Great Home OOC Games Next Year!
- Thread starter GatorTheo
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I still cant believe that we are actually playing Michigan to start the season, and we aren't playing them at home. I wonder if we will play a home and home with another team soon? Even if its just once every few years, it would be nice.
I would gladly give up a home stinker every other year for a decent home and home. I know it's all about money but it seems like they could work something out. They're going to start losing season ticket holders.
It sucks but I understand too. We can't have it both ways. If you look at our schedule, this is what we have on tap most years.
UT- Top 25
LSU- Top 5-10
UGA- Top 10-15
FSU- Top 5-10
Then we usually have a pretty tough opponent in our other West matchup whether it be Bama, Auburn, etc. And until recently S. Caroline was always firmly in the top 25. So any given year we're playing 6 ish top 25 teams with at least half of them being in the top 10. There's no way we can schedule top teams OOC in addition to that. For example, Ohio St. will play two ranked teams all year, Michigan St. and Michigan. The way it's setting up now, UF and Clemson will be the only two ranked teams FSU plays. Baylor hasn't played a ranked team yet 7 weeks into the season. TCU hasn't beaten a team that's currently ranked either.
I'd love to play a Texas, USC, Ohio St., etc. out of conference, but realize if we start scheduling like that we're putting ourselves at a serious disadvantage. Look at who the top teams are scheduling OOC, why should we be one of the few schools doing what no one else is doing? If we schedule the way many people want, we could have a GREAT team and still end up with 2 losses every year just because it's damn near impossible to get through that many good teams unscathed.
UT- Top 25
LSU- Top 5-10
UGA- Top 10-15
FSU- Top 5-10
Then we usually have a pretty tough opponent in our other West matchup whether it be Bama, Auburn, etc. And until recently S. Caroline was always firmly in the top 25. So any given year we're playing 6 ish top 25 teams with at least half of them being in the top 10. There's no way we can schedule top teams OOC in addition to that. For example, Ohio St. will play two ranked teams all year, Michigan St. and Michigan. The way it's setting up now, UF and Clemson will be the only two ranked teams FSU plays. Baylor hasn't played a ranked team yet 7 weeks into the season. TCU hasn't beaten a team that's currently ranked either.
I'd love to play a Texas, USC, Ohio St., etc. out of conference, but realize if we start scheduling like that we're putting ourselves at a serious disadvantage. Look at who the top teams are scheduling OOC, why should we be one of the few schools doing what no one else is doing? If we schedule the way many people want, we could have a GREAT team and still end up with 2 losses every year just because it's damn near impossible to get through that many good teams unscathed.
The problem is for season ticket holders. The gameday experience is significantly diminished playing some team you should crush (that doesn't even help in the conference). Having that 3 times in a season is excessive. I think we're trading the game day experience for wins. Seems like that would start affecting ticket sales but maybe that's not as much of a concern as I think.
Season ticket sales have already suffered. We can't even fill our stadium for big games like Tennessee anymore. Even if we beat UGA, Vandy, and South Carolina, watch and see how many show up for FAU. The place will be half empty.
Those three games next year will be the exact same way. sadgator wants no part of attending something like that. sadgator would rather take the risk on home and home series (and potential season busting loss) with a more significant brand name than to play a game against Presbyterian...like really, Presbyterian????!!! That is just an embarrassing joke.
Those three games next year will be the exact same way. sadgator wants no part of attending something like that. sadgator would rather take the risk on home and home series (and potential season busting loss) with a more significant brand name than to play a game against Presbyterian...like really, Presbyterian????!!! That is just an embarrassing joke.
And I get that but what's the alternative? It's kind of a lose-lose. We can't put ourselves at a disadvantage by playing too many top teams OOC. And even the lower level D-1 schools want home and homes now. So it's basically put a decent OOC schedule together, put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage AND lose money on a home game OR play this lame OOC schedule we play and continue to rake in cash.
I wish the NCAA would mandate that D-1 schools can't play FCS schools. And maybe something like 2/3 OOC games having to be against Power 5 opponents. That would keep teams like the ones I mentioned from tilting the scales in their favor with scheduling and put everybody on an even playing field. Then we would see better OOC games across the board.
Once the playoffs go to 8 teams and you don't have to worry about one loss crushing your entire season, you'll see the scheduling improve. It'll be glorious and we'll all wonder how we ever lived without it.
