FSU-MIA

[Van]

Look at FSU's remaining schedule. It's simply unbelievable. There's almost no possible way for them to lose three games this season.

[bradhusker]

Two great defenses tonight. I'm just glad FSU found a way to win. Best defense in the nation.

BUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA,
get off the board you stupid fag, did you say two great defenses?
try again,
both those teams suck major dick, wanna know why miami may still go 9-3 or 10-2?
simple, when you face FAMU, FIU, houston and duke, how can you NOT go 10-2?
miami is a joke, they are the pussy to end all pussy, did you see what lsu did to them?
I pray to GOD, IN FACT, ive got a boner the size of alaska, at the mere thought of getting miami in the gator bowl, nebraska with zac taylor will sodomize miami, we would make what LSU did to them look like teletubbies and romper room,
as for fsu? they will drop 3 or 4 games this year,
again, miami gets to play programs like famu, fiu, and houston and duke, that being said, miami would get crushed by nebraska in a bowl this season,
not only would taylor shred them for 400 yds, BUT, our rush ends would put kyle wright in the hospital, and, we'd smashmouth our way to 300 rushing yds, on that pussy miami D,
hey cicero? get off this board, your a stupid fag, who wouldnt know power football, if it was forced down ur throat, ya fairy,
when you posted, "two great defenses" I pissed, shit and came, all at once,
thats how funny that comment was,

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Look at FSU's remaining schedule. It's simply unbelievable. There's almost no possible way for them to lose three games this season.

Word.

Sin,

The 04 USC team

[Cicero]

Two great defenses tonight. I'm just glad FSU found a way to win. Best defense in the nation.

BUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA,
get off the board you stupid fag, did you say two great defenses?
try again,
both those teams suck major dick, wanna know why miami may still go 9-3 or 10-2?
simple, when you face FAMU, FIU, houston and duke, how can you NOT go 10-2?
miami is a joke, they are the pussy to end all pussy, did you see what lsu did to them?
I pray to GOD, IN FACT, ive got a boner the size of alaska, at the mere thought of getting miami in the gator bowl, nebraska with zac taylor will sodomize miami, we would make what LSU did to them look like teletubbies and romper room,
as for fsu? they will drop 3 or 4 games this year,
again, miami gets to play programs like famu, fiu, and houston and duke, that being said, miami would get crushed by nebraska in a bowl this season,
not only would taylor shred them for 400 yds, BUT, our rush ends would put kyle wright in the hospital, and, we'd smashmouth our way to 300 rushing yds, on that pussy miami D,
hey cicero? get off this board, your a stupid fag, who wouldnt know power football, if it was forced down ur throat, ya fairy,
when you posted, "two great defenses" I pissed, shit and came, all at once,
thats how funny that comment was,

Looking forward to USC butt fucking you in the mouth in 2 weeks.

[Van]

Look at FSU's remaining schedule. It's simply unbelievable. There's almost no possible way for them to lose three games this season.

Word.

Sin,

The 04 USC team

Please. Show me a Northeastern, Buffalo, Troy, Kent State, Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Eastern Washington, N. Texas, Northern Illinois or Nicholls State on the '04 USC schedule. (Or any USC schedule.) Hell, USC opened their season that year on the road against Va Tech. OOC, they also played ND that season (as always) and their other two OOC games were against BYU and Colorado St.

Colorado St being the weakest of the group, but at least they play in a decent 1-A conference. They're a far cry from Nicholls St, Buffalo or Northeastern, much less a Va Tech or a ND.

No comparison, Mgo. Bad analogy. The only reason USC wasn't going to lose three games in '04 was because they were just that damn good that year. Their schedule was plenty representative enough...

[Mr T]

Look at FSU's remaining schedule. It's simply unbelievable. There's almost no possible way for them to lose three games this season.

Clemson, the gates, ACCCG, or Bowl Game. All possible losses.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

The only reason USC wasn't going to lose three games in '04 was because they were just that damn good that year.

They "realistically" looked at three losses, and no more.

