Not So Big XII
Big 12 takes low road with weak schedules (Berry Tramel, Daily Oklahoman)
Another Big 12 football school has gone to the dark side.
The latest white flag has been waved by Texas A&M, a proud football school that in the first 10 years of the Big 12 played non-conference games against the likes of Brigham Young, Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Clemson.
Those days are gone. The Aggies in 2006 will play only Cajuns or soldiers: The Citadel, Louisiana-Lafayette, Army and Louisiana Tech. All but Army at A&M's Kyle Field; the Aggies play the Cadets at San Antonio.
That's embarrassing for a school that once valued competition. That's embarrassing for a conference that claims the Aggies among its elite.
Sadly, such cowardice has become commonplace in the Big 12. In 2006, the Big 12 teams have scheduled 48 non-conference games. Only eleven are against BCS-league opponents. Eleven are against NCAA Division I-AA foes, who hand out fewer scholarships and are nothing but sacrificial paydays.
[snip]
In 1996, the first year of the Big 12, league teams played 36 non-conference games. Ten were against BCS-league teams and just two were from I-AA. A year later, only one I-AA opponent appeared on a Big 12 schedule, and 13 of the 36 games were against BCS teams.
Even as late as 2002, when the NCAA first allowed a 12-game schedule, the Big 12 did not duck. It played 17 of 49 non-conference games against BCS opponents and scheduled seven against I-AA schools.
But by 2005, the league was in full retreat mode. Texas Tech played Florida International, Sam Houston State and Indiana State. Oklahoma State played Montana State, Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State. Kansas played Florida Atlantic, Appalachian State and Louisiana Tech. Baylor played SMU, Samford and Army.
The Big 12 has turned absolute bully. It picks on people not its own size. In 2005, the league played more non-conference games against I-AA teams (8) than BCS teams (7).
How long will schools be able to sell such a fraudulent product? How long will $50 tickets be acceptable for what is nothing more than a glorified scrimmage?
Some of the schools in the league still play quality competition, but I've long complained about the weak schedules around most of the league, especially the I-AA teams that keep getting scheduled. That's just embarrassing, and may get worse with the 12-game schedule.
In its early days, I thought the Big 12 matched up pretty well against almost any conference. I still think the elite teams match up well, but the conference overall has slipped. It's about time some sports columnists started saying as much.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/22/06 22:58 | Big 12 Football | Technorati
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Comments
It's the Snyderization of football. The smart ones (like UT last year) play just one quality non-conference opponent and pray they win that game. If they do and take care of their conference schedule...they're home free. The system finally figured a way to weed the Snyders out of the national championship picture, but it's still a formula for the programs who want to get back into conversation. IMHO, folks that schedule like TAMU did this coming year need to be ridiculed...schedule at least one Top 20 nonconference game.
Posted by Reg Burns @ 23:45 on 02/22/06
I guess that makes Coach Clueless a smart coach, eh Kevin:P
The Huskers play at USC on Sep. 16.
Of course, this addition of the 12th game is but a mere opportunity throughout College Football to pay some overdue stadium expansion debts by scheduling a 7th home game:(
Posted by Brad S @ 18:01 on 02/23/06
The only folks this is good for is those I-AA schools that will get a big payday. What really irks me about the 12th game is that the argument against a playoff has been that it would take the players out of the classroom. Well, what does this 12th game do? The hypocrisy of the NCAA never ceases to amaze me.
Posted by another precinct chair @ 08:31 on 02/24/06
Ditto, another precinct chair. The hypocrisy really is astounding.
Posted by el_longhorn @ 09:43 on 02/24/06
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