05-09-2014, 01:17 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/story/...layoff/8791503/
The following is an excerpt from a story in USA today that i believe finally confirms what parity scheduling means. With a nine game schedule, teams will have 3 cross division opponents, one that is the same and 2 that rotate, at least for a 6 year cycle.
Q: Immediately after the Big Ten's East and West divisions were formed, people reacted saying there is a football imbalance – that the East is stacked, West is not. Did you anticipate that? How much of that is a concern?
A: The last time (we split into divisions), we tried to do everything based on competitiveness. We were centralized enough that we could do it. I think when you go all the way out East, you have to make a decision. I think rivalries matter. Travel matters.
My own view is over time – when the SEC first started divisions 22 years ago, the East was dominant. Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. Arkansas, Alabama, LSU were down. The last 10 years, the West has been stronger than the East. I think that maybe the East is coming back. I think Tennessee will get better, and Florida. Georgia will get better. I think the same thing could happen with us.
I know Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State are the historic teams, but I also think Nebraska, Wisconsin and Iowa are very capable. Illinois. You can't advance without beating the best of the other (division) anyway. I think there's something to re-evaluate, we're pushing the envelope as conferences get larger. But as conferences get larger, they become more regional through divisions.
That's why the ninth game is important. You've got one across, two that rotate. You're going to be able to do that. If you didn't play nine, it would be harder. I wouldn't be shocked someday if we're playing 10 – as it becomes more and more difficult to schedule non-conference games.
The following is an excerpt from a story in USA today that i believe finally confirms what parity scheduling means. With a nine game schedule, teams will have 3 cross division opponents, one that is the same and 2 that rotate, at least for a 6 year cycle.
Q: Immediately after the Big Ten's East and West divisions were formed, people reacted saying there is a football imbalance – that the East is stacked, West is not. Did you anticipate that? How much of that is a concern?
A: The last time (we split into divisions), we tried to do everything based on competitiveness. We were centralized enough that we could do it. I think when you go all the way out East, you have to make a decision. I think rivalries matter. Travel matters.
My own view is over time – when the SEC first started divisions 22 years ago, the East was dominant. Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. Arkansas, Alabama, LSU were down. The last 10 years, the West has been stronger than the East. I think that maybe the East is coming back. I think Tennessee will get better, and Florida. Georgia will get better. I think the same thing could happen with us.
I know Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State are the historic teams, but I also think Nebraska, Wisconsin and Iowa are very capable. Illinois. You can't advance without beating the best of the other (division) anyway. I think there's something to re-evaluate, we're pushing the envelope as conferences get larger. But as conferences get larger, they become more regional through divisions.
That's why the ninth game is important. You've got one across, two that rotate. You're going to be able to do that. If you didn't play nine, it would be harder. I wouldn't be shocked someday if we're playing 10 – as it becomes more and more difficult to schedule non-conference games.