re: Florida Fans and LSU fans unite...

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To me, people are being very stubborn if they are opposed to every SEC team playing every other cross-division SEC team every other year.

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To whom it may concern:



Although I love the rivalry that has grown between LSU and Florida this decade as both schools have dominated this conference over the course of the decade and the game itself has at times “propelled” both schools to national title appearances, the time has come for change to the SEC's philosophy and policy on permanent cross-division opponents. With the emergence of Ole Miss and Alabama from the doormat of the conference, the current method of scheduling is no longer feasible and is simply put, unfair.

Unfortunately, the other 10 schools are completely content with the SEC's system, and I can see why. For Alabama-Tennessee and Georgia-Auburn, it is a matter of preserving tradition, which I respect. As for the other six schools opposed to change, it’s simply a matter of them being the beneficiaries of a softer conference schedule. Take one gander at Alabama and Ole Miss' 2009 SEC schedules and it's easy to see that not getting to the SECCG would be inexcusable for both schools (unfortunately, one or both will not make it). (See Alabama 2009 Schedule and Ole Miss 2009 Schedule)


As an LSU fan, I love playing Florida every year and it has certainly become one of the Top3 "marquee" games in college football each year and the game is certainly great for the SEC as it has a huge national appeal, but it is unfortunate that Florida and LSU are the two schools that get the raw end of the deal relative to the conference's scheduling across divisions.

Let me offer two solutions that I’m sure you guys have discussed, but have yet to implement due to resistance from the member institutions. The time has come for change, and while we as fans are willing to compromise a little in the interest of preserving tradition, nonetheless change must be implemented very soon or the competitive balance and fairness of the league will eventually suffer.

Solution #1
There should be no cross-division permanent opponent, simple as that. You should play three teams from the other division one year, and the remaining three teams from the other division the following year. Then, you do it all over again with the venue changed home/away. Every team gets a chance to play every other team in the other division every other year. No team ever goes over two years without playing each and every SEC team. No SEC player ever plays four years at a school and does not make a trip to Death Valley or Bryant Denny or The Swamp or Between the Hedges. Every team plays every other SEC team every other year.

For example, if LSU plays Florida at home this year, Georgia on the road this year, and Vanderbilt at home this year, then NEXT YEAR LSU will play South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The FOLLOWING YEAR LSU will play at Florida, home against Georgia, and at Vanderbilt. The LAST SEASON of the rotation, LSU plays USC, Tenn, and Kentucky again with the venue flipped.




Solution #2

If Alabama-Tennessee and Georgia-Auburn really want to keep those games locked to preserve tradition, then keep those two games locked, but let the rest of the SEC rotate. Give those four schools the option to "opt out" if that game being played every year as opposed to the game being played every other year is so important to those schools. If those two particular games are the big holdupt to change, then we as fans will compromise and concede, allowing them to keep those games and let the rest of us play on a level playing field and with more equitable scheduling practices.







I know this topic comes up annually at the SEC meetings, but the time has come to implement change. Most schools have no problem with it, but I felt an email was necessary from me, an LSU fan, to let my displeasure in the current system known. I know that I am not alone in my beliefs on this topic.





Thanks for your time in considering this topic, and also thank you for all you do for the conference!









Geaux Tigers!

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There is no argument against the permanent cross-division opponent philosophy of the SEC other than to preserve the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry and the Auburn-Georgia rivalry.

Other than that, it is unfair, and you know it. But, and I'm just guessing here, I bet you didn't even know what the SEC's scheduling policy was until you read this post.

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I think a team needs to do something for longer than ten years before they start wanting to change the entire conference. It would appear the conference may be shifting back to the way it has always been.

I think the tradition should be left alone and lets just see what unfolds..

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It would appear the conference may be shifting back to the way it has always been.

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