SEC non-conference slates are an absolute joke!

[UoweDucks]

SEC non-conference slates are an absolute joke!

Posted by Paul Gattis -- The Huntsville Times August 17, 2009 9:32 AM

Categories: SEC

Huntsville TimesThese look like cupcakes. Actually, it's football teams like Chattanooga, Furman, Jackson State, Charleston Southern and other SEC non-conference opponents.
Most of you probably knew it already. I admit, until just a few minutes ago when I was breaking it down, I had no idea it was that bad. When the SEC schedules non-conference games, it's a joke. It's ought to be embarrassing.
This is the best conference in the nation, a league that wants for nothing, a league with not only record attendance but a record TV deal.
But this non-conference schedule, ugghhh, it's awful.

Yes, I understand that SEC teams don't need to schedule Southern Cal, Texas, Penn State and Ohio State every year (it would be fun, though).
But this is what I discovered in studying each non-conference schedule in the league:
***Ten of the 12 teams scheduled at least one Division I-AA opponent. Ole Miss scheduled two I-AAs.
***Of the 48 SEC non-conference games, only six (12.5 percent) are against teams in the USA Today coaches Top 25 preseason poll. Three of those six are against Georgia Tech -- who is an honorary member of the SEC this season.
***Georgia is the only SEC team to face two teams in the USA Today coaches Top 25 preseason poll.
***And most embarrassing: The SEC seeks out the weakest programs in Division I to beat up on. Not only does the SEC feast on Division I-AA cupcakes, apparently they love to snack on the minnows of Division I. According to Sports Illustrated, which ranked all 120 teams in Division I, SEC teams have scheduled:
No. 120 -- Western Kentucky
No. 119 -- North Texas
No. 116 -- Louisiana-Lafayette
No. 115 -- Florida International (2 SEC teams)
No. 114 -- Eastern Michigan
No. 113 -- Miami (Ohio)
No. 112 -- UAB
No. 110 -- Louisiana-Monroe
No. 109 -- Middle Tennessee
No. 107 -- Rice
No. 106 -- Tulane
No. 102 -- Army
No. 98 -- Memphis (2 SEC teams)
No. 93 -- Florida Atlantic
Of course, SEC teams look only at their own schedule and not how the league as a whole looks.
And it must be noted that every SEC team except Ole Miss plays a legitimate BCS non-conference opponent (even though LSU is pretty shaky playing Washington, which SI ranks No. 85).
Every school (and,subsequently, every fan base) has an abundance of excuses and explanations for how their non-conference schedules came together. In the end, though, it looks like the SEC is the schoolyard bully.
And, yes, I know that you won't hear Western Kentucky -- rated the nation's worst team by SI -- complain about getting roughly a $1 million payday for getting pounded at Tennessee on Sept. 5 in Lane Kiffin's first game.
This monster, though, can't get pushed back into the proverbial bottle. The knee-jerk reaction is to urge fans to rise up in protest, to not pay $60 to go see Western Kentucky or North Texas or Florida International or the Division I-AA opponent of the week. But the SEC has never been more popular and if you don't want to buy the tickets, there are thousands waiting with open wallets who will.
So fans can complain and sports writers can preach atop soapboxes. It doesn't matter.
The schools -- with you paying ticket prices and TV networks paying billions for rights -- are laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[BigdaddyQH]

First of all, if all the fans pay is $60.00, that is cheap. The fact is this. The SEC is certainly not alone in this. Every conference does it, to a certain degree. #1 Florida plays Florida State and FCS Charlston Southern, along with Troy and Florida International. Now that is a rather weak non-con schedule. Compare that to Texas, who plays La.Monroe, at Wyoming, UTEP and Colorado. Which one is the weakest? Maybe Flroida, but certainly not overwhelmingly. Look at Big 10 powerhouse (if there is such a thing in the Big 10) Penn State. They play Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Eastern Illinois. The Eight Big East teams play 10 FCS teams. Even the Pac 10, which traditionally plays the toughest non-con schedules of any BCS conference, gets their share of softies, with Oregon State playing Portland State, USC and Stanford playing San Jose State, UCLA playing Sn Diego State, Washington playing Idaho, Arizona State playing Idaho State and La. Monroe, and Arizona playing Northern Arizona.

