Jim Delany and the SEC

[Rasputin_Vol]

I love trolling Big Ten fans here. I could write a book on the (often uneducated) reasons as to why the SEC wins, including:

1. The weather is better, so everyone wants to olay there (childish and kinda funny).
2. They're on TV more (same as #1).
3. Weak out of conference schedules (always funny coming from a Michigan fan).
4. Easier admittance into college (like that really matters in the end).
5. It goes in cycles (nevermind the booming population of the South combined with the current mindset toward football. Just compare a Southern Friday night in the fall to here in Michigan. It ain't changing anytime soon.)
6. Every SEC team pays their players.

And how could I forget the absolutely ingenious idea an idiot I talked with had:

"Well, if you took all the best high school players down South and brought them to the Big 10, who would be better then? Obviously, the Big 10. We do that, we start winning again."

I laughed, walked away, and spotted him 17 on the Michigan/Alabama game.

Actually, isn't it tougher to get in an SEC school? Does the SEC accept partial qualifiers and don't we also have a higher bar in terms of acceptable math courses and online courses (I'm just going back thru my memory bank when the subject came up during the Gerald Williams fiasco)?

I think the academic entrance bar in the SEC is actually higher than most conferences, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[dukes_of_maggard]

I think the academic entrance bar in the SEC is actually higher than most conferences, if I'm not mistaken.

I know the Big10 is held in higher esteem in terms of academics...I have no idea about admissions (I bet Vandy and Northwestern are the toughest).

My guess is that if you're a 5* kid, admission on average to a Big 10 school is the same as admission on average to a SEC school...

 

[bamawriter]

In spite of his infantile remarks, I do agree with the notion that a potential playoff should be limited to conference champions, because if you don't win your conference then you shouldn't have a shot to win the national title.

I don't like any playoff, but if there were, I would like to see four top-ranked conference champions play, regardless of conference.

This is only true if all conferences are created equal. They're not. The easiest example of this is the Big XII not playing a conference championship game.

 

[GatorBill]

Even still, that presents some glaring issues.

Any playoff scenario that gets conjured up, I guarantee can have holes shot through it from dawn to dusk. There's no solution that includes all the deserving teams, yet requires regular season excellence.

I think that once we become a bunch of 16 team super conferences (4-5 years from now) that this scenario will work easier because you will have division champs playing for a chance at the Conference Championship game, and that will essentially be the first round of the playoffs.

But you are right, any scenario that is conjured up right now will have holes in it.

 

[volprof]

I do think that there is such a thing as the two (or three for that matter) best teams coming from the same conference (or even same division). What sense does it make to place an 8-4 or 9-3 conference champion ahead of an 11-1 team simply because they didn't win their conference? Furthermore, what does it mean to win your conference? Are we talking regular season or conference title game? Bamawriter is correct on this one in that no two conferences are alike. Seems like that plan could either benefit conferences without title games or could place lesser teams in conference ahead of the ones with better records simply because they "won" the conference in the conference title game. A straight 1-2-3-4 is by far the best answer. Anything otherwise, and I'd just prefer we keep it the way it currently is with the BCS (it is currently more fair than Delany's plan).

 

[GatorBill]

The venue can be selected easily. Picking the teams to play in a 4 team playoff won't be so easy. The Big Ten, Pac-12, Big XII and ACC want it to be limited to conference champions so they can have teams in more often. The SEC wants it based on rankings so they can have multiple teams in.

Either of the two options for a 4-team playoff in your post would be a vast improvement over the current system.

It would take more than one day to finish shooting the current system full of holes.

How about eight teams, taking the six highest-ranked conference champions, whoever they are, and two at-larges? Then, winning a conference would mean something, and it would require quite a bit of "excellence" to secure an at-large berth, if there's only two of them. If at least one round is played on campus, there would be a reward for finishing higher up in the regular season.

Winning a conference championship should absolutely mean something.

If you make it a requirement that you win your conference, you will find that the polls start to reflect that need. Right now it is not required and people vote accordingly. I have several friends who vote, I know that the end criteria plays into the vote, even if it shouldnt.

I think the best 4 should get in, but I think it would make the most people happy to have the conf champ requirement added to it. And then that will force more change, and we will have an 8 team playoff in the near future. That will solve even more problems.

