Nick Saban comes out in favor of a nine-game SEC schedule

[Jamos]

But for the first time publicly Wednesday, Saban indicated that he would like to see the league go to a nine-game schedule, even if it means Alabama backing away from nonconference games such as the Sept. 1 opener against Michigan in the Dallas area.

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[Marshal Dillon]

Whoa, I strongly disagree with that. I much prefer to see Alabama-Michigan, Alabama-Penn State, etc., over Alabama-Kentucky & Alabama-Kentucky. This really hurts college football and the fans.



 

[McBaman]

Whoa, I strongly disagree with that. I much prefer to see Alabama-Michigan, Alabama-Penn State, etc., over Alabama-Kentucky & Alabama-Kentucky. This really hurts college football and the fans.


Yea, I'm with Marshall on this one.  Plus intersectional games pay dividends in polls that another SEC game would not.

[cbbama99]

I'm with you Marshall. It's not often that I disagree with CNS, but I think that the intersectional games are really special and need to be kept in pacle. Like you said, Alabama-Michigan and Alabama-Virginia Tech much more inviting than Bama-Kentucky.

[SUPERCOACH]

Add Kentucky, get rid of North Texas.  Not much difference. 

[Marshal Dillon]

Add Kentucky, get rid of North Texas.  Not much difference. 

I think you need to read Saban's comments, again. It's play Kentucky, drop Michigan, USC, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, and so on.


 

[SUPERCOACH]

Add Kentucky, get rid of North Texas.  Not much difference. 

I think you need to read Saban's comments, again. It's play Kentucky, drop Michigan, USC, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, and so on.


 

Didn't read the article, just expressing my own opinion.

[Catch Prothro]

But for the first time publicly Wednesday, Saban indicated that he would like to see the league go to a nine-game schedule, even if it means Alabama backing away from nonconference games such as the Sept. 1 opener against Michigan in the Dallas area.

Click here for link

That's not a direct quote, and the thing is so poorly written that even the quotes are suspect.  (Don Kausler)  But it does seem to be the jist of Saban's answers to questions.

Saban apparently did say this:

"When you increase the size of the league by 15 percent, you've almost got to play more games to get a true indication of who's the best team in the league. We should come up with some format in the future where every player in the league gets an opportunity to play every team in the league. We've kind of had that in the past. This format won't necessarily give every player an opportunity to do that."

 

I do think mostly he is just responding to questions.

And while I do like the inter-conference matchups, they are becomming fewer and farther between.  Last year Oregon played LSU.  That apparently cost them an opportunity for the BCSCG.  This year they play no one outside of their conference.  Ohio State is getting out of its future Georgia games.  OK and Texas also have gotten away from those games, with OK trying to buy out Bama one year.  Texas did add ND to their schedule, but that hardly counts, and it probably will be a big revenue game for them.  Bama is one of the few teams actually still doing this on a consistent -- Saban likes it for recruiting, getting the team to focus over the summer, and when he first got here it got Bama back in the spotlight.  But WV and VT in Atlanta hardly count anymore either, been there done that.  Also, those are teams seeking to gain exposure by playing Bama, not teams hoping to get into a championship game.  And I think that they will benefit more from those games than will Bama -- which has again writ its name.

So I can see Saban's point.  I think it is inevitable, with conference expansion and teams trying to limit the number of tough games that they play out of conference, that a move might be made towards increasing the number of conference games.  Also, it is great for revenue -- ESPN might pay for Bama v. Vandy, but will mostly ignore Bama v. North Texas or South Georgia.

Maybe Saban is just ahead of the curve.  Well, there's never really a question about it.

[Leroy]

But for the first time publicly Wednesday, Saban indicated that he would like to see the league go to a nine-game schedule, even if it means Alabama backing away from nonconference games such as the Sept. 1 opener against Michigan in the Dallas area.

Click here for link

That's not a direct quote, and the thing is so poorly written that even the quotes are suspect.  (Don Kausler)  But it does seem to be the jist of Saban's answers to questions.

Saban apparently did say this:

"When you increase the size of the league by 15 percent, you've almost got to play more games to get a true indication of who's the best team in the league. We should come up with some format in the future where every player in the league gets an opportunity to play every team in the league. We've kind of had that in the past. This format won't necessarily give every player an opportunity to do that."

 

I do think mostly he is just responding to questions.

And while I do like the inter-conference matchups, they are becomming fewer and farther between.  Last year Oregon played LSU.  That apparently cost them an opportunity for the BCSCG.  This year they play no one outside of their conference.  Ohio State is getting out of its future Georgia games.  OK and Texas also have gotten away from those games, with OK trying to buy out Bama one year.  Texas did add ND to their schedule, but that hardly counts, and it probably will be a big revenue game for them.  Bama is one of the few teams actually still doing this on a consistent -- Saban likes it for recruiting, getting the team to focus over the summer, and when he first got here it got Bama back in the spotlight.  But WV and VT in Atlanta hardly count anymore either, been there done that.  Also, those are teams seeking to gain exposure by playing Bama, not teams hoping to get into a championship game.  And I think that they will benefit more from those games than will Bama -- which has again writ its name.

So I can see Saban's point.  I think it is inevitable, with conference expansion and teams trying to limit the number of tough games that they play out of conference, that a move might be made towards increasing the number of conference games.  Also, it is great for revenue -- ESPN might pay for Bama v. Vandy, but will mostly ignore Bama v. North Texas or South Georgia.

Maybe Saban is just ahead of the curve.  Well, there's never really a question about it.

 

[Marshal Dillon]

Amazing how fans can turn a negative into a positive. So, we play Vandy and make more money since we will drop someone like Georgia State, but we still play someone like Michigan, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, etc., to start the season off, despite what Saban said. You guys REALLY believe that?


 

[Catch Prothro]

Amazing how fans can turn a negative into a positive. So, we play Vandy and make more money since we will drop someone like Georgia State, but we still play someone like Michigan, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, etc., to start the season off, despite what Saban said. You guys REALLY believe that?


 

I'm just saying that this is the direction things seem to be heading.  I love the big opening game and would hate to see it go.  But Bama won't see Oklahoma on its regular schedule in our lifetimes, ACC schools yes, and up-and-coming schools like WV, but not teams hoping for a national title game.

[Marshal Dillon]

Amazing how fans can turn a negative into a positive. So, we play Vandy and make more money since we will drop someone like Georgia State, but we still play someone like Michigan, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, etc., to start the season off, despite what Saban said. You guys REALLY believe that?


 

I'm just saying that this is the direction things seem to be heading.  I love the big opening game and would hate to see it go.  But Bama won't see Oklahoma on its regular schedule in our lifetimes, ACC schools yes, and up-and-coming schools like WV, but not teams hoping for a national title game.

I don't know about that. I think we could see Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Oregon, USC, or some other credible team on the schedule. If we go to a 9 game SEC schedule, there's no way that happens. Believe it or not, everyone is not afraid of Alabama, in fact they would relish the challenge.


 

[ricky023]

  to you all. I think MD may be on to something but this is a discussion that could really take some ideas. I do however, some what disagree, everybody may not be afraid of Alabama, BUT I am sure they a very nervous Respect for us. RTR!

[BAMADCHAMPSHIPS]

We just need to make it a 16 game season. It just makes the most sense....

[bama57]

I agree with 16: 8 in the fall, and 8 in the spring...skip summer and winter

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