This is done because there are so many bowl games now (34) that teams want to find the easiest way to 6 wins, and a bowl game. The teams that are the class of the NCAA want to find the easiest road to the BCS games, and the NC game. Schedules are just going to get easier and easier. USC will continue to play Notre Dame, but next year, Minnesota replaces Ohio State on the schedule, and the future schedule has Minnesota, Syracuse, Hawaii, and Boston College joining the Irish. Certainly nobody earth shaking.

It is the sign of the times. As long as teams can continue to sell out their stadiums (and they will because so few games are played every season compared to other sports), these teams will continue to schedule patsies. Teams want the easy raod to bowl games, and the extra money and practice that comes with them. You really can't blame them.

 

[fballplaya]

Correct me if I am wrong....but if a team goes 6-6 and one of their wins is against a "1-AA" team...it's as if they really went 5-6 thus not making them bowl eligible....?

Is tht some thing current or is that an older rule that has changed?

Nonetheless...it is about helping out the little guys....who take huge financial payouts to essentially get their brains kicked-in...

Granted the SEC is being chastized for their cupcake schedules....but take into consideration the fact they they play arguablly the toughest IN-conference schedules...

 

[TOOTIGHT]

The press is really hammering on this in 2009 and will keep it a hot topic going forward so hopefully that will keep a little pressure on AD's not to get out of control. However, Ole Miss, PSU, and Texas should really be called out even more than they are because their schedules are down right pathetic.

 

[Furmanski]

Correct me if I am wrong....but if a team goes 6-6 and one of their wins is against a "1-AA" team...it's as if they really went 5-6 thus not making them bowl eligible....?

Is tht some thing current or is that an older rule that has changed?

Nonetheless...it is about helping out the little guys....who take huge financial payouts to essentially get their brains kicked-in...

Granted the SEC is being chastized for their cupcake schedules....but take into consideration the fact they they play arguablly the toughest IN-conference schedules...

This used to be the case, but it is not longer. 6 wins is 6 wins regardless of who they come against, with 1 caveat. You can only include 1 FCS win toward your total. Thus, if you play 2 FCS teams, only 1 of those wins will count toward bowl eligibility.

 

[sdf]

The press is really hammering on this in 2009 and will keep it a hot topic going forward so hopefully that will keep a little pressure on AD's not to get out of control. However, Ole Miss, PSU, and Texas should really be called out even more than they are because their schedules are down right pathetic.

Texas tried to schedule Wisconsin but the Badgers wussed out.
Texas had scheduled quality opponents prior to this year (OhioSt, Arkansas, TCU) and maybe they realized their current NC schedule sucked so they tried to bring in a big10 school, but Wisky wouldnt play em.

CFB needs a conference vs conference challenge like they do in CBB.

 

[LonnieTGator]

No matter how many writers and posters here try to deny it SEC is much better than any other conference this year and most years !~~~!

 

[fballplaya]

This used to be the case, but it is not longer. 6 wins is 6 wins regardless of who they come against, with 1 caveat. You can only include 1 FCS win toward your total. Thus, if you play 2 FCS teams, only 1 of those wins will count toward bowl eligibility.

Thaaaaat's right.....thanks....I knew it was something along those lines...but I do remember the 2 - 1-AA opponent rule...

Good looking out.

 

[fballplaya]

The press is really hammering on this in 2009 and will keep it a hot topic going forward so hopefully that will keep a little pressure on AD's not to get out of control. However, Ole Miss, PSU, and Texas should really be called out even more than they are because their schedules are down right pathetic.

I know I am gonna get killed for saying this again...that if Penn St goes undefeated...and Ohio St loses 2,3,4 games.....that Penn St would in that case have NO ONE credible on their schedule...thus meaning they would need all SEC teams. ALL Big 12 teams and USC to lose 2 games because a 12-1 FLA, 12-1 Bama, 12-1 LSU, 12-1 Texas, 12-1 Okla, ect would get a shot at the national title over Penn St....

In layman's terms.... Fla 12-1 would play a 12-1 Oklahoma before Penn St would get a shot....based on their horrific schedule...and the overall view of the Big 10...

