I'm well aware of how many times Florida has made it to ATL. They've won the east one more time than Tennessee and one fewer times than UGA. Are you suggesting a team hasn't accomplished something by winning the east? Is the line of demarcation a win in ATL? If that is the case why complain about getting UGA next season? After all, they've lost the last two years they've made it to ATL. It's interesting to note that these four times Florida has made it to ATL only one has a bearing on LSU's championship aspirations: 2006. These other three years it was losses to teams in the western division that kept LSU out of the championship games. And that scenario changes when you remove the down years they've had since they fired Fulmer. My contention throughout this conversation is this will not stay the same. I've not used the word "contender" to describe Tennessee now. I've said they've been competitive even in their down years. I've said they won't remain as bad as they are now. I've said our schedule is easier now because they are down. I've also said it will not remain that way as a counter-point to those stating it's been a built in advantage for Alabama all along. As to the penalty that gave LSU another change after time expired? There was confusion on both sides of the ball there. I recall LSU having wide receivers shuffling in and out because they were unsure of what was going on as well. I believe one of the catch phrases that following Sunday was "miracle." Is that an accurate description? The penalty game LSU a second chance. I chose to use the term lucky due to the infrequency you see teams getting called for too many players on the field. If you think "very fortunate to beat Tennessee in 2010" is a better way to put it? I'll readily accept that. One thing is for certain. They were definitely competitive that game. Far, far from a "cupcake" win.
No, I'm suggesting that Florida is a more powerful and sucessful opponent than Tennessee, giving LSU a higher bar to leap . . . year after year. So what? The scenario changes when you remove LSU under Hallman and Archer. The scenario changes when you remove Bama's scholarship losses on probation and all the vacated games. It's easy to change the scenario. But they could. Ole Miss never came back from their glory days. And changes come slowly. Rotating all opponents s the only equitable way of spreading around the stronger and weaker teams. It's not random chance when permanent opponents get into the picture. Individual schools traditions cannot come into play in setting league schedules. LSU had a traditional rival (and an automatic win) in Tulane that we played annually until the SEC went to 7 games. We had a long rivalry with A&M that went on until the schedule went to 8 SEC games. LSU had to drop some annual games against long-time traditional rivals in the best interests of the league and of LSU as well. Bama's tradition is no more special than anyone else's. No. Les simply made a late substitution. Not at all. That was what the TV announcer screamed, but that was just sportscaster patter. There was nothing miraculous about it. Jefferson was looking at a thirteen-man defense and LSU was never going to make it. So it was a penalty and LSU got to run the play again just like every other penalty in the history of football. No luck to it. What miracle? What the announcer should have said is "What a blunder!" Tennessee completely blew it. That's just more hyperbole. Tennessee committed a stupid penalty and paid the price. Second chances come with all penalties. What is so different about this penalty that makes it a "miracle for LSU" instead of a "complete fuck-up for Tennessee"? Tennessee was a bad football team and has been for a long time. LSU's "miracle" play was the Hail Mary at Kentucky that made Doug Flutie's look like a dink pass.
I've no idea what would happen if Joe Alleva did what you suggest. Schedules are approved by school administrators just like other moves by the SEC. If you want a case example, see the appeal filed in 2010 for schedule relief that didn't have enough votes from school presidents to get the schedule changed. It was submitted to the group, it didn't have enough support, and therefore denied. In a way this goes back to what Miles and Alleva have voiced and what I've said about their feelings. They don't have enough votes. If you are so desperate for a link go find one. On more than one occasion it was stated by more than one media outlet that during the meetings in Destin they hoped to get the schedule out last week, and if it wasn't done look for it this upcoming week. It's a simple google search. The post by dudley I quoted, then responded to, said the following: "If the schedule for 2014 is not already fixed, look for Alabama to suddenly have Florida on the schedule (in Tuscaloosa of course.") To which I replied: "The schedule hasn't been finished as of yet, but it looks to be Georgia." As you can clearly see I took his question and answered. Which one do you think?
These facts are indisputable: 1. Since going to 2 divisions, Fla has been better that Tenn. Giving LSU the tougher road to the SECCG more than not. 2. In addition to the easier perm opp, bama has had a cakewalk with rotating opp from the east 2 years in a row. 3. The SEC office, knowing the top 2 facts, decided to "bridge" it straight up LSU's ass, and give them SC last year, and Ga. this year, (even though we've played them more recently than bama) while managing to give bama the ONLY (Kent) team weaker than the one they had last year (Mizzo), with no explanation. 4. LSU fans and coaches, in light of the past 2 years, are crying foul, and JUST LIKE BAMA DID OVER THE BYE WEEK. 5 While the SEC office felt the need to address poor bama's bye week concerns, they could give a shit less about LSU's scheduling concerns, and that's why you hear the conspiracy stuff.
I understand what you're saying here red. What I'm trying to get across is how you are viewing it isn't how others are viewing the same scene. This proverbial bar hasn't been leapt over isn't due to Florida. 2006 is the only year where a loss to Florida has had an impact on LSU's season in the SEC. In other years, there have been teams from the western division LSU didn't get past. It's because of that very point that the complaints about playing Florida are falling on a lot of deaf ears. When people look at the overall series and see how close it is they don't see an advantage one way or another. They see two evenly matched programs. And the scenario changed when Florida had Zook. I'm aware you lost to UF in 2003 when they were under Zook. (I can't recall how that game went other than it was an LSU loss. I can recall Florida lost to Tennessee and Mississippi that year.) Here's we just don't see eye to eye. You say Ole Miss never came back. I say Ole Miss went back. They weren't very good before Vaught and they returned to their normal success level when his time was over. Heck, even during his years that program was up and down so it's hard to say "glory days." A "glory day" here and there... You're losing me here. LSU could have kept Tulane and A&M just like Georgia kept Georgia Tech, right? How are these any different? Late substitution, yes. Did it cause confusion? Yes. [/quote]Not at all. That was what the TV announcer screamed, but that was just sportscaster patter. There was nothing miraculous about it. Jefferson was looking at a thirteen-man defense and LSU was never going to make it. So it was a penalty and LSU got to run the play again just like every other penalty in the history of football. No luck to it. What miracle? What the announcer should have said is "What a blunder!" Tennessee completely blew it. That's just more hyperbole. Tennessee committed a stupid penalty and paid the price. Second chances come with all penalties. What is so different about this penalty that makes it a "miracle for LSU" instead of a "complete fuck-up for Tennessee"? Tennessee was a bad football team and has been for a long time. LSU's "miracle" play was the Hail Mary at Kentucky that made Doug Flutie's look like a dink pass.[/quote] After watching the video your right, the TV announcer did scream miracle. And I clearly remember the Blue Grass Miracle. Yet, here we're coming to a statement again that makes me say "wait a second." Can a bad football team continue to be competitive against good football teams? Tennessee certainly hasn't been the Tennessee we've grown up following. But, they've proven competitive in more than one season, more than one game over the last few years. To me that says they've had the talent on campus. It also tells me they've had a deficiency at the HC position. In no way does it tell em the program is dead.
How did the SEC office address the bye week concerns? When relief was requested it was denied. There weren't enough votes in favor.
