I don't think its perfect, but I think it's pretty darn good. They have tried to balance having 7 home games with playing P5 opponents and with having games that are more winnable. That is tricky balancing those things.

The home non-conference slate isn't great next season, but we do have 7 home games next year and we have UCLA this year and olemiss in 2019.

It may not be feasible, but I'd like to see a home and home with Louisville sometime down the road.

(08-14-2017 10:39 AM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  For your consideration. We have those who CLAIM we play Ga St, USA in order to get exposure in Atlanta and Mobile. So you ever wonder why it is that the P5 teams offer us home and home??????

So THEY can get more exposure in Memphis.

At least UNT actually has some sort of football tradition compared to the no name schools we are offering home and home series. Even though we already have the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex covered with our games with SMU

Also if we are playing these home and home with lesser schools in order to get exposure in these communities. Why have we swapped the largest metro area in Alabama for the third largest. When we actually had a rivalry game going with the school in the largest area. UAB was actually back playing football when we were negotiating with USA.

Are you saying that you don't want to play P5 teams home and home?

You complain a lot about the OOC schedule, but you refuse to give us and example of your idea of a perfect 4-year OOC schedule. I've asked you to do it numerous times, but you seem to be afraid.

If you were AD for a day and had the ability to create the OOC for 2021-2024 who would you schedule for those 16 games? Assume that the slate is clean.

(08-14-2017 10:39 AM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  For your consideration. We have those who CLAIM we play Ga St, USA in order to get exposure in Atlanta and Mobile. So you ever wonder why it is that the P5 teams offer us home and home??????

So THEY can get more exposure in Memphis.

being destroyed by the home team isn't exactly the exposure they're looking for, me thinks...

Most of our American conference mates are playing multiple P5 teams this year and for years in the future.

UConn (Virginia, Mizzou and B.C.) and ECU (West Va., Va. Tech and BYU - I'm calling BYU a P5) both play THREE P5 teams this year. East Carolina has two P5's in '18 & '19, and then three again in '20 (West Va., Va. Tech and So Carolina).

Houston (Arizona and Texas Tech), USF (Ga Tech and Illinois), UCF (Ga Tech and Maryland) all play two P5's this year. Houston has two P5s scheduled all but one of the next 6 years, and still has an open spot the year they have 1 scheduled, 2020. UCF has two P5s scheduled for the next 4 seasons - UCF has not released its OOC past 2020.

Memphis and Bowen have made a decision, different than our conference opponents, to schedule only one P5 per year, which means we only get a P5 home game every other year.

It's not that hard to schedule P5 teams, we just aren't trying.

(08-14-2017 11:17 AM)Tigx Wrote:  Most of our American conference mates are playing multiple P5 teams this year and for years in the future.

UConn (Virginia, Mizzou and B.C.) and ECU (West Va., Va. Tech and BYU - I'm calling BYU a P5) both play THREE P5 teams this year. East Carolina has two P5's in '18 & '19, and then three again in '20 (West Va., Va. Tech and So Carolina).

Houston (Arizona and Texas Tech), USF (Ga Tech and Illinois), UCF (Ga Tech and Maryland) all play two P5's this year. Houston has two P5s scheduled all but one of the next 6 years, and still has an open spot the year they have 1 scheduled, 2020. UCF has two P5s scheduled for the next 4 seasons - UCF has not released its OOC past 2020.

Memphis and Bowen have made a decision, different than our conference opponents, to schedule only one P5 per year, which means we only get a P5 home game every other year.

It's not that hard to schedule P5 teams, we just aren't trying.

I thought that Aresco stated at the AAC meeting that the conference wanted each school to schedule 2 Power 5 teams a year. This was to build the American conference brand. I wonder how Bowen and Memphis get around this.

(08-14-2017 10:05 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  please, Memphis has home games with UCLA, Ole Miss, Mizzou, and Miss State coming up.

I guess some of the local yokels miss the losing seasons and the 'up the middle in a cloud of dust' offense just because we played them thar' SEC teams more.

don't mess with a good thing.

