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Topic: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992

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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2020, 10:24:20 PM »
The point is that 4 teams held the other 8 hostage, and so Florida and LSU get thrown together, as the 4 I listed above weren't even options.  Florida vs Auburn was a rivalry.  Florida vs LSU was played often, but was nothing.
Florida played MSU more often than LSU.  And the reason UF and MSU weren't a cross-division rivals are "just because."  And it's turned out (so far) that they've both had to play the toughest opponent over these 28 years (in terms of advantage/disadvantage).

If those 4 wanted to play each other, they should've been placed in the same division. 
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #15 on: July 04, 2020, 10:36:01 PM »
It could have been any number of combinations.
Alabama vs Georgia (bordering states, both big-boy programs)
Auburn vs Florida
LSU vs Tennessee


There's nothing wrong with these.  
Here's SEC records from 1970-1991:
.798 Alabama
.688 Georgia
.607 Auburn
.581 Tennessee
.568 Florida
.559 LSU
.402 Ole Miss
.309 Miss State
.307 Kentucky
.169 Vandy
.
So 1 just has to play 4, and 2 must play 3, or else they'll pitch a fit.  The other matchups?  
5 vs 6, 7 vs 10, 8 vs 9.  Basically random.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #16 on: July 05, 2020, 08:02:29 AM »
Auburn-UGA has more history than any other SEC matchup, so if there are to be pairs, that would be one.  Alabama-Tenn has some history, you could do Bama-Florida, but that doesn't help Florida at all.  And UF-LSU has some history as noted.  There are the Big Boy teams in the SEC.

I wish "we" had stayed at 12, made more sense to me.  You could have had some teams paired and the rest not.
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bamajoe

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #17 on: July 05, 2020, 08:19:16 AM »
I don't think won-loss records had anything at all to do with this scheduling. It was based on history and geography. Florida does have a gripe in that they don't get to play Auburn which is geographically closest to them but the Georgia-Auburn history situation prevailed. I think the decision was made because Florida had played LSU for 22 consecutive years which was pointed out above.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #18 on: July 05, 2020, 08:21:06 AM »
The W-L records might have been a non-factor, but it is interesting how the three pairings are THE powers in the SEC.
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bamajoe

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #19 on: July 05, 2020, 08:32:57 AM »
The fact the four mentioned are the most successful has a great deal to do with establishing rivalries. If one team dominates you can't really have a rivalry.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #20 on: July 05, 2020, 08:52:32 AM »
Do away with pairings all together?

Would anyone miss that?

I don't like playing only one other West team each year.  
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Cincydawg

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #21 on: July 05, 2020, 10:00:28 AM »
I personally would be OK with leaving this to posterity.  Play two cross division teams at random each year, or in a pattern.  Fine with me.  

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Cincydawg

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #22 on: July 05, 2020, 11:34:17 AM »
Heck, I would be fine with kicking out Mizzou and A&M.  I realize that won't happen of course, so I don't pine for it.

That conference expansion panic didn't do many much good I think.
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bamajoe

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #23 on: July 05, 2020, 12:31:12 PM »
I think A&M added value to the conference. I know they haven't won anything yet but they will. There is too much money and talent in Texas. We needed Arkansas to make it an even number. We probably should have taken Clemson and FSU instead of USC and Missouri. I like the bigger league.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #24 on: July 05, 2020, 02:23:02 PM »
I think Arky and USCe were added at the same time, and then much later Mizzou and A&M came in as a pair.

But I could be wrong.
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #25 on: July 05, 2020, 02:28:03 PM »
Quote from: bamajoe on July 05, 2020, 08:19:16 AM
I don't think won-loss records had anything at all to do with this scheduling. It was based on history and geography. Florida does have a gripe in that they don't get to play Auburn which is geographically closest to them but the Georgia-Auburn history situation prevailed. I think the decision was made because Florida had played LSU for 22 consecutive years which was pointed out above.
a - why did 12 teams need cross-division "rivals" when only 4 actually had them?
b - Florida had played Missisisppi State for more consecutive years than it had played LSU, and Starkville is closer to Gainesville.

And from LSU's point of view, LSU had played Kentucky more often the previous 30 years than it had Florida.  This was a mish-mash, random pairing because of the selfishness of 4 teams. 

The "other" 8 SEC schools were treated as puzzle pieces made to fit, and it was wrong.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #26 on: July 05, 2020, 02:32:14 PM »
Four teams were selfish?  Huh.

Maybe they were influential.  Maybe the Florida AD was ineffectual.  Maybe they drew lots.  Maybe four teams were selfish.

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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Cross-Division Rival, Since 1992
« Reply #27 on: July 05, 2020, 11:03:54 PM »
The unimpressive part of SEC scheduling is that you could create a setup with 16 teams who play each other far more often than the SEC's schedule with only 12 teams.


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“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier
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