A View from Big Ben: You reap what you sow

[London Vol]

65 -7

My grandfather was a farmer and he used to tell me that "you reap what you sow" and I found out it is no different in sport than in farming.

Whilst college football is the greatest sport on the planet in my opinion the playoffs has been a source of frustration for me (or to be more accurate, the selection of the teams). Yes, there is no fool proof system, whether it be the BCS era and a computer or the National Championship run by a room of 12 people. But there has always been one flaw and that is that teams are rewarded by record more than strength of record. If I was a AD I would apply for the weakest conference and schedule as many cupcake games I could get away with, this would almost guarantee a record of 11-1 or even 12-0 and I would walk into the playoffs every season (are you reading Clemson) . Why would you schedule an out of conference team like Pitt (ranked in the teens at the start of the season) when I already have Florida, LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky (all ranked when we played them) already on my schedule. 10 - 2 is a terrific achievement but it wont get you a look in to the final four.

But now we come to the "rub of the green" you may have recognized above the Tennessee 2022 schedule, because of that schedule I have memories for years of which none of those will be of the Akron or Ball State games. But if I return to my wearing my AD hat I would see it did not get me into the playoffs. The playoff committee forgot that sport in general is at its best when you simply can`t predict the result either before or even better, during the game. Just look at other examples like Ali v Frazier, Borg v McEnroe, Johnson v Bird, Senna v Prost or Federer v Nadal.

The good news is that we only have one more year of being served up teams like TCU and Cincinnati in the playoffs when from 2024, 3, 4 or maybe 5 SEC teams will make the final 12 and just watch, pending the seedings, how we could even have an all SEC final four (how mouthwatering would this year have been with Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Tennessee slugging it out).

Whilst you must give credit to Georgia (then they will have to return the compliment when the Vols win the NC) 64 -7 was an embarrassment

My Grandfather was right "you reap what you sow"

Go Vols

 

[HiltonHeadVol]

Always look forward to LV's summaries. Worth reading and always brings something to the table. Rub of the green........perfect, mate.

 

[feathersax]

My Grandfather was right "you reap what you sow" Indeed. Hosea 8:7 states "sow the wind, reap the whirlwind". Your analysis is every spot-on. Enjoyed your golf & tennis analogies, too. I'm just a curmudgeon who yearns for the old B.C.S., knowing it won't happen.

 

[sami]

I'm just a curmudgeon who yearns for the old B.C.S., knowing it won't happen.

You're not alone.

 

[Raebo]

Not sure if final 4 with LSU and Tennessee would have been that good. LSU had their chance in the SECCG. Don’t think we could of hung with Bama and Georgia without Hooker.
Next year should be interesting since Georgia and Bama will have new QBs.

 

[fossilfiction]

I hope the NFL comes calling for Kirby and he has the itch to try it. That was a complete domination of the entire season.

 

[ftsandersvol]

As usual, great post. If the committee’s purpose is to select the best four teams in the country for the playoffs, they committed malpractice this year.

 

[London Vol]

As usual, great post. If the committee’s purpose is to select the best four teams in the country for the playoffs, they committed malpractice this year.

Great post you summed it up much quicker than me

 

[BearBryant]

65 -7

My grandfather was a farmer and he used to tell me that "you reap what you sow" and I found out it is no different in sport than in farming.

Whilst college football is the greatest sport on the planet in my opinion the playoffs has been a source of frustration for me (or to be more accurate, the selection of the teams). Yes, there is no fool proof system, whether it be the BCS era and a computer or the National Championship run by a room of 12 people. But there has always been one flaw and that is that teams are rewarded by record more than strength of record. If I was a AD I would apply for the weakest conference and schedule as many cupcake games I could get away with, this would almost guarantee a record of 11-1 or even 12-0 and I would walk into the playoffs every season (are you reading Clemson) . Why would you schedule an out of conference team like Pitt (ranked in the teens at the start of the season) when I already have Florida, LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky (all ranked when we played them) already on my schedule. 10 - 2 is a terrific achievement but it wont get you a look in to the final four.

