2008 Schedule

[Mamacalled]

Thats what I was saying. I might not have been clear. :redface: Boise St and Louisville are much better than Arizona St. Over the last seven years Boise St. is 72-11 and Louisville is 65-16. Arizona St. on the other hand is 44-37. Maybe I shouldve said Arizona St. isn't really in the same class as Boise St. and Louisville. I figured it would be obvious since Louisville and Boise St. played in BCS bowls last year while Arizona St. was busy getting their rear ends handed to them by Hawaii in the Black and Decker Coffee Grinder Bowl.

Got you. I took the other way. My apologies.

I am not advocating getting in USC and OU for every OOC game just getting one strong opponent and a couple of teams like Arizona State, Kansas, or Colorado State.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

I am not advocating getting in USC and OU for every OOC game just getting one strong opponent and a couple of teams like Arizona State, Kansas, or Colorado State.

Exactly. There's nothing wrong with not scheduling really good teams (at least right now, since we'd get our butts kicked), but that also doesn't mean we can't schedule some teams from the middle area of the BCS conferences. Sure, not all may be gimmes, but at least we get some decent competition and fans would actually want to look forward to see the games.

 

[bayoutider]

We could adopt this scheduling philosophy from just a few years ago.

1899 Sewanee Purple.

This team was nicknamed the Ironmen. This name was given to them because they played a roadtrip of 5 different teams in 6 days. The 2,500 mile road trip began in Austin, Texas where they defeated the Longhorns 12 to 0. The next day they played Texas A&M and beat them 10 to 0. The next day they defeated Tulane 23 to 0. And the next day they defeated LSU 34 to 0. After a one day rest, they beat Ole Miss 12 to 0.

The Purple went 12-0 that season, and outscored their opponents 322 to 10.

 

[Vinny]

I am getting married to my sweetie pie on October 11, 2008! I have mixed views of the up coming years scheduling, but all teams are scheduling those sort of games. Bama is just following suit, nothing wrong with that.

 

[RunBamaRun]

Exactly. There's nothing wrong with not scheduling really good teams (at least right now, since we'd get our butts kicked), but that also doesn't mean we can't schedule some teams from the middle area of the BCS conferences. Sure, not all may be gimmes, but at least we get some decent competition and fans would actually want to look forward to see the games.

It is not a forgone conclusion that "we'd get our butts kicked" by the "really good teams" but it is a certainty that it would increase the chances if we tried to play a top team each and every weekend. If we get the job done against the teams on our schedule we will get a chance to line up against the big boys in a BCS Bowl.

BTW, there are an awful lot of kids that bust their butts every day that would likely never get a chance to play if every game came down to the last play (even though it would make for terrific games).

Only the bottom tier teams have ALL tough games scheduled.

 

[bayoutider]

It is not a forgone conclusion that "we'd get our butts kicked" by the "really good teams" but it is a certainty that it would increase the chances if we tried to play a top team each and every weekend. If we get the job done against the teams on our schedule we will get a chance to line up against the big boys in a BCS Bowl.

BTW, there are an awful lot of kids that bust their butts every day that would likely never get a chance to play if every game came down to the last play (even though it would make for terrific games).

Only the bottom tier teams have ALL tough games scheduled.

Good point is made here.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

I am getting married to my sweetie pie on October 11, 2008! I have mixed views of the up coming years scheduling, but all teams are scheduling those sort of games. Bama is just following suit, nothing wrong with that.

Nothing wrong with it true, but I just cringe at the fact that we schedule directional schools and other similar schools just round out our schedule. I've never argued that the SEC isn't tough enough; it's the toughest conference out there. But that doesn't mean that we can't schedule mid-ranked BCS conference teams. Nothing wrong with being the lone wolf either in scheduling those types of teams, and when the right time comes, scheduling an elite team.

 

[silentsam74]

Nothing wrong with it true, but I just cringe at the fact that we schedule directional schools and other similar schools just round out our schedule. I've never argued that the SEC isn't tough enough; it's the toughest conference out there. But that doesn't mean that we can't schedule mid-ranked BCS conference teams. Nothing wrong with being the lone wolf either in scheduling those types of teams, and when the right time comes, scheduling an elite team.

