🏈 FCS opponents prior to Auburn game

[252BAMA]

Question about Bama playing Mercer this year arose on another board with several comments indicating there were plenty of FBS opponents available without scheduling FCS opponents. My thoughts were if that was indeed the case then Bama would have scheduled one of them so I did some research. Thought I would pass on what I found.

Bear in mind we are not talking about an entire schedule here but rather ONE week. The week prior to the Auburn game which Bama has requested of the SEC to leave open on their schedule so as to be used to schedule an OOC opponent.

There are 130 FBS schools playing football in 2017. One of them is Bama and since the SEC has been unable to figure out how to make Bama play them that leaves 129. Eliminating the other 13 SEC schools leaves us with 116. On the week prior to the Auburn game, ONE HUNDRED of those 116 are playing mandated conference games leaving us with 16. Plenty?

Of the 16 left, two are CUSA, two are AAC, four are ACC, four are Sun Belt, and four are the Independents. The four ACC teams aren't coming so that leaves us with 12. One of the four SBC teams is Troy. That ain't happening, so that leaves us with 11. Only one (UMASS) of the four Independents would even consider scheduling Bama on that week so that leaves us with 8. Plenty!?

Now I don't know what they would do, but if I am the AD at one of those 8 schools, and unless Bama is paying Bowl money(they ain't!), I would not risk getting to the next to last weekend needing two wins to become Bowl eligible and have my team in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I suspect that in itself leaves us with 0.

And that is why Bama schedules FCS opponents prior to the Auburn game. And always will as long as they continue to play an OOC game on that week.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Well....other benefits include ..
Cheap tickets to take the kids to games...they dont care who they see...
No stress game...
Get to see players that have worked hard but not that good
If something comes up..its a ok to miss game...
Overall....it is what it is....i hate those games...

 

[alagator]

They (rivals) complained about Bama and Auburn having an off week before they played each other. That was changed. Now, they are complaining about teams scheduling lesser opponents. SMH.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Chattanooga got our attention, didn't they? Starters getting dinged, our QB dropped on his head and that was supposed to be just a tune-up to get ready for the barners. Me thinks FCS is like that box of chocolates. Just say no to sweets.

 

[alagator]

Question about Bama playing Mercer this year arose on another board

BTW, you talking about Bamamag?

The OP in that thread is well known for starting threads just to bitch about something. I'm sure a few of the older guys here remember him--I know I do.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Question about Bama playing Mercer this year arose on another board with several comments indicating there were plenty of FBS opponents available without scheduling FCS opponents. My thoughts were if that was indeed the case then Bama would have scheduled one of them so I did some research. Thought I would pass on what I found.

Bear in mind we are not talking about an entire schedule here but rather ONE week. The week prior to the Auburn game which Bama has requested of the SEC to leave open on their schedule so as to be used to schedule an OOC opponent.

There are 130 FBS schools playing football in 2017. One of them is Bama and since the SEC has been unable to figure out how to make Bama play them that leaves 129. Eliminating the other 13 SEC schools leaves us with 116. On the week prior to the Auburn game, ONE HUNDRED of those 116 are playing mandated conference games leaving us with 16. Plenty?

Of the 16 left, two are CUSA, two are AAC, four are ACC, four are Sun Belt, and four are the Independents. The four ACC teams aren't coming so that leaves us with 12. One of the four SBC teams is Troy. That ain't happening, so that leaves us with 11. Only one (UMASS) of the four Independents would even consider scheduling Bama on that week so that leaves us with 8. Plenty!?

Now I don't know what they would do, but if I am the AD at one of those 8 schools, and unless Bama is paying Bowl money(they ain't!), I would not risk getting to the next to last weekend needing two wins to become Bowl eligible and have my team in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I suspect that in itself leaves us with 0.

And that is why Bama schedules FCS opponents prior to the Auburn game. And always will as long as they continue to play an OOC game on that week.

Given that UAB just decided to start their football program again, I did notice that UAB has scheduled the Florida Gators on that date at the swamp. Just saying.

 

[BamaFan334]

Given that UAB just decided to start their football program again, I did notice that UAB has scheduled the Florida Gators on that date at the swamp. Just saying.

Cause they can actually beat Florida.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Cause they can actually beat Florida.

Quit deflecting, I'm trying to make a point the hard way.

 

[252BAMA]

Given that UAB just decided to start their football program again, I did notice that UAB has scheduled the Florida Gators on that date at the swamp. Just saying.

Yeah, I missed that one. They should have been eliminated as was Troy.

Cause they can actually beat Florida.

You must be thinking of Saban's 2000 LSU team.

Individual Game Results of Florida (vs Alabama-Birmingham), 1869-2016
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
9/10/2011 vs. Alabama-Birmingham (3-9) W 39 0
8/31/2002 vs. Alabama-Birmingham (5-7) W 51 3

Individual Game Results of Alabama-Birmingham (vs Louisiana State), 1869-2016
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
9/7/2013 @ Louisiana State (10-3) L 17 56
9/23/2000 @ Louisiana State (8-4) W 13 10

 

[252BAMA]

They (rivals) complained about Bama and Auburn having an off week before they played each other. That was changed. Now, they are complaining about teams scheduling lesser opponents. SMH.

