historian said:
boognish_bear said:
I'm not sure if it really matters that much. They will still wallow in mediocrity for the next few years. That's most of the SEC for the past decade. I see no reason it will change any time soon. It's always Georgia & Alabama most years & the others are there just to make them look good with wins over "ranked" teams.
The ESPN Blue Blood Invitational (aka playoffs) won't change much either. Unfortunately, even if they really do expand it will be in such a way as to enhance the blue bloods.
Yea, I'm cynical about it all. At least March Madness is real.
I could rant about this for days. There is a lot to be cynical about.
People love champions, but we also want fairness (or, at least the appearance of it) and access.
The BCS wasn't fair and neither are the invitationals - which ironically are called playoffs; they are not playoffs.
The sec touted the BS that they were the best and did it for years. Once Saban got rolling there at Alabama - it started to become the truth. Now you can't really dispute it. I'm convinced the success the sec has seen the past 15 years is rooted in 5 things:
1. the uneven, unbalanced schedule that is played. They play more cupcakes than anyone and have 8 conference games, while everyone else plays 9. They also have their november cupcake /bye week. This is a huge advantage for the sec. It gives them the appearance of being better, because they have more wins. Who those wins are against is irrelevant. More wins = more ranked teams = more bowl invites = more money = better recruiting.
2. Saban being a phenomenal coach.
3. Paying players - many of their programs had been cheating for a long time. Now, it is no longer cheating.
4. Control the BCS / CFP and control bowl sites. The old sec commissioner spearheaded the BCS. USC should have been in the title game 3 or 4 times in a 5 year stretch, but was squeezed out. Virtually every bowl game an sec team plays, is near
its fan base. Meaning everyone has to fly to
them.
5. Concerted effort to control the narrative. Say you are the best, play an easier schedule but claim it is the toughest and slowly build up your brand. At this point the brand is built and the narrative has become reality.
At this point you cannot really knock them off the perch because NIL is rampant and uncontrolled and the TV contracts have ballooned to insane amounts. Plus, that 8 game conference schedule.