 

[20ptdog]

"everyone" else does it because the "system" has not punished the SEC for doing it, so other conferences started to wake up and say, "why are we scheduling challenging non-con game when we can be like the SEC and play nobody, and still be in the title hunt.

It equates to a scrimmage when you play a team that is totally over matched, and you end up beating by 40+ pts. It should absolutely not be considered part of your "resume."

Here is a thought. If the Pac 10 sucks so bads, SEC teams should start scheduling home and away series on a regular basis. I mean, since they are so awesomely dominating, it would still be like playing nobody U. right?

Grow a pair.

 

[golffish]

"everyone" else does it because the "system" has not punished the SEC for doing it, so other conferences started to wake up and say, "why are we scheduling challenging non-con game when we can be like the SEC and play nobody, and still be in the title hunt.

It equates to a scrimmage when you play a team that is totally over matched, and you end up beating by 40+ pts. It should absolutely not be considered part of your "resume."

Here is a thought. If the Pac 10 sucks so bads, SEC teams should start scheduling home and away series on a regular basis. I mean, since they are so awesomely dominating, it would still be like playing nobody U. right?

Grow a pair.

Last 4 years Tenn has had a home and home with Cal then UCLA. Tenn has traditionally played a pretty good non conference schedule.

 

[LSUpete]

I completely agree!

The easiest non-conference game on LSU's schedule is the University of Washington. Of course this is a Pac-10 team, so I assume you would consider that a dubious honor.

 

[EatTheChalk]

Risk/reward. Schedule light, better go undefeated; schedule tough, risk the losses, but show stronger in the polls. I don't see it as a problem one way or the other...as long as the game has a line.

-ETC

 

[CapNCash]

even tho they schedule weaker out of conference teams their the SEC teams strength of schedule are the hardest in the country by far

 

[SantaBarbaraTrojan]

even tho they schedule weaker out of conference teams their the SEC teams strength of schedule are the hardest in the country by far

So tell us then who Florida plays in the SEC that makes their schedule "the hardest in the country by far"?

Trust me, I'm not holding my breath for your answer.

 

[bigtendominator]

Enough with the SOS.

The rest of the conferences are stupid for scheduling OSU vs USC, etc. Until a change in the system requires teams to play Non-conference games against BCS opponents, good for them scheduling Citadel and others. I would do the exact samething.

 

[EatTheChalk]

So tell us then who Florida plays in the SEC that makes their schedule "the hardest in the country by far"?

Trust me, I'm not holding my breath for your answer.

It's called the SEC Championship Game.

 

[Conan]

Correct me if I am wrong....but if a team goes 6-6 and one of their wins is against a "1-AA" team...it's as if they really went 5-6 thus not making them bowl eligible....?

Is tht some thing current or is that an older rule that has changed?

Nonetheless...it is about helping out the little guys....who take huge financial payouts to essentially get their brains kicked-in...

Granted the SEC is being chastized for their cupcake schedules....but take into consideration the fact they they play arguablly the toughest IN-conference schedules...

Someone here called that a circular argument. Why are so many ranked after going 4-0 with a cupcake OOC schedule? Don't matter. But when it comes around to them playing each other, well what do you know, weak OOC schedules notwithstanding, just look at all those high ranked opponents in conference!! Then when bowl season comes around, their #2 gets their asses handed to them by a non-BCS school. With the non-conf schedules they play, those facts are impossible to deny and why that argument holds weight. The truth about the SEC is that their reputation is 1/2 hype.

 

[Conan]

The schools -- with you paying ticket prices and TV networks paying billions for rights -- are laughing all the way to the bank.

On the backs of kids who put their futures on the line every week and get not a penny of it for themselves. What a miserable way of degrading the players and the game of CFB for profit... they really love all that cash, to a horrible fault.

 

[CapNCash]

So tell us then who Florida plays in the SEC that makes their schedule "the hardest in the country by far"?

Trust me, I'm not holding my breath for your answer.

you dont read well do you? where did i say florida has hardest schedule in the country? Look at every SEC teams SOS and them look at the sorry Pathetic 10