky, @ Tenn, vs Auburn
Year 3:
@ UGA, vs USC, @ LSU, vs MSU, @ Ole Miss, vs A&M, vs Tenn, @ Bama
Year 4:
vs UGA, @ USC, vs LSU, @ MSU, vs Ole Miss, @ A&M, @ Tenn, vs Bama
Pod 3 representative schedule (Missouri)
Year 1:
@ Arkansas, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, vs USC, @ UGA, vs Florida, vs A&M, @ MSU
Year 2:
vs Arkansas, @ Vanderbilt, vs Kentucky, @ USC, vs UGA, @ Florida, @ A&M, vs MSU
Year 3:
@ Arkansas, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, vs Alabama, @ Auburn, vs Tenn, vs LSU, @ Ole Miss
Year 4:
vs Arkansas, @ Vanderbilt, vs Kentucky, @ Alabama, vs Auburn, @ Tenn, @ LSU, vs Ole Miss
Pod 4 representative schedule (LSU):
Year 1:
@ A&M, vs Ole Miss, @ MSU, vs Alabama, @ Auburn, vs Tenn, @ Arkansas, vs Vanderbilt
Year 2:
vs A&M, @ Ole Miss, vs MSU, @ Alabama, vs Auburn, @ Tenn, vs Arkansas, @ Vanderbilt
Year 3:
@ A&M, vs Ole Miss, @ MSU, vs USC, @ UGA, vs Florida, @ Missouri, vs Kentucky
Year 4:
vs A&M, @ Ole Miss, vs MSU, @ USC, vs UGA, @ Florida, vs Missouri, @ Kentucky
Year 1:
@ Auburn, vs Tenn, @ LSU, vs MSU, @ Ole Miss,vs A&M, @ USC, vs UGA
Year 2:
vs Auburn, @ Tenn, vs LSU, @ MSU, vs Ole Miss,
@ A&M, vs USC, @ UGA
Year 3:
@ Auburn, vs Tenn, vs Arkansas, @ Missouri, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, @ USC, vs Florida
Year 4:
vs Auburn, @ Tenn, @ Arkansas, vs Missouri, @ Vandy, vs Kentucky, vs USC, @ Florida
Pod 2 representative schedule (Florida)
Year 1:
@ UGA, vs USC, vs Arkansas, @ Missouri, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, vs Tenn, @ Auburn
Year 2:
vs UGA, @ USC, @ Arkansas, vs Missouri, @ Vandy, vs Kentucky, @ Tenn, vs Auburn
Year 3:
@ UGA, vs USC, @ LSU, vs MSU, @ Ole Miss, vs A&M, vs Tenn, @ Bama
Year 4:
vs UGA, @ USC, vs LSU, @ MSU, vs Ole Miss, @ A&M, @ Tenn, vs Bama
Pod 3 representative schedule (Missouri)
Year 1:
@ Arkansas, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, vs USC, @ UGA, vs Florida, vs A&M, @ MSU
Year 2:
vs Arkansas, @ Vanderbilt, vs Kentucky, @ USC, vs UGA, @ Florida, @ A&M, vs MSU
Year 3:
@ Arkansas, vs Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky, vs Alabama, @ Auburn, vs Tenn, vs LSU, @ Ole Miss
Year 4:
vs Arkansas, @ Vanderbilt, vs Kentucky, @ Alabama, vs Auburn, @ Tenn, @ LSU, vs Ole Miss
Pod 4 representative schedule (LSU):
Year 1:
@ A&M, vs Ole Miss, @ MSU, vs Alabama, @ Auburn, vs Tenn, @ Arkansas, vs Vanderbilt
Year 2:
vs A&M, @ Ole Miss, vs MSU, @ Alabama, vs Auburn, @ Tenn, vs Arkansas, @ Vanderbilt
Year 3:
@ A&M, vs Ole Miss, @ MSU, vs USC, @ UGA, vs Florida, @ Missouri, vs Kentucky
Year 4:
vs A&M, @ Ole Miss, vs MSU, @ USC, vs UGA, @ Florida, vs Missouri, @ Kentucky
Posted on 3/13/14 at 5:56 am to molsusports
quote:
eople not familiar with the proposal will probably flip out because they think Pods 1/2 being stronger and Pod 4 being weak will be an issue.
