We could fix this by going to a 9-game schedule, meaning fewer bowl teams.

Adding 2 more teams & certainly playing only within your division are where I disagree with XIIarf. The SEC should have stayed at 12 teams [if it ain't broke don't fix it]. If the main purpose of adding A&M & Mo. was to enhance the TV package by “adding more eyeballs” I believe it is coming at too high of a price [splitting revenue 2 more ways, disrupting schedules, threatening existing rivalries, etc.] It would have been much better to enhance the TV package by adding another conference game & entering into a formal non-conference scheduling agreement with the Big 12 or the ACC like the Big 10 & Pac 12 have done. I believe Mr. Slive got outflanked on that one.

While I do not agree with the first part of your post [that's going from bad to worse], I do agree with the latter. Since we are now a 14 team league, a 9 game conference schedule is the remedy for preserving more existing rivalries & allowing “non-permanent” cross-divisional opponents to play each other twice in every 6 years instead of twice in every 12 years. It will also “enhance the content” of the TV package & strike a blow against cupcake scheduling.

John..

Your point is invalid! You stated above Eric Hyman shouldn’t be trying to push am idea from a trustee at the SEC meeting. I simply asked the question when and where did you hear this? In the article it clearly states the trustee WOULD HOPE Eric Hyman would pursue his idea. Once again do you have a DIRECT quote from Mr Hyman stating he is onboard with any of these suggestions??? NO you don’t…that’s the point!

Tim

I wish everyone could play everyone, but that’s simply not possible with a 12 team conference. Now that we have 14, it’ll only get worse, which is why I never wanted to expand. Some have suggested only playing intra-divisional games, but I don’t see how that’s any different then having 2 conferences, with an unneeded championship game.

Traditional rivalries like TN_AL, GA-FL, AUB-AL could be preserved. or not. . A&M and MO are new, and have no traditional rivalries, which gives some scheduling flexibility. Is anyone really going to freak out because VANDY-SC, or A&M – MS ST doesn’t get played once every 6 years?

Of course the purists will whine about divisional schedules being uneven, but would it be any more uneven than non-divisional schedules now? The only perfectly even scheduling would mean a 13-game conference schedule!

Slow down, John…you’re all over the map. You’re eluding ONE simple fact…yes, I know that as a ardent SEC writer you are aware that the 2012 season is its own schedule. HOWEVER, what you are overlooking/trivializing is how it was done. Simply put, your statement that ‘the day will come…’ is subject to chance for EVERY SEC team. BUT Georgia was GIVEN the easy schedule for 2012….that’s a fact. Again, from 1992 – 2011, it was by chance and from 2013 and beyond, again ‘the day will come…’ is by chance for USC and everyone else. BUT for 2012, it was given to UGA with a red & black ribbon.

This is a perfect example of a fan seeing things through his own eyes. “Carolina caught a bad break in the 2012 schedule, so Alabama-Tennessee, Auburn-Georgia, and Ole Miss-Vandy fans should suffer.” Everything’s okay as long as it’s someone else that’s getting a raw deal.

That could be why I blast schedule whines from all 12 fanbases. If someone wants to step up and figure out a plan that’s better for everyone, I’ll praise their ethics. Until then, it’s just “I want a better schedule that he got!” type whining.

John

Not so. The teams in a division play each other. Then they play teams from the same AFC and NFC divisions. Then they each play two other teams based upon their position in the final standings. Also, some teams get Team X at home, some on the road.

The idea that a fair schedule can be designed is laughable. Until every team plays every other team at home AND away… it’s not fair.

John

I’m fully aware that 2012 is its own schedule, but I’m referring to the fact that with a rotating schedule, the day will come when USC has the so-called easy schedule. And at that point you won’t be talking about how unfair it is that Carolina caught a break. You’ll take it and leave someone else to complain.

That’s my problem with it. As I said above, work out a schedule — with calendar dates — and we’ll post it to see if all the fans out there across the SEC approve of it.

John

What are you saying the hearsay is? Each school had a voice and just about every school had to give in some areas. In some in bigger areas than others just to get the dates and schedule right. Some schools play three straight league games on the road. Some open with two straight on the road.

Everyone can complain if they want to. Tell you what, you sit down right now and draw up a better schedule — with the dates included — and we’ll see if fans from every other school are happy with your plan.

Can’t be done. And that’s the point.

John

This just comes across as being a poor sport.

The reason for the automatic drug suspension policy at GA is due to the fact GA has so many perpetrators.

Greyshirting?? Really? That’s the best you can come up with? Wow you must have just started following college football?

It is my understanding Eric Hyman didn’t have a problem with the upcoming schedule. Do you have an actual quote or is this hearsay?

Thanks

John, the teams in each NFL division play the same schedule. They play each team within their division twice and all teams within a division also play the same out of division teams. If the SEC could develop a similar set up, I would be for it. However, we have a system in place that gives preferential treatment to certain teams and their legacy over their conference mates. No major sport has such a set up and it should be abandoned.

I understand that it’s frustrating. But for Eric Hyman to push a new point system for keeping track of football standings at the SEC meetings? That’s what’s silly to me.

But trust me, I know how the schedule looks and I wouldn’t expect any USC fans to say, “thanks for that!”

Thanks for reading,

John

I don’t think it’s apples to oranges. You said “Beat the teams in front of you” is fine when all things are equal. But the NFL isn’t equal. And no one tries to make divisional wins count more than conference wins or conference wins count more than non-conference wins.

That’s all I was saying. Sooner or later Carolina will get the “easier” schedule and USC trustees will hush and some other school’s will pipe up. If that’s the way it works, then why complain at all?

Just my take,

John

Sir, you are comparing apples & oranges. We’re talking equity especially since this decision gave UGA a clear advantage this year. That’s undisputed. Thanks for responding.

You nailed it with your last sentence. And that’s why I say folks need to stop crying. No schedule is 100% fair. Everyone sees their school as getting robbed and the other guy as getting it easy. These things are cyclical, there will come a day when Carolina has the “easy” schedule.

Thanks for reading,John

You know who was involved in the creation of next year’s schedule? The University of South Carolina. Every school had a voice.

Thanks for reading,

John

The NFL doesn’t have equal scheduling. Yet it’s the most popular sport in America. Again, if you want a fair schedule, it has to be a 26-game football season with all teams playing each other at home and on the road. Otherwise, it’s not really fair.

Thanks for reading,John

To be fair UGa did play the NC champ…