Monday, July 30, 2012

Games of Shame

Okay, I'm a SEC sports fan; and it's time to open a little whoopass on the scheduling techniques of the various programs.  While it's nice that there's a 12 game schedule, the SEC Championship plus a bowl game adds up to 14.  Kind of pushing the limit, in my opinion.

But my issue here has to do with the quality of some opponents scheduled.

Why, on God's still green but overparched Earth, must National Championship contenders fill out their schedule with teams that have a snowball's chance in Hell of winning.  Is there no shame?  What next: play a team of geriatrics or crippled nuns?

Of course, we can understand why Florida Atlantic will face Alabama or Towson will face LSU: they're doing it for the money.  But I call these games with serious mismatched opponents Games of Shame. 

Anyway, here's some SEC schools, and what I think to be their Games of Shame (GS):


 Alabama -- (12 games, 7 at home) -- GS:  Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, Western Carolina

Auburn -- (12 games, 7 at home) -- GS:  Louisiana -Monroe, New Mexico State

LSU  (12 games, 8 at home) -- GS:  North Texas, Idaho, Towson

Ole Miss  (12 games, 7 at home) -- GS:  Central Arkansas, UTEP

Mississippi State (12 games, 7 at home) -- GS:  Jackson State, Troy, South Alabama, MTSU

Missouri  (12 games, 7 at home) -- GS:  Southeastern Louisiana, Central Florida

Tennessee -- (12 games, 7 at home) -- GS:  Akron, Troy

Notice that I exclude the Vanderbilt game from that category.  They're in the SEC.

I'll even have to admit that I secretly pull for one  of those overmatched opponents to knock off a SEC team.  Yes, even Alabama.  The reason: you don't need to come across as a bully.

And here's why.  UNA will apparently fall into their category someday, and it would greatly pleased me if they would defeat a big-time opponent who was looking for an easy game to inflate the number of wins they chalked up.

I still think that UNA going to D-I was a bad idea.

6 comments:

  1. Games of Shame. Great name. Last year Georgia Southern racked up more offensive yardage against Bama than any other team. I do like to see the little guys win. The Troys and UAB's. I'm with you on the UNA thing.

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  2. How do the SEC fans feel about the addition of Mizzu? Personally, I'm not a big football fan and Missouri is not my home state. I am also not a fan of the money motivated move and think they should remain in a geographic and competitive division.

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  3. Good on you for calling it that, Duckbutt. I'm tired of seeing MTSU in that vein.

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  4. Missouri has been know to drop a game to the 'easy' team.

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  5. A good pouint, Duckbutt. They should feel shame.

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  6. John, I'm al for Mizzou and A & M being in the conference. Most SEC teams are unfamiliar with their playing style, but it goes the other way too.

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