Dunno about flipping out, but unless you come up with a scenario that allows Auburn to play Georgia and Bama to play Tenn every year nothing like that will really ever happen. I'd love to play everyone more often (particularly seeing Florida and Tenn regularly again), but not if it means losing Georgia yearly.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:11 am to molsusports
I hate it. It doesn't allow for consistent divisions. The possibility for the lack of retribution. Imagine someone beats someone else for the division... there is a chance they aren't in the same division the next year. For instance, in this current proposal... LSU and Alabama don't play every year. LSU and Auburn don't play every year. Texas A&M and Auburn don't play every year. Arkansas and Auburn don't play every year. Arkansas and Alabama don't play every year. How ludicrous.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:22 am to auyushu
All 14 teams have three permanent opponents with the proposal.
Bama will always get to play Auburn and Tenn. Auburn will always get to play Alabama and UGA. LSU will always play Ole Miss and A&M, Ole Miss will always play MSU and LSU. The only semi-notable rivalry game that won't happen every single year is arguably Vandy vs Tennessee and I'm not sure that counts in the eyes of most people.
Note that every year the following teams play:
Alabama: Auburn, Tenn, USC
Auburn: Alabama, Tenn, UGA
Tenn: Alabama, Auburn, Fla
FLA: UGA, USC, Tenn
UGA: FLA, Auburn, USC
USC: UGA, Fla, Alabama
Arky: MU, KY, Vandy
MU: Arky, KY, Vandy
KY: Arky, MU, Vandy
Vandy: Arky, MU, KY
LSU: A&M, Ole Miss, MSU
A&M: LSU, Ole Miss, MSU
Ole Miss: LSU, A&M, MSU
MSU: LSU, A&M, Ole Miss
The three team pods are both loaded with quality teams but recombining them in a balanced way tempers the schedules (they always play some softies from the four team pods). The four team pods similarly pick up schedule strength by always playing quality teams in the three team pods (e.g. LSU is always playing either Alabama, Auburn, Tenn or Florida, UGA, USC) - games that count as within division games.
Bama will always get to play Auburn and Tenn. Auburn will always get to play Alabama and UGA. LSU will always play Ole Miss and A&M, Ole Miss will always play MSU and LSU. The only semi-notable rivalry game that won't happen every single year is arguably Vandy vs Tennessee and I'm not sure that counts in the eyes of most people.
Note that every year the following teams play:
Alabama: Auburn, Tenn, USC
Auburn: Alabama, Tenn, UGA
Tenn: Alabama, Auburn, Fla
FLA: UGA, USC, Tenn
UGA: FLA, Auburn, USC
USC: UGA, Fla, Alabama
Arky: MU, KY, Vandy
MU: Arky, KY, Vandy
KY: Arky, MU, Vandy
Vandy: Arky, MU, KY
LSU: A&M, Ole Miss, MSU
A&M: LSU, Ole Miss, MSU
Ole Miss: LSU, A&M, MSU
MSU: LSU, A&M, Ole Miss
The three team pods are both loaded with quality teams but recombining them in a balanced way tempers the schedules (they always play some softies from the four team pods). The four team pods similarly pick up schedule strength by always playing quality teams in the three team pods (e.g. LSU is always playing either Alabama, Auburn, Tenn or Florida, UGA, USC) - games that count as within division games.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:26 am to molsusports
I get it I just wish it allowed for more consistency? No more annual Grindmas or LSU vs Auburn? Also, you can't deny Gus the chance to sink Bert's fat arse on a yearly basis
I don't think anyone's going to be 100% happy with the final schedule but hopefully it won't be a complete cluster
I don't think anyone's going to be 100% happy with the final schedule but hopefully it won't be a complete cluster
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:33 am to molsusports
I like the idea a lot. I would switch USCe and LSU though. That would have the teams who most often compete for the SEC title have the most fair schedule as could be expected, plus the UGA, LSU, UF pod would be super fun for the fans.
