re: Vote to keep 8 game schedule was 13-1

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Point taken.

But you're measuring a season's worth of SOS.

1 game a season does not make.

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You're correct, but most teams in the SEC aren't even scheduling one big game. UF and South Carolina have one every year. UGA's is iffy because GT isn't a great opponent in many years, but they're playing Clemson and others in the future which makes up for it most years. Those three teams get credit. So does LSU with their recent games (but still only one "real one" per year in almost every recent and future example).

My point is that you're calling out Alabama when we're doing at least as much (and often doing much more) than other schools in the conference. The only time someone has a tougher OOC slate than us is when our scheduled opponent is down (Penn State) or the rare year when a team has two bigger names OOC opponents. Alabama would have to be considered a leader in the OOC scheduling of the conference.

I agree with those of you that say we should drop the FCS games. I just don't see why you can't get on board for 9. I know that I'm biased towards Saban, but his plan does make good sense:

9 SEC games per year
1 big time OOC game
2 games against other teams from "big 5" conferences (so your cupcakes are Kansas and Colorado instead of Chattanooga and Georgia State)

Every team has 10 good games and 2 decent ones. Good for TV, good for the fans, good for competition. Good for rivalries and rotation because 9 would allow you to keep the permanent rivals but still get more rotation. I just don't see the downside for anyone except the Mississippi States of the world who are dying to make a bowl game every year and would be on the bubble. But let's face it, the bubble teams don't matter. And as far as the home games argument, TV money is going to make up for it, and in addition to that, ADs just need to be smart and time their home and homes to coincide with the years when they have 4 SEC home games vs 5. Times are changing. Yes, it will take some work to get the scheduling right, but it's worth it.