💬 There are three things I think I've been pretty consistent at complaining about over the years

[planomateo]

Mercer? We talking Mercer? Come on man, Mercer?

FCS. There are three things I think I've been pretty consistent at complaining about over the years (I've given up on the NCAA and my Verne problem is gone this year...ok make that 5).

1. ESPN absolutely hate them.
2. 9 Game Conf schedule
3. No FCS opponents

 

[RollTideinGA]

Its the 12th game problem right. When they added the 12th regular season game teams had to scramble to add an opponent which has given us FCS opponents. I am sure they probably had similar struggles when the now FBS went from a 10 game regular season to 11 games in 1970. Growing pains while everyone figures this out.

But looking it up we had 11 game seasons from 1970-2005. At that point they added a 12th game. With some weird exception in 2002 and '03 where we had 13 games ending with games vs Hawaii in Honolulu. Here are the "12th" opponents since the 12th game was added.

2006 No FCS, but FIU - 38-3
2007 W Carolina -FCS 52-6
2008 No FCS but we played W. Kentucky, Ark State
2009 Chattanooga - FCS 45-0
2010 Georgia State -FCS 63-7
2011 Ga Southern - FCS 45-21
2012 W Carolina - FCS 49-0
2013 Chattanooga - FCS 49-0
2014 W Carolina - FCS 48-14
2015 Charleston Southern - FCS 56-6
2016 Charleston Southern - FCS

And its not like they have all been that level of opponent. In the same time frame in the regular season Alabama has played Hawaii, Duke, Florida State, Houston, Clemson, Virginia Tech (x2), Penn State (x2), Michigan, Colorado State, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and USC. Sure Duke and Houston were down when they played Bama, but still it isn't an FCS opponent.

 

[TUSKtimes]

The 40-second clock started HUNH.
No 9 conference games. (SEC is full of girly men)
SEC officiating (Linemen 5 Yards downfield on passing option plays, etc)

 

[rueben]

Selfishness
Ignorance
Laziness

 

[Destiny's Child]

Officials rushing around to help HUNH offenses. THey should have to wait on the officials and the chains to at least allow them to make sure they got it right
Offensive Lineman Downfield
Inconsistent Pass interference calls, no rule against face guarding in college but it is called all the time for guys not turning their heads. Either it is a rule or it isn't and if it is then we need to adjust.

 

[OldPlayer]

Alabama is at the level where nobody wants to play them. The only real possibility is an FCS opponent who needs money to keep their program afloat. Yes, it would be great to resume home-and-home rivalries with Notre Dame, UCLA, Nebraska and others, but that means there is a year when Alabama doesn't make money for the game. College football is a business and getting travel expenses isn't enough.

On the other side, without games against Alabama, FCS programs would need to drop their football program which would lead to other sports being dropped as well. It's economics.

 

[rick4bama]

Alabama is at the level where nobody wants to play them. The only real possibility is an FCS opponent who needs money to keep their program afloat. Yes, it would be great to resume home-and-home rivalries with Notre Dame, UCLA, Nebraska and others, but that means there is a year when Alabama doesn't make money for the game. College football is a business and getting travel expenses isn't enough.

On the other side, without games against Alabama, FCS programs would need to drop their football program which would lead to other sports being dropped as well. It's economics.

I would love to see us play these teams. I read a lot about why Bama doesn't play in-state teams. If we play NDumb this would mean TV cove NBC,CBS, if we played a Pac-12 team then we would have FOX and CBS.

 

[planomateo]

Alabama is at the level where nobody wants to play them. The only real possibility is an FCS opponent who needs money to keep their program afloat. Yes, it would be great to resume home-and-home rivalries with Notre Dame, UCLA, Nebraska and others, but that means there is a year when Alabama doesn't make money for the game. College football is a business and getting travel expenses isn't enough.

On the other side, without games against Alabama, FCS programs would need to drop their football program which would lead to other sports being dropped as well. It's economics.

North Texas takes a few beatings every years for money, they aren't FCS. There are too many FBS teams and last I checked, there aren't alot of teams in the black from a financial standpoint...thus more FBS teams willing to take a beating.

