I was just wondering about the two Sunbelt teams on the schedule. I know the Sunbelt has been improving the last couple of seasons but they are still the sunbelt. If we "have" to schedule 2 teams from the 'belt why not at least let one of those teams be the champion of a weak conference. And with the economic situation wouldn't make sense to schedule the Troy Trojans. Instead of letting state money go back to LA and FL why not let it stay here. Troy is a respectable program and is the 3 time defending conference champ. It just makes sense right now. We get a good OOC game, they get the game they've wanted for years, and the state can reep the benefits. What do yall think?
'09 Sunbelt teams
- Thread starter ryan7907
- Start date
Non-BCS teams must schedule hard non-conf games for credibility. SEC teams must schedule the bottom-feeders of the non-BCS conferences to keep from killing all of our players.
We already play 8 games against SEC teams and one marquee non-conf game against another BCS team.
So it doesn't really make sense to schedule the toughest teams in the non-BCS conferences for your three other non-conf games.
We already play 8 games against SEC teams and one marquee non-conf game against another BCS team.
So it doesn't really make sense to schedule the toughest teams in the non-BCS conferences for your three other non-conf games.
Alabama does not condescend to play Troy. Period.
And I have a degree from Troy, but Alabama should not stoop to playing Troy.
And I have a degree from Troy, but Alabama should not stoop to playing Troy.
Stoop to playing Troy? not play Troy but play North Texas, Northern Illinois, Middle Tenn,(2) Utah St(2), Western Carolina(2) , LA-Monroe(2).... It's not like you would be replacing Texas, USC, Oklahoma
Troy is more than capable of giving Alabama all they can handle (See LSU last year). It would not be "stooping" to play them. In fact, it would probably be a pretty entertaining game. I have to admit it's sometimes hard to get excited about playing the Middle Tenn's and North Tx's of the world. Playing a a team like Troy would be interesting with just the fact that it's another state team.
It's all a matter of incentives and expected gains, in which case there is no incentive to scheduling Troy, and there is no gain to be derived.
Economically, for the state of Alabama, it's a dumb argument. 92,000+ people are going to be packed into Bryant-Denny regardless of if we are playing Tennessee, Troy, Tulane, or Timbuktu Community College. The opponent isn't going to have any major effect, relatively speaking. Unless you are playing a team like USC, the marginal economic impact of a game against a mid-major program will be a constant.
And there is no real other gain to be derived, either. Oh sure people would be interested in an Alabama v. Troy match, but that goes for Alabama v. North Texas as well. This is a football mad state where people live and die with each snap, and adding Troy to the schedule doesn't really change that one way or the other.
So what gain is there to be had for UA? None.
However, there is a great deal of potential loss to be had in the long-run. In the short-term it wouldn't hurt us, really. Oh sure Troy may beat us once or so and their fans would go nuts, but big whoop. Long term, though, if the program keeps rising and rising and we keep playing each other, you have some serious concerns. If Troy, hypothetically speaking, kept moving up the ranks and finally got into a BCS conference, then they would be a legitimate contender just like Auburn is, and they could severely restrict our recruiting base.
And that's why we don't do anything with Troy. We have nothing to gain from it in the short-term or the long-term, but we have a hell of a lot to potentially lose in the long-term.
Economically, for the state of Alabama, it's a dumb argument. 92,000+ people are going to be packed into Bryant-Denny regardless of if we are playing Tennessee, Troy, Tulane, or Timbuktu Community College. The opponent isn't going to have any major effect, relatively speaking. Unless you are playing a team like USC, the marginal economic impact of a game against a mid-major program will be a constant.
And there is no real other gain to be derived, either. Oh sure people would be interested in an Alabama v. Troy match, but that goes for Alabama v. North Texas as well. This is a football mad state where people live and die with each snap, and adding Troy to the schedule doesn't really change that one way or the other.
So what gain is there to be had for UA? None.
However, there is a great deal of potential loss to be had in the long-run. In the short-term it wouldn't hurt us, really. Oh sure Troy may beat us once or so and their fans would go nuts, but big whoop. Long term, though, if the program keeps rising and rising and we keep playing each other, you have some serious concerns. If Troy, hypothetically speaking, kept moving up the ranks and finally got into a BCS conference, then they would be a legitimate contender just like Auburn is, and they could severely restrict our recruiting base.
And that's why we don't do anything with Troy. We have nothing to gain from it in the short-term or the long-term, but we have a hell of a lot to potentially lose in the long-term.
same answer that had to be repeated when people used to ask why we don't schedule uab. Just because they're "in state" doesn't mean it benefits the U of A system.