CAL
ASU
Va Tech

The rest of the teams they played (except Oregon St) were .500, and in most cases, sub .500. None of the others had much of a chance, except maybe ND, and only because it's ND. They came off a losing season, and finished .500 that year. Plus, SC had em at home. A .500 team at home was the 4th biggest "threat." Or maybe OSU in Corvallis. You decide.

Hey, I'm not comparing the quality of out of conference foes between the two programs. I'm merely noting SC also looked at no more than three losses, and not just because they were "so dominant." Respectably ranked teams don't lose to .500 and under teams...

Very much.

[Van]

Mgo, you of all people know that rivalry games against traditionally ranked teams (often highly ranked teams) like ND and UCLA always count as potential losses when you're looking at a schedule before the season...or when you're making up that schedule five years in advance. (Point of fact, in 1999, or five years before the '94 season, when those '04 schedules were made, a match up against ND for USC was usually going to end up as a loss, and right around that same time USC was also suffering through the tail end of something like a seven game losing streak to UCLA.)

So, yeah, absolutely, that's two poetential losses right there. Potential....posssible.... losses. No such animal, not when you schedule Troy or Eastern Washington.

Va Tech was a very possible third loss. Then, yeah, there was Cal and also ASU. That's five right there, just during the regular season (no, Mr T, I'm not counting bowl games when I say FSU doesn't have three possible losses left on their schedule), and that's not even counting any possible "trap" games against occasionally dangerous teams like Oregon, Washington St and even, yes, BYU.

Point being, USC plays in a very topsy turvy but always competitive conference and then on top of that they always schedule like bastards when it comes to their OOC schedule.

USC is fairly surrounded by a thousand schools like Buffalo and Nicholls State. Fall down anywhere in California and you're likely to land on a college campus roughly akin to or even higher up on the food chain than a Nicholls State. So, USC could easily make that bullshit argument about helping out the locals or whatever and then going ahead and scheduling OOC creampuffs like Nicholls State, Sam Houston State and Buffalo.

They never do. USC never schedules Sacramento St or U.C. Irvine or any of dozens of other similar teams that'd love the million dollar payday that'd come from USC scheduling a controlled scrimmage with them for the purposes of padding their W-L record. They don't do it.

Never have, and hopefully they never will. Too many other teams simply can't make the same claim.

[Terry in Crapchester]

Look at FSU's remaining schedule. It's simply unbelievable. There's almost no possible way for them to lose three games this season.

They still have Clemson and Florida, both of whom are ranked (although both come to Tallahassee this year), as well as potential "trap" games against North Carolina State (on the road), Boston College (I include this only on the basis of history, given Fredo's struggles against Central Michigan last week, perhaps this can't rightfully be considered a "trap" game, particularly at home), and Virginia (although the same analysis can be applied here as to Fredo).

Btw, as to Buffalo, there's only one 1-A school within 150 miles of Buffalo, and then only barely (Syracuse), so the excuse of "helping out the locals" doesn't really fly as to scheduling Buffalo. Just sayin'.

[Van]

Okay, between Clemson (barely), Florida, N. C. State (barely) and Boston College I stand corrected. There is a possible way for FSU to lose three games there.

The sky would have to fall in but yeah, the possibility does exist there.

It just disgusted me to see that they only have three more road games all season long and that they'd scheduled a team like Buffalo. I just don't think it's asking too much to at least require each team to play a balanced schedule (an equal amount of home and road games) and for controlled scrimmages to not count as actual games on the W-L record...

[Nolesy]

Okay, between Clemson (barely), Florida, N. C. State (barely) and Boston College I stand corrected. There is a possible way for FSU to lose three games there.

The sky would have to fall in but yeah, the possibility does exist there.

It just disgusted me to see that they only have three more road games all season long and that they'd scheduled a team like Buffalo. I just don't think it's asking too much to at least require each team to play a balanced schedule (an equal amount of home and road games) and for controlled scrimmages to not count as actual games on the W-L record...