LSU's permanent from the other pod would be Alabama.
LSU's permanent from the other pod would be Alabama.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:37 am to undecided
People just hate change and will resent and fight every proposal. That's why we have had a couple bridge schedules and a bunch of competing ideas that are all unsatisfactory for at least some of the conference. The gap between those that want to keep the 6-1-1 or 6-1-2 solutions and those who do not is unlikely to close because there are competitive issues which help some schools and hurt others on top of the traditions.
The advantages to this system are fairness, preservation of major rivalries, efficiency (14 teams all playing each other inside of only four years), and balance. Another notable advantage is getting to play the major teams you would otherwise miss more frequently. For Auburn you get more games against Florida and USC to balance out the game you lose against LSU.
The least that you will ever play a team is 50% of the time. That's actually a lot more frequently than many SEC teams historically played each other.
The advantages to this system are fairness, preservation of major rivalries, efficiency (14 teams all playing each other inside of only four years), and balance. Another notable advantage is getting to play the major teams you would otherwise miss more frequently. For Auburn you get more games against Florida and USC to balance out the game you lose against LSU.
The least that you will ever play a team is 50% of the time. That's actually a lot more frequently than many SEC teams historically played each other.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:39 am to molsusports
quote:
All 14 teams have three permanent opponents with the proposal.
I like it for the most part. Schedule favors you and A&M (and Ark and Mizzou I suppose) a tiny bit, but overall is fairly balanced and keeps the main rivalries intact. And allows us to play everyone in conference at least twice every 4 years. Everyone in conference will be forced to play at least 3-4 of the stronger teams each year as well.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:40 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
I like the idea a lot. I would switch USCe and LSU though. That would have the teams who most often compete for the SEC title have the most fair schedule as could be expected, plus the UGA, LSU, UF pod would be super fun for the fans.
Nice suggestion, I think that would balance things nicely. LSU having a bit too easy of a schedule compared to the rest of the big 6 was my only quibble with the setup. And it would maintain the LSU-Bama game yearly and keep that rivalry going.
This post was edited on 3/13/14 at 6:43 am
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:41 am to molsusports
quote:
The advantages to this system are fairness, preservation of major rivalries, efficiency (14 teams all playing each other inside of only four years), and balance. Another notable advantage is getting to play the major teams you would otherwise miss more frequently. For Auburn you get more games against Florida and USC to balance out the game you lose against LSU.
Alabama not playing LSU every year is preserving what exactly?
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:50 am to molsusports
Switch USC for UT and I would be ok with this.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:51 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
I like the idea a lot. I would switch USCe and LSU though. That would have the teams who most often compete for the SEC title have the most fair schedule as could be expected, plus the UGA, LSU, UF pod would be super fun for the fans.
LSU's permanent from the other pod would be Alabama.
I thought about that at some level but it removes the logic of geography from teh pods and robs both USC and LSU of their more interesting rivalry games. I think you'll find that most USC fans really do want to play UGA and Florida every year. For LSU, getting to at least play Ole Miss and A&M every year is some sort of tradeoff for not getting to play Alabama and Auburn every year.
You'll notice if you look that the number of quality opponents played per year by each team is relatively constant. Similarly the schedule precludes loading up on nothing but the teams that are most often the weakest. MSU, Ole Miss, Vandy, KY can never all be played in the same year by a single team but every team plays at least two of them every year.
It isn't absolutely perfect. If you look at Florida's or Alabama's schedule for example you'll notice that teams in the three team pods may have it slightly easier 2 years and then slightly harder the next two years. But given all of the constraints it seems like far and away the best option I've seen.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 6:57 am to molsusports
quote:
It isn't absolutely perfect. If you look at Florida's or Alabama's schedule for example you'll notice that teams in the three team pods may have it slightly easier 2 years and then slightly harder the next two years. But given all of the constraints it seems like far and away the best option I've seen.