"Ground Chuck" is a lie. Look at the offense he ran when he had Steve Matthews at QB with Bruce and Cody to throw to. I recall a very balanced attack.

(08-14-2017 11:17 AM)Tigx Wrote:  Memphis and Bowen have made a decision, different than our conference opponents, to schedule only one P5 per year, which means we only get a P5 home game every other year.

Is the decision effective? I'll take any metric you want to make a case for: attendance, winning, financial, rankings, recruiting, etc.

I'm consistent on this issue for MBB & FB - disappointed with the home OOC schedule approach for both. IMO we should schedule the most challenging home OOC schedule we can where we have the best opportunities for big wins.

(08-14-2017 01:35 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  I'm consistent on this issue for MBB & FB - disappointed with the home OOC schedule approach for both. IMO we should schedule the most challenging home OOC schedule we can where we have the best opportunities for big wins.

Agreed. If you want to be taken seriously, you need P5 wins.

(08-14-2017 10:51 AM)3601 Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 10:39 AM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  For your consideration. We have those who CLAIM we play Ga St, USA in order to get exposure in Atlanta and Mobile. So you ever wonder why it is that the P5 teams offer us home and home??????

So THEY can get more exposure in Memphis.

At least UNT actually has some sort of football tradition compared to the no name schools we are offering home and home series. Even though we already have the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex covered with our games with SMU

Also if we are playing these home and home with lesser schools in order to get exposure in these communities. Why have we swapped the largest metro area in Alabama for the third largest. When we actually had a rivalry game going with the school in the largest area. UAB was actually back playing football when we were negotiating with USA.

Are you saying that you don't want to play P5 teams home and home?

You complain a lot about the OOC schedule, but you refuse to give us and example of your idea of a perfect 4-year OOC schedule. I've asked you to do it numerous times, but you seem to be afraid.

If you were AD for a day and had the ability to create the OOC for 2021-2024 who would you schedule for those 16 games? Assume that the slate is clean.

I am saying that the argument you make for playing the likes of Ga St and S Ala goes both ways. That it can be used against us just as easily as we use it for our gain. Or in layman's terms. What good for the goose is good for the gander.

(08-14-2017 10:52 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 10:39 AM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  For your consideration. We have those who CLAIM we play Ga St, USA in order to get exposure in Atlanta and Mobile. So you ever wonder why it is that the P5 teams offer us home and home??????

So THEY can get more exposure in Memphis.

being destroyed by the home team isn't exactly the exposure they're looking for, me thinks...

They will be more likely to remain at a higher level than us. Even with our talent level at the skill position we still are miles behind with the hosses. We will have to play perfect games against these teams and not wear out late in games.

We can win if all goes out way but blowing out P5 teams on a constant basis is a pipe dream.

(08-14-2017 01:18 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 11:17 AM)Tigx Wrote:  Memphis and Bowen have made a decision, different than our conference opponents, to schedule only one P5 per year, which means we only get a P5 home game every other year.

Is the decision effective? I'll take any metric you want to make a case for: attendance, winning, financial, rankings, recruiting, etc.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but will answer straight.

Pro: Get extra wins. Sometimes an extra home game, albeit against unattractive opponents.

Con: Almost everything else. I would trade one Mississippi State home game for two Mercer & Georgia State home games all day, every year from now to infinity. Or one Arkansas game, one Ole Miss game, one UTK game, one Missouri game . . . I prefer quality over quantity. If this costs us winning 8 games versus winning 9 games one year, that's ok with me.

Our average attendance, which is how school's home attendance is ranked, would go up. E.g., let's say one Mississippi State game at 50K attendance versus two Mercer/So Alabama games at 25K each.

Definitely would help our recruiting. Definitely we would make more money.

My main point is don't buy the narrative that has been pitched that we can't schedule two or even three P5 games per year. It's actually easier now to do this, since the P5 conferences are backing away from scheduling FCS games, opening more slots for Group of 5 teams.

