Should the SEC scrap divisions? (Article)

#1
ConantheVolbarian

ConantheVolbarian

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#1
This article lays out a plan for scrapping divisions in the SEC and how scheduling would work. Under this plan, UT would have 3 yearly permanent rivalry games with Bama, Florida, Vandy, and play half of the remaining sec teams in odd years and the other half in even years. In my opinion, this would make SEC play much more interesting and competitive. It would also be nice to play all of the teams on a more regular basis. What do all of you think about this hypothetical plan?

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...-schedule-format-divisions-rivalries-rotation
 
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#2
#2
Very intriguing idea! I hate that we have to wait so long to play some opponents from the other division. Every other year would keep rivalries much fresher.
 
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#3
#3
Longsufferingvol said:
This article lays out a plan for scrapping divisions in the SEC and how scheduling would work. Under this plan, UT would have 3 yearly permanent rivalry games with Bama, Florida, Vandy, and play half of the remaining sec teams in odd years and the other half in even years. In my opinion, this would make SEC play much more interesting and competitive. It would also be nice to play all of the teams on a more regular basis. What do all of you think about this hypothetical plan?

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...-schedule-format-divisions-rivalries-rotation
Click to expand...


Not that its not a decent idea, but after just looking at that it seems to ignore the basis for the divisions in the first place - which is that half (now less than half) of the teams in the conference have dominated the conference. So anything that imbalances that fact would mess up scheduling in my opinion.

Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee have dominated SEC football. You have to go back to 1963 to find a team other than one of those to have won a championship (UK claims one in the mid 70s, but even if you give it to them, it was a shared title with Georgia).

So, for example, under this proposed schedule Alabama would play 4 of those dominating teams every year while LSU would play 3 every year. Tennessee would play 5 of them in even years and 2 in odd years. Arkansas would play 2 in even years, and 4 in odd years. Etc. Etc.

Its too imbalanced historically.
 
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#4
#4
Yeah, it's not a bad concept. Will be interesting to see if it ever gets into the conversation among coaches and ADs.
 
#5
#5
no. it's just a reaction to something that will cycle back around. and Sankey said that despite all the hub bub this topic, and others regarding division realignment, that it's never been realistically discussed at any of their conference functions.

fun to consider and talk about...but not something that's a realistic possibility presently.
 
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#6
#6
jakez4ut said:
no. it's just a reaction to something that will cycle back around. and Sankey said that despite all the hub bub this topic, and others regarding division realignment, that it's never been realistically discussed at any of their conference functions.

fun to consider and talk about...but not something that's a realistic possibility presently.
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Off season filler
 
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#8
#8
Not a bad idea. The only thing I would rather see is Georgia on the schedule every year instead of Florida. It's not that I think this is a bigger rivalry, but because we seem to get more recruits from Georgia than Florida and I would rather see Tennessee play in Georgia every other year than every four years. Of course, that could be solved by playing in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta more often.
 
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#9
#9
Paging bamawriter

I don't think it will ever cycle back around.

I actually think it will cycle to get more imbalanced. Missouri and South Carolina are normally worse than they have been in the last 10 years.
 
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#10
#10
99gator said:
I don't think it will ever cycle back around.

I actually think it will cycle to get more imbalanced. Missouri and South Carolina are normally worse than they have been in the last 10 years.
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So are Ole Miss and Miss State.

In fact, Bama's dominance aside, you could probably make a case that the SEC as a whole has been more balanced, top to bottom, in the past 10 years than at any other period of its history. Historically best teams being bad, historically worst teams being decent.

As for East-West balance, it can't get much more imbalanced than it has been from 2009 to 2016. I see it shifting the other way as soon as Tennessee and Florida get their acts together (hopefully soon for the Vols).
 
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#11
#11
Iam4utalways said:
Go to 9 conference games.
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This all day.

Must keep Georgia, UF, and Bama on the yearly schedule.

No one cares when we play Georgia State or North Texas. Just a waste of a good Fall weekend when we could be playing someone meaningful.
 
#12
#12
If the intent is to get the top 2 SEC teams in the same game at the end of the year, and truly make the conference championship game a true play-in game to the playoffs the only way to guarantee that is to do away with divisions. Kramer's model has never been about the 2 best squaring off.

It's not that complicated, it was the one thing the SEC before 1992 had right. When we all were playing at least 6 conference games Alabama, Tennessee, and the rest got to pick who they wanted to play as rivals. So be it, if someone hasn't historically declared by now, it probably doesn't really matter to them. With the Aggies and Gamecocks and Mizzou I'm sure they would be happy to take as many of the downtrodden on their schedule as possible.

It's all about the playoffs and we're not going back. Why not have a conference championship game that actually reflects that?
 
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#13
#13
if the system were to grow more towards a true playoff with more teams then it may be easier to sell by eliminating a division playoff game?
 
#14
#14
TUSKtimes said:
If the intent is to get the top 2 SEC teams in the same game at the end of the year, and truly make the conference championship game a true play-in game to the playoffs the only way to guarantee that is to do away with divisions. Kramer's model has never been about the 2 best squaring off.

It's not that complicated, it was the one thing the SEC before 1992 had right. When we all were playing at least 6 conference games Alabama, Tennessee, and the rest got to pick who they wanted to play as rivals. So be it, if someone hasn't historically declared by now, it probably doesn't really matter to them. With the Aggies and Gamecocks and Mizzou I'm sure they would be happy to take as many of the downtrodden on their schedule as possible.