 

[GatorBill]

This is only true if all conferences are created equal. They're not. The easiest example of this is the Big XII not playing a conference championship game.

a conference championship game NEEDS to be a requirement to get into the Nat Championship game. PAC 12 and B12 need to get in line and make that happen.


The only thing constant in this world is change.

 

[vol66]

Even still, that presents some glaring issues.

Any playoff scenario that gets conjured up, I guarantee can have holes shot through it from dawn to dusk. There's no solution that includes all the deserving teams, yet requires regular season excellence.

I've argued with ya before on the plus one/playoff/BCS stuff, but you're right about there being no all inclusive solution.

Still, Delaney has no credibility in the debate. He's fought the plus one for years, wouldn't even discuss it.

Nobody knows better than him what will happen with the BCS money if the plus one ever expands into a true play-off.

 

[Scotty's Flat Top]

I am sure Michigan doesn't appreciate him giving Bama even more motivation

 

[GatorBill]

I am sure Michigan doesn't appreciate him giving Bama even more motivation

eace2:

Nick Saban hates michigan to the point that he still wears something green during his news conference the week of the MSU -v- um game every year.

Saban was a GREAT Spartan assistant, a very good Spartan Head Coach, and still has plenty of friends in EL.

I look for him to hang a high hard one on the wolvies. It will be awesome.

 

[Scotty's Flat Top]

eace2:

Nick Saban hates michigan to the point that he still wears something green during his news conference the week of the MSU -v- um game every year.

Saban was a GREAT Spartan assistant, a very good Spartan Head Coach, and still has plenty of friends in EL.

I look for him to hang a high hard one on the wolvies. It will be awesome.

You lost me at Nick Saban "has plenty of friends"

 

[GatorBill]

You lost me at Nick Saban "has plenty of friends"

yeah. Hard to believe. I know.

When St Nick was HC at MSU his kid was playing summer league baseball with my cousins kid. My cousin was very underwhelmed at the thought of coaching St Nicks kid. He figured that would be a verrrry tough spot to be in.

But on Day 1 Nick told my cuz, "what ever you need from me, Im willing to do. Otherwise, Im going to sit on the side and keep my mouth shut". When the crowd of parents around Nick got to about 3 people deep, my cuz yelled over to him and had him come out in the field and help shag flyballs, etc. Put him to work and kept the fans off from him. It helped both sides, and I know Nick was grateful.

Nick and my cuz are still very good friends. Im listening to sports radio from ELansing right now and I know the guy Im listening to is still very good friends with him. The people that he dealt with OFF the field while at MSU, they still love the guy. He made a ton of money for the childrens hospital there. Pretty good dude off the field.

I believe that has probably all changed since he left. But there are still friends that remain. Very strange, I know!!:hi:

 

[GoBigOrange86]

yeah. Hard to believe. I know.

When St Nick was HC at MSU his kid was playing summer league baseball with my cousins kid. My cousin was very underwhelmed at the thought of coaching St Nicks kid. He figured that would be a verrrry tough spot to be in.

But on Day 1 Nick told my cuz, "what ever you need from me, Im willing to do. Otherwise, Im going to sit on the side and keep my mouth shut". When the crowd of parents around Nick got to about 3 people deep, my cuz yelled over to him and had him come out in the field and help shag flyballs, etc. Put him to work and kept the fans off from him. It helped both sides, and I know Nick was grateful.

Nick and my cuz are still very good friends. Im listening to sports radio from ELansing right now and I know the guy Im listening to is still very good friends with him. The people that he dealt with OFF the field while at MSU, they still love the guy. He made a ton of money for the childrens hospital there. Pretty good dude off the field.

I believe that has probably all changed since he left. But there are still friends that remain. Very strange, I know!!:hi:

None of this surprises me. I don't think Saban is near the villain he's made out to be.

 

[TrueOrange]

a conference championship game NEEDS to be a requirement to get into the Nat Championship game. PAC 12 and B12 need to get in line and make that happen.


The only thing constant in this world is change.

The PAC 12 already plays a conference championship...it's in its second year

(...they also play 9 conference games a year plus, soon, 1 required matchup with a big 10 team each year)

 

[Scotty's Flat Top]

yeah. Hard to believe. I know.

When St Nick was HC at MSU his kid was playing summer league baseball with my cousins kid. My cousin was very underwhelmed at the thought of coaching St Nicks kid. He figured that would be a verrrry tough spot to be in.

