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Why did the SEC only play 6 conference games a season up til the late 80's
Posted on 1/7/19 at 12:21 pm
Posted on 1/7/19 at 12:21 pm
Was looking at old records and noticed that SEC schools only played 6 conference games a season up until 1988 and then they played 7 a year until 1992 when the SEC expanded to 12 league members.
I also noticed that would be HUGE gaps in years that certain teams played each other. It seemed that Mississippi State played Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, and LSU every year and that the other 2 games tended to rotate between Vandy, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida with sometimes playing home and home in 2 year patterns. State also used to play Southern Miss and Memphis (State) almost every year. Only playing Vandy and Kentucky twice throughout the 1980's
I also noticed that would be HUGE gaps in years that certain teams played each other. It seemed that Mississippi State played Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, and LSU every year and that the other 2 games tended to rotate between Vandy, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida with sometimes playing home and home in 2 year patterns. State also used to play Southern Miss and Memphis (State) almost every year. Only playing Vandy and Kentucky twice throughout the 1980's
Posted on 1/7/19 at 12:35 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
quote:
Was looking at old records and noticed that SEC schools only played 6 conference games a season up until 1988
1. Smaller conference (just 10 teams back in those days)
2. Shorter seasons (just a 10-game regular season most years)
However, teams were not bound to a specific number of conference games. See 1972 controversy in which Bama won the SEC Title 7-1 in SEC play with a loss to Auburn who finished 6-1 in league play. In that season, teams played anywhere from 6-8 SEC games that season.
Posted on 1/7/19 at 12:35 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
Six was not mandated, it was the minimum. The SEC office was not involved in scheduling so each team set its own. Remember this system was originally set up when the SEC had ten schools and a season was ten games. It wasn’t until expansion and creation of divisions that scheduling became controlled by the REC through their puppets at the SEC office in Birmingham.
Also when the system was set up, travel was by bus or train... which influenced playing teams within a reasonable distance. LSU did not play Georgia for 25 years partly for that reason.
You young fellers should be aware that the world of 14 SEC teams, air travel, unbelievable practice facilities, 12 game seasons.. is new.
Also when the system was set up, travel was by bus or train... which influenced playing teams within a reasonable distance. LSU did not play Georgia for 25 years partly for that reason.
You young fellers should be aware that the world of 14 SEC teams, air travel, unbelievable practice facilities, 12 game seasons.. is new.
This post was edited on 1/7/19 at 12:39 pm
Posted on 1/7/19 at 12:37 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
all those old people were wusses in the 80s and still are today. they are a bunch of snowflakes.
Posted on 1/7/19 at 12:46 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
When it is was 6, SEC teams played 5 permanent SEC teams every year with 1 rotating home and home versus another SEC team.
When it changed to 7 (1988), there were still 5 permanent but 2 rotating home and home.
After expansion to 12 in 1992, the SEC created divisions, 5 permanent division games, 1 permanent cross division game, 2 rotating home and home across division.
After the 2012 expansion, 6 permanent division games, 1 cross division permanent, 1 rotating game (home and home not back to back).
I would like to see the end of divisions, 3 permanent games, 5 rotating home and homes. This would allow a 4 year player to experience every SEC stadium. And also some variation for fans.
When it changed to 7 (1988), there were still 5 permanent but 2 rotating home and home.
After expansion to 12 in 1992, the SEC created divisions, 5 permanent division games, 1 permanent cross division game, 2 rotating home and home across division.
After the 2012 expansion, 6 permanent division games, 1 cross division permanent, 1 rotating game (home and home not back to back).
I would like to see the end of divisions, 3 permanent games, 5 rotating home and homes. This would allow a 4 year player to experience every SEC stadium. And also some variation for fans.
This post was edited on 1/7/19 at 12:48 pm
Posted on 1/7/19 at 1:00 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
They also sometimes would play OOC games that were designated as SEC games and sometimes play SEC games that didn't count in the SEC standings
Posted on 1/7/19 at 1:11 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
Interesting that back in the day Bama had it's very own Peach State rival in Tech.
What are the iconic "5 games" for each of the SEC teams?
Actually kind of curious about the era where Alabama and Auburn did not play, but Tulane and Georgia Tech were still in the conference.
My guess for Georgia:
Tech, Florida, Auburn, Vanderbilt. I don't think Georgia and Tennessee really played that much back in the day, so would it be Kentucky?
I'd guess LSU played both Mississippi, both Alabama schools, and Tulane. Maybe. Hmmm not sure if they played Auburn too much back in the day, and the Florida/LSU game only became a thing in the 70's.
What are the iconic "5 games" for each of the SEC teams?
Actually kind of curious about the era where Alabama and Auburn did not play, but Tulane and Georgia Tech were still in the conference.
My guess for Georgia:
Tech, Florida, Auburn, Vanderbilt. I don't think Georgia and Tennessee really played that much back in the day, so would it be Kentucky?
I'd guess LSU played both Mississippi, both Alabama schools, and Tulane. Maybe. Hmmm not sure if they played Auburn too much back in the day, and the Florida/LSU game only became a thing in the 70's.
Posted on 1/7/19 at 1:42 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
It wasn't all that important to determine a conference champion in those days.
Posted on 1/7/19 at 1:49 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
So UGA could win a NC ?
Posted on 1/7/19 at 2:00 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
Here’s an article from the AJC which talks about, from the Georgia Tech perspective, about Bobby Dodd not scheduling State or Ole Miss when Tech was in the SEC.
Posted on 1/7/19 at 2:56 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
quote:
I also noticed that would be HUGE gaps in years that certain teams played each other. It seemed that Mississippi State played Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, and LSU every year and that the other 2 games tended to rotate between Vandy, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida with sometimes playing home and home in 2 year patterns. State also used to play Southern Miss and Memphis (State) almost every year. Only playing Vandy and Kentucky twice throughout the 1980's
State played Florida every year from 1962-1993. As a youngster in the late 70's-early 80's I remember Vandy, Kentucky, UGA, and Tennessee would rotate on every two years.
Posted on 1/7/19 at 4:32 pm to Al Bundy Bulldog
that's why I never bought into the, it is easier to win 10 games now with more games argument. Well, they actually added more conference games on the schedule. So that's not entirely true. In some cases you are playing more games against stronger opponents unless you are lucky enough to play vandy every year.
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