(08-14-2017 02:19 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 10:51 AM)3601 Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 10:39 AM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  For your consideration. We have those who CLAIM we play Ga St, USA in order to get exposure in Atlanta and Mobile. So you ever wonder why it is that the P5 teams offer us home and home??????

So THEY can get more exposure in Memphis.

At least UNT actually has some sort of football tradition compared to the no name schools we are offering home and home series. Even though we already have the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex covered with our games with SMU

Also if we are playing these home and home with lesser schools in order to get exposure in these communities. Why have we swapped the largest metro area in Alabama for the third largest. When we actually had a rivalry game going with the school in the largest area. UAB was actually back playing football when we were negotiating with USA.

Are you saying that you don't want to play P5 teams home and home?

You complain a lot about the OOC schedule, but you refuse to give us and example of your idea of a perfect 4-year OOC schedule. I've asked you to do it numerous times, but you seem to be afraid.

If you were AD for a day and had the ability to create the OOC for 2021-2024 who would you schedule for those 16 games? Assume that the slate is clean.

I am saying that the argument you make for playing the likes of Ga St and S Ala goes both ways. That it can be used against us just as easily as we use it for our gain. Or in layman's terms. What good for the goose is good for the gander.

You are still avoiding my question about your "ideal" 4 year OOC schedule.

(08-14-2017 01:35 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  I'm consistent on this issue for MBB & FB - disappointed with the home OOC schedule approach for both. IMO we should schedule the most challenging home OOC schedule we can where we have the best opportunities for big wins.

And if this was on an Xbox, where you schedule games whenever and against whoever you want, that would be fine. Problem with the real world is these schedules are made years in advance.

Let's not forget that Miami backed out of a scheduled H&H and Missouri cut down their contracted four games to two.

When we have the best opportunities for big wins, P5 teams run!!!

Does anyone think UConn is winning one of those P5 games or ECU?! Of course they can schedule them now, they are as bad as we were 7 years ago!!!

(08-14-2017 02:23 PM)Tigx Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 01:18 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 11:17 AM)Tigx Wrote:  Memphis and Bowen have made a decision, different than our conference opponents, to schedule only one P5 per year, which means we only get a P5 home game every other year.

Is the decision effective? I'll take any metric you want to make a case for: attendance, winning, financial, rankings, recruiting, etc.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but will answer straight.

Pro: Get extra wins. Sometimes an extra home game, albeit against unattractive opponents.

Con: Almost everything else. I would trade one Mississippi State home game for two Mercer & Georgia State home games all day, every year from now to infinity. Or one Arkansas game, one Ole Miss game, one UTK game, one Missouri game . . . I prefer quality over quantity. If this costs us winning 8 games versus winning 9 games one year, that's ok with me.

Our average attendance, which is how school's home attendance is ranked, would go up. E.g., let's say one Mississippi State game at 50K attendance versus two Mercer/So Alabama games at 25K each.

Definitely would help our recruiting. Definitely we would make more money.

My main point is don't buy the narrative that has been pitched that we can't schedule two or even three P5 games per year. It's actually easier now to do this, since the P5 conferences are backing away from scheduling FCS games, opening more slots for Group of 5 teams.

History has proven that wins are more important that name opponent when it comes to consistently getting good crowds at the Liberty Bowl. The one an only season that we led C-USA in average attendance was in 2004 when we had only 5 home games and the only OOC opponent was Chattanooga.

I don't know if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me, 3601, but you can't just pick the DeAngelo/Wimprine year as an example, and apply its results across many years.

Whether winning or losing, quality of opponent is the biggest driver of crowd size for the U of M. Weather is probably the 2nd biggest contributor.

(08-14-2017 02:23 PM)Tigx Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 01:18 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 11:17 AM)Tigx Wrote:  Memphis and Bowen have made a decision, different than our conference opponents, to schedule only one P5 per year, which means we only get a P5 home game every other year.

Is the decision effective? I'll take any metric you want to make a case for: attendance, winning, financial, rankings, recruiting, etc.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but will answer straight.

