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re: Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry to be played 10-10-2020
Posted on 8/8/19 at 11:22 am to fibonaccisquared
Posted on 8/8/19 at 11:22 am to fibonaccisquared
Pods would be better than the current set up, but it would be more difficult to set them up in a way that satisfied everyone than the non-divisional format. It's a little bit hard to explain, but basically, it's hard to group the schools so that you really are finding integrated groupings that fit.
The example given (which, certainly, is not the only possibility, but let's use that) looks to me to be mostly focused on the East, with little thought given to the West. A&M has no particular reason to need to play the Mississippi schools every year, nor do they especially need the trip to Texas. But, Arkansas certainly does. In any pairing, they are going to want to be matched up with A&M every year so that they get to play a game in their most important recruiting territory.
Pods force you into these groupings, whereas the basketball scheduling system is flexible--everyone's permanent opponents differ, so that you kind of weave together the conference, rather than pairing up blocks.
Again, all this is minor criticism. I'd be happy with any move in the direction of playing a greater variety of conference opponents, rather than the current arrangement.
The example given (which, certainly, is not the only possibility, but let's use that) looks to me to be mostly focused on the East, with little thought given to the West. A&M has no particular reason to need to play the Mississippi schools every year, nor do they especially need the trip to Texas. But, Arkansas certainly does. In any pairing, they are going to want to be matched up with A&M every year so that they get to play a game in their most important recruiting territory.
Pods force you into these groupings, whereas the basketball scheduling system is flexible--everyone's permanent opponents differ, so that you kind of weave together the conference, rather than pairing up blocks.
Again, all this is minor criticism. I'd be happy with any move in the direction of playing a greater variety of conference opponents, rather than the current arrangement.
1
Posted on 8/8/19 at 11:30 am to twk
Yeah, someone several months back basically made a *much* better permanent opponent grouping but for the life of me I can't find it... No one is getting a perfect "3", but the reality is it shouldn't matter that much because you'll literally play the entire conference within 2 years. So long as there isn't a gross imbalance of "big6ish" teams all in one year and not in the other, most teams will end up with a really quality schedule no matter how you slice it.
I use that site because it has the full breakdown of the methodology... I don't love their groupings, but the idea is where I think they shined (well before anyone else was on that train).
ETA: Like for example, I don't think UF or UGA would have USC in their top 3 permanent games, but from a balancing standpoint, and trying to at least keep it somewhat regional, it makes sense. UGA would probably rather have UT there, but much like your proposed Auburn grouping of UGA, UF, and UA - that's 3 traditional "big 6" teams every year, meaning some years they'll play 5/6 and others 4/6... Fortunately, the "big 6" thing is starting to get a little overblown as UT has faded over the last decade and Texas A&M obviously if moving up the ranks in the SECW right now...
The upside to this structure is that the permanent opponents can be shuffled every decade to some degree... they don't have to be permanent for eternity... UA/AU, AU/UT, UGA/UF, UGA/AU... some of those games aren't likely to go anywhere, but there is definitely room to shuffle some things up still if at the next schedule revamp there is a reason to do so... And all of this precludes us picking up 2 more schools and going to 16, which would change everything.
I use that site because it has the full breakdown of the methodology... I don't love their groupings, but the idea is where I think they shined (well before anyone else was on that train).
ETA: Like for example, I don't think UF or UGA would have USC in their top 3 permanent games, but from a balancing standpoint, and trying to at least keep it somewhat regional, it makes sense. UGA would probably rather have UT there, but much like your proposed Auburn grouping of UGA, UF, and UA - that's 3 traditional "big 6" teams every year, meaning some years they'll play 5/6 and others 4/6... Fortunately, the "big 6" thing is starting to get a little overblown as UT has faded over the last decade and Texas A&M obviously if moving up the ranks in the SECW right now...
The upside to this structure is that the permanent opponents can be shuffled every decade to some degree... they don't have to be permanent for eternity... UA/AU, AU/UT, UGA/UF, UGA/AU... some of those games aren't likely to go anywhere, but there is definitely room to shuffle some things up still if at the next schedule revamp there is a reason to do so... And all of this precludes us picking up 2 more schools and going to 16, which would change everything.
This post was edited on 8/8/19 at 11:36 am
Posted on 8/8/19 at 12:36 pm to WG_Dawg
"Also my memory fails but you probably know...a couple years ago when UF/LSU did their switch up (2 straight in BR/2 straight in gainesville) how did they make that work with the other schedules?"
They didn't because it didn't impact anybody else. Just like correcting DSOR rotation would only impact 2 schools!
They didn't because it didn't impact anybody else. Just like correcting DSOR rotation would only impact 2 schools!
Posted on 8/8/19 at 1:29 pm to southernboisb
quote:
They didn't because it didn't impact anybody else. Just like correcting DSOR rotation would only impact 2 schools!
Dude... give this up. You're wrong and you're embarrassing yourself.
They didn't have a problem with it for LSU/UF because 1) it was a response to a weather event that they couldn't control.... 2) it was for a ONE TIME fix... it did not create an ongoing problem. 2 years were 5/3 imbalanced, and one of them was an emergency response, the second was to correct it.
What you're proposing, would work like this:
Auburn in an odd year, elects to not play their home game in Auburn... so let's pretend that's this year. They just played in Athens in 2018. Now in 2019, the game is in Athens also... Auburn plays 5 away games, 3 home games in conference. UGA plays 5 home games and 3 away games... No biggie, we're the only teams impacted and it's making up for the "extra home game" they got against UGA (mind you they still only got 4 home games total that year).
Except... fast forward to 2020... now Auburn, fresh off of giving up that home game, now will play UGA in Auburn... except, oh... the rest of the SEC schedule is completely unchanged. Meaning, Auburn now has 5 home games, and 3 away games. UGA on the other hand now has 5 away games and 3 home games, except... oh wait... UF is neutral site, we now only have 2 home SEC games.
It's not a fix by any logical standard. The only fix involves the SEC making a massive shift to every schedule and that can't happen prior to 2025 since the rotations are set, and even then, it likely *won't* because this was seen as the "least harmful" adjustment.
...
Posted on 8/8/19 at 2:13 pm to GeauxPack81
quote:
Auburn requests to move DSOR away from Bama game, so the SEC office gives them LSU right before Bama
Was it Auburn or Georgia who requested this?
Posted on 8/8/19 at 2:14 pm to jlovel7
why in the world would UGA request it? It's public knowledge that auburn's AD pitched it in the spring meetings.
Posted on 8/8/19 at 2:16 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
why in the world would UGA request it? It's public knowledge that auburn's AD pitched it in the spring meetings.
Because y'all have that huge game against GT to end the year /satire/. Also I know it was requested I just had forgotten who had done the requesting.
Posted on 8/8/19 at 2:47 pm to Rhino5
I understand the powers that be wouldn't let this happen, but to me, it seems like you could save all the historic rivalries by switching Alabama AND Auburn with Missouri and one of either Kentucky/Vandy.
Then you can do away with the permanent cross division games, and make it through all teams in a 4 year cycle.
Then you can do away with the permanent cross division games, and make it through all teams in a 4 year cycle.
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