The re-alignment of the Acc and particuarly because 2 teams were added initially followed by another the following year, has put the schedule into Whack mode for a few years. Most teams were left with open dates. You, who appear to be a genious on scheduling matters, surely understand that scheds. are made up years in advance. Thus when you suddenly are faced with open dates it is tough to get upper tier opponents on short notice. Generally the only ones who will whore them selfs out are lesser tier schools looking for big time exposure. getting big time exposure requires going to the big timers house. Hence, FSU has 8 home games this year. Due to conference re-alignment FSU lost traditional annual games against, Ga.Tech and NC.
I hope you find comfort in knowing that next year Fsu will play a full conferenc schedule which includes Boston Colleg, Va. Tech, and Miami. Out of conference games have FSU going to Colorado, Jacksonville to face Alabama, and of course the much hated Gaytors.

[Van]

Correction to my previous: Auburn plays Buffalo. FSU plays Troy...and Rice...and Western Michigan!!

Nolesy, we both know that it's pure greed and the desire to keep their record as strong as possible that leads to 8-4 schedules including nothing but creampuffs at home for those "fill in" games.

Nothing's stopping FSU or any other team from calling the AD of one of those other better programs, rather than calling the ADs of Troy or Buffalo. Since everybody who schedules the creampuffs is claiming the same reason for doing so then maybe FSU's AD could go ahead and call Auburn's, Nebraska's or LSU's AD. While they're on the phone together, hey, here's another novel suggestion: Home and home series!

Kill all sorts of birds with one stone. You balance your schedule. You eliminate controlled scrimmages on your home field counting as real wins. Best of all, for fans of college football you're replacing a farce for which they pay full price with a great game that's truly worthy of the price of admission.



Nope. Better to schedule Troy and Buffalo and McNeese State and Nicholls State and Northeastern.

Path of least resistance...

[Terry in Crapchester]

Okay, between Clemson (barely), Florida, N. C. State (barely) and Boston College I stand corrected. There is a possible way for FSU to lose three games there.

The sky would have to fall in but yeah, the possibility does exist there.

It just disgusted me to see that they only have three more road games all season long and that they'd scheduled a team like Buffalo. I just don't think it's asking too much to at least require each team to play a balanced schedule (an equal amount of home and road games) and for controlled scrimmages to not count as actual games on the W-L record...

The re-alignment of the Acc and particuarly because 2 teams were added initially followed by another the following year, has put the schedule into Whack mode for a few years. Most teams were left with open dates. You, who appear to be a genious on scheduling matters, surely understand that scheds. are made up years in advance. Thus when you suddenly are faced with open dates it is tough to get upper tier opponents on short notice. Generally the only ones who will whore them selfs out are lesser tier schools looking for big time exposure. getting big time exposure requires going to the big timers house. Hence, FSU has 8 home games this year. Due to conference re-alignment FSU lost traditional annual games against, Ga.Tech and NC.
I hope you find comfort in knowing that next year Fsu will play a full conferenc schedule which includes Boston Colleg, Va. Tech, and Miami. Out of conference games have FSU going to Colorado, Jacksonville to face Alabama, and of course the much hated Gaytors.

For the record, FSU still has 8 conference games this year. You're correct in pointing out that they lost annual matchups with Georgia Tech and North Carolina (along with Duke and Virginia) due to conference realignment, but they picked up an annual matchup with BC. As things currently stand, FSU plays BC, Clemson, Maryland, Miami, NC State and Wake on an annual basis, and picks up its remaining two conference games from among the other five ACC teams (Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia, Va Tech).

The fact that the NCAA added a 12th game for this season only last year would excuse teams for their scheduling for one game, but shouldn't excuse more than that.

[Cicero]

We did have several games scheduled w/ Auburn but they pussied out when Terry Bowden resigned. We play a tough enough schedule year in year out, so I dont mind if we get a pass this year.


Nolesy is right. Those open dates came about recently and the bigger schools arent going to raise their hand. Thus teams in the WAC and Conf USA are more than likely to play us.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Nothing's stopping FSU or any other team from calling the AD of one of those other better programs, rather than calling the ADs of Troy or Buffalo.