If I recall correctly, there is a stipulation by the UA system's chancellors forbidding intrasystem teams from competing against each other.
Then again, I do have vivid dreams. :wink:
both of the big 2 have played UAB, Samford, and they're are talks about starting something up with USA. i guess yall would be all for playing Troy if it meant a sure W but thats not the case. The Troy Trojans are a legitimate threat to the "big 2" and yall want absolutley no part of them. you always hear about SOS, its bitten quite a few teams in years past, AU and UA have both scheduled Sunbelt teams but outright REFUSE to play "that little ol' teachers college down south". Your fellow SEC teams have manned up (LSU, Arkansas, Miss. St., Georgia, South Carolina, Florida) as well as the Big XII. It's time for Tide to man up as well
I also have a degree from Troy, but have no real interest in seeing them play. I don't want to see Troy get run over. I like to see them do well. I love seeing them beat the big boys, but not Alabama as they will always be my favorite team. As others have said: it's a no win situation.
As long as we're all broadcasting our pipe dreams...
I don't have a problem with adding UAB or Troy, if it gets North Texas or Western Carolina off the schedule. My preference, though, would be to replace one of the Sunbelt teams with a more recognizable name brand--something that has a far more likely chance of happening, I hope. I would gladly trade about 15 victories over the South-by-Southwestern Delaware State A&M Pea Farmer Community College Dancing Lizards for one shot at Texas.
Just one man's opinion, of course. Flame on, if you wish.
I don't have a problem with adding UAB or Troy, if it gets North Texas or Western Carolina off the schedule. My preference, though, would be to replace one of the Sunbelt teams with a more recognizable name brand--something that has a far more likely chance of happening, I hope. I would gladly trade about 15 victories over the South-by-Southwestern Delaware State A&M Pea Farmer Community College Dancing Lizards for one shot at Texas.
Just one man's opinion, of course. Flame on, if you wish.
I for one would love to see us play teams like troy, UAB and USA. We have played and lost to N. Illinois, and La Tech in the past, and we still were in the BCS last year and those teams were nothing. I dont think an upset loss would wipe 100+ years of Alabama football off the map. I actually think we could beat those teams. Call me silly... but yeah we would still be Alabama when it was over. Besides troy is going to lose to a big name like Oklahoma every year anyways, why not let us beat them. I like Troy as my 2nd state team and pulling for Joey to make USA a good team. It might give him the experience to take over for Nick when he retires.
Anyways, I know it isnt a popular opinion but we would beat those teams 9 times out of 10 anyways, and if we didnt play Alabama football against them, we would lose to who ever we played.
A state championship between, UAB, Bama, Troy and the Barn would be a neat feature and one we could tout, an extra gauntlet, but proving we arent scared of a small school instate. Why are Bama and the barn the only 2 state schools in the nation scared to play instate schools?
Florida and FSU and Miami play USF, UCF , FIU and FAU. and those teams still suck.
Anyways, I know it isnt a popular opinion but we would beat those teams 9 times out of 10 anyways, and if we didnt play Alabama football against them, we would lose to who ever we played.
A state championship between, UAB, Bama, Troy and the Barn would be a neat feature and one we could tout, an extra gauntlet, but proving we arent scared of a small school instate. Why are Bama and the barn the only 2 state schools in the nation scared to play instate schools?
Florida and FSU and Miami play USF, UCF , FIU and FAU. and those teams still suck.
Actually, that is the perfect case for not playing the Troys of the world.
Some of those teams are playing USF, and what has happened the past decade? USF has came into Division 1-A football, they moved into a BCS conference, they started making bowl games ever year, and now they continue to grow. And actually, they have now even reached the point to where they are legitimately stealing away recruits from both Florida State and Miami. In fact, some Miami fans are even beginning to fear that they could really take over the south Florida area is Miami continues to struggle under Shannon.
Again, that's the perfect case of why you shouldn't play teams like that. All you are doing is legitimizing them and building them up long-term. I know the Miami fans weren't overly happy about playing them in 2005, and many FSU people aren't happy about them getting a long-term deal with them.
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I know they're not sunbelt, but I would love to schedule Utah soon, a home and home perhaps. It just irks me if anybody has a winning record against us, and maybe we could shut up their fans.
PS-I would also like to schedule Texas, 7 times. And LaTech, Northern Ill, L-Monroe, etc.
PS-I would also like to schedule Texas, 7 times. And LaTech, Northern Ill, L-Monroe, etc.
?????
I'm sure someone will correct me, but when has BAMA played uab or samford in football in recent history??
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