Ideas to break up the bama monopoly

[rocky top buzz]

"In its last season before Saban, Alabama finished 6-7. It was 2006, the end of a 10-year period in which a different team won at least a share of the national title every year, including Florida, Texas, Southern California, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee." I believe they left off Miami too.

Alabama is a college football monopoly. Is it time to break it up?"

 

[05_never_again]

Saban is just better than everybody else. It's just that simple. There is nothing different about the sport today that didn't exist 10 or 20 years ago that is allowing him to be this dominant.

Playoff expansion - OK, do you want more blowouts? Alabama blew out both teams they played in the CFP. They blew out almost every team they played this year. Does adding a game to the playoff change that?

The 85 scholarship limit has been around for a long time, but it is just now that a team has become as dominant, both on the field and on the recruiting trail as Alabama. Saban is simply the greatest recruiter the sport has ever seen, and once he was able to build the foundation at Alabama the program just recruits itself. Also, in this era of "pay the players," reducing the total number of available scholarships isn't going to fly. It's a widely accepted notion now that the scholarship isn't adequate compensation to begin with.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Saban is just better than everybody else. It's just that simple. There is nothing different about the sport today that didn't exist 10 or 20 years ago that is allowing him to be this dominant.

Playoff expansion - OK, do you want more blowouts? Alabama blew out both teams they played in the CFP. They blew out almost every team they played this year. Does adding a game to the playoff change that?

The 85 scholarship limit has been around for a long time, but it is just now that a team has become as dominant, both on the field and on the recruiting trail as Alabama. Saban is simply the greatest recruiter the sport has ever seen, and once he was able to build the foundation at Alabama the program just recruits itself. Also, in this era of "pay the players," reducing the total number of available scholarships isn't going to fly. It's a widely accepted notion now that the scholarship isn't adequate compensation to begin with.

Couldn’t agree more with that last sentence.

The idiots in our fan base were coming down hard on Pitts, Toney and Grimes opting out of the bowl game, some going as far to claim those players should reimburse the school for their scholarships....as if UF didn’t recoup the annual cost of those three scholarships by the third commercial break of our televised season opener.

 

[Wireless1]

Actually Name image and likeness might negatively impact not only Bama but all the SEC. If you are THE star of a team you'll have the most jersey sales etc, why would you wait on the bench for 2 years to get the paycheck? There will be a lot of NFL talent that will wait their turn at Bama for the big paycheck, but you'll have a lot of 4 and 5 star talent that will start picking schools based on where they might fall on the "star" chart for jersey sales.

 

[Roustabout]

"In its last season before Saban, Alabama finished 6-7. It was 2006, the end of a 10-year period in which a different team won at least a share of the national title every year, including Florida, Texas, Southern California, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee." I believe they left off Miami too.

Alabama is a college football monopoly. Is it time to break it up?"

Pictures of Saban nekid with farm animals?

 

[05_never_again]

Actually Name image and likeness might negatively impact not only Bama but all the SEC. If you are THE star of a team you'll have the most jersey sales etc, why would you wait on the bench for 2 years to get the paycheck? There will be a lot of NFL talent that will wait their turn at Bama for the big paycheck, but you'll have a lot of 4 and 5 star talent that will start picking schools based on where they might fall on the "star" chart for jersey sales.

You still maximize your chances of exposure by going to Alabama or some big school though. Take Ed Oliver for example - he went to Houston and played on some very good Houston teams. First 5-star recruit to sign with a non-P5 school. Outside of upsetting Oklahoma in the first game of his freshman year, anybody remember any big games he played in? Any big plays he made? Any huge exposure he got? There will be exceptions, but the top players will still want to go to the big schools. Oliver likely would have been a great player if he went to a big school too.

I bet there's still more money to be made being one of many great players at Alabama than being one great player at Boise St. Do you want a small piece of a big pie, or a big piece of a small pie? Honestly, I could see it helping schools that are down but have big names (like Nebraska and Tennessee). Do you want to be one of many at Alabama or Ohio St, or stand out as a star at Tennessee? Tennessee is nowhere near as good as Alabama, but is still a big brand that would provide exposure.

 

[LouderVol]

Pictures of Saban nekid with farm animals?

Its Bama. They dont care.

And even if they did care generally he wins too much for them to do anything about it.

 

[LouderVol]

You still maximize your chances of exposure by going to Alabama or some big school though. Take Ed Oliver for example - he went to Houston and played on some very good Houston teams. First 5-star recruit to sign with a non-P5 school. Outside of upsetting Oklahoma in the first game of his freshman year, anybody remember any big games he played in? Any big plays he made? Any huge exposure he got? There will be exceptions, but the top players will still want to go to the big schools. Oliver likely would have been a great player if he went to a big school too.

