Pat Forde argues for a nine-game SEC schedule

Mhmm

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I want to know if this guy has always been a retard, or if he caught it when he went to yahoo sports.

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He came from ESPN where he was the lead retard at the time.

Before going to ESPN, he was a lead columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal. Whatever you think of him, the point is that there seems to be growing national momentum in favor of a nine-game schedule. His arguments about the need for quality programming for the new SEC network are valid (I imagine ESPN might well favor a nine-game schedule), as is his point about the strength-of-schedule emphasis in the new national championship set-up.

Also, he gave a bit of a nod to the fact that LSU is more ambitious in non-conference scheduling than a lot of SEC schools.

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nine-game schedule.

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Oh I want a 9-game schedule, but that doesn't change the fact that Forde is a douche and has always had it out for the SEC. He's a fan of the little guy, the Boise States of the world, and thinks the big bad SEC is evil.

You realize the only possible reason they would decide to go to 9 games is to protect the permanent opponents, right?

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I'm for it.

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I believe any true and secure SEC fan (or LSU fan) would have to be absolutely in favor a 9 game SEC schedule. Not because the other leagues are doing it (we're not a "me-too" league). But because our fans deserve better games than a small annual handful of Cream Puff U games of the week. Plus, IMO, increased SEC exposure puts more pressure on the whole league to improve. That can only be a win/win for all of us.

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You realize the only possible reason they would decide to go to 9 games is to protect the permanent opponents, right?

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I've read about scenarios in which a team could choose to play one permanent cross-divisional opponant while rotating two opponants, and everyone else could rotate three. Don't know what the logistics would be, but it might work.

Year 1: Alabama draws Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri

Year 2: Alabama draws Tennessee, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt

Year 3: Alabama draws Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Missouri

Year 4: The cycle resets

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I've read about scenarios in which a team could choose to play one permanent cross-divisional opponant while rotating two opponants, and everyone else could rotate three. Don't know what the logistics would be, but it might work.

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The issue isn't CAN the SEC go to 9 games with equality in scheduling its IF. The perm cross division games need to be dropped. I prefer not to lose LSU/UF every year but we should make that choice not the SEC/BHam Mafia. The teams that want to keep certain rivalries should be allowed to facilitated by the SEC. By the same token if you choose a traditionally strong perm rival game that's on you. The other teams shouldn't have to give you a traditionally low tier SEC game to offset your rivalry. The schedule should be fair and rotate equally for everyone. If you choose to keep a tough rivalry so be it.

If we go to 9 games the chances are that our schedule gets a bit easier and Alabama has a harder time running away and hiding from at least 1 tough conf. game.
I'm for it.
We'd still have one marquee ooc. Plus, home game cream puffs are hard to draw to, hard to get up for and if you lose or play close it hurts you while if you win it doesn't help.