The one real problem I see with that is that the schedules come out before the season starts. You even have some of these marquee games being scheduled years in advance. It wasn't that long ago that teams like Colorado and Kansas St. were very good teams. Syracuse had a good team a few years ago. Nebraska isn't the same team they used to be. A couple of perfect examples would be USC before CPC was hired or Oklahoma before CBS. All of these big time BCS conference schools have the money and facilities to make it happen. Its just a matter of getting the right people in the right spots on and off the field. You can never know if the schedule of last years mid ranked BCS teams won't be a murderers row of top 10 teams by the time you get to play them. If it starts becoming common place and it becomes a measuring stick of sorts on the national picture then by all means go ahead. But, there's no reason for UofA to stick their necks out and play a harder schedule than everyone else right now. What they do is fine. Every game serves a purpose in building a team. The 'gimme's' create the depth and experience that might pay off later in the year and will definitely pay off next year. Getting some redshirt freshmen and sophomores that arent starters some game experience before we have to depend on them is more important than having a flashy schedule. Of course there is also money. A team makes more money having a cupcake at home two years in a row than they do contracting a home and home. Especially at Alabama, where its a sell out whether its Oklahoma or Utah State.

 

[WPtider]

Let's take a look at some of these "Big Boys" and see who they schedule out of conference.

Oklahoma Sooners

Sept. 1, 2007 North Texas (FSN-SW) 6:00 pm CT
Sept. 8, 2007 Miami-FL (ABC) 11:00 am CT
Sept. 15, 2007 Utah State 2:30 pm CT
Sept. 21, 2007 at Tulsa (ESPN2) 7:00 pm CT
Sept. 29, 2007 at Colorado TBA
Oct. 6, 2007 at Texas1 TBA
Oct. 13, 2007 Missouri TBA
Oct. 20, 2007 at Iowa State TBA
Nov. 3, 2007 Texas A&M TBA
Nov. 10, 2007 Baylor TBA
Nov. 17, 2007 at Texas Tech 1:00 pm CT
Nov. 24, 2007 OK State TBA


Ohio St. Buckeyes

Date Opponent* Result Record The Line
Sept. 1, 2007 Youngstown St. (Big 10 Network) 12:00 pm ET
Sept. 8, 2007 Akron (Big 10 Network) 12:00 pm ET
Sept. 15, 2007 at Washington (ESPN) 3:30 pm ET
Sept. 22, 2007 Northwestern TBA
Sept. 29, 2007 at Minnesota 8:00 pm ET
Oct. 6, 2007 at Purdue 8:00 pm ET
Oct. 13, 2007 Kent TBA
Oct. 20, 2007 Michigan State (ABC) 3:30 pm ET
Oct. 27, 2007 at Penn State 8:00 pm ET
Nov. 3, 2007 Wisconsin TBA
Nov. 10, 2007 Illinois TBA
Nov. 17, 2007 at Michigan TBA

Florida Gators

Sept. 1, 2007 W. Kentucky 6:00 pm ET
Sept. 8, 2007 Troy 6:00 pm ET
Sept. 15, 2007 Tennessee TBA
Sept. 22, 2007 at Ole Miss TBA
Sept. 29, 2007 Auburn TBA
Oct. 6, 2007 at LSU TBA
Oct. 20, 2007 at Kentucky TBA
Oct. 27, 2007 Georgia1 TBA
Nov. 3, 2007 Vanderbilt TBA
Nov. 10, 2007 at South Carolina TBA
Nov. 17, 2007 Florida Atlantic TBA
Nov. 24, 2007 Florida State TBA

Do those look any better than ours?

The one thing I can say about two of these schedules is that they contain one quality out of conference opponent (Miami and FSU). OSU's Washington game is the equivalent of playing Duke but at least its a game against a BCS school.

 

[luvthat_TIDE]

Anybody guess which game will be HC?

 

[UA All the Way]

I am getting married to my sweetie pie on October 11, 2008! I have mixed views of the up coming years scheduling, but all teams are scheduling those sort of games. Bama is just following suit, nothing wrong with that.

