The Rest of College Football

[Optimus Prime]

I don't think Florida plays an especially good OOC schedule, particularly since FSU isn't what it once was, but Meyer had little to do with that. It was a long-standing policy going back to Spurrier's first years. Meyer didn't change it and it's unlikely to change post-Meyer.

Wrong. The battle became an Urban Fryer 4 hour "Infomercial". Future recruits, Do you want to kickass, head to Gainesville, if you want to be coached by "dementia in a diaper" Tallahassee is your destination. Bowden clearly lost it and IMO and in embarrassing fashion.

[Wild Hoss]

They haven't played an OOC game out of the state of Florida in something like 20 years. I don't care if they played other good Miami schools. That's chickenshit. Not as bad as Kansas State and Wisconsin who were #1 and #2 (Wisconsin has gotten better).

In the past five years Kansas State has played at Auburn, Miami, UCLA and Louisville.

[Jamie H]

Yes, Kansas State improved their schedule post-Synder. However, with Snyder back in charge we will see if they continue with that.

Florida's refusal to ever travel outside of their state may have been around before Meyer, but he certainly had no interest in changing it. I don't think teams should make crazy road trips every year, but to never even leave your own state is totally chickenshit. Go play someone. Even just once in a while.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I agree, they should leave Florida once in a while. And Meyer didn't change the policy. That's more on the AD than any of the head coaches. But sure, Spurrier didn't push to have it changed, and neither did Zook, Urban, or Muschamp.

Florida does have the unique circumstance of having only 3 SEC home games every other year, thanks to the World's Largest Cocktail Party.

[lineygoblue]

The head coach carries a lot of weight when it comes to deciding on the OOC schedule. Especially one as influential as Meyer.

[Jamie H]

It's no more Meyer's fault than all the other people at Florida who have made the call, but someone should have had the sack to go play out of the state once in a while. I do understand that FSU used to be really good. Michigan used to go play people all the time (and will again with Alabama) but they haven't made many trips other than Notre Dame recently. It just isn't worth it unfortunately. The BcS doesn't care.

[Ghengis Jon]

I think it also has to do with fans and donor's attitutes. It used to be expected that one home and one away OOC game would be top 15 match-ups. Then it became apparent that bowls were picking best record teams, ignoring actual team quality which resulted in cupcake scheduling. Craving money like jonesing crack whores, ADs now schedule as many home games as possible. Maybe the pendulum is swinging back and we'll see more quality opponents. There's always the threat of taking yourself out the race for the MNC early, but I think its worth it.

[WM Wolverine]

The issue I take with Florida and a lot of other programs like say Wisky is how awful those 3 tomato cans are; I think you want to at least give yourself a team that is as good as your second stringers...

I understand the need to fill out your schedule and sometimes your left with a team like Delaware State but some universities play 3 programs at the level of the WAC, MWC, Sun Belt, Div I-AA or MAC...

[Jeff Buchanan]

On OOC scheduling......

Seems to me, in the current CFB economic environment, that these are business decisions that have everything to do with optimizing revenue and nothing to do with the quality of the football being played by any particular opponent.

I think most teams who have aspirations of playing in the post season are focused on conference play. I also would think folks involved in scheduling want to build a schedule that optimizes the conference's bowl opportunities. Having teams starting the season 0-3 because they stepped up to the plate and scheduled top 10 teams because these kinds of game are more challenging is stupid.

I think what makes sense economically is playing your OOC games like they are home field scrimmages and the closer you can get to that ideal the better. One smart thing Rodriguez did say during his tenure as M's HC was that there ought to be a preseason. He's right but that's pretty much how I would view the OOC scheduling issue these days.

[iam416]

The issue I take with Florida and a lot of other programs like say Wisky is how awful those 3 tomato cans are; I think you want to at least give yourself a team that is as good as your second stringers

Florida, fwiw, has had a 2nd game against Miami, South Florida and some others. I agree -- I think you should have a 2nd game that's at least against a MWC school/decent CUSA school or garbage Big East school -- someone who will take the money and run. Fill out the last two slots with MAC schools (if you're in the B10) or Sun Belt schools (if you're in the SEC) and that's that.

In any event, by no means do I think Florida schedules tough game OoC games. I do think they're generally middle of the pack -- i.e., they do things like most other schools. My original comments were only in response to the rather audacious assertion that UFM is the third biggest chicken-shit scheduler of all-time.

I think what makes sense economically is playing your OOC games like they are home field scrimmages and the closer you can get to that ideal the better. One smart thing Rodriguez did say during his tenure as M's HC was that there ought to be a preseason. He's right but that's pretty much how I would view the OOC scheduling issue these days.

Yeah. I think that's largely right. M's problem, IMO, for OoC SOS is they are wed to Notre Dame. I understand it's a great "traditional" game and such and that M will never drop it (and vice versa). However, when ND is your "anchor" OoC opponent in a new era "1/3" scheduling philosophy, well, your OoC schedule is likely to suck. I think ND is at a stage where they can't credibly be thought of as "dependably" good. JMO.

[hodgkal]

Dave Zirin, who is sports editor for the New Yorker, made an interesting observation on Morning Joe today. He said that Woody Hayes at his peak in 1977 was earning 42K per year at Ohio State. Fast forward to today: Urban Meyer just signed at the same school for 4.5 Million! When asked how the NCAA might institute reforms on this incredible trend he said that would be like asking The Sopranos to regulate the local drug dealers.

[hodgkal]

Zirin also made a head scratching prediction about the NFL playoffs: that the two teams that will emerge in the Super Bowl will be the Saints and -------- hold your breath ------ the Detroit Lions! He feels the Packers are not strong enough on defense or in the running game. He also bases this on what teams are hitting their peak this late in the season and what teams have suffered the most from key injuries.

[Paul L]

Not sure how that's possible since they're both in the NFC.

[DennisT]

1. Saints and Lions are both in NFC.

2. Lions are well the Lions.

Other than that, it's a great prediction.

[Wild Hoss]

1. Saints and Lions are both in NFC.

2. Lions are well the Lions.

Other than that, it's a great prediction.

It may be, but I think his grasp of the facts should be seriously questioned, and not just for predicting two NFC teams in the Super Bowl. Green Bay ranks higher than Detroit in both Scoring Defense and Rushing Offense, the two stats he cites as stating the Packers won't make the Super Bowl.