Economics also suggests that those same FCS teams will figure out how to make ends met or no longer exist. FBS teams shouldn't be playing them, especially teams in the P5 conferences.

 

[OldPlayer]

I would love to see us play these teams. I read a lot about why Bama doesn't play in-state teams. If we play NDumb this would mean TV cove NBC,CBS, if we played a Pac-12 team then we would have FOX and CBS.

If Alabama played ND/Pac12 in a home-and-home, that would mean one less home game. That game would usually draw 90,000+ ticket buyers at $45 each (plus concessions, plus merchandise, plus economic impact). The TV contract is already in place with the conference/ND and doesn't create an additional revenue source for the visiting team. The schools negotiate how much to pay the visiting team and some of that payment can come from the TV contract.

There are two kinds of FBS teams. Those that are willing to take a beating for the revenue to build and maintain their sports programs and those that are trying to position themselves for a possible bowl berth and need wins to do that. If they're trying to get a bowl berth, they won't be playing a lot of Power5 or Group of 5 teams. Some, but not a lot.

 

[rick4bama]

@OldPlayer that something I didn't know. Thanks for the information on this.

 

[UAgrad93]

If Alabama played ND/Pac12 in a home-and-home, that would mean one less home game. That game would usually draw 90,000+ ticket buyers at $45 each (plus concessions, plus merchandise, plus economic impact). The TV contract is already in place with the conference/ND and doesn't create an additional revenue source for the visiting team. The schools negotiate how much to pay the visiting team and some of that payment can come from the TV contract.

There are two kinds of FBS teams. Those that are willing to take a beating for the revenue to build and maintain their sports programs and those that are trying to position themselves for a possible bowl berth and need wins to do that. If they're trying to get a bowl berth, they won't be playing a lot of Power5 or Group of 5 teams. Some, but not a lot.

THIS and playing that neutral site game is profitable in more ways than just the bank account too. Those games have been in recruiting hotbeds not only for athletics but the general student population too. We have a total of upwards of 37,000+ undergrad students I believe. 37,000!!!!!! The incoming freshman class this fall had 65% from out of state and around the same number making an ACT score of AT LEAST 30!!!! OUT OF STATE TUITION!!!!!!!!!

 

[252BAMA]

If Alabama played ND/Pac12 in a home-and-home, that would mean one less home game. That game would usually draw 90,000+ ticket buyers at $45 each (plus concessions, plus merchandise, plus economic impact). The TV contract is already in place with the conference/ND and doesn't create an additional revenue source for the visiting team. The schools negotiate how much to pay the visiting team and some of that payment can come from the TV contract.

There are two kinds of FBS teams. Those that are willing to take a beating for the revenue to build and maintain their sports programs and those that are trying to position themselves for a possible bowl berth and need wins to do that. If they're trying to get a bowl berth, they won't be playing a lot of Power5 or Group of 5 teams. Some, but not a lot.

And certainly won't play Bama on the next to last weekend of the season. Which is the date of the FCS games that Bama plays. Almost 100 of them have conference games and couldn't play then if they wanted to. Those few that would play don't want to be the AD of a team that needs two wins to become Bowl eligible and they have scheduled Bama. Try explaining that to your University President!

 

[alabama mike]

IMO, power 5 schools should play other power 5 schools.

 

[252BAMA]

IMO, power 5 schools should play other power 5 schools.

Power 5 schools should not ask their conference to leave the next to last weekend open. Because the chances of scheduling another Power 5 school on that weekend are slim to none. With Bama it is none.

 

[planomateo]

THIS and playing that neutral site game is profitable in more ways than just the bank account too. Those games have been in recruiting hotbeds not only for athletics but the general student population too. We have a total of upwards of 37,000+ undergrad students I believe. 37,000!!!!!! The incoming freshman class this fall had 65% from out of state and around the same number making an ACT score of AT LEAST 30!!!! OUT OF STATE TUITION!!!!!!!!!

To your point.