The SEC spring meetings, which begin this week, always bring out the constructive critic in me.
Today's target: the SEC football schedule.
In Sunday's column, I suggested how the SEC could improve its chances of qualifying for the national championship game while waiting for college football to come to its senses and institute a post-season playoff.
The SEC also could improve its method of determining division champions.
That would mean putting an end to non-divisional rivalries on an annual basis.
Translation: Tennessee and Alabama wouldn't play every year. Neither would Georgia and Auburn.
Traditionalists might cringe at the thought. But the SEC shoved tradition aside a long time ago when it went to divisional play. And rivalries that affect four teams shouldn't rule the day in a 12-team conference.
LSU and Florida also play every year, but do you think their fans would withdraw into a catatonic state if the teams played every two years? As strong as those programs are, they probably would prefer not playing every season.
My scheduling plan would favor fairness over tradition and would involve seeding of sorts.
There's a fairly clear-cut line separating the top three teams from the bottom three teams in each division. Although that could change from year-to-year, you can count on Auburn, Alabama and LSU being the most consistently successful programs in the West. You could say the same for Florida, Georgia and UT in the East.
Under my plan, each team would rotate its three non-divisional opponents every year.
The same three teams always would be lumped together.
In the East, UT, Georgia and Vanderbilt would form one threesome; Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky would comprise the other.
In the West, LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas would be in one group; Auburn, Alabama and Mississippi State would be in the other.
UT, Georgia and Vanderbilt would play LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas one year; and Auburn, Alabama and Mississippi State the next year. Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky would play the alternate threesome from the West each year.
So what if you wouldn't have UT-Alabama and Auburn-Georgia on an annual basis. It's not as though the rivalries would vanish from the face of college football. Those teams still would play every other year.
You never will achieve true balance unless you go to an 11-game league schedule.
However, you could avoid the Georgia-Florida scenario of the upcoming season.
They will be consensus top-two picks in the East, and both should be ranked in the top five nationally. But they won't be on equal footing in conference play.
Georgia will play LSU, Auburn and Alabama from the West. Florida will play LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas.
Which schedule would you prefer?
UT also would benefit from altering the conference schedule.
Alabama will only get better under coach Nick Saban, and Florida already has won one national championship under coach Urban Meyer. Under the current scheduling format, UT must play both teams every year. Things will get even tougher when LSU, which is averaging 9.8 wins a year this decade, rotates onto the schedule.
In UT's dreadful 5-6 season of 2005, you could fill a book with all that went wrong.
One chapter should include the schedule, which included road games at LSU, Florida and Alabama. UT was fortunate to win one of those games.
The SEC is supposed to be tough. It doesn't have to be that tough.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 59
BigOrangeVol writes:
Maybe it's just me but I think that Mike Slive, the SEC Coaches and the member Presidents probably have a better handle on this than a hack sports editor that can't even run the sports staff for a 150K circulation newspaper.
Thanks anyway Adams; why don't we just leave it to the professionals who get paid the make those decisions rather than the jock-sniffers, er... sports writers.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Keep it the way it is. Why? Because that way we get to see what kind of team we really have. In general, we play a tough schedule each year.
If you're good enough and play hard enough, you shouldn't have any excuses. No matter what the schedule is, you still gotta take care of business. I'd just rather beat the better teams to eliminate doubt.
stevefrommemphis writes:
The goal is to work 365 days per year (366 in leap years) to BEAT ALABAMA. How can we tell if the goal has been achieved if the game is not played?
Beating Alabama is what matters. Anything else is just icing on the cake.
rrvolfan#230816 writes:
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John Adams Byline = Ignore this article
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brokebackvol writes:
Interrupting series like Georgia-Florida, Auburn-Georgia, etc. is just a bonehead idea that only needs a gentle reminder: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
The SEC seems to be winning National Titles in football pretty often, so if we are stuck with the BCS, why change the conference race too?
byobbio writes:
Adams: Why don't you go get a job at the Thrifty Nickel and leave sports writing to people who know what college football is really about?
andy112382#209793 writes:
Can't say I like that idea....I see the attempted logic behind it, but I don't think it is the best way to go about things....
Heck, the SEC could just break off on its own, hold a playoff at the end of the year and crown its own national champ, basically what has happened the last couple of years anyway!!!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Pretty good article. Interesting at least. I think no one wants to give up Alabama so that will be a hard sell. Maybe John just doesn't want LSU to play Florida every year also!