But now we come to the "rub of the green" you may have recognized above the Tennessee 2022 schedule, because of that schedule I have memories for years of which none of those will be of the Akron or Ball State games. But if I return to my wearing my AD hat I would see it did not get me into the playoffs. The playoff committee forgot that sport in general is at its best when you simply can`t predict the result either before or even better, during the game. Just look at other examples like Ali v Frazier, Borg v McEnroe, Johnson v Bird, Senna v Prost or Federer v Nadal.

The good news is that we only have one more year of being served up teams like TCU and Cincinnati in the playoffs when from 2024, 3, 4 or maybe 5 SEC teams will make the final 12 and just watch, pending the seedings, how we could even have an all SEC final four (how mouthwatering would this year have been with Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Tennessee slugging it out).

Whilst you must give credit to Georgia (then they will have to return the compliment when the Vols win the NC) 64 -7 was an embarrassment

My Grandfather was right "you reap what you sow"

Go Vols

Last night showed the following:
1. Georgia is Champion
2. The SEC is the best conference again
3. The Big Ten did not deserve to have 2 teams in the playoff
4. The 4 teams should have been: Georgia -- Tennessee -- Alabama; and Michigan only because they were unbeaten.

The playoff committee is so biased it is shameful.

 

[Teeman]

Since you brought up scheduling, Georgia is set up for a 3-peat next year. Open with UT-Martin, Ball State, SC at home, UAB, Auburn, KY at home, Vandy, Florida, Missouri and Ole Miss at home, UT, then GA Tech.

 

[BigBadVol]

Not sure if final 4 with LSU and Tennessee would have been that good. LSU had their chance in the SECCG. Don’t think we could of hung with Bama and Georgia without Hooker.
Next year should be interesting since Georgia and Bama will have new QBs.

GA's schedule next year is embarrassing.

 

[CAVPUT]

GA's schedule next year is embarrassing.

Usually is.

 

[VolPack22]

TCU was a 7 or 8 win team disguised as a playoff team. It finally showed last night.

 

[savannahfan]

65 -7

My grandfather was a farmer and he used to tell me that "you reap what you sow" and I found out it is no different in sport than in farming.

Whilst college football is the greatest sport on the planet in my opinion the playoffs has been a source of frustration for me (or to be more accurate, the selection of the teams). Yes, there is no fool proof system, whether it be the BCS era and a computer or the National Championship run by a room of 12 people. But there has always been one flaw and that is that teams are rewarded by record more than strength of record. If I was a AD I would apply for the weakest conference and schedule as many cupcake games I could get away with, this would almost guarantee a record of 11-1 or even 12-0 and I would walk into the playoffs every season (are you reading Clemson) . Why would you schedule an out of conference team like Pitt (ranked in the teens at the start of the season) when I already have Florida, LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky (all ranked when we played them) already on my schedule. 10 - 2 is a terrific achievement but it wont get you a look in to the final four.

But now we come to the "rub of the green" you may have recognized above the Tennessee 2022 schedule, because of that schedule I have memories for years of which none of those will be of the Akron or Ball State games. But if I return to my wearing my AD hat I would see it did not get me into the playoffs. The playoff committee forgot that sport in general is at its best when you simply can`t predict the result either before or even better, during the game. Just look at other examples like Ali v Frazier, Borg v McEnroe, Johnson v Bird, Senna v Prost or Federer v Nadal.

The good news is that we only have one more year of being served up teams like TCU and Cincinnati in the playoffs when from 2024, 3, 4 or maybe 5 SEC teams will make the final 12 and just watch, pending the seedings, how we could even have an all SEC final four (how mouthwatering would this year have been with Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Tennessee slugging it out).

Whilst you must give credit to Georgia (then they will have to return the compliment when the Vols win the NC) 64 -7 was an embarrassment

My Grandfather was right "you reap what you sow"

Go Vols

Don't use Clem alone for describing the scheduling of a weak lineup. Look at the Ga. "battle field" for nest season. We may be the only team who will be able to give them a challenge. Til playoff.