Do you mind me asking why you scheduled your wedding during football season? :biggrin:

 

[LCN]

At a glance the schedule looks terrible but , perhaps it should be . Tough road games at ark , ga , tn & lsu . However , I do want ucla - badly . _redeye:

 

[bamanut_aj]

Do you mind me asking why you scheduled your wedding during football season? :biggrin:

Hey, I had to do it this year. Circumstances out of my control forced our hands! However, my girl, knowing my disdain for weddings during football season, planned our wedding on a Friday night so we can still go to the BAMA-ut game the next day, then fly out of B'ham for Cancun on Sunday. Not bad.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

Hey, I had to do it this year. Circumstances out of my control forced our hands! However, my girl, knowing my disdain for weddings during football season, planned our wedding on a Friday night so we can still go to the BAMA-ut game the next day, then fly out of B'ham for Cancun on Sunday. Not bad.

At least she compromised. Don't get too worn out after the wedding though! :wink:

 

[BocaLance]

Hey, I had to do it this year. Circumstances out of my control forced our hands! However, my girl, knowing my disdain for weddings during football season, planned our wedding on a Friday night so we can still go to the BAMA-ut game the next day, then fly out of B'ham for Cancun on Sunday. Not bad.

That girl's a keeper!

 

[RLtdRL12]

2008
ALL DATES ARE TENTATIVE

Date Opponent Site
August 30 Western Kentucky Tuscaloosa
September 6 Tulane Tuscaloosa
September 13 OPEN
September 20 Arkansas Fayetteville
September 27 Georgia Athens
October 4 Kentucky Tuscaloosa
October 11 UTEP Tuscaloosa
October 18 Ole Miss Tuscaloosa
October 25 Tennessee Knoxville
November 1 Northern Illinois Tuscaloosa
November 8 Mississippi State Tuscaloosa
November 15 LSU Baton Rouge
November 22 OPEN
November 29 Auburn Tuscaloosa

When was the last time we started the season this early and when was the last time we had two open dates before SEC games? I bet we will schedule another game in one of the open dates if the NCAA allows it.

We may drop a non-conference team later in the season (NIU or UTEP) and fill the earlier OPEN date, but we won't play 13 games. We have always had two off weeks (one during the season and one after the Iron Bowl before the SEC championship game). With the SEC changing up the rules to require the Iron Bowl to be during Thanksgiving Weekend (i.e. the week before the SEC championship game), that moves our 2nd OPEN week to during the season.

It was just bound to happen both OPEN weeks would fall before 2 SEC games (and about time).

 

[UA All the Way]

Hey, I had to do it this year. Circumstances out of my control forced our hands! However, my girl, knowing my disdain for weddings during football season, planned our wedding on a Friday night so we can still go to the BAMA-ut game the next day, then fly out of B'ham for Cancun on Sunday. Not bad.

Sounds like you got a great girl. A win over the Vols will be a good wedding gift. :biggrin:

 

[ForTide]

That girl's a keeper!

My wife made it a point to tell me that she would not get married during football season. Sometimes I wonder if she would attend my funeral if it was on gameday!!:redface:

 

[RazedRite]

Those who are responsible for filling out the schedule have it rough. Especially on years like those in which the majority of quality opponents (i.e.: games people actually want to see) are away games. They want to field a good quality product for the home fans, but also want to give the team the best opportunity possible to compete for a championship. A difficult task to say the least.

Mid-tier teams are no good. For instance, you play a Rutgers or a Memphis...you are still favored to win, but the opponents have a decent chance to pull off the surprise victory. So, you win the game, well you were supposed to, but if you lose...ouch!

You basically have two choices, you schedule a good BCS team like Louisville, Florida St. or Oklahoma which could be a blowout, a 'not-so-bad' loss or a great win. Or you schedule patsies that leave no room for embarassment.

My choice as a fan? I'd prefer to see at least one quality BCS opponent on the OOC schedule each year.

 

[BamaFan1961]

At a glance the schedule looks terrible but , perhaps it should be . Tough road games at ark , ga , tn & lsu . However , I do want ucla - badly . _redeye:

How about playing WV?