However, as was previously stated, the SEC is winning championships even if it is a really hard road to go. The fear is that it won't be long until one of these "perennial college powerhouses" that plays a cotton candy schedule starts winning them again. i.e. Ohio State, USC, Michigan.
THE_VOL writes:
This will never happen because it makes far too much sense! Can you imagine the backlash if all the good-ole boy TN hillbillies couldn't visit with their in-bred cousins from Bammer every fall! Heck, might as well cancel Christmas too!
Volgrad777 writes:
Im def not a big fan of Adams , but ive been using an example like this for years. I know some of the rivalries wouldnt be on a yearly basis , but honestly it would make them even more meaningful when they did play. Secondly , yes we are winning championships , but are we sure that the best SEC team is playing for them, and lots of SEC teams are gettin snubbed from major bowls because of a few loses to other powerhouse SEC teams. Sure the majority of the time the best SEC team plays in the best bowl , but the arguments can be made. Perhaps UGA was the best team last year , they were hot at the end of the year. Maybe not , im just saying i think it would lift the SEC to a National Championship pretty much every year. Because as we have all seen a two loss tough schedule SEC team isnt going to get there with two weak Big 10, Big 12, or Pac 10 one loss or undefeated marks. Just something to think about.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
I am not in favor of the idea. Destroying the traditions of the SEC doesn't boost chances of the SEC will have a national champion. As previously mentioned in other posts, the SEC seems to be doing OK fielding national champions in football. Translation: if your good enough it really doesn't matter who you play. I am also not in favor of a 16 game playoff either. Now I am in favor of a plus one or plus two game and I can't imagine why other conferences oppose the idea. (maybe they do fear that the SEC would dominate in a plus 1/2 format). I think the country now understands how good the SEC is after easily dominating Ohio State the last two years.
stroker writes:
Makes sense Adams,the devil should get his due.
volfan_brian writes:
I've ignored this "writers" drivel for a while now, but after this hack piece, I had to sign up and sound off.
Adams, what you are suggesting is the SEC weaken itself by playing softer schedules. How very "BIG 10" of you to suggest that! The SEC reigns supreme BECAUSE we spend our regular seasons beating the phooey out of each other. After enduring the schedule last year, OSU was no match for LSU. They played at least 3 teams from the SEC far better than Ohio State.
We've won 4 out of 10 BCS titles...twice as many as our nearest conference competitor (could have been 5 of 10 if Auburn hadn't got the shaft). What you propose is ludicrous.
magentatoes10 writes:
Get off Adams...I don't know him personally, but he is an objective writer who brings up new ideas and expresses some that a lot of people think but never say. He's not a shock writer. I don't know about this idea for sure, but it sounds pretty good. We just changed the conference 15 yrs. ago, and it's probably time for another change. We need to stay on top of the country in wins and this would help, by still playing a hell of a tough schedule.
volsoutwest writes:
To be the best you have to beat the best. Go Vols.
inthefort writes:
not playing your non-divisional is ridiculous. i love watching UT-Bama and UGA-Auburn every year. those are two of the best rivalries in college football, in my opinion. i don't think playing those games every other year would be a good thing.
volaboard writes:
How about this . . . we rotate Adams off of the KNS staff every other year. Until then, you can "RELY" (former tampon) on the Vols to plug that Crimson Tide every year.
jcorange98 writes:
list of people who know stuff
1.my wife
2.mom and dad
3.bill gates
4.sec officials who make schedules
5.john adams
6.bo, luke, daisy, cooter, uncle jesse
7.everyone else in country (except)
8.comment posters on this board
9.w
10.me
slambob2#228938 writes:
This makes a ton of sense. I hope they consider it.
bd330794#206783 writes:
More proof that adams doesn't understand UT or its fans base. Take away the Alabama game? Huh!He just doesn't get it.....
hueypilot writes:
Good food for thought John. You are doing your job and the hacks on this blog that criticize you for doing it, are entitled to their opinion. They're just not very smart.
tenndave writes:
wHY NOT ONLY COUNT DIVISIONAL GAMES TOWARD DIVISION TITLE AND SEED THE TEAMS SO THE STRONGEST RATED MEET LATE IN THE SEASON
Bigger_Al writes:
Tuscaloosa John is hoping that this effort will get him invited back on Alabama radio so he can collect another appearance fee.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
The problem with Adams' suggestion is that teams rise and fall. Not that long ago, LSU was an also-ran and Georgia was a distant third in the East. The SEC West was being represented in the SECCG by Miss. St. and Arky.