It's all about the playoffs and we're not going back. Why not have a conference championship game that actually reflects that?
Click to expand...

aside from the last 5ish years, we have had that more times than not. mid 2000's Bama, FL, LSU and GA were nationally relevant games to determine who would got to the BCS. Pre 1998, National title games were not in the hands of the teams, so it's a little muddy, but Bama and FL won titles and played in 3 games that determined titles. you could argue that so did TN in 97, to a lesser degree...not sure had TN beaten Neb in the orange bowl we'd of won it, but neb winning it, certainly did.:)

anywho...this is still a function of Bama being what they've been the past 5 years, and the East being what it's been....nothing more.

you're not going to convince me that had Bama played LSU, ARK, Aub, MSU or Ole Miss in those title games the past few years, that much would really change.

the SEC is a 1 team league right now.

here's a scenario that should be considered...........


make Bama an independent.:thumbsup:

i mean if we're going to manufacture competition by changing the schedule...then you'd really need to get Bama out to accomplish that...they've lost, what 3, conf games in the last 5 years? 2 to Ole Miss, 1 to Auburn....? the other 12 teams....0 fer. and think about how they lost those games....it took acts of God to make those 3 happen.

so, there's a scenario for the SEC to consider...kick Bama out and put them on their own.:eek:lol:
 
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#15
#15
This is better than the other suggest that Auburn should move to the East.


But still, I feel like you lose too much if you eliminate the divisions.
I love when the underdogs somehow pull out the title game and playing the same teams home and away every year.
Divisions keep the sport as regional as possible in this world of future superconferences.
 
#16
#16
jakez4ut said:
:

i mean if we're going to manufacture competition by changing the schedule...then you'd really need to get Bama out to accomplish that...they've lost, what 3, conf games in the last 5 years? 2 to Ole Miss, 1 to Auburn....? the other 12 teams....0 fer. and think about how they lost those games....it took acts of God to make those 3 happen.

so, there's a scenario for the SEC to consider...kick Bama out and put them on their own.:eek:lol:
Click to expand...


When you invite 2 teams to play for a conference championship that isn't the conference best, that's manufactured.

It certainly would have changed the 2011 CCG. The rematch that so rubbed football people the wrong way and it's speculated was the deciding factor for destroying the BCS format, would have occurred in the SECCG and not the natty. In fact, it would be very difficult for any 2 teams from the same conference to make the 4 team playoff if these divisions were done away with and the real 2 best teams fought it out in their CCG.

Unfortunately for your scenario, there will never be a format for the very best teams to step aside while lesser teams enjoy the spoil so the rest of your venting makes little sense.
 
#17
#17
Of course Tennessee has the hardest schedule, but in what world don't we!!!

I really like this. Not playing a conference member for 6-8 years is really stupid. Why be in the same conference??

But this makes WAY to much sense for it to ever happen
 
#18
#18
VFL-82-JP said:
So are Ole Miss and Miss State.

In fact, Bama's dominance aside, you could probably make a case that the SEC as a whole has been more balanced, top to bottom, in the past 10 years than at any other period of its history. Historically best teams being bad, historically worst teams being decent.

As for East-West balance, it can't get much more imbalanced than it has been from 2009 to 2016. I see it shifting the other way as soon as Tennessee and Florida get their acts together (hopefully soon for the Vols).
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Except that Ole Miss and Miss State are their Vandy and Kentucky not their Missouri and South carolina
 
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#19
#19
TUSKtimes said:
When you invite 2 teams to play for a conference championship that isn't the conference best, that's manufactured.

It certainly would have changed the 2011 CCG. The rematch that so rubbed football people the wrong way and it's speculated was the deciding factor for destroying the BCS format, would have occurred in the SECCG and not the natty. In fact, it would be very difficult for any 2 teams from the same conference to make the 4 team playoff if these divisions were done away with and the real 2 best teams fought it out in their CCG.

Unfortunately for your scenario, there will never be a format for the very best teams to step aside while lesser teams enjoy the spoil so the rest of your venting makes little sense.
Click to expand...

never heard of a joke, huh? lighten up. it's the weekend.
:thumbsup:
 
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#20
#20
Longsufferingvol said:
This article lays out a plan for scrapping divisions in the SEC and how scheduling would work. Under this plan, UT would have 3 yearly permanent rivalry games with Bama, Florida, Vandy, and play half of the remaining sec teams in odd years and the other half in even years. In my opinion, this would make SEC play much more interesting and competitive. It would also be nice to play all of the teams on a more regular basis. What do all of you think about this hypothetical plan?

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...-schedule-format-divisions-rivalries-rotation
Click to expand...


How did "Auburn-MSU" and "Florida-South Carolina" become viewed as preserved rivalries?
 
#21
#21
TUSKtimes said:
When you invite 2 teams to play for a conference championship that isn't the conference best, that's manufactured.

It certainly would have changed the 2011 CCG. The rematch that so rubbed football people the wrong way and it's speculated was the deciding factor for destroying the BCS format, would have occurred in the SECCG and not the natty. In fact, it would be very difficult for any 2 teams from the same conference to make the 4 team playoff if these divisions were done away with and the real 2 best teams fought it out in their CCG.

Unfortunately for your scenario, there will never be a format for the very best teams to step aside while lesser teams enjoy the spoil so the rest of your venting makes little sense.
Click to expand...
but i understand the consternation on your part. i wouldn't want to leave the SEC either if i were you...:eek:lol: it's like being FSU in the 90's in the ACC.
 
#22
#22
jakez4ut said:
but i understand the consternation on your part. i wouldn't want to leave the SEC either if i were you...:eek:lol: it's like being FSU in the 90's in the ACC.
Click to expand...

I hear being picked as Miss Congeniality builds character. Hang in there.
 
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