I bet there's still more money to be made being one of many great players at Alabama than being one great player at Boise St. Do you want a small piece of a big pie, or a big piece of a small pie? Honestly, I could see it helping schools that are down but have big names (like Nebraska and Tennessee). Do you want to be one of many at Alabama or Ohio St, or stand out as a star at Tennessee? Tennessee is nowhere near as good as Alabama, but is still a big brand that would provide exposure.

You are pointing out how it will even out in the end. It resets the balance for a while. But then schools and coaches will figure it out. And the big boys will still be on top.

 

[tnutater]

Actually Name image and likeness might negatively impact not only Bama but all the SEC. If you are THE star of a team you'll have the most jersey sales etc, why would you wait on the bench for 2 years to get the paycheck? There will be a lot of NFL talent that will wait their turn at Bama for the big paycheck, but you'll have a lot of 4 and 5 star talent that will start picking schools based on where they might fall on the "star" chart for jersey sales.

Nothing or nobody is going to outbid Alabama for the players they want.
Signed jersey sales amounts will not impress players on the bama booster payroll.

 

[99gator]

If it isn't obvious, the problem is Saban. And people try to make more of the situation than what it is.

Trust me, there are a lot of coaches out there that given Saban's talent.....wouldn't develop it properly, wouldn't create a culture that they have, wouldn't have the drive year after year to keep doing it, etc. They'd screw it up.

His winning percentage at Alabama is 88%.

 

[VolNExile]

If it isn't obvious, the problem is Saban. And people try to make more of the situation than what it is.

Trust me, there are a lot of coaches out there that given Saban's talent.....wouldn't develop it properly, wouldn't create a culture that they have, wouldn't have the drive year after year to keep doing it, etc. They'd screw it up.

His winning percentage at Alabama is 88%.

Hate to say it, but it's not a problem (ok, to all the rest of us, it is, which I guess is what you were saying), it's his gift. Some people just do stuff better than all the rest of us.

We've all been fantasizing about whipping his rear on a football field one Saturday. Instead, let's all just think happy thoughts about his imminent retirement, and the rest of us can get back to competing again.

 

[joevol33]

If it isn't obvious, the problem is Saban. And people try to make more of the situation than what it is.

Trust me, there are a lot of coaches out there that given Saban's talent.....wouldn't develop it properly, wouldn't create a culture that they have, wouldn't have the drive year after year to keep doing it, etc. They'd screw it up.

His winning percentage at Alabama is 88%.

I agree It's him. Look, if people can storm the capitol, then us rival fans can storm Tuscaloosa, and kidnap saban. Just a thought, not a threat

 

[GreveHaller]

the only way you'll end their monopoly is to plant kiddie porn on all the coaches computers and have the program put on the death penalty for a couple of years.

And the last thing anyone should do if you want to end this monopoly is expanding the playoffs. That's as stupid as is comes if ridding us of post season Bama is your goal. All expansion does is add the possibility that even if they dont win the SEC championship they get in by being the prettiest of the rest aka at-large berths. The more at large berths, the greater the chance of Bama getting in as well as winning the NC again.

If you want to limit their NC appearances then only allow conference champions to play for the NC. Make them earn it if they want an NC. In an 8 team playoff with champions and at large bids, you have a 12.5% chance of winning the NC when you get in. If you only allow conference champs and you dont win your conf, you have a 0% of winning an NC. Zero.

 

[TNHopeful505]

If it isn't obvious, the problem is Saban. And people try to make more of the situation than what it is.

Trust me, there are a lot of coaches out there that given Saban's talent.....wouldn't develop it properly, wouldn't create a culture that they have, wouldn't have the drive year after year to keep doing it, etc. They'd screw it up.

His winning percentage at Alabama is 88%.

Without that first year, it'd be higher. That's ridiculous.

Saban's program is now a program that could "Drive" itself, except he won't let it. He is the most driven, competitive man on the planet. He refuses to settle for anything less than excellence, and he gets it.

And it's an endless cycle. High level recruiting and evaluating + player development = high level performance and NFL draft picks = High level recruiting = wins and it goes on forever.

What I would give ANYTHING to see are those first few years. How does a man take a program that was in pretty bad shape and transform it into what it is now? Because it's one thing to keep it going, but how do you even get that culture started and how do you build it to where it is now? I'd kill to have been there those first few years at Bama when he was building.

 

[TNHopeful505]

the only way you'll end their monopoly is to plant kiddie porn on all the coaches computers and have the program put on the death penalty for a couple of years.

And the last thing anyone should do if you want to end this monopoly is expanding the playoffs. That's as stupid as is comes if ridding us of post season Bama is your goal. All expansion does is add the possibility that even if they dont win the SEC championship they get in by being the prettiest of the rest aka at-large berths. The more at large berths, the greater the chance of Bama getting in as well as winning the NC again.

If you want to limit their NC appearances then only allow conference champions to play for the NC. Make them earn it if they want an NC. In an 8 team playoff with champions and at large bids, you have a 12.5% chance of winning the NC when you get in. If you only allow conference champs and you dont win your conf, you have a 0% of winning an NC. Zero.