What happens to the Adams' Doctrine if Ole Miss becomes a contender in the West or <shudder> Spurrier turns things around in SC?
I like his intent, but this is not a very good idea.
BOJ
99gator writes:
i'm sorry you all are right.
this man is certifiable.
so what, no al-tn, aub-ga, etc, etc, etc, in a given year.
what the hell goes on in that man's head. you can't write for a paper that covers SEC football and possibly come up with this.
why don't they break up ohio state-michigan for fairness and rotation purposes in the big 10 while we're at it.
absolutely stupid. stupid.
stupid
volboy81#211803 writes:
I couldnt even finish reading this article, its so stupid!
TommyJack writes:
I agree with many of Adams' articles. This is not one of them. The tradtional games should be preserved..the TN/AL, GA/FL, etc.
davidray31#232814 writes:
Tennesse and Alabama playing every other year would probably enhance the rivalry.At the same time,with the changing landscape in college football,Kentucky or South Carolina might come up and be just as tough as bama or Florida on a given year.So it might not be much of a benefit to play those games every other year.
khelton657 writes:
Fair - where people go to eat cotton candy and step in pony poo...we have the toughest conference in the land, probably don't get enough credit for it from the polls and media..
murrayvol writes:
John, your Sunday column suggested the SEC lobby for greater emphasis on SOS while the message in this one seems to say let's water it down. Do you really feel strongly both ways?
imw8n4u writes:
If this were to happen, it would hurt us as much as help. Right now UF must play LSU every year, which gives us a glimmer of hope since we are generally playing catch up to them. Take away that annual late season hurdle from UF and overcoming an early season loss becomes that much less likely. I agreed with going to only 1 permanent opponent from the other division and rotating the rest, but not with dropping Alabama. Every other year would really mean the Tide would visit Knoxville every 4 years with the home and home setup, no good.
TheVolMan writes:
The Weeniots are out today, doing another great job of ignoring JA's articles. One said he couldn't read the entire article. Hmmm... education can be so lacking for the Weenie. Consistency is a Weenie problem too--a Weenie continues to suggest that the byline should be to ignore JA's articles. Seems the Weenie isn't following his own advice. LOL...
Thanks to our veterans for their heroic sacrifices.
jcorange98 writes:
washed my clothes once with Tide, turned everything rude and obnoxious, when my wife wore the clothes it made her hair get bigger and her brain smaller
ncvol writes:
Life really does throw some curve balls sometimes,but this article seems to be a screw ball. Go Vols...Beat Bama
murrayvol writes:
Before we trumpet that the SEC has won 4 of 10 BCS titles and could have been 5, let's review.
Only a Herculean lobbying effort by Pope Urban allowed Florida to barely edge out Michigan for the right to pummel OSU in 07'.
How many thought a 2 loss LSU team would rise from the dead (and a #7 ranking) to the BCSCG at the end of the SEC regualar season? Not many I'm guessing.
How many think Auburn would've fared better against USC than Oklahoma? All of us but they would've still lost. USC was just too damn good.
In closing, I'm would give up everything necessary to give the SEC a cleaner path to the BCS Championship......except the Alabama game.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Why is it, everytime I see FAIR used anywhere someone is going to get screwed?
Maybe its a geezer thing, but interest peaks vs Ga-Fla-Bama. The rest are ok except for the $20-30 for PPV. Maybe Bama will step it up so it'll be a Natl TV game once more and I don't mean stept it up past 41-17. That was stepping on.
I like it the way it is, but nothing ever stays the same.
Well maybe, women's female doging and sjt18's fervor.....
FishTacos writes:
I only needed to read to where it says drop the Tennessee and Bama series along with UGA vs. Auburn. Adams has lost it and you posters may have succeeded. I have been to see many UT and Bama games and a UGA vs. Auburn game in Athens and that series is claimed to be the oldest running rivalry in the south. Great games year in and year out between those schools. It was bad enough when UT and Auburn lost their yearly series. Now this jokester John Adams says get rid of UT vs. Bama and UGA vs. Auburn. You gotta be kiding me? I usually refrain from talking about Adams but he has gone way off base with this. Remember Adams this is the Southeastern Conference were tradition reigns. We will never see the end of UGA and Aubie or UT vs. Bama.