Since everybody who schedules the creampuffs is claiming the same reason for doing so then maybe FSU's AD could go ahead and call Auburn's, Nebraska's or LSU's AD. While they're on the phone together, hey, here's another novel suggestion: Home and home series!

How is FSU supposed to get a major player locked into an agreement on extremely short notice (after sudden realignment) when the other big time schools have already signed contracts with opponents 4-5 years prior? How does that work exactly, smart guy?

Secondly, how do you know they didn't attempt to pick up the phone and call some of these schools? Are you on speaking terms with Bobby Bowden and FSU's AD?

You need to lay off the ACC/Big East schools for a while, until things are back to normal. If you want to condemn a Big Ten, SEC, Pac 10 or Big 12 school, fine, but schools like FSU aren't currently sitting with schedules they wanted five years ago.

[Van]

Mgo, everybody who schedules these creampuffs claims the same reason, that it was all they could get on short notice.

Well then, why couldn't they get each other on short notice, while they're out shopping the Buffalos and Troys of the world??

The answer is simple. It's exactly the one described by Vito, and the Texas AD. Dude isn't willing to schedule a home and home. If he can't have it as a one off home game then he won't take it. Of course, no program worth its salt will agree to that. That's it.

And that's the problem.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Well then, why couldn't they get each other on short notice, while they're out shopping the Buffalos and Troys of the world??

The answer is simple. It's exactly the one described by Vito, and the Texas AD. Dude isn't willing to schedule a home and home. If he can't have it as a one off home game then he won't take it. Of course, no program worth its salt will agree to that. That's it.

Please name specific examples (team names) of who "should've" scheduled each other.

It would help to know what I'm working with here.

[Van]

Mgo, on this board's front page there's currently a thread describing how a boatload of top teams scheduled 1-AA games this season.

You might easily use some of those teams, just for starters.

Otherwise, you've got Auburn, FSU, W. Virginia, Va Tech, Texas and Nebraska right off the top of my head who scheduled laughable home game scrimmages this season. Some scheduled two and even three laughable home game scrimmages. What, none of those openings in all those Big Program schedules couldn't have been filled with...each other?

Of course they could've, if that's what those programs wanted. Make the phone calls...stay after it until you get it done.

That's not what they wanted. They wanted home game gimmees and they all used the same lame excuse for doing it.

[Nolesy]

Van, I see your point to a certian extent. However I still contend that big time programs have thier agendas set far in advance. I would further offer that as to your suggestion of ADs getting on the phone , can you envision a conversation that goes....... uh, hello, this is the AD at FSU. How would you like to come down here and get your ass handed to you then next year we'll come over to your crib and roll you there. I don't see alot of that happening.
I also agree that we as consumers get hosed when we payu premium price to see Troy, Rice, ect. But what are you gonna do. Besides you think the Universities give a flying flip about what we want?
Terry, We still have Duke and Virginia on the schedule this year but I am uncertian about the future. Bottom line, this will work out in the next few years.

[Jimmy Medalions]

Hey guys, check out where we play OUR out of conference games. Totally credible.



-- SECfan

[Van]

I always loved Jimmah's "empty trophy case" picture argument...

:-)

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Come on now, Van, you're disappointing me.

Answer the question, or move along. Just name me two matchups of said heavy hitters you think "should've" occurred.

[Jimmy Medalions]

I always loved Jimmah's "empty trophy case" picture argument...

:-)

:?

[Van]

Come on now, Van, you're disappointing me.

Answer the question, or move along. Just name me two matchups of said heavy hitters you think "should've" occurred.

I just listed about six teams. I also provided you with a link detailing, what, 11 of 12 Big 12 teams?

What more do you need?

W. Virginia plays FSU
Auburn plays Va Tech
Louisville plays Nebraska
OSU (Oklahoma or Ohio) plays LSU

Mgo, considering all the patsies that were scheduled and the excuse that's bandied about each time it's called into question there were ALL SORTS of open dates that could've been filled with real matchups, if only that were the goal of our intrepid ADs. The possibilities are nearly endless. What more do you need?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

W. Virginia plays FSU

I suppose this would've been feasible, considering both teams likely had to tinker with their schedules around the same time. However, like you once said, "it takes two to tango," and it's possible one team came calling and the other denied. We wouldn’t know who pussed out, so instead, you call them all out without knowing who may have attempted.