I think it's far and away the worst option out there.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 9:31 am to molsusports
The upshot of this -- and I'm simply not going out on a limb here -- will be exactly the same bitching about easy/hard schedules every single year.
Oh, you played Florida? How lucky for you that you caught them in a bad year.
You played Bama? They were replacing their quarterback and the SEC knew they would be when they set up this schedule.
What do you mean, we were lucky to get Kentucky? Don't you know they were the abso-fricking-lutely toughest 3-9 team in the country last year?!? Look at you, you got a cupcake Arkansas that was playing its worst football in over 217 years. Stop trying to compare your schedule to ours.
And so on. The basic reality that so many people are forgetting is that fans and coaches will always find some perceived injustice or inequity to get hysterical about. Always.
Oh, you played Florida? How lucky for you that you caught them in a bad year.
You played Bama? They were replacing their quarterback and the SEC knew they would be when they set up this schedule.
What do you mean, we were lucky to get Kentucky? Don't you know they were the abso-fricking-lutely toughest 3-9 team in the country last year?!? Look at you, you got a cupcake Arkansas that was playing its worst football in over 217 years. Stop trying to compare your schedule to ours.
And so on. The basic reality that so many people are forgetting is that fans and coaches will always find some perceived injustice or inequity to get hysterical about. Always.
This post was edited on 3/13/14 at 9:32 am
Posted on 3/13/14 at 9:35 am to auyushu
quote:
quote:
eople not familiar with the proposal will probably flip out because they think Pods 1/2 being stronger and Pod 4 being weak will be an issue.
Dunno about flipping out, but unless you come up with a scenario that allows Auburn to play Georgia and Bama to play Tenn every year nothing like that will really ever happen. I'd love to play everyone more often (particularly seeing Florida and Tenn regularly again), but not if it means losing Georgia yearly.
Auburn-UGA is a lame, unintense rivalry.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 9:36 am to molsusports
quote:
Note that every year the following teams play:
quote:
UGA: FLA, Auburn, USC
USC: UGA, Fla, Alabama
Tenn: Alabama, Auburn, Fla
Man, I'm thinking those three teams must have punched someone's grandmother.
Posted on 3/13/14 at 11:01 am to molsusports
As long as Bama plays UT and Au every year I'm fine with that format. The annuals 3 looks to grouped pretty nicely and LSU gets to avoid UF like they've been crying for and they get 3 teams they fit with, TAMU and the two MS schools.
Spurrier would probably retire if it happens, they would have Bama, UGA and UF every year.
Spurrier would probably retire if it happens, they would have Bama, UGA and UF every year.
quote:
te that every year the following teams play:
Alabama: Auburn, Tenn, USC
Auburn: Alabama, Tenn, UGA
Tenn: Alabama, Auburn, Fla
FLA: UGA, USC, Tenn
UGA: FLA, Auburn, USC
USC: UGA, Fla, Alabama
Arky: MU, KY, Vandy
MU: Arky, KY, Vandy
KY: Arky, MU, Vandy
Vandy: Arky, MU, KY
LSU: A&M, Ole Miss, MSU
A&M: LSU, Ole Miss, MSU
Ole Miss: LSU, A&M, MSU
MSU: LSU, A&M, Ole Miss
This post was edited on 3/13/14 at 11:04 am
Posted on 3/13/14 at 11:16 am to spacewrangler
quote:
LSU gets to avoid UF like they've been crying for and they get 3 teams they fit with, TAMU and the two MS schools.
It is funny how a simple thing like this proposal is so easily misunderstood by the posters here. LSU may not play Florida every year, but they get additional and more frequent games against other strong "east" teams. Balance.
This post was edited on 3/13/14 at 11:17 am
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News