NorCalVol writes:
I like the idea about Adams rotating off the KNS staff. Much better idea than rotating away our rivalry with Bama - then we would only get to beat them half as often! If it aint broke...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Lets see, drop Bama and Fla for Ole Miss and Miss St. We could try that for ten years or so until we drop Gen Neyland into 2nd place.
We'd be a hot property, hoo boy.
Then again....PPV.....
Bigger_Al writes:
Wow, we found something UT and Florida fans can agree on: Adams is an idiot.
Meanwhile, while Adams was vacationing in Branson, Missouri, the Chattanooga Times-Free Press had a story that Brandon Warren has been admitted to the University. Not home-free yet, as there is still another step to allow him to play in the Fall, but the biggest hurdles have been cleared.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Good article John; The SEC beats the phooey out of each other every year its lucky we ever get a team in the championship game. To the nay-sayers, consider this: Most fans around the nation could care about the Vol-Bama game, or the Vol-Gator game results. We Vol fans do care,but its the Television and voters like the AP, that we have to convince. If the TV folks had their druthers, they would prefer teams from the Big Ten, and the Pac Ten...Why? It puts more folks in front of the TV. That means bigger profits...and after all its all about the money is it not?
vol1994 writes:
good article and makes since.
It is all about championships, right?
Good article.
GuckingFatorHaternFLA writes:
Hey Mcbrim...
Just a refresher course on how the SEC is shaped...UF is in the same division as UT, and therefore, under Adams plan, would not in any season come off of UT's schedule. I know you and the rest of gator fans don't REALLY understand how the SEC is set up, seeing as you guys have only been relevant for the past 15 years.
I applaud your attempt to come on our site and insult our program yet again, but please, next time, either read the entire article or learn the divisional breakdowns of the SEC.
Kindest regards
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Maybe we could play N. Ill twice and then the Citadel the same day. 3 W's.
VOLS85 writes:
Mcbrim,
Any comments on your idiocy? It's terrible that your reading comprehension (or lack there of) does not permit you to make insightful comments (especially on this article). We do not care what you think, and you offer nothing of intelligence to this conversation or any conversation on this board. Go back to your hole, purchase hooked on phonics, and maybe your comprehension will increase to at least a 6th grade level.
Kindest Regards, dunce
VOLS85 writes:
Mc,
you're easy bait...expect it when you talk trash on another team's site. They will give you the courtesy that was afforded to them. Accept your failed reading skills and move on.
Kindest Regards
VOLS85 writes:
Rather ironic that you failed to read this article correctly (when it was glaringly clear) and I am the one who is slow...I question your train of thought.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
It appears adams concocts stuff like this to keep himself in the eye of the posters on this site. This is a pattern similar to what happens in the big 10 every year when ohio state comes out on top and then fails miserably in the bcs get together. They have all the media support and loud press every year, but no football team except when they play somebody of their own caliber.
That's kinda like James Thurber's story about entering his dog in a contest at the county fair where he won second place. He said it was years later that he remembered that his dog was the only entry in the contest.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Wow.
I go away for a weekend motorcycle trip and I come home to read Adams is proposing turning the SEC into the ACC or its equal.
Dude, do you even understand what college football is all about at its core??? TRADITIONAL RIVALRIES. PERIOD. And when a new rivalry is formed i.e. FL-UT after the reorganization of 92, all the better! But to weaken a series like UT-Bama or FL-LSU for the sake of crowning more BCS champs from the SEC is ludicrous. Damn, the only NC I care about is one that is won by Tennessee!
The second flaw to this article is the way it demeans the lesser tier schools of the conference. Sure, we all know that Vandy, Ky, and Ole Miss have been long time cellar dwellers, but in a competitive sport I think the "idea" is that we all start from the same point with a 0-0 record and see who is left standing. There is a presumption here that Ga, Fl, and UT as well as Bama, Auburn, and LSU have some birthright as the best teams in the conference. While history has proven these programs most competitive, every team in the SEC is still, after all, an SEC team and deserves that respect.
Adams, please....I'd rather read drivel about has-been coaches and thug players than this looney idea.
brauhuff#295403 writes:
Hell I wish Tennessee would leave the SEC and join the Big East then we would challenge West Virginia every year for a BCS bowl game and say goodbye to Bama and the Gators and hello Louisville, Cincinatti and Pittsburgh
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