🏈 Conference realignment -- again

[OldPlayer]

The sports writers are raising the issue again. IMO, it makes some sense. Move the two most eastern schools in the west (Alabama and Auburn) to the east and move the two most western schools in the east (Vandy and Mizzou) to the west. From an Alabama perspective, it keeps the traditional rival games and wouldn't impact the current 6-1-1 format of the SEC (would Alabama vs LSU become the new traditional rival?). Auburn's rivalry game with UGA also stays intact.

What say you?

Alabama and Auburn to the East? Missouri and Vanderbilt to the West?

 

[alabama mike]

I am not opposed to the idea but I don't think the powers that be will ask my opinion.

 

[Bamabww]

Not until we beat Ole Siss a dozen times in a row.

 

[TerryP]

Is it more important to look right on the map or for the balance of power teams to be split as evenly as possible between divisions?

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Is it more important to look right on the map or for the balance of power teams to be split as evenly as possible between divisions?

Bingo, that's a goody.

 

[bamachine]

If they were to do this, I say keep MissSt as the every year cross divisional game. Hell, the two campuses are the closest of any two SEC teams. Also, I like MSU, them and Vandy are the only two I do not hate or at least feel meh about(UK). I pull for MSU and Vandy in any games where they are not playing us or it would hurt us somehow. Can't say that about any other conference team.

Let AU keep LSU. Until the Saban saga, there really was not that much history between UA and LSU, other than us owning BR. AU and LSU actually have a pretty decent hate history before that.

 

[BamaFan334]

Alabama and Auburn to the East would be murderer's row every year. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina is a hell of a schedule every year, plus hitting Ole Miss, LSU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas on a rotational basis. I guess to an extent it happens now, but I think taking each team that has won the SEC and putting them on the same side based on geography is not the way to handle this. No team from the East would likely make it to the playoff if all of the SEC's better programs kill each other in a six week span.

I like the points he tries making about the East and how the coaches haven't been or won a title in years. Well shit, aren't there four or five new coaches or been with the program two years or less? I mean, anyone can make an argument when the BS stats like that.

 

[TerryP]

I like the points he tries making about the East and how the coaches haven't been or won a title in years

If the two teams were moved, it would be just as bad. Now, it's been since 2008 for the East to win a title. If they switch, now the West hasn't won a title since 2007 (LSU appearance in '11 being the outlier...how many remember second place? {Well, there's that group at LSU that have rings to commemorate their loss.})

 

[rammerjammer]

Every time this comes up, I always say to look at making it North and South Divisions. Might still be difficult to keep the balance of power. Also how will that look in a few years. Remember the 90's the east was UF and UT...then everybody else. Then in the early 2000's it was more UF and UGA. The west has gone around a lot. Early 90's we were there, then it seemed to rotate through to several teams with no real dominate team. Once Saban got LSU corrected, they have been a contender.


I guess go with the traditional powerhouses, divy them up and let the pieces fall where they may.

 

[BamaFan334]

If the two teams were moved, it would be just as bad. Now, it's been since 2008 for the East to win a title. If they switch, now the West hasn't won a title since 2007 (LSU appearance in '11 being the outlier...how many remember second place? {Well, there's that group at LSU that have rings to commemorate their loss.})

It would be more telling in that case since some of those coaches like Sumlin, Mullin and Miles have been around, with Freeze and Bielema getting into the years where they better win one or else. The East has three teams with brand new coaches, Florida with one year, Tennessee a coach with three years I believe, and Kentucky a team with three years. I was basically just saying it was funny how he swayed his stats there. If Richt and Spurrier were still coaches, it would have been a better argument.

 

[planomateo]

I remember us having a thread about this right after Mizzou and TAMU joined and some really good ideas on how to split up the conference. I looked briefly and didn't find it.

Perhaps it was @rammerjammer who drew the line across the chart separating North and South options. Don't recall, it's been 5 years since we announced the addition? Why does getting old happen so quick...

 

[psychojoe]

On a geographic basis

North- Mizzou, Arkansas, Kentucky, Vandy, Tennessee, Georgia, Ole Miss.

South - Florida, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, MSU, aTm, SC.

Even more unbalanced- every SEC CG winner since the earth cooled, or so it seems.

 

[Killer Instinct]

UGA would raise holy hell to prevent that move. They want Bama on an annual basis like they want a daily prostate exam.

I've always been a proponent of moving just Auburn and Missou. Either the Iron Bowl or the TSIO would have to become an occasional affair.

 

[Bama Guy]

I don't know. The East has been down and adding Auburn will drag them down even further.