Auburn plays Va Tech

Nope. Auburn wasn’t affected by any realignments, so their contracts were solidified years back, making it so they wouldn’t have been able to satisfy Va Tech had they came calling at the last minute.

Louisville plays Nebraska

Nope. See above reason, except replace "Auburn" with "Nebraska".

OSU (Oklahoma or Ohio) plays LSU

Like I said, bang on the other conferences all you want just leave the ACC/Big East alone this year. They deserve the free pass.

Oh, and you think it reasonable that Ohio St would play Texas and LSU in the same season, out of conference? Bwaa.

[bradhusker]

van, your a fuckin moron, your entire rant, about nebraska playing nicholls and louisianna tech, is a joke, because nebraska isnt afraid to play anybody, which is why we are facing usc in a few days, the point being is, that other teams refused to come to lincoln, therefore, we are left finding whoever,
we'd love to play a louisville or a va tech, but, the problem is, they dont want to face us, its really quite simple, AND, in a few days, when we march into usc, and physically put booty in the hospital, you will come to see my point, more clearly,

[bradhusker]

heupel,
after seeing your sooners struggle to beat UAB, id REMAIN SILENT, funny though, how you made fun of zac taylor, saying that the sooners didnt want him, in fact, you idiots passed him up, decided that he wasnt good enough to QB for oklahoma?
really? from my vantage point, zac puts to shame, ANY passer that you've had recently,
damm, my how the tides have turned, nebraska is easily the most balanced team in the entire big 12, too bad we dont get ya in the regular season this time round, my only prayer is that somehow, someway, you can muster the balls, to beat texas, (not happenning), but, if it did?
nebraska would skullfuck ya sooner sissies this year, you know it, I know it, in fact, your sister knows it, she told me in-between swallows,

[Van]

W. Virginia plays FSU

I suppose this would've been feasible, considering both teams likely had to tinker with their schedules around the same time. However, like you once said, "it takes two to tango," and it's possible one team came calling and the other denied. We wouldn’t know who pussed out, so instead, you call them all out without knowing who may have attempted.

I'm just throwing out names since you asked for some. You may mix and match them as you see fit. I'm calling out the system.

Auburn plays Va Tech

Nope. Auburn wasn’t affected by any realignments, so their contracts were solidified years back, making it so they wouldn’t have been able to satisfy Va Tech had they came calling at the last minute.

So? Five years ago, back when they were making their schedule, Auburn called...Buffalo?? They could've called somebody else, anybody else, including other decent teams who today have shitty games scheduled that were scheduled five years ago. No matter how you slice it Mgo, it's the same problem. These teams are taking the path of least resistance.

Louisville plays Nebraska

Nope. See above reason, except replace "Auburn" with "Nebraska".

Yep. Same reasons as above.

OSU (Oklahoma or Ohio) plays LSU

Like I said, bang on the other conferences all you want just leave the ACC/Big East alone this year. They deserve the free pass.

Nope. Many teams in their position would not've called up Northeastern or Eastern Washington. Path of least resistance.

Oh, and you think it reasonable that Ohio St would play Texas and LSU in the same season, out of conference? Bwaa.

Why not? Nebraska, ND and Arkansas as an OOC schedule (all home and home series) says it's not only possible but preferable. Also, there's still someplace preferable between scheduling Buffalo vs scheduling LSU. Did they really have to go all the way down to the very bottom of the barrel? No, they didn't. They chose to.

POLR...