But on Day 1 Nick told my cuz, "what ever you need from me, Im willing to do. Otherwise, Im going to sit on the side and keep my mouth shut". When the crowd of parents around Nick got to about 3 people deep, my cuz yelled over to him and had him come out in the field and help shag flyballs, etc. Put him to work and kept the fans off from him. It helped both sides, and I know Nick was grateful.

Nick and my cuz are still very good friends. Im listening to sports radio from ELansing right now and I know the guy Im listening to is still very good friends with him. The people that he dealt with OFF the field while at MSU, they still love the guy. He made a ton of money for the childrens hospital there. Pretty good dude off the field.

I believe that has probably all changed since he left. But there are still friends that remain. Very strange, I know!!:hi:

Interesting stuff. :hi:

 

[GatorBill]

The PAC 12 already plays a conference championship...it's in its second year

(...they also play 9 conference games a year plus, soon, 1 required matchup with a big 10 team each year)

I, admittedly, have my head buried in the sand when it comes to the PAC12. But I do remember that now. My apologies, and thanks for the reminder.

 

[vols-1]

This is only true if all conferences are created equal. They're not. The easiest example of this is the Big XII not playing a conference championship game.

This is true, the 2nd best SEC team is better than 90% of the other conference champions. Taking the top teams teams based on BCS rankings at the end of the year is the only way to go. And the location should be played at the nearest bowl site.

 

[GatorBill]

This is true, the 2nd best SEC team is better than 90% of the other conference champions. Taking the top teams teams based on BCS rankings at the end of the year is the only way to go. And the location should be played at the nearest bowl site.

Some years you are correct. Some years you are not.

And your plan is taking the easy way out. We are trying to take this thing to 4 teams. There will still be controversy, but it would almost guarantee that there would be no undefeateds left out and crying to get in.

Edit: and the nearest bowl site may not be available for an extra game. It will also cost more. Playing at a college campus, giving home field advantage to one of the teams involved, would be the most financially frugal, and would guarantee that every seat is sold

 

[milohimself]

Either of the two options for a 4-team playoff in your post would be a vast improvement over the current system.

That may be, but it doesn't get the AD's, presidents and conference commissioners any closer to agreeing on a solution.

It would take more than one day to finish shooting the current system full of holes.

How about eight teams, taking the six highest-ranked conference champions, whoever they are, and two at-larges? Then, winning a conference would mean something, and it would require quite a bit of "excellence" to secure an at-large berth, if there's only two of them. If at least one round is played on campus, there would be a reward for finishing higher up in the regular season.

And if those two at-larges are SEC teams? Then you've got another situation with a team that didn't even win its own division playing for the title.

If you take those away then make it only conference champs, you could wind up with Boise State winning the MWC (assuming their deal with the Big East falls apart, which it might) against a fairly cake schedule, then maybe the ACC champ gets left hanging. Or say you get another 9-3 ACC champ, you think the SEC would be happy about letting them in over a 11-1 SEC team that didn't happen to win the conference? Slive won't want that.

This is only true if all conferences are created equal. They're not. The easiest example of this is the Big XII not playing a conference championship game.

That's only because they haven't been able to expand back to 12 teams, but would you feel differently if, hypothetically, the Pac-10 had never expanded? Everybody played everybody else once and the best record won at the end. In many ways, that's better than a conference championship game IMO.

This is just my feeling, and I know Slive is going to argue differently in the weeks to come, but determining a conference champ is far more reasonable a process than determining a national champ, and if a team doesn't win their own conference then they have no business playing for the big one.

 

[milohimself]

This is true, the 2nd best SEC team is better than 90% of the other conference champions. Taking the top teams teams based on BCS rankings at the end of the year is the only way to go. And the location should be played at the nearest bowl site.

Subjective as it is, that may well be the best way to get four high-quality teams at the end of the year. But, especially after last season, nobody outside of the SEC will ever, ever agree to it so it won't happen. I have a feeling it's going to be limited to conference champions.

 

[vol66]

Subjective as it is, that may well be the best way to get four high-quality teams at the end of the year. But, especially after last season, nobody outside of the SEC will ever, ever agree to it so it won't happen. I have a feeling it's going to be limited to conference champions.