Personally, I think this needs to happen anyways. I have long lobbied for 7 major conferences of 14 teams that do nothing each season but play the teams in their conference, and the conference champion is determined by winning your league. The winners of the conference are randomly seeded, and then placed in a playoffs. The remaining teams are matched #2's vs. #2's, 3's against 3's, etc. Those are your bowls.

To me, this year was AWESOME as far as a conference only schedule. Sure, I would have liked to play Oklahoma. But honestly, the games I care about most are the SEC games, and being better than the teams we play every year. I really enjoyed playing 10 SEC games, despite getting beat like a drum in most of them. I'd love to see each team play 13 games, and the winner goes on to the playoffs. It's impossible to have a true tie if everyone plays everyone. And there's no disputing who is the best in the conference.

To me, I think that's how it needs to work. I really enjoyed the conference only games this year.

 

[VolNExile]

Without that first year, it'd be higher. That's ridiculous.

Saban's program is now a program that could "Drive" itself, except he won't let it. He is the most driven, competitive man on the planet. He refuses to settle for anything less than excellence, and he gets it.

And it's an endless cycle. High level recruiting and evaluating + player development = high level performance and NFL draft picks = High level recruiting = wins and it goes on forever.

What I would give ANYTHING to see are those first few years. How does a man take a program that was in pretty bad shape and transform it into what it is now? Because it's one thing to keep it going, but how do you even get that culture started and how do you build it to where it is now? I'd kill to have been there those first few years at Bama when he was building.

It’s not just the drive. He must have an EXTRAORDINARY talent for working with other high-ego people, both coaching staff and players.

That’s a really unique combination, to have that vision and drive, plus the patience and diplomacy and determination to make others buy in and fall in line.

I’d love to have someone with these abilities coaching the Vols, but if we can’t have it, I hope to Heaven that no one else can either.

 

[onevol74]

Alabama does not play by the same rules as other teams in the SEC or NCAA. It is that simple. All the teams in the SEC have to ban together and insist on change or nothing will happen differently.

 

[TNHopeful505]

It’s not just the drive. He must have an EXTRAORDINARY talent for working with other high-ego people, both coaching staff and players.

That’s a really unique combination, to have that vision and drive, plus the patience and diplomacy and determination to make others buy in and fall in line.

I’d love to have someone with these abilities coaching the Vols, but if we can’t have it, I hope to Heaven that no one else can either.

I honestly am not sure there will ever be another person with his skill set. Saban is truly a generational type of coach.

 

[VolPack22]

Something impossible would have to happen for Alabama, Clemson and Ohio St to take a step back. There would have to be some sort of NCAA draft where all the recruits are ranked in the same system and have an NFL style draft. Idk how the logistics of it would work but this is why I say it would take something impossible. We know something like this would never happen because there is no way you could implement a draft system with how all the conferences in Division 1 have their own way of doing things. You would have to do away with conferences and create divisions from Power 5 schools only. I’m not saying I would agree having a system like this but in my mind this is the only way there will be parity again until Saban retires.

 

[Boston Vol]

Alabama does not play by the same rules as other teams in the SEC or NCAA. It is that simple. All the teams in the SEC have to ban together and insist on change or nothing will happen differently.

Does Alabama get to play with 13 guys on defense? Stop with they crying about them playing by a different set of rules. As I posted last night, when you have the greatest coach in the history of college sports and you recruit the top ranked recruiting class every year, you’re going to pretty much dominate.

 

[DeepSpringsVol]

I agree It's him. Look, if people can storm the capitol, then us rival fans can storm Tuscaloosa, and kidnap saban. Just a thought, not a threat

If we are doing that then might as well force him to sign contract with Tennessee and no buyout to Alabama.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Alabama does not play by the same rules as other teams in the SEC or NCAA. It is that simple. All the teams in the SEC have to ban together and insist on change or nothing will happen differently.

I do not agree there are special rules for Alabama. That’s just losers griping. If you have credible information supporting your opinion, please
Provide it.

 

[ArdentVol]

anxious to read this thread. not sure i can ever be objective about tide.

gotta ebb eventgually

 

[05_never_again]

Does Alabama get to play with 13 guys on defense? Stop with they crying about them playing by a different set of rules. As I posted last night, when you have the greatest coach in the history of college sports and you recruit the top ranked recruiting class every year, you’re going to pretty much dominate.

The desire to minimize what he's doing, either by claiming he's cheating or some argument that it isn't as impressive as it seems, is hilarious to me.

My favorite, which is usually said by people who are more NFL fans than college, is "I'm not all that impressed because he never plays a game where he has less talent than his opponent." Well yeah, duh. Isn't that the point? I guess they'd only be impressed if he took a ragtag bunch of misfits and won with them.

 

[Border Vol]

Make it where the SEC East and SEC West are separate football conferences. That's a way to stop Alabama's dominance at least in the SEC.