 

[savannahfan]

Not sure if final 4 with LSU and Tennessee would have been that good. LSU had their chance in the SECCG. Don’t think we could of hung with Bama and Georgia without Hooker.
Next year should be interesting since Georgia and Bama will have new QBs.

I think we saw a little of Ga.'s next year QB last night. Didn't look too bad.

 

[teeball]

Since you brought up scheduling, Georgia is set up for a 3-peat next year. Open with UT-Martin, Ball State, SC at home, UAB, Auburn, KY at home, Vandy, Florida, Missouri and Ole Miss at home, UT, then GA Tech.

HOW does Georgia continue to get these easy schedules year after year? They play Alabama and LSU about every 8 years it seems. There needs to be to be an investigation into this contrived scheduling system. It fricken SUX!!!

 

[screenthis]

Agreed. Strength of schedule needs to be a big factor. I do believe TCU was going to be left out right up until the end when other contenders like Tennessee lost. The only caveat is that TCU did beat Michigan in the playoffs to make the championship game. How bad does that make Michigan look? Lastly, oh Georgia's schedule next year. What a cupcake. Maybe an expanded playoff will help prevent some of the 'cupcake' scheduling.

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

I hope the NFL comes calling for Kirby and he has the itch to try it. That was a complete domination of the entire season.

It was an impressive year from them but they played two good teams (us and OSU) and two pretty good teams (Oregon and LSU). Granted the latter two they blew out.

 

[fossilfiction]

It was an impressive year from them but they played two good teams (us and OSU) and two pretty good teams (Oregon and LSU). Granted the latter two they blew out.

Are you convincing yourself of this? They are 37-3 in the last three years. Georgia is freaking ridiculous right now. This year alone they beat our team the Sugar Bowl champions, OSU in the playoffs, and they murdered Oregon (in fact they did so to 11 other teams too). Georgia can fall off, but it's not going to be anytime soon IMO.

 

[turbovol]

We have the worst scheduling deal of any program in the country, and it's been true for a long time. And it won't change until
bama gets dropped from our yearly schedule. It's a traditional game, of course, and in one sense it would be hard to see it go--but we're
not likely to win a national title until we do. Playing bama, georgia and florida every year is simply masochistic---and that's /before/ the SEC
Championship game, which is another hurdle. Of course even if we dropped bama from the regular season schedule, we might have to face
the Tide in the playoffs--but then that's a different thing altogether.

As for "reaping what you sow" blah, blah, that's silly. TCU didn't play the schedule we did, but nobody did. It's the way it is, and so the Horned
Frogs deserved their selection for the playoff--and proved it by beating Michigan. It's unfortunate that TCU got destroyed last night and that the
title game was a complete bust--but a lot of title games have been one-sided. In fact, I think most of them have.

I'm not a fan of expanding the playoff as it's nothing more than commercial greed (by the leagues and the TV networks) at play, just as it is in every
pro sport that has expanded its playoff for money. Look at the NFL--adding another game to the regular season was absurd, and now it's got a team
with a losing record in the playoffs. In college football, no team ranked 5-12 is apt to win a national championship: It's simply a way for the TV networks and schools to stuff more cash in their pockets, and the fans from schools 5-12 can all pretend that lightning will strike in a bottle.

 

[Daniel_Lincolns_Foot]

We have the worst scheduling deal of any program in the country, and it's been true for a long time. And it won't change until
bama gets dropped from our yearly schedule. It's a traditional game, of course, and in one sense it would be hard to see it go--but we're
not likely to win a national title until we do. Playing bama, georgia and florida every year is simply masochistic---and that's /before/ the SEC
Championship game, which is another hurdle. Of course even if we dropped bama from the regular season schedule, we might have to face
the Tide in the playoffs--but then that's a different thing altogether.

As for "reaping what you sow" blah, blah, that's silly. TCU didn't play the schedule we did, but nobody did. It's the way it is, and so the Horned
Frogs deserved their selection for the playoff--and proved it by beating Michigan. It's unfortunate that TCU got destroyed last night and that the
title game was a complete bust--but a lot of title games have been one-sided. In fact, I think most of them have.