So if the final rankings at regular seasons end are SEC Champ 1, Big 10 Champ 2, Pac 16,000 Champ 4, Big 10 Champ, 6

Whomever is ranked 3rd ,if they are from one of these conferences, they are out?

Lame. Not saying it won't happen as you say, but it's lame. A team ranked 6, can't really make the argument they deserve it over teams 3 and 5...and the discrepancy could be worse than this scenario with 3 SEC teams in the top 5...or any other conference.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

So if the final rankings at regular seasons end are SEC Champ 1, Big 10 Champ 2, Pac 16,000 Champ 4, Big 10 Champ, 6

Whomever is ranked 3rd ,if they are from one of these conferences, they are out?

Lame. Not saying it won't happen as you say, but it's lame. A team ranked 6, can't really make the argument they deserve it over teams 3 and 5...and the discrepancy could be worse than this scenario with 3 SEC teams in the top 5...or any other conference.

Which is why I think relatively soon it will expand to 8 teams; 6 conference champions with 2 at large bids. And if we go to 4 Super Conferences, that's 4 at large.

 

[vol66]

Which is why I think relatively soon it will expand to 8 teams; 6 conference champions with 2 at large bids. And if we go to 4 Super Conferences, that's 4 at large.

Well I've made similar arguments in the past and at length so I won't bore everybody. This Delany is a tool, a flip flopper of the highest order. They play their CCG in a dome, and whine teams from the south don't want to play in the snow. He loves the Rose Bowl so much, he'd rather give up home field advantage in said weather and have all the fans pack up and go to the west coast. If they win the first game, they gotta pack up and go to the next place. Yeah, that's gonna work long term.

I try to stay read up on all this stuff and conference realignment...seems like to me, Slive has this under control.

I mean, seriously Michigan is the #1 team in the country and Bama is #4...you don't want to have that game at the Big House in the dead of winter?...you wanna have it at the Rose Bowl? Do it, go ahead I'm all for it!

 

[GatorBill]

Well I've made similar arguments in the past and at length so I won't bore everybody. This Delany is a tool, a flip flopper of the highest order. They play their CCG in a dome, and whine teams from the south don't want to play in the snow. He loves the Rose Bowl so much, he'd rather give up home field advantage in said weather and have all the fans pack up and go to the west coast. If they win the first game, they gotta pack up and go to the next place. Yeah, that's gonna work long term.

I try to stay read up on all this stuff and conference realignment...seems like to me, Slive has this under control.

I mean, seriously Michigan is the #1 team in the country and Bama is #4...you don't want to have that game at the Big House in the dead of winter?...you wanna have it at the Rose Bowl? Do it, go ahead I'm all for it!

You have hit the nail on the head, with a huge freaking hammer.

Delaney needs to be fired. He is wasting our time with his useless banter. Fired. Quickly.

The Michigan -v- Bama (though it wont be michigan, cause they are gonna suck for a long time) scenario is EXACTLY what we want to happen in the Big Ten. It is what we NEED to happen. We need to bring the SEC up to the cold weather stadium and garner what LITTLE competitive advantage that will give us and take full advantage of it.

If people dont think that it is a competitive advantage for the SEC to go to the Outback bowl and play a northern team that is not acclimated to the weather, they are foolish. Same with the RoseBowl, the Fiesta. Cold weather schools going to warm weather bowls struggle.

It may not be a huge factor to make Bama play in Spartan Stadium in the beginning of December, but with the Nat. Championship on the line, I will take ANY advantage I can get. And I hope it snows like hellafire during the game.

EDIT: oh oh ohhhhhhhhhhhh. . . and those little scraps of recruits that we pull out of Florida, and Georgia, etc. each year. . . . you know, the guys that Florida and FreeShoes arent offering. . . the Big Ten will start to have a better chance at increasing those numbers of recruits if we can get semi final games on Big Ten Campuses.

Im not holding my breath on that, it is a long term pipe dream.

 

[GatorBill]

Which is why I think relatively soon it will expand to 8 teams; 6 conference champions with 2 at large bids. And if we go to 4 Super Conferences, that's 4 at large.

yeah, it wont take long to expand again. We didnt know it was coming the first time it happened, there is no telling what is being worked on that we dont know about right now.

Hopefully someone is arranging a nice retirement compensation package for Delaney