re: Being Discussed.. New Divisions...

Just a parallel between traditions and protecting them...one of LSu's most cherished traditions is night games. LSU has lost many of those for the good of the conference and TV.

One of bama/Aub/tenn/UGa's most cherished tradition is that annual game.

On one side there, a School has allowed for compromise (even to the detriment of one of its most cherished traditions). On the other side there, I'm not seeing much compromise.

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Bama does not compromise on the rivalry question. It has never been a negotiable. Ever.

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Well, it's only because of the way it's voted. It's not like Alabama is the one dissenting vote that stops everyone else from having their way with the schedules. And if it were, we would have to compromise. That's what we are facing. Because LSU's interest in night games is singular, they had no bargaining ability to ensure more night games due to TV contracts. That said, I know that you still get a few a year, and I know schools have bent over backwards to help in the past.

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Just noting that if it makes so much sense (which it does to me), why isn't it really going to happen?

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Dude.

We just found out that it was being discussed yesterday. From a Joe Schad tweet.

It's a little early to jump to conclusions.

We ultimately get hosed in the night game department because of network television. CBS setting up one big night game a year is ridiculous. But then again, they can't have a lot of big night games because it would compete with ESPN's 6:45 time slot. Double edged sword, and network television fricks us

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Will I flip out if it doesnt happen? No, of course not. But I do believe that's a great compromise that protects those two games while letting the rest of the conference enter the 21st century of scheduling.

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/thread for me. Well stated, better stated than I've managed to do for the last ten pages.

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On one side there, a School has allowed for compromise (even to the detriment of one of its most cherished traditions). On the other side there, I'm not seeing much compromise.

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Again, my point is directed toward the people who have scoffed at Alabama's desire to keep the rivalries in tact, or said it would be different under other circumstances. It's part of what we hold dear. Unlike the night games, it's not as though only one school has a vested interest in maintaining the rivalry. Furthermore, the last tally I saw, 11 of the 14 teams were in favor of keeping the cross divisional permanent rivals. If Alabama were the only school that wanted to keep them, they would be gone. But you can't blame a school that is looking for leverage to find other schools with a common interest in preserving their traditions. Had LSU been able to do the same with regard to the night games, it would have been done. And as it is, they weren't ALL taken away. It's really only been an issue since LSU has been a good team (granted, the control has been taken away, but you still get one at least once a year).

The easiest solution might be just giving LSU a constant cross divisional rival in Missouri. That way it soothes LSU and Miles' bleeding vagina from having to play big bad Florida and we can keep the rest of the rivalries intact.

Looks like that Notre Dame QB isn't the only one lacking "the chest".

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The easiest solution might be just giving LSU a constant cross divisional rival in Missouri. That way it soothes LSU and Miles' bleeding vagina from having to play big bad Florida and we can keep the rest of the rivalries intact.

Looks like that Notre Dame QB isn't the only one lacking "the chest".

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Damn, I guess he got us all there.........

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most of the bad teams in teh west and most of the really good teams in the east

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Better balance than what we have right now.

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I don't know that LSU compromised on the TV contract so much as it probably never occurred to LSU's AD (at the time the contract was signed) that it was a real possibility (every home game a day game on CBS) until it happened. There was a time long ago when our athletic department was overjoyed to get on TV -- even the fanbase has always bitched about any day game no matter who the opponent is.

Once it happened and the shitstorm ensued, going forward Alleva will make sure it's accounted for in any future TV contract negotiations.

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I can see this. It seems like a fairly valid negotiating point for Alleva to say something like... "we will play Florida and vote to keep the cross divisional rivals if we get the support of the schools in negotiating our television rights to have first refusal for night games." Even if they are on ESPN (probably better now anyway) instead of CBS. They should be able to tell CBS that they would prefer ESPN that week.

I am for maintaining all of these little traditions. I think without them, it takes away the spirit of the game.