[Van]

van, your a fuckin moron, your entire rant, about nebraska playing nicholls and louisianna tech, is a joke, because nebraska isnt afraid to play anybody, which is why we are facing usc in a few days, the point being is, Nebraska, like far too many other huge programs, refuses to schedule home and home series because that'd risk a loss somewhere plus Nebraska would no longer have a schedule that's overloaded with cream puff home games. So, yeah, other teams refused to come to lincoln without also receiving a promise of a return date at home, therefore, we are left finding whoever...so we chose the absolute easiest "whoever" we could find. We're damn proud to be playing La Tech and Nicholls State in back to back weekends. We're even going to count 'em as wins. In fact, if they'd let us, we'd count 'em as double points mocha latte super duper wins. That's just how we roll. We're just pissed Buffalo said no to us. Lame fucking excuse they gave us, too! Something 'bout, "Sorry. Auburn called first. But hey, you might try giving McNeese State a call..."
we'd love to play a louisville or a va tech, but, the problem is, they dont want to face us, its really quite simple, AND, in a few days, when we march into usc, and physically put booty in the hospital, you will come to see my point, more clearly,

You're welcome.

[PSUFAN]

I agree that scheduling can be a difficult process. Things happen...for example, PSU was supposed to be playing Alabama this year and last. The series was called off, so this year's replacement is a 1-AA team, YSU.

Now...it seems to me that a lot of schools are offering this type of "excuse", as it were. Someone above made the good point that they should have considered scheduling one another.

At the end of the day, I feel utterly certain that PSU's AD has one major concern...scheduling as many home games as possible. YSU isn't an ideal opponent, but their concern about that ends pretty abruptly.

Any AD will do what they can to make money. If fans care that much about the quality of the competition, they will voice their concerns with their wallets...but don't wait for it. It's easy for us to armchair around, but CFB being what it is, the pigs at the trough will be awfully hard to dislodge.

[Van]

PSU, in order to help fix this nonsense one of the first rule changes that needs to go into effect is that all teams must have a balanced schedule. Six home games, six roadies.

Like you said, and like everybody keeps saying, all a given AD wants is more home games.

Screw that. An 8-4 schedule (with the imbalance comprised of three cupcake home game scrimmages) is total bullshit. Make everybody have to play a balanced schedule and then the ADs won't be able to schedule YSU or Buffalo any longer, at least not without also agreeing to play a roadie at Buffalo, which would never happen.

Many of sport's issues are going to prove to be very difficult to fix. This one, however, this is one easy problem to fix. All it'd take is a willingness to sack up and risk some losses here and there. If everybody's risking equally though then why the hell not?

The alternative is just plain embarrassing, and it doesn't speak well at all to our nation's character.

[Nolesy]

Van, I gotta love your passion man but I do feel there are better barometors of this nations character than college football scheduling.

[Van]

Nolesy, of course there are.

Doesn't change the fact though that as a nation we're in mad monkey love with a sport which systemically espouses a complete lack of fair play and sporting courage. We're supporting greed, sloth and cowardice. This current system is a system that in terms of promoting fair play is no better than pitting Christians againt lions and we do nothing but sit back and cheer it on.

In fact, we even analyze it afterwards, and put credence in it, as if anybody can really tell how well Colt McCoy fared while having three calm days back there in the pocket to pick and choose amongst his wide open receivers when he played thoroughly overmatched N. Texas...

Ditch this nonsense. Imbue the system with fair play and an attempt at competitive balance. Mainly, would it be asking too much to simply make all the games count??

[Degenerate]

Screw that. An 8-4 schedule (with the imbalance comprised of three cupcake home game scrimmages) is total bullshit. Make everybody have to play a balanced schedule and then the ADs won't be able to schedule YSU or Buffalo any longer, at least not without also agreeing to play a roadie at Buffalo, which would never happen.

Many of sport's issues are going to prove to be very difficult to fix. This one, however, this is one easy problem to fix. All it'd take is a willingness to sack up and risk some losses here and there. If everybody's risking equally though then why the hell not?

You're the first person i know of who has ever clamored for more home games for the Buffalos and Temples of the world. Of course, I'm sure the demand is there, what with those teams drawing three or four thousand a game. Maybe less.

Seriously, if this were ever a rule of some sort, you would financially starve no fewer than 15 teams right out of Division I-A football. Schools on the bottom end of D-1 do not make money playing each other. The asswhipping an Eastern Michigan, say, takes from a UM or Wisconsin every other year is necessary to finance their football budget.

