FBC Week 5 thread: Paul Hornung? You bet!

[dooley_womack1]

Alabama DID play soft schedules in the 1990s, that's absolutely valid. But that was two athletic directors ago.

And if you think it's an institutional thing, go back and look at some of Alabama's schedules in the 1970s and 80s --- Penn State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Washington, Penn State, Cal, USC, Missouri, Baylor (when Baylor was good). Their first three games in 1978 (when they won the national championship) were Nebraska, Missouri and Southern Cal, all of whom won at least eight games (they also played 7-win Washington later that year):

http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Alabama.htm

They've made a concerted effort to boost their schedule in the last decade, excepting 2004-06 as previously noted. Saban is on record saying that he wants to play one big-time non-conference opponent a year, but to do any more than that would strain the athletic budget (because they count on having seven home games a year to pay for all the other sports).

Those neutral site games against FSU, Va Tech and Clemson were not an attempt to dodge having to play a true road game, but a chance to get an equal share of the dough while also leaving your own campus.

Wow, all that Web page was missing was flying toasters.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Alabama DID play soft schedules in the 1990s, that's absolutely valid. But that was two athletic directors ago.

And if you think it's an institutional thing, go back and look at some of Alabama's schedules in the 1970s and 80s --- Penn State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Washington, Penn State, Cal, USC, Missouri, Baylor (when Baylor was good). Their first three games in 1978 (when they won the national championship) were Nebraska, Missouri and Southern Cal, all of whom won at least eight games (they also played 7-win Washington later that year):

http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Alabama.htm

They've made a concerted effort to boost their schedule in the last decade, excepting 2004-06 as previously noted. Saban is on record saying that he wants to play one big-time non-conference opponent a year, but to do any more than that would strain the athletic budget (because they count on having seven home games a year to pay for all the other sports).

Those neutral site games against FSU, Va Tech and Clemson were not an attempt to dodge having to play a true road game, but a chance to get an equal share of the dough while also leaving your own campus.

Wow, all that Web page was missing was flying toasters.

Great reference tool, though.

 

[dixiehack]

Alabama also has a pending series with Michigan State, and was also set to play Ga. Tech until it got postponed at Tech's request.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

In my friend micro's defense, Hawaii is east of the Mississippi -- if you don't mind making your trip a hell of a lot longer than most people do.

;)