Dear SEC coaches (I'm looking at you, Urban)

#1

milohimself

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#1
Lots of news – including OSU vs. TCU in 2010

Some news from my neck of the woods. This is how you do non-conference scheduling. In a bit of a last minute move, Mike Riley decides to scrap a home game against FCS Eastern Washington in order to travel to Cowboys Stadium and take on TCU on a Thursday night two weeks before the Beavers travel to Boise State.

The Boise game has been set for a while, but deciding to go play in TCU's house is gutsy and brilliant. How about that Texas pipeline?

How about the Rogers brothers, Jacquizz (who is going to be on every single Heisman watch-list you'll see for 2010) or James (who ranks first in the Pac-10 and fifth in the nation for all-purpose yards) being from the state of Texas?
 
#2
#2
Not sure why any SEC coach would give a crap. A good amount of the time you can make the national championship even with a loss if you just win the SEC.
 
#4
#4
It's exposure in that state with players from that state. If Mike Riley does his job and makes a good showing in the state with players from that state, that boosts recruiting. That's just one more team that can actively recruit in Texas, which contributes to leveling the playing field with anybody else that recruits there.

More than anything I'm just excited to see what could be right there with Miami @ Ohio State and Oregon @ Tennessee as the best non-con games in 2010.
 
#5
#5
Are you insinuating SEC schedules are not tough enough? 2 out of 3 of the final SOS rankings I've seen show the SEC to have the highest average SOS per school, with the Pac 10 slightly beating the SEC in the Sagarin rating. One had 12 SEC teams in the top 14 national SOS. Seems like there's a misconception about how tough it is in this conference just because of the overall non-conference schedules, which is hardly fair.
 
#6
#6
I think SEC schedules are tough enough... Although I'm all for Florida having more chances to lose.
 
#8
#8
Are you insinuating SEC schedules are not tough enough? 2 out of 3 of the final SOS rankings I've seen show the SEC to have the highest average SOS per school, with the Pac 10 slightly beating the SEC in the Sagarin rating. One had 12 SEC teams in the top 14 national SOS. Seems like there's a misconception about how tough it is in this conference just because of the overall non-conference schedules, which is hardly fair.
SEC non-cons are pretty weak overall (proud of UT for getting those tough home and a ways, though). I do admit that it's the toughest place to play.

But if the SEC is the best, then they should be able to schedule the best around the country and win.

All that would do is reinforce the argument for a spot in the national title game. What if Auburn replaced Citadel or LaTech with BC, Utah or Boise in '04 and won?

Anyways, as droski said, Riley's gonna have a big challenge not laying an early-season egg. At least, if I'm not mistaken, a pretty large portion of the team should be coming back for next season. Questions at QB, though. Ought to be a great game.
 
#11
#11
At this point, I don't believe the SEC needs anything to reinforce the argument.
As long as the BCS is in existence, getting to play for national titles is still a beauty contest. Winning the SEC gives you the best shot, but it's not guaranteed by any means.
 
#12
#12
In 2006 and 2008, Florida ended up having the #1 hardest SOS. Is it me or is there a better number than 1 out there, in terms of SOS?
 
#13
#13
But if the SEC is the best, then they should be able to schedule the best around the country and win.

As a fan, I'm all for seeing Florida drop Southwest Northeastern Community Technical State and pick up a more compelling non-conference opponent.

But, what's the incentive for Florida to do that?
 
#14
#14
I know it ultimately comes down to money. What kind of revenue do they generate from a single home game against a FCS opponent? OSU stands to make as much as a mil from the TCU game.

The other part is getting that sure-fire win, which is nice, but non-cons are really only for national title game or BCS at-large selection. Other than that, it's really based more on conference pecking order. As I said, we've seen that winning the SEC does not guarantee a NCG berth. Beating a quality non-conference opponent (don't say FSU, they're not and haven't been for years), BCS or not, then winning the conference, even with a loss, may well be enough to lock up a spot in the title game.

So why not?
 
#15
#15
Debate aside, does anybody else care to prognosticate on this game?

If OSU wins the Las Vegas Bowl and Mike Riley gets the QB situation sorted out early, this figures to be a marquee non-conference game next season.
 
#16
#16
As a fan, I'm all for seeing Florida drop Southwest Northeastern Community Technical State and pick up a more compelling non-conference opponent.

But, what's the incentive for Florida to do that?

There really is none, until playing at least one out of state OOC opponent becomes a component of the BCS.

There's no incentive for playing Miami either, other than filling up their stadium once every other year with 50,000 UF fans. No thanks.

Another poster nailed it...UF had the #1 SOS during their last two NC runs. Imagine if FSU hadn't tanked over the past 5 years.
 
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#17
#17
...More than anything I'm just excited to see what could be right there with Miami @ Ohio State and Oregon @ Tennessee as the best non-con games in 2010.
Kudos to the Vols for manning up and playing Oregon. Bama is playing Penn State in 2010 & 2011. Winning these kinds of games goes a long way it boosting your nation-wide recognition and your rankings in the polls.
 

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