[Van]

Obviously some 1-A football programs...shouldn't be. Cull the herd.

Obviously no 1-AA should ever be on a Texas schedule.

[bradhusker]

van, you can cut and paste quotes , and make it seem like I am agreeing with you, that is the action of a true homosexual, you just exposed yourself in here, ONLY a queer homosexual would cut and paste and make up a quote like you did,
and the reason that you stoop so low, is because you have no credible arguement, you are laughed at, and, quite frankly, I LOVE IT,
again, you look like a fool, keep it up,

[Terry in Crapchester]

PSU, in order to help fix this nonsense one of the first rule changes that needs to go into effect is that all teams must have a balanced schedule. Six home games, six roadies.

I agree with this in principle. However, I'd make an exception for neutral-field games, to a maximum of two per season. Teams could substitute up to two neutral-field games per season for one road and/or one home game. Any team who played two neutral-field games would have to substitute for one home and one road game.

ND made its image, at least in part, on neutral-field games, and one of the few things Kevin White has done right at ND is that he has made an effort to go back to the old-school approach in that regard. Against Navy, Navy's "home" game in the series has always been on a neutral field, usually in the northeast. At least in part, that's to accommodate ticket demand among that section of ND's fanbase that lives in the northeast. Also, a number of big-time rivalries are traditionally played on a neutral field -- RRSO and Florida-Georgia come to mind.

Like you said, and like everybody keeps saying, all a given AD wants is more home games.

Screw that. An 8-4 schedule (with the imbalance comprised of three cupcake home game scrimmages) is total bullshit. Make everybody have to play a balanced schedule and then the ADs won't be able to schedule YSU or Buffalo any longer, at least not without also agreeing to play a roadie at Buffalo, which would never happen.

I'll speak to Buffalo in this regard, since I'm relatively close, geographically speaking, to their program, and I have some degree of familiarity with it. Imho, the answer with respect to Buffalo would be a home-and-neutral field. Buffalo's on-campus stadium seats only about 25,000, IIRC, and usually it doesn't come close to capacity. Since the big boys can't afford the financial hit a home-and-home would entail, why not play Buffalo's "home" game in those series at Ralph Wilson Stadium? Granted, it might limit who Buffalo can schedule to an extent. Playing Auburn at Ralph Wilson Stadium would result in nothing but even more empty seats, but if they scheduled a team that would generate some interest among the locals, and which was close enough to travel if seats were readily available, who knows? Like I said, that would preclude Buffalo from scheduling just anybody, but they still might be able to get a program such as Penn State, ND, Michigan or Ohio State in under those conditions.

Seems to me that solution could be a win-win for everyone. Buffalo gets to keep the big paydays that are necessary for the financial viability of their program, while some of the big boys have a patsy available if they're interested. And at least it's a 1-A program.

Many of sport's issues are going to prove to be very difficult to fix. This one, however, this is one easy problem to fix. All it'd take is a willingness to sack up and risk some losses here and there. If everybody's risking equally though then why the hell not?

The alternative is just plain embarrassing, and it doesn't speak well at all to our nation's character.

I agree with you to an extent, but let's not get too melodramatic. This is college football we're talking about, after all.

[Van]

Terry, I don't mean that as an all encompassing indictment, obviously. I'm referring to our sporting nation's character, which seems to be okay with pre-ordained slaughters parading around as legitimate sport.

As far as Buffalo goes, I just used them as an example. You could substitute any cupcake in there. Doesn't matter who it is, no AD at Auburn, Texas of Florida State should ever call the AD at a place like that. Auburn will never agree to a home and home with a school like that so don't even make the call.

[Nolesy]

Van, I want to point out to you that these cubcake games are far more than glorified scrimages. They are also great oppurtunities to pad individual stats and get a lot of reps for your 2nd and 3rd teamers. In sert smiley face here because mine does'nt seem to be functioning.

[Van]

My smiley face deal isn't working either here, to my ever lastin'-can't piss off Dins-chagrin...