The original complaint was against them playing on the next to last weekend and taking the last week off prior to the SECCG. They did that from 1994-2006. That open date was used to make up the postponed Southern Mississippi game in 2001, and for Hawaii in 2002 and 2003.

They are still allowed to take the week off prior to their game as long as they do not violate the "maximum of 3 byes against any one school" rule. Auburn took that week off in 2013, which was a 15 week schedule season with two byes.

 

[rick4bama]

I would like to see the pay out to Mercer by the way, Auburn is also on the schedule too. What get me is this total enrollment is 8600. So if the school get a total of 10,000 tickets, where does these extra tickets go to.

 

[252BAMA]

I would like to see the pay out to Mercer by the way, Auburn is also on the schedule too. What get me is this total enrollment is 8600. So if the school get a total of 10,000 tickets, where does these extra tickets go to.

"In 2017, the Bears will play two Southeastern Conference opponents for a payday of over $1 million: Auburn (Sept. 16) and Alabama (Nov. 18). Mercer’s athletics department will receive a $450,000 check from Auburn and $600,000 from Alabama."

https://mercercluster.com/20163/sho...ion-from-games-against-sec-opponents-in-2017/

UA total enrollment is 37+K. BD capacity is 101+K. Where do those extra tickets go?

 

[Bamabww]

I remember in the 60's we played another SEC game but it didn't count toward the conference championship. They bitched about that as well.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I remember in the 60's we played another SEC game but it didn't count toward the conference championship. They bitched about that as well.

Didn't we win the 1972 SEC championship, even though we lost the "punt Bama punt" game 17-16? We were 7-1 and the barners were 6-1, they obviously had head to head but we had the higher winning % because of the extra SEC game.

1961, Bama was 7-0 and LSU was 6-0. Bama is listed as SEC champion.

 

[TerryP]

1961, Bama was 7-0 and LSU was 6-0. Bama is listed as SEC champion.

That's listed as a tie everywhere I've looked. I know LSU claims '61 as a shared title.

Didn't we win the 1972 SEC championship, even though we lost the "punt Bama punt" game 17-16?

If you ask an Auburnite they'll claim it was Bryant manipulating the system. The fact is Auburn didn't start playing that 12th game until '73 while Bama had played 12 in '70, '71, and '72.

I assume it was winning percentage. Bottom line is this. Auburn could have scheduled another SEC contest but continued scheduling Ga Tech despite them leaving the conference a decade earlier. If you ask me, the fault lies in West Opelika--they made that schedule. (Bama played GT one more year after they left the SEC; '64.)

 

[TUSKtimes]

That's listed as a tie everywhere I've looked. I know LSU claims '61 as a shared title.

If you ask an Auburnite they'll claim it was Bryant manipulating the system. The fact is Auburn didn't start playing that 12th game until '73 while Bama had played 12 in '70, '71, and '72.

I assume it was winning percentage. Bottom line is this. Auburn could have scheduled another SEC contest but continued scheduling Ga Tech despite them leaving the conference a decade earlier. If you ask me, the fault lies in West Opelika--they made that schedule. (Bama played GT one more year after they left the SEC; '64.)

The barners played an extra SEC game in 72 and so they could be accused somewhat of the same thing. In 1970, LSU won the SEC with a record of 5-0. The barners played 7 conference games that year but finished 5-2. Point being that scheduling an extra SEC game was no freebie, as the rest of the conference would like to think with selective memory, cause if you lose, it would cost you. Right barners?

 

[252BAMA]

I remember in the 60's we played another SEC game but it didn't count toward the conference championship. They bitched about that as well.

That was the 80s. In 1980 the SEC expanded the Six Conference Game Minimum rule to read Minimum/Maximum. Bama and Ole Miss were already scheduled to play a seventh conference game in 1980 and 1981. Those games did not count in the SEC standings.

Note: See footnote on 1980 and 1981 SEC Standings on Pg. 146 of SEC Media Guide.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2016/0711/2016 SEC Football Media Guide.pdf

 

[252BAMA]

That's listed as a tie everywhere I've looked. I know LSU claims '61 as a shared title.

If you ask an Auburnite they'll claim it was Bryant manipulating the system. The fact is Auburn didn't start playing that 12th game until '73 while Bama had played 12 in '70, '71, and '72.

I assume it was winning percentage. Bottom line is this. Auburn could have scheduled another SEC contest but continued scheduling Ga Tech despite them leaving the conference a decade earlier. If you ask me, the fault lies in West Opelika--they made that schedule. (Bama played GT one more year after they left the SEC; '64.)

Re: 1961

Bama is shown as SEC Champion on Pg. 144 of the SEC Media Guide.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2016/0711/2016 SEC Football Media Guide.pdf

 

[252BAMA]

The Six Conference Game Minimum was briefly suspended after the 1968 season because of the controversy over the Appointed Conference Games (See Pg. 143 of the SEC Media Guide). And rightfully so because I am still pissed over the one UGA was assigned in 1966. Believe it or not UGA is listed as Co-Champions with Bama in 1966 because they beat UNC! :eyeroll:

By all rights UGA should have been assigned Miami in 1966 because Tulane was assigned Miami in 1964. What was good for Tulane should have been good for UGA. UGA's lone loss in 1966 was to Miami and it was the game that should have counted in the SEC standings.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2016/0711/2016 SEC Football Media Guide.pdf