🏈 Report: Alabama declines offer to play home-and-home series with Wisconsin

[BAMANEWSBOT]

According to a report, Nick Saban recently declined an opportunity to play a home-and-home series with the Wisconsin Badgers.

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[bamaraider]

I would have loved to play Wisconsin and travel to Madison. I hope this is still up for renegotiation, Wisconsin has probably one of the best experiences in college football.

 

[BamaFan615]

Sounds pretty intriguing to me. I'm sure there's a good reason why we turned it down, but I wonder why? I'd like to see this happen eventually.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

We could've played a neutral site game, much like Michigan, but Alvarez turned that down wanting a home & home. The problem for us is that we only had one spot to fill in 2014 (I think), the other odd years already had out-of-conference teams scheduled & we weren't going to play two ooc teams in the same regular season.

 

[planomateo]

There are other schools I'd rather play, kinda glad this one isn't happening - but I guess it depends on who gets the spot.

I think we are going to start seeing more schools schedule tougher OOC games to add to their strength of schedule going forward.

 

[THROWITDEEP]

There are other schools I'd rather play, kinda glad this one isn't happening - but I guess it depends on who gets the spot.

I think we are going to start seeing more schools schedule tougher OOC games to add to their strength of schedule going forward.

I agree, I think we will see a lot more too. It will be interesting to see the format for picking the playoff teams. I'm sure strength of schedule plays in there somewhere?

 

[TerryP]

We could've played a neutral site game, much like Michigan, but Alvarez turned that down wanting a home & home. The problem for us is that we only had one spot to fill in 2014 (I think), the other odd years already had out-of-conference teams scheduled & we weren't going to play two ooc teams in the same regular season.

That's not how I understand the story. Yes, we declined a home and home. But, in passing it was mentioned no specific dates were discussed.

As to the Wisconsin paper suggesting Saban declined the offer. Something about that just doesn't ring true. Both Coach Moore and Coach Saban have said Saban doesn't make schedules. That said, I'm sure Moore discusses possibilities with him.

Frankly, I have to ask this question. What benefit would we get out of traveling to Wisconsin? It would do nothing to improve or bolster our exposure up there and the likelihood we'd be recruiting players up there often? Slim to none. We'll offer a kid or two a year but we don't have to travel there to bolster the brand. Wisconsin, on the other hand, would love more exposure in the southeast.

I do wonder why Bielema would turn down a neutral site game. Outside of their bowl games, and that's assuming it's a marquee bowl, when would they have that much exposure on a national basis?

 

[RollTideRandy]

Benefit? What about putting together a fun and entertaining match-up for the fans? You know, those of us who are actually the source of all the revenue generated by the athletic department? I guess there's no point in doing something for us unless it has a positive impact on recruiting. I'm so glad we're recruiting all these four and five star guys so I can watch them blowout Georgia Southern or Citadel every year.

 

[TerryP]

Benefit? What about putting together a fun and entertaining match-up for the fans? You know, those of us who are actually the source of all the revenue generated by the athletic department? I guess there's no point in doing something for us unless it has a positive impact on recruiting. I'm so glad we're recruiting all these four and five star guys so I can watch them blowout Georgia Southern or Citadel every year.

Damn, step away from the ledge for a minute.

A fun and entertaining match-up we'd have had with a neutral site game. They didn't want to go that way.

It'll be replaced by another team with a neutral site game when we don't have a marquee out-of-conference game scheduled. There's no reason to believe otherwise. Remember, it was ESPN that put together the idea of the Wisconsin vs Bama game. They'll simply move on and look for another team.

Out of the next eight seasons, we only have three with dates open; '14, '15, and '18. There is sufficient reason to believe we'll be discussing moving to a nine game in conference schedule as well next spring when they begin work on the 2013 season.

By the context of what you've stated here with revenue being a concern why would you be in support of a game in Madison where the very fans you mention won't be contributing to the bottom line? The only team that benefits is Wisconsin.

 

[UAgrad93]

Wisconsin was looking to bolster their strenght of schedule and that was it. Terry, like you, I see the move to a 9 game conference schedule coming and so our future schedules will be booked. I woulda loved the neutral site games like Atlanta or Dallas, or even Indy.