I'm not a fan of expanding the playoff as it's nothing more than commercial greed (by the leagues and the TV networks) at play, just as it is in every
pro sport that has expanded its playoff for money. Look at the NFL--adding another game to the regular season was absurd, and now it's got a team
with a losing record in the playoffs. In college football, no team ranked 5-12 is apt to win a national championship: It's simply a way for the TV networks and schools to stuff more cash in their pockets, and the fans from schools 5-12 can all pretend that lightning will strike in a bottle.

I don't mind the expansion of the playoff, but I'd definitely like to see the cross-division games switch up every year (or every 2 years to allow for proper home and home matchups). It would provide the opportunity to see more SEC opponents more often--with OU and Texas joining the SEC, that makes for some great away game opportunities. And sometimes, sometimes, you'll be graced with an easier-than-usual cross division opponents.

Not to say it's always needed to be successful, but it there's nothing wrong with that luck of the draw. No different the NFC East getting the AFC South as its interconference opponent in 2022. It just so happens that the AFC south was garbage this year, so the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants benefited from it (pretty sure those 3 teams went 11-1 against the AFC South).

 

[njvols]

I think we saw a little of Ga.'s next year QB last night. Didn't look too bad.

I feel better going against a drop back talented passer than a 10th year senior who had the game dialed in and can scramble when needed.

 

[chuck0303]

Agreed. Strength of schedule needs to be a big factor. I do believe TCU was going to be left out right up until the end when other contenders like Tennessee lost. The only caveat is that TCU did beat Michigan in the playoffs to make the championship game. How bad does that make Michigan look? Lastly, oh Georgia's schedule next year. What a cupcake. Maybe an expanded playoff will help prevent some of the 'cupcake' scheduling.

Well, when Texas & OK join the SEC and we go to an all SEC schedule they're not going to be able to avoid some competition. TX is getting better and you know OK will eventually fix their problems. After all, Bama only beat TX by 1 point. The SEC has always beat each other up and that's why our rankings are hard to maintain because we beat each other up while the cupcake conferences keep rising. Strength of Schedule should be the main factor along with Ws.

 

[Nationdom]

We have the worst scheduling deal of any program in the country, and it's been true for a long time. And it won't change until
bama gets dropped from our yearly schedule. It's a traditional game, of course, and in one sense it would be hard to see it go--but we're
not likely to win a national title until we do. Playing bama, georgia and florida every year is simply masochistic---and that's /before/ the SEC
Championship game, which is another hurdle. Of course even if we dropped bama from the regular season schedule, we might have to face
the Tide in the playoffs--but then that's a different thing altogether.

As for "reaping what you sow" blah, blah, that's silly. TCU didn't play the schedule we did, but nobody did. It's the way it is, and so the Horned
Frogs deserved their selection for the playoff--and proved it by beating Michigan. It's unfortunate that TCU got destroyed last night and that the
title game was a complete bust--but a lot of title games have been one-sided. In fact, I think most of them have.

I'm not a fan of expanding the playoff as it's nothing more than commercial greed (by the leagues and the TV networks) at play, just as it is in every
pro sport that has expanded its playoff for money. Look at the NFL--adding another game to the regular season was absurd, and now it's got a team
with a losing record in the playoffs. In college football, no team ranked 5-12 is apt to win a national championship: It's simply a way for the TV networks and schools to stuff more cash in their pockets, and the fans from schools 5-12 can all pretend that lightning will strike in a bottle.

Keep Bama and add Clemson and or Ohio State every year. Beating the best teams on the way to winning it all. That’s how Tennessee should do it. Give 1 million to instate school every year but don’t play them. We as fans wan the best games

So we actually have the best schedule of any team because we as fans get the best season out of all the fam bases. Hopefully Josh can recruit and keep us where we will always be winning all or most of these games

 

[VOLINVONORE]

HOW does Georgia continue to get these easy schedules year after year? They play Alabama and LSU about every 8 years it seems. There needs to be to be an investigation into this contrived scheduling system. It fricken SUX!!!

Ask the SEC Commissione.