Part of the problem is the Uga game. Since we never get that game at home we always have a gap in the schedule. If we did home and home with Uga then the years we play Uga at home we could go on the road ooc and not lose a home date. The Uga game is also a negative for season ticket holders. Every other year we only get 3 SEC home games.
I'd rather see slightly better OoC teams, (SMs/GaS), but the 2-3 patsy games are okay with
me. Go look at the W/L records of the teams that ND has played and then get back to me.
The same goes for most of the Big Ten and Pac 12 teams. The ACC doesn't have to go OoC
to get their patsy opponents.
Now, I've always enjoyed the early OoC patsy games, not for the overall team competition, but
because I get to see players that you won't see the rest of the season, barring massive injuries.
I also really don't need to chew my fingernails off in 12 consecutive games every season...
me. Go look at the W/L records of the teams that ND has played and then get back to me.
The same goes for most of the Big Ten and Pac 12 teams. The ACC doesn't have to go OoC
to get their patsy opponents.
Now, I've always enjoyed the early OoC patsy games, not for the overall team competition, but
because I get to see players that you won't see the rest of the season, barring massive injuries.
I also really don't need to chew my fingernails off in 12 consecutive games every season...
I think it's a tough position for the NCAA. They obviously know something needs to be done, but they also understand that the UFs of the world are who keep the lights on at the FCS.
The financial benefit for FCS schools far outweighs the shaming the Power 5 and NCAA may endure from fans and the media. The chance for so many young men and women whom may have experienced utter poverty in their lives and wouldn't have any means whatsoever to further their education or athletic dreams.
Let's face it, the NCAA can't afford to support the FCS without the Power 5. I also think it's important to remember that the one and two star kids that most Power 5 schools may turn their noses up to get full rides from the FCS. To me that is well worth a diminished Saturday tailgate.
The financial benefit for FCS schools far outweighs the shaming the Power 5 and NCAA may endure from fans and the media. The chance for so many young men and women whom may have experienced utter poverty in their lives and wouldn't have any means whatsoever to further their education or athletic dreams.
Let's face it, the NCAA can't afford to support the FCS without the Power 5. I also think it's important to remember that the one and two star kids that most Power 5 schools may turn their noses up to get full rides from the FCS. To me that is well worth a diminished Saturday tailgate.
Ticket sales will be fine as long as your winning games. That's the single most important factor. Obviously playing a stronger opponent helps but if we are winning I don't expect ticket sales to be much of an issue.
Economy is coming out of a hole and the Gators are washing off the Muschamp funk. Ticket sales will be fine.
I remember we would sell out ANY home game during the Spurrier AND Meyer years.
I remember we would sell out ANY home game during the Spurrier AND Meyer years.
When the smegging hell was the last time UcheaT in the top 25. I mean legitimately, not some preseason bullcrap prediction top 25. It's been at least a decade.
The yeat Spurrier hung an 80-6 win on Central Mich they made more money in that game than the rest combined.
I don't agree with you on that.. We still have the conference schedule.. if we played in a weaker conference where you only play one maybe two good teams a year then I could see that happening, but when you play a conference schedule where you play 7 good teams a year you wont lose season ticket holders. I would like to see us play better teams OOC but its not that big of a deal. And numbers wise its good for college football. A lot of these smaller schools depend on playing P5 schools to get money so they can have a football team. You stop playing small schools you take that away from them.
Granted this is from back when SEC had a 6-game schedule, but consider these OOC lineups:
1974 - Cal, Maryland (in Tampa), at FSU, Miami
1976 - UNC (in Tampa), Houston, at FSU, Miami (in Orlando)
1982 - Miami, USC, at Tulane, at FSU
1983 - Miami, at USC, ECU, FSU
Here is Auburn's OOC games from a couple years:
1983 - SoMiss, Texas, FSU, at GT, Maryland
1984 - Miami (in NJ), at Texas, SoMiss, at FSU, GT, Cincinnati
We will NEVER see schedules like that again.
1974 - Cal, Maryland (in Tampa), at FSU, Miami
1976 - UNC (in Tampa), Houston, at FSU, Miami (in Orlando)
1982 - Miami, USC, at Tulane, at FSU
1983 - Miami, at USC, ECU, FSU
Here is Auburn's OOC games from a couple years:
1983 - SoMiss, Texas, FSU, at GT, Maryland
1984 - Miami (in NJ), at Texas, SoMiss, at FSU, GT, Cincinnati
We will NEVER see schedules like that again.
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