Pro: Get extra wins. Sometimes an extra home game, albeit against unattractive opponents.

Con: Almost everything else. I would trade one Mississippi State home game for two Mercer & Georgia State home games all day, every year from now to infinity. Or one Arkansas game, one Ole Miss game, one UTK game, one Missouri game . . . I prefer quality over quantity. If this costs us winning 8 games versus winning 9 games one year, that's ok with me.

Our average attendance, which is how school's home attendance is ranked, would go up. E.g., let's say one Mississippi State game at 50K attendance versus two Mercer/So Alabama games at 25K each.

Definitely would help our recruiting. Definitely we would make more money.

My main point is don't buy the narrative that has been pitched that we can't schedule two or even three P5 games per year. It's actually easier now to do this, since the P5 conferences are backing away from scheduling FCS games, opening more slots for Group of 5 teams.

I'm in your camp, Tigx. 3601 and UofMem act like scheduling compelling match ups against P5 teams vs. scheduling the Ga. States and Mercers of the world is the difference between being a winning program and being a losing program. Putting an extra P5 on the schedule won't cause you to have a losing season. Either you're good or you're not. It might cost you a game, but I'm willing to risk that for the reward of a big game with a better atmosphere.

Would you rather see this Memphis team play UCLA or Georgia State? I know which game I'd rather see, even if that means Memphis has a greater chance of losing that game. I know this team can ball, and they'll win 7-8 games regardless of what happens vs. UCLA. But I'm looking forward to the UCLA game in a big way.

Thanks TiminMem. Tigers have had a history since the 70s of scheduling quality opponents. Many years, we over-scheduled, IMO.

Now we are in a good conference, not independent as we were for many years when we had better schedules, and only have to schedule 4 OOC games per year. And still our OOC schedule is much weaker than our peers.

One home game a season versus Mercer level programs, fine. But we have two or 3 crappy home OOC games per season for as far out as we have scheduled.

(08-14-2017 02:40 PM)Tigx Wrote:  I don't know if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me, 3601, but you can't just pick the DeAngelo/Wimprine year as an example, and apply its results across many years.

Whether winning or losing, quality of opponent is the biggest driver of crowd size for the U of M. Weather is probably the 2nd biggest contributor.

This. Hypothetically, let's say we had a home game against Miss St in place of the S. Illinois game. Let's say we lose that game. Let's say we finish 8-4 vs. 9-3. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

With the team we have this season, a game against Miss St. might come close to a sell out and atmosphere would be electric vs. So. Illinois drawing 35K in a ho hum affair. Yes, So. Illinois guarantees a victory, but I know the Tigers are good. I don't need to see them get a bunch of guaranteed wins. I want to see fun, big games.

(08-14-2017 03:01 PM)TiminMem23 Wrote:  

(08-14-2017 02:40 PM)Tigx Wrote:  I don't know if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me, 3601, but you can't just pick the DeAngelo/Wimprine year as an example, and apply its results across many years.

Whether winning or losing, quality of opponent is the biggest driver of crowd size for the U of M. Weather is probably the 2nd biggest contributor.

This. Hypothetically, let's say we had a home game against Miss St in place of the S. Illinois game. Let's say we lose that game. Let's say we finish 8-4 vs. 9-3. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

With the team we have this season, a game against Miss St. might come close to a sell out and atmosphere would be electric vs. So. Illinois drawing 35K in a ho hum affair. Yes, So. Illinois guarantees a victory, but I know the Tigers are good. I don't need to see them get a bunch of guaranteed wins. I want to see fun, big games.

And we would be talking about a Mississippi State game for weeks leading up to the game. And the Bulldog fans would pour in to town with their obnoxious cowbells. Gets me fired up just thinking about it.

Anybody going to be talking about Mercer or South Bama or Georgia State the weeks prior to the game? If it rains, might you just decide to stay home and watch college football that day? Can anybody even tell any of their nicknames without googling it?