 

[TerryP]

Wisconsin was looking to bolster their strenght of schedule and that was it. Terry, like you, I see the move to a 9 game conference schedule coming and so our future schedules will be booked. I woulda loved the neutral site games like Atlanta or Dallas, or even Indy.

Or Chicago...

 

[Bamabww]

Wisconsin? Agree that this was a one way pay-off, all good for the Badgers, not so good for us.

 

[bamaledge]

I wouldn't mind playing them, but like many have said it's a win, win for them and not much for us.

 

[252BAMA]

I wonder how much of that decision was based on the new 4 team playoff deal?

There has been several coaches that have hinted that the new 4 team playoff would cause teams to drop or avoid tougher OOC opponents.

Besides, how many away games can the average Alabama fan travel to in one year?

You have games in Dallas $$$$ You have games in Missouri $$$, you will have games in Texas A&M$$$, you have games in Atlanta $$$, you have the first playoff game at one of the Bowl sites $$$$, then you have the National Championship Game that could end up in Seattle or somewhere like that $$$$$?

How many fans can even afford to buy tickets and travel to both the playoff and then a week or so later buy tickets and travel to the Championship Game much less adding away games like Wisconsin?

Actually the SOS of OOC games are going to factor more heavily with the 4 team playoff format.

 

[srollins]

Gimme a break with the weak OOC schedule crap. I don't really give a rip what anyone from somewhere else in the nation has to say about our OOC schedule. Other school's CONFERENCE schedules are about as demanding as our OOC schedule.

IMHO, only people with an agenda argue about Alabama's OOC schedule. Otherwise they would recognize our scheduling of FSU, Clemson, Va. Tech, Penn St. [a home and home, no less] and Michigan as scheduling top quality opponents when we could fit them in. I say this because they all were highly ranked when scheduled. Hell, even featured in prime time and talked about constantly on the sports networks prior to the games.

 

[TerryP]

Actually the SOS of OOC games are going to factor more heavily with the 4 team playoff format.

I'd say a lot of that is conference dependent.

Take SC playing their nine game schedule against the PAC teams. If they play three OOC games which are easy wins they'll get a nod over other schools from say the ACC or the Big East.

 

[planomateo]

I really depends on who you are comparing. You will find some conf's have to schedule more OOC games to compete, if we go to a 9 conf schedule like I expect us to starting next year, then we don't really have to do anything - the OOC is really questionable at that point, but if you do 9 + a single tough OOC, look out SEC.

 

[Duder]

Why would Barry Alvarez (AD) call Nick Saban (HC)? This doesn't pass the smell test to me.

Although, as others have said, what does Bama gain?

It would be a fun game to watch though

 

[LBS]

Why would Barry Alvarez (AD) call Nick Saban (HC)? This doesn't pass the smell test to me.

Although, as others have said, what does Bama gain?

It would be a fun game to watch though

Nick Saban being the most powerful coach in sport as the cover of the magizine call him could explain it. I would suspect that its Saban running the plan past Moore as a techinicallity moreso than Moore delivering a schedule to CNS. IMO.

Bama is without a down the more respected team at this moment which means that it is harder for them to impress than Wisconsin. My take is that Bama needs more than the Badgers can offer. A one game deal, maybe, but two years worth of games is not worth the cost.

If I want fun and entertaining I'll go to a movie. If I want championships I watch Bama. The formula is working...no need to change.

 

[TerryP]

Why would Barry Alvarez (AD) call Nick Saban (HC)? This doesn't pass the smell test to me.

Although, as others have said, what does Bama gain?

It would be a fun game to watch though

Nick Saban being the most powerful coach in sport as the cover of the magizine call him could explain it. I would suspect that its Saban running the plan past Moore as a techinicallity moreso than Moore delivering a schedule to CNS. IMO.

Bama is without a down the more respected team at this moment which means that it is harder for them to impress than Wisconsin. My take is that Bama needs more than the Badgers can offer. A one game deal, maybe, but two years worth of games is not worth the cost.

If I want fun and entertaining I'll go to a movie. If I want championships I watch Bama. The formula is working...no need to change.

Saban and Moore have said on multiple occasions Saban doesn't control, make, or have anything to do with the schedule when it comes to getting OOC teams. He is consulted, sure. Alvarez didn't call Saban and try to work out something. That call would have gone to someone in the Ath. Dept. and that's likely Moore.

An example of Saban's input can be seen in this falls schedule and how and when the open date fell.